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
Plenary #1:
Opening plenary yields good cheer
Cloudy skies and the threat of rain did not dampen spirits of the approximately 1,200 members as they arrived at the I.U. Auditorium yesterday for the opening of the 33rd session of the Annual Conference. Friends greeted one another and filled the lower lobby, shoulder to shoulder, as they checked out the newest books in the Cokesbury area and looked over many other displays.
The opening worship at 8:30 a.m. began with the hymn so traditional to annual conference sessions, "Are We Yet Alive?" (The answer was apparent.) After Bishop Woodie White opened the first plenary and asked those new members of the conference to stand; there appeared to be approximately 75 to 100.
Secretary Curtis Hurley reminded voting members to sit within the area designated as the bar of the conference in order for their votes to be counted. The bishop added, "You don't have to buy anything, you just have to sit in it." -- a comment bringing laughter and some changing of seats.
The Cabinet generated more laughter moments later as they presented a skit depicting a fictional meeting of a local church PPR Committee and a district superintendent. A whole range of all-too-familiar human foibles, fears and frustrations in such a situation were "dramatized" to the delight of the audience.
Bishop White relayed greetings from the North Carolina and Desert Southwest Conferences who are meeting concurrent with South Indiana.
Cabinet spouses were introduced and applauded. And Paula Mayberry, Cabinet secretary, announced an amendment to Cabinet Resolution #9, which would move the effective date for appointments from July 1 back to June 30. We'll vote on the amendment today.
In other action:
- At the 1998 Annual Conference session, the Council on Finance and Administration set two goals to be accomplished: reduce the amount of local church operating budgets going to apportionments by 20% by 2000; achieve 95% collection of apportionments. For 2001, apportionments equal 19% of local church operating budgets. In the year 2000, 89.8% of apportionments were achieved. As of May 2001, the percentage of collections was a little less that 80%. In dollars, the amount received is $60,000 more than last year but is still short of the percentage goal. The shortfall is attributed to the sagging economy and higher than normal utility costs. The 2002 budget will increase by 3%.
- The Commission of the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) and Commission on Religion and Race Awareness are monitoring the Annual Conference sessions to help the conference become more sensitive to and inclusive in the areas of gender, age and race. Lynne DeMichele and Beverly Calendar-Anderson
Memorial Service:
Twenty-two remembered
On Thursday, the members of the South Indiana Conference gathered to remember the 10 clergy and 12 clergy spouses who have passed away since 2000 Annual Conference.
One at a time, 22 candles were lit as the names were read from the Memorial Roll. Rev. Melvin "Bucky" Jordan, retiring pastor of Columbus Asbury UMC, delivered an empowered message titled, "Nothing Can Stop Us Now." Matthew Carlisle
Lay Member Session:
'His love endures forever'
Hugs, tears, prayers, singing, scriptures and the spirit of the Lord were all present at the Thursday afternoon lay member session.
All business was brushed aside as members of the session held hands and prayed for one of their own. Joyce Bracey, lay member from The Turning Point UMC in Evansville, was announced as the winner of the annual conference manuscript contest. But it was what was said in the message that led to the outburst of prayer and support.
In her message, which was to the theme of "All God's People Setting the Table," Bracey told the lay members that setting the table comes in a variety of ways of outreach and touching other people's lives. One of the ways that she has been touched and able to touch others was through her fight with cancer. While having beat the first round, the news from a recent hospital visit made its way into her message: the cancer had returned. And before she left to go back to start her chemotherapy on Friday, Conference Lay Leader Jim Shaw called upon the laity to come together and pray for her.
Afterwards, Julia Wallace of the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn. offered a "Ministry Compass" for small member churches. "Keep your hand raised if you're more than 8,000," said Wallace to the crowd. "It only works if you're in Texas or Korea."
Wallace reported that of the 705 congregations in South Indiana, 401, or 57 percent, have membership of under 100; 505 have an average of under 100; and 328 congregations have an average of under 50 per week.
Despite changes in the world and our communities, Wallace encouraged the congregations. "It's up to you to provide stability," said Wallace. "God still beckons us in a changing world of ministry." Matthew Oates
Clergy Executive Session:
'Each day is a gift'
Bishop Woodie White brought the clergy executive session to order by saying that he "no longer takes anything for granted. Being here is a gift; each day is a gift … I hope we never take the gift for granted."
Going forward in business, the clergy elected only three persons to full connection and order of elder: Corinne Boruff, Andrew Hansen and Gloria Jean Nelson. Jeffrey Burris was elected to full connection and deacon's orders. Jack Shake was admitted to associate membership.
The 2001 class elected to probationary membership are all women: Cheryl Garbe, Melinda Huffman and Lisa Marchal. This was a small class and the first class of all women.
It was not business as usual for one element of the clergy reports. Rather than "rubber-stamping" the approval of continuance of leaves of absence for those on leave more than five years, the body of clergy asked about each of the seven persons' well being and situation. Since the conference is large and spread out, the clergy do not know each other. They wanted information out of concern for colleagues in the connection. They charged the Board of Ordained Ministry to continue the leaves of each person for one more year, during which the board should have representatives consult with each one to help them return to appointment or move into other areas.
Twenty persons are retiring this year for a total of 560 accumulated years of service. The clergy appreciated the brevity of their remarks to the body, and the tone was generally more serious than in years past.
Outgoing Board of Ministry Chair James Bushfield presented a set of voluntary leave of absence guidelines on which the board had been working to guide clergy and the cabinet in such situations. The Book of Discipline is not very specific in this area. It is hoped this will be put into a brochure format.
The session closed with Bishop White thanking the clergy for their ministry in their respective churches. Robin Norris
Popular health fair returns
If you see a number of pastors and their spouses making a beeline for the third floor, it's not because they're trying to get out of Annual Conference. They're attending a free health fair.
