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Highlights from the
March 2008 issue of Together

Harvard administrator named DePauw's 19th president

GREENCASTLE, Ind. (DePauw) - Dr. Brian W. Casey, associate dean for academic affairs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, will become the nineteenth president of United Methodist-related DePauw University, effective July 1.

The appointment of Casey was announced Feb. 21 by R. David Hoover, chair of DePauw's Board of Trustees and chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Ball Corporation, at a morning news conference at Independent Colleges of Indiana in Indianapolis.

"A nine month international presidential search - the most comprehensive in DePauw's 171-year history - has yielded a very special leader," said Hoover, a 1967 graduate of the University.

Casey, 44, joined the Harvard administration in 2005 and previously served as assistant provost at Brown University. He has taught at both Brown and Harvard. He began his career as an attorney with the Wall Street law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell.

Casey will succeed Dr. Robert G. Bottoms, the longest-serving president in DePauw history, who has guided the University since 1986. Last April, Bottoms announced plans to step down from the presidency at the conclusion of the 2007-08 academic year and become Chancellor of the University and director of the new Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics.

Confirmands from across the state hang for a day with Bishop Mike

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - More than 400 youth and their adult sponsors, packed First UMC in Zionsville on Saturday, March 1. They came to hang with their Bishop Mike Coyner.

This is the second year Coyner spent a day with confirmands - middle school and high school youth going through confirmation classes in their home congregations.

Confirmation youth came to be affirmed by Bishop Mike upon their confirmation and to meet and worship with other confirmands of both North Indiana and South Indiana Conferences.

For ten bucks, groups had their pictures taken with Bishop Mike.

After lunch and worship with a praise band, Coyner spent an hour with confirmands. He talked about the meaning of confirmation as an act of faith making firm ones commitment to Jesus Christ and His church.

"Confirmation is our response to God. We believe in one God expressed to us in three ways. God is known to us in three ways," Coyner explained.

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North outdoor ministries congratulates Mishawaka church

Impact1828, the outdoor ministries program of the North Indiana Conference congratulates First United Methodist Church of Mishawaka and Senior Pastor Larry Whitehead for their visionary planning to reach youth and children for Jesus Christ.

Impact1828 reports, that in just two years, their ministry has grown from zero to more than 90 campers. Their story is a true testament to a faith community's ability to turn vision into reality.

Mishawaka First has a powerful story to share about accomplishing such amazing growth and how it has affected their congregation as a whole.

Whitehead, shares their story: "Camping ministry has been become an incredible blessing to all aspects of the ministry of Mishawaka First UMC. In the fall of 2005 the Church Council embraced a vision for sending 50 kids to camp the next summer. God sent us 68 in 2006! We had 92 campers last year (mini, elementary, middle school and high school) and plans are underway to make an even bigger impact in 2008!"

See other churches that have risen to the challenge of reaching more youth and children for Jesus Christ at www.impact2818.com/top100/.

Imagine Indiana places focus of new conference on congregations

INDIANAPOLIS - The Imagine Indiana Design Team recently completed its report to the North Indiana and South Indiana Annual Conferences for their approval in creating a new Indiana Conference uniting the existing conferences. Both sessions will consider the 50-page report later this spring.

Each of the state's 1,200 United Methodist congregations is equally represented by clergy and lay members during the two conference sessions.

According to the design team plan, the goal of the new conference is to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

The Imagine Indiana Design Team believes that stronger congregations, better stewardship of God's resources, and a united voice for Christ working in and through the United Methodist Church across Indiana are the expected results of this new plan for a new Indiana Conference.

The plan calls for the focus of the new Indiana Conference to be on congregations, their pastors and members. The 12-member design team believes the new conference will be more conducive to responding to the needs of congregations than the two existing conferences.

The new conference plans to bring ministry resources closer to congregations, the place where people are welcomed into Christian faith and nurtured spiritually, to strengthen congregations.

The complete downloadable Imagine Indiana Design Team Report can be found by logging on to www.inareaumc.org.  A printed report will be distributed before the annual conference sessions. Questions about the report can be directed to the Rev. David V.W. Owen at ImagineIndiana@InAreaUMC.org or Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church, 1100 W. 42nd Street, Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208.

An hour-long presentation about the report will be video streamed on Sunday, March 30, at 7 p.m. ET on www.inareaumc.org. The presentation will be viewed and discussed at district sites and also can be viewed by any computer connected to the Internet. The presentation will be archived.

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Ruth's House finished, soon to open in Evansville

Following six years of dedicated work, Ruth's House has risen at the southwest corner of Walnut and Governor Streets in Evansville. The transitional home operated by a ministry called Reflecting Waters, Inc., a faith-based organization dedicated to women residents, who desire to meet the difficult challenges of recovery from addictions.

