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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
November 2001 |
New Hispanic ministries encouraged
The Rev. Oscar Ramos-Gallardo's goals as North Indiana's first Hispanic ministries coordinator are to both support existing Hispanic ministries and to coordinate efforts to develop new ones. His work includes identifying potential places for new Hispanic ministry programs by studying demographic information. He is also working with any church congregation that feels called to begin Hispanic ministry programs. Congregations Ramos-Gallardo has been working with include South Bend First, Elkhart Trinity, Demotte and Crown Point UMCs.
He was appointed to the newly created position of Hispanic ministries coordinator last summer. The position was created under the umbrella of the National Hispanic Plan of the General Board of Global Ministries. As this position serves both the General Church and the NIC, Ramos-Gallardo was also commissioned a missionary in August at San Antonio.
Training for Module 1 of the National Hispanic Plan ia being held in Indianapolis on Nov. 1 - 4. This module seeks to train lay persons and pastor mentors to work in teams in supporting Hispanic ministries.
Ramos-Gallardo, ordained an elder in full connection in 1997, has been serving La Sagrada Familia UMC in Goshen since 1994. Patti Splitgerber
Conferences name Igniting Ministry coordinators
In a bold move, both North and South Indiana Conferences, at their annual sessions voted in favor of a resolution brought by Indiana Area Communications to hire Igniting Ministry coordinators. They are, so far, the only conferences in the connection to do so. Paula Shrock (NIC) and Bert Talbott (SIC) were recently named to the positions.
Shrock and Talbott will help coordinate various events and the work of various committees relating to the Igniting Ministry campaign in their respective conferences. Working directly with their communications committee/commission and conference council on ministries, the coordinators will help resource and train local churches.
Those who participated in the Igniting Ministry training sessions will remember Bert Talbott. This past summer, Talbott conducted five training sessions throughout the state. A native Hoosier and cradle United Methodist, Talbott most recently chaired the South Indiana Communications Commission. SIC churches can reach Talbott at 317/848-8928 or by e-mail at nltalbott@aol.com.
One of the Indiana connection's first district communicators, Paula Shrock currently holds the two part-time positions of communicator for both the Kokomo District and North Indiana Conference. Shrock will couple the tasks of Igniting Ministry coordinator with her duties as conference communicator. She can be reached at the NIC office by phone at 800/783-5138; paula@nicumc.org.
Both Talbott and Shrock are available to provide Igniting Ministry training to groups of churches. Matthew Carlisle
S. Bend Central celebrates 70 years on the radio
South Bend Central UMC has the distinction of hosting the longest continuously running radio show in the United States. On Sunday, Nov. 4, Central will celebrate 70 years of radio ministry to the South Bend area.
The pre-recorded show airs on Sunday mornings from 8-9 a.m. on WSBT 960. It is not just a broadcast of Sunday morning's worship service, but a unique blend of word, Bible study, and both traditional and contemporary music, according to the Rev. Mary Hubbard, pastor. The first half-hour is made up of traditional church music and a short pastoral message. The second half-hour includes a Bible study based on the International Lesson Plan and more contemporary music.
In 1975, the program received an award from the National Religious Broadcasting Association for having, at that time, the longest continuous running show in the United States. This is quite a prestigious award, according to Hubbard, who notes that Billy Graham's show had received the same award the previous year.
Hubbard gives great credit to the many lay volunteers who have given countless hours to the show over the years. Top among these was Ray Webster, Sr., who, prior to his death, produced the show on and off for nearly fifty years. Others have easily given 20 and 30 years to the program. Hubbard presents the pastoral messages, with some guest pastors from neighboring UM churches filling in occasionally throughout the summer months. She has a pool of four or five teachers who take turns leading the Bible study portion. Alan Brown currently produces the show. Additionally, lay volunteer Matt Wilson assists Brown.
