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For
Friday, March 7, 2008 – Sunday is the fifth Sunday in Lent, Girl
Scout Sunday
and Daylights Saving Time begins
This newsletter is paid for through your annual conference connectional ministries giving.
Edited by Dan Gangler, director of communication dgangler@inareaumc.org.
Deadline for submitting news items is Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD THIS WEEKEND
This Sunday begins Daylight Savings Time. Spring forward.
GIRL SCOUT SUNDAY, MARCH 9, BEGINNING OF GIRL SCOUT WEEK
Girl Scout Sunday gives girls an opportunity to attend their place of worship and be recognized as a Girl Scout. Girl Scout Birthday, March 12, commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS HEADLINES
Former British Prime Minister Says ‘Massive Challenges’ Ahead
Responses to Imagine Indiana Design Team Report Rolling In
Indy Church Receives Grant to Work with Victims of Crime
UE’s Gibson Named Woman of the Year, Special Recognition
Longtime Boy Scout Leader James Tarr Dies in Dallas At 88
NEWS AND INFORMATION
FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SAYS ‘MASSIVE CHALLENGES’ AHEAD
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said his message to more than 4,000 people at United Methodist-related DePauw University Monday night (March 3) was simple: No single country – not even the United States – can stand on its own (Indianapolis Star). Blair, who described himself as “technologically hopeless” in a rapidly changing world, called for a global coalition to meet the needs that come with those changes. “America and Europe cannot afford to be divided,” he said. “There are basic values that we share in common, a basic way of life we share in common. We have a massive challenge ahead of us.” Blair’s remarks lasted about 30 minutes, and then he responded to questions from three students representing DePauw’s media outlets. “No one country is able to handle and meet the global challenges today,” he said. “The world today around us is changing so fast. These massive global issues are going to have a massive impact on us.” Those challenges include: the rapid growth of technology and the world economy; the shift of power to the world’s eastern countries, specifically China; global warming; and the threat of terrorism, which he said can’t be fought only with war. “(We’ve) got to be prepared also to use the soft power of diplomacy,” he said. “We also need to recognize that it’s a battle of ideas.”
Read Bishop Mike Coyners e-PISTLE about his conversation with Tony Blair online at www.inareaumc.org.
RESPONSES TO IMAGINE INDIANA DESIGN TEAM REPORT ROLLING IN
Responses to the Imagine Indiana Design Team report with proposals are rolling in as short comments and long letters. All are being shared with the 12-member design team. The report will be coming to both the North Indiana and South Indiana Annual Conferences sessions later this spring for approval. It is on the Indiana Area Web site www.inareaumc.org. The report is presented as a 50-page PDF document file that is downloadable for printing and review. Accompanying the report is a two-page summary of the report. The Imagine Indiana Design Team encourages both clergy and laity to review the document which will be presented at each of the two annual conference sessions. Comments and recommendations to the 12-member design team can be e-mailed to ImagineIndiana@InAreaUMC.org.
A live video-streamed presentation of the report will be sent over the Internet through the Indiana Area Web site at www.inareaumc.org on Sunday, March 30 from 7 to 8 p.m. ET. A list of locations where this presentation can be viewed will be posted on the area Web site when it is completed. This program can be viewed on any computer connected to the area Web site making it possible for anyone to view the presentation from a home computer. A tech sheet for host churches will be available soon online.
INDY CHURCH RECEIVES GRANT TO WORK WITH VICTIMS OF CRIME
After nearly two years of tracking statistics related to homicides in Marion County, the Rev. Dr. L. Wayne Smith, pastor of Abundant Harvest UMC in Indianapolis, will oversee a federal grant designed to help victims and their families. He noticed that the ages of those committing homicides and of those killed “are startlingly low.” He was further saddened, he said, that so little is being done to assist families impacted by homicides.
Smith dialogued with the leaders of his church regarding his feelings and found “an openness to the idea of being a witness in the community and the city.” This program, called New Directions, has the following goals:
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To enlist under-served residents whose lives have been directly affected by homicides tied in with teen-age drinking and to keep track of results of care.
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To provide pastoral/psychological care sessions to individuals and/or groups who fit not only the victim descriptions above, but also to counsel those who have “masked their pain” through drug and/or alcohol abuse.
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To train volunteers from churches to use victim care skills in a community-wide program to promote safe neighborhoods.
Anyone wishing more information or in need of services can contact Smith at 317-872-7190 or 317-644-9900.
