|
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 and submissions, please direct to e-HUM editor at ehumeditor@inareaumc.org. |
Bishops share concerns with U.S. lawmakers including two from IndianaWASHINGTON (UMNS) -- United Methodist bishops from around the globe, including Indiana Area Bishop Woodie White, took the church's concerns and presence to Capitol Hill Nov. 5. It is believed to be the first time the full United Methodist Council of Bishops has gone to Capitol Hill to visit with lawmakers. They spent most of the afternoon listening, as elected officials updated them on issues and reminded the bishops of their own power to effect change. "You have stature, you have moral authority, and you can use it to so many good causes," said retired U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, a Democrat of Bloomington, Ind, who served Congress 1965 to 1999. He currently directs the IU Center on Congress at IU Bloomington and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. The bishops can energize resources and play a role in addressing "the most important problem in the world: how to get people to stop killing one another," he said. The afternoon at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, followed by a dinner attended by diplomats and ecumenical leaders, highlighted the Council of Bishops' Nov. 2-7 meeting. More than 110 active and retired bishops, representing 10 million United Methodists worldwide, attended the gathering. A succession of lawmakers broke away from busy sessions in Congress to speak to the bishops, spouses and guests. The elected officials came from across the political spectrum and included several United Methodists: Hamilton, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo. Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the changes in U.S. foreign policy since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America, as well as his role in helping Russia dismantle its weapons of mass destruction. Church Center celebrates 40 years at UNNEW YORK (UMNS) -- For 40 years, a building across the avenue from the United Nations headquarters in New York City has stood as a witness to Christian support for efforts in international diplomacy to advance the causes of peace, human rights, development and ecology. Called the Church Center for the United Nations, the United Methodist-owned building at 777 U.N. Plaza provides 12 floors of office and meeting space for religious and other non-governmental organizations concerned with U.N. issues and is a focal point for their activities. A 40th anniversary celebration took place Nov. 10. Budget woes stall new missionariesBy Linda Bloom of the United Methodist News Service NEW YORK (UMNS) -- Lower than expected budget projections for 2004 by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries will mean a continued hold on new full-time missionaries. Despite that reality, the Rev. R. Randy Day, the board's chief executive, has announced his "firm commitment" to training and assigning new missionaries in the future. "I expect that in 2005 we will achieve a sustainable level of mission personnel," he said, during an address at the board's annual meeting in October. "I hope that we can commission some deaconesses and short-term young adult (missionaries) sooner." During 2003, the mission agency did not renew the expiring contracts of 18 full-time missionaries because of financial shortfalls. Fifteen missionaries retired in 2003 and another 18 missionaries asked not to be reassigned, leaving 93 in the category of standard support missionaries. A freeze on recruitment of mission personnel in any category also has been in effect through 2003. Statistics released during the October meeting showed a total of 711 commissioned personnel in all categories. That figure compared to 949 in 2002. The overall total, including other types of non-commissioned mission personnel and partner church mission personnel, was 1,050, a decrease of 1,001 from 2002. The new statistics also reflected the deletion of the category of rural chaplain, because there are no grants at present, and the fact that employees of the nongovernmental organization formed as an offshoot of the United Methodist Committee on Relief are no longer being categorized as mission personnel. Together magazine receives division honorsThe Hoosier United Methodists Together magazine, a quarterly publication of the Indiana Area Communications Commission, recently received top division honors for annual conference and area magazines by the United Methodist Association of Communicators meeting in Philadelphia. Judges commented: "A great looking new magazine with lots of good stories, graphics, photos. Excellent design." Bishop honored in Terre Haute for evangelismTERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The 73 United Methodist churches of the Terre Haute District honored Bishop Woodie W. White Nov. 9 for his ministry leadership since becoming Bishop of the Indiana Area in 1992. White will retire in August 2004. This was the first of 18 district good-bye events for White across the state that will take place through next June. The Sunday afternoon worship service and reception was held at Memorial United Methodist Church. The event focused on the evangelism efforts of congregations under White's leadership. An offering received at the good-bye event will fund a scholarship in White's honor at United Methodist-related Africa University, a new university founded in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe in 1992. Under his leadership, Hoosier United Methodists funded the construction of four three-story dormitories there and provided money for scholarships. Churches of the six-county Terre Haute district demonstrated and displayed the evangelism efforts of individual congregations. Among the presentations were the new church start at Northside Community UMC in Terre Haute, how a large church reaches