Cover Story
Rethink Church well worth the effort to reach across county
More than 400 members participate in Brownsburg outreach
7/14/2010
BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Engaging more than 400 members and guests in a Rethink Church community outreach was the biggest single event for this suburban Indianapolis congregation’s members since they moved into their new building a few short years ago.
The outreach was well worth the time the 800-member Calvary United Methodist Church put into the venture, according to Associate Pastor Michelle Knight, who played a key role in the day-long activity that occurred both at the church...
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From the Bishop
Congo says 'thank you'
7/14/2010
“We were together from the beginning.” This is what I recently said to Bob and Teri Walters at their kitchen table (in Plainfield, Ind.).
Before I was a bishop, I had the idea that we could provide bicycles for our pastors and other church leaders. I asked Bob to raise enough money for 200 bicycles. With the money he brought from churches in Indiana, I shopped every store in Lubumbashi to find 200 bicycles and they were delivered at the 1995 annual conference session. I said,...
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Multiplying our Mission Outreach across Indiana
7/14/2010
During our second Indiana Annual Conference session, we once again sent forth more than 600 United Methodists to participate in a Saturday afternoon of Mission Outreach projects across Muncie. Once again, our people reported having a great experience, and once again, we United Methodists received much notice and appreciation from the community.
At the celebration worship service that same evening, I preached on the multiplication of the fish and loaves in John 6:1-13, and challenged the...
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Welcome
Correction
7/14/2010
It was reported in the Annual Conference e-HUM Newsletter during the annual conference session that Jim Bushfield announced that Marlene Fenstermacher will represent Cokesbury in Indiana, since Cokesbury no longer has a store in Fishers. She is not representing Cokesbury. That position has not been filled. In fact Fenstermacher is working with the United Methodist Publishing House on a project in children’s ministries. Indiana United Methodist Communications regrets this error.
...
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Summer pictures, stories capture images of the church
7/14/2010
Summer is the pictures-taking, image-capturing season, also the seasons for weddings, family reunions, picnics, church camps, mission trips, vacations, day trips across Indiana, all perfect for our cameras. We are on the go and digital photography has become as common as the cell phone. Smile, I think you’re going to like this one.
This issue of your Hoosier United Methodists Together also captures images and stories from a wide variety of sources about our people both here at home and...
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Indiana
Central Indiana United Methodists prepare for Habitat build
7/14/2010
Central Indiana United Methodists are coming together for the Second Annual United Methodist Church Home Build with Habitat for Humanity. United Methodists have long partnered with Habitat and were strong supporters of the first Indianapolis Habitat home built in 1987.
The goal for the participating Central Indiana United Methodist churches is to unite enough support and volunteers to fully fund and build a home for The Ghebremedhin/Wurota Family, refugees from Ethiopia. The build, located at...
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Community garden unites Hammond neighborhood
7/14/2010
HAMMOND, Ind. (Northwest Indiana Times) – Woodmar United Methodist volunteers, residents from Hammond Housing, and community residents planted a Community Garden this spring near the corner of Columbia Avenue and 173rd Street.
The garden is on 8,000 square feet of land owned by the Hammond Housing Authority. It will provide low-income residents with free, healthy food.
“We believe it will also make the community a better and safer place by uniting residents and providing...
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Former South Dakota U.S. Senator speaks to world hunger needs
7/14/2010
INDIANAPOLIS – Lifelong advocate to relieve hunger in the world and 1972 Democratic candidate for U.S. President, Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, spoke June 6 to all three worship services at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
McGovern was introduced by Jim Morris, former director of the World Food Program based in Rome, Italy. Morris, a Presbyterian and “moderate Republican” called McGovern a remarkable man, one of the great humanitarians of our time,...
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New Indiana United Methodist Foundation board elects officers
7/14/2010
The new Indiana United Methodist Foundation in one of its first items of business on Wednesday, June 30, elected officers. They are: Rick Childs, chairperson of the board; Mary Miller of Indianapolis, vice-chairperson; Forrest Bowers, secretary; and David V.W. Owen, treasurer.
