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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
Conference approves zero gain $10.9 million budget and funds pension liability
Taking a realistic approach to local church finances in South Indiana United Methodist Churches, the conference approved Saturday a zero gain budget of $10.9 million for the program and administration of the conference in 2004.
After two years of apportionment receipts of 90 percent of budget in 1999 and 2000, followed by two year of decline in apportionment giving at 86 percent in 2001 and 84 percent in 2002, the conference council on ministries drastically reduced its budget for the remainder of this year in hopes of maintaining financial stability without cutting resources and services to local churches.
In other business, the conference approved a Council on Finance and Administration recommendations to pay for a retroactive pension liability. To right an error in omitting pension benefits of 311 pastors appointed to serve in the Indiana South Conference between 1982 and 1997, the conference approved a plan to pay for the total liability (including principal, base credit earnings and special distributions) estimated to be approximately $4.2 million.
The conference approved payment of this retroactive pension liability by allocating $350,000 of the Conference Board of Pensions assets as of Dec. 31, 2003, by using approximately $400,000 from the sale of conference property in Indianapolis to be sold this year, and by taking out a 15-year, low interest secured loan for approximately $3.5 million in partnership with the South Indiana Foundation of the United Methodist Church.
The conference also approved 2004 district superintendents' salaries of $73,926, a 4.1 percent increase over this year's salaries.
Election Results
Clergy elected to General Conference are Kent Millard, Indianapolis; Gregory McGarvey, Carmel; Ida Easley, Rushville; James Gentry, Indianapolis; Darren Cushman-Wood, Indianapolis; Deborah Cronin, Bloomington. Clergy elected to Jurisdictional Conference are Ann Glass, Columbus; David Penalva, Indianapolis; Kevin Armstrong, Indianapols; Mark Dicken, Clarksville, Mark Fisher, Indianapolis; James Bushfield, Columbus. Alternate clergy members are Andrew Kinsey, Vincennes; Robert Coleman, Evansville; Robert Sharp, Bloomington
Laity elected to General Conference are James C. Shaw, Indianapolis; Patricia Miller, Indianapolis; David Crane, Washington; Charles Porterfield, Indianapolis; Brian Jarmon, Rushville; John Lawson, Linton. Laity elected to Jurisdictional Conference are Dora Largent, Jeffersonville; Caitlin Smith, Greensburg; James Lewis, Georgetown; Carolyn Marshall, Veedersburg; James Lewis, Georgetown; Dan Evans, Indianapolis; Michael Minglin, Indianapolis. Alternate lay members are Mona Morgan, Carmel; Bert Talbott, Indianapolis; Clyde Fields, Indianapolis
Petitions to General Conference
South Indiana Conference petitions to General Conference call for:
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giving local pastors the right to vote for general and jurisdictional conference delegates,
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giving local pastors who have completed the course of study the right to vote on clergy matters including the board of ordained ministry and district committee,
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giving all clergy the right to be elected to general and jurisdictional conferences,
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establishing an Order of Associate Members and Local Pastors,
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including an associate member or local pastor who has completed course of study on district committee of ordained ministry,
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allowing local pastors to serve as mentors in the candidacy process,
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add Certified Lay Minister position to local church ministry team with supervision and support of a clergy person,
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adding the category of Commissioned Local Pastor, and
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changing the definition of town and country settings to correspond with U.S.A. Census data.
The conference defeated two petitions dealing with homosexuality and one petition limiting bishops to serve no more than 16 years.
MO's observations on South Indiana Annual Conference
Well, by the time you read this you are A.) at home and not thinking of any church business for a week; or B.) Still camped out at the IU Auditorium because you wanted to get a good seat for the 2004 Annual Conference.
As a member of the Hoosier United Methodist News and a man who is out and about, here are some observations:
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Dinner conversations: At the All-Conference Dinner, I met some great people from Middletown, Indianapolis, Evansville, Shelbyville, Nashville and Versailles. We had some great talks about what we do in our daily lives, such as how sweet potatoes are more nutritious than regular white potatoes and why New Life UMC near Fairland can see the towers of Indiana Downs.
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Voting: OK … we did better than Florida in 2000. 'Nuff said.
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Will IU ever have the area around the IU Auditorium not under construction?
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Sharp dressers: North Conference is the finest collection of Hawaiian shirts; everybody is all dressed up for South Conference. My only conclusion is that Simon Property Group must have better stores in the malls in the South Conference.
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Mmmm … food. Thanks to all the groups that fed me while I was there. So, if you start seeing more financial news in the e-HUM, it's because the South Indiana Foundation served some great roast beef.
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Call the marketing department: Some members of the Annual Conference are associated with Clarian Health, yet the Conference Health Fair is sponsored by Community Hospitals. Hmm.
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QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WEATHER!!! I'd rather be cool than sweating to death (and just ask Joe Wagner his thoughts).
