2009 Annual Report

Dr. Doug Talley
Executive State Pastor

I’ve just finished reading the 2007 Annual Reports from former state pastor Bob Moss. He talks extensively about going through significant transition from 2003-2007. Little did anyone know that it would continue for two more years! Bob left Indiana Ministries August 31, 2008 to return to the local pastorate that Renee and he love so much and I began as the third Indiana Ministries executive state minister in four years.

Some of you are probably frustrated with another crew change. I can understand that. Indiana Ministries has been historically characterized by executive state pastors who have provided leadership for multiple terms. The frequent crew changes of the last few years has disrupted state ministry and probably caused some to wonder if it is worth the effort.

Because of the multiple changes in my own life and ministry (after being at my first ministry assignment for 25+ years) since 2005, I have been reading and re-reading the book Managing Transitions by William Bridges. He says there are three psychological/emotional stages in coping with transition and change.

1. The way things were come to an end. This requires facing feelings of loss and letting go of the way things were.
2. The Neutral Zone is the psychological “no man’s land” between what was and what will be. It is often a weird period but provides great opportunity to be creative and innovative.
3. There is a new beginning that releases energy and a rediscovery of purpose.

As I’ve recently read Bridges’ book again, it has dawned on me that Indiana Ministries has been jumping back and forth in these three phases in a chaotic way. That is not a criticism. There is no need to place blame because it is not anyone’s fault. I am just making an observation. In many ways Indiana Ministries has been in a weird zone since early 2005 to the present. The weird zone has generated a variety of feelings and emotions, such as loss, anxiety, frustration, and confusion. It has also caused some misfires, misdirection, and loss of momentum. If Indiana Ministries was a business, it would probably be out of business, especially in these challenging economic times.

Until I began writing this report, I had not taken the time to reflect on the significant transitions IM has had in the last several years. I’ve been engrossed in setting a new direction, generating momentum, navigating crew changes, and managing a budget. Plus, there have been the usual personal changes that accompany moving from one state to another. 

I am so thankful for the pastors and churches that have been understanding and patient with IM and have continued supporting IM (financially and otherwise) during this period of unusual and frequent changes. I have been warmly welcomed back home to Indiana by pastors and lay leaders who have gotten excited about the IM vision and are committed to IM thriving as we pursue our mission of resourcing and empowering local churches to multiply disciples, leaders, pastors, and churches so that God’s Kingdom expands. I’ve even had several pastors tell me their congregations are increasing their percentage giving to IM because they believe in this ministry. I am so grateful for this kind of support. It has encouraged me again and again during this first year at the helm.

Listed below is a quick recap of some major changes since October 2007.

• Cindy Blake left the IM staff. She served two and a half years as business administrator and did an excellent job.
• Rev. Jeff White left the IM staff and returned to pastoring a local church after serving very capably on the IM staff for two years and eight months. His wife, Dianne, worked part-time as support staff. Both of them provided valuable ministry and service.
• Significant staff cutbacks were made so that spending matches income and dollars are released to resource and empower churches.
• The mission and vision of IM is being redefined and recast in light of a new day of leadership. This involves working to create a culture of health and growth (pastor, lay person and congregation) in our state and a rediscovery of the outward, missional focus of the local church. Bob Moss began this shift, and it is continuing.
• Indiana Ministries is being repositioned from being primarily an administrative judicatory to being a ministry to the local church that exists to resource and empower local churches to accomplish their mission of making more and better disciples. Bob Moss began this repositioning.

• Indiana Ministries was awarded a Lilly Grant to fund financial and budget education in the local church. The grant, called the Financial Freedom Fund (FFF) will provide financial assistance to qualified pastors in the areas of school loans, pensions and health savings accounts. For more information, attend the FFF Best Practices Workshop which will be held November 6th & 7th at Madison Park Church of God.

• Rev. Carl Addison of Earthen Vessels Ministries has been contracted (very part-time basis) to direct SHAPE and FFF ministries.
• Cindy Talley has been added to the office staff as part-time help. 
• The Board of Directors is taking the final steps in functioning as a governing board.

In addition to these changes, here are several accomplishments in the past year.

