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Bible study leads into reports about use of talents in mission
Matthew 25
Bishop Coyner began his first Friday morning Bible study by outlining the three parables in Matthew 25: oil for lamps, talents to be used and caring for the "least of these." What does Matthew want us to learn from these three parables?
We need to be ready at all times for mission and ministry. We need to give our talents and not waste them, he said.
This last week I received a letter from a woman. She said my pastor is giving us ministry out of an empty bucket. We need to help him. We need to reach out for the least, the last and the lost.
Coyner then thanked the conference for their contributions to Banda Aceh, Indonesia and showed pictures from Banda Aceh taken last week in the midst of their tragedy. They are still cleaning up the debris. Our money is now rebuilding their church school through UMCOR. Both conferences have given more than $910,000. The project is a witness to the community there.
The Bible study was followed immediately by reports on missions. They included:
BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES
SIC BGM welcomed Susanna Wesley, who talked about various ministries and projects supported by the conference's churches. A petition regarding the global AIDS project will appear before the body on Saturday.
OPERATION CLASSROOM
OC coordinators Joe and Carolyn Wagner shared with the conference that the surgical unit at Kissy Clinic in Sierra Leone opened two weeks ago. They also reported more than 6,300 students are in our related schools there this year. They also shared the expanding role and other programs of OC in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
More than 10,000 members are in the SIC UMW with 400 units in nine districts. The group reinforced the fact that ALL pastors are members of the UMW. Male pastors and the bishop sang the song, "I Am Woman." President Vickie Newkirk said the women are working together through a variety of projects for the mission of Jesus Christ. The group reduced its operating budget, but maintained its mission giving. "We know how to tighten our belts and loosen our purses," said Newkirk. -DG
Bishop Davis says we are called by Christ
Bishop Lindsey Davis reviewed, during the Ministry Worship Service on Friday morning, his first day in his first appointments in Kentucky. He said one of the church members came to him and outlined for him who were the trouble makers in the church. I was the fifth pastor in nine years there and knew about their troubles.
We serve in a very imperfect church. We are imperfect and so are the laity.
Paul said the church in Corinth was a disorderly church. Yet to that same church Paul wrote, God has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. God has called us to be leaders.
We are called beyond all our squabbles so the last, the least and the lost might hear the Gospel. We are to be molded in the image of Christ. Davis then told his listeners what they are called to do. He said:
We are called to be persons of prayer. Pray as if you life depends on it. In Acts, prayer is the priority of the church. Prayer is a way of life. We are called to humble ourselves before God to direct us in our lives to be an effective pastor as a prayer leader.
We are called to be an example to the flock by eating with sinners. Don't fall into the trap of spending all your time with your church, Davis said. Reach out to your community. You need to lead classes for new members, for confirmands even if you have to go to the community to find them.
We are called to let Scripture shape and mold who we are. Our Scripture is counter cultural. We need to study Scripture in the community of faith, not just as individuals. Scripture requires the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is eternally true. We are called to teach our people to open to the ministry of God.
We are called to learn to love deeply. Wesley said love was central. We musty love our people like we love ourselves.
My prayer as a 21st century church is that we will lead more to Christ and to place all our hope in God alone, our light and our only salvation.
During this service, the Course of Study graduates were introduced. They include: Jerald Dehn, Steven Eass, Janet Jacobs, Melvin Mozingo, Samuel Myers, Margaret Pruden, Donald Ransford Dennis Alstott and Greg Davis. -DG
Connectional Ministries show we are all under one umbrella
Transitioning from the missions section to connectional ministries, Bishop Coyner led a Bible study centered on 1 Corinthians 12. Paul writes about the body of Christ. "Every part is needed, every part is connected. We are all in this together," Coyner said. Where do we need to strengthen the connection in the body of Christ?
