Recommendation

As a result of this process the Imagine Indiana Planning Team brings the following recommendation to the North Indiana Conference and South Indiana Conference during their 2007 sessions:

A new conference be created in the state of Indiana to meet for the first time in 2009 as the legal successor to each of the existing conferences
A formal request be made to the 2008 North Central Jurisdictional Conference for permission to create one conference in Indiana
An authorization be given to the bishop to name a team to develop a detailed plan of implementation to be brought to the 2008 sessions of the North Indiana Conference and South Indiana Conference for approval
The new conference be formed in accordance with these guiding principles:
- A recognition of the local congregation as the most significant arena in which disciple making occurs
- A shared ministry in which individual believers are connected to local congregations, local congregations are gathered into geographical clusters, geographical clusters are partnered with one another in regions, and regions are linked together as the conference
- An expectation of collaboration that encourages the natural formation of partnerships based on shared affinities
- An expectation of excellence in the formation of leaders, both lay and clergy
- A willingness to be held accountable, both personally and corporately, to our covenant relationships to God and one another for the redemption of the world
- A spirit of openness to explore new ways, models, and methods of being the church, with the expectation of learning from both successes and failures
- An administrative professional staff that serves to centralize common tasks (e.g., finance, communication, technology) and programmatic professional staff that serves to resource local congregations, clusters, and regions
- A central location for the bishop's office and a centralized system for the administrative needs of the conference
- An annual conference session designed around prayer and worship, inspiration, training, and witness through activities and engagement with host communities as a transforming presence
- A continuation of clergy and staff benefits based on fairness and equality of eligibility with current levels of benefits serving as the base line
- A relationship with our affiliated institutions, both current and emerging, that is mutually beneficial
- A continuous process of evaluation and realignment of structures, programs, institutions, and personnel in order to increase the effectiveness of the church in its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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