Vol 26,  Issue 26       

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

Our Illinois Conference Annual Celebration -- 50 years United for Ministry.

"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what (God) will say to me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And (God) answered me and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that (s/he) may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time ... wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (KJV Hab. 2:1-3).

The Celebration continues to the glory of God and in our giving praise and thanks for all the wondrous deeds and works of God in our Illinois Conference. We will be observing our 50th Anniversary through June 2015, until we meet again in Peoria Ill.

Throughout the next 12 months, our Conference will lift up 50 years of being United for Ministry and living into God-led actions taken at Conference Annual Celebration. The specific ground work for our continued testament has been set. Over the next year we will be focusing on strengthening our witness as servants of our Still Speaking God. The various aspects of ministry and witness coming out of the Conference Annual Celebration and direction set by our Conference leadership will include:

• Strengthening of mission as a United Church of Christ Covenant Community whose health and vitality is strong as our local churches and faith communities.
• Offering opportunities for contributions to a "Major Gift Initiative" lead by our Ministry Leadership Team and Conference leaders, inviting individuals to make a gift in observance of our 50th Anniversary and to help strengthen our ministry;
• Developing new strategies to address the challenges and opportunities before us in the areas of Stewardship, Church closure and resurrection (church vitality -- renewal and new life);
• Discerning and receiving a strategic plan to sustain and manage our two Outdoor Ministry sites;
• Educating ourselves, growing a new consciousness and joining sister conferences in going to General Synod 30 in 2015 with resolutions calling for the dismantling of the "New Jim Crow" (the massive incarcerating of young people of color and locking them out of the benefits our society has to offers);
• Working to create new awareness about the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and putting an end to mass deportation and separation of families, in response to the resolution presented at Conference Annual Celebration 2014.
• Building greater awareness about the Israel/Palestinian conflict, within our Conference, and serving as advocates in the United Church of Christ, seeking peace and justice;
• Educating ourselves and working to implement actions called for in resolutions presented at Conference Annual Celebration 2014 regarding: Advocating on Behalf of Victims of Typhoon Haiyan (the Philippines) and Prohibition of Concealed Carry of Firearms in Places of Worship;
• Meeting in Peoria: At Conference Annual Celebration 2015: our theme will be "Continuing Testament; Embracing the Vision" with the Rev. Nadia Botz-Weber.

This is Our Continuing Testament that we are celebrating. I invite you to pray and discern about ways that you and your congregation can join in the Celebration of being United for Ministry and in engaging others as witnesses to our Still Speaking, wondrous, and transforming God.

Rev. Dr. Jorge L. Morales

Conference Minister

Please know that the Conference Minister, the Rev. Dr. Jorge L. Morales will be on sabbatical during the months of August, October and November.  The Rev. Dr. Melbalenia D. Evans will be filling in as Acting Conference Minister. 

QUICK LINKS 

Friendship & Mission at  

the Margins

Join the Conversation

July 24-26, 2014

Missional church  

convocation in Chicago

Info: www.missionalchurch.org

Illinois Conference Immigration Task Force

"Bridges to Community  

Youth Encounter"

July 26-27, 2014

Registration info:  

Installation Service

Rev. Dr. Danielle J. Buhuro

Senior Pastor

Lincoln Memorial Congregational UCC

6454 S. Champlain Ave., Chicago

Sunday, July 27, 2014,

3:00 p.m.

3-DAY REVIVAL

The Congregational Church of Park Manor, UCC

7000 S. Martin Luther  

King Jr. Drive, Chicago

Aug. 17, 10:30 a.m.,  

Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas

Aug. 18, 7:00 p.m.,  

Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith Jr.

Aug. 19, 7:00 p.m.,  

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III

Rev. Dr. Terrill N. Murff,  

Senior Pastor

Oct. 3-4, 2014

Pilgrim Park, Princeton, Ill.

Register: www.il-odm.org 

UCC Confirmation Day

Elmhurst College,  

Frick Center

Guests: Rev. Julian "JKWEST" Deshazier & Alli Baker

Contact: Kim Whisler-Vasko

[email protected] or

(630) 617-3462

Clergy Day Away 

Pilgrim Park Camp,  

Princeton, Ill.