COUNCIL ON MINISTRIES
Pat Shidler, chair of CCOM, highlighted the many programs of the council including:
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44 churches in Natural Church Development;
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Campus ministry in our thee UM-related universities;
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53 high schoolers attended all day Youth Lay Speakers training;
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716 junior high students attended Youth Annual Conference retreat in November;
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500 senior high students attended a retreat in February,
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UM Men quadrennial meeting July 15-17;
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Young Adults have new chairperson;
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More than 10,000 people used our camping facilities this past year;
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VIM team went to Crowe Creek Reservation in South Dakota;
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Completed first of three year Covenant Community Spiritual Formation program;
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New "Fire in the Bones" DVD available on ministerial recruitment;
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Leadership Academy events coming this fall;
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3,500 people attended events at the new conference center;
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Clarian Health Partners provides for the center's hospitality.
Our umbrella is a big one.
COMMUNICATIONS
Dan Gangler, director of Area Communications, encouraged members to continually visit www.inareaumc.org and also detailed services including Hoosiers United Methodists Together newspaper, Indiana Area Web site, district communication workshops and public relations. He said on the conference level, communications greatest ministry is the Conference Resource Center for Churches with more than 4,000 titles.
IGNITING MINISTRY
September is Open House Month. The SIC has applied for a $50,000 grant to appear on Terre Haute, Evansville, Indianapolis and Louisville TV stations.
OUTDOOR MINISTRIES
Kevin Wrigley, Outdoor Ministries executive director, said the fastest growing ministry is church retreats at the three SIC retreat centers.
ORDAINED MINISTRY
Ann Glass reported that nine district committees have mentored and supported those exploring the call. This year, they have 11 newly ordained clergy and 10 graduates from the course of study. 2013 is the highest year projected for retirements. The conference approved a referral to the board to explore a concept embraced by the Virginia Conference and approved a part-time conference position for recruitment and clergy retention. -DG
Discipleship is lived out with multiple ministries in South Indiana
Acts 2: 42-47
The early church grew in four dimensions:
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Growth in maturity
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Growth in fellowship
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Growth in outreach
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Growth in numbers
Bishop Coyner said, this is how churches grow - in four dimensions.
Serving Christ through Discipleship
Ike Williams, conference lay leader, convened the afternoon session about many ministries where members can live out their discipleship in South Indiana.
YOUTH MINISTRY
Caitlin Smith, president of Conference Board of Youth Ministries, and Stuart Barnes-Israel, VP of CBYM, reported that they have served six years on YM. Fourteen youth will be graduating from YM this year representing 49 years of ministry. Abby Nuetzel was elected incoming president.
NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRY
John Adams, chair of Native American Ministry, reported that 66 volunteers went on a work camp to the Crowe Creek reservation in South Dakota. They floored, fenced, renovated buildings, homes and trailers and learned about Native American life.
SCOUTING
A scout's trip to Tanzania was highlighted.
PRISON AND JAIL MINISTRIES
Robert Reilly invited members to become involved in prison and jail ministries in South Indiana. This ministry is surveying churches involved in prison-jail ministries.
ECU-CAMP
Camp Riverdale will host Ecu-Camp July 10-12.
GAMBLING RECOVERY MINISTRIES
Janet Jacobs, director of Gambling Recovery Ministries, talked about ones affected by gambling. She said Bill and Karen came to her in pain a year ago and talked about their addiction to the lottery. "They came to me for help to host the first Gambler's Anonymous meeting at Grand Avenue UMC in Connerville." Bill now travels to meetings with GRM speaking to others about his gambling addiction. -DG
2005 Retirees
The retiree class of 2005 has plans to see the world and maybe just spend time with their families.
The 13 - seven elders and six local pastors - have a combined total of 273 years of service to the South Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church through a variety of ministries.
The Rev. Nancy Flood is looking forward to a change of pace. "I like going to hike and bike and swim and read and write," she said.
Flood is also going to be traveling with her husband, Royce, a retired Butler University professor, to their cottage in Maine. The cottage was built by her father, a former Methodist preacher who built a campground in Maine.
Flood is retiring from serving as a chaplain at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis after 16 years of service there. Ordained in 1991 as a deacon and as an elder in 1995, Flood had been a nurse for 10 years prior to going into the ministry. "You experience God most closely when you touch the suffering," says Flood of what her spiritual mentor told her as she was discerning her call.
