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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
Bishop Coyner Friday morning:
Dakotas bishop preaches with a confident faith
Bishop Michael Coyner, episcopal leader of the Dakotas Area of The United Methodist Church, preached during the worship service which recognized the retiring ministers of the South Indiana Conference. He was elected to the episcopacy from the South Indiana Conference eight years ago. His wife, Marsha, also was present.
Here are highlights from his sermon "Confident Faith." He read from Hebrews 10:19-25.
It is my privilege to remind you that we go through all these stages of ministry with a confident faith. A confident faith probably brought us to ministry.
My mother is one of those people. She always has a positive outlook on life. We have a family story about road construction. "Oh it will be so nice when it's finished." That's partly her confident faith that God is working
I go to harvest festivals in the German section of the Dakotas. One church I attended is a leader in giving. They had a "hot dish" dinner, where they celebrated their giving. I asked them, "How are your crops this year?" Well, bishop, they replied, we didn't have any crops this year. Coyner asked: how do you survive this? One of them said, you just dig deeper, borrow for next year and hope for the best.
Scripture gives us many examples of confident faith. Hebrews declares that Jesus is the new high priest. In Him we can enter into God with a confident faith. Paul used Roman legal language. God says we are guilty but in Jesus Christ we are declared not guilty. Revelation is the story about a battle that God has already won for us.
What can we come up with such an image in our own day? I offer a sports image. We were in Alaska last year up at Mount McKinley. I flipped on the TV and Purdue was playing Wake Forest. I didn't see the rest of the game, but when we got back to the motel, ESPN had a replay of the game. I knew who won the game so I watched the game with confidence because I knew the final score.
Scripture reminds us of the final score. God has already won the game in Jesus Christ.
We can live with confidence because Jesus is the same one who guides us through life. I understand that with Dakota road construction. There are so few roads that they remake roads while we use them. All at once you can come to a "Pavement Ends" sign. Some have a pilot car which we follow until we get back on the road again. Jesus is like the pilot car. He leads and guides us in life and gives us confidence.
Sometimes we are traveling well and then it happens. The doctor's report comes back. Our child is called to Iraq. The company downsizes. There are droughts and crops don't grow. It helps us to know that Jesus sees us through. Therefore, Hebrews says, we are encouraged to provide for one another. Provoke each other to love and good deeds. Encourage each other.
In Dakotas we have assigned each pastor to a clergy team. They meet monthly to pray and be with each other. One pastor said I would have left the minister if it weren't for the prayers of others. We need to encourage each other, for what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.
Remember Dennis the Menace? In one cartoon about cookies, someone asks "What did we do to get cookies?" Dennis responds, "We don't get cookies because we are good but because Mrs. Wilson is nice."
We don't get good things because we are good, but because God gives to us good things. -DRG
In laity address:
Shaw says 'Be transformed'
Jim Shaw, conference lay leader, told members, "this is the end of the fourth quarter for me as your lay leader." In his address, Shaw first expressed his appreciation to Bishop White and the Rev. Dr. James Jones for their support and assistance. Shaw also thanked the laity.
He said he and his wife, Ruby, have been blessed beyond their wildest dreams. Our spiritual life has been enriched at all levels of the church - congregations, districts, conference, jurisdiction and general church, said Shaw.
What's next? We will move on for what God has other things for us to do. "How to make the best of the rest is our task, by helping serve the laity and the church to give our talents to the best of our abilities." He said the Apostle Paul in Romans 12 says for us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. "Do not be conformed to this world," he read.
Shaw then outlined four things we need to do to be transformed people of faith.
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"This pressure to conform is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit. We need to be formed for God's family and God has perfect plans for his children. God wants us to be transformed people.
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The Holy Spirit also shapes us for serving God. Each one does what the Lord wants us to do.
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We are created to be like Christ. Christ is our model. The more we know Him the more we will be like Him. We are not to conform to the world which is often selfish and corrupted. The more we love we show the spirits of the fruit. We no longer indulge in those things that drag us down. What ever we do, the devil says it is not enough.
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God has a purpose and a plan for you. - DRG
Meet Christopher Washum
Christopher Washum is excited about the opportunity to share his story of being a student at a historically black college in his backyard.
