weLink
Vol.
4, No. 2: Jan. 28, 2009
- Thank you, Tim Burkholder!
- Lead conference minister affirmed by delegates
- Executive Committee (EC) updates
- Finances
- Transition Team update
- Economic Challenges proposal not accepted
- Thank you to Waterford Mennonite’s youth group!
- Mennonite Women Sister-Care seminar
- In the wider church
If
possible, please include blurbs from weLink (as applicable) in your church
bulletins and/or newsletters. Thank you!
Thank you, Tim Burkholder!
Genuinely creative, hopeful and positive, with a love for
God, the church and persons who are that church -- these are the qualities that
suffused Tim’s service to the conference as interim executive conference
minister over the past year. Tim’s competence and experience have been valuable
assets, and it is through these personal qualities that he has blessed us most.
I believe people reflect the attitude and vision they see in their leaders. I
am grateful to Tim for joyfully following Jesus and nurturing our missional
imagination.
--
Brent Eash, moderator, IN-MI Executive Committee
(Tim is now serving Mennonite Education Agency as
associate director with a focus on church
relations and development.)
Lead conference minister affirmed by delegates
The IN-MI Conference Executive Committee is pleased to announce Daniel Z. Miller’s appointment to the position of lead conference minister. Conference delegates affirmed Dan by 98.8 percent.
“Affirmation for Dan came from all quarters of the conference, including congregations with whom he had experience as an interim pastor, as well as congregations who have known him through other channels,” noted Michael Nolt, assistant moderator. “Prayers of thanksgiving for Dan’s willingness to serve, and prayers of blessing on his upcoming work as our leader, were common sentiments on the ballots.” (To read more, see online: im.mennonite.net)
Dan began in his new role on Monday, Jan. 26. He can be
reached at the conference office at 800 288-8486 or 574 534-4006 or at dan@im.mennonite.net.
Welcome, Dan!
Executive Committee (EC) updates
The IN-MI Executive
Committee met Dec. 12–13, 2008, at Shore Mennonite, Shipshewana,
Ind. The committee primarily focused on discussing current financial realities,
discerning staffing possibilities in the new conference structure, opening the
door for possible conference-wide roles that Amigo Centre and Bethany Christian
Schools could have with youth and young adults, planning for two (northern and
southern) regional meetings instead of the previously planned seven cluster
meetings, and planning for coverage in the office while the lead conference
minister position was empty.
The EC also heard updates on conference communications, the conference
history book project, ministry team activities (including special meetings for pastors to discuss ministering
in the context of an economic downturn), and the Corinthian Plan (proposed
health insurance plan for pastors in Mennonite Church USA). Timothy Burkholder
was given special recognition for his significant contributions as interim
executive conference minister.
Toward the end of the
meeting -- after noting with some feeling the high import of the discussions on
the table -- the EC entered a spontaneous time of prayer for God’s leading
during this period of transition.
Finances
In December, revenue exceeded expenses by $8,674, increasing our operating funds to $24,390. Year-to-date, our expenses exceed revenue by $16,885.
The Stewardship and Finance Commission is grateful to the congregations who forwarded estimates of anticipated contributions by June 30. Although a number of congregations expect to maintain or increase their giving, some are projecting significant decreases. The commission will present a reduced spending plan for 2008–09 to the Executive Committee for their review as we work to keep our fiscal operations balanced. Thank you for all contributions you are able to make! The Dec. 31 year-to-date figures:
2008–09 2007–08 2008–09 2007–08
Estimated income* $300,602 $307,541 Estimated expenses** $324,378 $344,460
Actual income 247,935 271,169 Actual expenses 264,820 298,446
*calculated according to historical
giving patterns **six-twelfths
of total spending plan
Transition Team update
During the Transition Team’s Jan. 19 conference call, team members spent a significant amount of
time focusing on financial concerns and the hiring of new regional conference
ministers. They also had conversation about the upcoming regional meetings.
