(UMH #202)
WEEKLY NEWS FROM THE EAST DISTRICT
INDIANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
September 10, 2013
eAST dISTRICT cENTER
3645 N BRIARWOOD LANE, SUITE B
MUNCIE, IN 47304
(765) 282-2322 / EAST DISTRICT WEBSITE
East District Africa university rally day november 3
UMVIM Training
plan to observe world communion sunday, october 6
false copyright myths churche’s believe to be true
Indy’s Inaugural Festival of faith
Celebration in Music
Lay Servant Ministries
operation classroom
rejuvenate ministry to hold gratitude workshop
united theological announces women’s conference
pre-retirement seminar
2013 Cluster Charge Conference schedule
bishop changes dates for 2014 indiana annual conference
changes coming to charge conference forms
gathering of all indiana conference clergy
clergy spouse retreat
Diversity and Professional boundaries training workshop schedule
JOIN BISHOP MIKE ON A 2014 WESLEY HERITAGE TOUR
course of study school 2012-2013
PASTORS – HAVE YOU ACTIVATED YOUR INUMC EMAIL ACCOUNT?
vital congregations goals
ABUSE PROTECTION POLICY RESOURCES
LOCAL CHURCH News and EVENTS
youth ministries
important dates for your calendar
important links
2012-2013 educational opportunities
east district africa university rally day november 3
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner will be leading ten Africa University Campaign Rallies across Indiana to raise awareness of Africa University and the Indiana Conference’s pledge to raise $1.6 million for AU during the next three years. Speakers will include Coyner, the Rev. Bill Keith, chair of the campaign, an AU student or graduate and Hoosier United Methodists who have visited or help funded AU. A short video and still pictures featuring AU will be shown. AU welcomes students from all nations of Africa without regard to race, class, ethnicity or political and religious affiliation. The University’s annual enrollment is nearly 1,400 students from 25 countries. The AU Campaign hopes to raise $1 million to endow a professorship in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and $600,000 for endowed scholarships. Here is the schedule and location of the ten rallies. All are invited to learn more about Africa University and how Hoosier United Methodists can support Africa University. All the rallies will be held on Sundays, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. local time.
Join us for a time of worship and fellowship as we learn more about the ministry happening at Africa University. Bring a team from your church to learn how you can partner with the Indiana Conference in this vital ministry! November 3, 3:00 p.m., Muncie High Street UMC, 219 S High Street, Muncie.
umvim team leader training
UMVIM Team Leader TrainingSaturday October 19 at Chesterton UMC
Team leader training is open to anyone. Registration fee is $15 per person and includes lunch. Maximum number of class participants is 30. Optional UMVIM Manuals can be ordered during the registration process for $25 per manual. Each church needs at least one manual. You will need the manual during class so please bring your church's copy or order one during the registration process which you will receive when you check in for the class.
For questions about the event please contact Cathy Allison at or 219-926-1478
Payment is required in advance of the class. You may pay online with credit card via Paypal (you do not need a Paypal account) or check. Please mail checks to: INUMC, Attn: Lisa Timmerman, 301 Pennsylvania Parkway, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46280
UMVIM Team Leader Training registration
plan to observe world communion sunday, october 6
World Communion Sunday is one of the six church-wide Special Sundays of The United Methodist Church. The World Communion Sunday offering provides scholarships for U.S. racial-ethnic students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels. World Communion Sunday is observed this year on Sunday, Oct. 6, or any other day your church chooses. Donate now and/or get free resources.
false copyright myths churche’s believe to be true
We’re a church and want to use copyrighted material in our worship services. Is making copies for bulletins, handouts, newsletters and projection legal if it’s for use in our worship services? You probably already know the answer, but read about it here.Indy’s inaugural festival of faith
From our friends at the Center For Interfaith Cooperation:Central Indiana has a long history of honoring our religious diversity. In a world where religious differences too often separate people and communities, Hoosiers have learned to work together to understand and respect our growing multi-faith society. On Sunday October 13, 2013 we will come together for an Inaugural Festival of Faiths in downtown Indianapolis to learn about our religious heritage and share the joy of our many unique faith traditions. Click here for complete details.
