“PEOPLE, LOOK EAST”
(UMH #202)
WEEKLY NEWS FROM THE EAST DISTRICT
INDIANA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
January 3, 2012
eAST dISTRICT cENTER
3645 N BRIARWOOD LANE, SUITE B
MUNCIE, IN 47304
(765) 282-2322 / EAST DISTRICT WEBSITE
Contents
year end reporting
PASTORS – HAVE YOU ACTIVATED YOUR INUMC EMAIL ACCOUNT?
vital congregations goals
pastor-parish training 2012
local pastor workshops
free umc app for your iphone or droid
certification of trustees form
book of discipline now on-line
print edition of indiana conference journal now available
HEALTH INSURANCE AND PENSION FOR 2012
ABUSE PROTECTION POLICY RESOURCES
cluster happenings
LOCAL CHURCH News and EVENTS
Winter LAY ACADEMY
LICENSE TO PREACH
ENROLL FOR “INTERPRETER” MAGAZINE
TITHE AND DISTRICT SUPPORT
YOUTH MINISTRIES
education debt reduction grant for spouses of active clergy
mission giving & rsource book 2011-2013
impact 2818 outdoor ministries
ADDITIONAL DATES
2012 indiana annual conference
important links
2011-2012 educational opportunities

year end reporting

Year End Reporting for 2011 will again be electronic and the General Council on Finance and Administration will be hosting the process. We hope you find the process familiar and convenient.
The Year End Reporting submission dates for the 2011 reporting year will be January 2 - February 15, 2012. You mayprint a worksheet from the GCFA website to use in preparing to submit your data online. (Google Chrome users need to use a different web browser when accessing these.)
We recommend that you prepare your worksheets before logging into the website to submit since the system times out after 30-45 minutes.
Your login is your church id number (GCFA#)which is printed on your mailing label on thepostcard that was mailed to you (on 12/14)and your initial password is password.
To access the GCFA website and Year End Reports you can go to www.inumc.org and you will be redirected or go directly to http://ezra.gcfa.org/.
To request a paper copy of the forms please contact Carla Johnson at the Conference Center at 1-877-781-6706.

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

Your Vital Congregation Goals for 2012 which were reported on your charge conference minutes need to be entered on the Vital Congregations website.
Now that your church(es) has/have set their Vital Church Goals at Charge Conference, it is time to enter these goals online. The goals should have been entered before the end of December. This allows the Bishop and Conference leaders to compile all of our churches’ goals and present them at General Conference.
The process of entering your goals online, to be followed by your weekly reports, is called Vital Signs. For step-by-step instructions on HOW to enter your goals online, click here How To Enter Goals Online.
Beginning the first week in January, you will receive a weekly email reminder from “The United Methodist Church” with instructions on how to enter your weekly reports. This reminder will be sent to each senior pastor, using your inumc.org email address UNLESS you have notified Ruth Ellen Needler differently.
Visit the conference website www.inumc.org and select “Vital Congregations” on the left-hand side of the page to view additional resources. If you have any questions, please contact Ruth Ellen Needler at . You may go to the website by clicking here.