The foundation was created by action of the members of the Indiana Conference during its annual session last month in Muncie. About the new officers:
Childs of Cicero in the North Central District is the former...
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Rejuvenate announces new workshop
7/14/2010
INDIANAPOLIS – July 1 marked the first anniversary of Rejuvenate, the Indiana Conference-wide project that offers financial literacy-related educational opportunities to clergy and laity. The project also provides an economic initiative to clergy.
As Rejuvenate begins its second year, the emphasis will continue to be on offering educational opportunities to clergy and laity that will help them grow personally in the areas of financial literacy and generosity. In addition to personal...
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Focus
Bishop appoints superintendents, associate superintendents
7/14/2010
During the recent session of the Indiana Annual Conference at Muncie, Ind., Bishop Mike Coyner confirmed the appointments of district superintendents and associate district superintendents. Nine of the current ten district superintendents appointed this past year will continue their appointments.
The Rev. David Byrum, senior pastor of First UMC in Valparaiso, became East District Superintendent succeeding the Rev. Dale Mendenhall, who became senior pastor of High Street UMC in Muncie. All...
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Clergy approve 22 for ordination, 14 for commissioning, 58 for retirement who represent 1,540 years of ministry
7/14/2010
MUNCIE, Ind. – During the Indiana Conference clergy executive session June 10 at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, these 22 provisional members were approved for ordination as Elders and Deacons. They were ordained by Bishop Mike Coyner on June 13 in Emens Auditorium at Ball State in Muncie. They included:
Elders – Dennis Adams of Evansville; Karen Bray of West Terre Haute; Ted Chalk of New Middleton; Kevin DeKoninck of Winamac; Rebecca Fisher of Fort Wayne; Bradford Garrett of...
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Conference charters two new congregations
7/14/2010
MUNCIE, Ind. – The 2010 Indiana Annual Conference session chartered the Movie Theater Church, a ministry of Old Bethel UMC in Indianapolis, and the New Song Fellowship of First United Methodist Church of Valparaiso with 230 members.
“Get wet, get dirty, connect with people the good news of Jesus Christ,” said Kurt Nichols, pastor of New Song, during the chartering of his church.
The conference does have grants for your congregations to create a new congregation. Church...
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Day of Outreach sends more than 600 United Methodists across Muncie
6/12/2010
They sorted food. They visited nursing homes. They weeded flower beds. They washed cars. And that’s just a few of the mission projects completed by Hoosier United Methodists on the second annual Day of Outreach during annual conference sessions.
More than 630 participants and 150 local volunteer coordinators spread out across Muncie, partnering with social service agencies, local churches, community organizations and businesses.
Rick and Amy Hartig of Stewartsville UMC in Posey County...
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Hoosiers learn practices of faith then put faith into practice during conference session at Ball State
Summary of 2010 Indiana Annual Conference session
7/14/2010
MUNCIE, Ind. – Practice Faith was the theme of the second Indiana Annual Conference session held on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. More than 2,000 conference members and guests spent equal amounts of time on learning, volunteer mission service, worship and the business of the conference.
Clergy and laity heard Missouri Bishop Robert Schnase set the pace of the conference teaching more than 3.5 hours during the two opening days about the content of his two books: Five...
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Laity learn of opportunities, thank those who are fruitful
7/14/2010
By Matthew Oates
MUNCIE , Ind. – Ike Williams and Kayc Mykrantz, conference co-lay leaders, welcomed the laity into session Thursday evening, June 10, of the Indiana Annual Conference session. During the evening, the laity received updates on a variety of issues. Highlights include:
Rev. Doug Anderson provided an update on cluster training and some of the outcomes from the clusters. Outcomes include praying for each church and their ministries, joint worship services, joint...
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Numbers
7/14/2010
Parts of the Indiana Annual Conference session were about the numbers. Here is a list of numbers that complete the story of the session June 10-13 in Muncie.