Nov. 11-12, 2014

Keynote: Lauren Winner

Info & Registration:

[email protected] 

ASSOCIATION FALL MEETINGS

Chicago Metropolitan Association (CMA) with Fox Valley,  

Joint Meeting

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014

Church of the Good Shepherd UCC

5700 S. Prairie Ave., Chicago

"Celebrating Our Diversity-

United for Ministry"

Eastern Association

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014

"Embracing the Vision"

Info to follow

Prairie Association

Nov, 8, 2014

English Congregational,  

Big Rock

Speaker: Phil Gulley

"Front Porch Tales"

Info to follow

Western Association

Oct. 25, 2014

"... Be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To God belong the glory and the power, forever and ever. Amen."                   I Peter 4:7b - 11 NRSV Adapted                                                                                                                                           

Recently, while visiting with Russ Graunke, a member of First Congregational Church in Glen Ellyn, he related this story that I wish to share with you.  "When I was a teenager, my family vacationed in Hawaii over Easter. On Easter morning, we were staying in a beautiful hotel and decided to attend an ecumenical "Sunrise Service."The service was outdoors, on a figure of land that jetted out into the ocean with waves crashing around us. We arrived early to find a podium, a keyboard, a sound  system, and a small grouping of about 25-30 chairs-all empty. We were the first to arrive. Because my sisters ranged from as young as five years old, and because my mother worried about us getting our Hawaiian Easter best clothes wet and dirty, my mother insisted that we take seats and wait.There were four rows of seats and we sat in the back row. After a few minutes of waiting, people did begin to arrive. About 30 people wandered in. They were all native Hawaiians -- locals who chose to join this hotel Easter Service. I wasn't sure why they would choose to spend Easter morning at the hotel and guessed that they might be staff. They took seats with us, introduced themselves, asked where we were from, and welcomed us to their island. Soon, some hotel workers added a few seats so that everyone had a seat.       

Soon, an usher arrived and gave us bulletins. A pastor arrived and took his seat near the podium, someone else sat behind the keyboard. Then, a few minutes before the service was going to start, about 100 hotel guests began to stream out of the hotel and stand facing the ocean and podium. There were no chairs left so everyone who arrived "late" had to stand. I told my mother that I was going to offer upmy seat and she toldme to stay put and keep my little sister in her seat as well. None of the locals offered up their seats either and the service began. The pastor welcomed us all and we began running through a nice liturgy. We sang a hymn and I was impressed how well we did, given the  difficult acoustics of the vast outdoors and crashing waves.I don't recall any other details of the service except the one that shockedme. The pastor introduced the choir, anthem and a local choir, and then all the people seated with my family stood up. We were seated IN THE CHOIR. The man next to me smiled as he stood up because he knew thatwe had no idea that the only seats in that make shift sanctuary were the seats for the choir.      

I was horrified. Thank goodness we were in the back row. When the choir finished their offering and they sat down, the man next to me said,We just wanted youto feel  welcome so we didn't ask you to move. You're fine here."What I had just experienced was a truly extravagant welcome. That Easter was 40 years ago and I still think about that choir. On Easter in my church, we have overflow crowds. I do almost everything I can to make visitors feel welcome. But, I have never surrendered my seat in the choir to a stranger. So, I have a ways to go before I am following the example of extravagant welcome shown to my family by a choir at a hotel."           

After hearing this account of an extravagant welcome, I can no longer view hospitality the same way, for I have gained a new standard.

With thanksgiving to God for your generosity in supporting the ministry and mission of the Illinois Conference, we wish to acknowledge:

CHURCHES who have fulfilled their 2014 Covenanted Fair Share:

Church of the Three Crosses, Chicago, Pastor John Hobbs

Hollowayville United Church of Christ, Seatonville, Pastor Michael Slutz

Union Congregational Church, Moline, Pastor Randy Heckman, and

United Church of Hyde Park, Chicago, Pastor David Gregg.

