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General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
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Area United Methodist
Foundation
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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
HOOSIER UNITED METHODISTS e-newsletter
For Friday, December 14, 2007 – Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent
This newsletter is paid for through your annual conference connectional ministries giving.
Edited by Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication dgangler@inareaumc.org
THIS WEEK’S NEWS HEADLINES
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Remember Bishop’s Christmas Offering for Children This Advent
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University Of Indianapolis Announces Lugar Leadership Center
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Nothing But Nets To Distribute 133,000 Nets To Families In Mali
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Pickens Dismissed As Chief of UMC Christian Unity Commission
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Asian American Elect Hayashi as Chair of National Federation
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Iowa Ums Urge Candidates to Conduct Immigration Debate Civilly
This Week's News Headlines
News and
Information
Bible Passage for Sunday
Worship Resources
Ministry Resources
Movie Review
Deaths
Ministerial Appointments
New Employment Listings
Previous Employment Listings
NEWS AND INFORMATION
REMEMBER BISHOP’S CHRISTMAS OFFERING FOR CHILDREN THIS ADVENT
Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner urges United Methodists to pray for all the children of the world this Christmas. He also encourages each United Methodist church to receive a special offering for children to be divided among children’s ministries in Indiana, throughout the United States and around the world.
Throughout the United States, that offering will benefit children’s ministries including the Henderson Settlement and Red Bird School in Kentucky, the McCurdy Mission School and Covenant Education Center in New Mexico, the Tree of Life Ministry for Native American children in South Dakota, the Gateway Children’s Ministry in Gulfport, Mississippi, a community center in New Orleans, plus children’s ministries to hurricane survivors across Louisiana and Mississippi.
Thank you for your generous contribution this Christmas to the Bishop’s Children Offering.
Resources are available online at www.inareaumc.org.
DISTRICT DAYS WITH BISHOP SHOW SUPPORT FOR CLUSTER GROUPS
This week Bishop Mike Coyner completed his 18 District Days of outlining the Imagine Indiana process and listening to hundreds of Hoosier United Methodists pastors and laity as they relaxed on what they heard.
In a summary of what sounded good, what didn’t sound good plus questions and concerns, efficiency, clusters, new vision/energy and cooperatives ministries were the overwhelming positive topics.
Even though the clustering of pastors and churches was a strong positive, with it came many concerns about how clusters would work and how churches and pastors would be held accountable. Other positives included focus on the local church, new and growing ministries and an emphasis on making disciples. Other negatives included travel distances for meetings and events, relocation of clergy, district changes, loss of closeness to district superintendents, elimination of jobs and distrust with the system. Leading the list of concerns was – How will it all be funded, especially with ten new church plants? Will only UMC churches be in clusters? There is a need for dialog about clergy effectiveness. How about money for new ministries in existing churches? The complete summary of district meeting reports can be read by logging on to www.inareaumc.org/Imagine-Indiana/district_day_summary.htm.
BISHOP, IMAGINE INDIANA TEAM ASK FOR PRAYERS DURING RETREAT
Bishop Mike Coyner and the Imagine Indiana Design Team have asked for special prayer.
The Imagine Indiana Team is scheduled to convene Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-15, for a writing retreat at the Indiana Area office in Indianapolis. They will be finalizing the document to be presented to the North Indiana and South Indiana Annual Conferences. If you feel led to fast with prayer, during those two days, please do so.
Members of the team want to discern the wording that will be used to shape the UMC in Indiana for years to come. May the Lord grant them the WISDOM and foresight they need (James 1:5).
Please invite your congregations, your small groups and your prayer groups to join us in prayer.
Thank you for being a part of God’s purposes in Indiana. – Paula Gast (NIC) and Beth Ann Cook (SIC). For the Imagine Indiana Prayer Team
UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS ANNOUNCES LUGAR LEADERSHIP CENTER
The United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis and the office of U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar today announced the formation of a center dedicated to inspiring and developing new generations of leaders for Indiana, the nation and the world.
The Richard G. Lugar Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders will build on the principles of the annual Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders, a one-day event that gathers Indiana’s top high school juniors for expert-led discussions on public issues and world events. The university has hosted the symposium since it was founded in 1977.
