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Plenary 2:
Oakwood loan, SCM, camps and energy bars
"Vision without action is just a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. But glorious vision with dedicated action can change the world," stated Bishop Mike Coyner during his keynote address at Friday morning's opening worship.
Official attendance figures were announced at 618 laity and 541 clergy. Teddy bear "attendance" has grown from a preliminary count Thursday of less than 500 to more than 2,500 by Friday afternoon, prompting conference statistician Brent Williams to comment that parking an Operation Classroom truck at every church might bring him very different statistics to report. The donated bears nearly filled the truck.
Bringing the most dialogue to the conference floor thus far was a recommendation from the Board of Trustees to allow the early payoff of a loan made to the Oakwood Foundation. After much discussion and non-concurrence with two proposed amendments to the recommendation, the original recommendation passed. Jim Jones, president of the Oakwood Foundation, then presented a check to the Annual Conference, which he had with him "in the event that this would happen."
Kids & camps
Within the report of the United Methodist Women, the School of Christian Mission was highlighted. It was noted that the North Indiana Conference ranks second in the nation for attendance at their Children's Mission Camp (ChiMiCa).
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'We have to reach kids. Camping is the single most effective tool we have.' |
Nick Yarde, associate director, outdoor ministries, brought the report from Camps and Conferences. Yarde reports that nine of ten people who will receive Christ make that decision before graduating from high school. "We have to reach kids. Camping is the single most effective tool we have," said Yarde. "Make a difference. No, make a disciple. Send a kid to camp."
The Conference Council on Young Adult Ministries gave a spirited report using a mock news interview on video. The council highlighted its plans for one leadership training seminar and two retreats in the coming year. They presented the Bishop and Jim Jones with a bottle of Gatorade and an energy bar and let it be known that they will be giving out energy boosts (candy) all over the campus for the rest of the day.
In other business, the conference recognized the 16 retiring pastors who have a total of almost 413 combined years of service to Christ and his church. Rev. Steve Cain, campus minister at Purdue University, was honored with the Frances Asbury Award for his dedication to campus ministry. And, in the morning breakout session, conference members were asked to think, pray and talk about pastors and places that have touched their lives in a significant way. Patti Splitgerber
Retired? Maybe
Sixteen pastors from the North Indiana Conference were honored during the Friday morning plenary and a noontime luncheon for their almost 413 years in the ministry.
The 16 expressed to the two groups their appreciation for support, as well as their plans for the future.
Many of the pastors are going to travel, while others are going to be active in other church ministries, and a few are still going to preach.
Rev. Shepherd Harkness and his wife, Pearleye, are going to be traveling across the United States visiting nieces and nephews. They are also moving to Memphis, Tenn. to be closer with their daughter and grandson. "I'm looking forward to being with them," said Shepherd.
Revs. Erma and Hugh Rohrer are moving to Quincy, Ill. to spend time with their grandchildren. "We're going to try to relax . and have fun," said Erma. Matthew Oates
Plenary 3:
Singing New Songs, district by district; and other causes for joy
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'Our greatest joy must be when we as a church or as individuals lead unchurched people, one at a time, to a relationship with Christ.' --- Jack Dwiggins |
"We sing a new song; we dance a new dance," sang Conference members again and again. Some of those new songs were celebrated in reports Friday afternoon. First, district superintendents celebrated the work of the Holy Spirit in new ministries throughout the Conference. The stories poured out:
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A tiny Sunday School class of seven collected 1,507 teddy bears for Afghanistan.
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A congregation turned a heating and electrical business into a sanctuary.
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A small church sent one member into full-time ministry and nine to lay speakers' school; another finds six of its youth committed to full-time Christian service.
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One congregation collected and sent two large containers of medical equipment to Africa.
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One large church experienced 900+ youth conversions, is planting a church in Colorado, and partners with a Kazakhstan orphanage.
The song continued as lay leaders in each district lifted up the moving of the Holy Spirit in their churches:
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New church starts, new worship services, new ministries for youth, the aged, the disenfranchised and the poor -- even other cultures; coffee houses, shelters, video games, thrift shops -- all being used for ministry.
"It's not about us, it's about Jesus," Jack Dwiggins, Conference lay leader reminded the crowd in his Laity Address. "I have hope! My greatest passion is that every United Methodist Church would discover God's will for them, put aside their own motives and reach out beyond their walls to minister to that one lost sheep that needs you and me."
The Conference Foundation sang its new song in celebration of a record year in new gifts, $3.4 million in new investments and programs, and the establishment of the Loan Fund, to be used in funding church growth projects. Taken together, the foundation is well placed to provide financial support for many of the growing ministries and churches celebrated throughout the conference. "Who wants to hear just a bunch of numbers?" asked Royce Ruckman, Foundation director. No hands lifted, and so he shared the news and excitement of monies that are dedicated to building ministry.
