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e-HUM --
Church News Now
April 15, 2002
e-HUM is a free
service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communications (www.inareaumc.org).
Bridging the gap between monthly issues of the "Hoosier United
Methodist News," subscribers will receive late-breaking news,
announcements and Church resources via e-mail. We welcome your comments,
please direct to "e-HUM" editor at ehumeditor@inareaumc.org
INDIANA
NEWS IN BRIEF
DEPAUW STUDENTS ESCAPE
DORM FIRE
On the morning of Sunday, April 7, a student discovered the fire that
caused extensive damage to the fourth floor of Rector Hall, a residence
hall of UM related, DePauw University. The unnamed student quickly
called 911, triggering the evacuation of adjoining Mason and Lucy
Rowland Halls. Fire fighters confirmed later that morning that all 116
students had escaped the fire unharmed.
Shortly after the fire erupted, nearby Gobin UMC collected a special
offering for students affected. Over 40 church families offered
temporary housing. A shuttle service transported students to local
businesses to collect desperately needed supplies. Matthew Carlisle
National
Black UMs gather
in
Indy for annual conference
Hundreds of Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) from
across the country gathered in Indianapolis for their 35th annual
meeting, April 10 - 13. Bishop Woodie W. White spoke at the opening
session Communion Service April 10. The theme, "Share the Heritage:
Claim the Power -- Make a Difference" was the focus of the agenda,
which included topics like, "From drums to the digital
divide," "HIV/AIDS," and "Equipping the saints for
the next millennium." Joseph E. Lowery, co-founder of the SCLC
(Southern Christian Leadership Conference) and former UM pastor, spoke
at the Friday night banquet. Lynne
DeMichele
Vincennes
District Hires Communicator
The Vincennes District
recently named AnnaMarie Fernihough as its first district communicator.
Her new position will take effect July 1.
Fernihough will be responsible for promotions, advertising, reporting
and providing information about available media resources. She will
create and maintain a district Web site and newsletter, as well as
foster more communication between churches.
She comes to this position with previous involvement on other conference
council and committees, including the Awareness Committee for Persons
with Disabilities, the New Conference Office Building Task Force, her
district's finance committee and the Annual Conference Committee. Lisa
Schubert
2002
Medical Brigade: An answered prayer
A partnership of Metro Ministries, St.
Luke's UMC, Vida Nueva UMC and the Indianapolis Police Department, the
2002 Medical Brigade traveled to Honduras from March 13-22, providing
desperately needed medical care. During the nine-day trip, Brigade
volunteers saw 1,846 patients and stocked three schools and a health
clinic with first aid kits.
"This project helps three groups of people," explained the Rev.
David Pe?lva, pastor of Vida Nueva UMC. "The people in Honduras are
helped, and so are those who participate in the Brigade, because they
learn their Spanish better. But the people in Indianapolis also benefit,
because the police officers, actually all of us, are better able to work
with the Hispanic communities in our city." Robin Andres
North
Indiana braces for busy Annual Conference
North
Indiana United Methodists will sort through new priorities, property
insurance rates, teddy bears, powerful services and improved
presentations when the lay and pastoral leadership gather for Annual
Conference. Held on the campus of Purdue University, the conference will
run from May 30 through June 1.
Two
main issues face conference members: adopting the conference strategy
council's ministry priorities and recommendations and soaring property
insurance prices.
Bishop Michael Coyner from the Dakota Area, who served in the NIC, will
be the conference preacher. To learn more, visit www.nicumc.org.
Matthew Oates
South Annual Conference preview
"Listening to God
Together" will be the theme for the 2002 South Indiana Annual
Conference, which will take place from Thursday, June 6 to Saturday,
June 8 at Indiana University, Bloomington. Unlike previous years, it
will begin with the executive session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, with the
clergy meeting at First UMC and the laity in the IU Auditorium. The 2002
guest preacher, Bishop Kenneth Carder of Jackson, Miss., will speak
after the All Conference Dinner on Thursday night. To learn more, visit www.sicumc.org.
Lisa Schubert
SIC
to break ground on new building
The ground breaking ceremony
for the new SIC Office Headquarters has been rescheduled. Originally
planned for April 26, it will now take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, May
10. The new property is located on the southwest side of Bloomington
near the intersections of State Roads 45 and 37, just north of Liberty
Drive.
Bishop Woodie W. White will preside over a brief service from the
liturgy. Members of the SIC Cabinet and a representative from the
Bloomington mayor's office will join White. Light refreshments will
follow the ceremony.
"Everyone
is welcome," said David Steele, head of the New Conference Office
Building Task Force. "It's a chance for members of UMC in the SIC to
come and celebrate a new beginning for the office, conference center and
media library that will serve their needs for the future." Lisa
Schubert
NATION/WORLD
TECHSHOP SAVES CHURCH
GROUPS $4.5 MILLION IN 2001
UMNS -- United Methodist
Communications' TechShop saved organizations that bought Microsoft
software through the agency a collective $4.5 million over retail prices
in 2001. The biggest share of the savings came through sales of the top
two products, Microsoft Office 2000 Premium and Microsoft Office 2000
Professional, at about $1.2 million each, according to Linda Saunders,
TechShop manager. TechShop, a 24-hour-a-day online store, began its
relationship with Microsoft in September 2000 and later added Apple and
Dell products. For details, call 866/521-1179 or visit www.umcom.org/techshop.
