District Pastor's Report

Northern Indiana District Conference

September 2002

"We appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you,
and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;
esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
Be at peace among yourselves ... see that none of you repays evil for evil,
but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

I begin with a word of appreciation to you the members of the Northern Indiana District for your love and respect for me as I have labored among you these past eight years. The work of the District Pastor allows participation in many special and celebratory events as well as the difficult issues we face in our life together as the church of Jesus Christ. In light of our District Conference theme this year, it seems so appropriate for me to once again "give thanks" to the members, congregations, district leadership and staff for the opportunity to labor among you.

I "rejoice" in the progress I see being made by our common ministry in "Continuing the work of Jesus." Two years ago, District Conference approved an organizational structure change in the way we carry out district ministry. That change included a smaller Board without Commissions but with authority to create Task Teams to work at specific issues. It also included an enlarged and elected Personnel Committee to call out gifted persons for leadership. For two years we have been working our way into this new structure. We have made progress although we are not yet where we want to be. I "rejoice" in the progress that we have made and I have confidence we will soon be confident and comfortable with our new structure. I "rejoice" that after two years we are able to bring to you the related changes needed for the Constitution and ByLaws.

I "rejoice always" for those among us who hear and respond to God's Call to set-apart ministry. Those who serve as our pastors need our continuing love, respect, and support. I encourage us to find both formal and informal ways to recognize and show our appreciation to them for their tireless labors among us. We have seen some excellent pastoral leadership move from our district this year to service in other places. We rejoice, however, in the following persons who were installed during this past year: John McFarland (Little Pine); Mark Riege (Camp Creek); David Pinkham (North Liberty); Larry Rice (Blue River Youth Pastor); and Jack Cary (Pleasant Valley). In addition, we have appreciated a dozen more who have served in an interim pastor role this past year.

Rejoicing continues for five who were licensed this year: Kyle Martin (Middlebury); Nelda Risden (Bethany); Keith Carter (Union Center); Guy Biddle (West Goshen); and Carrie Fry-Miller (Beacon Heights). Dennis Beckner (Columbia City) and Mike Kauffman (Maple Grove) were ordained, while Brad Hardesty is having his ordination received following a one-year period of orientation and probation.

Two of our licensed ministers completed their ministry training this year: Wendy Noffsinger Erbaugh (Elkhart City) graduated with an M.Div degree from Bethany Seminary in May. Nelda Risden (Bethany) has completed her TRIM training and is being recognized at this conference.

I cannot conclude this "rejoicing" section of my report without mentioning National Youth Conference. Over 300 youth from Northern Indiana made us the 5^th largest contingent to NYC this year where total numbers exceeded 4,000. As I shared in Connection, NYC was a WOW! experience with tremendous worship and upbeat, energetic music. Congratulations to the Bremen Youth for the NYC Theme song that will long be remembered by those who attended NYC. From my observations as a participant and workshop leader, the Church of the Brethren is gifted with some tremendous youth who are ready to serve Jesus and the church "for such a time as this."

The 2002 Annual Conference responded to a Query on Prayer by calling the denomination to a renewed emphasis on prayer for this next year. I am thankful that we are a people who take prayer seriously. In the aftermath of the events of one year ago, we drew upon this unlimited source of power. With the unexpected death of a pastor this year (Junior Blough at Syracuse) and other congregational and personal times of grief, we turned to God in prayer to find comfort and guidance.

Our Conference theme text reminds us to "pray without ceasing." I understand this to mean that our prayer must be as regular as our heartbeat and as much a part of our being as the air we breathe. We need the discipline of regular times and places for prayer, but prayers that are offered in words, thoughts, and images throughout our day to day living are constant reminders of God's presence.

I treasure your prayers on my behalf as I labor among you, even as I keep you in my prayers. I encourage your prayers for your pastor, for congregational and district and denominational leadership, for the church which we love, and even for the world which we often do not understand.

This past year has been a difficult year for this district financially. That is true for many of our congregations and has certainly been felt at the district level. The District Board struggled with various budget options for this coming year before agreeing to the recommendation we bring to this Conference. We pray for guidance as we seek to provide assistance and resources to congregations in these times of declining financial support. We seek your prayers that financial funding for this ministry will be provided.

Each year I participate in a variety of ways with the larger church, seeking to represent this district and the church in various conversations. I have highly valued the support and encouragement that comes through the Council of District Executives. In July I completed a 5-year term of service on the Bethany Seminary Board representing the Council, and began a new service as Chair of the Council of District Executives. I welcome your prayer support for this assignment which continues through December 2004.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

As I continue in my ministry among you to give thanks, rejoice, and pray; I am constantly seeking to understand and to do God's will. Earlier in this year, the District Board began the work of visioning, working toward a Vision Statement and identifying our Core Values. We continue that process. Growing out of that beginning and continuing as a part of Council of District Executives professional growth event, I have worked this year on identifying my own Vision Statement and Core Values (which I have called "Guiding Principles"). I am including these on the next page for your information.

Herman Kauffman

Guiding Principles for Ministry

Call: I am called by God and the Church to serve the Northern Indiana District as its District Pastor. Though by all human measurements, it is an impossible calling; it becomes possible as God is at work within me.

Continuity: This ministry is not mine, nor is it new; rather it is a continuation of the ministry that was begun by Jesus and continued by those who have served in years past.

Creativity: I am created in the image of a creative God and I am called to reflect that creativity in all I do.

Christ: Jesus is the Christ and is the central focus of, and model for, my life and ministry.

Committed: I am committed to serving Christ and the Church through ministry in the Church of the Brethren.

Church: All churches are the right size to be all God calls a church to be and deserve to be treated with respect, even as they are challenged to become all that God intends for them to be.

Caring: Congregations and pastors need to know that the district cares about them and will be there for them in times of need.

Connection: District ministry connects congregations with pastoral leadership; local congregations with one another; and the local with the global.

Personal Vision Statement

My vision as District Pastor is to work at calling, resourcing, strengthening and encouraging pastors and congregations to be a strong presence of Christ in the communities throughout the Northern Indiana District.

A high priority for me is to help congregations find, call, and support pastors who are deeply committed to Jesus Christ, to the church at large and to the Church of the Brethren; who are able preachers, caring pastors, visionary prophets; and who are adequately trained to lead the congregation in its ministry.

I will provide leadership to the district board as it seeks to equip our family of churches for service to build up the Body of Christ; will serve with other staff to provide assistance for and communication to congregational leadership throughout the district; and will nurture positive relationships within the district and between the district and the larger church.

revised April 2002