Young Clergy Responses to Merger/New Conference Conversations with Bishop Coyner

May 18 (Bloomington) and May 25 (Kokomo), 2006

We'd like to hear your thought! Send us a message at ImagineIndiana@inareaumc.org.

What seems Good about the Merger or New Conference Proposal?

Shared ministry that could happen
Open up diversity in church size for appointment opportunities.
Increased connectionalism among pastors and churches
Affinity district is good idea.
Conference support staff moved to local churches as residents or associates.
Unified voice for justice.
Encouraged with New Conference rather than merger.
Like idea to streamline system to free up resources to do effective ministry.
Human resource person is good idea.
Potential to attract younger clergy.
Opportunity for church to be more outwardly focused.
Would free bishop up to see state as one.
This could be a great opportunity for expanded technology to connect us.
Technological advances for communication make it possible.
It would create a greater pool of clergy and churches.
Blank page no preconceptions.
We are excited about opportunity for new.
Let's try!
Possibility of leveraging, networking, flattening structure.
More effectiveness with out the duplication.
Improvement in total camping ministry for the state.
Affinity groups would be positive. How do you design affinity groups?
More involvement of people in the process so far. Keep it up.
Can we structure ourselves to be a model for the world?
Improved communication and possibilities.
I would like to get together with my young colleagues and just talk about ministry.
Potential splash we can make on the culture.
Potential to unify state in ministry.
Opportunity for us to look at our call to ministry.
This seems like a moment in time with momentum for this decision. Let's use the momentum effectively.
If this is truly an opportunity to restructure we would be willing to sacrifice for the cause of ministry. Key element is Task Force creation. Let's not lean toward the old system.

What Seems Bad about the Merger or New Conference Proposal?

Lost identity in a larger system
Composition of Task Force to be inclusive. Need combination of visionary and nut's and bolts people.
Different theological positions.
Is a year going to be enough time to do a good job with merger plan?
Small church issue. 10 % of our population has 50% of vote.
Decision making is democratic/compromise based and may dilute our effectiveness.
Older pastors who may have negative passion about merger. Is there enough positive energy to support the creation of a new conference?
What do vows of itinerancy mean for a whole state area?
Appointment is at the top of the mind of a lot, can the imaginary line stay?
The older clergy have been through this before.
Caring for the people who might feel lost through the merger. Potential to recruit some to be advocates for merger.
Territorial mentality "They are taking all the good appointments."
If it is only about merger then we are not much interested in it.
Are we too indoctrinated in present reality to make changes?
If we are simply rearranging the deck chairs we will loose multiple generations.
Long memory of those who are still reacting from the "old merger".
Is this only a financial rue to reduce cost?
The North Conference is voting in 06 for camping capital campaign, how will that be affected?
Rumors about "who is South Conference?" Need to get knowledge of one another.
Are we going at this backward? Should we ask "What is God's will for Indiana?
Is pushing 2008 to soon and thus miss some important time to get people on board?
Money spent on new office and staff current and future.
What are business priorities of both conferences? Eg. Camping/ministry/missions. How do we make financial decisions differently?
How will new structure transform local church structure?

What Questions Do You Have that Need to be Answered?

Who is going to shape the vision and how will it be done.
Is this an opportunity to merger or close some unhealthy churches
What is the goal and options?
Can the DS role be refocused to support role and not so much appointment only?
Invert the initiative and eliminate guaranteed appointment?
What will be impact of insurance on choice?
Will this be an opportunity to rethink clergy couple appointments?
Does merger mean that some lay and clergy folks would not be in position of decisions making
What happens if North votes down the merger?
How can we most effectively market the merger?
Long term and short term goals/vision?
What would happen to current Conference Center property?
Can we look at salary structure, accountability for Cont. Ed., Debt load of new clergy?
What would the Annual Conference session look like?
How do we unite people's hearts?
What is the shared vision?
How would merger benefit local churches?
Would larger churches benefit more from their involvement with the smaller churches?
Who is involved in crafting the vision?
Create opportunities for current stakeholders to help mold it?
We are focused on clergy and their movement up the ladder?
What could this look like for clergy couples?
What are the implications for camping ministry in both conferences?
If affinity is our criteria for district models how do we hold together our diversity, re: rural/urban churches?
Can ordination gift be a laptop?
Instead of lost people being lost, is there away to utilize their skill/gifts for ministry?
Are we not thinking about our own comfort over our need to be effectively deployed in ministry?
What about impact of clergy salaries and itinerancy?
Are the two conference theological similar, different, far apart or near?
Is this beyond our original covenant? Should we re-covenant with each other? Both clergy and churchesâ€¦
Will the young clergy be involved in the task force?
How do we find multiple staff team to dream possibilities and surround it with core of planners to make it happen?
What can we do new with merger that we cannot do now to reach people for Christ?
How is this going to change our ministry?
Is the system producing the type of pastors we need and want?
With the super district have we considered virtual DS role? Ex. Video streaming in real time for charge conference.
What are the best practices from other merged conferences?
How do we create fresh and new with those who helped created the current situation? How do we guarantee fresh, new ideas that pass political muster? How do we find the visionaries, dreamers that we surround with type-A personalities (planners)?
When putting the taskforce together can we put a one sentence statement of why this person needs to be considered for the team.
Should we consider 2012?
Unless there is huge saving the local church can see they probably will not be eager to jump on board.
Where is the cutoff for "young clergy"?
Debt in South Indiana Conference. How will debt be dealt with?
If this is approved by 2008 NCJ will there be a lag time for implementation?
What do we as clergy need to shed that is getting in the way of what God wants us to do? (Clergy, structures, etc.)
What will this effect have on consultation for appointments?
What are the ministry reasons for creating a new conference?

Last updated on 07/03/2008

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