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The theme "Molded by Grace? Making a Difference" was lived out on the stage of the North Indiana Annual Conference at Purdue University June 2-4 in West Lafayette by potter Russ Harris of Nashville, Tenn., who threw pots and engaged in conversation during six Bible study sessions. Those studies, in lieu of preaching services, were led by Bishop Michael J. Coyner, a native of Indiana presiding over his first Indiana annual conference session, and the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, general secretary of the General Board of Discipleship. The Bible studies spoke about leadership, church development, mission and outreach, Christian conferencing and stewardship. The clergy executive session was held during a first-time clergy appreciate banquet hosted by Coyner. During a memorial service sermon, retired Bishop Sheldon Duecker of Fort Wayne, Ind., said that we need to honor the past, look to Jesus and get on with the work of the church. James Winkler, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, challenged members to continue their efforts to fight legalized gambling and celebrated no expansion of gambling in Indiana this year. Ken Vance, missionary and pilot serving Wings of the Morning in Congo and Zambia, said the church must become the infrastructure in Africa to provide money for agricultural development. The conference gave more than 7,200 health kits to UMCOR, celebrated giving $335,597 to UMCOR South Asia Tsunami relief. The conference also has raised more that $56,000 to rebuild the Methodist church in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Indiana-based Operation Classroom asked each district to adopt a school in Liberia or Sierra Leone. Concerning apportionments, the conference replaced traditional apportionments and for 2006 will ask local churches to give a tithe (10 percent) of their church's income to the conference's Shared Ministry. General church apportionments will be asked in addition to the conference tithe. The 2006 conference budget will be considered during an October special session following June listening sessions. The Council on Ministries was restructured into four ministry groups: leadership development, church development, mission and outreach, and peace and justice advocacy. The conference has four new congregations and 11 local churches now have off-site congregations. The newly formed Church Development Ministry Team will focus on strengthening and growing ministry with African-Americans and Hispanics in addition to church development. The conference retired 26 clergy, commissioned ten probationary members and ordained six elders to ministry. The conference has 566 local churches with 519 appointments. Membership stands at 99,349, a 1.9 percent or (1,978) decrease from 101,267. Average Sunday worship attendance stands at 68,109, a (585) decrease from 68,694
-- Daniel R. Gangler,
Indiana Area director of communication