CCFA Special Session Proposals
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As our conference prepares for the Special Session on Nov. 16, the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA) wants to provide an update on the NIC's financial conditions and information regarding some of the changes in the budget.
Through September 2019, the Conference received $3,073,671 from local churches towards the 2019 budget, which is approximately 66% of the budgeted apportionment income for the year. Additionally, $119,845 has been received from local churches towards General Church Apportionments, which is approximately 6% of what has been billed.
In recognition of the Conference's continued difficult financial position, the 2020 Conference budget of nearly $4.6 million shows a $288,221 reduction.
Read more
on the budget reductions and apportionment formula changes.
Pre-Conference Briefings
CCFA will host
two pre-conference briefin
gs for clergy and lay members to learn more and ask questions. The first will be an in-person session on
Saturday, November 2
at Sycamore UMC, 98 Johnson Ave., Sycamore from 10am - 11:30am; the second will be a webinar on
Monday, November 4
from 7pm - 8:30pm.
Click here for details and to register.
Legislation Available to Download
The proposed budget, apportionment formula and explanatory materials are available online to download. A new identity/covenant statement from the NIC Exploration Team who will present it at the Special Session is also available to review. You will find all these documents under the "Legislation" title at
www.umcnic.org/specialsession
.
We recommend downloading and/or printing these materials to read prior to attending the special session. If you need assistance, check with your local church office.
Special Session Registration
Northern Illinois Annual Conference lay members and clergy may register for the
Nov. 16 Special Session
online. It will be held at Kishwaukee College, 21193 Malta Road, Malta, IL from 9am - 1pm (check-in opens at 8:30am). Registration cost is $10. Off-site childcare at Malta UMC will be available for pre-registrants only. A pre-order box lunch to go is available for $8. Click box below to register.
Mission Collection for Hurricane Relief
The Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) will park its truck outside Kishwaukee College from 8 - 9am on
Nov. 16
to collect donations for Hurricane Dorian relief for the Bahamas.
Click here
for a list of items needed and bring them to the Special Session (in boxes please).Thank you in advance for your support!
Alternative Hurricane Relief Collection Site
Grace UMC in Naperville is also participating in the Hurricane Relief efforts as an MMDC donation collection site. You may drop off items from the list noted above at 300 E. Gartner Rd., Naperville, before
Nov. 6.
at the welcome desk during the week:
Mon. -
Thurs. from
9am - 4:30pm
and
Fridays from 9am - 1pm. If you have any questions, contact Gaye Lynn Loufek, 630-355-1748, ext. 3234 or
[email protected]
.
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Support Our Farming Families
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At the
Nov. 16 Annual Conference Special Session
, a Bishop's Appeal offering will be taken to help our local farmers who are facing hardships due to a rainy, cold spring that delayed planting and a subsequent drought that further hampered the growing season.
Micro-Grant Applications for Farmers
The Keagy Town and Rural Committee is now accepting Farm Family Aid micro-grant applications to help our area farmers. The application is to be filled out by a clergy member on behalf of FSA-recognized farmers who need extra assistance. The recipients of the ministry do not have to be affiliated with the congregation. Grants will be awarded according to funding available from the Bishop's Appeal offering.
Click here for the form.
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Order 2019 Journal/Directory
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Journal Online
The
2019 Journa
l of the June 2-4 Northern Illinois Annual Conference is now available to purchase online through Amazon. The cost of the paperback is $12.
A free downloadable pdf
is available on the Conference website. Click button to the right to order.
New Directory Available
The 2019-20 NIC Directory of Clergy, Laity and Related Agencies is also available to download for free or order online through Amazon for $8.
Click here
for more information and to find the pdf version. To order a paperback version
click
the button to the right.
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Communicator's Corner
HealthFlex Exchange Information
If you missed the HealthFlex Exchange workshops organized by the NIC, the handouts are available to download by visiting
www.umcnic.org/healthflex
. Also,
Wespath will be hosting a webinar on
Oct. 29 from 2pm - 3pm
(central time) to learn how to make the best choices for you and your family.
Click here to register.
Participants (
full-time clergy, spouses and lay employees) will need to select one of six medical plans during the open enrollment from
Oct. 30 - Nov. 14
.
In the meantime, use ALEX® Benefits Counselor to review and help determine your choices. To access ALEX and other helpful information, log into
HealthFlex/WebMD.
