Site
Contents
 |
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
HOOSIER UNITED METHODISTS e-NEWS
For Friday, April 11, 2008 – Sunday is fourth Sunday of Easter
This newsletter is paid for through your annual conference connectional ministries giving.
Edited by Dan Gangler, director of communication dgangler@inareaumc.org.
Deadline for submitting news items is Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS HEADLINES
Final Draft Of Imagine Indiana Design Team Report Now Online
Indiana Area Cabinets Endorse Beard for Episcopacy
Wisconsin Conference Endorses Hispanic for Bishop
Warsaw District Helps Family Recoup Following House Fire
Modern-Day Episcopal Address Will Be Multimedia Experience
United Methodist Bishop to Greet Pope Benedict in New York
United Methodists Score $3.35 Million for Nothing But Nets
Online Game Delivers Virtual Nets, Saves Real Lives
NEWS AND INFORMATION
FINAL DRAFT OF IMAGINE INDIANA DESIGN TEAM REPORT NOW ONLINE
The final April 7, 2008 draft of the Imagine Indiana Design Team Report is now online on the Indiana Area Web site at www.inareaumc.org. Click on Imagine Indiana in the left column to find a PDF document of the report. New to this final report are the financial implications of the proposed plan for a new Indiana Conference. The proposals will be voted on at the upcoming North Indiana and South Indiana Annual Conference sessions later this spring.
INDIANA AREA CABINETS ENDORSE BEARD FOR EPISCOPACY
The Indiana Area Cabinets, made up of 18 district superintendents from the North Indiana and South Indiana Conferences, joined the Black Methodists in Indiana this week in endorsing the Rev. Dr. Frank Beard for the episcopacy. Beard currently serves as superintendent of the Kokomo District in the North Indiana Conference.
Beard has led the North Indiana Conference Delegations to two General Conferences and serves on several connectional boards and agencies, including on the General Board of Discipleship. – e-HUM
WISCONSIN CONFERENCE ENDORSES HISPANIC FOR BISHOP
The Wisconsin Conference delegation to the North Central Jurisdiction recently endorsed the Rev. Jorge Luis Mayorga Solis for the episcopacy in the North Central Jurisdiction. He was born in Atiquizaya, El Salvador in 1955. In the midst of El Salvador’s civil war in 1981, the family moved to the United States. They became American citizens in 1988.
Reared in a Roman Catholic family, Mayorga received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 19. He was the first in his family to become a Protestant. Now, two of his siblings also are United Methodist pastors.
Mayorga has earned high respect, not only within the Wisconsin Conference, but nationally through his denominational work as a member of the Board of Directors of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, as a facilitator for the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry and as a Consultant to annual conferences establishing Hispanic ministries. He also teaches the Course of Study at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.
He was elected to General Conference in 2004, and was the first Wisconsin clergy elected to the 2008 General Conference. He has served as a district superintendent since 2004. He also has been also endorsed by MARCHA, which is the National Hispanic Caucus. He is married to Rosy Mayorga. They have three children and three grandchildren. – Wisconsin Conference UMC
Note: Biographies of all NCJ candidates can be found at www.ncj2008.org.
WARSAW DISTRICT HELPS FAMILY RECOUP FOLLOWING HOUSE FIRE
Sherri Hurley, administrative assistant at the Walnut Creek UMC in Warsaw, experienced a great loss on Tuesday. A devastating fire destroyed her home on Tuesday, April 8. Family members, which includes four children ages 2 to 14 years, lost all their material belongings.
The Warsaw District office requests your prayer support for comfort, courage, strength and endurance during this difficult time for the Hurley family.
If you wish to assist the Hurley family with this transition, gift certificates from Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Penney’s, etc., will be received on behalf of the family at: Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, 2033 S 150 W, Warsaw, IN 46580.
MODERN-DAY EPISCOPAL ADDRESS WILL BE MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE
When Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher delivers the Episcopal Address at the United Methodist General Conference in Fort Worth on April 24, it will be a much different experience than when the first formal Episcopal Address was presented in 1812. It will, in fact, be the first of its kind.
This year’s Episcopal Address will be a multimedia production incorporating video, photos, music, and stories of those whose lives have been transformed through Jesus Christ. As a part of the address, Holy Communion will be served to more than 4,000 people gathered at General Conference. The entire event will be made available live via streaming video at www.gc2008.umc.org.