The new center will be a permanent home for the annual symposium and will provide extended experiences for high school and college students that expose them to leadership opportunities, the value of leadership in service to others, issues of ethics and integrity in leadership and the qualities of strong leaders. Building on the university’s core values, the center will reinforce the value of a liberal arts education in preparing young people to be tomorrow’s leaders.
The center will have a director and a nonpartisan external advisory committee.
Lugar, a member of St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis, is a Distinguished Trustee of the University of Indianapolis, having served on the board from 1970 to 2002. He was awarded an honorary degree in 1970 and taught political science as a visiting professor in 1976, between his last term as mayor of Indianapolis and his first term as a senator. – UIndy
More information is available at www.uindy.edu.
BOTH 2008 INDIANA ANNUAL CONFERENCES NEED ARTWORK, SONG
The theme for both North Indiana and South Indiana Annual Conferences will be “Friends with Christ,” with Scripture verse John 15:15 (“I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.”)
You can help both Annual Conferences by submitting entries on or before March 1, 2008 for one of the following:
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Original artwork for the banner to Gloria J. Nelson 107 W Campbell St., Edinburgh, IN 46124 Church: 812-526-5840, Fax: 812-526-8617, e-mail: gnelson@sicumc.org or revgjnelson@aol.com
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Original song or new words to a non-copywritten melody to Lynn Renne Aldersgate UMC 5130 Lincoln Ave. Evansville, IN 47715, Church: 812-477-7816, Fax 812-477-8658, e-mail lrenne@aol.com
The artwork and original song selected will be used by both annual conference sessions this coming spring.
INDIANA UM LOAN FUND STARTS NEW PROGRAM FOR GRANDPARENTS
The Indiana United Methodist Loan Fund has started a new program called The Grandparents Pride Program. This is a way for you to give a gift to your grandchildren that will help them learn about giving and receiving. The money invested in the Loan Fund assists Indiana UM churches and agencies to build ministry.
Call the Loan Fund to get started or to get more information. Click to read more details.
Indiana UM Loan Fund, Inc. 866-669-2327 www.iumlf.org or srunion@niumf.org
BISHOP MAY EXPRESSES CONCERNS TO CONGRESS ON PHILIPPINES
The leader of church’s international mission agency has asked Congress to assure that no U.S. military aid to the Philippines can be used in ways that violate human rights.
Bishop Felton E. May, interim chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, sent a letter to members of Congress on Dec. 10, which was International Human Rights Day.
Dealing with spending bills, Congress was considering a measure (H.R. 2764) that would provide $30 million in military aid to the government of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The amount is $19 million more than was requested by the U.S. State Department.
H.R. 2764 passed the House of Representatives, and the Senate has passed a similar version. The two bills must now be reconciled.
The Philippines military has been cited in numerous reports as being complicit in, if not directly responsible for, a series of murders of human right activists, including clergy and church lay leaders. These “extrajudicial killings” have been widely condemned by both Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders in the Philippines and on the global stage.
May urged Congress to approve no more than the $11.1 million requested by the State Department for military aid to the Philippines and asked that human rights conditions be applied to whatever amount is voted. He also appealed to Congress to make publicly available State Department reports that might indicate whether the U.S. government was aware of the use of U.S. funds in anti-human rights activities of the Arroyo administration and its military. – UMNS
NOTHING BUT NETS TO DISTRIBUTE 133,000 NETS TO FAMILIES IN MALI
The people of The United Methodist Church and Nothing But Nets – a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria – announced today that the Rev. Gary Henderson, executive director of the Global Health Initiative, will travel to Mali, Africa as part of a United Nations Foundation and Nothing But Nets delegation to observe the distribution of over two million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to children and their families.
Nothing But Nets campaign supporters funded 133,000 of the bed nets being distributed Dec. 13-19 as part of the largest integrated health campaign in Mali, where malaria is a leading cause of death for children under five. By the end of the integrated health campaign, all children under five will be protected by an insecticide-treated net.
The integrated health campaign is being organized and implemented by the Malian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Measles Initiative and other international partners. As part of this integrated health campaign, over 2.8 million children under the age of five will also receive vaccinations against polio and measles, Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming medication.
While in Mali, Henderson and Nothing But Nets representatives will participate in a faith leader’s event that will gather both local and international leaders of faith together to discuss ways to address global health problems. The United Methodist Church is engaged in a new global health initiative aimed at combating the diseases of poverty and bringing better health to people all over the world.