Washum, a sophomore at UM-related Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., is visiting four annual conferences this summer as part of the Black College Intern program. He is a member of Barnes UMC in Indianapolis. In addition to visiting North Indiana last week, he will also visit East Ohio and West Ohio annual conferences.
While attending the 925-student school, he is majoring in secondary education hoping to teach physics. "I have a dream to teach science and math," he says. "Where ever God takes me is exactly where I'm going. It might even be the seminary."
The grandson of South Indiana's lay leader, Jim Shaw, Washum feels honored to be chosen to share his story. "It all has to do with God. He has his ever-present guiding hand over everything. He's using me to reach out to his people to help support the Black College Fund," says Washum. "I'm a tool of God." -MO
UMW celebrates 135 years
During 2004, the United Methodist Women of the South Indiana Conference will celebrate the organization's 135th anniversary with other women and clergy around the world.
In a celebration luncheon on Friday, UMW members from across the conference wore different types of hats and were visited by missionaries. Isabell Thobum and Dr. Clara Swain, both missionaries who served in India in 1869 for the Women's Foreign Mission Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, were present.
Kathy White, SIC UMW president from Bethel UMC in Brazil, said units across the conference have been celebrating the anniversary since January. In addition to the conference luncheon, UMW members will converge on Evansville later this year for an even larger celebration at their annual meeting.
"There's probably not as many women's organizations that have lasted as long," said White. "It started with just a small group of women."
Explaining some goals of the UMW, White said, "The UMW works for women, children and youth without voices. We've a story to tell and we want to tell it," said White. -MO
Friday morning plenary:
Apportionment task force listens to local churches, General Conference talks unity
Apportionment task force share plans listening to church concerns
Two years ago, the conference under the leadership of Judy Purvis, established a task force that contacted every church not paying 100 percent of its apportionments.
Purvis reported that there are 682 churches 115,918 members in the South Indiana Conference. She said we do ministry together to build dormitories in Africa, together we help inner cities, we send chaplains and nurses to hospitals, and missionaries overseas. Together we have a conference office who serves you to support you in your ministry, a phone call away. Together we support district superintendents. "It is not easy to send those apportionment dollars but that's what we need to do to support our collective work," said Purvis.
The Apportionment task force wants it known that we are in ministry together as we even struggle together. We will be establishing district meetings to interact to listen to apportionment concerns and to help them with their finances. Annually, there will be an education opportunity to all pastors to hear where their congregation's apportionments go.
Delegates report on unity experienced at General Conference
Kent Millard, head of the South Indiana Conference delegation, reported as one of the 12 delegates to General Conference in Pittsburgh. Millard said that the unity of the church was sustained in Pittsburgh.
Delegate the Rev. Paula Mayberry presented flowers to Carolyn Marshall of Veedersburg, the secretary of General Conference of the UMC. Bishop White let the members of conference know the importance of Marshall's role as one of the top officers in the life of the church. Marshall gave her thanks to the conference for their support as she served. White also expressed his appreciation to the General Conference delegates for their work. See coverage about General Conference in the current issue of Hoosier United Methodists Together or online a www.inareaumc.org. The 12-minute video report is available from the conference media center.
Council on Ministries opens box of crayons
Dora Largent, of Jeffersonville and chair of the Council on Ministries, presented the CCOM report and illustrated that report with people dressed as crayons coming out of a giant crayon box.
"We are a lot like a box of crayons. We all live in the same box," Largent told the conference. She then went color-by-color, ministry-by-ministry through the work of the Council on Ministries.