The Strengthening of the Temple health fair offered free blood pressures, body mass index, cholesterol and other screenings. Last year, 450 persons participated and they're expecting more this year.
Rev. Hugh Reynolds of Mace and New Ross UMC's was filling out paperwork and waiting for the test results to be tabulated with his wife, Louise. "We think it's a great thing they're doing," said Hugh. "It saves you time and money."
According to Hugh, he learned a few things that he needs to improve. "It causes you to take a look at yourself and your habits." A result of the screening was to establish an exercise routine, one that he can do from the comfort of Mace, Ind. "I'm excited about that," said Hugh.
Brent Wilson, conference treasurer/director of administrative services, said the fair is offered through Nyhart, the conference's insurance claim administrator, and Community Hospitals of Indianapolis, who conducted the health screenings. "Wellness is truly important," said Wilson.
Wilson said the fair is an opportunity for pastors who don't have a chance to get a screening for various reasons to have one. Some have walked away surprised at the findings but are given the chance to receive further treatment. "Those are the ones we're targeting." Matthew Oates
Plenary #2:
'We are marching in the light of God'
Friends and members of the South Indiana Conference gathered Thursday evening to celebrate 200 years of United Methodism in Indiana and the effects of mission work in Indiana neighborhoods and around the world.
In between choruses of "We are marching in the light of God" in various languages, various outreach programs filed reports. Rev. Paul Kern of Disciples 2000 recalled the outreach efforts of the nine districts. "Some good work was done, but we did not reach the goal we set for ourselves," said Kern. He also reported that membership increased in the Evansville District.
During the offering portion of the plenary, the conference offered their two Africa University dormitories to God. Completed on June 1, the $1.2 million dorms will house almost 40 percent of the student body. According to Rev. Kent Millard of Indianapolis' St. Luke's UMC, of the 705 congregations, 464, or 65 percent, have given some form of support to the project. "People were enrolled in making a difference in the lives of Africa University."
But the other celebration was for the conference's initiative on planting new churches and developing and strengthening congregations throughout southern Indiana. "We have brilliant examples of God's work," said David V.W. Owen, director of congregational development.
Citing several examples of how congregations are revitalizing themselves, merging several churches, building new facilities and touching lives. "The circuit riders were driven by a passion to go where the people were," said Owen.
A new United Methodist congregation has been planted in the town of Fishers, northeast of Indianapolis. The site was chosen following the 2000 Census, which also revealed that 70 percent of the North American population has no significant church relationship. "We are living in a new mission field. You are the new missionaries."
Owen asked that all conference members pray for the pastor and the new church. Rev. Rusty Allanson and his family have already moved to Fishers and have started the work.
With the goal of three new churches a year for the next five years, Owen told the conference not to get fixed on numbers, but what the numbers represent: how many people are affected by the love of God. "We're about change ... changing people's lives." Matthew Oates
New banners greet conference
Members of the South Indiana Conference were greeted with two new colorful banners at this year's session of annual conference.
The banners were the result of several brainstorming sessions of the Conference Worship Committee and the handiwork of Rev. Pat Geyer of Aberdeen UMC.
On Thursday, Geyer stood underneath the banners pointing to explain the meaning of the symbols and pictures. At the upper left corner Jesus, there is an "untouchable" woman who is leaning her shoulder on an Indiana farmer who paid his apportionment which helps the church do mission work. Towards the middle of the cross, there is an African man in a yellow robe. "He is going to be a leader of his people but not before he attends Africa University," said Geyer.
Young and old, African-Americans, Koreans, Jews and Muslims are represented, all who make up and who are touched by the body of Christ.
The head, hands and feet of Christ are made of reflective silver material that represent mirrors. "Put your face here" is the name of the banner. "We're supposed to reflect Christ back to the world," said Geyer.
Another banner represents the Tree of Life and the Fruit of the Spirit. "Those are the things that happen in ourselves when we try to live for Christ."
Geyer said it took about 3 1/2 weeks to cut out the pieces and put them together. The faces and symbols didn't take too long to plan, either. "I think in symbols," said Geyer. "I've had them all my life."
Geyer has been making banners since 1993. "I was pleased at how this one (pointing at Jesus) went together." Matthew Oates
All Conference Dinner:
O'Bannon energizes members for 'new day in an old world'
Taking us back to 1801 when the first circuit riders crossed the Ohio River at the beginning of the great European migration, Indiana First Lady Judy O'Bannon described a world when cultural separations were vividly defined. At the same time, the Methodists of two centuries ago were beginning to bring people together. They did it as they established early "helping" efforts that have evolved into our current social service agencies.
"If those early Methodists could see you today, they'd be proud of you and how you've come together ... (and) looked at social issues and spiritual decisions," she said.
Yet, as a society and as a church we're still struggling to deal with the ever-expanding diversity within which we live. Referencing the recent U.S. population survey, she noted that it reports a 55.8 percent increase in Hispanics; a 54 percent increase in Asians; a 17.7 percent increase in African-Americans; and a slim 6.2 percent in Caucasians.
"We live in a dynamic community of people, with things going 90 mph, and sometimes we don't get along." Then she went on to declare, "It's a wise and loving God we have, and thank goodness we're not all alike … We're only complete when we're all together!"'
| "Thank goodness we're not all alike." |
Gesturing broadly and radiating passion for her subject, Mrs. O'Bannon emphasized, "He calls us out of our passion for security and sameness and calls us into mission together … to reach deep down inside (ourselves) for our gifts and to hand them off to someone else."
The state's first lady received an instantaneous standing ovation, sprinkled with "amens." Lynne DeMichele