Bishop Coyner takes questions from the hearts, minds of confirmands during annual rally at Zionsville

By Daniel R. Gangler

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - Confirmands didn't spare the questions for Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner during his annual confirmation rally held March 3 at Zionsville United Methodist Church just north of Indianapolis.

During a 45-minute mid-afternoon session, Coyner fielded question from "Do you like Twinkies?" and others about drinking, smoking, dating, and "who's going to win the Duke-North Carolina game?" to the more serious "Do you take the Bible literally?" - "Are Mormons Christians?" and "Do you think it's wrong to be gay?"

Coyner fielded 18 questions from the 380 mostly middle-school-aged confirmands from across the state. Including adult sponsors and pastors, the rally attracted more than 500 participants for the day-long event. According to South Indiana Conference staff members, that's twice as many participants as attended last year's rally.

The day-long event included group pictures with the bishop, lunch, praise worship led by the Wesley Fellowship Praise Team of the Wesley Foundation ministry at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., a confirmation presentation by Coyner and a closing communion service with the Bishop officiating.

During a PowerPoint presentation, Coyner explained to the youth that confirmation is the time (in their words), "I want to say 'yes' to God." He said, because God loves us first, we respond with our love to God.

"My hope and prayer is through all this process (of confirmation), you will be able to continue to say 'yes' to God."

Confirmands also learned that the Bishop's favorite color is blue; he drives a Buick; his favorite book series is the Hardy Boys; his favorite hymn is "Amazing Grace" and his favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:38, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God..."

Coyner showed his sensitivity as he was asked to "pray for cancer to stop." He responded, "Yes, we Christians pray for disease to stop and evil things to be stopped. There are mysteries about life and the way creation works. Pain teaches us about life like cancer, illness, heart aches and accidents. The lesson is not only fighting against pain but also to learn important lessons in life (from pain)."

In his answer to "Do you think it's wrong to be gay," he said, "No, the problem is what one does with these feelings and how one acts upon these feelings." He affirmed sexuality as good, but said, "we can abuse sexual gifts." He went on to explain that the whole church is struggling with the question of homosexuality. "It's not wrong, but what you do with these feelings could be wrong. God wants us to live holy lives."

To the question: "Do you take what the Bible says literally?" Coyner said, "Yes, but we need to look at the different kinds of writing and writing styles. The Bible uses language (styles) like poetry, parables, historical. We need to read (the Bible) seriously, but with education and help."

So, does the Bishop like Twinkies? "Yes," he said.

The rally was sponsored as an Indiana Area event sponsored by the South Indiana Conference.

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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