|
HOME
| e-HUM
News
|
e-HUM
ANNOUNCEMENTS
| SUBSCRIBE
|
|
|
e-HUM is a free service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communications, www.inareaumc.org. 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. |
 |
New Bloomington D.S. NamedRobert L. Ostermeier, pastor of Vincennes First United Methodist Church, has been appointed to be Bloomington District superintendent effective July 1, 2003. Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White appointed Ostermeier to fill the post vacated by the death of the Reverend Michael Anderson in October. The Reverend Paul Kern has been interim district superintendent. Ostermeier has served at Vincennes First since 1996. He previously served at Brazil First, Crawfordsville Christ's, Bloomington Arlington and Indianapolis East Park. The Carrolton, Ind., native attended seminary at Boston University, graduating in 1970. He and his wife, Linda, have three adult children. Children to March to StatehouseChildren from North and South Indiana conference congregations will march together in Indianapolis on April 26 to raise awareness for children's issues. The "United for Children" march will start from Riley Hospital for Children. Registration begins at 11 a.m., with a sack lunch provided. Around 12:30 p.m., marchers will organize by districts and begin marching towards the Statehouse at 12:45 p.m. A rally at the Statehouse will follow from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m. The march is part of the Children and Poverty initiative launched by the Council of Bishops. The event is sponsored by Bishop Woodie W. White, Clarian Health and the North and South Indiana conferences. Registration is required and is due by April 1. For information or registration, contact Teresa Witkoske at the North Indiana Conference office or Sandy Harlan or Lourdes Gonzales at the South Indiana Conference office. It's Election Time!During this year's annual conferences, elections will be held to fill the slate for the North and South Indiana lay delegation for 2004 General and Jurisdictional conferences. March 14 is the deadline for the South Indiana Conference; March 15 is the deadline for the North. Contact the conference offices for information. |
 |
United Methodists Among Those Requesting Meeting with BushA group of 46 religious leaders, including 24 United Methodists, has asked President Bush for a face-to-face meeting on Iraq. In a Jan. 30 letter to the White House, the leaders of 11 denominations and four religious organizations told President Bush they want to "bring to you the insights and perspective of one of the largest segments of the Christian community of our country" regarding any military action against Iraq. The president is a United Methodist. The leaders said they have been in touch not only with their own church members on the matter, but also with counterparts in Europe and around the world, even with people of faith in Iraq. The signers included 20 United Methodist bishops, some serving as current leaders of particular regions and some retired, including retired Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker of Fort Wayne. National Conference Coming to SyracuseSpiritual leaders from across The United Methodist Church will meet this summer to determine how God is leading the denomination in developing spiritual formation and maturity in Christ. The Spiritual Leaders Conference, Aug. 4-7, will be the church's second gathering aimed at understanding how the denomination is nurturing spiritual leaders for itself and the world. More than 150 people are expected to gather at the Oakwood Spiritual Life Center in Syracuse, Ind. More information is available at www.gbod.org/spirit-ldrs-conf03, or by contacting 615/340-7110 or talbin@upperroom.org. 18 Missionaries to be Cut in 2003Eighteen full-time missionaries whose contracts expire in 2003 will not be renewed because of financial shortfalls at the UM Board of Global Ministries. The affected missionaries, along with board directors, were notified Jan. 24 about the reduction, which had been expected since the agency's annual meeting in October. Edith Gleaves, the executive in charge of the board's mission personnel unit, told United Methodist News Service the cuts are not as severe as originally projected. Of the 144 standard support missionaries whose contracts expire this year, 93 will be reappointed. The remaining 51 missionaries include the 18 whose contracts will not be renewed, as well as 15 who are retiring and 18 who have asked not to be reassigned. Fourteen of those leaving are clergy. In addition, all 2003 contracts will expire July 1, which means shortened terms for 19 of the 51 missionaries leaving service. Those 19 had contracts that would have expired between July 1 and Dec. 31. In the meantime, a freeze on recruitment of mission personnel in any category is in effect through 2003. The denomination's mission agency has been plagued by budget woes for the past few years because of declining income, resulting in the reduction of both program funds and personnel. Since December 2001, 94 staff positions have been eliminated. In 2002, the Board of Global Ministries had 2,151 people serving in 74 countries, and its mission personnel unit had a budget of $27.2 million, the largest of any of the agency's program areas. For 2003, that budget will drop by $7.5 million, with most of the cuts coming from missionary salaries. |
 for more details, visit our Happenings page. |
|
You can contact the North Indiana Conference office You can contact the South Indiana Conference office Indianapolis Pilgrimage of Trust A House Divided: Bridging the Generation Gap in Your Church Showers Lectures Scouting Ministries Retreat Marriage Encounter Weekends North Indiana Christian Educator Fellowship Volunteer in Mission Team Leader Training Giving A Voice to Wisdom Bishop's Retreat: "We are Family" Raize the Praize Web Workshop Becoming A Contagious Christian: Evangelism Training For People
Who Think They Can't Evangelize Connecting With Our Neighbors: Ministry In and Through Our Cities Identifying Racism & What The Church Can Do About It Youth Study Seminar |
|
United Methodist Communications Scholarship OpportunitiesThe Judith Weidman Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship is awarded to one recent college or seminary graduate each year. The recipient will spend a year as part of a communications staff in an annual conference office in the United States and will receive $30,000 salary and benefits. You must be a United Methodist of racial ethnic minority heritage to qualify. Deadline is March 17. The Stoody-West Scholarship is a $6,000 award given annually to two students in post-graduate study at an accredited U.S. college or university who intend to pursue a career in religious journalism. Christian students of all denominations are encouraged to apply. Deadline is March 7. The Perryman Communications Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship for undergraduate study in religion journalism/mass communications. Ethnic minority, Christian students of all denominations are encouraged to apply. Deadline is March 7. Details and applications can be found at the agency's Web site, www.umcom.org/scholarships. More information and applications for the racial ethnic minority fellowship are available by visiting crt.umc.org/rem or calling 888/278-4862. How to Petition the 2004 General ConferenceAny United Methodist local church, organization, pastor or layperson may petition the General Conference to consider areas of concern (see paragraph 507, page 297 of the 2000 Book of Discipline). The petition must be in writing, signed by, or on behalf of, the church, organization or person making the petition. The name and address of the sender must appear at the end of the petition along with the name and address of the church where a member. Organizations and boards must list the number of "Yes," "No" and "Abstain" votes. To Petition the General Conference
General Conference petitions to be considered by the North Indiana Annual Conference must be postmarked by April 4, 2003. Petitions for the South Indiana Annual Conference must be in the hands of the Conference secretary by March 1, 2003. For the North Conference, mail petitions to:General Conference Petitions For the South Conference, mail petitions to:Curtis N. Hurley |
|
"e-HUM" copyright 2003 by
Indiana Area United Methodist Communications. |