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Churches I passed getting here: Thorntown, Lebanon, Milledgeville, Lizton, North Salem, Danville, Belleville, Monrovia, Eminence, Martinsville and Bloomington. Not bad for 100 miles.
Thanks for letting me cover your annual conference. I look forward to returning for the 2004 Annual Conference, which will be my fifth year for this great event! (Okay.69 more to go and I'll tie the Rev. Glen O'Dell's streak.)
CBYM @ AC: lots of work, but bring it on!
They could be at home, sleeping in or going to work or just hanging out with friends. But members of the almost 25-member CBYM delegation have been camped out near the front of the IU Auditorium everyday during annual conference.
Brian Jarmon from New Salem UMC in Rushville District is still involved in working with the youth. A General Conference delegate, he is celebrating the elections, the successes of the youth, new church starts and the move to correct the conference's pension liabilities.
For Misty Charles, 16 and from Rockville First UMC, this is her first annual conference as a youth delegate. "I've been thinking how much fun it has been," says Misty.
When they received the thick pre-conference journal, a lot of things went through their minds. "It was going to be a lot of work," says Brian, who also said it comes with the territory of accepting responsibility and doing God's work.
"I think how important it is to the church and I can represent us," says Misty.
Where do these members see themselves in five years? Brian hopes to keep mentoring youth and be involved with young adults after he graduates from Purdue University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Misty plans on continuing her involvement with the church while becoming an elementary teacher.
They returned to their churches this weekend with messages and stories, but they'll also tell people to roll up their sleeves. "The church is entering a crossroads period," says Brian. "We have to go forth boldly to make things happen."
"We need to be strong with our faith with all the changes we're facing," adds Misty.
The youth also celebrated the election of Caitlin Smith of Greensburg, who was elected as a delegate to Jurisdictional Conference. -- Matthew Oates
Retirees ready to roll
Seventeen clergy members of the South Indiana Conference are ready to retire. Among the 17, there are 446 combined years of service to the conference and the churches to which they were assigned.
The Rev. George Hunsaker of Indianapolis' Rosedale Hills UMC has served the church for 26 years. He'll retire Sept. 3, 2003.
During retirement, he and his wife, Karen, will be Florida snowbirds and maintain a residence on Indianapolis' southside. George will do some volunteer work, as well as continue serving on the conference's insurance committee.
"I'll miss Sunday mornings and the exchange between pastor and parishioners," says Hunsaker. He'll also miss the "fixed" schedule and the weekly cycle. "I'll have to check the calendar to know which day it is."
He looks forward to spending more time with his family and attending family events that occur on the weekend.
"Ministry, like housework, is never done," Hunsaker says of the things he needs to do before September. "Everyday there's something that needs done."
On advice for the new elders and the new clergy members: "It's a new time and a new day and they're going to have to pave their own road. It's always been true."
The Rev. Jack Miller retired in January after serving 47 years, having most recently served at Plainfield UMC.
He's been mowing the lawn, traveling a little more than usual and doing other tasks he has deferred throughout the years. "I manage to keep busy."
Miller recalled feeling his call to ministry. And going to see his pastor and then serving as a student pastor during college and seminary. "I've always had a passion for ministry."
He says he'll occasionally substitute preach, but he's looking forward to spending time with his grandkids in Carmel and Brownsburg, as well as taking his wife, Valerie, to the symphony. -- Matthew Oates
Annual Conference Round-up
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Approved a study to be done by the episcopacy committee on the North and South Annual Conferences merging into a single annual conference;
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Celebrated the 300th birthday of John Wesley through the appearance of two Wesley impersonators, both pastors in the conference;
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Promised to support through contributions Operation Classroom missionaries Joseph and Carolyn Wagner, whose support has been cut by the General Board of Global Ministries;
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Approved a $10.9 million 2004 budget, up less than one percent over this year and anticipate $12.1 million in income;
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Celebrated the Bishop's Initiative on Children and Poverty by reporting on Bishop White's "United for Children" statewide march, with more than 400 participants, to the State Capitol on April 26;
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Redesignated $100,000 not used in building dormitories at Africa University to be used for scholarships at Africa University.
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Consecrated George Lawson to begin a new congregation near New Albany, one of nine church development projects in the conference;
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Asked churches in Orange County to help defeat a local referendum giving organizers permission to build a casino at French Lick;
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Celebrated the appointment of Dan Evans, the conference's former legal counsel, as new CEO of Clarian Health (a partnership that includes Methodist Hospital);
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Celebrated the conference's relationship with Indiana's six health and welfare ministries, and three universities related to the United Methodist Church;
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Established equitable elder's salary for 2004 at $30,121;
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Received $15,502 from the United Methodist Publishing House for the pension fund;
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Continued support of the Igniting Ministries TV-spot campaign.