Titled “The Future With Hope,” Bishop Christopher, who leads the church’s Illinois Episcopal Area, says the 55-minute address is the Council of Bishops’ prayer for The United Methodist Church and the world. “I have never been more hopeful for the church than I am now,” Christopher told participants at the Pre-General Conference news briefing in January.
Christopher was elected by the Council of Bishops to prepare and deliver the address on behalf of the entire council. She is one of the denomination’s longest-serving active bishops and the first woman to become president of the Council, which comprises 69 active bishops and 87 retired bishops from the U.S., Africa, Europe, and Asia. The bishops provide spiritual leadership for the 11-million member denomination. – UMNS
UNITED METHODIST BISHOP TO GREET POPE BENEDICT IN NEW YORK
A United Methodist bishop will be among those welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to New York on April 18. Bishop Jeremiah Park of the denomination’s New York Area has been invited to greet the pope at a 6 p.m. ecumenical meeting at St. Joseph Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The meeting’s theme is “Christ, Our Hope for Unity.”
In addition to Park, two other United Methodists are scheduled to attend the ecumenical meeting: United Methodist Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar of the Greater New Jersey Area and the Rev. W. Douglas Mills, a staff executive of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.
The event is hosted by Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop of New York.
The itinerary for Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States begins with his arrival on April 15 at Andrews Air Force Base, where he will be greeted by President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush. – UMNS
UNITED METHODISTS SCORE $3.35 MILLION FOR NOTHING BUT NETS
The people of The United Methodist Church have raised more than $3.35 million for the Nothing But Nets malaria prevention campaign since its launch in November 2006 — enough to cover the cost of 335,000 nets. Every $10 raised pays for the purchase and distribution of a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net to a child under the age of five in Africa — one of whom dies every 30 seconds from malaria.
“To think that we can, through a simple mosquito net, give every child in the world a chance to live the same long-sustained life that we anticipate for our own children, is a very exciting possibility. Even though we’ve had a wonderful period of success, we have just scratched the surface,” said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Nothing But Nets spokesperson. “Our work will not be done until we have effectively removed the word “malaria” from our vocabulary. We can achieve that goal but we have to realize that there is yet a long way to go. We have to keep raising awareness and money however we can. It’s wonderful to think that we have raised over $18 million dollars with an average contribution of $60 per person. We’ve done it $10 at a time!”
Overall the campaign and its partner organizations have raised more than $18 million. Because of the many different ways that United Methodists have contributed—through online giving, direct contributions to Nothing But Nets, contributions made through the Advance from local churches and annual conferences, and participation in fundraising activities—it is difficult to identify precisely how much of the total can be directly attributed to United Methodist giving. – UMNS
ONLINE GAME DELIVERS VIRTUAL NETS, SAVES REAL LIVES
Throughout April, visitors to the Nothing But Nets Web site can play an interactive game to deliver virtual sleeping nets to Africa and, in the process, raise money to buy real insecticide-treated nets through the malaria prevention campaign.
It’s all part of a renewed push for the United Methodist-supported Nets campaign leading up to World Malaria Day on April 25.
The “Deliver the Net” game challenges players to deliver as many virtual nets as possible before the sun goes down and malaria-carrying mosquitoes come out to bite.
Each time someone plays and signs up at www.NothingButNets.net during April, an anonymous sponsor will donate $10 for a life-saving net. – UMNS
GULFSIDE TREES TRANSFORMED INTO LORD’S TABLE FOR CONFERENCE
Juanita Franklin remembers the sound of chapel chimes carried on ocean breezes echoing among the tall trees at Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Miss.
It’s a special memory of a special place, and she’ll likely never hear it again. Gulfside, a historic United Methodist conference center whose entrance was across the street from the Gulf of Mexico, was literally wiped off the map in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
However, something of the spirit that moved through those trees will be kept alive when the 2008 General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking body that meets every four years, convenes April 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The meeting’s communion table, altar rail, baptismal font, lectern and a table have been crafted from trees salvaged from the 64-acre Gulfside property, which served as a retreat center and meeting place for African Americans before the civil rights movement of the 1960s. – UMNS
REPORT URGES DEEPER TIES WITH LATIN AMERICA, CARIBBEAN
United Methodists should officially reconnect with their Methodist brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean. That’s the conclusion of a report for the United Methodist General Conference, which meets April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas.