UE’s GIBSON NAMED WOMAN OF THE YEAR, SPECIAL RECOGNITION
The University of Evansville’s LaShone Gibson has been named 2008 Woman of the Year – Special Recognition by the Evansville Black Women’s Task Force. The award, given at the Task Force’s annual “Women of Distinction” banquet, publicly recognizes women of color for their accomplishments and contributions to the community.
“Each year, the Task Force submits nomination forms throughout the city,” said Bettye Pool, executive director of the Evansville Black Women’s Task Force. “LaShone was chosen for the Special Recognition award based on her service in the community and at the United Methodist-related University of Evansville.
Gibson has made contributions to the field of international business education in the community, and by doing this has helped Southwest Indiana advance within this area. Not only does she do a lot for the community in terms of international business, but she also does a lot through volunteer work. She volunteers at the YMCA, and was volunteer of the month this past December. She serves on different boards in the community as well, such as United Way and the Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE). She said the award came as a surprise – but a very pleasant one. – UE
LONGTIME BOY SCOUT LEADER JAMES TARR DIES IN DALLAS AT 88
James Lee Tarr, 88, the person who introduced a way to fund the scouting ministries office of the United Methodist Church, died in Dallas, Texas, March 27 from complications from cancer.
“This is a loss for all mankind.” said Carl Young, president of the United Methodist Men Foundation.
Tarr, a member of Walnut Hill UMC in Dallas, served as a Boy Scout employee for more than four decades. In 1979, Tarr became chief scout executive, a position he held through 1984. It was in that position that he established a scouting endowment fund; Dave Worley served as director of scouting ministries for the United Methodist Board of Discipleship from 1981 to 1990.
GENERAL CONFERENCE DELEGATES TO CONSIDER 1,500+ PETITIONS
Nearly 1,000 delegates to the United Methodist General Conference are now wading through 1,564 pieces of proposed legislation to be considered during the April 23-May 2 meeting in Fort Worth, Texas.
On Feb.15, United Methodist Publishing House mailed 1,540 copies of the Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate to delegates, first alternates, bishops and others. Portuguese and French editions later were sent to delegates in Africa.
Delegates received a 157-page Handbook for Delegates, which includes the proposed plan of organization and rules of order for the assembly and a listing of delegates and committee assignments. They also received the hefty two-volume Advance DCA, which includes reports from church-wide agencies and proposed legislation. The page count is 1,560, up from 1,411 in 2004 when the last assembly was held.
A full listing of all petitions is scheduled to be available by early April on the General Conference Web site at http://gc2008.umc.org. – UMNS
For the complete story, log on to www.umc.org. For a list of General Conference delegates from the North Indiana and South Indiana Conferences, log on to www.inareaumc.org/2008_Conferences/north_indiana_delegates_to_gener.htm and www.inareaumc.org/2008_Conferences/south_indiana_delegates_to_gener.htm.
GATES SR. TO ADDRESS UNITED METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE
William H. Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and father of billionaire Bill Gates, will speak to the United Methodist General Conference during its upcoming meeting in Fort Worth. The Commission on the General Conference extended the invitation at the request of the Council of Bishops.
In 2007, the Gates Foundation provided a challenge grant to the Nothing But Nets malaria prevention campaign to match contributions up to $3 million – a goal that was reached in August due in part to a groundswell of support from United Methodist churches across the U.S. According to the organization’s Web site, the foundation has committed more than $6 billion in global health grants.
Gates, Sr. is a retired attorney and co-author of the book Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes.
More stories are available
online at
www.umc.org and
www.umportal.org.
CABINET CORNER
NOW HEAR THIS ABOUT PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS PROCESS
What was once the exception is now becoming commonplace. We are losing appointment positions regularly through church appointments becoming part time, or through churches eliminating the associate positions where many of our young pastors used to learn the skills necessary for productive ministry.
Also we are finding more occasions when churches desire to cut the salaries for their pastors at the time of an appointment change.
The stress of this on our system of pastoral deployment is becoming burdensome. What that means, of course, is that with less churches and appointment positions we are increasingly asking the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry to delay or turn away people for ordained ministry. This past year, the South Indiana Conference had more pastors than charges until the cabinet worked with some on early retirements, and put together some charges in order to create situations where we could give a pastor full employment (and trust us, asking churches to come together is stressful for them and for us).