While General Conference May 5-15, 2020 may seem far down the road, it will be here before we know it. The Conference is planning trainings and conversations starting in November and leading up to the gathering in Minneapolis. Registration and final details are still in the works for some of the events, but now's the time to put them on your calendar. The NIC is also gathering resources and studies to help congregations engage and learn more about the issues facing our denomination.
Click here
for a downloadable pdf for an informational "roadmap" with dates and links. In addition, the United Media Resource Center has compiled a list of resources for discussing human sexuality issues.
Click here to view.
To find updated GC2020 news and information, visit
www.umcnic.org/GC2020
.
.
Social Principles
Legislation for the revised United Methodist Social Principles has been submitted to the 2020 General Conference and is online in seven languages for review and discussion. A writing team of more than 50 church members — from the central conferences in the Philippines, Congo, West Africa, Central and Southern Europe, Northern Europe and Eurasia and the five U.S. jurisdictions — worked on the document.
Click here for details.
In the News: Lincoln UMC in Chicago Vandalized
Pastor Emma Lozano said her church, Lincoln UMC in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, was the victim of vandalism again and police are treating this latest case as a hate crime. On Oct 15, a man who was attempting to enter the locked church reportedly kicked the glass front door shattering it before fleeing and shouting racial slurs, while giving the Nazi salute, witnesses said.
Click here to read more.
No Church Website? There's a Grant for that
Many people visit a church’s website before they decide if they will visit a worship service. Don’t have a website? No problem! Apply for a Website Development Grant through United Methodist Communications, which includes:
- One year of web hosting and domain name registration
- WordPress online training and support
- Pre-designed templates and access to Google apps
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Thank you Ria and Good Luck!
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If you've called the NIC Conference's Chicago office, you've probably heard Ria
Hatzidakis'
voice in the greeting or personally talked to her to answer your questions. After 9+ years with the NIC, she has taken a position with @properties corporate office as the Benefits and Payroll Specialist. Ria has been versatile by filling a variety of roles for the Conference, including Accounting and HR support, payroll coordinator and receptionist. "While I’m excited about the new opportunity, a big part of me is sad to say goodbye to an amazing bunch of co-workers," said Ria. "I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed our time working together, and how much I value the friendship you’ve shown me over the past nine plus years." Ria's last day is Oct. 25.
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Around the Conference
Click here
f
or the Conference Calendar and more upcoming events.
- ChildServ Road Trip for Youth - (Oct. 27) 11:30am - 1:30pm at Oregon UMC, 200 S. 4th St., Oregon, IL. One of three opportunities to get together with youth in 7th grade through high school from around the NIC to make meaningful connections between sofas, shoes, and a service activity for children in Childserv's care. Join them in celebrating 125 years of building better lives for children and youth on this road together as mission partners. RSVP to Catherine Inserra, Deaconess, Manager of Faith and Community Relations, at email [email protected]. Click for more information.
- Movie Showing - (Oct. 27) Community United Methodist Church, 22 Center St., Naperville, IL, is presenting a showing of the movie “The Public” starring Emilio Estevez. See how a library in downtown Cincinnati becomes occupied by homeless citizens. Admission is free but a donation will be collected for Hesed House in Aurora.
- Change Management Seminar - (Oct. 29 - Nov. 5) Tuesday evenings from 5:30 - 9pm at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, 2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL. The seminar is free with support from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and Garrett-Evangelical’s Leading Vibrant Congregations: A Collaboration of Faith and Finance Grant. Click here for more info. Click here to register.
- Keagy Town and Rural Festival - (Nov. 2) 9am - 12noon at Polo Faith UMC, 702 E Dixon St., in Polo, IL. Lunch included. Highlights of all the ministries funded by the 2019 Keagy and P.A.C.K grants will be shared by the recipients.
Around the Denomination
- Limited spots available for Exploration 2019 - (Nov. 1-3) at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The event creates sacred space for young adults, ages 18-26, to be in meaningful fellowship, passionate worship, theological reflection and practical workshops as they discern whether God's call in their life is to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church and what faithful steps they can take in response. Registration is $300 to $350. To attend, click here.
- United Methodist Student Day Sunday - (Nov. 24) Through scholarships, United Methodists are helping young people find more financial freedom. By supporting United Methodist students, you are answering prayers and equipping them to find their dreams. You will be part of providing resources for students to attain the next level of life. Please give generously. Click for resources.
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United Media Resource Center
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Click here
for
a list of new DVDs
.
Visit the resource center's
website
for the latest catalog and more information on how to check out and return items.
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