|
HOME | e-HUM News | e-HUM ANNOUNCEMENTS | together ARCHIVES| e-HUM ARCHIVES | DOWNLOADS | e-HUM ALERT |
|
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. |
Highlights from the March issue of TogetherHoosiers deliver thousands of health kits for tsunami survivorsBy Alison Bartels Church World Service recently put out a call for extra volunteers as thousands of tsunami relief health kits arrived at the Indiana Interchurch Center in Indianapolis, the same building containing the Indiana Area United Methodist office. Since the start of the special Indiana-Kentucky CWS Tsunami Appeal in January, more than 13,500 health kits, valued at $162,000, have been checked, packed and loaded into a semi-trailer stationed in the back parking lot of the center. Thousands more continue to be processed. These kits will replenish health kits at the CWS Warehouse in New Windsor Md. that were shipped to Indonesia for survivors of the Dec. 26 South Asia Tsunami. CWS Regional Director the Rev. Judy Dunson described Hoosiers' overwhelming response as a "delightful problem." Dunson told Together, "The kits are coming in steadily from all over Indiana and Kentucky, as well as from some churches in southern Ohio." School children provide health kits for tsunami reliefBy Laura McDonald As a Deacon in full connection of the South Indiana Conference, I serve both the church and the world. My secular ministry is serving as a music teacher at North Harrison Elementary School in Ramsey, Ind., west of New Albany on state road 64. I think of it as having a congregation of 450 children, grades K-4. I have each child in the school for a half hour or 45 minutes twice weekly. Though I cannot teach religion as such, I am encouraged to and do teach values. After Christmas, I was struck by how many children talked about the Tsunami disaster and the many lives lost. Of course I reassured them that such an event would not happen here, but it became clear that they wanted to do something concrete to help. I thought about doing a collection of money. The next day, however, I received my Together and its plea from Church World Service for Health Kits. The faculty had a meeting the same day, approved the idea, and our project was launched. I set up a "sorting station" in one corner of my classroom, and we sent home a letter with the children. Response from children, parents, and staff was immediate. Most students brought supplies and some brought completed kits. One parent collected money at work and brought in 24 complete kits. A few of the children asked their own churches to help. More than 150 kits were packed and sent to the CWS office in Indianapolis. UMCOR receives $15 million for tsunami aidBy Elliott Wright NEW YORK (UMNS) - A total of $15 million has been contributed to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for post-tsunami recovery work in the Indian Ocean region. The $15 million figure, as of Feb. 23, includes donations from all sources, including credit cards, checks sent directly to the agency and money channeled through annual conferences of the denomination. To date, the North Indiana Conference has received $289,000 for tsunami relief and another $13,000 towards the rebuilding of the Methodist church at Banda Aceh. The South Indiana Conference has received $364,110 for tsunami relief and another $17,001 towards the rebuilding of Methodist church at Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Wayne Township pastor receives chief's awardINDIANAPOLIS - The Rev. David Powell of the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church received the Chief's Award on Feb. 12 from the Wayne Township Fire Department on the west side of Indianapolis. According to Battalion Chief Rick Batza, "This high honor is given only once a year by the Fire Chief to an individual who demonstrates leadership and service to the department." Batza says as head of the chaplain's program in this diverse community, Powell responds to crisis situations day and night . In addition to attending fires, sudden deaths or disasters, he also cares for the spiritual and emotional health of the firefighters. He is called upon at all hours to support firefighers or the families of firefighters who may be in the hospital or who suffer a calamity and helps all to weather the storm. Real life hero Hotel Rwanda to speak at DePauw April 25By Ken Owen GREENCASTLE, Ind. - The man whose heroic story is the basis of the Academy Award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda is scheduled to visit the DePauw University campus on Monday, April 25 to share his story of humanity, courage, perseverance and hope. Paul Rusesabagina will deliver The Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture, "Hotel Rwanda: A Lesson Yet to Be Learned," at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium of DePauw's Performing Arts Center. The event is co-sponsored by DePauw's Office of Academic Affairs. Like all Ubben Lectures, the speech is free and open to the public. North Conference names Albert as new VIM coordinatorBonnie Albert of Chesterton was named the new North Indiana Conference Volunteers in Mission Coordinator. Interested in missions since youth, Bonnie and her husband of 45 years, Gene, have been on five international VIM trips to Chile, Russia, Zimbabwe (twice) and Ukraine, as well as with the Appalachian Service Project. She also has served as Dean and Assistant Dean of the Midwest Regional School of Christian Mission. She retired in June 2004 from 30 years of teaching high school math. She may be contacted by calling 219-464-1447 or by e-mail at bonkay@hotmail.com. Leininger to serve as interim director of anti-gambling coalitionThe Rev. John Wolf, retiring director of The Indiana Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, recently