ANTICIPATED BLESSINGS

EMBRACING OUR NEIGHBORS: Enrollment is open for local churches that are ready to use technology to embrace their local community residents. MissionInsite is a Church Demographic Program that provides information about local residents from a variety of sources. Have you wondered have many youth live within walking distance to your church? Do you know how to reach out to your neighbors and to what types of communication they are receptive? Perhaps, you are curious about the number of single parents nearby. If so, now is the time to enroll in MissionInsite for data from the Census Bureau, listing statistical data from past years, an estimate of the current year, projections for 2018, and forecasting for 2023; a compilation of social economic and behavioral data; and religious survey data detailing consumer's choices, preferences and habits. The enrollment fee to participate in this program is $15.00 and covers usage through June 30, 2015. Contact our Conference office, Carmen Torres, at (708) 344-4470 or [email protected] for more information and to enroll your church.

LOCAL EVANGELISM, ENVISIONING, AND PLANTING (LEEAP) MINISTRY: Applications for funding of new church starts and existing church revitalization projects are available through our Illinois Conference website. The deadline for submittals is Sept. 1, 2014. Applications received in 2014 are reviewed and if approved processed for funding in 2015.   Contact Carmen Torres at (708) 344-4470 or [email protected] for more information.

NEW BEGINNINGS: The United Church of Christ is offering a new initiative called "New Beginnings" to address the concerns of local churches that may be in a state of decline. If you can answer yes to two or more of the following questions, you are a candidate for participating in New Beginnings:   Do you have fewer than 70 persons in worship each Sunday? Are you faced with building maintenance issues? Is your membership aging? Are you in a changing neighborhood? Do you have troubles paying your church bills? Participation in this program is a six-eight month, requires five-ten leaders from each congregation, and a fee of $2,800 to   $3,800. For more information, call the Conference office at (708) 344-4470 or contact us at [email protected].

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY: We hope to create a roster of all persons engaged in Stewardship our local churches. We have some very exciting events planned and we would like to include you. We are looking for persons who are charged with the task of gathering resources to facilitate ministry. If your responsibilities include empowering our members to utilize their talent, time, treasure, tissue, and trash in God's service, please contact Larry McCure, Chair, Illinois Conference Stewardship Ministry Team at  [email protected] or (708) 344-4470.

FINDING OUR WAY AGAIN: A Conference for Entrepreneurial Church Leaders Seeking a New Way Forward: The Center for Progressive Renewal invites your participation in their National Church Leadership Institute, Aug. 7-10, in Atlanta, GA. This event features the brightest practitioners and creative re-inventors of church for today's age, with special presentations by Brian McLaren, author of "We Make the Road by Walking". Additionally, Ruth Dearnley, the CEO of the leading international force fighting against human trafficking will address the conference. Scholarships are available! Group Rates for two to 10 participants! VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE is an option! For more information contact them at www.ProgressiveRenewal.org.

GENERAL SYNOD 2015: The call has been issued for workshop leaders! General Synod 30 will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, June 26-30. Lee Foley, the General Synod Administrator, is accepting applications for a limited number of 75-minute workshops to be offered on Saturday, June 27. Applications are due by Aug. 1, 2014. Applicants will receive notification of the status of their application by Aug. 15, 2014. Selected workshop presenters are responsible for arranging and funding their own travel and accommodations and a $280 workshop fee to offset labor and convention center room set-up costs. Audio-visual equipment needs and associated costs will be the sole responsibility of the presenter. Visit www.ucc.org/synod to apply.

LATINO MISSION DEVELOPERS' TRAINING/ADIESTRAMIENTO DE MISIONEROS LATINO: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church are sponsoring a training event for Latino Mission Developers (new and renewing congregation pastors) this summer in Chicago. The training will be offered Aug. 6-9 at The Lutheran Center, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago. For more information, contact Carmen Torres at (708) 344-4470 or [email protected].

MEDIATION SKILLS TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR CHURCH LEADERS: The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is presenting mediation skills training for Church Leaders, Aug. 4-8 at the St. Mark Episcopal Church, 393 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. For more information, contact the Lutheran Mennonite Peace Center at www.LMPeaceCenter.org.

