Meet Sandy Harlan

You are likely to see Sandy Harlan at St. Luke's regularly, as she is involved in a variety of ministries in and through the church. In addition to attending the traditional Sunday worship service, she leads a small group on Monday mornings called God Talk. She also volunteers at Crooked Creek Food Pantry, serves on the Lay Leadership committee, assists with Sunday morning communion, and is on call to help with funerals and weddings as needed. In the past she has led the Singles' Sunday Class, taught Disciple Bible Study, and led Lenten and Advent groups and Pastor's Book Study. She has also participated in anti-racist studies, including the Black Author Book Club and two trips to Montgomery, Alabama. You will often find her on Sunday mornings meeting and greeting people at the coffee hour. Suffice it to say that Sandy leads an active and purposeful life of ministry.

Sandy was born in South Bend and is a lifelong Hoosier. She is also a lifelong Methodist, deeply influenced by her home church, St. Paul Memorial Methodist (sadly now disaffiliated). She graduated from South Bend Central High School and from Evansville College, where she was a pre-theology student. After graduating from college she got married and moved with her husband to Bloomington, where they owned and operated a small family business, Wayport Kennels & Pet Supply. They adopted two sons, ages 10 and 12.

Family business can be hard on relationships, and it took a toll on their marriage. They divorced after 30 years of marriage. Sandy resumed answering her earlier call to ministry and completed requirements for certification as a Church Business Administrator. She then took online seminary classes and two-week intensives at various United Methodist seminaries, obtaining the educational equivalency required for ordination in 2000. She served as part-time Director of Financial Ministries at St. Mark's in Bloomington, part-time Associate Director of Ministerial Services for the South Indiana Conference, and full-time Associate Director of Clergy Services for the Indiana Conference until retiring in 2014.

Sandy has been at St. Luke's since April 2010, following her move to Indianapolis. She didn't intend to become a part of St. Luke's simply because it was so large. However, after visiting several other United Methodist churches in the area, she decided to at least check it out. She knew she was "home" when she heard the saxophone prelude of Amazing Grace. The entire service felt familiar. In addition, she encountered several people she already knew. There was no further consideration. This was it.

A few months later, she attended the new member orientation class. As a clergy person she is a member of the Annual Conference, but she declared St. Luke's to be her charge conference, as all retired clergy are asked to have a connectional relationship with a local congregation.

When asked what inspired her to include St. Luke's in her estate planning, Sandy replied, "My church taught me about tithing, and I've practiced it for most of my life, beginning in my early teens. I recently updated my will. It occurred to me to think about what I could give back to St. Luke's. Because I have family with whom I wish to share whatever I leave behind, I decided I could tithe my residual estate to St. Luke's, thus leaving the remaining 90% to share with family members. I recently finalized that decision with my attorney. However, I told David Heetland, pastor of planned giving at St. Luke's, not to get excited. Depending on how long I live, there may not be much, if anything, left. But the decision is a statement of faith, and who knows? It may inspire others with more means than I will ever have."

Sandy would like her planned gift to go into St. Luke's endowment fund, with the earnings used to carry out St. Luke's ministries in the future. "I hope it will help continue the many ministries that characterize St. Luke's-and look for more ways to live out what it means to be a United Methodist Christian-wherever the spirit leads."

St. Luke's is grateful for the many ways Sandy Harlan shares her time, talents, and treasure, and for her thoughtful estate planning. The church is pleased to recognize her as a member of St. Luke's Legacy Society. If you would like more information on how you too can become a member of St. Luke's Legacy Society, contact David Heetland, pastor of planned giving, at [email protected] or 317.399.6202.