With less compensation the reality for pastors is that moves will not necessarily result in increases in either the size of church nor the size of salary. For example, if pastor “A” leaves Happy Faith UMC paying $40,000 and if that church drops to $32,000, we have essentially lost $8,000 of compensation across the conference. That means that pastor “B” at Lovely Chapel UMC, who is being paid $37,000 and is planning on moving this year, will either need to stay put or realize that a move to Happy Faith UMC could be a great ministry, but he/she will only be paid $32,000.
And folks at “Lovely Chapel UMC” may very much want to have a pastoral change, but it can only be done by drastically reducing support for their pastor, who they are asking to move. In fact, they may be receiving a new pastor who has had to leave a stronger church or higher salary. That presents motivational issues for the new person in doing effective and joyful ministry for them.
Either scenario presents difficulty, but both working in tandem present extra trials. Eliminated positions and compensation drops mean that those of us who pastor must be more committed than ever to ministry, rather than salary.
Thankfully, we have many clergy who feel called to ministry. Thankfully, we have many churches that recognize they must provide solid support for pastors. However, pastors need to remember that they are guaranteed an appointment in the conference for the minimum salary. We are guaranteed nothing above that. We also need to remember that moves in the future will not always be “up” in terms of church strength, or “up” in terms of compensation.
BIBLE PASSAGE FOR SUNDAY
You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God’s Spirit, who lives in you. People who don’t have the Spirit of Christ in them don’t belong to him. But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. Yet God raised Jesus to life! God’s Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.
Romans 8:9-11
(Contemporary English Version)
www.bibles.com
WORSHIP RESOURCES
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH MUSIC AND WORSHIP RESOURCES
There are five Sundays in March this year and five opportunities to celebrate and observe Women’s History Month. One approach is to include hymns, prayers, and liturgy written BY women in worship. Another approach is to include hymns and resources ABOUT women in the Bible and history. Here is a link to many different resources for use in worship celebrating Women’s History Month: www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=733,1151,1137&act=nav_loc
GENERAL CONFERENCE COVERAGE
COMMUNICATION READY FOR ONLINE VISITORS TO GENERAL CONFERENCE
United Methodist Communications is prepared for thousands of online visitors to watch and gather information on the denomination’s 2008 legislative conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
About 1,000 delegates from around the world will gather April 23 to May 2, 2008 to determine priorities and set a direction for the 11-million member denomination. The General Conference’s proceedings will be available through www.GC2008.umc.org or www.umc.org. Worship, special addresses, celebrations, and other selected plenary sessions will be available on live video streaming. – UM Communications
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
2008 SOUTH INDIANA CONF. LAITY MANUSCRIPT CONTEST ANNOUNCED
Each year the Board of Laity offers the opportunity to all laity of the South Indiana Conference to express thanks and praise God by submitting a sermon manuscript for judging. The deadline for entries is April 30, 2008. This year the theme is “One in Spirit, All in Ministry: In the Spirit of Fellowship.” Manuscripts are judged on how well the theme is followed and developed, as well as the use of creative writing techniques. The author will present the winning manuscript at the Laity Session of the Annual Conference on Thursday June 5 in Bloomington. Two other manuscripts will be given Honorable Mention.
Manuscripts are to be sent to Ike Williams, Conference Lay Leader, 1515 Cool Creek Drive, Carmel, Indiana 46033-2318. Name, address, phone number, local church name, and district name should be on a cover letter. Manuscripts will be assigned a number and be judged anonymously by the selection committee. The winners and two runners up will be notified by May 21. All entries must be postmarked by April 30. Additional information concerning the contest can be obtained by contacting Bob Pimlott, Columbus District Lay Leader at 812-273-3081 or by e-mail at rpimlott1@verizon.net.
THANKS TO THOSE WHO SUBMITTED ARTWORK OR SONG
The South Indiana Conference sessions worship committee thanks all those who submitted entries for artwork and a theme song to be used during the South Indiana Annual Conference June 5-7 in Bloomington. The artwork also will be used in the North Indiana Annual Conference the following week. The committee will choose the artwork and song this month.
MOVIE REVIEW
PENELOPE
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Production Company: Summit Entertainment
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Director: Mark Palansky
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Cast: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Peter Dinklage, Richard E. Grant, Reese Witherspoon
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Rating: PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language.