PARTNERS IN BUILDING: The United Church of Christ Church Building & Loan Fund will host its Partners in Building Event (PIB) for the Mid-West Region in Chicago, on Sept. 26-27. PIB is designed for new and renewing congregations who anticipate acquiring their first church home within the next 6-24 months. PIB is offered to assist congregations through the process of buying and owning property and to nurture congregations that are active in and supportive of the total mission and ministry of the United Church of Christ. This event will he held at the Intercontinental Hotel, 5300 N. River Rd., Rosemount. Registration fee is $70.00 and includes meals. Come out and meet the staff of the Church Building & Loan Fund.

UCC CONFIRMATION DAY: Elmhurst College is sponsoring UCC Confirmation Day, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. Featured presenters are Rev. Julian "J.KWEST" DeShazier and Alli Baker. For more information and to request registration materials, contact Kim Whisler-Vasko, Coordinator of UCC Relations at (630) 617-3462 or via e-mail at [email protected].

WOMEN'S RETREAT: The Illinois Conference Women's Retreat is scheduled for Oct. 3-4 at Pilgrim Park Camp, in Princeton, Ill. Come and spend 23 hours engaging God's Holy Spirit! Our Retreat Coordinator is the Rev. Carol Currier-Frighetto. For more information visit our Outdoor Ministries website, www.il-odm.org or call Tara (815) 447-2390.

Beloved, my prayer is that God will continue to bless us with every provision that we need and that being so loved, we will go forth joyfully in service to God and to God's people while thanking God for the opportunity to extend the realm and reign of Christ. I remain

Your Sister-in-Christ,

Rev. Dr. Melbalenia D. Evans

Were you there? Were you among the 240 people who celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ in Springfield? No. Then look forward to the next Celebration, June 2015 in Peoria.

On Friday, June 13, 2014, the glorious 50th Anniversary Celebration convened at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Ill.. The keynote speakers/preachers were the Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess, Local Church Ministries, UCC, who brought greetings from the National office; the Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes, noted author, Biblical scholar, and the Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, justice and witness advocate, formerly on National staff. Each from his or her perspective focused on "time" - "Bold Urgency", "Gift of Uncertainty", Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "The Fierce Urgency of Now."

Music was an important entity of the Celebration. Bishop John Selders, organizing pastor of Amistad UCC, Hartford, Conn., award-winning songwriter and noted musician, provided and directed music during Acts of Praise and worship services. The All Conference Choir sang during Saturday evening worship. And, of course, there was congregational singing.

The Energizers (workshops) included: Justice and Witness: Gun Violence, Who Is Our Neighbor? MissionInsite; Incarceration: The New Jim Crow, and Raising up Young Prophets. Those people who participated in the "Walk" on Saturday saw the area and heard the presentation about the Springfield Race Riots of 1908. Many of us Illinoisans had not known about this dark page in the Land of Lincoln history.

Many individual and churches were recognized for the years of service and anniversaries. Six Chalice awards were presented by our Conference Minister and the Ministry Leadership Team to people who have gone the "Extra Mile" in service to the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ: Robert and Barbara Dieckmann; Rev. Jeremiah and Rev. Ramah Wright (not present); Neil and Sandy Fuller; Rev. Ozzie Smith Jr. and Mary Hathaway.

Business was conducted; reports were received. Officers were elected and installed. The Rev. Dr. Jorge L. Morales was elected for a 2nd term as Conference Minister. Elected officers are: President: Mary Newcomb (WA); 1st Vice President: Rev. Michelle Hughes (CMA); 2nd Vice President: Michael Linder (FVA); Secretary: Rev. Sandra Florentino (CMA) and Treasurer: Rev. Malcolm Griffith (CMA).

The Celebration included fun. On Saturday night after remarks about the Conference history, it was "Party Like Its 1964", coordinated by Rev. Michelle Hughes. She was the D.J., as many of the party-goers danced the 1960s oldies but goodies, such as the Madison, to unforgettable '60s tunes. (Many were really "steppin'. You know who you were.). Best in '60s style included Rev. Michelle Hughes, Rev. Jonathan Knight and Bertha Condra.

And then it was Sunday morning, June 15, 2014. After Gathering IV, including passing the budget, installation of officers, and the Sending Worship, the Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell preaching, the 50th Anniversary Celebration was over. We look to June 2015 in Peoria. The future is now. God is with us all the time.

