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Important Articles!
Charge Conference Details
Clergy Appreciation Month
Gathering of the Order of Elders
United Methodist Men National Gathering
UMCOM
 
Tips and Tactics for Vital Congregations
 
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SHORT IS SWEET
When it comes to social media posts, shorter is better.  

Even though there's a 140 character limit on Twitter, keep tweets under 120 characters to allow followers to retweet.  On Facebook, research shows the most engaging posts are 80 characters or less. 

Find more information 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.


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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
October 23, 2012
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NEWS
CC 2012 graphic
 
October is Clergy Appreciation Month!
Clergy Appreciation Month is a special time that congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families for the hard work, sacrificial dedication and multiple blessings provided by these special people.  Click here to download a great resource for planning ways you can celebrate your pastor!
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].
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.

United Methodist Men National Gathering
UMM

July 12-14, 2013
Belmont University - Nashville, TN 

 

Speakers for the event, held once every four years, include: Don Davis, former NFL football player now serving as regional director of the NFL Players Association; David Delk, president of Orlando, Fla.-based Man in the Mirror Ministries; Bishop Swanson, elected to the episcopacy in 2004 and appointed to the Holston Area prior to his recent move to the Mississippi Area; and the Rev. Shane Bishop, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Fairview Heights, Ill., a church that increased the number of members from 200 in 2009 to 1,000 in 2012.

There will be 18 workshops for the national gathering.

 

Participants will also engage in bagging 40,000 pounds of produce for Nashville area food banks, building hand carts for people in African nations who have lost the use of their legs; and preparing ingredients for dehydrated food packages for emergency situations.

 

The theme of the event will be "From the Inside Out," words from a song performed on a CD "Into the Light" by Phil Stacey, one of the five finalists on season six of the American Idol television show. The Nashville public will be invited to his concert on Saturday evening.

 

Price for the registration and meals at the three-day event was set at $239 for people who register before March 1 and $299 after that date. Housing costs vary. More details on this event can be found by clicking here.