3,296 – members eligible to attend conference
1,604 – actual number of members who attended
383 – guests who registered
Support, professions
18% – percentage of Indiana UMCs that paid nothing to support the conference in 2009
40% – percentage of Indiana UMCs which reported no...
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Ordination Classes
7/14/2010
Click on photo to enlarge.
Deacons commissioned were (left to right): Julie Macy, Sheri Rohrer and Mary Beth Morgan
Commissioned/Provisional: (left to right): Front row: Kim King, Jim Clark, Gregory Waggoner, Jacob Juncker, Lauren Hall and Donna Ward
Back row: Daniel Cho, Matt Landry, Damon Soper, Billy Nickrand, Anthony Stone, Anthony Hunley, Chris Gadlage and Bessie Adams
Elders ordained were (left to right): Front row: Dave Scifres, Mary van Wijk, Ted Chalk, Ann Spahr, LeKisha...
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Retiring clergy of 2010
7/14/2010
Click on photo to enlarge.
Row 1 (left to right): Jack Hartman, Carolyn Hartman, Rebecca White, Dennis White, Marilyn Couger, Laura Jones, Ann Hutchins-Case
Row 2 (left to right): Hugh Severance, Leslie Severance, Judith Wooden, Kenneth Wooden, John Windell, Kenneth Mahan, Patricia Mahan
Row 3 (left to right): Patrick Sinnott, James Taylor
Row 4 (left to right): Judith Marshall, Al Smith, Teresa Rynkiewich, Michael Rynkiewich
Row 1 (left to right): Harold Klinker, Joy Klinker, Myron...
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Special music, honoring seniors all part of conference
7/14/2010
Click on photo to enlarge
Together photo by Linda Hoopes
Music at the Laity Session was provided by the University United Methodist Men’s Choir of Indianapolis, which sings both spirituals and gospel songs. The Rev. Rosa Harris started the group in 1984.
Together photo by Linda Hoopes
The praise and worship team led the annual conference in song during the Outreach Celebration Service on Saturday evening and during worship service that opened each plenary session. The team is...
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Those remembered at the memorial service
7/14/2010
Clergy, date of death
Baker, Robert, 11/26/2009; Berry, John, 3/16/2010; Bill, Lester, 7/9/2009; Blessing, William, 8/29/2009; Chrispell, Richard, 11/24/2009; Custer, Rex E., 10/3/2009; Enlow, John, 3/19/2010; Grame, Sheldon, 1/26/2009; Hamilton, Lucinda, 3/13/2010; Hayden, Ernest, 1/2/2010; Hendrix, Cecil, 12/31/2009; Herr, Berneice, 12/20/2009; Hill, George, 2/11/2010; Hinds, Dorothy, 3/26/2010; King, Norris L., 9/13/2009; Lamar, William Fred, 1/13/2010; Lewke, Richard, 3/18/2010; Meddock,...
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Missions
Brooks graduates three dental technicians in Kentucky
7/14/2010
BEVERLY, Ky. – The song “The Great Adventure” by Steven Curtis Chapman perfectly describes the journey of Susan and Harry Brooks during the past five years. They blazed a new trail at United Methodist Red Bird Mission in the Appalachian area of eastern Kentucky, complete with abundant evidence of God’s amazing grace.
The first ever dental laboratory at Red Bird Mission became a reality in fall 2008, supplying dental patients of Red Bird clinic with prescribed dental...
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Hoosier missionary returns to Mitwaba, DRC, Africa
7/14/2010
It was in late 1998 when the General Board of Global Ministries in New York City decided to evacuate all United Methodist missionaries from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I was in the mountains in the Mitwaba District when the call came on the district superintendent’s ham radio. I left in this ordered retreat.
Now in early 2010, I arrived at the border of the Mitwaba District at the village of Kyubo, greeted by a wave of United Methodists. Those who have visited communities in...
