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 November/December issue of together

Indiana begins recovery from deadly tornado

Hours after a killer tornado cut a 41-mile swath through Indiana and Kentucky, United Methodists and other faith-based groups were offering both immediate response and a long-term outlook.

Baker's Chapel United Methodist Church in Boonville was destroyed. Only the front concrete steps remained. Someone had placed a "He Lives" banner over the church's entrance sign. Several calls have been received by Indiana Bishop Michael Coyner and members of the South Indiana Conference about rebuilding Baker's Chapel. An appeal fund is being considered.

The United Methodist Church at Newburgh also sustained damage, as well as the parsonage of Methodist Temple United Methodist Church in Evansville, where the Rev. Bob Coleman, senior pastor, and his wife escaped injury.

Bishop and Mrs. Coyner toured the damaged area on Nov. 7. At Coyner's request, the United Methodist Committee on Relief has agreed to send emergency funds for recovery efforts. No Advance number has been assigned to date.

Local churches opened their doors to shelter people and provide meals. Epworth and Newburgh UMCs continue their relief efforts.

South Indiana Conference Volunteer in Mission Coordinator Carolyn Ellis has received numerous calls and volunteers are being scheduled to work through the Epworth church site. Experienced volunteers are needed immediately.

Volunteers may call Ellis at 812-890-7455 or Elsie Miller at the South Indiana Conference Center at 800-919-8160.

The Rev. Randy Anderson, acting disaster response coordinator for the Evansville District, said that Epworth Church will accommodate volunteers who want to serve more than one day. The church has showers and a kitchen. Volunteers will need to bring a sleeping bag. Volunteers need to call the Rev. Michael Monahan at 812-853-8107 or Anderson at 812-568-4746 before volunteering and/or staying at Epworth.

Churches are requested to send flood bucket kits, health kits and diapers to the Hazelton UMC. Those bringing supplies need to contact the Rev. Paul Huntsman at 812-784-2318.

Walk Thru Bethlehem offered by Leo church

Two thousand years ago, in Bethlehem, the world began a journey of wonder and faith.

It is with much joy that the Leo United Methodist Church, 13527 Leo Road, Leo, Ind. (10 miles northwest of Fort Wayne) will be presenting its second annual Walk Thru Bethlehem.

This re-enactment will be presented on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 5 from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Leo United Methodist Church at 260-627-2161.

Response in support of those suffering in Darfur

By Richard G. Lugar

I have benefited from the opportunity to read of your efforts in support of those suffering from the genocide perpetrated in Darfur, Sudan. The article that drew my attention appeared in the October issue of Hoosier United Methodists together.

After the September 28 Committee hearing on Darfur, and further review of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (S.1462), I favorably discharged the legislation from the Foreign Relations Committee for consideration by the full Senate with a request that it pass. My staff has indicated to the Majority Leader's office that I support passage of this bill, which is very similar to the legislation I authored in 2004 and the President signed in December of that year. The development of the Sudan bills from both 2004 and 2005 benefited greatly from the input and advocacy of individuals and groups focused on the crisis in Darfur.

Through hearings, statements and discussions, I have encouraged our Executive Branch and foreign governments and organizations to respond vigorously to the crisis in Darfur. I have emphasized that NATO, the United Nations, the African Union and other international entities must increase the attention and resources they are devoting to the Darfur problem. I believe that the United States government, through the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress, should continue to provide leadership aimed at addressing the humanitarian emergency in the Darfur region and helping to resolve the conflict.

I will continue to encourage the Administration to push for greater international participation and to devote our own resources where they will do the most good. My staff will remain engaged with you and other individuals and groups working in Darfur and here in the U.S. to improve our response. We shall stay informed and will rely on you to do the same. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance in your efforts.

Richard G. Lugar serves as a United States Senator representing the people of Indiana. He is a member of Saint Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.

Bishop to talk with North Indiana youth about being called to ministry

Bishop Michael J. Coyner will be the keynote speaker during the Dec. 4 "Bishop's Convocation for Youth Called to Ministry" at the United Methodist Church in Columbia City, Ind., from 3-6 p.m.

