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Plenary #4:
A busy Conference worship and work week ends on high
The final plenary of the 2001 North Indiana Conference session was opened with the call, "Jesus, He's the man!" A youth choir consisting of children from Grace UMC and Marquette Parks UMC presented the jazzy rendition.
Larry Ray, Fort Wayne district superintendent, welcomed guest district superintendents (cabinet) from the South Indiana Conference. James Gentry, Indianapolis West district superintendent, thanked the NIC for their hospitality.
In other action:
Bill Hinkle presented the Council on Finance and Administration report. After a few changes to the report, the 2002 Apportioned Budget of $9,937,784 was supported.
Brent Julian, president of the United Methodist Men reported that the NIC sign-up for the UM Men's Congress in July has been less than successful. He followed by challenging each NIC church to send at least one member to the July 13-15 event to held at Purdue. Bishop Woodie W. White made a point to encourage participation.
An impassioned John Wolf of the Conference Committee on Gambling Issues declared that, "Gambling threatens the core values of our church!" In his report, Wolf reminded the audience that Bishop White and other local church leaders had met with Governor O'Bannon, encouraging them to oppose the expansion of gambling in Ind.
Dean Fager, chairperson of NIC Communication Committee, presented Igniting Ministry, a national media campaign to lift up the United Methodist Church in a positive way. The slogan of the campaign will be "Our Heart, Our Minds, Our Doors are always open." The television advertisements will be seen nationally in September, December and the first week of Lent.
Fager invited churches to send representatives to Igniting Ministry training sessions: June 23 at Lake of the Four Seasons UMC (Crown Point) or St. Luke's UMC (Indianapolis) on June 30. Bishop White reminded the audience that September will be United Methodist Open House Month. He challenged churches to be prepared for new visitors in September.
It was announced that the newly created coordinator of Hispanic ministries position would be filled by the Rev. Oscar Ramos-Gallardo.
At last count, more than 5,000 pairs of new shoes were collected for the Bishops' Initiative on Children and Poverty.
The results of the eleven amendments will be announced in a future edition of the Hoosier United Methodist News. Matthew Carlisle
Money: can't live with it,
can't live without it
During the Thursday lunch for the Conference Board of Church and Society, the Rev. Rob Nelson of Hobart Trinity UMC asked people to take a dollar bill out of their wallet and look at it and wonder where it has been.
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The same dollar bill that you have in your wallet at one time could have been change from a larger bill or come from the church offering plate or even a casino. "We don't know where that dollar bill has been and we don't care," said Nelson to a crowd of about 60.
Citing biblical sources such as Matthew 20 and Mark 20, Nelson continued that how we look at money can determine our lifestyles, both as a church and individuals.
"Money has power; it has an addictive nature to it," said Nelson. And that addiction can even strike churches who get caught up and lose sight . and make that fundraising a main mission of the church and not the people."
Another aspect Nelson talked about was how money plays a role in society, where we sometimes get caught up in personal material wealth and forget about children in poverty who don't have adequate healthcare or basic living essentials. "In our society money is worshipped."
But even back in Jesus' time, money was worshipped. Reminding the crowd that Jesus watched people place money in the temple treasury and how people responded, money was also involved in Jesus' betrayal. "His life was reduced to an economic transaction." Matthew Oates