Website Header 2011
Important Articles!
Staff Parish Relations Committee Visits
Lay Servant School
Job Opening
Welcome Back Bishop Coyner!
Younity Youth Conference
Operation Classroom Packing Day
Safe Sanctuaries Abuse Protection Q&A Session
Gathering of the Order of Elders
UMCOM
 
Tips and Tactics for Vital Congregations
 
Welcome
 
A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
To create a welcoming church environment, remember to Circle of Ten Rule. Green anyone, member or guest, who comes within ten feet of you.

Get more
welcoming tips at:
West District Center
118 W. Seminary St.
Greencastle, IN 46135

Visit us on the web!

765-276-4797
1-877-781-6716

Office Hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Parking is available in the lot located at Maple Street and Seminary Street.  Please call ahead if you will need to utilize the handicapped access ramp that is available.


West District Mission Opportunities 

 

 

Local Church Events  

 

 

 
 
Follow us on Twitter
 
Join Our Mailing List
West District Staff
John Groves
Rev. John Groves
Superintendent
[email protected]

John Davis

Rev. John Davis
Associate Superintendent
[email protected]

Katie Purple

Katie Swisher
District Assistant
[email protected]
West District News
September 11, 2012
Like us on Facebook                  Follow us on Twitter
The West District Center has a new page on Facebook!  Click the Facebook button above to "Like" our page, and stay connected to others in the District!
John Davis will be out of town September 15-October 3.  He will return any e-mails or voice mails when he gets back.  Thanks!
NEWS

Elders Gathering
Staff Parish Relations Committee Visits Calendar

John Groves, the new superintendent for the West District, will be visiting with all Staff Parish Relations Committees throughout the next couple months.  A schedule has been set, and notifications were sent out last week to SPRC chairs and pastors.  Please check with your pastor or your SPRC chairperson if you have not heard the date for this meeting.  If you have any questions about this schedule, please contact Katie Swisher by email or by phone at 765-276-4797.  


SAVE THE DATE!Lay Servant Ministries
Lay Servant School
Saturday, October 27 
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 
Brazil First UMC

Basic Class

Led by Jon Overbey

 

Advanced Class
"Living Our Beliefs - The United Methodist Way"

Led by Mindy Huffman

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM!

Job Opening

 

Sullivan First United Methodist Church is seeking two dedicated individuals willing to help us grow a youth ministry and a children's ministry. Must be a person committed to establishing relationships with children (5th grade and younger) or youth (6th grade through 12th grade) both in and outside the church. The successful candidates will possess a passion to introduce people to a relationship with Christ. These are part-time positions.  Salary is open to negotiation. Candidates should send resumes to Rev. Mike Brockway, Sullivan-First United Methodist Church; 107 N. Court, Sullivan, IN or to [email protected]


EVENTS
Local Church Events Calendar 

In an effort to keep this newsletter as concise as possible, we are listing local church events only on the district web site.  To view these events, simply CLICK HERE, and you will be directed to it.  If your church has an event you would like featured on this calendar, please e-mail the details to Katie Swisher at [email protected].
Welcome Back Bishop Coyner
Bishop
WEST DISTRICT CELEBRATION
Bishop Coyner
With Bishop Michael Coyner 
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Mt. Pleasant UMC - North Campus
1057 North Fruitridge, Terre Haute
7:00 p.m.

Please come to this celebration to greet Bishop Coyner and welcome him back for another four years as Indiana's Bishop.  There will be light refreshments, fellowship, and a short presentation by Bishop Coyner.  We look forward to seeing you there!  

Please e-mail Katie Swisher to RSVP for this event.

Younity Youth Conference

September 29-30, 2012
Camp Illiana - Washington, IN

The Younity Conference is a 1 1/2 day youth event starting Saturday morning and ending Sunday at noon. We welcome All Youth in grades 6 - 12. You do not need to be a member of the United Methodist Church or any other church to attend this event.

 

Youth will attend sessions and workshops. They will enjoy activities such as rock wall, zip line, ropes course, and more. Click here for more details!

  

Operation Classroom Packing Day Operation Classroom  

Thursday, October 4 

Breden Memorial UMC
2228 S. 7th Street, Terre Haute
(Time TBA) 

 

The next Packing Day for Operation Classroom will be Thursday, October 4, 2012, at Breden UMC in Terre Haute.  Now is the time to purchase school supplies. Click here for a list of supplies that are needed.

 

It is also time to think about scholarships.  Scholarships are $100 per student and covers one year of tuition.  When you provide a scholarship you will receive a photo of the student and a letter of thanks and telling you a little about him.  You can send the check or money order to me or to Joe Wagner, Operation Classroom, P.O. Box 277, Colfax, IN  46051.  Please designate the check as scholarship for Fergusson.

 

Summer clothing is also needed.  No women's shorts or tank tops.  Tennis shoes, flip flops and baseball caps are also needed.

 

Bill Green

District Coordinator for Operation Classroom

7556 West CR 350 South

Greencastle, IN  46135

765-653-5430

 

Safe Sanctuaries banner

SAVE THE DATE! 

Safe Sanctuaries Abuse Protection Policy Implementation Q&A Session   

Saturday, October 6   10:00 a.m. - noon 

Brazil Union UMC  -  780 E 600 N, Brazil 

 

 

Suicide - Is There A Spiritual Response?

Friday, October 26  8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Zionsville UMC  -  9644 Whitestown Road, Zionsville

 

More information can be found here.

 

 

Elders

Gathering of the Order of Elders of the Indiana Conference

Thursday, November 15, 2012  10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis

 

A Gathering of the Order of Elders of the Indiana Conference has been called. The purpose of this gathering is to come together for fellowship, worship, lunch (provided), and for a discussion of the changes being made to appointment security for Elders.  By November 15th we will know if the changes voted by the 2012 General Conference have been affirmed, modified, or rejected by the Judicial Council.  No matter what their decision, there is a great deal of anxiety and confusion among the Elders (Deacons and Local Pastors are not directly affected)  around this issue of what some have called "guaranteed appointments." 

 

This Gathering is for all active Elders, and your attendance is expected.  Retired Elders are welcome but not expected to attend.  Elders serving in Extension Ministry appointments may be excused if your employment or geography prevents your attending, and of course Elders who are on Incapacity Leave or other kinds of Leave.  Provisional elders are also welcome to attend, even though they are not officially members of the Order of Elders, because these appointment issues will impact their ministry for many years to come.

 

Because we need to have a count for lunch and nametags prepared for you, please register online at this address before November 9, 2012:   www.inumc.org/elders2012.  These details will also be online at that address.  For anyone who cannot register online, you may call the Conference Center (877-781-6706) and register over the phone.