This unique Reflecting Waters ministry was begun by the Rev. Ruth E. Milgate, a retired United Methodist pastor of the South Indiana Conference. Ruth's House is now finished and debt free. The home was dedicated Feb. 16 during a special service at the Nazarene Baptist Church in Evansville and will serve women of the greater Evansville area who desire to be in recovery from alcohol and drug addictions.

According to Milgate posing her own question, "Would we do it again, based on the challenges we have had to meet of the last six years as we tried to live out the claim of God in our lives? There is no easy answer, because God's call often takes those who follow it out of their comfort zones! We have also found, though, that God also gives love, grace and mercy for the journeys in which he calls us."

The new home will house each year up to 24 women living out a recovery lifestyle. The six-month program includes: counseling, finding and maintaining employment, learning the discipline of money management, and developing a strong support system through local 12-step programs.

Area receives Lilly Endowment grant to study pastors' finances

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Area United Methodist Bishop Mike Coyner announced Feb. 20 that the Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church has received a $50,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment to conduct a study of the financial and well-being needs of the state's 1,000 United Methodist pastors now serving in 1,200 Indiana congregations.

According to Coyner, the prompting for the study came from the Lilly Endowment who invited several denominations in Indiana to conduct an actual study of pastor's financial needs.

Based on information provided by the United Methodist General Board of Ordained Ministry by ministerial candidates, the clergy school debt has been growing larger and larger with many candidates having school debts of $30,000 or more, not including other indebtedness.

"After we conduct the survey, we will have factual data about most or all of our active pastors in Indiana, so we will have a better picture of the problem," said Coyner.

The results of this study could be used to prepare a larger grant request of the Lilly Endowment to develop programs and policies to help pastors and their families.

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Noted evangelist says church needs to share its faith

INDIANAPOLIS - The Christian church is in a mission situation and in need of sharing the Christian faith, said Dr. Eddie Fox, head of World Evangelism, a part of the World Methodist Council. He is based in Nashville, Tenn.

He told more than 90 United Methodists from across Indiana that Methodist churches must be faith-sharing congregations. Surveys show that only four percent of Methodists share their faith with others.

He instructed the laity and clergy from across Indiana during a LEAP Year convocation Feb. 29-March 1 at the University of Indianapolis.

Fox wrote a faith-sharing curriculum enabling Methodists to share their Christian faith with other people, primarily with those whom they know personally. He co-authored it with Dr. George Morris, Senior Professor of World Evangelism.

"I am an evangelist," said Fox. He told participants that by attending this meeting he expected them to take these faith-sharing ideas back to their own congregations to lead classes on what they learned.

During his presentation, he introduced The Faith-Sharing New Testament with The Psalms. This New Revised Standard Version is prefaced by what Fox described as a catechism, questions and answers about faith. The preface, titled "Basics of Christian Conversion and Discipleship," is a 24-question-and-answer primer beginning with the question, "What is a Christian?" Each question is answered and includes several New Testament references.

Following the text of the Psalms are "Essentials for Leading a Person to Christ."

Fox said he and Morris wrote these aides in understandable language based upon Wesleyan theology.

The Rev. Kimberly Reisman, director of Next Step Evangelism Ministries, based in West Lafayette, completed the Faith-Sharing curriculum presentation begun by Fox. She is an ordained minister of the North Indiana Conference.

The convocation, called "LEAP (Let's Establish A Priority) to Tell Our Story," was organized by Kayc Mykrantz of Logansport and Ike Williams of Carmel. Each is Lay Leader of the North Indiana and South Indiana Conferences respectively.

New Albany churches form cluster for community outreach

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - Congregations in the New Albany area have formed the New Albany United Methodist Cluster of congregations that includes Centenary, DePauw Memorial, Grantline, Jacob's Chapel, Main Street, Silver Street and Trinity UMCs.

This new cluster of congregations is working to discover new ways to introduce the love of Jesus Christ to the New Albany community. They believe some ministry is done better together than separately and have just begun to experience the fun and creativity that shared ministry generates. Participants in the new cluster says, "We will strive to be faithful to the larger body of Christ who calls us to offer our unique gifts toward the fulfillment of God's dreams for this community."

The cluster will be working together with Vacation Bible School, shared Lenten worship services, Harvest Homecoming and a Children's Christmas Program. The cluster also is launching an upper elementary youth program and a stay-at-home mom's group.

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South Indiana Conference laity manuscript contest announced

Each year the South Indiana Conference 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.

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 South Indiana Annual Conference on Thursday June 5 in Bloomington. Two other manuscripts will be given Honorable Mention.

Manuscripts are to be sent to Ike Williams, South Indiana 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. 

Haller endorsed for episcopacy by West Michigan

The West Michigan Conference delegations to the 2008 United Methodist General and Jurisdictional conferences has endorsed the Rev. Laurie Haller for the episcopacy. Haller currently serves as superintendent in Grand Rapids District, the host district to the July 2008 North Central Jurisdictional Conference.