Celebration in Music
Just imagine singing alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ from over 100different United Methodist churches! The mass "Metro Choir" will perform at the Celebration in Music, Metro Ministries, Inc. 90th Anniversary event, October 18, 7-9 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis. Go to the Metro website to share the invitation with your congregation.Click here for complete details.
lay servant ministries
Fall ClassesTwo Saturdays, October 26 and November 9, 2013
Portland Trinity UMCC, 323 S Meridian St, Portland and Richmond Faith Trinity UMC, 2900 W Main St, Richmond
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Winter Classes
Six Sundays: Connersville First UMC, 729 N Central Ave, Connersville, starting January 19 through February 23, 2014.
Muncie Riverside UMC, 1201 N Wheeling Ave, Muncie starting January 26 through March 2, 2014
All classes 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Price is $30 per class, includes materials
operation classroom
The school supplies are on sale now! For our Operation Classroom students at Baoma School in Sierra Leone, we need to send spiral notebooks of paper, ball point pens, rulers, solar calculators and packages of copy paper. Keep to the basics and skip the little plastic boxes, glue, and scissors, etc. Our students are in high school and reallyneed the paper and pens. Teachers use the same supplies as well as red pens and teacher plan books. We also send NIV or RSV Bibles for the students.On Tuesday, September 10, at 6:00 p.m. at Grace UMC in Connersville, we'll be packing boxes of supplies for the shipment.You are welcome to drop off your boxes ahead of time, but please call the church to make sure someone is there and that the doors will be unlocked.(765-825-5013)
If you are in the northern part of the district, you may drop off your supplies at Gethsemane UMC, 1201 W McGalliard Rd in Muncie. The south door is always open during office hours. We are grateful for Daryl Bookout and his crew for packing the supplies and getting them to the warehouse.
It gets more and more expensive to send the supplies on the shipments to Sierra Leone. It is now estimated thatthe costwould be $10/box. Please consider sending a donation to Operation Classroom designated for "shipping expenses." This would be just as important as the school supplies which are VERY important since there are no Walmarts or any similar stores in Sierra Leone. Send any donations designated for shippingto: Operation Classroom, 359 S. Franklin St. Valparaiso, IN 46383. THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Janet Compton from Shelbyville joined me on a trip to Sierra Leone in July.Our project was to refurbish the "outhouse" for the girls at Baoma School. We had talked with the new UMC Education Director, Mr. Joseph Pormai,and he was telling us that several of the schools are needing better facilities.Webelieve that the Baoma Girls will appreciate the upgrade! Let me know, if you'd like us to come tell aboutour experiences there.
Kay Hess
rejuvenate ministry to hold gratitude workshop
- Saturday, Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon
- St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th Street in Indianapolis
- For more information about leading a Generosity and Gratitude Campaign, click here.
- Contact Jody Patty toll-free at 877-391-8811 or 317-788-7879.
- There is a registration fee of $10 per person or $25 for a church team of up to four people.
united theological seminary announes women’s conference
DAYTON, Ohio – United Theological Seminary announces the first Deborah's Daughters women's conference, which will be Sept. 23-25, 2013. The conference will focus on the ways that women are and can be in leadership and ministry in every aspect of church life, and it is designed for both clergy and laity. Deborah's Daughters: Women's Ways of Leadership and Ministry is a women's conference co-hosted by the Harriet L. Miller Women's Center and the Center for Urban Ministry. For more information, including the complete schedule and registration, visit United's website or contact Dr. Felicia LaBoy at 937-529-2201 or at .pre-retirement seminar
The Pre-Retirement Seminar hosted by the Rejuvenate Ministry, is offered to clergy and spouses who are eligible or plan to retire in the next 5 – 20 years.The seminar will be Tuesday, October 1stfrom 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Indianapolis St Lukes UMC, 100 W 86th St. The cost is $35 for clergy (spouse may attend with clergy at no cost).
Representatives from the General Board of Pensions and the Conference Administrative Services will be available to answer questions.
Some of the topics that will be covered:
Retirement eligibility
Comprehensive Protection Plan Benefits
Clergy Retirement Programs
UMPIP savings program
Investment program through General Board of Pension and Health Benefits
Services offered by the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits
To Register, contact Jody Patty at 317.788.7879, 1.877.391.8811 or by e-mail at
Registration deadline is September 19, 2013.
2013 cluster charge conference schedule
CLUSTER NAME LEADER DATE/TIMENational Road…………………………Curt Hunt………………..…….….….Oct. 20, 2:30 p.m.
