Avon Christian Accepted into Technology Initiative Program

Avon Christian Church is one of 30 Indiana congregations accepted into the Technology and Ministry Grant Initiative through the Indiana Center for Congregations.

The Technology and Ministry Grants Initiative (TMGI) seeks to help congregations address challenging issues in utilizing technology, allowing congregations to develop their own plans that would best work for them.

By participating in the program in 2010 and 2011, Avon Christian could be eligible for up to $30,000 in matching funds to expand its use of technology in serving church members and the community.

Members of the church’s technology team, led by Jeff Rausch who is serving as project director, will participate in three planning classes at the Indiana Center for Congregations to help prepare the grant proposal. The Center also will provide support throughout the process, including thinking theologically and strategically about technology as a tool in ministry.

This grant initiative is made possible by support from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Carolyn Scanlan serves Avon Christian Church as senior minister.

Reconciliation Grant Helps Youth Attend Camp

Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana (IHC) (Discípulos de Cristo) in Indianapolis, Ind. has had a very full summer.  In the spring of this year, the congregation wrote a grant proposal to the Regional Commission on Reconciliation for funds that would allow them to send their junior and senior high students to the Indiana Region’s camp programs during the months of June and July. 

Youth and other members from Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana pose with Associate Regional Minister Carolyn Reed following the celebration on August 23.

As a result of the grant being approved and additional regional camp scholarships being secured through the Regional Office, 18 youth were able to attend the summer camp programs offered at Camp Barbee and Bedford Church Camp.  In addition, one of the young adults from IHC, Francisco Pérez, was also able to serve as a counselor for the Bedford CYF Camp in July.

On Sunday, August 23, IHC held a special celebration in recognition of the youth that were able to attend, the congregation’s leadership that provided transportation to and from the camps and Carolyn Reed from the Regional staff. 

Alejandra Alpizar represented the youth of IHC and expressed the appreciation for the experience. He indicated that the time at camp is now motivating the youth from IHC to become more involved not only with the local church youth program but also with other opportunities that will be offered by the Region throughout the year.

The youth, mostly Hispanic with one Vietnamese member, were first time attendees to such an event.  One of the purposes of the camp experience, as it was outlined in the proposal to the Commission on Reconciliation, was to provide and share a multicultural experience to the  youth of IHC for this summer’s camp program.

IHC is grateful to the whole Regional staff for their collaboration throughout this process.  We are especially thankful to Cheryl Cloar, who presented the request before the Commission on Reconciliation, Carolyn Reed, who had major responsibility for working with registration and assignments for the campers, and Vonnie Cloud and Enid Colón who worked with finalizing registrations through the Regional Office.

Following the camp programs, the congregation was also involved with different aspects of the General Assembly which met in Indianapolis, IN from July 29 to August 2.  On Sunday, August 2, IHC, together with Meadlawn Christian Church and Casa del Alfarero, served as host to over 150 in worship, primarily Hispanic delegates to the General Assembly, at the Meadlawn Church facility.  The Reverend Héctor Méndez, one of the founding pastors of IHC, was the guest speaker.

IHC is grateful to all who have helped to make this a very memorable summer and commit to working towards other such experiences that can unite us as one Church in Christ.

Poseyville Church Receives Grant

Poseyville Christian Church has received a Flourishing Congregations grant from the Center for Congregations.  The $3,700 matching grant will assist the congregation in developing a long term strategy for the church facility.

Dr. Marion Warpenberg (left) and board president Steve Ahrens take measurements in the sanctuary at Poseyville Christian.

The Flourishing Congregations Team for Poseyville includes Doris Beckerman, pastor of the congregation, and Steve Ahrens, board president, along with Julia Coulter, Rita Davis, Justin Schlumpf, Dr. Marion Warpenburg, and Darlene Voegel. 

In preparation for the mission study phase of the grant, Rev. Carolyn Reed, Associate Regional Minister, helped the church conduct and evaluate appreciative inquiry interviews to identify church members’ positive experiences at Poseyville Christian Church so that the team could begin identifying areas of interest for mission activities.

In addition to the mission study group, the grant will help fund a building inspection, CPR and first aid training for several members, and an architectural evaluation to assess whether the building condition and design will support the church’s mission.  Grant-eligible activities will continue through April 2010.

The Center for Congregations is a non-profit organization committed to strengthening congregations through resource consulting, educational events and resource grants.

Mooresville Church Receives Clergy Renewal Grant

The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mooresville, Ind., has received a grant of $48,516 from the Lilly Endowment to enable its minister, Kelly Carter, to participate in the 2009 Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations. First Christian is one of 30 congregations in Indiana that will engage in the program, which allows pastors to step back from their busy lives and renew their spirits for challenges ahead.

First Christian plans a sabbatical with a wellness theme.  The congregation and pastor will have programs that center around spiritual, physical, and mental health. Pastor Carter will travel with her family for a time of renewal and fun as well as work with a fitness trainer and nutritionist. She will also work with Sotello V. Long, Regional Minister for South Carolina, for Spiritual Direction.

During her sabbatical time, Kelly will also have the opportunity to work with Disciples’ former General Minister and President, Richard Hamm. “Having the chance to spend time just sitting at the feet of Jesus; to pray, to reflect, to write, this is such an amazing gift!” says, Carter.

Roger Heimer will serve as pastor to the congregation during the sabbatical period, and Stacy Nelson has been contracted to offer fitness and nutrition instruction at the church. The grant has given the pastor and congregation an opportunity of a lifetime.

The 30 Indiana congregations represent 18 cities and towns and 14 counties. Half have fewer than 200 persons at worship (the smallest is 30), eight have between 200 and 400, while seven have regular worship attendance of more than 1,000 (the largest is 5,522).

The 30 grants this year totaled $1.4 million. Since the program began in 1999, 336 renewal grants have been awarded to Indiana congregations.  The Endowment offers a separate renewal program for congregations in the other 49 states.

This is the 11th year for the Clergy Renewal Program, which invites congregations and ministers to consider and plan a period of “intentional reflection and renewal.” Grant funds assist congregations in providing an extended time for ministers to take a break from their daily obligations and gain a fresh perspective and renewed energy.

“We ask these congregations and ministers to consider the question, ‘What will make your heart sing?’, as they devise their plans,” said Craig Dykstra, senior vice president for religion at the Endowment. “they never fail to come up with wonderful and imaginative yet doable ways to fulfill their dreams. Their time away has freed them up to pursue personal interests and needs in ways that have given them new energy for ministry–and the congregations have discovered that they too experienced a refreshment of their own and newfound sense of their own strengths.

Southport Hosts Sabbath Event

On Monday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m. Southport Christian Church will host Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper, Senior Minister of Judson Memorial Church in New York City and the author of Sabbath Keeping. 

Dr. Schaper will be sharing ways to incorporate the practice of Sabbath into your daily life.  By practicing Sabbath, people gain an opportunity to deepen and revitalize their experience of living each day fully.

Rev. Jennifer Steele-Lantis, an associate minister at Southport, explored the theme of Sabbath during her three month sabbatical leave.  The presentation by Dr. Schaper is funded by a portion of the Eli Lilly Clergy Renewal Grant awarded to both Rev. Steele-Lantis and her husband, Stephen.  Using the grant money in this way allow the church to engage in a time of personal growth and renewal.

There is no cost to attend, and the event is open to others outside of Southport Christian Church.  Anyone wishing to attend must sign up so that the church can plan for childcare and refreshments. Please call 784-4431 to reserve a spot.

Southport Christian Church is located at 201 E. Epler Ave. in Indianapolis.