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United Methodists respond to flood survivorsThe United Methodist response to the massive central Indiana flooding in early June has been phenomenal as hundreds of congregations have assembled and/or delivered an estimated 1,400 flood buckets and the numbers increase.
At press time, Heidi Player of the South Indiana Conference treasurer's office said more than $60,000 was received from South Indiana United Methodist churches for flood relief. Funds continue to come in to assist flood survivors in central Indiana. Brent Williams, treasurer of the North Indiana Conference, told Together that he has received and sent to the South Indiana Conference more than $5,600 for central Indiana flood relief. The Columbus District Disaster Relief Coordinator Keith Chanley asked flood survivors with needs to contact the Columbus District Office. During the first days of flooding, the district office ordered 100 flood buckets to be delivered to Asbury UMC in Columbus for distribution. All six United Methodist churches of Columbus united in the relief effort. Asbury, First, Petersville, Sandy Hook, East Columbus and Mt. Olive churches meet together at Asbury UMC to review combined needs and to discuss their shared outreach ministry. The churches expect several work crews to sleep at Asbury as they mobilize to meet the needs of combined United Methodist families and many others. At the request of Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner in early June, the United Methodist Committee on Relief immediately sent $10,000 for initial flood disaster relief of residents. Likewise, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the Mississippi Area sent a $10,000 check to Coyner for flood relief in Indiana. Leaders of the Mississippi and Louisiana conferences indicated how much they appreciated the support from Indiana for their flooding and disaster response issues in the past. The Louisiana Conference offered support and work teams. The latest sizeable contribution came from the Dakotas Conference in the amount of $10,500 for flood relief. Volunteer opportunities continue to be available through Franklin College at the Dietz Center on the east edge of campus. Anyone willing to volunteer should register at the center. Volunteers need to bring sturdy shoes, gloves, drinking water, shovels and be willing to work not only in houses but in the donation centers. Jenni Walker, resource administrator of the South Indiana Conference, says she is receiving between 25 and 30 e-mails a day and numerous phone calls about volunteering for flood recovery efforts in South Indiana. Walker can be reached at 812-893-1760 or by e-mail at jenniwalker@mac.com. She is working with numerous church and civic organization including the American Red Cross to place volunteers where they are needed in flood recovery efforts across central Indiana. UMCOR coming to train flood recovery volunteersBabcock informed Together that he has arranged for UMCOR staff to come to Indiana for two two-day training sessions at two locations. Each session is identical in content. The first two-day session is scheduled for July 7-8 at Asbury UMC, 1751 27th Street in Columbus, Ind. The second two-day session is scheduled for July 9-10 at First Christian Church, 89 S. Main Street in Martinsville, Ind. All sessions begin at 9 a.m. and run to 5 p.m. each day. A complimentary lunch and snacks will be furnished at no cost. Attendees may register with Jenni Walker at jenniwalker@mac.com or by calling call 812-893-1760. Reservations are encouraged, however walk-ins will be accepted. Babcock said volunteers from other areas, including the Terre Haute, Vincennes and Rushville districts, are encouraged to attend, as well as those from other areas who have suffered damage. Flood recovery efforts continue in northwest IndianaEven though flooding was extensive last month in central Indiana, volunteer recovery work crews are also in northwest Indiana to assist survivors of January floods in the Remington, Monticello and Delphi areas. DANI Director Alan Welch of Lafayette told e-HUM, "We are in need of help with housing some long-term volunteers from outside our area. These folks might be here from two to four weeks. Some will need space for a camper or RV, and others will need a room and bath. If you can help, please contact me right away." Welch also needs anyone with connections to local campgrounds who might be willing to provide space for these volunteers to contact him. To contact Welch, call 765-742-4718 or e-mail welchah@gmail.com. According to Welch, DANI currently does not have enough money to begin many construction/re-construction projects. DANI seeks donations that will assist recovery projects through this early period. Please inform Welch and forward contributions as soon as possible. DANI will not schedule projects until the director knows DANI can pay for them. More than $29,000 has been received in cash and another $42,000 in in-kind gifts and services have been received. An additional $30,000 has been promised but not yet received. A fact sheet with current understanding of the flooding recovery in the DANI region is available at the Web site: http://daniflood.org/pdf/DANIFactSheet.pdf. Nothing But Nets campaign coming to Indiana July 24
