archives_june2002

June 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.

NORTH AND SOUTH ANNUAL CONFERENCES

You'll find daily reports with photos from both North and South Indiana Annual Conference sessions last month on the Area Communications web site: www.inareaumc.org.

UM 'MISSION IN MOTION' ROLLS

The bus formerly known as Night Crawler has a new name: the Circuit Rider - United Methodist Mission in Motion. As the name implies, the focus of the program will be missional including emergency disaster response work, Volunteers in Mission trips and local church mission trips. For information or to schedule a trip, contact Rev. Tarrell Thompson at 812/724-3704; his cell phone number is: 812/453-3961.

OUTDOOR MINISTRIES CAMPING INFO!

South Conference Outdoor Ministries is offering a wide menu of camping opportunities for little folk on up to grandparents. Check out the new camping brochure online at the South Indiana Conference site . You'll find photos of the church's camps, maps on how to get there and a list of camping programs for all ages, as well as camp dates.

North Conference Outdoor Ministries is offering many new programs this summer: day camps, Clown Around, Magic or Miracles (for Harry Potter fans), Rock Climbing for elementary kids, Photography Camp, Raize the Praize (praise & worship teams), Exploring Art, Cinematography Camp and many others. Look for camping information on the conference web site: www.nicumc.org/.

S. BEND 'DISCIPLES IN STREETS' GETS $12,000

South Bend Broadway Christian Parish UMC recently received a $12,000 grant from the UM Board of Discipleship.

The program -- "Disciples in the Streets" -- identifies and celebrates the gift of art in the inner-city neighborhood surrounding the church, said Shannan Miller, program director.

"It (Art) is such a natural way to help people to feel they have a voice and a way to express it," said Miller.

The grant will help fund two young adults in the neighborhood to go door-to-door, network and facilitate projects with residents in their homes and in the church. "We're encouraging them to use their gifts."

YOUTH 'SEISMOS '02' ROCKS PINE CREEK

More than 300 youth and young adults from the Midwest and then some braved cool temperatures to celebrate their faith with music. Seismos '02, a one-day music festival open to everyone, happened at Pine Creek Camp May 19. The crowd heard music from Christian artists Dead to Self, Hangnail, Embodiment, Joy Williams, Rock and Roll Worship Circus, Polarboy and Switchfoot.

Patrica Newton, one of the organizers at Pine Creek Camp, says, "It is also our goal to ... show that Christian music with acceptable messages exists in the genres that they enjoy."

OAKWOOD FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., over 60 artists will be at the 7th annual festival. Children's art activities and a concert with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic will be part of the program. The UM-related Oakwood Park is at 702 E.Lake View Rd., in Syracuse, northern Indiana.

CORRECTION:

The 2003 budget approved last month by North Annual Conference represented a 3.98 percent increase over 2002. A notice in the Friday Daily HUM published for Annual Conference members, incorrectly stated that the new budget represented no net increase. While that was the original intent, Chairman Bill Hinkle said in the CFA report, the realities of increases in retiree health insurance subsidy, property insurance and general church apportionments made that "unwise." The final, approved budget total for next year was $10.3 million.

UMTV FEATURES FAITH JOURNEYS

United Methodist Communications new Web site, www.umtv.org/, features streamed video stories about church ministries and people's faith journeys - affirming, inspirational stories. Conferences, districts and local churches can create links to UMTV.org from their own Web sites. UMTV stories are updated weekly.

CHURCH'S 9/11 ASSISTANCE

A $5 million program of assistance to victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks begins full operations this month. Established by the United Methodist Committee on Relief UMCOR), the case management program gets its financial support from the denomination's "Love in the Midst of Tragedy" fund. The program's goal is to work with local UM congregations, the New York Annual (regional) Conference and other agencies to provide help to local families impacted by the events of Sept. 11. Because of more flexible guidelines than some similar programs, the staff can start responding to the needs of those families within 48 hours. For more information call 212/870-3772.

TRANSGENDER CLERGY RAISES NEW ISSUE FOR CHURCH

The Rev. Rebecca Ann Steen, a clergy member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, wants to end her voluntary leave and receive a pastoral appointment for the year that begins July 1. Others in the conference have said they do not believe a transgender person should be a pastor. Although the Church's Book of Discipline (Church law) forbids ordination or assignment of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals," it's silent on the issue of transgender clergy. A complaint was filed against Steen earlier this month. A hearing will be held in the next few weeks on whether she should be placed on involuntary leave.

UM BISHOPS SEEK TO MEET WITH BUSH

Bishops of the United Methodist Church want to meet with President Bush to express their concerns about the testing and use of nuclear weapons following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America. Claiming "ethical restraint has been compromised" in the name of the "war on terrorism," the Council of Bishops reiterated the Church's stand against nuclear weapons and recommitted itself to witnessing for peace. The bishops adopted the statement, "In the Aftermath of 9-11." They said they'll seek an audience with Bush, a United Methodist, to remind him of the Church's stands on war, weapons and the ways of peace.

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