SIC AC-- June 8, 2007

Kamina Project. Bob Walters and his daughter Taylor Walters talked about development of buildings, schools, churches and communication in the North Katanga Conference in Congo, Africa, which started 150 new congregations this past year. The North Katanga Conference also has started a new annual conference. In 2008 the North Katanga conference will have 48 delegates to General Conference. A SIC team will go to Congo this fall as well as Parish Nurses and Scouts. Hosts are needed for one of the 48 delegates to General Conference next year coming to Indiana.

Rita Gaither-Gant, conference secretary of Global Ministries, said the nine banners on stage represent the program ministries in the General Board of Global Ministries. Here are highlight of here report of things done in the past year.

Volunteers in Mission - In 2006 there were more than 112,000 VIMs across the U.S. in short-term services.

Covenant Churches - each member pays $5 per member or $1,000 for a three-year period. SIC has 20 Covenant Churches and another 30 that support missionaries.

Mission Prayer Calendar lists all the missionaries of the church and the staff members of the GBGM.

North Central Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission - The South Indiana Conference led the jurisdiction in the number of VIM projects and volunteers.

Katrina disaster relief - A video was shown of Liberians who gave an offering to Katrina survivors in Louisiana. David Cumbest of the Mississippi Conference, pastor of Heritage UMC, thanked the conference for all that the SIC has given to Katrina disaster relief in Mississippi. The Indiana Area constructed a volunteer center at Heritage in D'Iberville in 2006, which has hosted more than 600 volunteers. Indiana is one of the top states for volunteering in Mississippi disaster relief. For more information about volunteer service in Mississippi, log on to www.seashoredistrictumc.org and www.mississippi-umc.org. Bishop Mike on behalf of the Indiana Area presented a check for more than $3,000 to Heritage and ended this report in prayer for Cumbest and Heritage. Bishop Hutchinson sent thanks to the conference for its work in Louisiana.

Operation Classroom celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Bob Bowman gave the report in place of Joe Wagner, co-coordinator of OC who continues to recover from his fall two days ago. Wagner is now back at the hotel and doing well. Operation Classroom's ministry is centered on schools and hospitals in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Bowman was the SIC representative that met with John Shettle of NIC to found Operation Classroom. Each of the SIC districts partners with a school to provide school supplies and other needs. Carolyn Wagner, co-coordinator of OC and wife of Joe, thanked the conference members for their prayers and concerns during Joe's hospitalization this week. She emphasized student scholarships and read from letters sent to OC from students who have received scholarships from SIC churches.

United Methodist Women. Vickie Newkirk, president of SIC UMW, greeted the conference on behalf of the nearly 10,000 women in the conference. UMW support more than 100 projects in U.S. and more than 400 projects beyond the U.S. UMW in Indiana sponsor the School of Christian Mission held each summer at the University of Indianapolis. Scholarships are available. We are raising our knowledge and commitment to people here and around the world. See the UMW booth in the lobby. Newkirk recognized the Coyners for their work in missions. UMW gave $1,000 to missions in their honor. Bishop Coyner will be teaching next summer at the School of Christian Mission.

Other items of business on Friday morning

The Conference Board of Pensions and Benefits report was given by Jack Wolfe, secretary of the SIC Board of Pensions and Health Benefits. The report is available in pre-conference materials. The board reported that there no longer is unfunded liability in the SIC pension fund.

Bill Cross retires after 35 years of service to the South Indiana Conference as the Cokesbury manager. Cross said that the UM Publishing House gives more than $1 million a year to the clergy pension fund. On behalf of UMPH, Cross presented Bishop Coyner with a check for conference clergy pensions in the amount of $13,966. The conference donated this amount to the Africa Central Conference Clergy Pension Fund. The pastors of Liberia will be the first recipients of this fund.

Course of Study Graduates were presented on Thursday morning during the Worship Service of Recognition and Thanksgiving include: J. Bart Colwell, Kevin M. Giggy, Peggy Jo Haywood, Mary Jane Modlin, Kathy S. Rousch and Dianne Wells.

Jim Gentry, director of the Indiana Area UM Foundation, presented each of those being ordained Elder this week with a study travel certificate to the Holy Land.

Friday Morning

Highlights of Friday mornings sermon by Bishop Woodie W. White, former Indiana Area bishop.

He began by saying he regretted that he was not in Indiana when the Colts won the Super Bowl.

I remember it well as a young pastor coming to annual conference in Adrian, Mich., in the singing of "Are We Yet Alive?" I always noticed in the third stanza - "what troubles have we seen. since we assembled last." Then the last stanza - "let us take up the cross, the crown we have obtained." I have heard that song sung around the world in other annual conferences. Are we yet alive? - don't take it for granted!

Sometimes we become cavalier about coming to annual conference. There will be those at annual conference this year that won't be here next year. Even though we have seen a face yesterday, don't take it granted you will see that face again.

