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Clergy jam appreciation dinner
Doing the clergy executive session differently included a banquet of appreciation for clergy and their spouses held Wednesday night at the University Inn on West Lafayette's northwest side. More than 670 clergy and their spouses jammed into two ballrooms linked electronically. Several times during the banquet and hour-long clergy session, Bishop Mike Coyner expressed his appreciation to the clergy of the North Indiana Conference.
While clergy and spouses were present together, Coyner viewed with them a short video titled Radiating Possibilities. (It can be loaned for the NIC resource center or the bishop's office in Indianapolis.) In a whimsical way, the video emphasized steps to a more fulfilled life. They include the principals: sit in the front row, when making a mistake proclaim "how fantastic," quiet the voice in your head, become part of the song, and say to yourself "I am a contributor."
Coyner ended his banquet presentation by reiterating: "I am a contributor." Then he added what he called the theological part - "I am a gift of God." He also wished his wife Marsha a happy birthday. As the banquet transitioned into a session, Marsha led the spouses to a smaller ballroom for a spouses session.
The closed clergy executive session was led by Jack Hartman, chair of the North Conference with Bishop Coyner joining in as participants worked through the traditional questions of the church. For the second year in a row, the paperless report was presented to clergy on a ten-foot screen in less than an hour. The approved report will be in the Conference Journal.
Retiring
There are 25 clergy of the North Conference retiring this year. Together their service totals 750 years of ministry. Those retiring as Elders, Deacons and Local Pastors include: Emmett Ade, Gene Ansell, Beverly Biehr, Judith Brown, William Brown, James Butler, Edwin Clark, Lorin Clemenz, Ronald Covey, Thomas Ford, Richard Fox, Phil Hershberger, Gerald Hewson, David Hogsett, Tyron Inbody, Dennis Keesey, Joyce Kuhn, David Maish, Harold North, James Patch, C. Jack Scott, Darvin Suter, Larry Trueblood, John Weeks, and Roger Wright. Retirees will be presented to the full conference on Friday morning. Richard Fox, a pastor from another denomination serving a UMC, is also retiring.
To be commissioned
Ten candidates approved by the clergy in session to be commissioned into probationary ordained ministry include: Jeffrey Clinger, Charlene Harris Allen, William Garver, Donna Kay Goings, Joseph Hornick, Catherine Koziatek, Mark Need, Diana Kay Siegel, Thomas Thews and Vickie Van Nevel.
To be ordained
Six candidates approved by the clergy in session to be ordained as Elders include: Charles Pelc, Lawrence Saunders, Jeffrey Smith, Alex Stone, Matthew Stultz and Jill Ann Wright. These candidates will either be commissioned as probationary clergy members or ordained as Elders of the North Indiana Conference on Saturday morning. -- Dan Gangler
Bishop Coyner opens first conference back in Indiana
Bishop Mike Coyner opened the 38th session of the North Indiana Annual Conference Thursday morning June 2. In his opening, he introduced Russ Harris, spouse of conference speaker Karen Greenwaldt. Russ, a potter, will carry the conference's theme "Molded by Grace: Making a Difference." As Harris began to throw a pot on his potter's wheel, Coyner read from Jeremiah words about going down to the potter' house. The people didn't listen to Jeremiah and even wanted to kill him. But like a potter, God wants to mold us as God has called us to ministry.
Following the introduction of the theme and potter Harris, opening reports were heard and the conference workbook documents were approved.
One of those reports was that of statistician Brent Wilson who announced that this is the first time in the history of the conference that it has gone below 100,000 lay members. The 2004 membership stands at 99,349 confirmed lay members, a 1.9 percent decrease from 101,267. Average Sunday worship attendance stands at 68,109, a 585 worshiper decrease since 2003.
The Children and Poverty Committee reported that it has already received more than 3,000 health kits for South Asia tsunami relief efforts. These kits will be trucked to United Methodist Committee on Relief's Sager Brown Center in Louisiana.
Coyner announced that a prayer room in the lobby area of the auditorium will be open during the conference for use by members. -- Dan Gangler
Laity appreciation luncheon dishes up dialogue
To a resounding "Hello!" Bishop Mike Coyner kicked off the laity appreciation luncheon and laity session on Thursday afternoon.
Over the clanking of silverware on salad plates and glasses hitting tables, Coyner told the laity that both laity and clergy are all members of the body of Christ. "I really believe that we are all in this together. It's about 'we' and we are in ministry together."
