Site
Contents
 |
Imagine Indiana Transition Team Information
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Area United Methodist
Foundation
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
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 Methodist News |
April 2001 |
Conference Communicator hired
Great things are happening across the United Methodist Church, especially Indiana. Not all people who need to know this good news are getting the information, however.
To address that issue, the North Indiana Conference has hired a communicator. Paula Shrock, Greentown, has taken on the challenge to link the agencies and staff of the Conference to its churches through improved communication. Of greatest concern initially will be keeping the information on the web site, www.nicumc.org, fresh and usable. She will also tackle print media promoting the activities of the Conference.
While most of her 15-hour work week will be completed at her home, Paula will spend about four hours a week in the North Conference Service Center in Marion meeting with conference staff. To reach her at home call 765/628-2524 or at the Service Center call 800/783-5138.
Paula will continue as Kokomo District Communications Coordinator, a job which she undertook three years ago. Other professional experience includes work with the development departments of Howard Community Hospital and Kokomo Rescue Mission.
Paula and husband Bruce are active members of First UMC, Greentown, and have two children, Gayle, 23, and Trent, 20. Brent Williams
SIC nears $1.2 million Africa U. goal
Construction on one of a pair of three-story dormitories which the South Indiana Conference is funding at Africa University is expected to be completed within the next few months. According to Kent Millard, senior pastor at Indianapolis St. Luke's UMC and chairperson of the conference's $1.2 million fund-raising effort, the second dorm should be completed this summer.
"They've invited Bishop (Woodie W.) White to bring a delegation from southern Indiana in mid-November for the dedication," he said. Donors who gave $20,000 or more will have a dorm room named in their honor. "The goal is to have every South Indiana UMC give something," Millard added. To date $1.1 million is pledged, with $800,000 actual cash received.
Earlier the North Indiana Conference funded construction of two dorms which were dedicated last November. Each building accommodates 78 students, two to a room. Housing is particularly critical at this UM-sponsored pan-African university in Zimbabwe, with a waiting list of students, many of whom will come from other countries around the continent. Lynne DeMichele
Pilgrimages for new ordinands planned
While on a trip to the Holy Land in 1996, Bishop Woodie W. White offered the possibility of undertaking an initiative that would underwrite the cost of sending all ordinands (deacons and elders) entering itineracy in the North and South Conference to the Holy Land. As a capstone to their formal education, the Bishop would accompany the Ordinands on his bi-annual Holy Land Pilgrimage. The Holy Land Travel Task Force has worked hard to realize this goal. According to Task Force Secretary Clyde Fields, "If all goes according to plan, 2001 Ordinands will be eligible to travel to the Holy Land in 2002." Watch for further details in upcoming issues of the Hoosier UM News. Matthew Carlisle
Epworth adds wilderness camps
Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster is adding a new, wilderness camp. Camp Outback will offer special-interest alternatives to traditional camp. For elementary-age children, there's the sports camp: Olympians (June 18-23) and the adventurous Rocksolid (July 23-28). For senior high youth, there's the drama camp: Centerstage (June 11-15), golf: On Course (June 25-30), skating: Ramp n' Roll (July 2-7), the challenging Soul Survivor (July 9-14), water sports: His 2 Ours (July 16-21), and all sports: Sports-Zone (July 30-Aug 4). Camp brochures and registration forms are available from the Conference office or your local church. Becca Layne Holdzkom
Bring sneakers to North Conference
Bring your shoes to Annual Conference. The Task Force on the Bishop's Initiative on Children & Poverty will sponsor a shoe collection at this year's Annual Conference in June.
The task force is asking all pastors and conference delegates to bring one new pair of gym shoes, one pair of socks and one dollar for shipping with them to the opening worship on Thursday, May 31. A truck will be waiting outside Elliot Hall of Music to receive the donations.
Pastors and delegates are being encouraged to get their churches involved in this project and send as many donations as they can.
The shoes will be distributed to programs fighting poverty all over the world, including right here in the North Indiana Conference. Any churches who have a project that would benefit from this collection are encouraged to call Gwen in the Conference Office, 800/783-5138, for more information. Patti Splitgerberber