She'll be spending time with her five-year-old grandson, Max, and 14-year-old granddaughter Bethany. "I'm learning to be a grandmother."
In addition, she'll work at paying attention to where God is in the world and where God will continue to lead her. "That's the work in my retirement."
The Rev. James Witty Jr. is retiring after 35 years as serving as a counselor at Building Bridges in Carmel and as a part-time pastor serving at Noblesville Union UMC. Already reducing his hours, Witty is still planning on counseling, life coaching and serving at Noblesville Union UMC.
In addition to playing racquetball and riding his bike, he's going to explore other options and hobbies. "I'm going to wind up at Connor Prairie taking blacksmith classes."
He and his wife, Sandra, are going to go on short trips and spend more time with their family.
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In other retiree news, The Rev. Ernest Hayden of Greencastle was honored as the conference's oldest retiree at the annual Retired Ministers and Spouses luncheon. Hayden is 93.
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The slate of officers for the retired ministers association includes Richard Armstrong, president; Robert Epps, vice president; Martha McKown, secretary; Ashland Shaw, treasurer. -MO
Clergy retiring this annual conference include:
Phillip Brenneman, Columbus
Beverly J. Faulk, Indianapolis
Nancy Lindley Flood, Indianapolis
James E. Gentry, Indianapolis
John E. Like, West Terre Haute
Melvin L. Mozingo, New Castle
Holly Rudolf, St. Joseph, MO
Beverly Smith, Milan
Marvin C. Swanson, Girardeau, MO
Robert Taylor, Vincennes
Thomas Ward, Lynn
James W. Witty, Jr., Noblesville
Morris Gene Young, Mooresville
Our Life Together
Coming Together
Sept. 17, 2005
Join with the pastors from the North and South Indiana conferences for a time of coming together with Bishop Coyner and special guest Brian McLaren.
St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis will be the host church.
Registration before Sept. 12 is required. The cost will be $25. Pastors are asked to read the book Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren before the conference.
Bishop says, 'If I could do it all over again, I would.'
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Bishop Mike Coyner told the 1,200 worshippers during the Friday night commissioning and ordination service that he "was ordained a probationary deacon with this stole" 30 years ago. He showed the stole to the conference members and guests.
He said, "This makes me feel old. I was first ordained by Bishop Mueller and three years later by Bishop Alton.
"If I went back 30 years ago, what would I do differently? I would be a lot more thankful for my ministry and that it is a privilege," he said. It is a privilege how people let you into their lives.
In my prayer journal, I noticed looking back how one day I celebrated with joy a couple hearing they were pregnant after trying so long and walked down the hall (of the hospital) to be with a wife making the decision with doctors to turn the ventilator off on her husband.
"If I would do it all over again, I would spend more time letting people minister to me. Sometimes I was so busy being THE PASTOR, I didn't let people minister to me. It is not a sign of weakness to let people minister to us," he said. When we sit elbow-to-elbow, we are priest-ministers everywhere. I would be more open to lay people who wanted to minister to me.
If I would do it all over again, I would also listen more openly to the criticism of others. I don't talk about the three percent who always complain - the CAVE dwellers - "Constantly Against Virtually Everything." I remember the day a layman first took me to lunch to tell me in love some criticism he had of me.
If I would do it all over again, I wouldn't do as much ministry on my own strength but on the strength of others. If you are trying to do it on your own, you are taking the place that Christ is to take.
"I have found that the weaker I am, the stronger Christ is."
I remember one Sunday I was so sick, I couldn't make it to church. I called our new associate minister and asked him to preach. He did and the church went on without me. I need to be aware of that with more humility.
If I would do it all over again, I would know more about the power of evil. Only five of those whom I was ordained with are still in ministry. One is dead. Good intentions sometimes go wrong. I have been fortunate, but I would even be more cautious of evil.
If I would do it all over again, I would realize how connected we are.
Bishop Coyner showed his crosier and said it was made out of many pieces of wood formed into one piece. The wood was connected together and stronger.
"If I could do it all over again, I would," he concluded.
In spite of what I know about ministry and the underbelly of the church, I can't do something else.
"If I could do it all over again, I would."