To date, the Campaign has engaged more than 60,000 individuals, raised more than $16 million and will have distributed more than 700,000 nets by the end of 2007.
PICKENS DISMISSED AS CHIEF OF UMC CHRISTIAN UNITY COMMISSION
The Rev. Larry Pickens has been dismissed as the chief executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. The action by commission members came Dec. 5 in Birmingham, Ala., upon recommendation of the personnel committee, after several hours of discussion. Retired Bishop Albert F. “Fritz” Mutti, the commission’s president from 2000-2004, was elected as its interim leader. Pickens, 49, who was a commission member from 1988 to 1992, became its top executive July 1, 2004. The commission declined to elaborate on its reasons for not re-electing him. Pickens told UMNS that while he was disappointed not to be re-elected, he was grateful for the experience. – UMNS
ASIAN AMERICAN ELECT HAYASHI AS CHAIR OF NATIONAL FEDERATION
The National Federation of Asian American United Methodists elected officers, reflected on its history and planned for the future during its Nov. 28-29 general assembly in Los Angeles. Looking ahead, new Chairperson Donald Hayashi of Dayton, Ohio, said the federation would help the church address the challenges of growth and opportunity for the organization’s 10 ethnic groups: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Formosan, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, South Asian and Vietnamese. Hayashi said the federation will also “work with the denomination to expand ministries to reach new immigrants and those who are unchurched.” – UMNS
IOWA UMs URGE CANDIDATES TO CONDUCT IMMIGRATION DEBATE CIVILLY
Representatives of the Iowa Interfaith Immigration Coalition are urging presidential candidates of both parties to conduct the debate over immigration policy in a civil manner “that respects human dignity.” United Methodist leaders and others attended the coalition’s press conference in Des Moines Dec. 4. Connie Ryan Terrell, of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, led a group of speakers who gathered to “change the negative, public attitudes and rhetoric which demonize and dehumanize our immigrant friends and neighbors.” Terrell said this “destructive attitude has permeated our nation,” making the discussion about immigration a more “complex and difficult debate.” – UMNS
UE FRATERNITY EARNED NATIONAL LITTER PREVENTION AWARD
A project with the University of Evansville’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity this month earned Keep Evansville Beautiful its first national award.
A representative of Keep Evansville Beautiful went to Washington, D.C. last week to collect the second place 2007 Litter Prevention Award from its parent group, Keep America Beautiful. The award was given for a March 31, 2007 project, in which members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon joined members of Keep Evansville Beautiful and the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development to clean up the Tepe Park neighborhood.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon became involved as part of UE Gives Back – a campus-wide event coordinated through the Office of Volunteer Services. On March 31, students from numerous organizations went to sites across the area, tackling projects to better the community.
To see before and after photographs of the TEPE Park neighborhood cleanup, visit www.keepevansvillebeautiful.org and click on the Great American Cleanup. – UE
More stories are available online
at www.umc.org and
www.umportal.org.
BIBLE PASSAGE FOR SUNDAY
Jesus answered, “Go and tell John what you have heard and seen. The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news. God will bless everyone who doesn’t reject me because of what I do.”
– Matthew 11:4-6
(Contemporary English Version)
www.bibles.com
WORSHIP RESOURCES
A 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF WESLEY HYMNS
Compiled by Dean McIntyre
The 300th anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley is Dec. 18, 2007. This table (in PDF) will enable worship leaders to plan for a full year of observing the occasion with a full year of Wesley hymns tied to the lectionary passages for the given date. Wesley anniversary resources are available at www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45400.
PLAN AN ALTERNATIVE TO CAROLING FOR SHUT-INS AT CHRISTMAS
GENTRYVILLE CHURCH SEEKS USED CHURCH PEWS
The Mt. Olive UMC, located in southern Indiana on Hwy 231 two miles south of Gentryville, is looking for used church pews, they will be new to us. If you have some to give or sell, call Toni Groves at 812-362-8711 or e-mail her at trg@swindiana.net.
MINISTRY RESOURCES
PBS PRESENTS ‘THE BIRTH OF CHRIST’ ALSO ON DVD
An inspiring Christmas musical celebration will air on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) throughout the holiday season. The timeless Christmas story is called The Birth of Christ.
It’s told through song, and Luke’s account of the nativity story is narrated by Academy Award winning actor Liam Neeson.