Sponsored by the North Indiana Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and the NIC Recruitment Team, the event is designed for middle school students, senior high students and college-age young adults.

Registration is from 2:15 to 3 p.m. The gathering begins with a time of praise and worship, featuring a praise band, and there will be break-out groups by age group for youth and for adult counselors.

A simple meal will be served and Bishop Coyner will speak at a closing worship time. The event will conclude by 6 p.m.

Registration cost is $5 per person, and registrations need to be submitted by Monday, Nov. 28 Persons can register by mail via Ms. Barbara Salveter, 300 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802 or online at the NIC Web site by logging on to www.nicumc.org.

Fletcher Place needs help for Christmas distributions

INDIANAPOLIS - The Fletcher Place Ministries, a United Methodist-related ministry in Indianapolis and South Indiana Conference Advance Special has served the poor and homeless since 1872.

Fletcher Place currently prepares its annual Christmas Help program to make sure that children in the area and their families receive some level of support for the holidays. This program also reaches the homeless and senior citizens.

The Christmas Help program is currently taking donations. Our set up for the program begins the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26 and runs Monday, Nov. 28 through Saturday, Dec. 3 of the following week. Families will come to receive items of their choice Dec. 5-9.

Fletcher Place plans to assist more than 400 families including 2,000 children. Funds also will be used to insure that each child and teen will receive his or her own Bible in a language they can understand.

For more information, contact the Rev. Jessi at 317-636-3466 ext. 6.

Greenfield smoking ban gets OK

Similar bans being considered statewide

GREENFIELD, Ind. - Smoking would be prohibited at virtually all Greenfield businesses under an ordinance that won approval in October from the Greenfield City Council. It goes into effect on March 1, 2006.

A Marion County smoking ban in most businesses goes into effect in March.

"We are not trying to take away the rights of smokers to smoke," said Brad DeReamer. "But (we want) to protect ourselves from their smoke."

Similar smoking bans have been approved across Indiana in Bloomington, Morgan County, Monroe County, Columbus, Columbus City,

Smoking-ban ordinances are being considered by local governments in St. Joseph County, Delaware County, Carmel, Kokomo, West Lafayette, Jeffersonville, Valparaiso, Marshall County, Zionsville, Jasper.

A smoking-ban ordinance was defeated Sept. 20 in Auburn.

Information provided by the Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition which includes the Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church. For more information, log on to www.smokefreeindiana.org.

Conferences approve, adjust 2006 connectional ministries budgets

Together the budgets represent a $2.49 million decrease

Both the North and South Indiana United Methodist Conferences recently have either approved or adjusted their 2006 budgets to better match the income they anticipate to receive from the states 1,260 United Methodist Congregations. Both conferences have decreased their budgets significantly in 2006 over their current budgets - the North Conference by $1.27 million (11.5 percent) and the South by $1.22 million (11.1 percent).

Across the United States, a little more than 17 cents of every dollar given to the local church goes to support, through apportionments and other gifts, the mission and ministry of the greater church beyond each congregation's doors. These funds go for ministry and mission across the state, region or jurisdiction; nation and around the world to support The United Methodist Church globally.

North Conference support

During a three-hour special session Oct. 8 at Granger Community United Methodist Church, the North Indiana Annual Conference approved a $9.74 million 2006 expense budget (down 11.58 percent or $1.27 million) for the support of the church beyond its 570 congregations. This connectional giving is paid by all local churches of the annual conference.

South Indiana Conference connectional support

In June at Bloomington the South Indiana Conference approved and later refined through the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, a $9.76 million 2006 expense budget (down 11.12 percent or $1.22 million from the 2005 budget) for the support of the church beyond its 690 congregations. This connectional apportionment is paid by all local churches of the annual conference.

Methodist Hospital celebrates 100th anniversary

INDIANAPOLIS - Vice President of the United States Charles Warren Fairbanks was present when the original cornerstone was laid for Methodist Hospital on Oct. 25, 1905. Fairbanks later became the hospital's fifth president, serving in that capacity from 1910-1918.

