March. 2026

A Call to Do Justice, Love Kindness

and Walk Humbly

The prophet Micah issues a call “to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.” One Great Hour of Sharing does just that, working for justice around the world with partners who know the needs of their own communities.

One way churches are answering the call is through grassroots organizing, a faith-rooted approach to addressing systemic injustices within local contexts. The PC(USA) has created a new eight-page guide, titled “Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO): A Call to Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly.”

The guide notes that CBCO is grounded in the belief that, through deep relationships and faithful witness, faith communities are uniquely equipped to walk alongside frontline communities in the shared pursuit of justice and the common good.

A NEXT Church Workshop Series – Spring 2026

CHANGING THE CULTURE OF ASSESSMENT

The traditional metrics of budgets, membership, and attendance are no longer adequate to evaluate success in ministry. Instead of searching for new ways of measuring, we revert to what we know, perpetuating a status quo. But, if what we are doing matters in our lives and in the world, we must develop meaningful ways to measure effectiveness. We need to change the entire culture of assessment. This 3-session workshop series will unpack the concepts of Cultivated Ministry while offering practical ways to begin shifting the culture of assessment in your own context. Each session will be 90 minutes in length and will build on the concepts over the 3 weeks. The workshops will be held over Zoom and will include concept presentation, conversation, and application examples from practitioners already using this resource. Because the workshop is designed for active participation, recordings will only be available for the week following each session in the event a participant must miss a session. The workshops are designed for all church leaders – church members, pastors, educators, elders, and church professionals.

Thursdays: April 30, May 7, May 14

1:00-2:30pm ET // 10:00-11:30am PT

Stronghold is Hiring!

Stronghold Summer Camp is hiring for the 2026 season. Positions include camp counselor, photographer, summer camp nurse, lifeguard, and arts & crafts director. Apply at www.strongholdcenter.org/summerstaff or contact ryan@strongholdcenter.org.

News related to the Board of Pensions of the PC(USA)

From the Board of Pensions (March 9, 2026)

Support for congregations and pastors with children

An additional dues subsidy will be available to congregational pastoral leaders enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package to help alleviate the cost of dependent child medical coverage. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the subsidy will cover 50% of the national, community-rated medical coverage cost of dependent children. This subsidy will reduce the flat rates for both the 2027 Child(ren) and Family coverage levels. Using the 2026 dues as an example, the cost of coverage for children is currently $829 per month (approximately $9,950/year). The subsidized monthly amount would be $414.50 (approximately $4,975/year) for Child(ren) and $1,435.50 (approximately $17,226/year) for Family. Congregations may share in the cost of dependent coverage.

Transitional Pastor’s Participation and its inherent subsidies will be extended through 2029, giving congregations and ministers already enrolled in this package two more years to transition to the Congregational Pastors Package. Please know that the Board continues to monitor medical cost trends and will release the 2027 dues for the Congregational Pastors Package and Transitional Pastor’s Participation, including flat rates to cover dependent children, in July to ensure the most accurate rates.

The Medical Plan already provides subsidies for ministers in several ways, including offering dues as a percentage of salary rather than the actual cost of coverage. As stewards of the Benefits Plan, we balance rising healthcare costs with annual dues and reserves so that the plan remains financially stable. This article describes in more detail how we do that: 

https://www.pensions.org/news-and-events/articles/balancing-risk-rising-costs-member-care-in-fragmented-system

 You can also read about how we aim to control costs through coalition purchasing: https://www.pensions.org/news-and-events/articles/the-power-of-coalition-purchasing/

A new grant to support ministers with child care needs

Child Care Support is a new grant available through the Assistance Program that offsets a portion of child care needs for children ages 0-6 years. The initial pilot phase of this grant, effective April 1, 2026, will provide $500 per month per child and up to $1,500 per month per family. This grant supports ministers of the Word and Sacrament and commissioned pastors employed by PC(USA) congregations whose effective salary is $56,880 or less and who meet other eligibility requirements.



Additional Medical Plan options coming in 2027

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the Board of Pensions will offer three additional Medical Plan options for lay members and non-installed ministers who are not enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package or Transitional Pastor’s Participation. The three additional options include a second PPO, second EPO, and second HDHP and will have the same features as the existing options with different out-of-pocket costs. More details will be available in the summer. Ministers and dependents enrolled in the Congregational Pastors Package or Transitional Pastor’s Participation will continue to be offered the Board’s current PPO option.

You can read about outcomes from the March Board of Directors meeting, including the experience apportionment for the Defined Benefit Pension Plan, on our website (www.pensions.org)

Blackhawk Presbytery Staff

General Presbyter/Stated Clerk

Rev. Eric Heinekamp | 779-771-1896 | Email: eric@blackhawkpresbytery.org

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm; some evenings.

works remotely

Associate Stated Clerk

Rev. David Spaulding | 815-677-2801 | Email: revspaulding@gmail.com

Office hours: As needed basis, part-time, works remotely

Treasurer

Pastor Alan Willadsen | 309-635-1675 | Email: awilladsen@att.net

Office hours: As needed basis, part-time, works remotely

Administrative Assistant

Jeannette Sheehan | 779-771-2088 | Email: jeannette@blackhawkpresbytery.org

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Works remotely except for Tuesdays

in which she is in the office.

Are you doing something new or interesting in your church from which others might learn?

You have a standing invitation to send us articles, pictures or information to share.

See how to send us large videos under Resources (above).

Open Searches for Pastoral Leadership in Blackhawk

Also check our Employment Opportunities page

Associate Pastor (Christian Education)

First, Joliet

Solo Pastor: Installed

Westminster, Rockford

Commissioned Ruling Elder

Fulton, Fulton

Solo Pastor: Installed

Westminster, Dekalb

Solo Pastor: Installed

First, Fairbury

Commissioned Ruling Elder

First, Fairbury

Solo Pastor, Yoked Ministry

First, Mendota

See the CLC for more info - anyone can do an opportunity search

Presbytery of Blackhawk

Our Vision and Values

     Grounded in the biblical image for human community, as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, we challenge and support congregations to be thriving faith communities by facilitating competent leadership and resourcing to energize ministry and mission.

     As Christians, guided by the principles of love, trust, open communication, and genuine relationships, we value each other as sisters and brothers in faith in all our varied theological understandings. Therefore, we relish respectful discussions of differing opinions as a necessary part of discerning the will of God.