Carthage, Knightstown, Spiceland, Salem, Greensboro
(Location: Knightstown UMC)
Believers……………………………….Tom McGilliard……………..…….…Oct 20, 6:00 p.m.
New Castle First, New Castle Christ’s, New Castle Trinity, Sugar Grove (Henry)
(Location: New Castle First UMC)
Randolph Treasure Hunters…...Sandi Lumpkin/Sherrie Drake…....…..Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.
Deerfield, Farmland, Parker City, Rehoboth, Ridgeville Calvary
(Location: Rehoboth UMC)
Blackford County…………………….Gary Hall………………..……………Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m.
Hartford City Grace, Hartford City Trinity, Montpelier, Mt. Carmel, Pleasantdale,
Pleasant Grove (Location: Hartford City Grace UMC)
Fayette County……………………….Carolyn Judd…………………..……Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Alquina, Columbia, Connersville East Side, Connersville First, Connersville Grace, Connersville Grand Avenue, Orange (Location: Connersville Grand Avenue UMC)
“X”…………………………………….Scott Bell…………...…………………Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m.
Brownsville, College Corner, Greenwood, Liberty Edwards Memorial, Old Franklin, Springfield (Location: Liberty Edward Memorial UMC)
Peanut Buster………………………...Darren Williams………………..…..Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Winchester, Saratoga, Spartanburg
(Location: Saratoga UMC)
Nor Del Cluster………………………Frank Oakman…………….…….…..Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Albany, Albany Bethel, DeSoto, Eaton, Muncie Morningside (Location: DeSoto UMC)
Wesley …………………………..……Randy Davis……………………...…Nov. 10, 2:30 p.m.
Dunkirk Bethel, Dunkirk Calvary, Dunkirk Mt. Tabor, Fairview (Randoph), Redkey,
Sugar Grove (Jay) (Location: Redkey UMC)
Elshaddai……………………………...Sam Dickson…...………………….Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m.
Boston, Cambridge City, Centerville, Milton, Pershing, Richmond Central, Richmond
Faith-Trinity, Richmond First (Location: Richmond Central UMC)
Crossroads……………………………Cindy Osgood………..……………Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m.
(Cammack, Corinth, Daleville, Gaston, Honey Creek, Middletown, Yorktown
(Location: Daleville UMC)
Cluster of Grapes……………………..Forrest Bowers………………..….Nov. 17, 2:30 p.m.
Losantville, Modoc, Union Chapel (Randolph) (Location: Losantville UMC)
No Name Cluster………………….…..Jim Truelove……..……..…….…..Nov. 17, 2:30 p.m.
Bartonia, Mt. Zion (Randolph), Fountain City, Hopewell, Richmond Webster,
Middleboro, Whitewater (Location: Losantville UMC)
South Muncie………………………...Gordon Jackson………………..…..Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m.
Muncie Avondale, Muncie Fountain Square, Muncie Industry, Muncie Madison Street,
Muncie Main Street, Muncie Normal City, Muncie Trinity, Muncie St. Paul’s, Muncie Covenant Partners (Location: Muncie Fountain Square UMC)
North Muncie…………………………Rusty Clements……………...……..Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m.
Muncie Center Chapel, Muncie College Avenue, Muncie Gethsemane, Muncie High
Street, Muncie Riverside, New Burlington, Selma Christ, Selma United
(Location: Muncie Center Chapel UMC)
Blue Jay………………………………Wes Schemenaur…………..….……Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m.
Bellefountain, Fairview (Jay), Mt. Zion (Jay), Portland Asbury, Portland Trinity,
Westchester (Location: Westchester UMC)
Sod Buster……………………………Priscilla McFarland…………………Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m.
Center, New Mt. Pleasant, Oak Grove, Pennville (Location: Westchester UMC)
Nettle Creek………………………….Rodney Frieden……………….……..Nov. 25, 6:30 p.m.
