HOOSIER UNITED METHODISTS e-NEWS

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THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES

This Week’s News Headlines

Bible Passage for Sunday

News

News and Information about Flood Relief

Get Ready For United Methodist Open House Month

Ministerial Appointments

New Employment Listings

Previous Employment Listings

BIBLE PASSAGE FOR SUNDAY

After Jesus heard about John, he crossed Lake Galilee to go to some place where he could be alone. But the crowds found out and followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed everyone who was sick.

Worship Aids for Sunday, August 3, 2008

NEWS

BISHOP CALLS FOR SPECIAL SESSION, ANNOUNCES ARRANGEMENTS

Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has issued an official call for a Special Session of the North Indiana and South Indiana Conferences to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Toyota Blue Ribbon Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street at Fall Creek Parkway in Indianapolis.

For details, arrangements and registration for this special conference, log on to www.inareaumc.org.

‘LIVING THE SACRED’ LIVED OUT IN SCHOOLS OF CHRISTIAN MISSION

Struggling with social and spiritual issues present in society today, more than 250 students participated in this year’s South Indiana Conference United Methodist Women’s School of Christian Mission this week at the University of Indianapolis. The school was held in two sessions – Super Saturday School, with 100 students, and the four-day regular school, with 150 students and 210 students and visitors at a Tuesday night banquet. The school offered three studies including: a spiritual growth study to renew minds and hearts to the gift of faith in Jesus and taught by Bishop Mike Coyner, a general study on Native Americans and a geographic study on Israel-Palestine. The school also offered two special sessions – one for youth and another for children.

As part of the school’s activities, students also brought school supplies, baby items and personal care items to be delivered in late-August to the Crow Creek Indian reservation in South Dakota (See next Monday’s Mission Opportunities), plus 18 flood bucket clean-up kits to be used by flood survivors.

Not afraid to take on difficult contemporary issues like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, United Methodist Women wrestled with the pros-and-cons of each side listening to proponents of both Palestinians and Israelis then made commitments on how they would use these discussions in taking further actions to provide for peaceful solutions to this conflict.

The South Indiana School was led by Dean Anne Bunch of Terre Haute and Assistant Dean Karen Korn of Bloomington.

A similar School of Christian Mission with the same topics was sponsored in the North Indiana Conference at Manchester College, July 9-12 in North Manchester, Ind. – e-HUM

U.S. HOUSE PASSES HISTORIC BILL TO PROTECT KIDS FROM TOBACCO

The U.S. House of Representatives took a historic step on Wednesday, July 30, by passing legislation that would grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products, including the authority to crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids. The bill passed with an overwhelming majority and broad, bipartisan support. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration and Indiana public health organizations ask Indiana’s Senators Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) to urge Senate leaders to bring the bill up for a vote. Senators Lugar and Bayh are both co-sponsors of the legislation. Among other things, the legislation would:

Voting for the bill were Indiana’s U.S. Representatives Visclosky, Donnelly, Burton, Carson, Ellsworth and Hill. Voting against the bill were Representatives Buyer, Pence and Souder.

NOTHING BUT NETS, NIC CAMPING CAMPAIGN SUPPORTED BY CAMPERS

This camping seasons, the North Indiana Conference Senior High Institute designated the mission money raised by the campers during week two would be used to support Nothing But Nets, the UMC anti-malaria campaign, and to provide some seed money for the North Indiana Conference Outdoor Ministries capital campaign.

Through their efforts, the youth at Week 2 of Sr. High Institute raised a total of $2,283 to be split equally between the two projects. In a note to Bishop Mike Coyner, Pastor Tom Ream of Warsaw wrote, “I am very proud of their efforts. They have demonstrated a commitment to serving others and a willingness to invest in the future of the camping program they are a part of. I share this with you not only to brag on the youth of our conference, but I also thought that this may be helpful information for you to share with potential donors as you continue to build support for the capital campaign and our camping ministries.”