out through small group ministry like that of Mt. Pleasant UMC here, how a small church reaches out through specialized children's ministry like that of the Bono UMC, and hospitality like that of First UMC in Brazil. Following retirement, White will be bishop-in-residence at the United Methodist-related Chandler School of Theology on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. Christmas Offering to benefit children in 33 ministriesBishop Woodie W. White calls upon the 1,300 United Methodist Churches of Indiana to support the Indiana Area United Methodist Offering for Children also known as the Bishop's Christmas Offering. Bishop White asks congregations to receive the offering in December. This annual tradition of gift giving to children's ministries in Indiana, across the United States and around the world will benefit 33 projects and ministries worldwide. The six-member Indiana Area Special Offerings Committee formed from members from each of the two Indiana United Methodist Conferences selects the offering's recipients. These programs are among those endorsed by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. This year the committee distributed $74,400 from the 2002 Bishop's Christmas Offering. One-third of this offering goes to ministries beyond the United States, one-third goes to ministries in the U.S. beyond Indiana, and one-third is equally distributed between North and South Indiana Conferences children's ministries and projects. The offering will assist children in these ministries:
Bishop White's office will soon mail posters and offering envelopes. Each congregation also will receive a master copy of an insert to be used in church newsletters and bulletins. Offering materials also are available online at www.inareaumc.org. Fort Wayne UMs unite to saw and hammerFrom The Journal Gazette FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Edson Bates showed no signs of slowing down. The 87-year-old, dressed in a navy jumpsuit with a hammer in his pocket, joined other eager United Methodist volunteers Nov. 1 to build the first Fort Wayne Habitat for Humanity home in the city fully accessible to people with disabilities. Volunteers are building the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home for Danny Hoy, who uses a wheelchair. The Habitat project is the first for Bates, who fell right in step with other volunteers sawing, hammering and nailing the house's frame. By noon, Bates, a member of Taylor Chapel United Methodist in Fort Wayne, had helped put shingles on the house and completed other odd jobs. "I'll come again if I have a chance, that's for sure," Bates said. "I try to help out wherever I can." About 200 volunteers in all will help build the house scheduled to be dedicated Dec. 7, said Bob Warner, Habitat for Humanity task force chairman. He said, the Fleming Avenue house is the eighth Habitat home United Methodists here have helped build in the last six years, but each house is unique. Archivists to award local church historianThe South Indiana Conference Commission on Archives and History announces the 2004 Historian of the Year Award to be presented to a local church historian at annual conference in June. The commission asks Hoosier United Methodists to make nominations of a local church historian to archivist, Wesley Wilson, at: Archives and Special Collections, Roy O. West Library, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN 46135. Nominations and supporting materials must be received by Feb. 1. The nominee shall be a church historian of a United Methodist congregation in the South Indiana Conference who has not previously received the award. No other qualification for eligibility apply. A local church, church historian, district superintendent or other United Methodist member who has knowledge of the nominee's work may make nominations. The selection committee may conduct interviews and site visits. The nomination shall specify the work of the local church historian that merits consideration for the award. The specification shall provide the Award Committee with reasons for considering the nominee for the award. Applications that lack documentation shall not be included as proper nominations. Documentation and reasons may include the historian's:
The Award Committee consists of the South Indiana Conference Archivist and two persons named by the SIC Commission on Archives and History. For more information call 765-658-4406. CTS offers another round of learning for laityINDIANAPOLIS -- Registration has begun for the second session of the Faith Learning Initiative, a series held at Christian Theological Seminary to help laity understand more about their own faith in the context of other religious traditions. CTS is located at1000 W. 42nd St. The session, offered the weeks of Nov. 17, Dec. 1, 8 and 15, will be taught by religious leaders from across central Indiana. Registration for each course is $50. The fee for students and seniors is $40. For information about the Faith Learning series classes, contact Joyce Weidner by e-mail at LifeEd@cts.edu or call 317-931-4224. Faith Learning Initiative class offerings include:
CTS is a fully accredited ecumenical seminary in Indianapolis affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and offers eight graduate-level degree programs including theology, ministry and counseling, with specializations in ministries that focus on youth and music. More than 30 denominations, including The United Methodist Church, are represented among faculty and students. Communications offers religious journalism scholarshipsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- United Methodist students interested in religious journalism careers have until March 15 to apply for United Methodist Communications' $6,000 Stoody-West Fellowship, its $2,500 Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarships for Ethnic Minority Students and its $30,000 Judith L. Weidman Racial Ethnic Minority Fellowship. The agency is providing scholarships specifically for United Methodists to help meet the need for trained communicators in the church. Details on the annual awards and applications can be found at www.umcom.org/scholarships. More information and applications for the racial ethnic minority fellowship are available by visiting crt.umc.org/rem or calling Tucker-Shaw, scholarship and fellowship coordinator, 888-278-4862. New Web site for senior high ministry announcedChris Matthews announces that the Web site for Consuming Fire (formerly the Senior High Institute band) is up and running. Consuming Fire began as part of the Worship Team at Senior High Institute, a United Methodist high school camp located in North Webster, Indiana. This site allows one to locate upcoming worship experiences, order CDs, find out more about Consuming Fire ministry, and locate excellent postmodern and worship links. Consuming Fire can be found by logging on to www.consumingfiremusic.com Author to lead young adult ministries retreat in NorthYoung Adults, ages 18 to 35, are encouraged to attend a spiritual retreat sponsored by the North Indiana Conference Council of Young Adult Ministries. The retreat will be held Jan. 2-3 at the Swan Lake Resort near Plymouth, Ind. Cost is $40 per person and includes three meals, lodging, sessions with Jan True on the book, Who Moved my Cheese? plus access to the resort's amenities for fellowship after sessions. For more information about the retreat and an application to attend, call Jason Gross at 1-877-YG-ADULT (1-877-942-3858), and return it by Dec. 10. G-ETS offers General Conference continuing education trip to Pittsburgh next springEVANSTON, ILL. -- For those wanting a first-hand view of the issues facing the United Methodist Church, along with interpretation from a number of perspectives, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary offers a continuing-education trip to the 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh. Participants may register for this class as a special student/auditor for 3 CEUs at a cost of $120. Students taking the class for credit have priority. Registration will end Dec. 15. A $100 deposit is due Dec. 30. The study trip, scheduled for April 26-May 7 in Pittsburgh, will be led by Dick Tholin, senior scholar, and Ed Phillips, associate professor of historical and liturgy studies. In addition to the 12-day conference, participants will meet four times on the Garrett-Evangelical campus. Sessions are scheduled for Feb. 24, March 9, March 23 and April 13. There also will be one final session on May 10. The class will stay at a hotel near the conference site. A block of double rooms has been reserved at approximately $120 per night, or $1,320 for the duration of the conference. Up to four people may share a room. For more information or to register, e-mail Rex Piercy at rex-piercy@garrett.edu or call the G-ETS continuing education office at 874-866-3975. School in New Mexico seeking summer volunteersESPANOLA, N.M. -- The United Methodist-related McCurdy School in Espanola greatly benefits from the services of volunteers. Hundreds of Indiana volunteers have spent thousands of hours serving Volunteers in Mission projects at this 400-student preschool through high school educational institution. VIM work teams are sponsored by congregations, districts and conferences. Participants stay at McCurdy for one to two weeks doing maintenances, repair, improvement work and community service. Sometimes there are off-campus projects at one of the seven mission churches all part of the Northern New Mexico Group Ministry. McCurdy is now taking applications for 2004 summer work teams. Participants in the VIM program agree to follow procedures set forth by McCurdy School, including a $250 registration fee and agreeing to raise the amount of money needed for supplies and equipment needed to accomplish a project. Work begins on Mondays at 8 a.m. and concludes on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. All VIMs work closely with the staff of McCurdy School. Ten sessions are scheduled beginning May 30 and through Aug. 7. For more information on the VIM summer work camp program, please contact the Volunteer In Mission coordinator at 505-753-7221 or call for an application and full information packet. VIM information and an application is available online at www.mccurdy.org and click on "Volunteers In Mission" on the menu bar. News In BriefsChurch property rights hinge on adhering to doctrineMADISON, N.J. (UMNS) -- The Rev. Thomas C. Oden, a professor of theology at United Methodist-related Drew University School of Theology in Madison, said a centuries-old clause in the 2000 United Methodist Book of Discipline states that all local church property is held in trust for the denomination may not be applicable if the doctrinal standards of John Wesley, the denomination's founder, are not followed. Property issues, he said, must consider doctrinal faithfulness as well as organizational structures. Oden is a board member of the Indianapolis-based Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church. Northern Illinois Conference joins lawsuit on new churchCHICAGO (UMNS) -- United Methodists in northern Illinois are concerned that unfair treatment has halted the building of a new church in Long Grove. The denomination's Northern Illinois Annual Conference filed a motion in October to join Vision United Methodist Church, a congregation of predominantly Korean Americans, in a $5 million lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging the Village of Long Grove has "maliciously" worked to stop development of a new church. The conference filed as an additional co-plaintiff in the case. UMs second only to Mormons in scoutingA 2003 report shows the United Methodist Church supports more Cub Scout dens than any other denomination, with a total of 218,207 dens. There are 130,417 Boy Scouts affiliated troops chartered by United Methodist churches, the second highest of all faith groups. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) leads the nation with 191,670 Boy Scouts. Churches that sponsor Cub or Boy Scouts acknowledge it as an avenue to minister to the neighborhood and as a way to get people involved in a faith community. Dream, pray, work for community, bishops urgeWASHINGTON (UMNS) -- The United Methodist bishops are calling the church to action in a new statement on children and poverty. In "Our Shared Dream: The Beloved Community," they urge United Methodists to dream, pray and work for the day when the church "is a more inclusive fellowship, in which dividing walls of race and gender, culture and class are broken down," and the "church and world overcome the competitiveness that dominates relationships." Bishops meet, pray, with president of CongoWASHINGTON (UMNS) -- Joseph Kabila, the 32-year-old president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is asking United Methodist bishops to help his impoverished and war-torn nation as he moves to bring peace and, eventually, free elections to his people. Thirteen bishops, including three from the Congo, met with President Joseph Kabila during the Council of Bishops' six-day semiannual meeting in the Washington Area. Kabila was in the U.S. capital to meet with President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and executives from a number of international development organizations. He stated his commitment to change in the nation as it emerges from a six-year war in which millions of Congolese died. The United Methodist Church's Judicial Council (supreme court) has sent a sharp reminder about the authority of denominational law in its ruling regarding a lesbian pastor in Washington state. In an Oct. 27 decision, the Judicial Council affirmed the church's Book of Discipline, which forbids the ordination and appointment of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals." By sending the case back to two lower-ranking judicial bodies, the court also set into motion a series of events that could lead to a clergy trial -- and possible loss of credentials -- for the Rev. Karen Dammann. Abel Fernandez, production and export manager for the National Confederation of Dominican Cocoa Producers, wants United Methodists to buy fair trade cocoa products. He and other farmers from Latin America want United Methodists to participate in the United Methodist Committee on Relief's coffee, cocoa and tea project in conjunction with Equal Exchange because their purchases help UMCOR earn money to benefit small farmers. More information about the UMCOR project can be found online at www.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/hunger/coffee.cfm. The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation's "Double Your Dollars for Scholars," the $1,000 church-matching scholarship program, will provide 275 scholarships, totaling $275,000 for the 2004-2005 academic year. Guidelines and applications will be available online at the foundation's Web site at www.umhef.org. The foundation approved a total of $1.4 million for scholarships and awards for 2004-2005. The biennial conference of the Christian Educators Fellowship of The United Methodist Church to be held in New Orleans, La. next October is receiving registrations. The theme, "The Many Facets of Christian Education" will bring together persons from all over the country who are Christian educators, pastors, directors of children or adult ministries, program directors, youth workers, and everyone with a commitment and responsibility for the many expressions of Christian education ministries. Information at www.cefumc.org or 615-749-6870. Through partner agencies, Church World Service is helping Chechnya residents who are suffering from a long-standing and debilitating war. The Rev. John McCullough, a United Methodist who serves as CWS executive director, said financial help is needed for reconstruction of an orphanage and school; sending school supplies for 600-plus students; assisting the children's ward of a hospital and providing daily food for 1,400 people at two soup kitchens. More information can be found at www.churchworldservice.org online. Bishop Marion M. Edwards, approaching his eighth year as bishop of the North Carolina Annual Conference, announced Oct. 28 that he would retire as an active bishop, effective Aug. 31. The executive committee of Good News, meeting Oct. 23-24, chose the Rev. Bob and Peg Snyder to be recipients of the ministry's annual Edmund W. Robb United Methodist Renewal Award, given to a person or persons who have made a significant contribution on behalf of renewal within the United Methodist Church. Good News is a Wilmore, Ky.,-based evangelical renewal ministry within the United Methodist Church. "What Will We Become?" is the theme for the 2004 United Methodist Student Forum, to be held at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., May 27-30. More than 600 student leaders, college chaplains, and campus ministers are expected to gather for leadership training, spiritual formation, and networking at Student Forum Plus, held every four years. The Student Forum is the national leadership conference of the United Methodist Student Movement sponsored by the Campus Ministry Section of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Gammon Theological Seminary, the United Methodist component of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, will host its annual Founder's Day Dec. 1-3 and celebrate 120 years of preparing ministerial leadership for the United Methodist Church under the theme "Living Locally and Serving Globally." For more information, contact Madelyn Greene by e-mail at Mgreene@itc.edu or by calling 404-581-0310. |
 for more details and additional events, visit our Happenings page. |
|
"e-HUM" copyright 2003 by
Indiana Area United Methodist Communications. |