Several other items were discussed, including questions about which
responsibilities should be handed to the new Missional Leadership Team. The TT
will meet again on Thursday, Feb. 5,
from
Economic Challenges proposal not accepted
In November 2008, we received word that the conference’s proposal submitted in the Lilly Endowment’s Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Indiana Pastors was not selected for funding. In discussion with Christopher Coble, program director, Religion, we learned that our proposal did not show clearly enough how the funds needed to meet the initiative’s matching requirement would be raised. Further, the emphasis of the proposal seemed to be more on helping the majority of our pastors who were not experiencing significant economic stressors and needed more specificity for the 20 percent whose ministry was significantly impacted by their economic stress.
The results of our initial
survey are available from the conference office and could inform future work if
the conference chooses to consider something on its own. Thank you to the 78 pastors who responded to the survey
and/or participated in phone interviews! We also celebrate the ways that
connections were strengthened between MMA, AMBS and IN-MI Conference through
collaboration on this research. -- Timothy
Burkholder, former interim executive conference minister
Thank you to Waterford Mennonite’s youth group!
A very heartfelt thank-you goes to the youth group, youth pastor and youth
sponsors from Waterford Mennonite, Goshen, Ind., who spent the evening of
Wednesday, Jan. 21, repainting the hallway of the IN-MI Conference office! The
improvements were desperately needed, and we are grateful! See photos of their
work: im.mennonite.net/news/volunteers.php
Mennonite Women Sister-Care seminar
Sister-Care seminar: “Effective lay caring in the congregation.” How am I called to care? What resources can the church provide; when do we seek care outside the church? How can women more effectively minister to needs of other women? How do we set boundaries? Mennonite Women of Central District and IN-MI conferences are hosting this event, to be held May 15–16 at Belmont Mennonite, Elkhart, Ind. (7–9 p.m. Fri. and 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sat.). Leaders: Rhoda Keener, Mennonite Women (MW) USA executive director; and Ruth Lapp Guengerich, MW USA president-elect. Rebecca Sommers, MW USA president, will share about her experience with depression.
The seminar will include worship, Bible study, skills training and interactive activities. Participants will receive a resource manual. Cost: $30 before April 10; $35 after April 10. Contact Rickey Schrag: mrschrag@gmail.com or 574 533-8366 Sister-Care is a ministry of Mennonite Women USA.
In the wider church
Mennonite news every Monday: TMail is a
free, weekly electronic magazine distributed by staff from The Mennonite
magazine. TMail includes the very
latest
Request for volunteers: Share your skills in Indianapolis! A nonprofit community development organization requests volunteers to assist with home repair projects and community development projects in a distressed neighborhood in Indianapolis. Two new homes will be built during the summer and fall with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis. Work depends on the time and skill level of volunteers. Projects can be arranged for one-day service trips or up to a full week. Housing can be arranged through local congregations. Contact Nate Lichti: nate@mfcdc.org or 317 517-3251
Michiana congregations related to Mennonite World
Conference (MWC) are warmly invited to any of three events in Goshen with
an international MWC team: a youth gathering at 7 p.m. on March 4 at Eighth Street Mennonite; a gathering at 8:30 a.m. on March 5 hosted by the Mennonite Mission
Network Auxiliary at Greencroft Senior Center; and a
World Day of Prayer potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. on March 6 at Silverwood Mennonite (bring a
dish to share; table service and beverages provided). Team members are Cynthia
Peacock (India), Tigist Tefaye
(Ethiopia), Bert Lobe (Canada), and Dr. Pakisa Tshimika (Congo and California). Call 574 266-7684 or see
online: im.mennonite.net/news/news.php
weLink serves to connect IN-MI Conference congregations to
each other, to Amigo Centre and Bethany Christian Schools, and to the wider
church. It is published on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. weLink issues are archived
on the conference web site at: im.mennonite.net/news/welink/welink.php
To subscribe to or unsubscribe
from the weLink mailing list, contact the conference
office: imoffice@im.mennonite.net
Editor: Annette Brill Bergstresser, annette@im.mennonite.net (Send
material for the Feb. 11 weLink
by noon on Feb. 9.)
Indiana-Michigan
Mennonite Conference
Mailing address: 212 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526-3723
Phone: 574 534-4006; 800 288-8486
E-mail: imoffice@im.mennonite.net
Web site: www.im.mennonite.net