The historic premiere of The Birth of Christ was recorded at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, (a block from the church where George Handel premiered Messiah in 1742) bringing together a chorus of Catholic and Protestant singers who put aside their sectarian differences for the event.
Composer Andrew T Miller, music director at Federal Way UMC in Auburn, Wash., brings the true meaning of the season to life in The Birth of Christ. Hosted and narrated by Academy Award winner Liam Neeson, The Birth of Christ debuted as a local Seattle PBS pledge drive and exceeded monetary expectations three times over.
While airing on less than 30 percent of PBS stations nationwide, it is climbing the charts on www.Amazon.com and Billboard’s Classical bestseller list.
The DVD The Birth of Christ (SONY BMG Masterworks 2007) is sitting at the #1 spot for Amazon.com’s Classical music selections selling for $12.97.
COKESBURY AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU WITH RESOURCE NEEDS
Now is the time to start thinking about curriculum and VBS supplies for 2008! Landon DeCrastos, Key Account Manager for the Cokesbury in Fishers, would like to make himself available to you. Landon is available to come to your church to give learning sessions regarding different types of curriculum that are available. He is also able to help you with any other church supplies or growth resources you may need. If you are interested in meeting with Landon, you may contact him by e-mail at ldecrastos@cokesbury.com or by telephone at 317-849-1551.
NORTH INDIANA MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER PICKS FOR DECEMBER
New Releases:
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Team for Peace-Israeli/Palestine Youth Soccer Team Plays for PeaceOutflow Youth Leader’s Kit, Everyday Outreach for everyday Youth (Includes DVD, Leader’s Guide & Youth Journal,
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After the Storm-Power & Peace in the Middle East,
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Advent Calendar,
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Disciple-Training for Effective Discipleship Leaders,
God Rocks Series:
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Because God gave me RULES I am Responsible,
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Because God helps me, I am Confident,
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Because God Created me I am Special-DVD/CD-Rom curriculum for grades 1-6, 5 sessions for each DVD/CD-Rom
Christmas Favorites:
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A Christmas Carol-Bible Study,
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The True Christmas Story,
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Noel-A magical ornament comes to life, a story of love,
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Alabaster’s Song-Max Lucado,
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Cosmic Christmas,
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Jacob’s Gift,
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Lightening the Way- Multi-Cultral Approach,
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My Favorite Christmas and many more!
We look forward to serving you! Call 800-783-5138 or e-mail angel@nicumc.org.
SOUTH INDIANA MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER PICKS FOR DECEMBER
The South Indiana Conference Media Resource Center’s latest acquisitions can be found online at www.sicumc.org. Click on “Media Center” and explore all the available options, including “Newest Resources” and “Picks of the Month.” December “Picks” have been posted. Some of the newest additions include: Advent Calendar on DVD: Christmas Countdown for December; Faith in Community Ministry: Forged by Fire: Untold Stories of Faith; NOOMA: Name; and Prayer: Does It Make a Difference? with Philip Yancey. FOR CHRISTMAS RESOURCES: Go to the website, click on “Bibliographies” and go to “Holidays: Christmas.” There are still some Christmas videos and DVDs available for scheduling. By calling the Media Center toll-free at 800-919-8160, you can order these and other resources from a selection of more than 4,000 videos and DVDs. Return postage is your only cost. This service is provided through your connectional tithe. Mary Barnes, Media Director, can be reached at mbarnes@sicumc.org for more information/consultation or you can access the catalog directly at www.sicumc.org.
The South Indiana Conference Media Resource Center in Bloomington will be closed from Dec.17 to Jan. 2. Mary Barnes, director of the center, will be away from the office for holidays and vacation time during this period. Please call now for resources you need during that period and please return all items to the Media Center by Dec.17 if they are due back by that date. Thank you for your assistance and use of the center.
MOVIE REVIEW
The Golden Compass
By Bill Fentum,
Staff Writer, United Methodist Reporter, Dallas
Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence
If you’ve hoped the film version of Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass will vanish overnight and the debate over its atheistic subtext will just fade away, I’ve got bad news.
That isn’t going to happen.
Compass is sometimes a mess, like any $180 million epic planned by committee. But it’s also entertaining, loaded with creative twists and eye-popping effects.