Some of those ministries include:
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Health care;
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Peace with justice witnesses in our church,
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Support of Brightwood Community Center in Indianapolis;
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The support of the Board of Discipleship;
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Board of Global Ministries with such projects as Operation Classroom which sent computers to Sierra Leone and built a parsonage at Red Bird mission;
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Bishop's Laity forum and the laity luncheon at annual conference with the bishop;
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Project Hands, with tools for Operation Classroom;
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Summer intern ministries and the clergy mentor program;
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Board of Outdoor Ministries with the last of 12 building projects costing $1.6 million at all three sites. Lilly grants paid for the expansion with no apportionment dollars used. At our camps more than 90 percent have accepted Christ or dedicated their lives to Christ anew;
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Board of United Methodist Men encourages each district to have a UMM president and chapters in each church;
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United Methodist Women expanded the school of Christian mission to men, youth and children;
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Young adult ministries have struggled to find their outreach;
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Youth ministry has reached out to 630 youth at French Lick where more than 50 youth committed their lives to Christ;
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Communication Commission has worked with districts, Igniting Ministry and the resource library at the conference center;
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Mission Work teams have gone to South Dakota;
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Religion and race monitors for racial and gender inclusiveness and established study circles on racial healing;
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First adult spiritual formation academies;
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COSROW celebrated 50 years of women in ministry monitoring gender inclusiveness.
Largent said that this crayon box has no lid or sides. All of these color, gifts and talents are available to your local church.
Board of Ordained Ministry to actively recruit new ministers
The Board of Ordained Ministry will be recruiting actively youth and young adults to their call to ministry and ordained ministry. There are only 24 ordained ministers under the age of 40 in our conference.
Foundation grants travel certificates to ordinands
Clyde Fields, executive director of the Indiana Area Foundation of the UMC, presented travel certificates to each of the eight ministerial candidates that were ordained Friday night. Each certificate, valued at $2,000, is to be used in travel with the Indiana Area Bishop to the Holy Lands or to England for the Wesley Heritage Tour. Fields said that 17 of the 37 travel certificates given, have been used by our new ministers. - DRG
Highlights of Friday afternoon plenary:
Church leads in health care and higher education
UM-related institutions highlighted
The Rev. Steve Rasmussen, introduced related institutions of South Indiana Conference: Clarian Health, Franklin United Methodist Home, the University of Evansville, the University of Indianapolis, DePauw University, Indiana U.M. Children's Home, Asbury Towers and Glenburn Home.
Dan Evans, CEO of Clarian Health, spoke on behalf of Indiana's UM-related institutions. He also is a voting member of the conference. He said John Wesley said, "do all the good you can … as long as you can."
Methodist Hospital was established from a meeting of a 1899 Epworth Youth League meeting in Indianapolis. That meeting raised $8,000 to begin Methodist Hospital. Evans said his grandfather was a member of that group and was an early trustee of that hospital. Evans said, "Now I am a trustee of that same hospital." By 1929 Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis was the largest Methodist hospital in America. In January of 1997, IU and Riley hospitals joined with Methodist to become Clarian Health Partners. People come to IU Hospital when they are seriously ill with cancer and other diseases. Riley Hospital for Children, the second largest hospital children's hospital in America, is about family-centered care. The Clarian merger was controversial and Bishop White helped bring about that merger. More than $26 million in charitable care was provided through our United Methodist-related institutions.
UMCOR: your humanitarian relief organization
Today from the ports in Louisiana, supplies are leaving for Jamaica. UMCOR engineers are leaving to build 60 schools in Afghanistan. Today a demobilization camp is managed by UMCOR in Liberia. Your church was called to do something about it. One Great Hour of Sharing finances UMCOR.
New conference center
Conference heard about new conference center. A video was shown about the March consecration service. The conference center was dedicated to the honor of Bishop White. Video conferencing equipment is still needed for teleconferencing.
Conference corporation report
John Wantz, pastor of Meridian Street UMC Indianapolis and president of the conference corporation, reported on overseeing the properties of the annual conference. The conference corporation sold the former conference office. The corporation plans to do a property audit and will bring that report to the next annual conference. The corporation asked for an increase in the budget by $17,000 for loan costs of the new conference center.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary was recognized upon its 150th anniversary.
Executive committee members are doers for AC
Andrea Leininger reported that SIC executive committee acts on behalf of the conference between annual conference sessions. While we recognize we have difficult concerns, we remember, in this quadrennium two new Africa University dormitories, Fletcher Place expansion and the anti-gambling task force. Publication of three books, a new conference center, creation of a long-range task force, success of Igniting Ministry campaign, change in insurance carriers and recruitment of new ministers are some of the items the committee worked on.