UM HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO GRANT 463 SCHOLARSHIPS

United Methodist Dollars for Scholars scholarships are being granted to 463 students this 2008-2009 academic year from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. The foundation encourages local congregations to raise $1,000 for a member enrolled in or planning to enroll in a United Methodist-related college, university or seminary. The foundation matches these funds through collaborative partnerships with participating United Methodist-related schools. An additional opportunity for a match of $1,000 is available to students from conferences with local United Methodist foundations that are part of the Quadruple Your Dollars for Scholars portion of the program. For more information, visit the foundation’s Web site at www.umhef.org. – UMNS

BISHOP RULES CAL-NEVADA STATEMENT ON SAME-SEX ‘VOID’

Retired United Methodist clergy in northern California and Nevada could face disciplinary charges if they perform same-gender marriage ceremonies in the wake of a California court ruling that allows gay couples to marry, their bishop says. While the church’s California-Nevada Conference approved a resolution in June commending retired clergy who have offered to perform such ceremonies, Bishop Beverly J. Shamana has issued a ruling declaring the statement “void and of no effect.”

Shamana wrote in her ruling of law, “While the resolution is a commendable gesture to the congregations of the conference in offering the pastoral counsel of a number of retired clergy to persons contemplating same-gender marriage under the laws of California, it steps over a disciplinary line when it commends these clergy to the congregations for the purpose of ‘performing same gender marriages or holy unions.’” The ruling was requested immediately after the California-Nevada Conference approved the resolution on June 21. The ruling was sent July 2 to the Judicial Council, the church’s top court, which will review the matter at its October session. – UMNS

GARRETT-ETS APPOINTS FOUR FACULTY MEMBERS

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., has appointed four new faculty members to begin teaching during the fall semester: Stephen G. Ray Jr. in theology, Mark Teasdale in evangelism, Pamela Holliman in pastoral theology and Jim Papandrea in early church history.

Stephen G. Ray Jr. will be the Neal and Ila Fisher Professor of Theology. Ordained in The United Church of Christ, Ray most recently served as associate professor of African-American Studies and director of the Urban Theological Institute at The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Previously he served as associate professor of theology and philosophy at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Mark Teasdale will be the E. Stanley Jones Instructor of Evangelism. Ordained in The United Methodist Church, Teasdale most recently served as an adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, where he also worked as assistant to the director at the school’s Center for the Advanced Study and Practice of Evangelism. Previously he served as senior pastor of Rockland United Methodist Church in Ellicott City, Md.

Pamela Holliman has a two-year appointment as a Visiting Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Psychotherapy. She will be instrumental in putting together a clinical track that will enhance and expand the Ph.D. program's “Pastoral Theology, Personality, and Culture” concentration.

Jim Papandrea has a two-year appointment as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Early Church History.

Since earning his Ph.D. in 1998, he has taught at Garrett-Evangelical, Loyola University, Elmhurst College and Barat College. During the past four years he has also served as Director of Adult Faith Formation and Co-Director of Theological Research at Holy Family Community in Inverness, Ill.

CANDLER EMBRACES NEW FACULTY, OLD ROOTS

Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Ga., is strengthening its ties with The United Methodist Church by welcoming seven new faculty members, six of whom are United Methodist. The hiring is part of strategic plans adopted by both Candler and Emory University in Atlanta “to ensure that the university draws on its United Methodist heritage,” according to Jan Love, dean of the theology school. “Emory University is owned by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church,” Love said. “… The university has always been close to The United Methodist Church.”

The six new United Methodist faculty members have diverse backgrounds in scholarship and ministry. They are retired Bishop Ruediger Minor of Germany, who will serve for two years as the Daniel and Lillian Hankey Chair of World Evangelism; Ellen Ott Marshall, who has served as associate professor at Claremont (Calif.) School of Theology and joins Candler as associate professor of Christian ethics and conflict transformation; the Rev. Anne Burkholder, most recently director of connectional ministries in the Florida Annual Conference, who has been named associate dean of Methodist studies; the Rev. Don Harp, a North Georgia pastor who will serve one year as pastor-theologian in residence; the Rev. L. Edward Phillip, an associate professor at Duke Divinity School, who has been named associate professor of worship and liturgical theology; and the Rev. Robert “Bob” Winstead, an Atlanta pastor who joins the faculty as director of lifelong learning. The seventh new member, the Rev. Andrea C. White, is ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA and is joining Candler as assistant professor of theology and culture. – UMNS

DELAWARE CLERGYWOMAN OPENS U.S. SENATE MEETING

The Rev. Patricia Bryant Harris of Wilmington, Del., gave the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate’s July 10 session, becoming the first African-American woman to serve as its guest chaplain. U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., nominated Harris, who is a pastor at Marshallton United Methodist Church, to fill the role, something senators can do for outstanding ordained clergy from their home states.