In short, despite a mildly disappointing opening at the U.S. box office, the movie will stay on people’s radar screens for a while.
Kids who don’t see it in theaters will probably catch it on DVD. And they may be drawn to Pullman’s book trilogy, “His Dark Materials,” which is said to be much more irreverent.
Christians may have nothing to fear, though. It all depends on how we respond.
For the full review, log on to http://www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=2897.
DEATHS
RUSSELL J. COMPTON, retired pastor (SIC), died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007. Calling hours are scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 14 at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, 602 E Washington Street in Greencastle, Ind. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec.15 at Gobin Memorial UMC, 307 Simpson Street in Greencastle, Ind. Survivors include: one son, Clyde Compton, 5 Linden Lane, Ogden, Dunes, IN 46368; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
JANET YVONNE DEAL, 73, wife of the Rev. David Deal, retired supply pastor to Breden UMC in Terre Haute, Ind. (SIC), formerly of Plainville, Ill., died Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 at her home in Marshall, Ill., following an extended illness. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14 at Pearce Funeral Home, 314 S. Sixth Street in Marshall, Ill., with graveside services at 3 p.m. at the Plainville (Ill.) Cemetery.
Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13 and prior to the memorial service on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials can be given to a scholarship fund for her grandchildren. Survivors include: husband, the Rev. David Deal; two sons, Larry Deal of Springfield, Ill., and Deacon Deal of Sullivan, Ill.; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three brothers, Roger Denbo of Florida, Monte Denbo of Rising Sun, Ill., and Phil Denbo of Bloomington, Ill.; and three sisters. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynn Deal. Condolences can be sent to the Rev. David Deal, 302 Holly Street; Marshall, IL 62441.
WILLIS GOODWIN, a minister in John’s Island, S.C. active in mission projects with pastors and laity in the Bloomington and Evansville districts, who went to John’s Island. Goodwin, 72, died Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, at the Medical University of South Carolina. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, at Wesley UMC, 446 Meeting Street in Charleston. A memorial service is scheduled for noon Friday, Dec. 14 at the church. For information on memorial contributions please contact the Bloomington District UMC Office at bladmin@sicumc.org for further details. Condolences can be sent to Ms. Eartha Goodwin, 2751 Bohickett Rd., John’s Island SC 29455.
ALICE KIRKPATRICK, widow of the late Rev. John Kirkpatrick (SIC), mother of Kathie Clemenz, mother-in-law to the Rev. Lorin L. Clemenz, died Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. with a memorial service at 2 p.m. at Wesley Manor Chapel in Frankfort, Ind., with interment in the Ball Hill Cemetery at Cutler, Ind. Rev. Clemenz will officiate.
Condolences can be sent to the Rev. and Mrs. Lorin Clemenz, 6337 Creekview Lane, Fishers, IN 46038-2091.
ROBERT L. ZIRKLE, 79, father of the Rev. Jeffrie Zirkle, pastor of Greensburg UMC (SIC-Rushville District), died Friday, Dec.7, 2007. A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. at Ballard and Sons Funeral Home, 118 South 5th, Middletown, Ind. with the Rev. Jeff Zirkle and the Rev. Jeffrey Landon officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home this evening, Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 5 to 9 p.m.
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
Bishop Michael J. Coyner has announced the following changes within the Indiana Area. All dates effective 2007 unless otherwise noted. These appointments are based on Cabinet reports received by Indiana Area Communication during the week of December 14, 2007.
North Indiana Conference
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None this week
South Indiana Conference
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Lewis, James F. from no appointment to Clarks: Ohio Falls, New Albany, 1/1/08
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Mair, Jeffery L. from Shirley-Wilkinson Community, Rushville to Indianapolis: Cumberland, Indianapolis East, 1/15
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Morgan, Mary Beth from no appointment to Bloomington: First, Bloomington, 7/1
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Thompson, Richard from no appointment to Fishers, Indianapolis East, 1/1/08
NEW EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS
None this week.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS
YORKTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SEEKS CHOIR DIRECTOR
Choir Director’s basic responsibilities are during the school year and include selecting music and directing adult choir as well as working well with organist/pianist accompanying choir. Also includes helping schedule other vocal music ministry for worship experiences. Applicants for this part-time position should forward resume and cover letter to yumc@att.net
Last updated on 04/01/2008Compiled as a service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication in Indianapolis.