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One of two beneficiaries of this year's appeal is the Endowment for Theological Education in the Central Conferences (the regional conferences in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines). The UM Council of Bishops has shown its commitment to this fund by collectively giving or committing $414,208 to support it.
Fewer than 5 percent of clergy outside the US hold a master’s-level theological degree, while their ministry contexts need educated and gifted leaders. Gifts for the endowment taken across the denomination on Miracle Sunday will help permanently endow scholarships for 500 students each year to prepare for ministry.
In Northern Illinois, half of the Miracle Sunday offering will go to the endowment. The other half will benefit the building of a high school in Tanzania. Read more about the COB’s giving. Find a video, flyer, and bulletin inserts to help interpret the appeal to your congregation. More
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Many Paths to Creation Care
Public-policy advocacy, efficient and clean energy use, gardening with native plant species, and more are among the ways that Christians can follow God's commandment to care for God's creation, participants learned at the Creation Care Summit on May 2. Creation justice overlaps with many other justice concerns, keynote speaker Grace Pugh Hubbard said. More
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Faith & History on Illinois Pilgrimage
Bringing together faith, history, and a shared commitment to justice, United Methodists from across Illinois will take part in a four-day pilgrimage (June 25-28) to deepen understanding and build community. Participants will explore significant cultural and historical sites, fostering reflection, learning, and connection across regions. Registration closes May 31; space is limited. More
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Observe May as AANHPI Heritage Month
This month, we recognize Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and the contributions they've made to society and church life. Learn more about lesser-known historical figures across the UMC, US culture, and internationally. Resource UMC and General Commission on Religion and Race provide an overview of “firsts” in many areas. More
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Why the 1956 Clergywomen Vote Matters
Seventy years ago this week, the Methodist Church supported full conference membership for women clergy. The decision would have a resounding impact when The United Methodist Church formed in 1968 and in other developments that expanded clergy recognition. The setbacks on the way to full clergy rights offer lessons as women’s leadership and voting rights face increasing public pushback today. More
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Ruben Saenz Jr. is New COB President
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. was installed as president of the Council of Bishops, succeeding Bishop Tracy S. Malone, who completed her term on May 1 and now serves as immediate past president. As he accepted the gavel on April 30, Bishop Saenz expressed gratitude for Bishop Malone’s leadership and affirmed the Council’s ongoing mission. More
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Endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame (Rom. 3:4, 5)
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A Promise to Mom: Jeany Gewin remembers her mother telling her about her experience serving as a member of Northern Illinois Annual Conference in the 1970s. Her mother was disappointed about the time spent on language in The Book of Discipline that reinforced restrictions and exclusions of people from membership or ministries based on gender, gender identity, ability, and other identifiers. Jeany's mother told her, “If Jesus welcomed all to the table, so should we. The conference had much more important work to do!” Many years later, Jeany found herself at 2025 annual conference as a member, continuing her mother’s advocacy for change. Read her article "A Promise to Mom: Reflections of an Annual Conference Member."
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“Faithful Action: Love Your Neighbor,” an optional public demonstration organized by the NIC Commission on Religion and Race, will occur along Meacham Road in Schaumburg after Annual Conference adjourns at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 15. (Churches can take part by holding their own public witness in their communities as well.)
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How to Keep Your Find-A-Church Profile Page Updated
Unless your church has a website that gets regular traffic, the first search result for your church may very well be its Find-A-Church profile page. These pages are provided by UM Communications for every church in the connection, and contain basic information like worship service times, special ministries, church location and contact information, and more. The Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards of Ask The UMC, the information service of UM Communications, offers some best practices for making the best of this marketing tool. (Apportionment giving makes these pages possible for churches.) More
GCFA Template Service for Church Websites
If you missed a recent Tuesday Teaching (provided by the NIC Congregational Development office) on best practices for church websites, you can still watch it on video. Melissa Jackson, director of marketing for the UM General Council on Finance and Administration, described the new template website service that the agency is providing to churches. Watch the presentation here.
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Middle East United Methodists Feel Brunt of War
Filipino United Methodists who work and worship in the United Arab Emirates and surrounding countries have been caught in the crossfire of the US-Israel war with Iran. While congregations, so far, report no casualties, the war has taken its toll on UMs in the Middle East.