Congregational Development is making disciples for Christ
Director David V. W. Owen reported (p.78) that the conference is in a five-year growth trend; 18.6 percent of our congregations are part of that trend. Owen encouraged the conference to work to 25, to 50, to 75, to 100 percent of our churches to be growth- trend churches. There are 15 new communities of faith of which six are in the top 100 membership churches. New starts now include: Turning Pointe in Evansville, Faithpoint in New Albany, an Indianapolis West District and an Asbury second site in the Columbus area; The Harvest in Southport was launched last year. Goal is to involve 100 churches in revitalization processes. Grants and team helped revitalize our congregations like Hanover UMC.
South Indiana Foundation
The ministers retirement fund stands at $5 million. The foundation seeks to raise investments into the SIC ministers' retirement fund. The foundation distributed funds to mission (CCOM $600), church growth ($1,000) and outdoor ministries ($1,100). The foundation gave $25,000 to the new conference center for furniture.
Executive Assistant to the Bishop honored on his retirement
Jack VanStone, chair of the episcopacy committee, presented the Rev. Dr. James D. Jones honorary membership in the South Indiana Conference and with a $1,205 love offering. Bishop White expressed his profound gratitude to Jones. Jones said it was an honor to work with Bishop White and said he was eternally grateful for this opportunity to serve as the bishop's executive assistant.
Task for on insurance premium shift
The cost of insurance has been shared by congregations and participants. In 2005, local congregations will shift premium from participants to be paid in full by congregations.
Numbers
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Membership for 2003 stands at 115,000 members
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We celebrate 5,275 new members
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Our weekly average attendance stands at 65,320 -DRG
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The name of Rev. Wilfred E. Smith was omitted from the deceased clergy members listed yesterday. |
Youth aliens feel at home with leadership
While turning junior high youth at annual conference into aliens may sound frightening at best, the Conference Board of Youth Ministries (CBYM) previewed their plan to do just that with their annual report. Even the Bishop, adorned with his own pair of antennae, joined in on this amusing twist of living contradictory to the ways of the world.
Each year the youth creatively plan ways to increase and strengthen the Kingdom of God through events such as the alien-based Jr. High Youth Annual Conference (YAC), its senior high component and faith-based retreats. Even with all of these events to reach others, the generally unspoken purpose of CBYM lies in building leaders.
Beckie Minglin, conference youth director of Christ UMC Indianapolis, said, "Many of our members have already developed spiritually. We try to provide opportunities for them to grow as leaders."
Along with the outgoing district coordinators, Mary-Jo Tarter and Elizabeth Gordon-Smith, Minglin has touched 116 youth members during her eight years of service to the board. The 25 youth in attendance at annual conference this year are stepping into the leadership role as well as active participation in this legislative event.
"We are part of a connectional church, especially with those who have already felt a call to ministry. The youth need to be exposed to what that means," said Minglin.
Next month Caitlin Smith, rising senior and returning president, will experience even more of this connection as she attends North Central Jurisdictional Conference as a delegate, SIC's youngest.
"Children sometimes see things in a different way that other people can't see. I think that it's this different angle that the youth add to the church," she said, looking forward to using this view when choosing whom to elect as new bishops.
Along with past CBYM president and General Conference delegate Brian Jarman, Smith has proven that the votes of youth and young adults do truly matter.
Through CBYM the church has embraced many future leaders and given them the power to believe, Smith said, "Youth are members of the church, just like any other." The leadership opportunities are the same too because of the environment CBYM has created. - MH
Ushering in a new era
This year is the last time the Rev. Tarrell Thompson will serve as head usher for annual conference.
Thompson, who is retiring from the usher position after this conference, has passed along the baton to the Rev. Betty Ann Garrett of Indianapolis Aldersgate UMC. Garrett will be assisted by the Rev. Mark Dwyer of Fortville UMC (soon to be Indianapolis University Heights UMC).
Garrett has been ushering since 1990 after she finished seminary. "It was a way to meet people and get involved (with annual conference)," said Garrett.
Thompson guided her last year and has turned more responsibilities to her. "She's really carried the freight this year," said Thompson.
While standing backstage, Garrett was talking with Thompson and looking around. "I think my mind goes 50 million different ways," she said. "I'm taking notes. It's all in Tarrell's brain."