We have watched this morning to those who are coming and those who are ending their ministries. We have seen those who have been faithful to their ministries.

On May 26, 1969, I was involved in a meeting at a New York City hotel. Following an all-night secret meeting, I went back to my room only to get messages that I had become a father for the third time with another daughter, Valerie. My Jewish neighbor took my pregnant wife to a Roman Catholic hospital.

At this meeting, we were having a tense session. I could not support a proposal that was put forth for faith reasons. A colleague said, you are beginning to believe that stuff you preach. I do believe what I preach - then and now.

When we are grounded, life makes more sense. I believe their needs to be Scriptural grounding for all that people of faith want to do.

For example, let's say a law is passed that no one could have a Bible and that all Bibles must be destroyed. However, one provision is made - you can tear one chapter from the Bible. Which one chapter would you take and why?

We need to be so under-girded by this Scripture, so that when life comes to you unexpectedly, you will know where to find the Scripture you need.

For people of faith, Scripture has a guide point, a place on which life can rest. I know that I would be the poorer, the weaker, if I didn't know the Scripture. My ministry would have been less effective. Scripture is a valued resource. My ministry Scripture keeps me grounded. It's 2 Corinthians 4 - "we commend ourselves to the side of God. We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. We have this treasure in clay jars. We do not lose heart." I like Paul because I can't always understand him. He has conflicts within, like me.

In this chapter, Paul talks about ministry. We welcome new candidates to ministry, I hope they have a ministry Scripture that speaks to them and holds them in place.

Our ministry is God's ministry by God's mercy. This ministry doesn't come by brilliance of our worth but out of God's mercy. God has chosen each of us to be in ministry in a special way.

Even the Apostle Paul had to be reminded that it wasn't his ministry but God's ministry. We proclaim Christ as Lord.

It's not our church, ministry, agenda or strategy. It's Christ's. We proclaim Christ, not ourselves. Even in our disappointments and persecution, we are not to loose heart. Keep on going. Christ never leaves us alone or forsakes us.

Paul reminds us that we are never destroyed; we are never alone; we are never forsaken for Christ is with us.

So we celebrate those coming in and those leaving. Despite whatever discouragement you might have know that it is possible not to loose heart, stay the course and keep going.

In a world so broken, keep singing, keep preaching, keep telling the story - "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so." Keep on singing.

Members of the Reconciling Ministries Network handed out rainbow cross pins to conference members as they arrived Friday morning.

Friday afternoon reports

Adolf Hansen, co-chair of the Imagine Indiana Planning Team appointed by Bishop Coyner, led the Imagine Indiana discussion

Alex Stone of the North Indiana Conference composed a song about Imagine Indiana during his clergy study trip to the Holy Land which he sang to the conference.

Of the four points of the recommendation, the second, third and fourth are understood - actions to North Central Jurisdiction.

The first point does not seem to be understood clearly. The first point means that there is an intention to create a new conference but this does not require a new conference with this vote. The intention is to meet first in 2009 but that is not an absolute. The implementation report comes next year, if this recommendation is approved today, and will be able to be approved, rejected or amended. One session of annual conference does not bind the decision of another annual conference session.

The planning team has sensed fear surfacing from session to session. Fears have arisen. The word we share is to both those who support and who not support the planning team recommendation. God has given us these words: "Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed." from Isaiah.

Health Insurance. A move to the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits' HealthFlex Plan was approved. Wellness screenings will be offered in the fall and other benefits and plan changes were approved in the recommendations. Churches will have lower premiums to pay.

Connectional Ministries. Pat Shidler, chairperson of the Conference Council on Ministries introduced a variety of ministries to the annual conference session. Video clips and UM TV spots highlighted Igniting Ministry, Outdoor Ministries, Operation Classroom, the Board of Ordained Ministry and Communications.

Outdoor Ministries in 2006 ended the year in the black financially and completed phase one of campground ministry facility recovery process with a grant from the CCOM. A number of physical upgrades will be made on camp sites during the upcoming year.

Michael Cartwright, dean of ecumenical programs at the University of Indianapolis, presented a tutorial on "The Four Wheels of United Methodist Connectionalism."

Thanks Robert!

When the final amen is shouted at this year's annual conference, it will mark an end of an era in the life of Robert and Cynthia Sharp.

Robert will retire July 1, most recently from his appointment as conference Council on Ministries director.

He takes pride in being the youngest ordained deacon in the Mississippi Conference at age 21 in 1963. But after 47 years of ministry, he's ready to take a full year off and see what forms of ministry he'll do next.

"I've driven 35,000 miles a year since 1994. It'll be fun not to travel for a while."