                                                                                                -- Jacqueline Moore

Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess, Friday guest preacher.

Mary Hathaway received Extra Mile Chalice Award, standing with Conference Minister Jorge Morales and Conference President Doug Zimmerman.

Associate Conference Minister Melbalenia Evans leads an Energizer.

Conference Minister Jorge Morales and some of the Conference staff (from left): Rev. Wayne MacPherson, Connie Owens, Tracy Diehl and Naomi Else.

Rev. Dr. Eric Elnes, keynote presenter.

Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, Sunday preacher.

Elected Conference Officers assemble.

Representatives from Churches that started in 1964 through the present.

More pictures of the 50th Anniversary can be viewed by clicking the following link Illinois Conference Facebook Page. 

Campers with their stuffed animals.

The Tower Hill Summer Camp staff are helping to promote the Conservation Easement Project by selling stuffed animals that live in the easement property in the camp store. We have owls, fox, turtles, deer and turkeys for sale.

The Conservation Easement has received pledges and grants for $353,915 of the $530,000 goal. To find out more about this project you may e-mail www.deercreekopenspace.org.

A total of 155 CWS School Kits, 27 CWS Emergency Clean-up Buckets, and 2 CWS Hygiene Kits were received at the Annual Celebration in Springfield, June 13-15, 2014. The Illinois Conference Disaster Ministries and CWS Illinois region teamed up to encourage each congregation to bring CWS Kits. Twenty congregations brought kits and/or funds to the Celebration!

Rev. Roger Dart, coordinator of the Illinois Conference Disaster Ministries Team, states, "I am delighted by the energetic response of our churches to my challenge that they assemble one CWS Emergency Cleanup Bucket and 20 CWS School Kits for collection at our 2014 Annual Conference Celebration. It was a generous success!"

Several attendees from the Elgin area carried the school kits and emergency clean-up buckets to the depot in Elgin. From there, the kits will go to the CWS warehouse in New Windsor, MD where they will be checked, repacked, and shipped to those in need. Many congregations contributed $2 per school kit or $3 per bucket, for processing and shipping to those in need. $261 was received for processing/shipping, and St. Peter's UCC in Frankfort contributed $400 for additional kits.

In 2013 and the beginning of 2014, CWS sent kits to Syria, Cuba, Malawi, Colorado, Oklahoma, 2500 Clean-up buckets to Illinois, and to many more places. Complete shipping reports and additional information about the CWS Kit program may be found at www.cwsglobal.org/kits.

"We in Illinois were hard hit with floods in the spring and tornadoes in the fall last year," says Julia Jones, associate director of the Illinois CWS office. "CWS was able to respond with huge shipments of clean-up buckets to northern and central Illinois. Because of efforts like those exhibited at the Celebration, CWS and the UCC are able to respond close to home and far away, wherever the need is great. Many thanks to all who assembled and brought kits!"

Participating churches were: St. John UCC, Beecher; Union Church UCC, Brimfield; First Congregational Church, Decatur; St. Paul UCC, Elgin; First Congregational Church, Elmhurst; Immanuel UCC, Evergreen Park; St. Peter's UCC, Frankfort; St. Peter's UCC, Grant Park; First Congregational Church, Huntley; First Congregational Church, Lockport; St. Paul's UCC, Manhattan, Pilgrim Faith UCC, Midlothian; Community UCC, Morton; Immanuel UCC, Papineau; St. Paul UCC, Pekin; Western Association UCC, Peoria Heights; Zion UCC, Peru; Springfield First Congregational UCC, Springfield; Mayfield UCC, Sycamore; Trinity UCC, Westville.

Several churches met the exact challenge of 20 or more CWS School Kits and at least one CWS Emergency Clean-up Bucket. Those were: St. Paul UCC, Elgin; First Congregational, Lockport; St. Paul's UCC, Manhattan; Mayfield UCC, Sycamore.

Others brought multiple buckets. First Congregational, Decatur brought five buckets; St. Peter's in Grant Park brought buckets four plus School and Hygiene Kits; Community UCC in Morton brought three buckets. Thank you!