"We aim for quality," says Hubbard, who believes the quality of the show has increased significantly in the last couple years. For this, she credits Brown and Wilson. "These two know modern techniques and were educated in the field," says Hubbard. Patti Splitgerber
SIC Board of Laity meets, focuses on racial awareness
The South Indian Conference Board of Laity (BOL) met for their annual retreat in Columbus, Ind., recently. Jim Shaw, conference lay leader presided over the day's events. Members of the Conference Youth Council, Commissions on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Religion and Race, Conference Lay Speaking Committee, district superintendents and two Laity Manuscript Contest winners were present.
Jim Lewis, chairperson of the BOL Sub-Committee on Racial Healing introduced the speaker for the event, the Rev. Michael A. Anderson, Sr., whose program for the day was, "Lay Leaders' Worship on Racial Awareness."
Anderson spoke of racial awareness and led discussions guided by the workbook, "Steps Toward Wholeness: Learning and Repentance," which had been sent to attendees prior to the meeting. The book outlines the journeys taken by United Methodists throughout the world and was developed by a task force of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.
Anderson encouraged attendees to use this study to not only define racism in individual churches and/or districts, but also to be aware of the "new life" that is offered to all through the grace of God when racism is gone from all walks of life. Diana Sturm
Nightcrawler worms into a new service
The South Indiana Conference Board of Global Ministries recently voted to assume responsibility of the God's Nightcrawler bus. Members of SIC may have toured the bus outside of the IU Auditorium during the Annual Conference session last June. Board of Global Ministries will take control of the bus from its previous owner, the Division of Outdoor Ministries. As part of that responsibility, the group will assume preventive maintenance debts that have accumulated.
Under its new charge, the vehicle will be used as an early response disaster bus, transportation for Volunteers in Mission trips, and by local churches and groups as a means of travel during mission trips.
The SIC Board of Global Ministries will be mailing out announcements detailing how groups can schedule trips. Rev. Doug Walker, SIC Disaster Response coordinator
Homosexuality and the UMC, topic of Mendenhall forum
As different factions with the United Methodist Church continue to disagree about whether homosexuality is a sin, about the ordination of homosexuals and about same-sex unions, what is the denomination to do: seek theological consensus, let the majority rule, continue to disagree, or split? That question, and the issue of homosexuality, will be the focus of the Mendenhall discussion on Nov. 13 at UM-related DePauw University in Greencastle.
At 3 p.m. in the ballroom of the Memorial Student Union Building, panelists representing a range of theological perspectives within Methodism will gather for what is certain to be a lively discussion on where the Church goes from here. Joining in the debate will be the Rev. Riley Case, representing the Confessing Movement; Marilyn Alexander, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network; Dr. James Wood, author of "Where the Spirit Leads: The Evolving View of United Methodists on Homosexuality;" the Rev. Phil Granger, representing Good News; and the Rev. Andrew Ulman, representing the organizing group for a Clergy Alliance for a Professing Church. The Mendenhall discussion is free and open to the public.
Churches to recognize UM scholarship students
On Nov. 25 United Methodist Churches throughout the world are asked to celebrate students in their congregations who have received a UM loan or scholarship. The offering taken on United Methodist Student Day "prepares a new generation of Christian leaders." A total of 91 Indiana UM students benefit from your giving. This year a total of $153,000 in loans and scholarships went to prepare "the next generation."
North Indiana Conference scholars: Rebekah Beall, James Black, Chiyona Bourne, Kendra Brenner, James Brindel, Ryan Buckalew, Cherylee Clinkenbeard, Susan Conrad, Jason Cottrell, Brian Diekman, Sarah Douglas, Darin Doverspike, Ryan Fenstermaker, Katrina Friend, Nicole Gilbert, Alicia Hagan, Jason Hawkins, Angela Heid, Stacey Heishman, Melissa Herr, Holly Hershberger, Aaron Hill, Revkah Hill, Stefanie Holycross, Loni Hrynk, Jessica Jernigan, William Jones, John Keim, Catherine Koziatek, Kathryn Lemke, Micah Lukens, Matthew Macdonald, Leah Marshall, David, Mathews, Megan McFadden, Steven McPeek, Amy McPherson, Robert Miles, Kevin Miller, Jennifer Morris, Abigail Murray, David Neven, Sarah Pachulicz, Daniel Perry, Thomas Ream, Khalid Reichard, Nancy Richmond, Matthew Shull, Tiffany True, Nicholas Vanhorn and Doris Winford.
