r At Indiana Central Just around the corner: 44th School of Prophets This is the last call for the 1985 Wesley Theological Seminary, Washing- professor of systematic theology at Duke Other class topics include "Death School of the Prophets, a long-standing ton, D.C., will serve as the keynote Divinity School; Dr. Henry L. Gerner, di- in the New Testament," "Wesleyan The- continuing education event for Indiana speaker; preacher of the week will be Dr. rector of the Buchanan Counseling Center ology: Its Past and Its Promise," "Effec- Area ministers. Tex S. Sample, professor of church and at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis; the tively Coping with Stress," "Successful Seven classes and three workshops society at Saint Paul School of Theology, Dr. Mark J. Blaislng, senior pastor of and Creative Fundraising," "Pulpit and will be conducted during the event, slated Kansas City, Mo. (see photos in June Trinity UMC, Elkhart; The Rev. Daniel the Pew: Reflecting a Global Perspec- for Aug. 12-15 at Indiana Central Univer- HUM). L. Farce, one of the directors of Church tive," and "The Family and Christian sity, Indianapolis. INSTRUCTING CLASSES will be World Service's Office of Global Educa- Nurture." Two seminary educators will serve Adolf Hansen, vice president for student tion; Dorothy and George Dolch of Pfeif- Workshop instructors will include as key speakers at the event, now in its affairs at Garrett-Evangelical Theologi- fer College in Misenheimer, N.C.; and Amy M. Owens, certified alcoholism 44th year: Dr. Marjorie Suchocki, dean cal Seminary; Dr. Thomas A. Laogford, Suchocki, who will focus on "Experienc- (Continued on page S) and professor of systematic theology at vice provost for academic affairs and ing Christian Unity." Loren Maxwell dead at age 55 THE REV. LOREN E. MAXWELL, one of the best-known ministers within the South Indiana Conference, died unex- pectedly July 4. He was 55. Mr. Maxwell had been a member of the South Council headquarters staff in Bloomington since 1977 with responsibili- ties for mission and church extension. He was taken ill while at home the evening of July 4 and was rushed to a Bloomington hospital where he died a short while later. Death was attributed to a heart attack. A memorial statement and resolu- tion appeals elsewhere in this issue. St. Mark's Church in Bloomington was filled beyond capacity for the funeral service July 8. Officiating was the church's pastor, the Rev. Mac Hammon, with Dr. Joe Emerson bringing the me- morial message. Memorial contributions have been suggested to the South UM Ministeries Pension Endowment Fund. Mr. Maxwell was admitted to pro- Veterans return in bationary membership in the South Con- ference in 1953 and became a full North Conference member in 1957. A naitive of Marion County, he held The North Conference Council degrees from Garrett Evangelical Semi- Office in Marion has welcomed two nary and the University of Evansville. veteran administrators who will Interment was in Evansville. serve as part-time consultants at the He has been a delegate to several conference headquarters in Marion THE ELDER ORDINATION SERVICE during the South Indiana Conference General and Jurisdictional Conference in- during the 1985-86 conference year. June 4-7 at Bloomington. Additional photos inside this issue. cluding 1984. His past pastoral appoint- Both are former council directors. (STAFF PHOTO BY BEVERLY EMMONSI ments in Indiana included Epworth, LaMoille, Prairieton, Petersburg, Hunt- Named are DR. MERRELL D. '85 plans set ingburg, Princeton and University GEIBLE (left), council director from Heights churches. 1977 to 1983, and DR. GERALD H. Prior to his council staff appoint- JONES who was in the same post ment, Mr. Maxwell held church leader- from 1969 to 1972. Both men had taken Indiana UM's set record ship positions on the Conference Board of formal retirement in 1983. Geible will Evangelism, Town and Country Commis- continue to make his permanent re- tirement home in North Webster and for Children's Offering Jones will continue his permanent re- tirement residence in Fort Wayne. A record amount has been donated money was designed for the Bishop's Af- In making the announcement, as part of the annual Christmas appeal rican Appeal. With other monies added to that of the Harvest Offering, Indiana Concil Director John Hopkins noted for children around the world. Meeting July 15, the areawide Spe- UMs gave nearly $300,000 in hunger relief the used of retired clergy means a cial Offerings Committee received the to Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. wealth of experience will be available good news that Hoosier UMs contributed The $111,343 available for distribu- to North Conference congregations. nearly $132,485 as part of the 1984 appeal. tion from the Christmas appeal compares The concept, he said, is being tried on Issuing the report was Area Execu- to approximately $70,000 