Annual-Report-2008

   ~identity We are an open

community

of Christians gathering to seek, celebrate, live and share the

love of God for all creation.

~vision We envision being transformed

by God and transforming the world into a compassionate, just, inclusive,

Christ-like community.

~method We experience God’s

unconditional love, embrace hope, grow in faith, and become empowered by our passion for ministry and

service in the world.

 .  Street • Indianapolis,   Telephone: -- • Fax: -- • www.stlukesumc.com

   :  ,  Dr. Kent Millard, Senior Pastor St. Paul began his letter to the followers of Jesus at Corinth with words which express how I feel about the followers of Jesus at St. Luke’s: “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind.” (  :-)

1. Development of a Governing Board After an extensive consultation process with Dr. Gill Rendle, our leaders decided to elect a 13-person governing board which would have primary responsibility for long-range strategic planning for St. Luke’s. The Governing Board does not focus on current operational issues; those are managed by our Staff Parish Relations Committee, Trustees, Finance Committee and Program Team working with the Lead Team and the Staff Executive Team.

The Governing Board deals with strategic issues, such as how we will pay our  million mortgage when the current capital campaign pledges are completed in , and what will be our process for succession planning when our current Lead Pastors at St. Luke’s and The Garden retire five to seven years from now. Please pray for our Governing Board as they wrestle with these significant and strategic issues.

The members of the Governing Board are Jennifer Todd (Board Chair and Lay Leader), Kent Millard (Lead Pastor), and members Marilyn Burger, Sara Cobb, Terry Corman, Brad Fuson, Mike Hertel, Kathy Minx, Jeff Peek, Linda Pratt, Charlie Russell, Margaret Wood and Bob Zehr.

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2. Mission Outreach We began  with an emphasis on Sierra Leone, Africa with a Cultural Festival and fundraising activities which brought in , to support medical, agricultural and educational ministries in Sierra Leone. Mission teams led by Dr. Don and Marilyn Griffith have brought hope and help to our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone in both  and .

We have been key leaders in developing the Indianapolis Interfaith Hunger Initiative which brings together Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu leaders in raising awareness and funds to feed hungry children in Indianapolis through Gleaners Food Bank, and in Kenya through the Umoja (Unity) Project near Eldoret, Kenya for providing food for school children. St. Luke’s raised , in October  for this project. In December the Indianapolis Interfaith Hunger Initiative donated , to Gleaners and , to Umoja for feeding children.

Jim Morris is the honorary Chair and Kent Millard is the Chairperson of the interfaith steering committee promoting this project.

In  we also celebrated our partnership with the Haitian Academy with the graduation of the first  Haitian medical doctors from the St. Luke’s Clinic which we built several years ago. Through the efforts of Kay and Gary Walla, we now also provide funds for a chicken farm as well as a school for children.

Our Community Ministries program has identified five focus ministries which will receive special emphasis from St. Luke’s. They are Brookside Community Youth Program, Fletcher Place Community Center, Construction Ministries, Outreach, Inc., and a Public School Partnership.

3. Clergy Recognitions Dr. Linda McCoy was recognized as an Influential Woman of Indianapolis by the Indianapolis Business Journal for her pioneering work in establishing a satellite ministry of St. Luke’s called The Garden, with worship services at Beef and Boards Theater and the Mansion at Oak Hill in Carmel.

Dr. Marion Miller received her Doctor of Ministry Degree from Christian Theological Seminary, and has created a multi-cultural, inclusive congregation at our Later@St. Luke’s Sunday evening service.

Rev. Marsha Hutchinson was interviewed in O Magazine for establishing and a leading a Longest Night Service to help people through the Christmas season when they are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Dr. Adolf Hansen co-chaired the task force which created one new Conference in Indiana bringing together the former South Indiana and former North Indiana Conferences, and is working with Bishop Coyner as the Interim Director of Human Resources for the new conference.

Rev. Stan Abell received recognition at the IU-Kenya Festival for his work in raising funds and support for an AIDS orphanage in Kenya.

Rev. Brian Durand was chosen as one of the Young Clergy to serve on the Transition Team for the new Conference.

