About the North Indiana Conference

People and Places

The North Indiana Conference is a part of The United Methodist Church (http://www.umc.org), with nearly 10 million members in 119 Annual/Central Conferences worldwide (8.3 million members in 64 Annual Conferences in the US). We are part of the Indiana Area (http://www.inareaumc.org) (along with the South Indiana Annual Conference (http://www.sicumc.org)). Bishop Michael J. Coyner is the Episcopal Leader (Bishop) for the Indiana Area (both North and South Indiana Conferences). We are also a part of the North Central Jurisdiction, which encompasses Annual Conferences in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

The North Indiana Conference is comprised of nearly 575 local churches of all sizes in 9 Districts (http://www.nicumc.org/in/dir/districts.php3) in the northern half of the state of Indiana. There are about 525 pastoral appointments to those churches, ministering to just over 101,000 members. In 2003, the total giving of all our churches for all causes was $105,539,409.

Purpose-Driven

The main purpose of the North Indiana Conference is to make disciples for Jesus Christ by equipping local churches for ministry and providing a connection for ministry beyond the local church, all for the Glory of God.

Core Values

What Core Values Are

Vision answers the question, "What?" It gives the ministry its direction. Core Values answer the question, "Why?" They supply the reasons behind our vision, or what we do. Vision focuses on the future; values look to the present or to the past. An organization’s core values are the constant, passionate, biblical core beliefs that drive its ministry.

It should be noted that these are the Core Values that direct the operation of the Conference, its sessions, boards and agencies, not local churches within the Annual Conference. Within the context of ministry each congregation is encouraged to clarify the particular cluster of Christian core values that drive its unique ministry.

Transforming Churches and People

The core value and centerpiece of the NIC is the ongoing task of transforming persons and our churches into communities with the heart and mind of Jesus Christ. Transformed (and transforming) communities will reflect the full diversity of the Kingdom of God, equal access to services and structures, passion for God and compassion for all people, which leads to the transformation of society.

[Romans 12:1-2]

Experiencing God, Personal & Corporate

Genuine and regular experience of God ignites passion in the soul. We believe that the Holy Spirit offers us guidance and strength in many ways, and that by the regular and diligent use of these means of grace in our work together—including prayer, Bible study, worship, fasting, communion, Christian conferencing, and the acts of mercy and justice—we are better able to discern the Spirit’s direction and follow where Jesus is leading.

[2 Timothy 2:15]; [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]

Christ-Centered Living

We will passionately seek to experience and lead local congregations to a vital relationship with God through Jesus that draws us toward a Christ-centered life, which is expressed in:

• Giving and receiving divine grace and truth
• Calling us to share His passion for all people

[Matthew 22:36-40]

Serving Local Churches

The fundamental posture of our work is to serve the missional needs of the local congregations in the Annual Conference. To this end, we believe strongly in the basic importance of a collaborative sharing and the most effective and efficient stewardship of our resources.

[Matthew 20:25-28]

Leading By Vision

As servants of God and others, visionary servant leaders sense God’s leading and communicate it clearly, inspiring others as together they respond to that leading. We as agencies and as an annual conference will seek both to practice and to nurture visionary leadership throughout the Conference.

[Acts 26:19]; [John 13:14]

Conclusions and Implications

We believe we have clarified a list of values that can guide our Conference into more faithfulness to our Call and Vision. This has been an intense work of struggle, discussion, prayer and study. We believe we have sensed God’s guidance and direction and look forward to the next phases of their implementation, for God’s glory.