VINCENNES COUPLE TRAVEL TO FREETOWN
Dr. Doyle Ellis of Vincennes recently spent two days in Freetown, Sierra
Leone installing dental equipment at the Kissy Clinic dental office
prior to traveling to Liberia Sunday, April 7. While in Liberia, Doyle
and his wife, Carolyn, will travel to Ganta to install dental equipment
in a new office. Carolyn is demonstrating health care techniques to the
nurses. Eugene Omesombo Muembo
NEWS
TO USE
IGNITE YOUR MINISTRY
The Igniting Your Ministry Seminar, a
joint venture of United Methodist Communications and the General Board
of Discipleship, is designed for key leaders of congregations seeking
fresh ways of reaching new people for Christ. A two-day seminar, plenary
sessions and workshops will expand on the work of the Igniting Ministry
media campaign and NextChurch.Now. Illinois' Troy UMC (near St. Louis)
will host this event from May 2-3. Contact your Conference office for a
registration form. To learn more, visit www.ignitingministry.org.
Peace
with Justice Sunday
On Sunday, May 26, United
Methodist churches will celebrate Peace with Justice Sunday. Offerings
expand the opportunities for creating peace around the world.
Through
the special offering we share on Peace with Justice Sunday, United
Methodists: reach out to children and young people and help them find
alternatives to violence; provide education and resources to help end
global violence and injustice and to improve human rights for all
peoples; support the work of leaders who stop violence and restore peace
to families, communities and nations. Visit http://www.umc.org/benevol/specialsundays/default.htm
to learn more about Special Sundays.
INDIANA
HAPPENINGS
churches
uniting in christ'S NAME
The leaders of 10
denominations, including the United Methodist Church, gathered in
Memphis, Tennessee in January to inaugurate Churches Uniting in Christ,
a framework for Christian unity. A celebration of this event will take
place at Fort Wayne's Waynesdale UMC on April 28 at 4 p.m. This will
include worship followed by refreshments and testimonials from those who
went to Memphis. To learn more, visit the Churches Uniting in Christ Web
site at www.eden.edu/cuic/cuic.htm,
or contact Waynesdale UMC at 260/747-7424.
ministry
with aging slated for may
Clergy, lay persons, health
care and social service professionals, family care giver and others
concerned with aging-related issues are invited to attend one of two
ecumenically planned and sponsored Conferences on Ministry with the
Aging. The first will occur May 7 and 8 at Columbus, Indiana's Holiday
Inn, registration $65. The second will occur May 9 and 10 at Don
Hall's Guesthouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana, registration $75.
Registrations are now being accepted. Contact Wendy Shuler at
317/873-3371 for more information.
HOLE-IN-ONE CHARITY FOR YOUTH
Time to dust off the golf clubs. The
Eighth Annual United Methodist Youth Home Golf Scramble is scheduled for
1 p.m. on May 23 at Evansville's Quail Crossing. Broerman Chevrolet
will host a hole-in-one contest, winner to receive a new car. For those
that don't hit the hole-in-one, a variety of door prizes will be
distributed. A $65 fee covers green fees, two soft drinks and the awards
dinner, following the Scramble. Contact Amy Bolek at 812/479-7535 or boleks@sigecom.net
for more information.
UM SINGLES RACE TO INDY
The 2002 United Methodist Single
Adult Leaders Conference will be an opportunity for networking, training
and celebration. Single adult lay and pastoral leaders throughout the
country will gather at Indianapolis' St. Luke's UMC from July 18-21
for a weekend of learning, activities and fun designed to help sharpen
skills and "rev up" the motors of single adult ministries.
Scheduled to appear: Terry Hershey, founder of Christian Focus and
author of several books; Jean Deeds, adventurer and author of There
are Mountains to Climb; Harold Ivan Smith, founding member of the
Network of Single Adult Leaders; Lynn Shaw, speaker, trainer and author;
Kent Millard, pastor of St. Luke's UMC.
To learn more about this event, contact Terri Coe at 317/846-4826; coet@stlukesumc.com.
MILESTONES
El Mesias finds a home
On May 19, El Mesias United Methodist Church?North Indiana
Conference's oldest Hispanic congregation?will celebrate the first
Sunday in their own church building. For this mission-oriented church,
which began in 1991, the new building is a major step toward enabling
the congregation to carry out a more effective and far-reaching ministry
to Frankfort's growing Hispanic population. Juan Martinez is the
pastor of El Mesias UMC. Melinda
Grismer
e-HUM copyright 2002 by
Indiana Area United Methodist Communications. |