Haller, 53, is highly regarded in the Michigan Area and beyond as a leader of deep spiritual integrity. Her weekly column, "Leading from the Heart," has become a regular source of encouragement and strength for laity and clergy alike.

Haller, who has a broad range of local, regional, and global experience in a variety of settings, believes that leadership in the church involves the "risky business" of surrendering to God's intentions:

Haller joins four other previously announced candidates for bishop from other conference delegations to the 2008 North Central Jurisdictional Conference coming July 15-19 in Grand Rapids, Mich. They include:

•  The Rev. Randolph Cross of the Dakotas Conference

•  The Rev. Dr. David Alan Bard of the Minnesota Conference

•  The Rev. Dr. Timothy Bias of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference

•  The Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens of the Northern Illinois Conference

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United Methodist youth raise $830,000 for the hungry

United Methodist youth teamed up on Super Bowl Sunday with young people across the United States to raise more than $9 million in goods and dollars to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities through the 2008 Souper Bowl of Caring.

More than 13,600 churches, schools and businesses participated in this year's campaign, including about 2,200 United Methodist congregations and about 25,000 United Methodist youth, said Caroline Stephens, director of church relations for the nonprofit Souper Bowl organization.

United Methodist collections total approximately $830,000 thus far this year. - UMNS

Edwards elected first woman president of UTS

DAYTON, Ohio - The Board of Trustees of United Methodist-related United Theological Seminary elected Dr. Wendy J. Deichmann Edwards as its president, effective Feb. 25. She has been serving as acting president since November following the resignation of former President G. Edwin Zeiders.

Edwards was formerly academic dean and vice-president of the school, a member of the faculty, and previously served as director of the UTS at Buffalo (N.Y.) program.

"The Board was unanimous in its support for Edwards' presidency," said Marge Putman, chairwoman of the UTS Board of Trustees. "We are confident in her ability to provide UTS with excellent leadership." Edwards is the first woman to serve in the UTS presidency.

Founded in 1871, UTS is one of 13 graduate theological schools of The United Methodist Church.

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Former president of Mexico to speak at University of Evansville on April 10

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (UE) - The Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana at the University of Evansville is proud to announce Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, as the first speaker in its 2008 International Speaker Series.

Fox, the Mexican president from 2000-2006, will come to Indiana for a two-city event on April 10. His keynote address will begin at 7 p.m. in the Victory Theatre in Evansville; he also will speak to University of Evansville students at 4 p.m. in the Smythe Lecture Hall of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building, and will be available to media in the same location at 4:45 p.m.

Earlier in the day, Fox also will speak at an Institute event in Indianapolis.

UMCOR's Sager Brown Depot needs help with kits

The United Methodist Committee On Relief's relief supply warehouse, the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., needs your support to provide much-needed bedding, sewing and layette kits for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Sager Brown has received fewer kits over the last year and stocks are becoming alarmingly low.

Sager Brown is especially requesting donations for 33,000 layette kits, 64,000 sewing kits and approximately 1,000 bedding kits to meet upcoming needs. Donations for all kits are needed to prepare for uncertain times and future relief efforts. The Sager Brown Depot is accepting complete kits as well as items in bulk.

For more information, log on to www.umcor.org and click on "Help Sager Brown Deliver Kits of Hope." - UMCOR

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Hoosier among three to win CWS advocacy award

WASHINGTON - Three United Methodists are winners of advocacy awards to attend the nation's largest annual gathering of U. S. and international Christian peace and justice activists, Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 7-10 in Washington, D.C.

John Gaus, of St. Marks United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Ind. is well known inside and outside of the church for his advocacy efforts on behalf of the poor and hungry. He is a retired United Methodist clergyman who led local congregations throughout Indiana for more than 35 years.

He will be joined by United Methodist activists Henry Jones of Fullerton, Calif., and Kathi Moton of Aurora, Colo. They are among just 10 individuals selected by New York-based Church World Service for the honor, which is bestowed upon local poverty and hunger activists who have shown exceptional leadership in the global humanitarian agency's poverty and hunger fighting campaigns.

The scholarship award makes it possible for recipients to attend the conference and a day of related lobbying on Capitol Hill.

UIndy presents 2008 Showers Lectures-Symposium March 27

The University of Indianapolis will present the 2008 Showers Symposium "Christian Missions in the United Methodist Church: Past, Present and Future" on Thursday March 27, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

A copy of the Showers Symposium brochure can be found by logging on to http://eip.uindy.edu.

The Showers Symposium is free, however those who wish to register to participate in one of the lunchtime discussions need to contact Cindy Tyree at 317-788-2106 or e-mail her at ctyree@uindy.edu.

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