pastor-parish training 2012

The East District will this year offer Pastor-Parish Committee training in six locations by clusters. Please encourage your SPRC folks to attend.
The dates, locations and clusters are listed below. If someone cannot make the training for their scheduled cluster they may feel free to attend one of the other sessions.
In this workshop you will …
·  clarify the responsibilities and the role of the Pastor (staff) Parish Relations Committee
·  explore how the Pastor, the Committee, and the church can work together to do positive ministry
·  explore how to deal with conflict in positive and constructive ways
How to Register
Please contact Bernie Jamison at the District Center by calling the district office at (765) 282-2322 or e-mail with your reservation. There will not be a fee for registration. However, the “Pastor-Parish Relations” Guidelines book will be available for purchase for $5.00 each. Deadline for registration is January 9th, 2012.
January 15, 2012, 5:00 p.m. – Richmond First UMC
Fayette Cluster – Alquina, Columbia, Connersville East Side, Connersville First, Connersville Grace, Connersville Grand Avenue, Orange
“X” Cluster – Brownsville, College Corner, Greenwood, Liberty Edwards Memorial, Old Franklin, Springfield
El Shaddai Cluster – Boston, Cambridge City, Centerville, Milton, Pershing, Richmond Central, Richmond First, Richmond Faith Trinity
January 22, 2012, 2:00 p.m. -- Pleasantdale UMC
Blackford Cluster – Hartford City Grace, Hartford City Trinity, Millgrove, Montpelier, Mt. Carmel,
Pleasantdale, Pleasant Grove
Sod Buster Cluster – Center, New Mt. Pleasant, Oak Grove, Pennville
Nor Del Cluster – Albany, Albany Bethel, DeSoto, Eaton, Muncie Morningside
January 22, 2012, 5:00 p.m. – Portland Asbury UMC
Blue Jay Cluster – Bellefountain, Fairview (Jay), Mt. Zion (Jay), Westchester, Portland Asbury, Portland Trinity
Wesley Cluster – Dunkirk Bethel, Dunkirk Calvary, Dunkirk Mt. Tabor, Fairview (Randolph), Redkey, Sugar Grove (Jay)
January 29, 2012, 5 p.m. – New Castle First UMC
Nettle Creek Cluster – Economy, Green’s Fork, Hagerstown
National Road Cluster – Carthage, Knightstown, Ogden, Salem, Spiceland
Believers Cluster – New Castle Christ’s, New Castle First, New Castle Trinity, Greensboro, Sugar Grove (Henry)
February 26, 2012, 2:00 p.m. – Muncie High Street UMC
Crossroads Cluster – Cammack, Corinth, Daleville, Gaston, Honey Creek, Middletown, New Burlington, Yorktown
South Muncie Cluster – Muncie Avondale, Muncie Fountain Square, Muncie Industry, Muncie Madison Street, Muncie Main Street, Muncie Normal City, Muncie St. Paul’s, Muncie Trinity
North Cluster – Muncie Center Chapel, Muncie College Avenue, Muncie Gethsemane, Muncie High Street, Muncie Riverside, Muncie Union Chapel, Selma Christ, Selma United
February 26, 2012, 5:00 p.m. – Parker City UMC
Randolph Treasure Hunters Cluster – Deerfield, Farmland, Parker City, Rehoboth, Ridgeville Calvary, Windsor
Cluster of Grapes – Losantville, Modoc, Union Chapel (Randolph)
Peanut Buster Cluster – Winchester, Saratoga, Spartanburg, Union City Wesley
No Name Cluster – Bartonia, Mt. Zion (Randolph) Fountain City, Hopewell, Richmond Webster, Middleboro, Whitewater

local pastor workshops

The East District will offer Local Pastor Workshops from January 29 through March 4, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at New Castle First UMC, 1324 Church Street, New Castle.
Superintendent Dave Byrum will be teaching “A Methodism Refresher” on February 12th and “Worship What You Believe” on February 19th.
Associate Superintendent Dave Neckers will teach “Faith Coaching” on January 29th, February 5th, February 26th and March 4th. The book, “Faith Coaching” will be $5.00 to each participant.
Please contact Bernie Jamison at the district office by calling (765) 282-2322 or e-mail to make your reservation to attend.

free umc app for you iphone or droid

A tip from the Bishop’s Epistle: If you have an iPhone or Droid smart phone, there is a new UMC app which gives you daily devotions, news, church locator service, etc. It is free and a nice app to have with you while you travel. Do a search for UMCOM.

certification of trustees form available

Questions have come regarding the form "Certification of Trustees" that was formerly handled at charge conference. Here are the details:
IF YOUR CHURCH IS INCORPORATED:
The forms that your incorporation files every year for the Secretary of State fulfills the task of reporting your officers taking the place of filing the "Certification of Trustees."
IF YOUR CHURCH IS NOT INCORPORATED:
Your church's trustees must be recorded with the county each year. There is a form available for your use on the conference website, which you can download by clicking here. There is a fee required when filing items at the Recorder, so be sure to call ahead to check what that fee is. This form (along with a check for the fee) can be mailed to your Recorder, but if the Recorder's office is located conveniently, I strongly suggest taking the form in person. There are often items that need to be fixed on a form, and going in person prevents a lot of mailing back and forth. Please be sure to file a copy of the recorded form in a safe place in your church files.

book of discipline now on-line

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – The 2008 edition of the Book of Discipline, The United Methodist Church’s official law book, is now available online without charge in a read and search version only. General Conference, the denomination’s top legislative body, revises and approves the Book of Discipline every four years. The Book of Discipline will be revised next at the 2012 General Conference, making the 2008 edition obsolete. See Book of Discipline.

print edition of indiana conference journal now available

The paperback edition of the 2011 Official Journal of the Indiana Annual Conference is available for purchase ($18) from AuthorHouse. To order a copy, click here or call 1-888-280-7715. AuthorHouse has listed the book as “2011 Official Journal of the Indiana Annual Conference.” The online edition of the same journal can be found on the Indiana Conference website by clicking here.