By Gregg Tubbs
(UMC.org) — As fairy tales go, the delightful new film Penelope is almost austere. Its only fantastical element is a rather unexceptional looking pig’s snout. The problem is that this snout is on the face of an otherwise beautiful young woman whose only wish is to find true love and live a “normal” life. But what is normal? How can you know that love is true, that there are no ulterior motives? And if “beauty is only skin deep,” what about the real beauty deep inside Penelope? With wit, humor and a sly, knowing wink, Penelope invites the whole family on a whimsical journey in search of self, acceptance, and most of all, love. The full review and study questions can be found by logging on to www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.3932313/k.6AAC/Movie_Review_iPenelopei.htm.
MINISTRY RESOURCES
POTATOES FOR VACATION
Here is an exciting new free Vacation Bible School mission project your churches can incorporate into whatever themed VBS curriculum they are using this year. It will teach children of all ages about the problem of hunger in America and help them understand what Jesus’ command to feed the hungry means to them.
Last year VBS children in 182 churches across the nation learned about hunger with the Society of St. Andrew’s VBS mission project. The children were also directly responsible for providing more than 2.7 million servings of fresh, nutritious produce to hungry Americans with the donation of their nickels and dimes to the Society of St. Andrew, a national nonprofit hunger relief ministry and Advance Special #801600. For more information and to order the material, visit to www.endhunger.org.
NORTH CONFERENCE PRAYER TEAM POSTS PRAYER GUIDES ONLINE
Here we are in the midst of Lent and snow is swirling all around us, threatening to keep us in the house tomorrow. If that happens, you may want to check out the prayer guides that have been added at www.nicumc.org/prayer/. This section of the NIC web site started as a resource to encourage prayer for our pastors but has since been expanded to include prayer for our bishop, prayer for the local church and its leaders, and prayer for district superintendents.
You may want to print these guides and place them in your prayer room or in your bulletin as a prayer focus for a month. When the month is over, print another one for the monthly focus until you have exhausted all of them then start over again. You may want to take them to a church board/council meeting and pray through one of them as part of your devotions. United Methodist Women or United Methodist Men could use them to encourage prayer among and for their leaders.
I encourage you to take the guides and personalize them for your pastor and congregation. God will help you write your own guide over time, should you decide to take it to another level. One thing I am absolutely sure of is that He will answer. In the long run, all we want is for Him to be glorified by our faithfulness and obedience. – Paula Shrock for the North Indiana Conference Prayer Ministry Team
NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE MEDIA CENTER PICKS FOR MONTH OF MARCH
The North Indiana Conference Media Center in the process of implementing new software. This process may take a while. When everything is entered into a new system we will have a new media catalog on line. Until then please call or e-mail us if there is a resource or topic you are interested in and do not see on line. Unfortunately until a new media catalog is up and running, availability may not always be correct, please feel free to call Angel at 1-800-783-5138 or e-mail Angel Rea. Our on-line catalog can be accessed at www.nicumc.org/in/mc/. We look forward to helping you pick just the right resource for your church! Here are some of our new resources: The True Easter Story by Ray Vander Laan; Resurrection by Max Lacudo , And It Was So, Easter Episode – Cherub Wings ,children 3-7; Prophecies of the Passion, Opening Ourselves To Grace-Basic Christian Practices, Leadership from the Heart-, Baptism in The United Methodist Church, Team For Peace- Palestine/Israeli Preteen Soccer Team, Forged By Fire, Salt of the Earth: Palestinian Christians, and Clayride: A Gallop Through Methodist History DVD.
SOUTH INDIANA MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER PICKS FOR MARCH
The South Indiana Conference Media Resource Center’s latest acquisitions can be found online at www.sicumc.org. Click on “Media Center” (on first two screens) and explore all the available options, including “Newest Resources” and “Picks of the Month.” March “Picks” have been posted. Highlighted are: Invisible Chapel (immigration); Muslims in America (Appalachia); Restless Hearts: Where Do I Go Now, God? (vocational guidance); Road Trip to Kenya; Strangers No Longer (immigration); Suffering of Sudan; and [UP] Artist-Driven Bible Studies That Connect Music to the Message (for teens). NOTE: Lent/Easter resources can be found online. If you have not yet selected supplemental videos or DVDs for Easter, click on “Media Center” (twice), then on “Bibliographies” and scroll down to HOLIDAYS. Click on “Lent/Easter.”
By calling the Media Center toll-free at 800-919-8160, you can order these and other resources from a selection of more than 4000 videos and DVDs. Your only cost is return postage. This service is provided through your connectional tithe. Contact Mary Barnes, Media Center Director, for more information/consultation. For the complete catalog resources, log on to www.sicumc.org and click on Media Center.
