Former communications director inducted into UMAC Hall of Fame

Lynne DeMichele, former director of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication and editor of Hoosier United Methodists Together was inducted into the United Methodist Association of Communicators' Hall of Fame of noted retired communicators during the association's October 2007 meeting in Charleston, S.C.

DeMichele was the communications director for Indiana United Methodists for 12 years before retiring in 2002. She served as both vice president and president of the United Methodist Association of Communicators and helped create what is now Paragraph 645 in the Book of Discipline, that says, "In each annual conference there shall be a commission on communications or other structure to provide for these functions and maintain the connectional relationship."

Beyond Indiana, DeMichele was the first journalist to get into Monrovia, Liberia during the wind down of the civil war there, sneaking in on a United Nations relief flight. She went to report on the status of the Operation Classroom schools and clinics.

She also helped organize the largest United Methodist pilgrimage ever to Israel - more than 900 Midwesterners. DeMichele and former Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White visited a Palestinian refugee camp and interviewed some of its residents.

DeMichele also edited three books for Indiana members and published by Providence House: Treasure in Clay Jars, a collection of local faith stories, which proved to be a best seller for Providence; Small Wonders, a collection of children's faith stories; and Amazing Grace: A bicentennial history of the Indiana Methodist Church written by E. Carver McGriff.

Last updated on 14 Oct 2008

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