Economy, Hagerstown, Green’s Fork (Location: Hagerstown UMC)
bishop changes dates for 2014 indiana annual conference
INDIANAPOLIS -- Bishop Mike Coyner has announced a change of dates for the 2014 Session of the Indiana Conference. The new dates will be Thursday-Saturday, May 29-31. The reason for the change of dates is a schedule conflict at the Indiana Convention Center. Coyner stated: "After we learned of the schedule conflicts at the Convention Center, which would have displaced us from the rooms and arrangements that worked so well the past two years, our conference staff worked to find other options. The best option was to move our dates to a week earlier than this year's dates, which will allow us to continue the use of the same space." In addition, Coyner noted that the dates for 2015 also will be at the end of May, tentatively set for Thursday-Sunday, May 28-31, which is a day longer due to the election in 2015 of delegates to 2016 General and the North Central Jurisdictional Conferences.changes coming to charge conference forms
The district assistants got a preview of the completely revamped charge conference reports. The changes are dramatic yet very user-friendly. The pastors' inumc.org email accounts will be a key component.Access to the new charge conference forms will be granted using this email account, so it is vital that these accounts are set up now, and working.Pastors will be able to designate other users and email integrity will be preserved throughout the process.(If you are one of the few pastors who have not yet activated or use your inumc.org email address, now is the time. Carla (1-877-781-6706 or 317-924-1321) will be happy toassist you, if you need help with your email account.)
The online reports are now available. Please begin planning now for your charge conference by setting meetings to have the proper information gathered at that time. If the charge conference reports are not completed and submitted online two weeks in advance of the scheduled conference (to allow sufficient time for review, correction of errors if necessary and approval), your charge conference may need to be rescheduled.
New this year: Each church's clergy MUST attendand the bishop and cabinet have determined that at leastfive laypersons from each church need to be present to be a legitimate charge conference.
gathering of all indiana conference clergy
The Gathering of all Indiana Conference Clergy will be November 5, 2013, from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm at Castleton UMC, 7160 Shadeland Station Way, Indianapolis. Lunch will be provided.Online registration will open soon for this event, in order to have the proper amount of lunches provided. Coyner said, "The purpose of this Gathering is to strengthen our clergy covenant through worship and sharing together. A part of that sharing will be to hear presentations about issues that have specific application to clergy:
- The implications for clergy and congregations of the Affordable Care Act, and
- Continued conversation about how to provide for the health insurance needs of our retired clergy and spouses.
clergy spouse retreat
Clergy Spouse RetreatSeptember 20-22, 2013 Holiday Inn Indianapolis North
All clergy spouses of every age and gender and in every stage of ministry are invited to attend this weekend retreat. Churches, please consider sponsoring your clergy spouse's registration fee. This is a wonderful time of worship and fellowship with clergy spouses from all over the state.
Online registration is open now - click here to register!
Diversity and professional boundaries training workshop schedule
All sessions are from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. local timeSaturday, Sept. 14St. Luke’s UMCKokomo
Friday, Sept. 20St. Joseph UMCFt. Wayne
Saturday, Sept. 21Grace UMCSouth Bend
Tuesday, Sept. 24First UMCHammond
Saturday, Oct. 19Wesley UMCJeffersonville
Tuesday, Oct. 22First UMCSeymour
Wednesday, Oct. 23St. Mark’s UMCBloomington
Thursday, Oct. 24Central UMCEvansville
Monday, Oct. 28Castleton UMCIndianapolis
Registration for this event is $35.00. To register please go to clergy continuing education grant funds are available for this training. Go toinumc.org/cegrants for the application. The Boundaries and Diversity training will count towards fulfilling your yearly CE requirement. Childcare can be arranged at most sites if we know of a need beforehand. Please email with your childcare needs at least a month prior to the session.
join bishop mike on a 2014 wesley heritage tour
Join Bishop Mike Coyner and the Indiana Conference for nine exciting and educational days in 2014 on The Wesley Heritage Tour. The dates are July 23-31, 2014. Brochures will be available soon. For more information please contact Bishop's Trip Coordinator Norm Nellis at .course of study school 2013-2014
An Extension School of Garrett Evangelical Theological SeminaryThe Indiana Conference Extension Course of Study School is a non-residential United Methodist School (for part-time local pastors only) offering the approved curriculum of the Division of Ordained Ministry of the United Methodist Church.
All classes are held at the University of Indianapolis, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis. Click here for additional information, brochure and registration.
pastors—have you activated your INUMC email account
Vital Congregations/GCFA will be using inumc.org email addresses for pastors exclusively. So now your inumc.org email is a necessity. Once activated you can have it forwarded to your personal email address. Eventually this will be the only email address used by the District as well. Carla (877-781-6706) at the Conference Center will be happy to help you if you experience problems.vital congregation goals