In breakout after breakout, and continuing videos of the Council on Ministries, the stories made obvious that God is at work in the North Indiana Conference. People and churches are singing and dancing to new songs of the Spirit.
Missional Churches named
Missional churches, those receiving support from the conference through Parish and Community Development Funds, were named for 2003. They are:
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Muncie Trinity UMC
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Hispanic Ministries of North Indiana
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Gary area churches
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Covenant Partners
"Shine," implores CCYM
Conference youth shone in yellow shirts and impassioned words as well as prayers for those in leadership. Many spoke of their call to ministry and service. Not only have our conference youth grown through camps, concerts, conferences and trips, they also celebrated giving with a gift of $2,000 for Africa University.
This fall will be the "Bishop's Convocation for those Youth Called to Ministry." Youth will have a chance to learn about varied opportunities for full-time Christian service. More than 100 were called to ministry at last year's Senior High Institute. Is this a new song for our future?
Members support War Against Terrorism Resolutions
With minor word changes, the conference membership voted to support the War on Terrorism as declared by President George W. Bush. Rev. Riley Case, submitted the resolution as a way for the conference to address the current conflict. Impassioned debate about the reality of the war was tempered by the call to prayer for our church, our president, our armed forces, world leaders and others. Bishop Woodie White closed the session with a prayer for those who serve and a reminder of the horror of the attack of Sept.11 and its aftermath. Gina Riendau
Spiritual Directors help groups remember Core Values
The North Indiana Conference leads the nation when it comes to making sure conference agencies and boards are spiritually well-grounded.
The conference, through the Strategy Council, has assigned spiritual directors to work with each group to provide input and guide them in relation to the Core Values.
After nominations were taken and people were called, a field of about 50 remained for the 32 conference boards and groups. "The response was pretty positive as a whole," said the Rev. Denise Davault, a Spiritual Life Division liaison from Columbia City St. Matthew's UMC.
The role of spiritual director is to oversee each group, look at its dynamics, discern how to live out the Core Values and balance its inward and outward spirituality.
The directors have gathered twice during the past year for training and feedback to hear what is going on and what improvements can be made.
By fall, the spiritual directors -- who are both clergy and laity -- will lead the groups through the Core Value workbooks and guide them on a Prayer Walk.
Davault said the success of the spiritual directors depends not only on the nature of the committees' works, but also if the committees are willing to work with the Core Values. "The feedback varies from committee to committee and from task to task."
Rev. John Young, Anderson St. Matthew's UMC, is a spiritual director for the Young Adult Ministries. The group has met several times this year and have started exploring the Core Values and prayer. "It's a very good idea," said Young. Matthew Oates
Original theme song underscores conference
"We sing a new song.
We dance a new dance.
We reach our hand out to those who haven't heard.
Your love transforms us. Your grace renews us.
Your words are written on my heart, unchanged thru time.
So we sing a new song to you, my King. A new song to my King."
Copyright May 2002,
John Haney, used with permission.
When John Haney received a call from Chuck Scott in April to write a theme song for annual conference, he took the challenge.
That challenge and labor of love has turned into a memorable part of annual conference that people will be singing about for years. The song, "We Sing a New Song," has been played throughout this year's conference.
Haney did have help; he and Scott worked from a list of Core Values and phrases that were potential themes.
"All of these concepts we're presented to me," said Haney, a member of Fort Wayne St. Joseph's UMC. "The hardest part was trying to pull this all together."
Haney, who is a Christian contemporary musician, wrote music first, then Scott worked on the vocal and instrumental arrangements.
The song has been well-received and many have asked for copies or recordings of the music. According to Haney, there are no copies yet; but once they are made, they will be made available to the churches across the conference.
But the song also has a deeper meaning to Haney, who talked about his time and involvement in the church and with music. "God has opened so many doors for me," he said.
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To sign up to receive information about the song, visit the Cokesbury display in Room 30 in Elliott Hall's basement through 10:30 a.m. Saturday. After annual conference, check out www.johnhaneymusic.com. Matthew Oates
2002 OrdinandsElderAltergott, Karen Order of DeaconRingenbach, Susan E. Probationary Member-ElderKinsler, Barbara J. |
Ordination Service brings response
A holy hush fell over the Elliott Hall of Music as Bishop Woodie White took the basin he had poured water into and walked toward the ordinands to wash their feet. Earlier in the service, he had charged the group of 20 -- fourteen being ordained as Elders, one as Permanent Deacon and five being commissioned to candidacy in the order of Elders with a simple, yet powerful charge.
"You must care. That is where servanthood finds its roots," said Bishop White. The charge did not scare off those who heard God's call, however. When Bishop White asked for them to come forward, many in the hall responded.
To close the service, mantle-bearer and retiree Shepherd Harkness, Goshen St. Mark's UMC, passed the mantle to Thomas Watt, a newly ordained elder from Burlington UMC, as a symbol of the continuity of ministry in North Indiana Conference. Paula Shrock