Coyner also expressed one of his concerns with the church today - a smallness of vision. "I believe God wants us to enlarge our vision. When we work together as a church we can accomplish more.
"There are so many wonderful things that are going on out there in our churches, conference and structure that we should celebrate," he added.
Sharing one of the joys of his job as bishop is going around celebrating with churches, the bishop told of how he was visiting a new church start in the South Indiana Conference when a little girl tugged on his jacket, asking if he was the bishop. After he said "yes," she thanked him for her new fun church.
"That's my hope and dreams that the people of Indiana will work together and share the joy in that and sense that this is a fun new church."
After his welcoming, the luncheon participants - grouped in districts at their tables - dialogued with one another regarding five questions:
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What significant UM ministries are occurring in our district?
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What are some needs in your local church that are not currently being met?
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Who are you aware of who could address these needs?
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What ministry, in partnership with other UM churches, do you see as necessary and viable?
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What is your church doing out in your community?
Armand Deleurere, laity member from Hobart's Michigan Avenue UMC, is attending his first annual conference. "It's a new thing for me," said the recent retiree.
With the dialogue and finding out of the numerous ministries of several churches in his district, Deleurere said, "It makes me proud to be a United Methodist." Sharing of the ministries of a neighboring church, "That's a small church, but they're doing so much. We're here for the same reason; we want to see the church grow." -- Matt Oates
Remembering the chaplains of the Second World War 60 years later
Current United Methodist chaplaincy facts and figures
Bishop Duecker says church needs shot of adrenaline
Saying the church needs a good shot of adrenaline for the soul, set the pace for retired Bishop Sheldon Duecker's comments during the annual memorial and communion service to honor the lives of 36 North Indiana Conference clergy members and spouses.
Using Hebrews 12:1-3 as his text, Duecker, of Fort Wayne, outlined three points for the conference to remember. He said we need to:
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" Honor the past,
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Look to Jesus and
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Get on with the work.
Faith is the example of those who have gone before us, Duecker said. They survived the worst and kept the faith. A cord passes from Abel to Moses, David to Abraham; a cord passes through history to Jesus Christ. The preacher in Hebrews says we are in a great stadium of saints. They are cheering us on today. These we remember join that unbroken cloud of faith. The true communion of faith bears witness to us today in these we remember. Thank God for their lives and ministry in Northern Indiana.
Duecker said, the preacher tells us that our energy comes from Jesus, too. Jesus never lost his faith. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, the one who kept faith.
Duecker asked his listeners to keep their devotional life present. He said our faith in Christ is essential to our mission. If we are to be effective, we need to know who and what Christ did for us. The central core of our faith is that God was in Christ. Look at Jesus' ministry item by item. What did Jesus do? He preached good news, healed the sick, called the righteous and overturned the tables of injustice.
We serve a challenging, biblically illiterate world, said Duecker. Our culture doesn't know Christianity. We live in an age that believes in anything. Our American culture used to support ministry. Today it is hostile toward the church. The days of triumphal Protestantism are gone.
Consider the earliest Methodists in America, said Duecker. They came to reform the continent and spread scriptural holiness. They changed lives by speaking out against slavery, gambling and drinking. What is our missional purpose? - to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Why? I believe we are to make disciples to transform the world - to make a difference.
It's not enough just to stand or take a stand, but I think the theme for this generation is "Let's roll," the words of the victims that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11. Let's lead a winning race. Hold that vision in front of you. We are part of that unbroken line, Duecker said.
Following the sermon, the names of clergy and spouses who died since June 2004 were read. As each name was read, a candle was lit in his or her memory.
Remembered on Thursday morning were: PASTORS - Glenn Campton, Robert Cahoon Jr., James Price, Willis Syphers, Marcus Blaising, Wilson Parks, Jean McCan, Glen Howenstine, Burkett Smith, Paul Hill, Phillip Frew, Philip Hillsamer, James Byrd, Sylvan Nussbaum, Ruby Bushee; SPOUSES - Melba Henry, Lucille Hendrix, Clyde Kershaw, David Miller, Thelma Custer, Robin Goings, James Kruse, Grace Keller, Mary Stalions; SURVIVING SPOUSES - Veenice White, Geraldine Baker, Thelma Jennings, Evelyn Shake, Doris Luttrull Reynolds, Louise Myers, Mildred Hanawalt, Marjorie Sayre, Edwinna Manley, Joy Kreig, Ruth Ellen Royster Yunker, Ellen Frazure Plott.