from the 1983 of- an experimental basis this year. tive Assistant J. Kenneth Forbes. He fering when receipts were down because Jones and Geible fill the vacancy noted that although the offering is taken of a variety of factors. The Christmas '82 cause by the resignation of long-time during the Christmas period, monies con- offering had netted about $105,000. staffer Dr. Joe Kipfer who now is on a tinue to come in for several months. The special offerings group which one-year sabbatical. One reason for With promotion expenses of slightly met July 15 voted to continue both the filling the post temporarily, stated more than $20,000, the balance left for dis- (Continued on page 31) Hopkins, is to permit the conference tribution came to $111,343. The promotion to have time to consider an overall expense includes envelopes and shipping, headquarters staff big plan. posters, leaflets, letters, labels and pos- tage. It covers costs both for the Christ- Inside Una Muwdl Bom men are available to local sion, Board of Pensions, Nominating churches for planning retreats, lead- mas Offering and the Harvest Hunger Offering (formerly Thanksgiving Offer- • Retirement homes news, pp. 18-21 Committee, Camping Program, Council ership training and other consulta- on Ministries and the Board of Education. tions. Geible will have particular ing) taken earlier in the fall. (Quarterly paid promotion) The Harvest Offering also was • South Conference in photos, pp. 16-17 He led countless work camps over the focus on discipleship and church ft so- years. ciety; Jones will concentrate on cause for rejoicing, with more than $53,- • International romance, p. 8 000 collected in the North and over $54,000 • National conference wrapup, p. 13 Survivors include his wife, Barbara global ministry concerns and Chris- in the South. It is administered through • Who are'young adults'?, p. 15 J. Broshears Maxwell; a son, Raymond tian education. the respective conference treasurer's of- • Tears of service, p.25 W. Maxwell; and a daughter, Patricia fices. As reported earlier in HUM, that Ashworth. TW7 PAGE 2 • HOOSIER UNITED METHODIST • July/August, 1985; Pontius' Puddle Soundings VJOTf! IMAVtwT |F YOO EAT NVE NOW MSPE OUT rAY WILL YEfl YOotL BE D&PWN/lNfc AND t PLAN TO MY FAWLY LEAVE AHOIUE from the episcopal study MONEY TO FAMILY ■n«Gt**.CtV OC May we not be found lacking Developments on the African and military force. continent continue to distress and disturb (2) The ultimate source of this many Americans. Names like Angola, African freedom movement is not Reader Response Mozambique and Zimbabwe often appear Marxism, but the Bible. Western as participants in a sinister plot to missionaries taught Africans subvert freedom as we have known it in human dignity and self- the western world. The Republic of South determination long before they Africa stands for many as the last great ever heard of Communism. Another nail in the coffin 'Hurts of history" western outpost to resist that subversion. (3) Africans cannot understand TotheEditor: To the Editor: But to most Africans, the so-called why the United States, born in a I never cease to be amazed that the violent, military revolution against Our Bishops have done it again; 'front-line states" which border the HEADLINE: "NATIONAL": Methodist agent of God's reconciling love and Republic of South Africa are shining British colonialism, does not fully Bishops Appoint Gay Ministers; forgiveness continues to keep in HUM the examples of nations which have, within support their revolutions against This is awful! Another nail in the coffin, issues concerning James Armstrong. The the last 10 years, gained their colonial rule. for Methodism. I for one am not going to have article regarding his appointment as visiting independence while South Africa is the (4) African Christians similarly any part in providing monies to support these professor of preaching at Iliff School of epitome of the evil resistance to such cannot understand why American so called leaders of our Methodist system. Theology could have ended at the fourth freedom. Christians, who gave birth to their January HUM: YEAR IN REVIEW paragraph. However, someone felt it Viewpoints differ — sometimes revolutionary ideals, do not support EDITORS SEE HOMOSEXUAL ISSUE AS necessary to add four additional unrelated being diametrically opposed. This is what African freedom movements. TOP STORY. paragraphs entitled "Riding the Crest." When This all came to a head in Denver, last will the Church focus on reconciliation and less causes political conflict in the world. But, (5) Church leaders, both black and year; and at that time, The Methodist laws on stiring the hurts of history which only keep in the case of Africa, it also causes white, in South Africa increasingly clearly stipulated "Homosexuality is wounds unhealed. religious tension. are saying the church around the incompatable with our CHRISTIAN teaching." Marrien W.