Current Methodist Hospital President and CEO Sam Odle, Evans, the Clarian Board of Directors including Bishop Michael J. Coyner and other dignitaries gathered Oct. 25 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that day and kick off a three-year celebration leading up to the April 2008 centennial of the hospital's opening. Coyner opened the commemorative program with an invocation. During the celebration, the Methodist Hospital Foundation presented a million-dollar check to Methodist Hospital.

The hospital was dedicated on Sunday, April 26, 1908 during a four-day celebration.

The third oldest hospital in Indianapolis, Methodist is one of only two regional Level 1 Trauma centers in Indiana. It is one of the largest teaching hospitals in the Midwest.

For more information about Clarian Health, log on to www.clarian.org.

Gorbachev pleads to save the Earth from destructive forces

GREENCASTLE, Ind. - Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev addressed more than 4,000 Hoosiers Oct. 27 at United Methodist-related De Pauw University. Speaking about challenges of the 21st century, Gorbachev said security, poverty and the global environment must be dealt with, otherwise we could destroy Earth.

As president of Green Cross International, a worldwide environmental non-governmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, he said drinkable clean water is a right of every human being in the world, however one in every eleven humans in the world lacks drinkable water. He said according to United Nations reports, the lack of clean water claims the lives of 6,000 children globally each day who die of diarrhea. "Radical steps must be taken to avert a terrible disaster. This (clean water) must become our first priority," he said.

Hand in hand with water is the scarcity of food. Each day more than 25,000 people die of starvation. He said this should not be in a world that can be interconnected and interdependent. He warned that, according to a United Nations reports, "60 percent of the ecosystems that support life on Earth have been degraded and exhausted to such an extent that their recovery may no longer be possible. But problems do not end here: scientists believe that the harmful effects of this degradation will worsen considerably within the next 50 years."

Despite a dismal forecast, Gorbachev is optimistic because he believes these negative trends are reversible, however safe drinking water, hunger and poverty must become worldwide priorities of all governments.

Learn more about Gorbachev and Green Cross International at www.gci.ch.

Bishops launch appeal to help Gulf churches

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church's bishops are launching an appeal aimed at helping the denomination's congregations in Louisiana and Mississippi recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina.

The Council of Bishops approved the Katrina Church Recovery Appeal during its Oct. 30-Nov. 4 fall meeting. The appeal will focus on building new ministries, rebuilding facilities and addressing a wide range of other local church and conference needs, such as paying clergy salaries and covering an untold amount of uninsured losses.

In its focus on church recovery, the appeal will be distinct from the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, which has raised $20 million so far in humanitarian relief related to the hurricanes.

In their discussion, several bishops emphasized the importance of not simply rebuilding what had already existed on the coast but building ministry in a new way.

In Louisiana, as many as 30 churches may have to be torn down and rebuilt, Hutchinson said. In the New Orleans District alone, 78 churches will need major work, he said. As of the end of October, 58 clergy families were still on salary support.

Bishops affirm membership open to all

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) - Homosexuality is not a barrier to membership in the United Methodist Church, the denomination's bishops said Nov. 2, two days after the church's top court supported a pastor's refusal to allow a gay man to join.

"While pastors have the responsibility to discern readiness for membership, homosexuality is not a barrier," the bishops said in their pastoral letter to the people of The United Methodist Church.

The ripple effect of the court's decision was felt immediately in Lake Junaluska, where the Council of Bishops held its weeklong fall meeting. The council spent at least four hours in closed session working on a statement responding to the ruling.

"With the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, we affirm 'that God's grace is available to all, and we will seek to live together in Christian community,'" the bishops said, quoting from the Social Principles in the Book of Discipline.

"We also affirm our Wesleyan practice that pastors are accountable to the bishop, superintendent and the clergy on matters of ministry and membership," the bishops said. The Council of Bishops unanimously adopted the pastoral letter in closed session.

The Book of Discipline affirms homosexuals as people "of sacred worth." It also holds the practice of homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching, and it bars the performance of same-sex unions by the church's clergy and in the church's sanctuaries.