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Viewpoints
Asking the right questions
Reflections on annual conference:
7/14/2010
Driving home from the Indiana Annual Conference session at Muncie in June, I felt disconnected. I knew something wasn’t right, but what was it? Were my expectations too high? Were my expectations different than the expectations of the planners? Was it the business of the church, the many motions and amendments on pensions and health care? Was it the question around why some churches tithe and others don’t, or was it sitting in a huge auditorium wondering if this is what Wesley had...
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Do not discard job guarantees for clergy
7/14/2010
You’ve heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Too often today, we also believe, “If it is broke, throw it away,” when that may not be the best thing to do.
Sometimes we experience “referred pain” – pain in a part of our body that is not where the actual problem lies. Likewise, problems within a system can appear in no relationship to the source of the problem.
There has been a lot of conversation over the last few years...
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Finance group explores clergy job guarantees
7/14/2010
Add another voice to a growing number of church officials calling for reconsideration of clergy job guarantees. The Sustainability Advisory Group, a body examining church finances, estimates there are 784 more U.S. clergy than there are positions needed to meet church needs today, and that some conferences are trying to fill jobs the denomination does not have.
The group is recommending church bodies review and, if necessary, change church policy that states elders in good standing...
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Letters to the Editor
7/14/2010
Cuts, increased salaries
During the past year, I have watched as we have cut support to our community centers, as well as missions overall. I read the daily e-mail sent out from the annual conference sessions, and was dismayed to read that campus ministries was being cut $200,000. We have become one conference and streamlined staff in an effort to meet budget during tough economic times. So could someone please explain to me why a raise for the position of district superintendents...
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Ministering through employment
Body, Mind & Spirit
7/14/2010
Not long ago I seemed to be the most popular guy in town. People were literally lined up outside my office door. There was a young woman who needed diapers for her infant, a father with severe burns who needed money for food and prescriptions, and two other families who needed rental and utility assistance. I was overwhelmed by the need and of course, could not meet all of the deep financial realities these families were facing.
But not long after this experience, I began Re-Thinking church. I...
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This train is leaving the station, get onboard
7/14/2010
There is an old saying – “This train is leaving the station.” In 2006, the former North Indiana Annual Conference session approved the concept of the Epworth Forest Project at the conference owned Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster, Ind. Since that time, many United Methodists across the state have been working toward the day when six cabins would be built to provide facilities for year-round programming to help reach the goal of 10,000 campers a year for Jesus...
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Chronicles
Bishop, superintendents express concern for well-being of pastors
7/14/2010
There is a wise saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Here is a statement from Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner and the ten Indiana Conference District Superintendents. It is another indication Bishop Coyner and the Superintendents (also known as the Cabinet) are concerned about and care for the pastors of the Indiana Conference.
A Statement to Clergy and Congregations regarding Rejuvenate
The Bishop and Cabinet are thankful for the...
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Church agency, university honors UIndy professor
7/14/2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (GBHEM) – Assistant Professor Karl Knapp of the University of Indianapolis was one of 40 professors at United Methodist-related schools, colleges and universities nationwide, who received the Exemplary Teacher Award from the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
This program, an important partnership with United Methodist-related educational institutions, expresses the church’s support of and appreciation for outstanding teaching on our...
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Conference human resources duties shifted July 1 from Hansen to Williams
7/14/2010
Hansen
Williams
INDIANAPOLIS – The Rev. Adolf Hansen completed his term June 30 as the Indiana Conference Interim Director of Human Resources. Yesterday, July 1, Brent Williams, conference director of administrative service, assumed the duties of HR. Hansen was hired primarily to establish HR policies and procedures for the new conference, create a common conference...
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Early Response Team training will be offered in Versailles by UMCOR for volunteers
7/14/2010
United Methodist Early Response Team Training for disaster responses will be held Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Tyson United Methodist Church, 324 West Tyson Street in Versailles, Ind. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. Jim Byerly will be the trainer for those over 18 years of age interested in responding to disasters. The cost is $35 person and includes lunch, basic materials and an UMCOR identification badge, to be mailed to participants after the training.