United Methodists' commitment to preventing malaria is the reason we became a founding partner of the Nothing But Nets campaign to eradicate malaria. Clergy and local church lay leaders, please RSVP regarding you and your guests coming to the breakfast to Lisa Timmerman at 317-924-1321 by Thursday July 17. Bishop announces new Michiana DS teamINDIANAPOLIS - Bishop Mike Coyner recently announced the appointment of the Rev. Douglas Anderson to serve as superintendent of the Michiana District and North Indiana Cabinet member effective July 1. In his announcement, Coyner said, "Doug has previously served as a superintendent of the Muncie District, so he brings a wealth of experience to this position. Given the transitional nature of the Imagine Indiana process and the possibility of reducing the number of districts in the next two years, I am asking Doug to serve as Michiana District superintendent on a half-time interim basis. "I am also naming the Rev. Marianne Chalstrom to serve in the Michiana District alongside Doug as an associate district superintendent, who will work with the various district committees, handle pastoral care for pastors and families, and also provide some district programming. Marianne is a retired former superintendent who served the Warsaw District. She now lives in South Bend in the Michiana District, so she also brings a wealth of experience. Marianne and Doug will be working with the Michiana District as a 'team' much like what is proposed in the new Imagine Indiana design, along with the administrative assistant in the district office." Installation service for the new superintendent team of the Michiana District will be at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, at First UMC, 333 North Main Street in South Bend. Bishop Coyner will be leading an installation service. All clergy and laity of the Michiana District are invited and encouraged to attend. The Rev. Robert Dexter, who served as superintendent to the Michiana District, was appointed to Mt. Olive United Methodist Church in Muncie effective July 1. South Indiana Conference introduces Katanga leaders to state leaders
INDIANAPOLIS - South Indiana United Methodist leaders not only hosted dignitaries of the Katanga Province's government, but also brought them into direct contact with Indiana state leaders. The Rev. Bob Walters, associate council director of the South Indiana Conference, introduced Dr. Ilunga Ndjoko, minister of health, and Sula Kabasa, judicial assistant to the Governor of Katanga, to officials of Gov. Mitch Daniels administration on May 19 at the Statehouse. The delegation met with Dr. Suellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Virgil Madden, policy advisor to Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, and Matt Harrod, assistant director of Research and Policy Analysis with the Indiana Department of Agriculture. They also met in the governor's office with Steve Acres, the governor's economic advisor, and Earl Goode, chief-of-staff. Ndjoko and Kabasa asked each of the Indiana officials for assistance and partnerships in developing Katanga and the DRC, a fledgling democracy, in its economy, education, health and agriculture. Ndoko said Katanga was blessed by God and contains copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, uranium and other minerals. In closing, Goode commented, "We are excited about the possibilities." In addition to introducing the two-member Katanga delegation to Governor Daniels' staff and giving them a VIP experience at IMS, the Walters also introduced them to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis during a noon luncheon. The visit included a discussion of health care policy and financing as well as a review of their needed resources. They need equipment to rebuild their hospitals and clinics, updated training for nurses and physicians, and trained hospital and clinic administrators. Jurisdictional conferences will elect, assign bishops
Both the North and South Indiana annual conferences endorsed the Rev. Dr. Frank Beard, Superintendent of the Kokomo District, as an episcopal candidate. Beard is one of 10 endorsed candidates in the North Central Jurisdiction. Beard also has been endorsed by the two North Central Jurisdictional Conference delegations of Indiana. The two Indiana annual conferences will join the seven other annual conferences of the 12-state North Central Jurisdictional Conference July 15-19 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The North Central Jurisdiction, with 276 delegates, expects to elect one bishop to replace retiring Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher, currently Bishop of the Illinois Area (Illinois Great Rivers Conference). The North Indiana Conference will send 20 NCJ delegates. The South Indiana Conference will send 24 NCJ delegates. A list of delegates from each conference can be found by logging on to www.inareaumc.org. Click on 2008 Conferences and scroll down to delegates documents. Indiana United Methodists approve unity planThe North Indiana and South Indiana annual conferences approved a plan to unite the two conferences into one new Indiana Annual Conference. Bishop Mike Coyner announced the results of votes by each annual conference during the closing session of the South Indiana legislative gathering June 7 at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington. South Indiana members voted 616-185 on June 6 to unite with the North Indiana Conference. North Indiana members, meeting May 30 in West Lafayette, voted 730-192 for the merger. Coyner has called a special session of both conferences Oct. 4 from 1-4 p.m. at the Indiana State Fairgrounds to finalize amendments, elect committees and begin plans for the first combined Indiana Annual Conference session, scheduled for June 25-28, 2009, at Ball State University in Muncie. During 2009 the two conferences will align themselves to be one conference under the new plan on Jan. 1, 2010. The uniting of the two conferences is designed to streamline administration to bring resources closer to congregations for their support. Features of the new annual conference, which was two years in design, include:
