South Indiana Annual Conference sessions at a glance

"New Beginnings" was the theme of the South Indiana Conference June 9-11 at Indiana University in Bloomington. Bishop Michael J. Coyner was welcomed as the conference's new bishop. In lieu of preaching services, Coyner held six Bible studies about administration, missions, connectional ministries, worship, institutions and discipleship. Each Bible study preceded a report session on one of these themes.

The conference suspended its rules to operate without legislative sessions.

During a memorial service sermon, retired Bishop David Lawson of Franklin, Ind., called the annual conference the congregation of the clergy.

During a sermon, Bishop Lindsey Davis of North Georgia, reminded members they are called to prayer, to be an example, to let Scripture mold them and to love deeply. In another sermon, Davis reminded members that Christianity is a movement, not an institution.

James Winkler, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, challenged lay members to become more involved in social justice by supporting universal primary education in developing countries plus basic healthcare and lunches for the less-fortunate students here in the United States.

The conference has raised more that $75,000 to rebuild the Methodist church in Banda Aceh, Indonesia and has given more than $450,000 to South Asia Tsunami relief efforts.

Indiana-based Operation Classroom asked each district to adopt a school in Liberia or Sierra Leone and celebrated the opening of a new surgical suite at Kissy U.M. Clinic in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The conference approved petitions to support global AIDS awareness, questioned the church's membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and supported counseling ministries for women and men experiencing emotional pain due to a past abortion.

The conference discussed at length a $500,000 shortfall in the 2004 expense budget. As a result of diminished apportionment receipts, Bishop Coyner challenged pastors and lay members to promote tithing in their congregations. Next year the conference will consider a proposal to replace the traditional apportionment system with a local church tithing system to support the conference ministries.

In other actions, the conference:

Approved $12.2 million apportionment budget and $9.7 million expenditure budget for 2006, which is a $1.2 million decrease over the 2005 expenditure budget;
Retired 13 ordained and lay pastors;
Commissioned 7 probationary clergy members;
Ordained 11 Elders;
Recognized 10 course of study graduates;
Promoted and approved $50,000 for Igniting Ministry;
Assigned an e-mail address to all active ministers;
Encouraged members to recruit young adults to ordained ministry;
Announced that 53 youth were approved as Lay Speakers;
Approved all General Conference amendments and
Recognized the United Methodist connectional ministries of Clarian Health Partners Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis; University of Evansville, University of Indianapolis; DePauw University; two children's homes and four retirement centers.

Membership in 2004 was 113,374 a decrease of (2,343) from 115,717 the previous year. The conference grew in professions of faith by six percent and 260 churches grew in average worship attendance. Worship attendance in 2004 was 64,898 a decrease of (422) from 65,320 the previous year.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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