Dr. Carver McGriff, former Senior Pastor, was named a “Chevalier” of the French Legion of Honor for his service to that country, as is chronicled in his book, Making Sense of Normandy, about his experiences in the invasion of Normandy, France in WWII. Dr. Kent Millard was elected to serve as an Alternate Delegate to the  General Conference in Ft. Worth, Texas and as a Delegate to the Jurisdictional Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and to serve as Chair of the Council on Finance and Administration in the new Conference and on the Global Health Initiative Task Force for the denomination.

4. National Leaders at St. Luke’s During 2008 St. Luke’s was fortunate to host several nationally-known leaders: Bishop Mike Coyner preached here in February Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love Phil Gulley and Jim Mulholland, Indiana Quaker pastors and authors Senator Richard Lugar spoke here in October Brian McClaren, pastor and author of A New Kind of Christian Jim Morris promoted the Interfaith Hunger Initiative

Carrie Newcomer, Indiana composer and musician Nielson & Young, internationally-known musicians President Barack Obama surprised us in worship in April Parker Palmer, educator and author Wintley Phipps, nationally known Gospel singer Jill Bolte Taylor, bestselling author of My Stroke of Insight Randall Tobias spoke at our AIDS Day service in December

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6. T.I.M.E. Together in Ministry Everyday Resources Published

5. The Garden The Garden is a unique and creative ministry designed to reach those who have little or no previous church experience, or who have been disillusioned or disenfranchised by prior church involvement. The Garden was a pioneer in what is currently referred to as “multi-site ministry,” and took that step long before the term was even coined. While officially a part of St Luke’s, The Garden covers all of its own expenses except for clergy salaries, and in , finished the year in the black.

The Garden is in its fourteenth year of existence, and has continued to grow steadily over the years. It serves some 1500 Gardeners who call The Garden their ‘spiritual home,” with attendance hovering around  each week. The ministry meets in two sites on Sundays— Beef and Boards Dinner Theater, and the Mansion at Oak Hill in Carmel. There are three services at Beef and Boards, and one at the Mansion at Oak Hill, with conversation underway about launching a second Oak Hill service. In addition, The Garden involves several hundred people on its various teams, and has created a one-of-a-kind process for helping people explore their faith and develop their personal spiritual statement. According to our bishop, The Garden has grown to be one of the top fifteen churches in attendance in the new Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Publishing House asked Kent Millard to write a T.I.M.E. Handbook, Lori Crantford to write a T.I.M.E. Workbook, Mike Jensen to produce a T.I.M.E. DVD, and  people in the congregation to write a T.I.M.E. Devotional Book to encourage other churches to become more outward-focused congregations. These resources help congregations to care for people in their communities as they Feed My Sheep, Teach My Sheep, Heal My Sheep, Hug My Sheep, and Shelter My Sheep based on   where the Risen Christ commands Peter to Tend My Sheep.

We thank God for our T.I.M.E. leaders who have been the inspiration behind this church-wide emphasis in becoming a more outward-focused congregation.

7. 2008 Finances With the downturn in the economy in the last quarter of  and decreased giving, we had concern about ending the year in the black financially. However, because of great frugality by our staff and lay committees and a burst of generosity at Christmas, we ended the year with a positive balance of ,.

Our  Christmas offering jumped to nearly , for the first time, which helped us to end in the black.

Thanks be to God for your sacrificial giving to God’s work.

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Looking Ahead to 2009 1.

Finances—The economy has had a significant impact on many in

our congregation, and consequently on the economic health of the church.

About  people who pledged in  had to decrease their  commitment, and another  were not able to make a commitment at all. This results in about , less committed for  than for .

We have significantly "pruned" our budgets, received , in special gifts, used our net income from , reduced some positions, used some undesignated gifts in the designated fund, and used income from the Endowment to be able to present a balanced  budget. Our total operating budget for  is about  million. When we add in the gifts to the Endowment, special fundraising projects from the UMW, Youth, Special Mission offerings, etc., our finance office handles about  million annually.

2.

The Intersection—Our Governing Board is exploring the possibility of estab-

lishing a Saturday evening worship service called The Intersection in partnership with Roberts Park United Methodist Church. Roberts Park would provide the facilities without charge, and St. Luke’s would provide the pastoral staff for a creative, innovative and experiential service to reach unchurched and dechurched people in the downtown area.

Rev Stan Abell and Student Pastor Brenda Freije from St. Luke’s are working with the Rev. Howard Boles and Student Pastor Kim King from Roberts Park to enroll lay leadership in developing this worship experience. Because of the uncertain financial climate in which the church and other funding agencies find themselves, it is likely that a launch of this ministry may need to be delayed. The vision and mission of serving downtown Indianapolis with a progressive theological voice and vibrant outreach ministry remain strong.