A study commission will present its findings to the delegates April 26. The study panel was authorized by the 2004 General Conference to consider the relationship between The United Methodist Church and autonomous Methodist Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Three recommendations awaiting General Conference consideration come from a 2007 consultation in Panama City with delegations of bishops, presidents and other leaders from each of the Methodist churches of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The purpose of the recommendations, according to United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the Phoenix Area, is to strengthen a relationship that already has existed for more than 165 years. For the complete story, log on to www.umc.org. – UMNS
More stories are available online at www.umc.org and www.umportal.org.
BIBLE PASSAGE FOR SUNDAY
Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. All the Lord’s followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.
-- Acts 2:43-47 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
WORSHIP RESOURCES
HYMNAL RESEARCH RESPONSES
Thanks to all who participated in GBOD’s recent hymnal and music surveys – all 19,091 of you! The results are available at www.gbod.org/hymnal
Musicians, pastors, and people will find the reports of the surveys fascinating reading and the information may provide for interesting discussions at choir rehearsal, church meetings, and Sunday School classes. We’ve reported ALL of the data from the surveys in sections that will allow you to read and consider this huge amount of information by subject area and interest. We’ve organized it as follows:
What are the favorite hymns of UMs? The responses are organized by hymnal and The Faith We Sing, by age group (under 30, 30-50, 51-70, over 70), and by role in the church (pastor, musician, congregational singer, choir member, laity/clergy, organist, etc.).
What hymns do you want included or removed from the hymnal and The Faith We Sing? What hymns and songs not in either book do you want to include in a new hymnal?
What hymns and songs has your congregation sung over the last three years, and how often? We asked this question of only pastors and chief musicians.
We asked pastors and chief musicians a number of questions about the hymnal’s Psalter.
We asked pastors and chief musicians a number of questions about worship resources, liturgy, and ritual in the hymnal.
We invited ALL United Methodists to respond to about 35 wide-ranging statements about United Methodist worship, congregational singing, and our hymnal. Responses are available in total as well as broken down into age groups.
GENERAL CONFERENCE COVERAGE
COMMUNICATION READY FOR ONLINE VISITORS TO GENERAL CONFERENCE
United Methodist Communications is prepared for thousands of online visitors to watch and gather information on the denomination’s 2008 legislative conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
About 1,000 delegates from around the world will gather April 23 to May 2, 2008 to determine priorities and set a direction for the 11-million member denomination. The General Conference’s proceedings will be available through GC2008.umc.org or www.umc.org. Worship, special addresses, celebrations, and other selected plenary sessions will be available on live video streaming. – UM Communications
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
SOUTH CONFERENCE WORSHIP TEAM NEEDS PICTURES FOR CONFERENCE
The Rev. Lynne Renne, a member of the South Indiana Annual Conference Worship Team, needs digital pictures of pastors doing an act of ministry or mission. These images will be used during a worship service at an annual conference session in Bloomington. Please e-mail your digital images to her at LRenne@aol.com. Thank you.
WOMEN PLAN PRAYER VIGILS DURING INDIANA CONFERENCES SESSIONS
United Methodist Women of North Indiana and South Indiana Conferences will be participating in an intentional prayer vigil during both North and South conference sessions.
United Methodist Women of Indiana will be in prayer from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 and June 5 and Friday, May 30 and June 6; and from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 31 and June 7.
We are privileged to be able to support our Conferences, enveloping each one in prayer. – On behalf of Jeanie Park, UMW President and Cheryl Cole, UMW Spiritual Growth, North Indiana and Kyle DeWeese, UMW Spiritual Growth and Vickie Newkirk, UMW President, South Indiana.
2008 SOUTH INDIANA CONF. LAITY MANUSCRIPT CONTEST ANNOUNCED
Each year the Board of Laity offers the opportunity to all laity of the South Indiana Conference to express thanks and praise God by submitting a sermon manuscript for judging. The deadline for entries is April 30. This year the theme is “One in Spirit, All in Ministry: In the Spirit of Fellowship.” Manuscripts are judged on how well the theme is followed and developed, as well as the use of creative writing techniques. The author will present the winning manuscript at the Laity Session of the Annual Conference on Thursday June 5 in Bloomington. Two other manuscripts will be given Honorable Mention.
