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Laity Executive Session:
Hearing calls to 'grow' and to talk to one another
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'The heart of our faith is the gathered community.' |
Laity members heard calls to grow and a reminder of our legacy, heritage and calling during the Laity session Thursday morning.
Dr. Dan Saliers, a professor of theology at Emory University in Atlanta and co-author of the "Conversations Matter: Why United Methodists Should Talk With One Another," served as the keynote.
"Those pages grew out of concern and a discovery," said Saliers. The concern came from the great issues that church members face, and the discovery was the renewed sense of our Wesleyan heritage.
He relayed a story about how at a funeral dinner, friends and family were sharing stories and memories. There was laughter, tears and joy in the room. "The heart of our faith is the gathered community."
As part of the gathered community, it is laity's role to grow up in an immature society and work together to better humanity through a variety of means "You meet people like this; they're ordinary people," said Saliers. "They carry the image of the Church."
'Last Row Near the Door' was a winner
Shelley Dodson got to do something that very few people get to do at Annual Conference: preach from the pulpit.
Dodson, an active member of Greenwood UMC in the Rushville District, was the winner of the 2002 Laity Manuscript Contest. This year's theme was "Partners in Ministry: All God's People Telling the Story." Nineteen essays were received.
She has been a member of her church for three years and works at Indiana University East in Richmond. Her church activities include serving as annual conference lay member, Christian education director, high school Sunday school teacher, certified lay speaker and VBS leader.
Her essay was titled "The Last Row Near the Door." In it, she recalled her days of growing up and how she always had an awareness with God, even through struggles. "I was very comfortable in my Christian walk."
But despite being comfortable, she sensed something greater: "I didn't know it at the time, but God wanted me to go deeper in the river." As part of the search, "I even moved from the back pew near the door."
Part of going deeper and exploring was reaching out and talking to others in her neighborhood and at church, as well as strengthening one's relationship with God. "Today, God is calling you to go deeper with him," said Dotson.
Honorable mentions went to Christine Rembert, Rushville District; Lynn Blosser, Indianapolis West; Paul Hankins, New Albany District; and Linda Hoopes, Columbus District.
In other laity session action:
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Members learned the SIC Leadership Academy has offered 42 courses in the past six years. A new round of courses will be offered this fall.
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The UM Men reminded all churches to make sure their units are chartered, as well as to use the UM Men as a resource for men's ministries.
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A program consisting of "Study Circles" was introduced to be used as part of the dialogue for racial healing. Matthew Oates
Clergy Executive Session:
Sharing memories, caring, support
To celebrate 593 combined years of ministry, the clergy retirees shared fond memories and said "thank yous" to those who helped along the way. Bruce Buckley thanked his colleagues for their prayers, cards and friendship, and credited their prayers for his life and the life of his wife, Phyllis, as they have battled cancer. Gerald Boyer also thanked the his friends for their prayers during his liver transplant in March 2002. He (and Bishop White) encouraged continued prayers for Michael Anderson, Bloomington District superintendent and recent liver transplant patient.
The clergy session approved 18 full-time pastors, one probationary member, four part-time local pastors, and one diaconal minister for retirement.
In other business, seven persons were given full membership as elders, one person was elected to full membership as diaconal, one person was given associate membership, and eight persons were elected to probationary membership and are eligible for commissioning and service. Ann Glass, chair of the Order of Elders, said October dialogue groups will take the place of elders meetings this fall. She encouraged the clergy to take care of each other by participating in peer support groups. Robin Norris
Opening Plenary Session:
We've only just begun
As the rain held off for a few moments, more than 1,100 members of the South Indiana Conference united for the opening plenary session of the 34th Annual Conference session at I.U. Auditorium.
For the first time, the session was held at 11 a.m., following clergy and lay executive sessions which took place earlier Thursday morning at Bloomington First UMC and the I.U. Auditorium, respectively.
Before and after the session, conference participants gathered in the Auditorium lobby to share in fellowship with friends, check out various UM program displays and examine the book selection in the Cokesbury area.
Bishop Woodie White opened the morning session with prayer and introduced Secretary Curtis Hurley. Hurley in turn presented Robert Sharp, the new conference council director, who called all cabinet spouses to the stage to be thanked and applauded. Lisa Schubert
Memorial service honors 32
Thursday morning the members of the SIC assembled for a memorial service to remember the 21 South Indiana clergy and 11 clergy spouses who have passed away since the 2001 Annual Conference.
Rev. George Davis, retiring pastor of St. Mark's UMC in Carmel, delivered a heartfelt message about God having the last word over death. He also recalled the support, humor and inclusive attitude of those being remembered.
During Communion, a moment of silence was taken to pray for the families of those who have died, and 32 candles were lit in honor of those on the Memorial Roll. Lisa Schubert
Health Fair welcomes even 'sissies' ... and there's $10 in it for them!
As the nurse prepared to stick Rev. Robert Epps with a needle, he turned to her jokingly and said, "Be kind, because I'm a sissy."
Epps, a retired pastor from Bloomington, was one of more than 100 pastors and their spouses who were pricked, poked and cuffed during a free health screening from the Community Health Network on Thursday. The two white tents outside of the I.U. Auditorium will have additional screening today from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Insurance Committee for the SIC is sponsoring the fair, which offers blood pressure testing, height and weight measurement, cholesterol screening and body mass index. In addition, health care specialists are on hand to give immediate analysis of the results along with advice on weight loss management, exercise programs and personal wellness coaching.
"In the past, we've focused on awareness," said Tracy Taylor, customer relations manager at Community Health Network. "This year there's more of an emphasis on intervention, and we hope they'll make changes rather than just receive information."