As Harris stepped up to the podium on the Senate floor, she said she knew that millions of people would be watching her on C-Span. Still, she said her spirit transcended everything around her, so she could focus on the meaning of her prayer. “Above all things, may the result of all the works within this place free people, free nations from grief, hunger and pain,” she prayed. Harris said she felt blessed to have such a unique opportunity as well as a great responsibility for her prayer to give people the feeling of the presence of God in their work. – UMNS

NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT FLOOD RELIEF

CASE MANAGEMENT TRAINING SESSION AT SHELBYVILLE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will be conducting a case management training session on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 19 and 20. This training session will be held at West Street United Methodist Church, 629 South West Street, Shelbyville, Ind., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Who should attend? – Those who are interested and committed to give their time to fellow Hoosiers in need. Volunteers will be asked to do house-to-house visitations to assess damage and file reports to the Long-Term Recovery Team. Attendees may register with Jenni Walker at jenniwalker@mac.com. Reservations are encouraged, however walk-ins will be accepted.

FLOOD BUCKETS, HEALTH KITS TO BE GATHERED AT SPECIAL SESSION

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) through the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) in Chatham, Ill., has provided Indiana with more than 1,800 flood bucket clean-up kits and more than 400 health kits providing relief to flood survivors during January and June of this year. The need for these items is endless, whether for flood recovery here in the Midwest, after a hurricane along the Gulf Cost or wherever.

This year flooding has greatly affected almost every county in Indiana. As a means to pay forward, the North Indiana and South Indiana Disaster Relief Coordinators are asking each United Methodist church in Indiana to bring Flood Buckets and/or Health Kits to the Special Session of the North Indiana and South Indiana Annual Conference at the Indiana State Fairground on Saturday, Oct. 4. The Midwest Mission Distribution Center is scheduled to have a semi-truck on the State Fairgrounds for the collection of theses items saving many congregations trips to the Illinois-based center.

MDC would prefer completely assembled kits. In addition, MMDC also greatly appreciates loose contents of each of the two kits. Financial donations also will be accepted to offset transportations costs as well as to buy additional items to complete the kits.

MMDC is related to the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Thank you for your generous contributions, making a difference in Indiana and around the world.

For Northern Indiana volunteer work, contact Alan Welch 765-742-4718 or 877-773-0249.

GET READY FOR UNITED METHODIST OPEN HOUSE MONTH IN SEPTEMBER

September is Open House Month for United Methodists. Does you church have a plan to reach out to your community during Back-to-school? If not, you will find three things (one each week) to help jump start your planning through the UMC Igniting Ministries program. As we all start moving into the new quadrennium, Igniting Ministry continues to reflect The United Methodist Church’s commitment to live out Jesus’ encouragement of welcoming strangers as honored guests into our churches.

Starting the week of Sept. 1, the “Gift” Open Hearts message will begin airing, that invites viewers to embrace our Wesleyan tradition of giving themselves to others. It offers The United Methodist Church as a faith community of people with similar interests.

Now that you know what your community will be seeing on TV, want matching worship and bulletin? Explore the Biblical foundation of Gift, new worship graphics, or visit www.IgnitingMinistry.org to learn about all the themed expressions, such as “Good Works,” available free to your church.

WORSHIP RESOURCES

FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOADS OF CHORAL AND WORSHIP MUSIC

It’s summer and many choir directors are busy planning the schedule of choir music for the coming year for adults, youth, children, and hand bells. For almost ten years the General Board of Discipleship has made available on its worship and music Web site an increasing number of choir selections, service music, hymns and songs, instrumental arrangements, Psalms, communion music, and more for use in worship – AT NO CHARGE! Many churches could plan their entire year of choir music for free from the GBOD site while others can certainly find selections to supplement their repertoire. The links can be found by logging on to: www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=17,897&act=nav_loc.

MINISTRY RESOURCES

CHARGE CONFERENCE FORMS NOW AVAILABLE ON SOUTH IND. WEB SITE

To access the forms go to www.sicumc.org select ‘Finance & Admin’ then click on ‘Reports to Conference’ then click on ‘Charge Conference’. These forms are available to be downloaded from the Web site. If you do not have access to a computer or high speed internet please call the Conference Center at 800-919-8160 and ask for Lynne Armitage or contact her by e-mail at larmitage@sicumc.org to have a paper set or a CD containing the forms mailed to you. You will need Adobe Reader version 5 or later to view these files. The charge conference forms can be completed online and then printed out to take to your Charge Conference or submitted by e-mail to your district office. For questions on filling out the forms you can contact Heidi Player at hplayer@sicumc.org at the South Indiana Conference Center or by phone at 800-919-8160. For technical questions please contact Heidi Player at the Conference Center.