The Council of Bishops comprises the top clergy leaders in the nearly 11 million-member United Methodist Church. The council has 69 active bishops and about 100 retired bishops from the United States, Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

Former Hoosier named president of G-ETS

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Board of Trustees of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary announced today, Oct. 21, that it elected the Rev. Dr. Philip A. Amerson as president of the seminary effective June 1, 2006. Amerson also will hold the title of Professor of the Sociology of Religion. He is currently president of Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, Calif., a position he has held since 2000.

Prior to moving to Claremont, Amerson served congregations in the South Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, was a consultant on Urban Congregational Life for the Lilly Endowment and served as visiting professor, adjunct professor or faculty member at a number of colleges and seminaries.

In other business, the board of trustees of Garrett-Evangelical selected Dr. Jacob Martinson to serve as interim president from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2006.

Stewardship through storytelling featured in Giving magazine

INDIANAPOLIS - The Ecumenical Stewardship Center released its seventh annual edition of Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation," a magazine to encourage and foster stewardship in the church.

This year's publication, "Generations of Generosity," draws from Psalm 145:4 - "One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." The magazine features articles focusing on the dynamic sense of stewardship that moves across age groups.

For more information, log on to www.stewardshipresources.org, call 800-835-5671 or write to Ecumenical Stewardship Center, 1100 W. 42nd St., Suite 225, Indianapolis IN 46208.

Cornfield in Westfield supports peace, prosperity in Congo

By Taylor Walters

Christ United Methodist Church in Westfield, Ind., held a very special Harvest Festival this year. In addition to hayrides and a pitch-in dinner, they celebrated the harvesting of a 21-acre cornfield that was planted and harvested by church members in order to support farmers in North Katanga, DR Congo.

Church members Ray and Julia Van Sickle approached their congregation with the idea after learning about Foods Resource Bank, a faith-based agency (founded in part by the United Methodist Committee on Relief) that helps groups in the U.S.A. raise crops to support food security programs overseas, and the successes of a group in Otterbein, Ind. The couple offered their land to be used, and companies in the area (Beck's Hybrids, Hamilton County Farm Bureau Co-op, and Waitt Elevator) donated seeds, fertilizers, and other services. Farmer Chuck Bailey tilled the land, and members Jim Riggs and Craig Wood harvested the crops.

Van Sickle estimates that the crops will yield from $5,000 to $7,000, a number that is expected to be doubled by a U.S. Agency for International Development matching grant. The congregation decided to designate the proceeds of their farm to the United Methodist Committee on Relief's Sustainable Agriculture and Development project in North Katanga after hearing about the great success of programs there and Bishop Ntambo Nkulu's message that food security is the key to peace and prosperity.

Church World Service expands tent village in Pakistan

NEW YORK/ISLAMABAD (CWS) - Following the United Nations' meeting with donor nations Oct. 26 to press for more and immediate funds for relief in earthquake-shattered northern Pakistan, humanitarian agency Church World Service reported Oct. 27 that it is expanding the capacity of a new tent village it has established in Bisyan for the most vulnerable quake survivors.

The tent village will now be able to provide shelter and medical services for 2,450 of the devastating Oct. 8 quake's most vulnerable survivors. The Church of Pakistan will provide medical services within the camp.

To date, the agency and partners have distributed 3,185 shelter kits to serve 22,295 individuals and 2,563 food packages to serve 17,941 individuals in the affected areas of Shangla and Balakot.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is working to assist earthquake victims through CWS and the International Blue Crescent.

Donations to the United Methodist relief effort can be marked for "UMCOR Advance #232000, Pakistan Earthquake," and placed in church offering plates or sent to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, N.Y. 10087-9068. Contributions also can be made by phone at 800-554-8583. If funds are intended for recovery in a specific region, that should be noted. More information is available at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/earthquake/index.stm.

"e-HUM" copyright 2005 by Indiana Area United Methodist Communications.
To subscribe to "e-HUM", send a blank e-mail to add@inareaumc.org. 
To unsubscribe from "e-HUM", send a blank e-mail to remove@inareaumc.org.

TOP OF PAGE