The service ended with the sacrament of Holy Communion. -- Dan Gangler
Bible study stressed delegating tasks to allow for church growth
Bishop Coyner began the evening session by reading from Exodus 18 - the story about Moses and his father-in-law Jethro.
Potter Russ Harris, who has been working on pottery during the sessions, needed help. The two new district superintendents - Dale Mendenhall and Chip Gast - were selected.
Coyner commented that Moses had to learn from his father-in-law about leading and delegating.
Harris continued to teach the two district superintendents to make patens for chalice sets. We are going to do hand building. "Good news - I teach this to third graders. Another good news, I am going to make it with you and then take it back home and fire it and send it back to you," he told them.
Reflecting on the text in light of making pottery, Moses was warned to delegate because he was working from morning until night. Delegating would not only save his energy, but also because he would save the energy of those who waited all day.
Coyner said there are four steps to leading and delegating. Those steps are:
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I do.
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I do it with your help.
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You do it with my help.
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You do it.
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Annual Conference is statistics. But 'statistics' are really people. There are about 566 local churches: small, middle sized and large. There are about 519 pastoral appointments to those 566 churches, ministering to about 101,266 members. In 2004, the total giving of all our churches for all causes was $105,539,499. You are part of something great. And that makes for great responsibilities, doesn't it? |
He said, Acts 6:1-7 also talks about delegating. The disciples had to delegate tasks so that the widows of the community would be cared for.
Greenwaldt added - prayer, focusing on the Word and taking care of tasks. As the community (in Acts) grew, they began to run out of time to pray and focus on the word. Their part (serving tables) in the community was important so that the most needy of the needy would be taken care of.
Coyner pointed out that after that change, the church multiplied and grew rapidly.
Greenwaldt said, they looked for people with good reputations - a fullness of the spirit and wise. These were the people the disciples selected. The disciples realized that they couldn't do it all themselves.
Coyner said that's what we will be about on Saturday as we commission and ordain candidates for ministry.
Greenwaldt commented that everyone has a common ministry. These people are being set apart. All of ministries are for the body of Christ. How do we identify those who have the gift of ministry?
Leadership development
Following the illustrated Bible study, members heard reports about conference leadership.
The conference is involved in campus ministries at the University of Indianapolis, IU-Purdue-Fort Wayne, Purdue, Ball State, DePauw and the University of Evansville. Brad Repass, a student of College Connection at Ball State University shared with the conference aspects of campus ministry through UM-related and state universities.
Kim Reisman, associate pastor at Lafayette Trinity UMC, said, from beginning to end, God is redeeming us. The event of Christ culminates God's activity with all of creation. As Christ's followers we are about the task of spiritual empowerment, knowing the past and walking God's past. She said, I partner with you as she announced her position as the conference evangelist.
Cornerstones are celebrations to mark the four most significant events in the life of Jesus - incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and Pentecost. Four to six-weeks of guided studies are being developed. After hearing the world-transforming events of Jesus' life, people will be encouraged to make changes in their lives.
Chase Wagner, a student at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, talked about campus ministry in Fort Wayne. He said campus ministry reaches out with Bible studies for students, faculty and staff. A new Wednesday-night group called Conversations has grown from five or six to 35. Rapid growth came with reaching out, showing participants a love the world doesn't offer. That was the main focus of our ministry.
Kayc Mykrantz, conference lay leader, spoke last night about living out our lives in community by praising God and coming into relationship with God. God transforms us, she said. I have seen Him in the lives of others who have been changed. We become the instruments by which God transforms the world. Have you seen Him? There are churches where prayer is the most vital activity. They are praying for us now. I have seen God move in elementary camp. I have seen God move at senior high institute. I have seen Him move mightily in the programs of Alpha and new Christians in their new-found faith in Jesus Christ. I have seen Him in brothers, in sisters. I believe God is calling us to live as a WE. There is power in the transformed WE - power to bring God's kingdom to earth. I believe the call for unity has never been stronger. We need to live out the WE. The world seeing Jesus is the reason to celebrate.
Amanda Connett, a student from the University of Evansville gave witness to four years of change at UE in her life. She looked for life in the religious community at UE and the transforming power of Jesus Christ and her relationship with Jesus Christ has grown.
Megan Sapp, a recent Purdue graduate, talked about the tools of ministry and related them to the pottery studio seen onstage. A campus ministry offers us people who are different from us and others who are like us. A Wesley Foundation changes ones life and he or she leaves prepared to lead in the local church. The process of going through a Wesley Foundation matures you. -- Dan Gangler