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Analysis:
Bicentennial Annual Conferences,
Something to celebrate … and a few things to work on
By Lynne DeMichele
Editor
Two centuries ago a no-doubt weary circuit rider crossed the Ohio River and within days had established the first Methodist "class," as early congregations were known. Little did he know what he'd started with that first embryonic worship group meeting in a log cabin in the woods.
Last month we celebrated the 200th anniversary of that first meeting of Methodists in what was then called Indiana Territory.
Celebrations
Introduced at both annual conferences was a newly published, illustrated book: Amazing Grace: A History of Indiana Methodism 1801-2001, by the Rev. Carver McGriff. Dr. McGriff had pastored Indianapolis St. Luke's UMC for 26 years before retiring in 1993. Last year he traveled the length and breadth of the state studying historical records and collecting memories and stories from some of our living saints.
The North Conference had extra reason to celebrate: specifically 3,770 new members on Confession of Faith and a fifth year of increasing worship attendance. The approximately 1,300 conference lay and clergy members, meeting as usual at Purdue's Elliott Auditorium, first heard the news when Cabinet Chairperson Larry Ray made his report. It was punctuated by red balloons, representing the new members, cascading down from holding nets at the top of the auditorium. After the first stunned reaction, people followed Bishop Woodie W. White's lead and began bouncing the balloons around in a party-like moment of fun.
While the new members do not represent a net gain in overall North Indiana membership, they do point to a turning of what has been a downward trend since 1968.
South Conference celebrated the bicentennial with an ice cream social and jazz-accompanied reception for the bishop after the Thursday evening plenary. Meeting as they have for decades at Indiana University Auditorium, South Conference also had reason to celebrate with the announcement of a new church start in Fishers; The new church brings the total number of congregations in the Conference to 706, representing the end of a nine-year period of no new, permanent churches. The Rev. Rusty Allanson will be its pastor.
Another celebratory point was the generous surpassing of the $1 million fundraising goal to underwrite two new dormitories at Africa University, echoing a similar effort two years ago by the North Conference.
Parallel programs
Both Annual Conferences reported on the previous year's activities with regard to five parallel programs: The Bishops' Initiative on Children & Poverty; Operation Classroom; the Anti-Legalized Gambling effort; Africa University and the battle against racism in our connection. Reports of both progress and some unfinished business were presented for each.
Another new book, Small Wonders: Children's Faith Stories, was introduced as a tool for raising awareness of children's spiritual life. Proceeds will go to support the Initiative on Children & Poverty. The book is also available through Cokesbury and Providence House Publishing.
A total of only 12 new elders and deacons were ordained last month -- the smallest classes of Indiana United Methodist ordinands in many years. At the same time a much larger number, a total of 38 clergy members, retired, leaving an apparent imbalance. The net result will necessarily mean more reliance on local pastors and part time local pastors to fill the nearly 1,300 Indiana United Methodist Church pulpits in the coming year.
The hot topic
An especially compelling topic at both conferences was the upcoming nation-wide, multi-media, $20 million Igniting Ministry campaign, approved by General Conference last year. Examples of some of the television spots were shown, and reaction on the part of conference members seemed clearly enthusiastic. The Council of Bishops has declared September United Methodist Church Open House Month, and special training sessions have been offered around the Connection (four in Indiana so far) to help local churches "get ready for company."
That in mind, a resolution brought by the Indiana Area Communications Commission calling for establishment of a conference Coordinator for Igniting Ministries was passed by both North and South. The new coordinators are to be named this month.
Both conferences voted to ratify the 11 proposed amendments to the Church's constitution. Most had to do with updating certain language harkening back to the merger in 1968 of the Methodist and EUB denominations. Two of the amendments related to our understanding of the sacrament of Baptism. In short, an individual becomes a "member" on baptism; and a "professing member" on Confirmation or Profession of Faith.
North Indiana Annual Conference Session
Points of Interest:
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Learned of the creation of a newly established position: Coordinator of Hispanic Ministries. The Rev. Oscar Ramos-Gallardo is its first appointee.
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Collected over 5,000 pairs of new shoes for the Initiative on Children & Poverty.
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Celebrated a fifth year of increasing worship attendance.
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Approved a $9.9 million budget for 2002.
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Renewed conference commitment to working to eliminate legalized gambling in Indiana.
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Nine youth of the CCYM announced they'd felt a call to ministry.
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Recognized and thanked retiring Conference Council Director Steven Burris for his six years of leadership.
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The 2000 lay membership stands at 104,350 -- down 696.
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Worship attendance stands at 70,160 -- up 844.
South Indiana Annual Conference Session
Points of Interest:
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Passed a recommendation to establish an oversight committee to ensure that racial healing is being actively pursued throughout the conference.
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Announced a new Shalom Zone at Central UMC in Evansville.
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Established a Conference Hispanic Ministries Committee.
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Collected several hundred school kits and refugee kits for Operation Classroom.
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Concurrent with the conference session, 11 youth and five adults were in Africa were providing leadership training in scouting for Tanzanian and Congolese children.
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Celebrated having paid 100 percent of world service apportionments.
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Approved a $10.6 million budget for 2002.
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Affirmed a new vision statement for the conference:
"To fulfill our mission to bring people to Christ and empower them to live out their commitment, we will:-
grow in Christian grace,
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provide witness to and serve the world in the name of Christ,
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work toward Christ-like justice and reconciliation for the world, and
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start new congregations and renew existing congregations."
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The 2000 lay membership stands at 120,497, down 1,759.
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Worship attendance stands at 67,210, down 1,608.