• Increasing the number of training opportunities for SHAPE pastors through a Developing Healthy Churches workshop (March) and an extra day with Al Ells (November).
• Established partnership with Healthy Growing Churches to increase our capacity to resource local churches on mission.
• Free Percept membership that provides customized demographic information for every church.
• Development of a Consultation & Coaching Ministry to help churches accomplish their mission. Three churches will have completed a consultation by the end of 2009. Several are already scheduled for 2010.
• Hosted or co-hosted youth events (State Youth Convention, Iron Sharpens Iron Conference, Tri-State Leadership Initiative).
• Church planting: Catalyst (Chris Denney, pastor) and Thursday Church (Debbie Salters, pastor. Planted by First Church of God, Vincennes)
• Best Practices Workshop (Nov. 6-7) on church budgeting and pastoral compensation. This is open to all pastors and church board members (costs are covered by the Lilly Grant). Attendance is mandatory if a pastor/church participates in the Financial Freedom Fund. See the web link for more information.
• An every other week electronic newsletter connects IM with pastors and lay leaders.
• Several very inexpensive ($10) phone training events have been offered that pastors can participate in without leaving their office (church staffing, understanding emotional intelligence and the role it plays in ministry, ministry during challenging economic times, etc…).
• Specialized leadership development study groups for pastors.
• Assisted a couple of churches in conflict mediation.
• Pastors’ Wives Retreat.
• Assisted churches in pastoral search.
• Consulted with church boards on organizational structure.
• Raising funds for church planting.

I cannot express enough appreciation for the Indiana Ministries Staff. They have an incredible heart for the church and her mission. They are very dedicated and hard working. They have welcomed me with open arms and assist me in so many ways. Due to the staff decreasing by two people (Cindy Blake and Jeff White) in the last year, Jenene and Mimi have willingly picked up extra assignments and are carrying significant work loads. I am so indebted to them. As I write this report, Cindy Talley has begun working very part-time and will be able to reduce the overload Jenene and Mimi had been experiencing.

This past year has been economically challenging for all church, state and national ministries. Indiana Ministries has certainly felt it as contributions from local congregations have decreased 7.8% over the same period a year ago.  As I’ve looked over financial records from the past five years, I’ve discovered that annual giving to Indiana Ministries by local churches has decreased by approximately $50,000 (from 2004 to 2009). It is challenging to do more with less, but that is our intent. Approximately 41% of our churches in Indiana do not financially support Indiana Ministries. I’m praying that God will expand our base of support.   For those congregations that have increased their financial support in 2009, thank you!

I am so thankful for the many pastors and lay leaders who serve in various capacities within our state ministry. They are part of the very heartbeat of Indiana Ministries. During this past year, members of our two credentialing committees and the Department of Ministry Services have given scores of hours to the credentialing pastors and addressing related issues. This year alone Indiana Ministries is ordaining 17 pastors who are completing a multi-year credentialing process. 

I also want to thank the pastors and lay person who are serving on the newly formed Consultation & Coaching Team (Fred Bays, Bruce Colbert, Mike Cottrell, Ray Houser, Georg Karl, Bob Herman, Jim O’Bold, and Curt Walters). These persons meet with me monthly to develop and implement our consultation and coaching ministry. This includes doing weekend consultations with me as a team (three or more per consultation). I am humbled by the confidence these very capable people have placed in me and by their willingness to invest numerous hours in helping other congregations more effectively accomplish the mission.

I am also appreciative of the more than 35 people who serve on the Consultation Prayer Team. These persons live from Minnesota to Florida and fervently pray prior to, during, and after a consultation weekend. They have a passion for healthy growing churches who are reaching people for Christ and are interceding diligently for congregations and the Consultation & Coaching Team. They are an incredible asset to the Kingdom!

I also want to thank the Board of Directors for the incredible support they have been me in my first year. Their willingness to follow my leadership and speak positively into the process has been such an encouragement. These dedicated Christ followers want to see local congregations flourish and believe in the mission of Indiana Ministries.

As Indiana Ministries moves into 2010, our mission is to develop healthy, vibrant congregations that are reaching people for Christ, growing disciples towards maturity, and transforming their communities. Though we continue to provide various administrative services for pastors and churches, our main focus is on developing churches that are accomplishing the mission to the glory of God.

Remember, Indiana Ministries is not a suite of offices in the Wesleyan World Headquarters. We, the pastors and churches of Indiana, are Indiana Ministries! We are a partnership of churches who believe in being connected so that the mission is accomplished more effectively.