The Indiana Annual Conference has announced new updates for its clergy supply process that came under fire last year when a lay minister with a record of conviction for inappropriate sexual contact was assigned to serve a congregation. The latest announcement from Shannon Stringer, Director of Leadership Development, in the conference's "Ministry Focus" newsletter reads:
"In continued response to the need for our INUMC to provide clearer guidelines around the supply assignment process as well as improved intentional care for issues which cause congregational disruption, our Conference teams have done the following:
- Strengthened background check procedures
- Created new supply assignment process checks
- Submitted these new policies for and received approval of their effectiveness from the national Board of Ordained Ministry Staff Network
- Seated Rev. Crystal Jacobson as the new chairperson of the Committee on Status and Role of Women (COSROW) who has seated an active COSROW team
- Held a service of healing for those impacted by abuse
- Developed Congregational Assessment and Response Teams (CART) for both congregational conflict and care for hurting congregations
"We continue to grow forward and thank the many who have partnered with the Episcopal Office and Leadership Development in developing new processes and joining teams to improve the ministry of our INUMC connection."