The Sharps will stay in Bloomington, but will use it as home base when they go visit their six grandchildren - Maegan and Hannah, 9, in Indianapolis; Rebecca, 10, and Allen, 7, in Houston; and Madeline, 5, and Bobby, 2, in Charlotte.

Sharp is grateful to all the conference staff and district and church staffs he has worked with throughout the years. "There's a collective spirit of cooperation I've seen," said Sharp describing the work of Gary Schaar, Sharon White, Bob Walters, Sandy Harlan, Jennifer Gallagher and other conference staff and officials.

"The partnership between finance and programming has been growing. It has been a concern, but it has become strong."

He knows that Cynthia has been making a "to do" list for him, which includes painting and yard work, but he is also looking forward to working on his MG and three Triumphs. "I haven't had time to pick up my wrenches," said Sharp.

Looking back throughout his ministry, he is thankful for "the opportunity to serve the conference and leadership. I never expected it."

One of the highlights of his career has been the clergy fellowship. "I can never, never repay them," he said, telling of the time Rushville District clergy camped out at Methodist Hospital to pray over the premature births of his two granddaughters. Fifty surgeries and nine years later, they are fine.

Sharp's career started off in Mississippi, but later moved to Indiana at the invitation of the Rev. Jimmy Keith and the Rev. David Lawson. Appointed to Bluegrass UMC in the Evansville District, he's never looked back.

Additional reflections include thoughts on racial/ethnic minority participation and joys of ministry.

"I am pleased at the progress we have made at racial inclusiveness in Indiana and across the South. There's still a lot to be done," said Sharp.

"The thing I enjoyed most was baptizing babies - it's sheer celebration. A new life and an opportunity to welcome a child into the life of the church." He believes he's baptized about 400 babies.

In addition to completing Cynthia's task list, he is looking forward to worshipping in Bloomington area churches and participating in social action witness programs. "I'd like to protest more for justice issues."

He has passed along tidbits of wisdom to conference staff, and Jim Bushfield, the incoming CCOM director. He continually believes the church is headed in the right direction.

"I will be one of the last to leave IU at 7 p.m. on Saturday. I will then begin a couple weeks of vacation. Bushfield has a key to the building, and I'll be in and out."

Dishing out advice to those coming in - Sharp feels a connection to this class - he reminds the new ordinands to remember the joyful times, the baptisms, the weddings, the confirmations, the affirmations and don't worry about the criticisms. "Everyone gets criticized. You can't let the complaints dominate your life," he said. "This really is an outstanding class … the future looks bright."

Retirees class of 2007

Front row (L-R): Richard Russell, Patricia Russell, Cynthia Sharp, Robert Sharp, Linda Marie Snider, Roger Parrott, Beverly Parrott.

Back row (L-R): Samuel Chizmar, Nan Chizmar, Will Helms, Pam Helms, Carol McIntosh, Larry McIntosh, Gilbert Duley, Linda Gardner, Edward Gardner, Frederick Cox and Sandi Cox.

Greetings from Mississippi: 'We're rebuilding.'

When many Hoosiers go to the Gulf Coast, they just aren't going for the sun, warmth and beaches. Some are grabbing hammers, paint brushes and other tools to help rebuild areas destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

David Cumbest, pastor of Heritage UMC in D'Iberville, Miss., and Larry Davis, East regional disaster relief coordinator for the Mississippi Conference, were on hand to thank Hoosiers for spending time to rebuild the Gulf Coast.

"We're rebuilding," said Cumbest. There are currently 27,000 FEMA trailers still in their region that house 70,000 people. They have helped 2,700 families back into their homes and 1,000 are pending.

"The people are optimistic," said Davis. North of I-10, it is as if the hurricane never came. "When you come below I-10, you still see slabs. It can be pretty demoralizing."

The need for volunteers is still great: "We're still getting a fair flow," continued Davis. "We're staring to see a small decline in the number of volunteers." Davis added that August and September are wide open for volunteers.

With so much devastation still around and people still in need, people still are adapting. "You just live in the moment. That's what you can do. We're doing this too," said Cumbest. Heritage UMC held a service of death and resurrection after the hurricane to bring closure. Many of the members said time and time again that they just lost stuff. "It was grandma's china. It was family pictures. We needed a time to mourn and let things pass," said Cumbest.

He added that Heritage is almost back to "normal" in regards to attendance and activities. The Sunday school program didn't rebound yet, but they are eager to break ground for a new addition to the church.

Davis spends his days going from work camp to work camp, reviewing cases, visiting families and job sites and working with his staff of 19 people. Cumbest works with his congregation and community resolving issues and providing help.

"We live in a place where the church is significant. We see a renewed faith of what we can do as a church and what the body of Christ looks like. We see a lot of positive things," Cumbest said as he reflected on Romans 5: hope never lets us down. "Even the volunteers seem to go back home with renewed hope."

