June 12, 2006

South Indiana Annual Conference,
June 8-10

"Stewards of God's Grace" was the theme of the South Indiana Annual Conference held June 8-10 at Indiana University in Bloomington with more than 1,000 lay and clergy members in attendance. Indiana Area Bishop Mike Coyner invited Dr. Randy Maddox, professor of Wesley studies at Duke Divinity School, who taught two sessions on John Wesley's view of grace and salvation. Visiting Bishop Hans Växby of the United Methodist Eurasia Area, told members that the Russian church is facing economic and social challenges. The area covers eight countries with 104 congregations, each less than 15 years old. The Rev. Paul Dirdak, director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, thanked Hoosiers for funds used to rebuild the Methodist Church in Banda Aceh, Indonesia destroyed by a tsunami. Following discussion on the formation of a new annual conference with the North Indiana Conference, a written ballot was received on whether or not to name a task force to draw up a plan to form a new conference. With an 80 percent majority of each conference, both conferences agreed on drafting a plan of union to be considered by both conferences next year. In other business, the conference approved a plan to replace conference apportionments with a tithing model to support the conference's shared ministries. Under this tithing plan to go into effect in 2007, churches remit monthly to the conference treasurer, one-tenth of their income excluding capital campaign income. If this amount does not cover general church apportionments as well, the conference may ask local churches to contribute up to an additional two percent of each month's income. The tithe takes church membership out of an apportionment formula based on membership and finances. The conference approved a 2007 expense budget of $9.2 million, a 5.3 percent decrease from the 2006 amount of $9.7 million. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of full clergy right for women, the Rev. Dr. Susan Ruach, the first woman in Indiana ordained and granted full clergy membership in 1975, preached at the memorial service. The late Bishop Leroy Hodapp, a former member of the conference and former Indiana Area Bishop was remembered. The conference hopes to start 72 new church or faith communities by 2012 and involve at least 30 congregations each year in redevelopment projects. Indiana Area's Operation Classroom collected a truck load of anti-dust chalk and copy paper for partner schools in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of Mississippi by letter thanked the churches of South Indiana for their volunteers in mission teams which helped hundreds of Gulf Coast residence recover their homes and built the Seashore District Volunteer Center at Heritage UMC in D'Iberville, Miss. The Rev. Darryl Tate, director of hurricane recovery efforts in the Louisiana Conference, personally thanked South Indiana churches for their partnership in assisting Louisiana hurricane survivors to recover their homes. The Advance recognized South Indiana for contributing a conference record $2.3 million in 2005 which included funds used in rebuilding the Methodist Church in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The conference led the North Central Jurisdiction having the highest percentage increase (253%) in the number of churches giving to The Advance in 2005. The conference approved a resolution on Darfur which encourages churches to give to Darfurian relief, support legislation to sustain humanitarian aid to Darfur and asks the State of Indiana to divest any funds going to Sudan in protest to that government's treatment of Darfurians, if the U.N. peacemaking efforts fail. Bishop Coyner ordained nine elders, one deacon and two associate clergy members, and commissioned 10 probationary clergy. The conference retired 11 clergy. Membership stands at 111,320, down 2,054 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 63,778, down 1,120 from the pervious year. Church school attendance stands at 24,292, down 1,337 from the previous year.

-- Daniel R. Gangler

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