The organized united of UNITED METHODIST WOMEN shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know GOD and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
Welcome
LOOKING FORWARD >>> SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION!!
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Events and resources
Our 2012 calendar is full of exciting events to help promote our purpose. Reservation forms and detailed information can be found by clicking on the blue links.
- Guided Silent Retreat -- May 18-20 at the St. Joseph Retreat Center in Tipton
- UMW Dinner at Indiana UMC Annual Conference in Indianapolis -- CANCELLED DUE TO EXPENSE!!
- North Central Jurisdiction Meeting -- June 2012 -- Des Moines, Iowa -- Registration is now open -- for details check the NCJ website
- School of Christian Mission and Sampler Day -- week of July 23, 2012 -- preliminary information can be found here. Register online -- scroll down to School of Christian Mission for details.
- Fall Celebration and Annual Meeting -- October 12-13, 2012 at Avon UMC.
- Training and Leadership Development Event -- November 2012
- Legislative / Social Advocacy Day -- late winter 2013
- Guided Silent Retreats and Spiritual Retreats -- late winter and early spring 2013
Newsletters, called the "Mission Messenger," are published quarterly and mailed to all district and conference officers, presidents of local units of United Methodist Women, and local churches. Subscriptions are also available -- contact Anne Bunch, Communications Coordinator (see Officers list). Also available are occasional e-mail updates via "Constant Contact" -- contact Anne to subscribe.
One of the exciting elements of programming for United Methodist Women is the Reading Program. Each year relevant books to support and inform our purpose are selected and made available through the Mission Resource Center. In 2010 and 2011 we included a Celebration Reading Plans for 2010 especially for the first year as the new Indiana conference. You can find 2012 Reading Program books that are available for the Kindle here.
Call
to Prayer and Self-Denial 2012 -- Theme "A Time for Change: Technology"
-- In 2012 the offering will enable national mission institutions and
overseas institutions historically related to the United Methodist
Women to help the marginalized and the poor, the physically challenged
and others, especially women, children and youth, who don’t have access
to information technology that will improve their quality of life.
Projects such as computer literacy, information technology training,
English as a second language classes, and career enhancement
andjob-seeking skills will be supported. Programming
materials can be found in the 2011-2012 Program Book Walk With Wholeness. Prayer cards, offering envelopes and posters are available
from the Mission Resource Center.
Other items of interest:
- A video explaining the mission proposal to be presented by Women's Division at the 2012 General Conference of the United Methodist Church.
- List of current conference officers and their contact information. Officers for 2012 are listed here.
- Indiana map with districts outlined
- The Mission Today Unit reporting form can be found here.
- Forms for reporting: 2011 Local Unit Officers form AND District Secretary's Form to List 2011 Local Unit Presidents.
- A talent form from the committee on nominations for you to become more involved
- Brochure for The Youth & Young Adult Scholarship Fund providing hands on mission and mission education experiences to young people ages 13 to 25.
- Resources for information and advocacy -- Links Page
- We're on Facebook -- look for the groups UMW of Indiana and Indiana School of Christian Mission -- for updates and information
- SOCIAL ACTION OPPORTUNITY -- sign the pledge to "drop the I-word" ... the United Methodist General Commission on Religion and Race wants "to eliminate the racially derogatory term, “illegals,” from use within the church, popular usage and public discourse and ... instead to use language that affirms the inherent worth of all people in the eyes of God." Find the pledge and more information here.
School of Christian Mission
School
of Christian Mission is the primary mission education event for the
Indiana annual conference and is planned and implemented by United
Methodist Women of
Indiana. In
addition to the adult programming for ages 18 and up there are two
components for youth and children. YoPeMiCa (Young
Peoples
Mission Camp) for middle and high school aged youth and ChiMiCa
(Children's Mission Camp) for ages 3 and up. (Childcare is
also
provided.) The youth and children's studies parallel the
adult
studies to create an intergenerational program. Studies are
always Biblically grounded, promote spiritual growth, educate and
challenge participants to become more actively engaged in mission.
Preliminary announcement for 2012 SOCM and studies can be found HERE.
SCHOLARSHIPS
are available for first time attendees -- deadline was April 15:
Scholarship forms for ChiMiCa (children 3 to 5th grade)
and YoPeMiCa (middle school
and high school youth) should be sent to the conference
Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation.
Scholarship forms for the Young Women's scholarship (ages
18-40) and Local Unit/District members
scholarship should be sent to your district
Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation. The
Loren Maxwell Scholarship is available to clergy, deacons, and clergy
students who wish to attend School of Christian Mission or Sampler Day
for the first
time. Deadline for 2012 application is June 1. The studies for 2011 were The Journey: Forgiveness, Restorative Justice and Reconciliation (spiritual growth study), Haiti: Challenges and Hope (geographic study) and Joy to the World:
Mission in the Age of Global Christianity (topical
study). The 2011
studies will now be used in the local churches and districts for programming and
study. Several Districts include "Mini-Schools" in their
programming. Study books are available from the Mission Resource Center (see "Links" above) and the accompanying AV materials can
be borrowed from the Indiana Conference UMC Media
Center.
2012 School of Christian Mission
The
United Methodist Women of Indiana's 2012 School of Christian
Mission will be held at DePauw University in Greencastle. This year's studies are: