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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
July 2002 |
Indiana Annual Conferences 2002:
'We are yet alive' … and we are growing!
It's been church tradition since any of us can remember. The words of the 250-year-old Wesley hymn "And are we yet alive.?" seem to spring from the lips of United Methodists at virtually every annual conference. It's a kind of regular reassurance we share that we, the Church, are still viable, still vital.
The full verse is: "And are we yet alive, and see each other's face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give, for his almighty grace!" In light of dwindling church membership since the late 1960s, the question posed by this hymn had begun to take on a bit of a wary tone in recent years.
This year, however, we could sing that hymn feeling more assurance.
Our American culture is still struggling with the distrust of institutions -- including religious ones -- left over from the '60s, along with an ever-broadening spiritual diversity that challenges the influence mainline denominations like ours used to enjoy. But things are changing.
"My greatest passion is that every United Methodist Church would discover God's will for them, put aside their own motives and reach out beyond their walls to minister to that one lost sheep that needs you and me." --Jack Dwiggins in his NIC Laity Address |
Not only is our Church approaching new and broader outreach, and seemingly with greater gusto than ever, but the latest numbers reveal something important is happening across the Indiana connection.
A Barna study a few years ago showed that the main reason for loss of our members was . uh.death. And we hadn't been drawing in youth and young families to replace those lost.
Now both Indiana Conferences are receiving more new members on profession of faith (new Christians) than we're losing through deaths of elder Christians. Specifically, last year a total of 4,072 (2,033 -- South Conference and 2,039 -- North Conference) Hoosier UMs passed on to "the Church triumphant"; whereas, we received a total of 6,761 new members on profession of faith. Moreover, we're baptizing more babies -- 1,497 more last year, to be exact. Another good sign.
At the same time worship attendance is up in both conferences by a total of close to 4,000 souls. Statewide, on an average Sunday, there are over a quarter of a million United Methodists in worship!
Yes, we are clearly "yet alive."
Shared Conferences' ministries, goals
As in other years, the two conferences' shared mission ministry of Operation Classroom was much in evidence last month. O.C. is celebrating its 15th year of our continuously growing West African mission effort.
At Purdue University, where North Conference meets, thousands of teddy bears were collected for distribution to West African refugee centers and orphanages as well as to Lafayette area children's homes and hospitals (a joint project with the Initiative on Children & Poverty).
At both conferences school and medical supplies were collected -- a truckload each -- for O.C. Hand tools, as well were solicited as part of a new initiative, "Project Hands."
Both Annual Conferences reaffirmed their support for a number of key shared initiatives:
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The Bishops' Initiative on Children & Poverty
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The effort to contain the spread of gambling in Indiana through ICALG (Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling)
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The Igniting Ministry public media evangelism crusade
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Continuing to build the communications infrastructure throughout the Indiana UMC connection, through district communicators and use of electronic media
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"Congregations that want to make their place of worship. truly welcoming must avoid three major pitfalls: 1) the pitfall of unfocused purpose. .The actual purpose is to provide opportunities for members to meet one another. 2) The pitfall of unintentional exclusion.. Church members are friendly, but they are often only friendly to their friends. 3) The pitfall of superficial inclusion. The exchange of names, shaking of hands and brief conversation. is polite. But most people who visit a new church are looking for far more than simple politeness." --Jim Shaw in SIC Laity Address |
In addition, Bishop Woodie W. White declared September "United Methodist Open House Month," asking that the 1,275 local churches in the state ready themselves to focus on welcoming and inviting visitors then. The ongoing theme of the evangelism campaign is "Open hearts, open minds, open doors -- The people of the United Methodist Church."
Local churches are also asked to mark the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by setting aside Sunday, Sept. 8 for "Remembering 9/11" services commemorating and remembering the tragedy. It is hoped that UM churches will offer their facilities as a community gathering place to remember the 9/11 events and to pray for wisdom, comfort, healing, peace and recovery.
Additional Annual Conference stories: |
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