announced that the Rev. Harold Leininger, a retired pastor of the South Indiana Conference, will begin April 1 as a one-year interim director of ICALG. Leininger was chosen by Bishop Michael Coyner to lead the coalition begun ten years ago at the direction of Bishop Woodie W. White, who chose Wolf to lead the new ecumenical coalition at that time. Former Seelyville church gutted by fireSEELYVILLE, Ind. - The town of Seelyville awoke the morning of Feb. 15 to the sounds of sirens and smoke coming from the center of town. Word quickly spread that the United Methodist Church was on fire. A quick look assured Pastor Steven Bahrt that what he was told was not completely correct. The former Methodist church building on Main Street was ablaze and already a total loss. The building had housed the Seelyville Methodist Church from 1904 until 1962, when the congregation moved into its larger building two blocks east on Second Street. The old church building housed a building remodeling contractor's offices at the time of the fire. Smoking opponents voice views at capitol to support ITPCBy Daniel R. Gangler INDIANAPOLIS - More than 125 participants, including United Methodists, of the statewide interfaith Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition heard hard facts and moving testimonials about the effects of smoking during a Valentine's Day luncheon and then marched to the Indiana Statehouse to visit the governor and legislators in support of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency. During the luncheon held at Christ Church Cathedral, Dan Evans, CEO of United Methodist-related Clarian Health Partners, said, "One of the shortcomings of the anti-smoking movement is that we have spent a great deal of time talking with each other. We don't need to convince each other. We need to convince others for a variety of reasons - economics, personal addiction, politics, insufficient resources. Those are the people we have to talk to." Parish Nurse Patricia Thorlton, of Greenwood United Methodist Chruch and program coordinator for parish nursing and health ministries at Clarian, for the first time publicly told the story of her brother's death due to life-long smoking. Following the luncheon, many of the advocated went to the capitol and presented to Ellen Whitt, Governor Mitch Daniels' deputy chief-of-staff, signed resolutions from 234 congregations, including more than 65 UMCs, and religious groups across the state that asked him to restore full funding to the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency to the Centers for Disease Control recommended $32.5 million level. Last year ITPC received $10.8 million and had to cut their program drastically. Advocates also talked with and gave information to state senators and representatives about supporting ITPC funding. Brookville children show they 'CARE'By Alison Bartels Lauren and Mitchell Evans wanted to give more than their allowance to the South Asia Tsunami relief effort. After learning about the devastation of the Dec. 26 disaster, 11-year-old Lauren and 8-year-old Mitchell approached their mother and told her of their concern. "They were very distressed at what happened," said Lynn Edwards, their mother, member and secretary at Brookville (Ind.) United Methodist Church. "They said they were most willing to send their allowances, but the wanted to be able to do more." That night, Edwards sat down with her children to brainstorm about how they could contribute to the relief. They decided to sell T-shirts and buttons at school and donate the profit to the relief effort. "The kids and I worked together on the design," Edwards said, "but I wanted them to own the project." Mitchell, a third-grader at Brookville Elementary School sat down with Principle Mike Blitz, and fifth-grader Lauren spoke with Principle Gary Frost at Brookville Middle School. The project was approved at both schools. A local T-shirt supplier agreed to make and sell the shirts at a very reasonable cost, Edwards said, so the children ordered 150 shirts. Additionally, they designed and ordered 500 buttons for the project. The response to the children's effort was wonderful, Edwards said. Of the 150 shirts they started with, only 26 are left. The children expect to gross over $1,200 to send to the relief effort. Edwards believes her children have a good grasp on the reality of the Tsunami disaster. Training event aims at changing church lifestyles in AmericaWORTHINGTON, Ohio - "Living Our Promise," an Igniting Ministry training event aimed at helping local United Methodist congregations learn about marketing themselves and honing their welcoming skills, is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, at Bethel United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio. The training session offers three training tracks, using the resources and ideas of The United Methodist Church's Igniting Ministry media campaign. The three tracks allow churches to participate in the event regardless of previous knowledge or experience with this ministry. Each person attending will choose one track that starts in the morning and concludes in the afternoon. Additional team members from the church may attend the other two tracks in order to cover each session and explore all the information and resources. The tracks are:
More information on the training event and additional components of the effort is available from the Web site www.ignitingministry.org or from the Igniting Ministry offices, toll free at 877-281-6535. Millard Fuller fired from Habitat as dispute with board re-eruptsAMERICUS, Ga. (ABP) - Millard and Linda Fuller were immediately dismissed Jan. 31 from their jobs with Habitat for Humanity International, the worldwide Christian housing ministry they founded and led for 29 years. The Fullers and the Habitat board of directors have been in conflict for several months over a transition of leadership. Directors wanted Millard Fuller to retire as president this month when he turned 70. Fuller wanted to remain at the helm until the 200,000th house was dedicated later this year. According to the release, former President Jimmy Carter expressed his continuing personal friendship with the Fullers, as well as his support of Habitat for Humanity International. He will serve as an honorary chair of the search committee to find Fuller's successor. Eight churches received into World Council of ChurchesGENEVA, Switzerland (WCC) - Eight churches - from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean region - have been received into the fellowship of the World Council of Churches, but the total number of the Council membership increased from 342 to 347, since another five member churches have merged into two joint memberships. At the beginning of its Feb. 15-22 meeting, the WCC central committee welcomed the following five churches as new WCC members:
In addition, three churches were received as new associate members:
Two joint membership applications were also accepted by the central committee:
Catholic Church joins new Christian forum with NCCNEW YORK - National Council of Churches USA General Secretary Bob Edgar welcomed the U.S. Catholic Bishop's decision Nov. 17 to join Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A. (CCT), an effort to bring Catholics, Evangelical and mainline Protestants and Orthodox Christians around a common table for the first time. Even though the Southern Baptist Convention recently opted not to join CCT, the new forum still will be the most inclusive Christian organization in the nation. Set to begin work this year, CCT will gather top church leaders to discuss topics of common interest and grow in their relationships - more a place to be together than to act together, Edgar noted. The NCC initiated exploration of such a forum in 2001 and has continued as a key supporter of the development of CCT. UMCOR opens mission to restore farmland in SudanBy Linda Beher NEW YORK (UMNS) - The United Methodist Committee on Relief is now providing direct relief and rehabilitation in the embattled Darfur region of Sudan. Opened in early February, the mission's priorities include providing emergency aid and development services in water, sanitation and agriculture. The initial work will be concentrated in South Darfur, on the western side of Sudan in northeastern Africa. A staff of three will oversee the operation. They are:
UMCOR also will continue its work of many months with a coalition of other humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to Sudanese refugees fleeing from Darfur into the neighboring nation of Chad. Africa University's Yemba becomes Central Congo bishopMUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) - The Rev. David Kekumba Yemba, professor and founding dean of the faculty of theology at Africa University, has been elected bishop of the Central Congo Area. He will succeed Bishop Fama Onema, who served the area for more than 30 years. The Feb. 12 election, which was part of the United Methodist Africa Central Conference, took place in Kamina in Katanga Province. Yemba was elected on the third ballot in a field of 11 candidates and consecrated Feb. 13. He is taking over the leadership of one of the denomination's largest episcopal areas, comprising 10 of the 11 provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The church has 844,634 members in the Congo. German United Methodists elect a woman bishop(UMNS) - United Methodists in Germany elected a new bishop - the denomination's first woman named to that office in Europe - on Feb. 16. The Rev. Rosemarie Wenner received the needed two-thirds majority vote of the 100 delegates of the Germany Central Conference on the fourth ballot. Wenner, who takes office April 1, succeeds Bishop Walter Klaiber. He is retiring after almost 16 years in office. Operation Classroom revitalizes school partnerships in AfricaEach district of The United Methodist Church in Indiana is in partnership with a school in either Liberia or Sierra Leone. Operation Classroom hopes to revitalize and reestablish those partnerships by selecting specific projects for each district to focus upon in addition to the on-going needs of the schools. According to the Rev. Joe Wagner, co-director, Operation Classroom has developed a plan that will help the local churches get more involved in Operation Classroom than they may have been before. OC's goal is to have each UMC congregation in Indiana participate in these priority needs. Each school project has a local church goal, if OC is to meet the needs of that project. OC chose only one basic project per school so we can focus on getting this priority project completed. These projects are in addition to what we are presently doing. Operation Classroom has five basic program areas: Education, Vocational Education, West Africa Trauma Training Seminars (WATTS), Operation Doctor and Volunteers in Mission. Operation Classroom Co-directors the Rev. Joe and Carolyn Wagner, give thanks for Hoosiers' support of OC in 2004. Through the support of United Methodists in Indiana, OC:
For more information about Operation Classroom, call 765-436-2805, log on to www.operationclassroom.org, or write to Operation Classroom, P.O. Box 246, Colfax IN 46035. Remember, your apportionment dollars support this vital mission to our Christian brothers and sisters in Africa. |
 for more details and additional events, visit our Happenings page. |
|
"e-HUM" copyright 2005 by
Indiana Area United Methodist Communications. |
