February 1, 2007

“Prayer Request for Imagine Indiana on the 11th”

The Prayer Support Team of the Imagine Indiana process is asking that each of us pray for God’s guidance in the Imagine Indiana process on the 11th of each month. They have noted that the II for Imagine Indiana resembles the number 11, so they are inviting us to fast and pray on the 11th of each month.

In addition, the Imagine Indiana team has purchased wrist bands (the kind that youth like to wear) which say “Imagine Indiana” with our UM cross and flame, and these will be distributed to the clergy at our Lenten Worship Services (February 27th at Valpo 1st for North Conference and March 1st at Bloomington St. Marks for South Conference). The idea is that anyone who receives one of the wrist bands is a person who agrees to be praying for the Imagine Indiana process.

We are at a moment in the Imagine Indiana process when we certainly need prayer for God’s guidance. Many people have asked me if I have a plan already in mind, and the answer is “No, I don’t.” When I was assigned to serve the Indiana Area by the Committee on Episcopacy, I was told that the two conferences wanted their new bishop to lead them through a process to consider merger. That is what I am doing, and I am doing it without any preconceptions about the final plan or the finished results. I am trying to be open to God’s guidance, and I hope everyone is doing the same.

We have a great group of people involved in the Imagine Indiana process, with over 250 people serving on the various Teams and sub-groups. All of this will start coming together as decisions are made this spring about the plan to be brought to the two conferences, and then the two conferences will vote to decide if the plan is the right thing.

All of this is too important for it to be simply “the bishop’s plan” – this must be our best understanding of God’s will for us, which may in fact be different than our own personal preferences. Thus the need to pray.

I invite you to keep the Imagine Indiana process in prayer, and particularly to focus upon the 11th of each month as a time to fast and pray. Resources are available on the Indiana Area website under the logo for “Imagine Indiana” which can help you. The main thing is still the main thing: Pray for God’s guidance. Wear a wrist band if you will (your pastors will have them to share with you after the Lenten services), but please pray.

Thank you.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner

Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church
"Making a Difference ... in Indiana
and around the world"

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