Manuscripts are to be sent to Ike Williams, Conference Lay Leader, 1515 Cool Creek Drive, Carmel, IN 46033-2318. Name, address, phone number, local church name, and district name should be on a cover letter. Manuscripts will be assigned a number and be judged anonymously by the selection committee. The winners and two runners up will be notified by May 21. All entries must be postmarked by April 30. Additional information concerning the contest can be obtained by contacting Bob Pimlott, Columbus District Lay Leader at 812-273-3081 or by e-mail at rpimlott1@verizon.net.
MINISTRY RESOURCES
COKESBURY CELEBRATION DAYS
On April 24-26, Cokesbury will be celebrating the value of their customers with the annual Cokesbury Celebration Days. All books, Bibles, recorded music, and greeting cards are 25 percent off. Come in and enjoy the celebration. Indiana’s Cokesbury Bookstore is located at 8808 E 116th Street in Fishers. Phone 317-849-1551.
NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE MEDIA CENTER PICKS FOR MONTH OF APRIL
Any one of us is capable of offering the most sacrificial act any human can give to their pastor, their church or their fellow members – A PRAYER ROOM. Here are a few resources that may spark some interest in your congregation. We have many more so feel free to browse the North Indiana Conference online media resources catalog at www.nicumc.org. If you do not find what you are looking for, call Angel at 800-783-5138. Or, feel free to e-mail any questions regarding the latest resources or availability to Angel Rea.
Can You Hear Me? – looks into the broken hearts and lives of real people and focus on prayerful ways to listen better for God’s comforting voice. – One episode in The Big Picture.
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? – The very heartbeat – of your relationship with God. Explore the mysterious intersection where you and God meet and relate. – Philip Yancey
When God’s People Pray. Jim Cymbala shows viewers a tiny struggling inner-city congregation as it transforms into a vital, thriving community of believers who pray with passion. — Jim Cymbala
Other prayer resources include: Celebration of Discipline, Faith and Reason: Living Your Faith, How to Have a Prayer Ministry, Intercessory Prayer, Let Prayer Change Your Life, Living Your Power, New Believer’s Growth Course, Place to Pray, Prayer of Jabez, Praying in Color, Praying in the Midst of Life, Seven Circles of Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines, Teach Me to Pray, The Four Acts of Prayer, What Good is Prayer?, Wrestling With Angels and more.
SOUTH INDIANA MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER PICKS FOR APRIL
The South Indiana Conference Media Resource Center’s latest acquisitions can be found online at www.sicumc.org. Click on “Media Center” (on the first two screens) and explore all the available options, including “Newest Resources,” “Bibliographies,” and “Picks of the Month.” April “Picks” have been posted. Highlighted are these titles:
Devotion to Jesus: Divinity of Christ in Earliest Christianity; Golden Rule Politics: Reclaiming the Rightful Role of Faith in Politics; Liquid: God’s Word Flowing Through Your Life; Painting Revelation: Visual Exploration of the Last Book of the Bible; $imply Enough: Straight Talk from Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne on Simple, Just Living; Stories from the Circle of Life; Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith (Richard Foster); and 3:16: Numbers of Hope (Max Lucado).
By calling the Media Center toll-free at 800-919-8160, you can order these and other resources from a selection of more than 4000 videos and DVDs. Your only cost is return postage. This service is provided through your connectional tithe. Contact Mary Barnes, Media Center Director, for more information/consultation. For the complete catalog resources, log on to www.sicumc.org and click on Media Center.
MOVIE REVIEW
Bonneville
-
Production Company: Sen/Art Films
-
Director: Christopher Rowley
-
Cast: Jessica Lange, Joan Allen, Kathy Bates, Tom Skerritt, Christine Baranski
-
Rating: PG for some language and adult themes
By Gregg Tubbs
(UMC.org)—Bonneville is proof that almost any film can be a crowd-pleaser—if seen by the right crowd! It follows three mature women, played by Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen, on a cross-country trip with a dead husband’s ashes, some wild oats that still need sowing and some emotional baggage to unload. I was lucky enough to see the film with an audience of women of a similar age to those in the film (many from the Red Hat Society), and no bunch of kids at a Disney film could have been more enthralled by seeing a well-told, heartfelt story about people like them in situations with which they could relate. Bonneville really connected with them, and I must admit, with me as well.