Staff from UCC Disaster Ministries or CWS in Illinois are available to do presentations about the Kits program. Please contact Rev. Roger Dart: cell (847) 274-2626, [email protected] or Julia Jones: (630) 200-4572 or [email protected].

A conference-wide volunteer trip will go to the CWS kit warehouse in Ferncliff, Ark., and the Heifer Ranch the first week in November. Contact Connie Leader for more info: [email protected].

Over 40 youth and chaperons from our Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ participated in the Regional Youth Event, held July 12-13, 2014, at Lakeland College, Sheboygan Wis.  Approximately 400 participants gathered from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana/Kentucky, Illinois, and Illinois South for the event. Major events in the program included worship, fellowship, workshops and music. Featured music was provided by Rev. Rob Leveridge, and Andra Moran.  There was story telling by Valerie Tutson and the presentations of the Shelter Reality Drum Group.   

Illinois Conference youth at the 2014 Great Lakes Regional Youth Event.

On July 1 Chicago Theological Seminary celebrated the enrollment of its 101st new student for 2014, the largest class of new students to enroll in a single year in the school's almost 160-year history. "This testifies to the strength of our programs and to the hard work we have done over the past four years to increase access through the aggressive expansion of our online program," said Alice Hunt, president of the Seminary.

While interest in graduate theological education has declined across most progressive and mainline freestanding seminaries, CTS has seen a significant increase in applications. Recruitment Director Lisa Seiwert credits two factors in particular for this year's growth. "Our ATS accredited online Master of Divinity program, the first fully online program in progressive theological schools, has enabled many people to seriously consider theological education for the first time." Seiwert also noted the expansion of CTS' interreligious engagement. "With the addition of Dr. Rami Nashashibi to the faculty teaching Islamic studies and complementing the work of Rabbi Rachel Mikva, professor of Jewish studies, our students have the opportunity to explore the nature of religious leadership in an increasingly pluralistic religious environment."

In addition to its traditional recruitment base in the mid-west, students from across the country and around the globe have enrolled in CTS' face-to-face and online programs this year. The incoming class includes students from 28 states, Colombia, France, Mexico, Australia, Korea, and Canada. "CTS has always been racially, culturally, and religiously diverse," said Seiwert. "Increasingly we are now becoming geographically diverse."

CTS has also been helped by the addition of a creative marketing and social media initiative directed by 31 Lengths. "Mike Jordan, principal at 31 Lengths, and his team have helped CTS shed the stodgy image of theological education, enabling us to reach non-traditional students with a new provocative and playful approach," said Seiwert. Jordan led the innovative marketing "God is Still Speaking" campaign of the United Church of Christ a decade ago.

"At CTS we are trying to be at the leading edge," said President Hunt. "Innovation, experimentation, and risk are all required for a vibrant mission preparing religious leaders for the next."

For more information, please visit: www.ctschiago.edu.

Ms. Harris has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit administration, including service as:

• Executive Director of the New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance,
• Executive Director of Social Services in the Office of the Public Defender in Pascagoula, Miss., and
• Executive Director of Child and Adolescent Programs at the Village for Families and Children in Hartford, Conn..

She is a graduate of American International College (Springfield, Mass.) and Boston University (Boston, Mass.).

The Mission's search committee was particularly impressed by Ms. Harris's ability to build consensus among stakeholders, market programs, raise funds and advocate for those served.

Ms. Harris began as Executive Director on July 1, 2014.

Chicago Metropolitan Association/Fox Valley Fall Meeting

October 18, 2014 - Church of the Good Shepherd UCC

"Celebrating Diversity - Uniting for Ministry"

All "Energizer" proposals should be submitted no later than Aug. 1, 2014. Electronically to: Rev. Jason Coulter - [email protected] or to the Conference office: Illinois Conference c/o CMA/FoxValley Fall Meeting attn.: Rev. Jonathan Knight, 1840 Westchester Blvd., Westchester, IL 60154 - [email protected].

Click here to download the Energizer Proposal.  

Thank you for your interest and willingness to share your talents with the greater church.    

-CMA/Fox Valley Planning Committee