Opening
“In the name of Jesus, I welcome you to the 2021 Indiana Annual Conference. We gather in the name of Jesus to do our work as we worship together, learn from one another, and discern a path for our ministry together as we seek to be the peacemakers for Christ in the world,” Bishop said as he opened the Annual Conference Session at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.
This is the first fully-digital Annual Conference in the Indiana Conference’s history. “Even though we are not physically together, we believe God connects us through the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is here in our midst,” Bishop Trimble said.
Devotion
Rev. Annettra Jones Stephens challenged the Conference to dismantle racism with her devotion, based on the book of Nehemiah. “Nehemiah sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, prayed without ceasing to God,” she said, prompting the Conference to respond similarly as we react to the injustices in our world.
“Come! Let us dismantle racism and build bridges to beloved community!” she exclaimed. She encouraged members of the Indiana Conference to sign the INUMC Covenant to Dismantle Racism here.
Chris Mahon, Conference Secretary, presented Ballot #1, including the following three motions, which were voted on collectively:
Motion: I move that the voting bar, or legal limits, of the Conference be designated as members registered and connected through the ZOOM webinar.
The motion passed (99.5%).
Motion: I move that all votes and decisions made during this virtual Annual Conference shall be legal and binding.
The motion passed (98.8%).
Motion: I move that the reports and documents appropriately posted be received as the official documents presented and are ready for action and that the Conference program as posted online at https://archive.inumc.org/annual-conference/schedule/ shall constitute the official agenda of the 2021 Annual Conference.
The motion passed (99.1%).
Chris then brought the following motion: I move that at the 2021 Annual Conference Session we address only the items on the agenda we have approved.
The motion passed (83.2%).
Rules and Structure
Rev. Paul Wagner presented the following motion: I move that the Rules and Structure Document be accepted and then added to the record of this Conference Session.
A point of order was raised by Rev. Chris Gadlage, proposing that Resolution #4 – Amerson be addressed at the time of approving our rules. Paul Wagner explained that the resolution would be dealt with separately because it had no bearing on how this Annual Conference Session would operate.
Paul re-presented the motion: I move that the Rules and Structure Document be accepted and then added to the record of this Conference Session.
The motion passed (79.7%).
Consent Calendar
Paul Wagner then presented the motion: I move that the Board, Agency and Committee Reports listed on the Conference website under the heading “Consent Calendar” be accepted and added to the record of this Conference Session.
The motion passed (97.6%).
Chancellor
Rev. Larry Whitehead, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, made the following motion: I move to affirm Bishop Trimble’s nomination of Sarah Jenkins and that she be elected Conference Chancellor, effective June 11, 2021.
The motion passed (96.5%).
Nominating Committee
Rev. Ed Fisher, Chair of the Nominating Committee, presented the following motion: I move that the Nominating Committee report be adopted.
The motion passed (95.7%).
Generosity
Rev. Glenn Howell shared with the Conference about the importance of generosity. “Giving has its root in our spiritual relationship with Christ,” he said. He challenged the Conference to adopt a culture of generosity by keeping giving spiritual, paying attention, and saying “Well done” to those who give.
Lay Leader Address
David Johns, Conference Lay Leader, introduced the recipients of this year’s Missional Offering, the three Indiana United Methodist-related children’s homes. “These homes are about changing lives. Real people with real stories. Important work. Work that we can help with and should,” he said.
David also offered an update from the Board of Laity and challenged the Conference to live as peacemakers, referencing our Annual Conference theme. “Surely, as sisters and brothers in Christ, we can find a way to deal with our differing opinions and beliefs in a positive and constructive way,” he said.
United Methodist Foundation of Indiana, Inc. (UMFI)
Manet Shettle shared that UMFI awarded over $726,000 in grants and scholarships in 2020 and listed members of their board.
Motion: I move to affirm the incoming slate of board members for the United Methodist Foundation of Indiana, Inc.
The motion passed (99.8%).
Children Matter Most
The Conference then heard from Rev. Jennifer Huff, Chair of the Children Matter Most initiative, Angelo Mante, and Sara Daniels and the work they are doing to minister to children in their communities. “Children Matter Most is not a mantra. It is the heart of churches and leaders who know children must have opportunities to know they are loved and cared for in their neighborhoods and schools,” said Jennifer.
Conference on Finance and Administration
Rev. Rodney Frieden and Ian Hall, Director of Finance and Administration, shared details about the financial state of the Conference. After income and expenditures in 2020, there was a budget surplus of $207,000. Rodney explained that our 2022 budget was compiled with the following formula: INUMC Conference Needs + UMC Apportionment = Budget. The 2022 budget will be presented tomorrow.
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Episcopal Address
After lunch, Rev. Larry Whitehead reconvened the Conference Session by presenting Bishop Trimble for his Episcopal Address, entitled Awesome and Amazing. Bishop shared several examples of how God has been at work in the Indiana Conference in the last year, from church plants and Fresh Expressions to virtual Bible studies and baptisms. He declared, “Thank you, God, for signs of Pentecost and prayer power, for constant sightings and signs of Jesus and justice!”