The only major amendments to the 50-page unity document added youth and young adults to the discussion-making process and added more staff in youth and young adult ministries to the five resource centers. Bishop names Transition TeamCoyner announced July 2 the 14 members of the Imagine Indiana Transition Team. It includes:
Coyner, said the Transition Team is scheduled to meet July 10 first with the former Design Team followed by its first meeting as a new team. The new Transition Team will pass along the dreams, hopes, plans and unfinished business that the will carry forward. Conferences oppose expansion of gambling
Both Indiana Area United Methodist annual conference sessions approved a resolution asking Indiana law makers to bring any vote on the expansion of gambling to the state's citizens. This action followed a presentation to both conference sessions by the Rev. Tom Grey, field director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling. Grey told conference members this was his 20th trip in the past 15 years to Indiana to speak against the expansion of legalized gambling. He said the mission before us is crisis intervention. Grey said he foresees casinos coming to Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, plus the push for the leasing of the state lottery. The Rev. Scott Shoaff, chair of the North Indiana Conference gambling concerns committee, presented the resolution against the expansion of gambling in Indiana by asking the General Assembly to pass a law requiring a public question be asked of the voters on the expansion of legalized gambling. The Rev. Perry Richards, chair of the South Indiana Conference Board of Church and Society presented the same resolution to the South Indiana session. Both conferences passed this resolution with an overwhelming standing vote. Young adult from Congo ordained going to PerkinsBishop Mike Coyner ordained Kakez-A-Kapend Christian an Elder as a courtesy for Christian's Bishop Kainda Katembo of the South Congo Area of the Democratic Republic of Congo during the commissioning and ordination service of the North Indiana Conference on May 31, in Elliott Hall of Music. Christian left West Lafayette on June 25. After spending a month in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, he will return to Dallas, Texas, for seminary. He will be working on a Master of Arts Degree at Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology in Homiletics/Preaching and plans to receive a Ph.D. before returning to teach and train other pastors in Africa. Church presents children's home with bus
LEBANON, Ind. - Members of Christ United Methodist Church in Lafayette, Ind., donated an activities bus to the Indiana United Methodist Children's Home Board of Trustees during the board's recent meeting at the home in Lebanon. The activities bus was previously used for an outreach ministry at Christ Church which was organized by long-time member, Mary Kay Long. Claude Sawyer, chairperson of the church's council, said, "When considering where to donate the activities bus, our trustees, under the leadership of Steve Habben, wanted to make sure the vehicle was going to be used frequently so we sent the word out to many organizations around the state. Christ UMC trustees chose Indiana United Methodist Children's Home. We knew the bus would be used frequently by their Christian Education Department. We also knew we would be helping a vital United Methodist ministry serving children and families throughout Indiana." Duane Horstman, who serves as the Home's Christian Education Leader, said, "The activities bus will allow us to use one vehicle to transport students to and from these meaningful events on a weekly basis." The bus will also be used for transporting youth to various sporting and cultural events throughout the area. Scouting event, Lincoln bicentennial involve UMs
LINCOLN CITY, Ind. - "It's going to be a good day today," proclaimed Randal Craig as he looked out the Little Pigeon Creek Welcome Center overseeing several scouting troops coming and going. Approximately 4,000 Boy and Girl Scouts and 300 volunteers descended upon Lincoln State Park and the Lincoln National Boyhood Memorial from May 9-11 to celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth at the Lincoln Bicentennial Encampment. The 16th president - while born in Hodgenville, Ky., in 1809 - called Southern Indiana home from 1816 to 1830. Craig, senior district executive for the Lincoln Heritage District of the Boy Scouts of America and a member of Shiloh UMC in Jasper, Ind., served as one of the organizers of the encampment. Brian Williams, encampment chairman and member of Trinity UMC in Evansville and chairman of the Board of Trustees for the South Indiana Conference, said the event serves as a great way to remember a great president. "He still provides outstanding leadership skills to our youth even today." Bishop Mike Coyner preached on the shores of Lake Lincoln in Lincoln State Park. He talked about Lincoln's mother, life in Indiana and the four things that guided Lincoln during his life: faith, failure, family and forgiveness. Greg Graham, director of creative arts at Blue Grass UMC, and Adriane Beasley of Blue Grass UMC provided the music. The Rev. Glenn Howell, superintendent of the Evansville District welcomed participants. - Matthew Oates
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INDIANAPOLIS
- During the week of July 21, Nothing But Nets will be in
Indianapolis as part of a multi-city, national grassroots initiative
to engage groups and individuals on the importance of malaria
prevention. As a part of this effort, United Methodist clergy and
lay leaders are invited to join Bishops Michael Coyner and Thomas J.
Bickerton in a complimentary breakfast and discussion on Thursday
morning, July 24 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. EDT in Switzer Hall at the
University of Indianapolis, 1400 East Hanna Avenue. 
