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Highlights from the April issue of TogetherON THE DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL IIBy Bishop Michael J. Coyner On behalf of the United Methodist people of Indiana, I express heartfelt sympathy to our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters upon the death of their beloved pontiff. Pope John Paul II's influence reached far beyond the borders of the Roman Catholic Church; his intellect, spirituality and humanity touched the hearts of all Christians, and indeed of people of every faith. We join you in prayerful confidence that the Holy Spirit will guide the election of the next Bishop of Rome, that he may be a man who will continue to bring all of Christ's people closer in the Spirit of Love. PAUL MILHOUSE, LAST FORMER EUB BISHOP, DEAD AT 94United Methodist Bishop Paul W. Milhouse, the last remaining bishop elected by the former Evangelical United Brethren Church, died March 12 in Franklin, Ind. He was 94. He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Noblitt Milhouse, whom he married in 1932; two daughters, Mary Catherine Hauswald and Pauline Joyce Vermillion; a son, Paul David Milhouse; one sister, Dorothy Jacobs; seven grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. A memorial service for Millhouse was held March 16 in the chapel at the Franklin United Methodist Community, with burial at Garland Brook Cemetery in Columbus, Ind. Bishop William Oden officiated. Memorials can be given to Franklin United Methodist Community, the University of Indianapolis and Oklahoma City University. Information for parts of this story came from the United Methodist News Service. SOUTH INDIANA HOPES TO STAVE OFF CLERGY SHORTAGE WITH DVD RECRUITING TOOLINDIANAPOLIS - Facing an impending shortage to be realized in a few short years in ordained ministry, the South Indiana Conference has invested time, money and energy into a newly released recruiting DVD titled Fire in the Bones. According to project designers, this video resource can be used in a variety of ways to answers questions from those just beginning to think about their call to ministry in high school or college, to seminarians looking for their first appointment and a conference relationship. The DVD can be used by pastors, youth ministers, university chaplains or district superintendents and others who visit seminaries to tell the story of ordained ministry in the South Indiana Conference. For current distribution, those interested in the DVD need to contact Lassiat at 317-253-3237 or by e-mail at mlassiat@msumc.org. The DVD won't be mailed to each church, but the committee will give copies to people who want to receive one. Copies also are available through the South Indiana Conference Media Center by calling 800-919-8160. CELEBRATE RURAL LIFE SUNDAY APRIL 17Your congregation is invited to observe Rural Life Sunday, April 17. All churches are invited to participate, including urban, inner-city, county seat, small town and open country churches. Rural Life Sunday, a special United Methodist celebration of the rural heritage of the Church, is a time to recognize the ongoing crisis occurring in rural America areas. United Methodists in South Indiana are invited to receive a Rural Life Sunday Offering. Send offering to: Conference Treasurer, South Indiana Conference, 1520 South Liberty Dr., Bloomington, IN 47403. From that offering, 34 percent will be used to support the work of Bessie Adams, who leads workshops for Christian Education in small-membership rural churches. She may be contacted at 812-937-4990 and 66 percent will be shared with rural churches undergoing capital/building renovations or repairs. PRISON MINISTRY ASKS CONGREGATIONS TO BE COVENANT CHURCHESBLOOMINGTON - The South Indiana Conference Prison and Jail Ministry Committee asks Hoosier congregations to recognize that ex-offenders and their families are frequently alienated from the community and to prayerfully work to include them in the faith community. Organizers say we must strive to remove social stigmas and warmly welcome and value them as neighbors and friends. If your congregation is not involved in a prison ministry, the SIC Prison Ministry encourages congregations to consider becoming a Covenant Church. Here's what churches can offer:
For more information about becoming a Covenant Church, please contact Robert Reilly at 812-952-2797 r.reilly@insightbbs.com or Jane Ann Lemen at 317-293-4660, lemengn@cs.com. If you are already in active ministry, please share your ideas with us to pass on to others. HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO CELEBRATE FRANKLIN COMMUNITY'S FIRST 50 YEARSThe tenth annual meeting of the South Indiana Conference United Methodist Historical Society will celebrate the first half-century of the Franklin United Methodist Community in the homes Community Center on April 30 at 10 a.m.. A $15 fee covers lunch and registration. For more information or registration, contact Jean Seville, 1324 Mill Lane, New Albany, IN 47510; telephone 812-945-0021. HOOSIER PICKED FOR CHURCH GROWTH, EVANGELISM COUNSELINDIANAPOLIS - A retired Hoosier pastor was recently chosen by The Foundation For Evangelism to serve Indiana. The Foundation is an affiliate of the General Board or Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. The Rev. Carver McGriff, former senior pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, serves as one of eleven staff ministers on behalf of the Foundation. McGriff told Together that he is available for consultation in church growth and evangelism for individual churches and groups of churches. His special ministry is financed through expenses and modest honoraria paid by churches using his services. With the support of Indiana Area Bishop Michael Coyner, McGriff says his main interest is seeing The United Methodist Church grow. He says, "I'm convinced that every church can grow given the right conditions. Sometimes an outsider can bring a new perspective that can help a pastor and church leaders see changes which can make a difference." If your congregation seeks to grow and needs assistance in obtaining that goal, McGriff may be able to help you. He can be contacted by e-mail at carvermcgriff@hotmail.com, by phone at 317-873-6675 or by mail at 20 South 6th Street, Zionsville, IN 46077. SOUTH INDIANA CHURCH INVITES USE OF ITS HORIZONS HOUSE FOR RETREATSLast summer, Horizons of Faith United Methodist Church of Indianapolis was blessed with an opportunity to purchase property adjacent to its church. The congregation quickly moved on the purchase, although it was not immediately clear how the property, consisting of two acres and a house, might be used. Horizons House is now available. As a part of its desire to strengthen its shared conference connection, the church offers Horizons House to any one (lay or clergy) who seeks: time apart, personal retreat, sermon and teaching preparation, peace and quiet, a place "away from church" to have a small group, seminar or meeting or any spiritual or God-centered function. Eight to ten people can comfortably use Horizons House during the day, or up to four people could stay overnight. Horizons House has a three-night limit, and Horizons of Faith Church may have it reserved. This facility is offered at no fee or charge. An opportunity to donate to the upkeep and maintenance of the facility is welcomed. For more information or to reserve Horizons House, contact Kim Horn, Horizons of Faith Church's administrative assistant, at hofumc@yahoo.com, or call 317-253-1785. GIFTS FOR SOUTH ASIA TSUNAMI RELIEFHere are to-date totals for the Indiana Area in giving to United Methodist Committee on Relief South Asia Tsunami relief efforts reported by each conference treasurer. North Indiana Conference
South Indiana Conference
Indiana Area total for all tsunami relief $810,854. Bishop Coyner thanks you for your generous contributions to relief efforts in the Indian Ocean region. FOUNDATION SEEKS FUNDS FOR ORDINANDS STUDY TOUR TO EUROPEINDIANAPOLIS - Your help is needed to fund a valuable study tour for newly ordained ministers in Indiana. During his tenure as Bishop of the Indiana Area, Bishop Woodie White had the vision that some day every newly ordained minister would be able to travel to the Holy Land with him or a successor bishop. Thanks to the commitment of the Indiana Area Foundation, beginning with the class of 2001, each new pastor entering the Order of Elder or the Order of Deacon has received the gift of a post-seminary ordination trip with the Indiana Area Bishop. With the issuance of Travel Award Certificates to 65 ordinands in the 2001-2004 classes, the Indiana Area Foundation has committed all the funds available to it for this program. If we are to extend this gift of a post-seminary ordination trip with the Indiana Area Bishop to the 2005 class of ordinands, the foundation needs an additional $34,000 this year. There are 17 ordinands in the 2005 class whose inclusion is dependent on the generous contributions of Indiana United Methodist churches, pastors and lay members. Your individual contribution will acknowledge your support and vote for continuation of this valuable program to prepare each ordinand for informed and effective ministry. Contributions for the Ordinand Travel Awards Program can be sent directly to the Indiana Area Foundation of The United Methodist Church, 1100 West. 42nd St., Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Your gift of $2,000 will sponsor one ordinand. Gifts in any amount will help secure the continuance of this program. All gifts are tax deductible. NORTH CONFERENCE CFA BRINGING APPORTIONMENT PROPOSAL TO ANNUAL SESSIONMARION, Ind. - The North Indiana Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) is scheduled to bring in June to the Annual Conference Session in West Lafayette a new look to apportionment giving. According to Brent Williams, conference treasurer, CFA plans to present two bold initiatives this year within their report. One is a new apportionment formula based on the biblical concept of "tithes and offerings." The other initiative is to hold a special North Indiana Conference session, and at that time' members of the conference will be asked to adopt a budget that the Conference can completely fund. In between the regular annual conference session and the special session of the North Indiana Annual Conference, CFA proposes listening sessions in each of the North Indiana's nine districts. Along with the Strategy Council, the Conference Council on Ministries and the Cabinet, CFA will seek input from church leaders and conference members to answer these questions:
Together, CFA and the Strategy Council plan to design and bring a budget to the special session that will be in response to the listening sessions and in keeping with the findings. According to Williams, "CFA has held several discussions with Conference leadership about our (NIC) fiscal condition. While we are in relatively good shape, (if we experience) another year or two like 2004, many of our joint ministries will be in jeopardy." Indiana Area Bishop Mike Coyner has called for a Special Session of the North Indiana Annual Conference to be held Oct. 8, 2005 at the Granger Community United Methodist Church. The purpose of this Special Session will be to discuss and adopt the 2006 North Indiana Conference Budget. A budget will NOT be presented to the regular session of Annual Conference this June in West Lafayette. CHURCH TRIAL OF JEFFERSONVILLE PASTOR SET FOR MAY 19Bishop Pennel selected as trial judge INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Area Bishop Michael J. Coyner announced in mid-March that the clergy trial of the Rev. Larry Martin of Jeffersonville, Ind., has been set for May 19 to 21. The trial is scheduled to be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in New Albany, Ind. Coyner named retired United Methodist Bishop Joe E. Pennel Jr. of Franklin, Tenn. as the bishop to judge the trial of Martin, pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Jeffersonville. Pennel previously served as bishop of the Richmond (Va.) Area of the church. Prior to his election to the episcopacy in 1996, he served as a pastor in the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences of the church. Charged The Rev. Michael Biggs, superintendent of the South Indiana Conference's New Albany District, announced March 6 to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Jeffersonville that their pastor, the Rev. Larry Martin, had been suspended because he had been charged with immorality and sexual harassment. Both are chargeable offenses for ordained ministers according to the Book of Discipline in The United Methodist Church. The Rev. Charles Hutchinson, a retired minister of the South Indiana Conference living in Franklin, currently serves as interim pastor of Wesley Church. Clergy trial The South Indiana Conference Cabinet of nine District Superintendents are in the process of choosing 35 ordained ministers of the conference to serve as a jury pool for the clergy trial. At the time of the trial, 13 clergy from this pool will be selected to hear the case against the respondent, the Rev. Larry Martin. Special consideration is given to ensure that the pool is diverse in terms of race, ethnicity and gender. In all these proceedings, there is always a presumption of innocence unless or until a United Methodist clergyperson is found guilty by a jury of peers. UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS TAPS BALL STATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR PRESIDENCYINDIANAPOLIS - The United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis has selected a seasoned Ball State University educator and administrator as its next chief executive. Beverley J. Pitts, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Ball State, will become the university's eighth president, effective July 5. She succeeds Jerry Israel, who is retiring. Pitts will be the first female president in the 103-year history of the higher-education institution. The selection of Pitts was based on her impressive leadership