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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
November 2001 |
South Indiana UMW annual meeting:
'… Expressions and Splendor of God's Creation'
By Pam Helms
In mid-September, 384 gathered at Vincennes' Community UMC for "Listen and Look for the Expressions and Splendor of God's Creation," the South Indiana Conference United Methodist Women's annual meeting.
This year's meeting opened with music led by Dr. and Mrs. Dan Miller. Conference, district and local United Methodist Women (UMW) presidents greeted those in attendance. Missionaries, past and present, conference officers, jurisdiction and Women's Division representatives, clergy and five district superintendents were recognized.
The Rev. Jim Gentry, Indianapolis West District superintendent offered greetings from the cabinet. Gentry said there were two things he remembered from his first encounters as a young pastor with WSCS (Women's Society of Christian Serive, a predecessor to the UMW), that is they are a global as well as local organization, and -- with the reading program -- the best informed group. He ended by saying, "I'm glad to be a United Methodist Woman!"
Kathy White, conference president, led the business meeting. The budget for 2002 was approved with $231,000 slated for Pledge to Mission. There were ten-plus large boxes of school supplies for McCurdy Mission School collected, and the offering for the day was $1,497.57 which will go to undesignated giving.
Sandy Ruby, executive secretary of Women's Division gave a report from "Young Women Rise Up." Ruby told of 900 young women and their sponsors learning of the history of the UMW organization and being eager to become a part of it. She urged that the young women be allowed to tell what works for them and then given the support and encouragement to accomplish their goals.
Nadene Woolf, conference historian, gave an excellent first person account of a former medical missionary, Ida Scudder, from India. She finished her story by telling of the 200-bed expansion added to the Ida Scudder Hospital for Women and Children which is a project of Women's Division.
Carolyn Marshall, director of the Lucille Raines Residence (owned and supported by both North and South Conference UMWs) told what a difference UMW makes in the lives of the residents there. One of the residents this past week came to her in joy and said, "This is the first time in my memory that I've had a year clean!"
Retiring officers were recognized and honored with gifts to mission. For the second time this year, two husbands were also included in the gift to mission: Dr. George Small and Ray Handley. At School of Christian Mission last July two other men were similarly honored, John Janoski and the Rev. Bill Helms.
The Rev. Glenda Riggs, former conference officer did an installation service for the 2002 officers. Riggs told how UMW had given her support for the journey of life.
The keynote speaker was Janie Cantey-Mitchell, Ph.D, RN. In October of 1999, Cantey-Mitchell was commissioned a deaconess with the UMC, General Board of Global Ministries. her topic was "Environment and Health." Using the text from Genesis 1:1; 1:31 -- "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. God looked at everything He had made, and indeed it was very good."
Sharing communion concluded the annual meeting. Carole Small, conference vice-president joined Kathy White in sending participants home with a blessing from the "Children's Sabbath."
Pam Helms is the South Indiana Conference communications coordinator
Last updated on 01/14/2004