3.

Our Vision—In spite of the decrease in income and the pastoral challenges of helping people who have lost jobs, homes and businesses, the vision of St. Luke's remains that we will be transformed by God so God can use us to transform the world into a compassionate, just, inclusive and Christ-like community.

In some ways, this “pruning” will be good. It has caused us to evaluate everything we do and determine what is really most important to achieve God's vision. It will require us to enroll more volunteers to lead where paid staff has led in the past, and that will be good for us in the long run.

I thank God for our committed and dedicated staff, and I am thankful for the Lead Team of clergy and lay directors composed of Julia Johnson and Adolf Hansen as co-chairs, with Dr. Linda Mccoy, Rev. Brian Durand, Dr. Marion Miller, Rev. Marsha Hutchinson, Rev. Stan Abell, Terri Coe, Mark Squire, Jayne Thorne, Mary Katherine Schnitz, Julie O'Connor and Dr. Kent Millard serving as members.

our  full-time and  part-time lay staff, and our six fulltime and one part-time clergy staff.

Steve Lankton guides our Trustees with expertise and commitment in caring for our large and complicated physical facilities. John Guild has led our Stewardship Campaign with experience and expertise, and Mark Helmus has led our Endowment to an all-new high of about  million.

Marsha Reynolds heads our Program Team, which consists of Wendy Loker leading the Growth Team; Ron Sinicki leading the Member Care team; Dick Tully leading the Music Team; Barbara Branic leading the Outreach Team; Tony Hunley leading the United Methodist Men; and Kathy Dalton leading United Methodist Women.

When I think about the incredible leaders in this congregation I say again with Paul: I give thanks to my God always for you!!

To God be the glory!

St. Luke's is also blessed with an outstanding core of committed and talented lay leaders. Jennifer Todd gives untold hours as Lay Leader and in leading our Governing Board; Jeff Peek gives his expertise as a CPA and attorney in leading our Finance Committee, refinancing our mortgage and managing our income and expenses; Linda Pratt leads our Staff Parish Relations Committee in hiring and supervising

Grace and Peace,

Kent Millard Lead Pastor

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pledges 2008 by the numbers

During , the St. Luke’s congregation continued to generously support the ministries of the church with their financial gifts.

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, , ,

Gifts received for Powerful Possibilities Campaign Other Capital Campaign/Building Fund Gifts TOTAL Capital Gifts 

  

Gifts toward  Annual Operating Fund Gifts received for  Support of The Garden Funds Received for Missions/Designated Funds/Programs** Gifts Received for St. Luke’s Endowment TOTAL Gifts Received for Operations/Outreach

 ,,  ,  ,  ,  ,,

TOTAL Gifts Received from the St. Luke’s Family in 

$ ,,

** Sampling of Outreach Ministries receiving assistance in  Appalachian Project, Hazard, KY Brookside Community Youth Program Caring Churches Network Changing Footprints Construction Ministries (SAWS) Cuba D’Iberville Volunteer Center Earthquake and Flood Relief Epes Center, Chile Fletcher Place Community Center Fresh Start Global AIDS Initiative Habitat for Humanity (Indianapolis; Collier County, Naples, FL; John’s Island, SC; Ft. Myers, FL) Haitian Academy training of medical students and agriculture Heifer Project Honduras Medical Mission Hurricane Relief Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home

Interfaith Hunger Initiative IPS School 20 Partnership IU/Kenya AIDS/Power of One Inter-Faith Alliance Jamaica John Wesley School, Jeremie, Haiti Liberia, Africa Lucille Raines Residence Manna from Heaven Mar Elias Midwest Mission Distribution Center Neema Orphanage Operation Classroom in Sierra Leone and Liberia Outreach, Inc. Sierra Leone, Africa Tree of Life, South Dakota UMCOR United Christmas Service United Methodist Children’s Home in Kentucky World Missions support of work trips

••• Total gifts and contributions made to world and community groups from UMW, The Garden, Singles, Children’s and other ministries were over ,.

••• St. Luke’s also contributed , through apportionments to the work of the United Methodist Church throughout the world.

: The congregation continues to respond to St. Luke’s mission with their Prayers, Presence, Service and Gifts.

