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Imagine Indiana Design Team agrees on working definitions of ministry
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 19, 2007) — The 12-member Imagine Indiana Design Team agreed on working definition of ministry in a new Indiana Conference during their Oct. 19 meeting at the Indiana Area office in Indianapolis. Those definitions set the stage theologically for the work of the new conference and cover the definition of a disciple and the roles of congregations, district superintendents, conference staff and the bishop. These foundational statements will be used to plan for the structure and purpose of the new conference.
Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner reported to the group that the most often heard concept during his district meetings so far was congregational clusters. Some of the area’s 18 districts already function with clusters.
Both conference pension and health-care benefit plans are coming closer to a final draft as both conference pension/health-care boards agree upon set benefits and payments.
Both conference Councils of Finance and Administration will need to draft a 2009 budget for the new conference at the beginning of 2008.
As it continues to listen in district meetings and task force gatherings across Indiana, the planning team is drafting a preliminary plan that will be written in December and distributed in January for feedback and revisions before a final plan is drafted to be reviewed and approved at both annual conferences this spring.
The team has been working with a marketing class at the University of Indianapolis to compile data to help in the process of determining how many regions (districts) will be needed in the new conference. Their report will come to the committee on Dec. 7.
The team finalized location of an “if needed” special annual conferences session on Oct. 4, 2008 at the State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis to finalize plans for the new conference. The team hopes to have a final plan of union to members of both conferences in March. It also appreciates the prayers of Hoosier United Methodists as it continues its task.