Davis added, "The most positive thing is seeing Christ in action. People are coming from across the country. We have a lot of people who keep coming back. That has been a time to witness to the coast as well."

Funding is available to the conference through 2010 for rebuilding. "But there will always be scars of Katrina."

For more information on how to support Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, log on to www.seashoredistrictumc.org.

South Indiana welcomes two new organists to annual conference

Assisting us in worship this week are two organists who are new to annual conference. They are Elaine Sonnenberg and Kirk Rich.

Sonnenberg is currently pursuing a doctor of music in organ performance at Indiana University. Previously, she earned a master's degree in organ performance from IU in May 2007 and completed a double bachelor's degree in organ performance and vocal music education from the University of Akron in 2005. She is currently serving as organist at St. Mark's UMC here in Bloomington and as organist for Beck Chapel at IU.

Rich, a native of Western Kentucky, began to study piano as a child and later became interested in organ. At age 12, he began to study organ at the University of Evansville. He recently won first place in the AGO/Quimby competition in Evansville. As the winner, he will advance to the next level at the Region V Convention of the American Guild of Organists in Columbus, Ohio later in June. Rich will be attending the Oberlin Conservatory this fall in pursuit of an undergraduate degree in organ performance.

Friday night

Bishop Mike Coyner reminded ministerial candidates being commissioned or ordained on Friday, June 8 that the credentials they receive are not the true credentials of the Christian faith. The true credentials of our faith are the results or fruits of ministry.

Coyner said in 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 we see the Apostle Paul struggle with those who had more credentials than he had. Paul may not have been all that much compared to these other types. But Paul didn't want to play those credential games.

Coyner said one of his pastors in the Dakota Conference had a wall full of certificates and another wall with 32 pictures of himself on the opposite wall. "I counted them."

In the spirit of Paul, Coyner said, "The day I have to prove myself, my ministry is over."

Paul said his works were his credentials. "The real proof of our ministry is the fruit of our ministry."

Coyner said in the Philippines, one who wants to be ordained goes to his home congregation and learns ministry from his pastor, then goes out and establishes a ministry on his own before he or she is considered for ordination.

"Credentials are important and agencies use them for checking out references, but the proof of your ministry is the fruit of your ministry," said Coyner. "How many lives have you touched? People are our letters of recommendation. And we are the letters of recommendation for Jesus by changed lives."

He then commented, "What if our lives are not good letters of reference and our lives do not give evidence to our faith, who will believe the Gospel we preach?"

The bishop commented on the popular WWJD - What Would Jesus Do? - written on clothing and signs. Part of WWJC is the ethics of Jesus, yes, what would Jesus Do?

"What the world sees as Jesus is what we do. If we talk about Jesus but don't live out his love and grace, the world doesn't see Jesus. So it behooves us to be letters of reference for Jesus Christ. Those letters need to be love letter for each other, even for our enemies. Love letters to the world from Jesus," Coyner said.

"You are the love letter for Jesus to the world. It's not just clergy, but all of us. References start with letters of credentials, but they become love letters. You are a love letter from Jesus to the world."

The bishop said, he has credentials, certificates and degrees on his walls, but no one has given me better credentials than a little girl that told him he was a friend of Jesus. "If people do that, then we will be love letters to the world."

Following his sermon, Coyner along with visiting Bishop Woodie W. White, commissioned 20 probationary clergy members, one associate minister, and ordained eight Elders to full clergy membership in the South Indiana Conference.

During the closing moments of the service, Coyner asked those in the audience that felt called to ordained ministry to come forward for a special prayer and blessing. Many came forward.

Retirees were recognized and a symbolic stole was exchanged between retiring Elder Samuel Chizmar and incoming Elder Reid Walker.

Delegates elected to General, Jurisdictional Conferences to date

Clergy delegates elected to General Conference include: Ann Glass of Plainfield, Greg McGarvey of Carmel, David Penalva of Indianapolis, Darren Cushman Wood of Speedway, James Bushfield of Columbus and Beth Ann Cook of Evansville. No clergy delegates were yet elected to Jurisdictional Conference.

Laity delegates elected to General Conference include: Ike Williams of Indianapolis, Patricia Miller of Indianapolis, Rita Gaither-Gant of Indianapolis, Vickie Newkirk of New Palestine, John Lawson of Westchester, David Crane of Newburgh. Jurisdictional Conference laity delegates elected include: Carolyn Marshall of Veedersburg, Luke Robbins, Dan Evans of Indianapolis, Benjamin Boruff of Indianapolis, Sandra Ruby of Crawfordsville and Bert Talbott of Indianapolis. Three reserve lay delegates are Ethan Jones of Charlestown, Anne Bunch of Terre Haute and Beckie Minglin of Indianapolis.

SIC AC-- June 8, 2007

Friday morning session

Missions is part of our DNA in Indiana says Bishop Coyner