DEATHS
HENRY L. GERNER, retired Elder (SIC) and Head of the Department of Chaplaincy, Counseling & C.P.E. at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis from 1982 to his retirement in 1994, died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. A memorial service was held March 4 at North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Survivors include: his wife, Dorothy “Dotti” Gerner, 4436 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46205; one son, Mark Gerner.
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
No appointments this week.
NEW EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS
PENDLETON CHURCH SEEKS FULL-TIME STUDENT MINISTRY DIRECTOR
Pendleton First UMC in the Marion District (NIC) seeks a student ministry director. The director will have a dynamic spiritual life and deep commitment to Jesus Christ; have an entrepreneurial spirit toward developing an effective student ministry; be innovative in student ministry development be able to lead leaders.
Summary: The Student Ministry program of First UMC is a vital part of the whole ministry of the church. Students involved in the program are involved in the larger life and ministry of church through committed Christian service, dynamic spiritual life and broad participation in all parts of the church’s ministry opportunities. The Student Ministry Director is responsible for overseeing and carrying out all aspects of the Student Ministries program, which consists of grades 5-12. This includes: teaching, small group management, mentoring and coaching leaders, creative thinking, and engaging in a relational ministry. This is a full-time position with a salary of $30,000 per year.
For a complete job description with qualifications or to submit your resume please contact: saustin@pendletonfirst.org or Pendleton First United Methodist Church, c/o Rev. Stephen W. Austin, P.O. Box 101, Pendleton, IN 46064. This job opportunity closes on March 31.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS
NORTH INDIANA UM FOUNDATION SEEKS FIELD REPRESENTATIVES
The North Indiana United Methodist Foundation seeks field representatives to promote the Loan Fund in the following Districts: South Conf. (Loan Fund only) – Indianapolis West and Terre Haute. We need people who would be proactive in making contacts with conference leaders and local churches. We estimate time commitment to be from 10 to 40 hours per month. This position is ideal for those who are retired, semi-retired or planning to retire soon. Field Reps are compensated for their time on a per-diem basis, plus expenses. For more information, call 866-669-2327 and ask for Tamara, or e-mail thendricks@niumf.org.
CASE MANAGERS NEEDED TO HELP IN FLOODED INDIANA AREAS
Case Managers are needed to work with long-term recovery effort in the northern Indiana recently flooded areas. Managers will more than likely work with-in their county. The disaster case manager is a special person acting out of the deep concern for the vulnerable and whose role is to ‘enable/empower’ survivors to help themselves as much as possible. The role is to identify survivors’ needs and connect them to resources. The case manager is working one-on-one with disaster survivors who put their recovery in motion. There are volunteer and paid positions available, full-time positions are available for a period up to 18 months. Volunteer positions are needed to assist paid staff, and determine their own work hours. Immediate training is provided. Case managers will work in a team approach – interfacing with the two other main branches of this long-term recovery effort, finance and construction. This calling entails both fieldwork and office work. Case Managers will lead the way and coordinate all services for affected residents. Background checks are mandatory; related work experience preferred; other needed qualities: professional, ability to maintain confidentiality, need to be computer savvy.
Mandatory and training at no charge by United Methodist Committee on Relief: Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, Monticello United Methodist Church.
For information or to apply, contact the Rev. Mary Van Wijk by phone at 219-261-2273 or by e-mail: mevanwijk@hotmail.com.
INFOSERV CONSULTANT NEEDED AT UM COMMUNICATIONS
InfoServ Consultant at United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tenn. This position is responsible for gathering and organizing information about The United Methodist Church. It requires entering information into databases and using that information to respond to inquiries and to update Web sites. The position requires an associate’s degree or some college and technical training in customer service; or experience in a research environment. Requires experience within The United Methodist Church as well as at least two years of customer relations, people related experience. Computer database experience and use of Word, FrontPage, and Excel are needed. Apply to: UMCom/Human Resources, P. O. Box 320 (810-12th Ave. S., Nash. 37203), Nashville, TN 37202-0320. Phone: 615-742-5137 Fax: 615-742-5428, E-mail: hr@umcom.org. All application must be postmarked by closing date March 7.
Other employment opportunities previously listed can be found at www.inareaumc.org/job.htm.
Last updated on 04/01/2008Compiled as a service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication in Indianapolis.