As an incentive, everyone who participates in the screening will receive a $10 gift certificate to Cokesbury. And those who are identified as high-risk candidates will be eligible for the Chance for Change, a program that challenges them to reduce their risky health habits by next year's Annual Conference. Those whose test results improve will receive a $100 gift certificate to Cokesbury.
After Epps bravely faced the cholesterol screening procedure, he was surprised to learn that his results were within normal bounds, because usually they're high. Even so, he hopes to obtain clear instruction on exercise and health programs. Lisa Schubert
Afternoon Plenary:
Some key numbers down, but encouraging signs reported
Called to worship by the trumpet strains by David Wells' moving rendition of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Amazing Grace," members gathered to sing, pray, hear Scripture and continue God's business. Issues of the afternoon's business included approval of all reports on schedule.
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Standing Rules: A reminder that Jurisdictional and General Conference delegates will be elected at the 2003 Annual Conference. Rules relevant to that process were approved. A motion was passed to suspended the rules and for the Board of Pensions report to come before the Annual Conference rather than through a legislative group.
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Committee on Annual Conference: Dr. Robert Schilling, who has been Conference organist for 27 years, was honored for his dedication to SIC. He retired this year from his long and exemplary tenure as minister of music for North UMC in Indianapolis.
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Cabinet: Chairman Jim Gentry reported, "we live in a world in which many people have found the need to return to spirituality, and though they find faith significant in their lives, they tend to turn to other places than organized, formal religious affiliation.
Even so, the report highlighted these victories: more than 3,000 persons have been received into membership through Profession of Faith; and nearly 70,000 persons worship in our churches on an average Sunday. Although some minor loss in membership and Sunday School attendance was reported, and giving to apportionments is down, total giving for 2001 was significantly higher.
Vida Nueva (New Life) UMC in Indianapolis -- after having to move out of their building due to its being declared unsafe -- was able to worship in Washington Street UMC until they closed in Dec. 2001. Now Vida Nueva has grown in its ministries and is leading the conference in the process of involvement in the Church's National Plan for Hispanic Ministries.
We rejoiced in a new church start: The Promise UMC in Fishers.
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Conference Finance & Administration: The conference ended 2001 in a strong financial position. All financial commitments were met and the strength of the reserve funds was retained. The preliminary report was presented during this plenary and will be presented for conference approval during Saturday's session.
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Africa University: Through individual giving and the giving of several churches, total gifts raised for Africa University was $1,038,594. Ethel McCane
All Conference Dinner rocks with 'Geeky Pop'
The All Conference Dinner celebrated holy humor with an evening of laughter and song. Jill Cole and John Mantle from Avon UMC, who were substituting for the All Conference Orchestra, opened the night with two Christian songs.
They were followed by Christian comedian Craig Tornquist, who kept the audience roaring with laughter as he encouraged them to "see delight and be the light."
Tornquist, who lives in Mishawaka, entertained the crowd by singing ridiculous songs and parodies of other famous tunes. In one, he poked fun at the frustrations of voice mail, and in another he admitted his fear that his young daughters will one day find him to be a "Geeky Pop."
"I'll be the father they fear most," he sang. "I'll wear knee socks with swim trunks with legs white as a ghost."
From Bill Clinton to Elvis to Willie Nelson to Kermit the Frog to Neil Diamond, Tornquist's impersonations revealed his desire to combine clean humor with his faith. In a rewritten version of the Monkee's song "I'm a Believer," Tornquist explained his spiritual calling to the stage then urged others to share their gifts and talents.
"Since I'm a Christian and a comedian, that gives me a goal when I'm putting this together," he said. "If Jesus were in the audience, would I get this response (of laughter) from him?"
The applause at the end of his performance gave the answer of a resounding "yes." Lisa Schubert
Thursday Preaching Hour:
Conference gathers to celebrate and praise
"Hallelujah anyhow," soundly proclaimed worship service preacher, Bishop Charles Wesley Jordan at Thursday night's worship service.
Speaking on the trials and tribulations we face in the world from day to day, Bishop Jordan quoted a passage from Habakkuk and challenged the audience to rejoice in the Lord, despite life's failures and the many adversities we often encounter. "God continues to be worthy of praise," said Jordan -- who retired from active episcopacy in September 2000.
Speaking on last week's ceremony at Ground Zero -- which signaled to formal end to the clean-up of the World Trade Center in New York City -- Jordan said that even amid the moments of silence, the "Hallelujah anyhow" was clear.
"God's voice may be heard in the action," he said. "God is not in disaster. He is in the response to the disaster. He is in us!" Ethel McCane
About our stage banners
"Listening to God," the underlying theme of this year's conference, is expressed visually in the two large banners suspended above the stage. The one on the left depicts the burning bush, also seen as a traditional Jewish Menorah. It represents God speaking to us through the Old Testament, with roots reaching down to the crown of thorns, representing God speaking through Jesus Christ. The dove denotes God speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. The figures in the lower corner show our listening to God together.
The banner on the right begins on the bottom in the darkness of sorrows, tragedies, hatred, intolerance, fear, as we are called to praise and rejoice and to go out into the world in ministry. The figures move upward into the light and dance outward into the world as carriers of God's light.
Design: Rev. Pat Geyer; Artistic representation: I.U. School of Music Opera Paint Shop. Lynne Renne
For worship in the woods
A book of worship specially designed for use by scouting groups, UM youth, 4-H and Camp Fire groups is hot off the press! Conference Scouting Ministries Coordinator Art Collins says you can pick up an advance copy at the Committee on CYSA/Scouting's display on the Mezzanine of the auditorium.
Multiple copies for CYSA ministry may be acquired for just the cost of postage and handling at $1 each. Make checks payable to "Venture Crew 699." Also you may have copies sent to your congregation by filling out the coupon (blue flier in your registration packet) and give it to those manning the display on the Mezzanine.