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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
Plenary 4:
Three new missionaries consecrated; $1 million worship center approved
As the final plenary session got underway Saturday morning, Bishop White announced that 14 people had come forward to commit their lives to Christian service during the Ordination Service Friday evening.
The bishop consecrated three persons presented by the Mission Personnel Committee: Linda McBride is serving the Muncie District at Covenant Partners, Juan Martinez is coordinating Hispanic Ministries in Frankfort and Evelyn Taylor will become Missionary of Advocacy and Resource, relating to all congregations effective Sept. 1.
A resolution to conduct a conference-wide appeal to raise the $1 million needed to construct the first new church in more than 75 years for a predominately African-American congregation. That congregation is New Hope UMC in Anderson, pastored by the Rev. Reginald Lee. The sanctuary will be named The Woodie W. White Worship Center.
Operation Classroom celebrated 15 years of service. Jack Dwiggins, Conference Lay Leader, reported that O.C. began as a joint ministry of the North and South Indiana Conferences through the efforts of the two Conference Lay Leaders at that time, John Shettle (NIC) and Bob Bowman (SIC). Dwiggins also spoke about the current program, Project Hands, which puts tools and supplies in the hands of youth and teaches them to be self-sufficient. Conference members were encouraged to make a donation for these tools and supplies before leaving Annual Conference.
Rev. John Wolf, chairman of the North Indiana Coalition Against Gambling, urged Conference members to contact their legislators to register opposition to increased legalized gambling in the state. Wolf stated that he has been told by legislators that "the people of Indiana don't care" about this issue. Wolf also reported that a letter of protest, signed as an ecumenical effort by 20 religious leaders from Indiana, was delivered to the state house by Bishop White early last spring.
In other business:
- Approved the 2003 proposed budget at $10,333,624, an increase of approximately .04 over this year's budget.
- Approved a recommendation to fund construction of a new house for the Directors of Pine Creek Camp.
- Approved a recommendation to add the Committee on Hispanic Ministries to the Structure Document of the Conference Council on Ministries.
- Rev. Kate Lehman, representing the United Methodist Publishing House, presented a check for $16,427.28 to the Annual Conference, designated for the pension fund. Patti Splitgerber
North Indiana Conference 2002 Stats:
- Conference members gave $294,665 to the 9/11 fund
- Total conference giving to the Advance (world missions) was $1,089,258
$835,193 of which went to Indiana missions projects.- Conference lay membership is 103,379, down 971 from the previous year.
- Worship attendance was 71,599, up 1,439.
- Number of NIC churches is 576
- 2,000 more campers (for a total of 4,844) attended conference camps.
UMM teams up with hunger relief organization
Each church in NIC is asked to donate $200 this year towards hunger relief
On Saturday, June 1, the United Methodist Men gathered for a breakfast which left them more filled than anyone could imagine.
Ken Bradford, president of the Society of St. Andrew, spoke to the group about national hunger initiatives and activities that are going on across North Indiana. The Society of St. Andrew is a national hunger relief group that receives support from the UMM.
According to Bradford, there are 32 million people across the nation -- about 395,000 in Indiana alone -- that go hungry every month. "The challenge of hunger is not centered on scarcity. It is centered on distribution," said Bradford. "We produce more than enough. We can make sure that not one of God's children goes hungry."
To make sure everyone has something to eat, the Society continually supports potato drops and gleaning projects. Continuing to raise awareness, the Society is also supporting each annual conference to create a hunger relief program and have a hunger relief advocate (HRA) to educate the various churches and groups about hunger in their areas. David McCleary of Warsaw is North Indiana's HRA. "It is a vision that is coming into fruition right here, right now," said Bradford.
As part of the initiative, the UM Men is asking each church in the conference to donate $200 this year towards hunger relief programs. Money should be sent to the Society of St. Andrew, 3383 Sweet Hollow Rd., Big Island, Va. 24526.
In other UMM news:
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Received a report from Rev. Joe Wagner on Operation Classroom. The group is looking to send a saw mill to Sierra Leone this fall.
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Howard Drake of Kokomo Main Street UMC, the recipient of the Bishop's Torch Award, was honored for his years of dedication to youth, scouting and scouting ministries. Matthew Oates