Some of the topics include: Team...
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HealthFlex Dependent Children Coverage coming Jan. 1
7/14/2010
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 (the “Health Reform Acts”) require health plans that cover participants’ dependent children to offer that coverage to those children up to age 26, if the children are not eligible for employer-provided coverage.
This requirement goes into effect the first plan year after Sept. 23; for HealthFlex, our Indiana Conference-wide healthcare insurance, this plan...
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Hoosier reflects on life, times in personal daily memoir
7/14/2010
The Rev. Dr. Donald Lacy, a retired member of the Indiana Conference living in Muncie, has written another book, his 15th, about spirituality and life.
This one, titled With an Attitude of Gratitude: A Personal/Professional Memoir, was written from Jan. 1, through Dec. 31, 2008. In this year-long day-by-day accounting of his life and life’s work, Lacy regularly greets the morning with gratefulness and a heart of remembrance and receptivity.
With daily entries, he meditates upon the...
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Lebanon children's home auxiliary officers confirmed
7/14/2010
LEBANON, Ind. (IUMCH) – The annual program of the Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home Auxiliary was held at Gress Memorial Chapel on the Home’s Lebanon campus in April. The gathering brought Auxiliary members and guest from across Indiana, representing several United Methodist congregations.
The Auxiliary was organized more than 40 years ago and sponsors several meaningful projects which benefit the youth. Through annual dues of $3, the Auxiliary helps fund flu...
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Paul's second, third missionary journeys to become Hoosier journey
7/14/2010
Join Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner and the Indiana Conference on a 13-day cruise in November 2011. Working with Educational Opportunities, Coyner has chosen a customized trip that offers a unique opportunity. Participants will visit the Parthenon in Athens, stand on the synagogue bema where Paul preached in Corinth, worship in the ancient marble city of Ephesus, spend a day around the Sea of Galilee in Israel, visit the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, and explore ancient Christian Rome including a visit...
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Redkey-Dunkirk pastor officiates at first wedding in Lucas Oil Stadium
7/14/2010
Photo and story courtesy of Pastor Randy Davis.
Pastor Randy Davis of Redkey and Dunkirk Mt. Tabor United Methodist churches recently officiated the first known wedding at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The vows were received Saturday afternoon, June 26. The bride, Brittany VanSkyock, of Dunkirk, carried a blue bouquet in the shape of a horseshoe. The groom, Justin Smitley of Dunkirk, wore a Colts tie. The colors were blue and white. The wedding was followed by a reception in the...
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Two wind storms destroy church building in Yeoman
7/14/2010
YEOMAN, Ind. – The Yeoman United Methodist Church, which was hit by a tornado storm early Sunday morning, June 6, resulting in the destruction of its education wing, was hit again by high winds on Friday night, June 18, that ripped the roof off of the church building and scattered it to the surrounding area. The church had just renovated the building within the past year.
Upon hearing about the first storm, the Indiana Conference Disaster Response Team gave $2,000 to the congregations to...
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UIndy names full-time dean for School of Nursing
7/14/2010
INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – The new dean of nursing at the United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis plans to build on a history of designing innovative programs in response to a shifting health care landscape.
Anne C. Thomas, Ph.D., joined the university full-time in 2008 as director of nursing graduate programs and recently has served as interim dean of the School of Nursing. She had been teaching in UIndy programs since 1996, even while working as a research director at the...
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UIndy, Ivy Tech announce statewide transfer agreement
7/14/2010
INDIANAPOLIS (UIndy) – New deal builds pipeline for students seeking bachelor’s degrees in business.
The United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College have reached an agreement that will allow qualified graduates from two-year Ivy Tech business programs to transfer into several business bachelor’s degree specialties at UIndy.
The agreement involves Associate of Science degrees at Ivy Tech feeding into Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of...
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