Pensions and Health Benefits
Susan Spaulding announced that for 2022, the church contribution toward clergy healthcare costs increased by only 1% (compared to 6% previously). She made the following motion: That the Past Service Rate (“PSR”) for Pre-1982 service be set at $787 per service year in 2022 – a 2.5% increase and that the report, in its entirety, be approved as presented in the written report.
The motion passed (98.5%).
Board of Trustees
Rev. Teri Crouse, Chair of the Conference Board of Trustees and President of the Indiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, Inc., presented the following summary of their annual report:
– Fifteen discontinued or abandoned church and Conference properties were sold for $422,150.
– The Shara Trust’s gross earnings for 2020 were $562,926.73.
– Nine churches disaffiliated from the Indiana Conference.
Teri made the motion: I move the Indiana Annual Conference ratify the disaffiliation of the churches listed in our report.
The motion passed (94.8%).
Teri then made the motion: The Board of Trustees moves the Annual Conference accept their report as presented.
The motion passed (99.2%).
Resolution #1
The first resolution was submitted by Emily Krach on behalf of the Children Matter Most team, which is a call to immediate and sustained action on behalf of children. In part it reads:
“BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the people of the United Methodist Church of Indiana, will work and walk according to God’s purposes for the lives of the children and their families in our communities. We will intervene where children encounter harm, seek healing that brings community, and offer love that leads to fullness of life. We will advocate for the children of Indiana that they may be given every opportunity to thrive and become disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Resolution #1 was adopted (98.3%).
Resolution #2
The second resolution, submitted by Zachary Manton, is about having the Indiana Conference more actively support Adoption and Foster Care. In part it reads:
“So let it be resolved that the Indiana Annual Conference … do the following:
1. Express our commitment to seek mercy for children in foster care.
2. Call on each family to pray for guidance on how to help children in foster care and those who are eligible for adoption.
3. Encourage our pastors to preach on God’s concern for those children.
4. Commend churches that are equipping families called to foster and/or adoption through available resources.
5. Encourage United Methodist Churches in Indiana to set aside a special Sunday each year to focus on our own adoption in Christ and our burden to help children in foster care.
6. Pray that God creates a culture of adoption in churches and families across the connection that is not driven by flesh, race, economics or culture but by Spirit, unity and peace.
7. And finally, that we pray for an outpouring of the Spirit so that our churches will proclaim in word and deed that “Jesus loves the little children…”
Resolution #2 was adopted (96.9%).
Resolution #3 – Williams
The third resolution is Jacob Williams’ regarding an aspiration for delegates. It is meant to give optional guidance to General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates. In part it reads …
“Therefore, we resolve and respectfully request that the members of the Indiana General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference delegations abstain … from the making of charges or complaints against other persons of our connection. Furthermore, we call on members of these delegations to refrain from inciting or offering material assistance to others in filing similar charges, particularly when the purpose of these charges has been clearly stated as an attempt to further damage and undermine our adjudicatory system and deliberative processes.”
One speech was given for the resolution and one against.
Mike Womack made a motion to amend Resolution #3, deleting lines 22-36, replacing them with two new paragraphs.
Two speeches were offered for the amendment, and two were offered against.
Motion: to amend Resolution #3. The motion did not pass (52.8%).
Motion: to table Resolution #3. The motion did not pass (72.3%).
Another speech was given in favor of the resolution.
A point of order was made by Lenora Collins, questioning whether or not it is legal to suspend the law of the Book of Discipline. Bishop clarified that this resolution is a non-binding, aspirational request for the delegation, which has nothing to do with our Discipline.
Cindy Alte made a motion to amend the resolution, adding to line 33 “as those charges and complaints relate to same gender weddings or LGBTQA+.”
Motion: to amend Resolution #3. The motion passed (55.9%).
It was determined that Resolution #3 would be revisited at a later time.
Extended Cabinet
Rev. Shannon Stringer, Director of Leadership Development, presented on behalf of the Extended Cabinet. Praise was given to clergy, retirees, and laity for how they led and adapted and ministered during the pandemic this past year. “We cannot promise you that we [the Extended Cabinet] will lead forward with perfection. But we can promise that we are working to keep our focus the best ways to resource our INUMC congregations and their people.”
Legacy Churches
Rev. Lore Blinn Gibson, Dean of the Appointive Cabinet, presented the following churches that closed their doors in the past year:
Central: Amo, Morris Street
East: Morning Side, St Paul
North: Lambs Chapel, Milford, South Bend Epworth, South Bend Monson Community, TeeGarden
North Central: Lebanon Otterbein
Northwest: Boswell, Fulton County Pleasant Hill
South: West Point
Southeast: Dupont, Moores Hill
Southwest: Elnora
West: Graysville, Hymera Bethel, Knightsville, Koleen, Marco, Patricksburg
Resolution #3
Because time allowed, Resolution #3 was revisited. A speech was offered against the resolution.
A motion was made to call the question, ending the debate and proceeding to the vote. The motion passed (95.8%).
Motion: approval of Resolution #3 as amended. The motion passed (56.9%).
Closing Business
Chris Mahon shared some closing business:
– A reminder of the Celebration of Life worship service at 7:00 p.m. (ET)
– A reminder to reconvene tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. (ET)
Bishop Trimble offered a closing prayer.