For the complete review and study questions, log on to www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.3990427/k.7B9F/Movie_Review_iBonnevillei.htm.
DEATHS
HELEN L. BROWN, widow of the late Rev. Ernest W. Hamilton (NIC), died Wednesday, April 2, 2008 in Muncie, Ind. A memorial service was held on Saturday, April 5, with burial in the East Maplewood Cemetery. E-mailed condolences may be sent to RJFuneralSvc@aol.com. Survivors include: daughter, Virginia Pugsley Tobias; son-in-law, Dr. Ellis Larsen; 7 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 1 niece.
GREG L. MULLEN, husband of Debbie Mullen (NIC and former manager of the Indiana United Methodist Federal Credit Union), died Sunday, April 6, 2008 in Bunker Hill, Ind. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, April 11 at the Allen Funeral Home, 136 S. Elm Street, Bunker Hill, Ind.
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
Bishop Michael J. Coyner has announced the following changes within the Indiana Area. All dates effective 2008 unless otherwise noted. These appointments are based on Cabinet reports received by Indiana Area Communication during the week of April 11, 2008.
North Indiana Conference
-
Barton, Doug from Mt. Olive, Marion to Lapel Trinity, Marion, 7/1
-
Berg, Mark from Berne Trinity, Huntington to Stockwell, Lafayette, 7/1
-
Charles, Rex from Waterloo, Fort Wayne to Flora/Bringhurst, Lafayette, 7/1
-
Ditmer, Joshua M. from Windfall, Kokomo AK Conf- getting married, Kokomo, 4/30
-
Fookes, James E. from Stockwell, Lafayette to Elkhart Hillcrest, Michiana, 7/1
-
Fritchman, Steve L. from Winamac, Kokomo to Russiaville, Kokomo, 7/1
-
Johnson, Tony Lee from no appointment to Mount Etna, Huntington, 7/1
-
Kaster, William R. from Plymouth Trinity, Warsaw to Retirement, 6/30
-
Steffen, Thomas G. from Magnolia UCC-PNC to St. Peters, ¶346.1 Pacific Northwest Conference, 7/1
-
Strong, Evan Joe form Kokomo Faith, Kokomo to Bunker Hill, Kokomo, 4/1
-
Tarner, Michael E. from Russiaville, Kokomo to Goshen St. Mark’s Michiana, 7/1
South Indiana Conference
-
Boruff, Corinne Kay from Noblesville: First, Indianapolis East to Churubusco, Fort Wayne, North Indiana Conference, 7/1
-
Knight, Max from Richmond: Webster, Rushville to no appointment, 3/31
NEW EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS
INDIANA UM LOAN FUND SEEKS FIELD REPRESENTATIVES
The Indiana United Methodist Loan Fund is seeking Field Representatives to promote the Loan Fund in the following Districts: Indianapolis West and Terre Haute.
We need people who would be proactive in making contacts with conference leaders and local churches. We estimate time commitment to be 10-40 hours per month. This position is ideal for those who are retired, semi-retired, or planning to retire soon. Field Reps are compensated for their time on a per diem basis, plus expenses. Call 866-669-2327 and ask for Tamara, or e-mail thendricks@niumf.org.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS
TIPTON CHURCH SEEKS CHILDREN’S MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Job Description: Develop and coordinate weekly program(s) for preschool through upper elementary school children. Develop and coordinate children’s Christian education ministries. Provide training and motivation for volunteer involvement
Requirements: Personal faith in Jesus Christ, heart for bringing children to Christ, desire to develop and coordinate children’s ministries, and good communication skills
-
Hours: 20 hours per week, Salary: $12,000-$15,000 per year
-
Responsible to: Staff Parish Relations Committee
-
Works closely with: Sr. pastor, Christian Education Committee/Team
-
Address inquiries to: pastor.kempumc@tds.net, Ph. 765-675-2915
-
Kemp United Methodist Church, 228 N Main St., Tipton, IN 46072
Other employment opportunities previously listed can be found at www.inareaumc.org/job.htm.
Last updated on 04/16/2008Compiled as a service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication in Indianapolis.