HEALTH INSURANCE AND PENSION INFO FOR 2012

The 2012 health insurance rates are available by clicking here. The Pension worksheet for 2012 can be downloaded here.

ABUSE PROTECTION POLICY RESOURCES

Click here for policy resources. There is also “Safe Sanctuaries” material available through Cokesbury at www.cokesbury.com.

cluster happenings

Wesley Cluster – The group M.I.G.S. (Mimes in God’s Service) from Fairview U.M.C. has performed at most of the cluster churches and because of this girls from two of the cluster churches have joined the group! And, because of information shared at cluster meetings, a member of Fairview U.M.C. has begun a church youth camp directed to, but not limited to those youth in need of financial support to attend and has brought youth from other cluster churches. The cost of the camp is $50.00 for each youth. With the financial support of Fairview and “scholarship” for those youth who could not attend without financial assistance, youth from other clusters and the community were able to attend. Also, the Veterans Trial Size Donations coordinated by Redkey U.M.C. (Pastor Randy Davis) was discussed at a cluster meeting with each church agreeing to spread the word to their individual churches who might wish to donate. Not only were the Cluster Churches involved, but also Redkey Elementary School, Dunkirk Westlawn Elementary and West Jay Middle School in Dunkirk. The results – the six churches collected approximately $2500.00 worth of toiletries and expect to receive another $1500-$2500 worth of items from the schools. All items will go to the Marion VA Hospital. God is indeed blessing the Wesley Cluster.

LOCAL CHURCH NEWS AND EVENTS

Covenant Partners Ministries – Community Day, providing bags of groceries and cleaning supplies for those in need, fourth Thursday of each month except November and December which will be third Thursday of each month. Sunday evening meals provided by local churches. Contact Pastor Linda McBride at (765) 284-2545
Muncie Madison Street UMC – “In His Name” food pantry of the Madison St. UMC is going ‘Gang Busters’. In 2011 they averaged 96 clients/week and have served 1654 clients with family members of 5560 individuals. In 2010 they averaged 74 clients/week. Some local churches and individuals have been very faithful in supporting them with non-perishable food items and financial aid. We would like to extend the opportunity to your church to be a part of this ‘Growing Ministry’.
For Information contact the church from 9 am to 1 pm on Thursdays.
Madison St. UMC
1400 S. Madison Street, Muncie, IN 47302
Church Phone: 282-3946
Pastor Gordon E. Jackson
765-468-7779 Cell: 625-0986

winter LAY ACADEMY

Learning and leading courses fulfill a two-fold purpose. They equip all of us to become better Christian leaders and they provide advanced courses for Lay Speaking Ministries.
If you are not currently a lay speaker you may be interested in pursuing that office once you have experienced the courses. The emphases in Lay Speaking Ministries are LEADING, CARING and COMMUNICATING. We all need good communication skills to lead others and share our faith stories, but YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO PREACH (unless that is your desire) after taking a lay speaking or learning and leading course.
January 29 thru March 4
Muncie Riverside UMC
1201 N Wheeling Avenue
Muncie, IN 47304
2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
New Castle First UMC
1324 Church Street
New Castle, IN 47362
2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Print Registration

LICENSE TO PREACH

License to Preach Schools are for certified candidates seeking licensing as a local pastor. There are two options: The week-end License to Preach School and the two week resident Local Pastor Licensing. Click here for dates and additional information.

enroll for “interpreter” magazine

The 2012 enrollment forms have been sent directly to your church. Please fill out the enrollment forms as soon as received, and take advantage of the opportunity to equip ten leaders with this important “how-to” publication.

tithe and district support report available

We would encourage all churches to be up-to-date with Conference tithe and District support. Remember that District support is 1.25%. If you need to know where your church is on this topic, please call Bernie at 877-781-6708

YOUTH MINISTRIES

For resources www.youthministryconnection.org
Events www.inumcyouth.org

education debt reduction grant for spouses of active clergy

Rejuvenate has expanded the Clergy Ed Debt Reduction Grant to include spouses of active clergy. At the October 18, 2011 Oversight Team meeting, the team approved to amend the Education Debt Reduction grant to include spousal education debt, too. Visit Rejuvenate’s website at www.rejuvenateindiana.org and click “Grants” for the list of grant application requirements. This will apply to new grant applications.

mission giving & resource book 2011-2013