    

# of Families Pledging

Total Pledges

Average Pledge

    

,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

, , , , ,

2008 Annual Income Statement Pledge Income Identified Plate Loose Plate Christmas/Easter Special Gifts Gain/Loss on Securities Prior Year Pledges Facility Rental Church School

 ,,  ,  ,  ,  ,    ,  ,  

TOTAL Income

 ,,

, ,, , , ,,

Board of Trustees Staff Parish Relations Church Apportionments Program Budgets TOTAL Expenses

    

Net

 ,

Welcoming New Members During  we welcomed  new members at St. Luke’s and lost  members by death, transfers or withdrawal for a net gain of  members. The total membership of St. Luke’s is , at the end of .

  



Confessions of Faith Confirmation Class Transfer from UMC Other Denominations TOTAL New Members

    

    

Removal of Members Withdrawn Transfer to Other UMC To Other Denominations Deaths TOTAL Withdrawn

    

Net Membership Gain Membership Baptisms Preparatory / Children under 18 Constitutents Average Worship Attendance St. Luke’s Worship The Garden TOTAL







    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

  

  

  

  

  

membership



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St. Luke’s Staff ST. LUKE’S CLERGY STAFF: Kent Millard, Linda McCoy, Brian Durand, Marsha Hutchinson, Marion Miller, Stan Abell, Adolf Hansen

Kathy Alexander, Administrative Team Assistant; Jason Barnes, Director of AV/Media; Dawn Bick, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry, Elementary; Betty Brandt, Director of Spiritual Life Center; Brad Cherry, Facilities; Terri Coe, Director of Adult Ministries; Marsha Coyner, Director of Joyful Rhythms; Lori Crantford, Director of Communications, Marketing & Development; Brian Durand, Director of Youth & College Ministries; Jan Emmons, Finance; Sylvia Forbes, Membership & Care; Brenda Freije, Student Pastor; Bertie Gilster, Front Office; Mary Hach, Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry, Early Childhood; Adolf Hansen, Theologian in Residence; Kathleen Headington, Associate Director of Youth Ministries; Martha Heinrich, IT Manager; Carol Helmus, Special Event/Wedding Coordinator; Sharon Holyoak, Oasis Bookstore Manager; Julia Johnson, Executive Director of Ministries; Mike Keller, Director of Wesleyan Ringers; Faina Kleyner, Finance; Beth Lammers, Building Scheduler; Erica Lampe, Benefits/Development Assistant; Tujuianna Lockhart, Facilities; Bobbi Main-Jackson, Director of Weekday Ministries; Charles Manning, Assistant Director of Music Ministries; Linda McGlothlin, Adult Ministries; Bonnie McMenamin, Music Ministries Assistant; Janet Miller, Children’s Ministries; Alex Moon, Facilities; DeAnna Moran, Adult Ministries Registrar; Rickie Murphy, Facilities; Debra Nethercott, Director of Children’s Music; Sarah Nevin, Publications Design; Jan Nichols, Coordinator of World Missions Projects; Julie O’Connor, Administration & Celebration Team; Matt Peyton, Associate Director of Youth Ministries; Rich Potterf, Building & Grounds Ministry; Mary Katherine Schnitz, Director of Care Ministries; Cara Scott, Receptionist; Kelly Scott, Facilities; Winnie Sibotshiwe, Facilities; Mark Squire, Director of Music Ministries; Tara-Lynne Sinicki, Director of Children’s Ministries; Alison Strawmyer, Assistant Director & Registrar, Weekday Preschool & Parent’s Day Out Program; William Taylor, Facilities; Jayne Moynahan Thorne, Director of Outreach Ministries; Chris Thornsberry, Associate Director of Adult Ministries; Cheryl West, Director of New Song; Adra Wheeler, Director of Hospitality & Volunteers; Rich Wisman, Facilities.

ST. LUKE’S STAFF:

Linda McCoy, Stan Abell Troye Kinnett, Director, The Good Earth Band; Steve Whipkey, Director, Oak Hill Band; Judy Tolley, Administrative Team Leader; Beth Fried, Communications & Worship; Larry Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Operations THE GARDEN CLERGY STAFF: THE GARDEN STAFF:

Some of our new members in 2008.

    

     

   

 .  Street • Indianapolis,   • Telephone: -- • Fax: --

www.stlukesumc.com