NEW RESOURCE AVAILABLE FROM BREAD FOR THE WORLD

“Bread for the Preacher,” a resource created to help pastors lead their churches in hunger advocacy, is now available from Bread for the World. The resource includes lectionary-based reflections on hunger and poverty, prayers and other worship resources, bulletin inserts and announcements and more. “Bread for the Preacher” is free. Pastors and church leaders can sign up to receive it at www.bread.org. – UMNS

NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE MEDIA PICKS FOR AUGUST

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV). Most people are reluctant to share their faith because they feel ill equipped. Use these resources to help your congregation feel more comfortable sharing the Good News: Going Public with Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work; Living Proof – Witnessing can be as natural as a cup of coffee with a neighbor , find common ground with non-Christians, communicate in a way they can relate to; Just Walk Across the Room – brings personal evangelism into the twenty-first century with a natural and empowering approach modeled after Jesus himself; Becoming a Contagious Christian Course – provides an easy-to-use, hands-on means of identifying and developing an evangelism style that's effective at leading unbelievers toward Christ; More Than Words – profiles two congregations studying and acting on the Social Principles finding new avenues of ministry and action where words of faith and needs of people can meet (GBCS). Check out our New Online Catalog! Features include: the ability to Request a Resource on line, order more than one resources at a time, search by title, author, description or subject. Simply type in www.nicumc.org, click on the media button and begin your search. You can use the basic search and type in a title or author or you can use the advance search to refine specifics. If you need help making a selection call or e-mail Angel Rea at 800-783-5138.

SOUTH INDIANA MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER PICKS FOR JULY-AUGUST

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.” July “Picks” have been posted. Highlighted are these new titles:

1) Confronting Death with Walter Wangerin: Christian Approach to the End of Life; 2) Depot of Hope: UMCOR Sager Brown; 3) NOOMA: Shells; 4) Primetime Moments; 5) Questioning Capital Punishment; and 6) Three Simple Rules: Conversation with Rueben P. Job. 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 the Media Center header. An online order form is also available to you.

MOVIE REVIEW

The Dark Knight

UMC.org – Joseph Conrad wrote about “The Heart of Darkness,” but writer/director Christopher Nolan and his talented cast take us deep into the darkness of the heart with The Dark Knight, the bleak but dazzling sequel to their own 2005 Batman Begins. The Dark Knight crackles with malevolent energy as it peels back the layers of heroes and villains, myth and reality to reveal the queasy grey areas where morality and expediency blur and good and evil are literally two sides of the same coin. A sense of tragedy also infuses the film, both on screen and off, with the untimely loss of Heath Ledger, the young star, whose haunting and terrifying Joker hints at the greatness that could have been.

DEATHS

J. ERIC WITTY, son of the Rev. Dr. James W. Witty, pastor of Union UMC in Noblesville (SIC), died on Tuesday, July 29, 2008. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Union United Methodist Church, 19090 De Shane Avenue in Noblesville, IN 46060-9793. There will be a private memorial service. Survivors include: Wife, Kristine; children Amanda, Mathew and Krystal; parents, James W. Jr. and Sandra K. Witty; sister Jody Tolan; and grandmother Elise Witty. Memorial contributions can be made to Union United Methodist Church.

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 August 1, 2008.

NEW EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS

SOUTH BEND CHURCH SEEKS FULL-TIME YOUTH MINISTER

Clay United Methodist Church in South Bend, Ind., seeks a full-time youth minister.

For job description and other information, contact Clay’s Executive Director, Doug Fecher at 574-272-8083, ext. 111, or at dafecher@aol.com.

Clay UMC (Clay Church) is committed to walking with more people toward a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. In order to meet the needs of an expanding congregation, Clay Church purchased land nearby and built a facility to support our adult and children’s ministries. Our existing (35,000 sq. ft.) building is in the process of being transforming into a youth facility called Firehouse Youth Ministries. This facility has a worship space that will hold 400 youth, six large classrooms for small groups, a full size kitchen attached to a large fellowship hall and a gym. It is on seven acres of land and is one-half mile from the new facility. For more information on Clay Church, visit our web site at www.claychurch.com.