South Indiana Conference scholars: Adrienne Adkinson, Nicholas Alexander, Travis Arnold, Jason Atkinson, Allison Bell, Amanda Bender, Sarah Black, Nicholas Brown, Clay Burris, Julie Decoursey, Dorshann Dickerson, Christopher Dixon, Aaron Doades, Carrie Drake, Joshua Elliott, Jennifer Garris, Alaina Gilbert, Stephen Gilliom, Nathan Hand, Anna Haskell, Larry Hensley, Mart Hensley, Richard Hobbs, Katherine Hunt, Daxon Kaetzel, Jason Kaetzel, Jill Kaetzel, Rebecca Keach, Jennifer Knoef, Alex Kramer, Emily Kramer, Wannie Mark, Joshua Masters, Hannah Mayberry, Jessica McCrea, Holly McKay, Rachel Metheny, Ryan Michael, Jaymie Morris, Tyler Munn, Rachel Najmon, Whitney Neukam, Alissa Oakley, Susan Oakley, Elizabeth Park, Korey Partenheimer, Lauren Peoples, Jean Pratt, Jamie Sails, Amy Sanford, Eric Schneider, Danielle Shipley, Carrie Spann, Christopher Taulbee, Jenna Thompson and Sara Wildman.
World chaplains come to Springs Valley
"The best World Communion Sunday service in the whole world" is how one parishioner described the Oct. 7 Sunday morning worship service at Springs Valley UMC, French Lick, Ind. Eight airport chaplains, from five countries, accepted the invitation of the Rev. David Mark Owens to attend worship. The chaplains were part of an Indiana sightseeing tour, following the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains Annual Conference, which convened in Indianapolis Oct. 1-6.
Pastor Linda Watson knew the chaplains would be attending and asked them to join her in leading the worship service in their native languages. The Call to Worship included German, Norwegian and Taiwanese readings with the Lord's Prayer given in Swedish. Rev. David Mark Owens
Church access lifts threatened
For many years, small "enclosed cab access lifts" have been installed throughout Indiana as a reasonable and low-cost alternative to larger elevators, helping to make buildings, including many churches, handicap accessible. An elevator code based on a national model is being debated that could make "mini-elevators" obsolete.
These 3 ½ by 5 foot, swinging door elevators are large enough for a wheelchair and second rider and cost between $18,000 and $28,000.
According to Anna Marie Fernihough, chairperson of the SIC Awareness Committee for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, "eight cab access lifts have been installed in SIC United Methodist churches since 1997."
The elevator code being considered would allow mini-elevators to travel up to 12 feet and not penetrate floors. The current code permits them to travel 30 feet and to penetrate floors. New regulations would also allow for a new type of mini-elevator, known as a LULA. This is a small elevator with automatic doors and operation, but its installation and maintenance costs are in the same range as the larger commercial elevator.
As currently permitted, the access lift is more often than not the only alternative many churches have for making their buildings more accessible.
The language for the code will be written between now and mid-November. Let the state know we need to keep the access lifts available as they are now, contact: Steve Shultz, State Building Commissioner, 402 West Washington St., Room E246, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204; or the Governor's Planning Council for People with Disabilities, Suellen Jackson-Boner, 143 West Market St. #404, Indianapolis, 46204-2821. Barney Boyd, South Indiana Conference Consulting Architect
Last updated on 01/14/2004