It takes more than 80 people to distribute materials, serve communion and keep the members informed. "I've got a wonderful team in place to help me," said Garrett. "I couldn't do it without them."
While sharing some information and other duties, Thompson reflected on the changes and improvements in ushering, such as quicker distribution of materials, more ushers for communion and reserved seating. "It enhances the total experience," he said. "It's just little things that you have to watch out for." -MO
'The Joy of This Calling'
As he began preaching, Bishop White began to sing, "I've got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in heart to stay. I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay."
Soon many of the 1,600 worshipers at Friday night's commissioning and ordination service began to sing.
"What does one say when you come to the last ordination service that you will preach as an active bishop," White said. "This is my 40th ordination service. I want those who are entering this ministry to know that there is joy in the calling, there is joy in the faith, there is joy in knowing Him.
"Jesus also said, 'I am the vine and you are the branches. These things I have said to you that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.'"
White shared a very personal moment in his life when his mother was beaten and raped. "What kind of mind would beat and rape a woman in her seventies?" He said there was utter anger, hate and revenge in him as he and Kim made their way to New York City where his mom lived.
He said, "I went to the apartment and heard voices and laughter. Other relatives had already arrived. Interestingly, my mom was in the kitchen. She was frying chicken. She was singing only as a person of faith who had gone through the fires of life. We hugged each other and she said, 'Woodie, remember that God is good all the time. All the time God is good.'" This kind of joy the world can not give you. Don't let others determine when you can have joy. White said, "I came to Indiana with joy and I'm leaving Indiana with joy."
"Jesus said, 'It is my joy in you.' Only the person who knows the God of faith will know this joy."
I received a hand-written letter from a small church asking me to come and confirm their one confirmand. So I went to the little church. There were balloons and streamers for one confirmand White said. There was joy!
He said, "I went to a very liberal seminary. There were certain things that I wanted to discard. There were certain songs that they were not quite theologically correct."
White began to sing: "I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses and the voice I hear calling on my ear the Son of God discloses."
He then said, "I had to remember how it was to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One so real that you sing and He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. And the JOY we share as we tarry there none other can ever know." One day I felt kicked around and that hymn came to my mind.
There is joy in calling and there is joy in answering the call. Just think you will be paid to tell about Jesus being the joy of life. That He is the source of this joy. I can hardly wait to get into the pulpit on Sunday morning. There is joy in this calling. People who don't know you will reveal themselves to you, and you can bring them joy.
I get annoyed at all the studies that come out about how uncomfortable the clergy area, how unhappy they are. Some would get the idea that clergy are unhappy. That's not what I have discovered. There is such joy.
"Tonight these men and women will give there lives to God. My prayer is that they will have the joy of which I speak," White proclaimed.
"And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am his own. And the JOY we share as we tarry there none other can ever know." - DRG
UMM provide prayer for North America
"Upper Room Prayer Line, this is Larry."
That's what Larry Lewis, SIC United Methodist Men's president of Rockford UMC in Seymour, repeated for more than an hour on Friday afternoon.
Lewis, who with other members of the United Methodist Men and the annual conference, took calls from the Upper Room's Prayer Line on Friday. "This can be done anyplace around the country," said Lewis.
During his time in the coat check room at the IU Auditorium, Lewis and others talked to and prayed with people from Canada, Maryland, Washington and Pennsylvania. "It's a ministry the United Methodist Men take very seriously."
On an average call, Lewis and others take the person's name, what state their calling from and then listen to the person's needs. "If somebody wants to talk and has a need, you can't shut them off."
After a prayer, the caller is told that their prayer requests are shared with 10 to 100 covenant groups across the nation. "It's a rewarding experience," said Lewis. "They're very appreciative usually."
"They might not go to church. They might not have a Bible. But someone's passed along the 1-800 number," said Lewis. (That's 1-800-251-2468.)
The Rev. Russ Abel of Mt. Vernon First UMC in the Evansville District was another volunteer Friday afternoon. "Sometimes we forget the things that go on behind the scenes that affect peoples' lives. To have the opportunity to share with someone is amazing."- MO