qualities, solid record of accomplishments, and outstanding communication skills, said Sue Anne Gilroy, chair of the search committee. Pitts was among four finalists, culled from nearly 80 candidates, who were invited to campus for interviews with seven advisory committees representing students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders. Pitts was formally introduced to the public on March 23. Indiana Area Bishop Mike Coyner participated in the public announcement of her presidency. In other University news, Darrell D. Bowman has joined the faculty as Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs for the School of Business. DOCTORS NEEDED FOR 'TELE-MEDICINE' PROJECT IN SIERRA LEONEOperation Classroom is looking for at least 50 physicians willing to participate in a satellite/Internet-based program of consultation and training for medical staff in Sierra Leone. Any specialty is welcome, according to Joseph Wagner, the director of Operation Classroom, a program that helps United Methodists link with their counterparts in Sierra Leone and Liberia to assist with Christian-based education and health care. He needs doctors to indicate their interest by the end of April in order to prepare the grant application. "It's a way of being involved in a very significant ministry," he said. The program would be part of Operation Doctor, a medical component of Operation Classroom that includes a 10-year partnership with the United Methodist Church Health and Maternity Center in Kissy, Sierra Leone. Wagner began considering such a project at least five years ago, to be based at The United Methodist-related Ganta Hospital in Liberia, but the civil war there put a halt to his plans. The idea was revived about a year and a half ago when he was contacted by a former World Bank executive who is assisting with the project. Tele-medicine "Tele-medicine" is defined as the use of telecommunications to provide medical information and services. It can provide access to specialty care in remote locations or in emergency situations and reduces the isolation of rural practitioners in developing countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia. Clinical applications will include diagnostic examination interpretation, medical/surgical management and follow-up, patient case reviews and specialist referrals. Other applications include continuing medical and nursing education, data collection and evaluation of research and protocol development. "What we're trying to do is provide training for the medical staff," Wagner explained. The UMC Health and Maternity Center in Kissy is part of the denomination's Sierra Leone Conference. It is one of only two facilities providing inpatient and laboratory services in the eastern suburbs of Freetown, the West African nation's capital. Those communities are highly overpopulated, mostly with unemployed youth, women and displaced people. Operation Doctor built a two-unit surgical ward in Kissy during 2003-04 and is completing a 30-bed post-op ward, according to Wagner. Dr. Dennis Marke has served as the chief physician since 1997. Two other doctors, one from Sierra Leone and one from the Congo, also staff the center, which sees about 70 patients a day, Wagner added. An average of 50 babies are delivered there each month. HIV/AIDS treatment Kissy has been designated by the Sierra Leone HIV/AIDS Treatment Action Group as a treatment center for the east end of Freetown, which means free anti-retroviral medications, funded by the World Bank, will be made available for those cases. In 2004, the Kissy clinic tested 1,004 general clients for HIV/AIDS, recording 43 positive cases. Six of those infected died during the year. In addition, 2,351 prenatal patients were tested, and 69 were positive for the virus. The center also sponsored a variety of educational programs about HIV/AIDS for communities and schools, and it runs a nutrition program. The goal of the tele-medicine project is to enable U.S. doctors to connect using their home or office computer, Wagner said. Those who would like to participate can send an e-mail to ocmission@frontiernet.net or call Wagner at 765-436-2805. Operation Classroom projects are Advance Specials of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. To contribute to the Kissy clinic and other projects, look at http://gbgm-umc.org/advance or www.operationclassroom.org online. AFRICA UNIVERSITY CHOIR COMING TO INDIANA THIS SUMMERThe Africa University Choir will perform on Saturday, July 16 at 8 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, S. 18th St. and County Rd. 350 S., in Lafayette, Ind. The concert is free and open to the public. |
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