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UAE authorities ordered the closure of all houses of worship in the country on April 3, Good Friday. That meant churches stood empty on Easter Sunday— a desolate sight on a day of resurrection joy when pews, even in this Muslim-majority country, typically overflow.
Still, a number of the country’s religious leaders saw the shutdown as a necessary safety precaution amid the ongoing war that had clouded the skies with the explosions of ballistic missiles.
First United Methodist Church in Dubai, a church planted by Filipino United Methodists working in the country, met by Zoom on Easter. The Rev. Joseph M. De Castro, the congregation’s pastor, said more than 100 logged in.
“Some were in apartments with the sound of air defense systems still fresh in memory. Some were nursing quiet losses—jobs disrupted, travel plans destroyed, loved ones they couldn’t reach,” he told United Methodist News.
“And yet, there was Easter. Stubborn, beautiful, unstoppable Easter. It was, in its own way, the most powerful Easter service I have attended in my first year of ministry in the UAE.” More
Photo: Rev. Joseph M. De Castro leads worship from First United Methodist Church in Dubai on Easter. Photo courtesy of the TFUMC Dubai Media Team.
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Around the Conference
Caring Congregations Workshop, May 8-9, Kingswood UMC, Buffalo Grove. This two-day training offered by a team related to Resurrection: A UMC in Leawood, Kan., teaches healthy caring practices for lay and clergy.
Creative Ministries Grant Applications due May 15.
Equitable Compensation Applications due May 15.
Miracle Sunday, May 17. Collect your church's offering for this year's Bishop's Appeal.
Registration for Annual Conference closes May 22.
Reservations for discounted rooms at the Schaumburg Renaissance Conference Center Hotel during Annual Conference close May 25. Reserve online or call 866-204-0549 and ask for the Northern Illinois Conference special group rate.
Preconference briefings, June 8, 7 to 9 p.m., and June 9, 10 a.m. to noon, online.
Around the Connection
Kids Above All's Healthy Babies Drive, April 1-May 15. Collecting essential health and safety items, like diapers, wipes, baby gates, protective stove knob covers, and baby bottles, for the young children and parents in KAA programs.
United Methodist Student Day, any Sunday in May
#StillinMission with Dr. Belinda Forbes, May 7, 11 a.m. to noon, online. Dr. Forbes, a dentist and missionary supported by the NIC, will talk about her crucial missionary placement with AMOS Health and Hope, which is located next to the city dump in Villa Guadalupe, Nicaragua.
Faith and AI Discernment Webinar Series, May 7 and July 27, 3 p.m. on each day. Offered by Discipleship Ministries, this is a conversation-centered online series created to help church leaders explore the ethical, theological, and practical questions emerging around artificial intelligence in ministry. Each session features expert insight, thoughtful reflection, and structured follow-up discussion.
Rosecrance Foundation Benefit, May 12, 5 p.m., Hard Rock Live, Rockford. This UM-related organization provides life-saving mental health and substance use treatment.
UWFaith Assembly 2026, May 15-17, Indianapolis, Ind. Gathering of United Women in Faith from around the world.
Heritage Sunday, May 17. This year's emphasis: women in ministry, past, present, and future.
Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation Information Session, May 19, 3 p.m.
Pentecost, May 24
Peace with Justice Sunday, May 31
Juneteenth, June 19
North Central Jurisdiction Youth Mission Trip to Motown Mission in Detroit, June 21-27
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Reminder: The NIC cabinet and bishop observe a weekly sabbath from Thursday evening to Friday noon. During that time, they will refrain from using electronic devices. Barring an emergency, they will not respond to phone calls, emails, or texts.
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Books on Health and Wholeness
The United Media Resource Center has books on health and wholeness to lend. Among them:
#817077 Beads of Healing: Prayer, Trauma, and Spiritual Wholeness, by Kristen Vincent
#821104 Deep Peace: Finding Calm in a World of Conflict and Anxiety, by Todd Hunter
#820026 Holy Listening With Breath, Body, and the Spirit, by Whitney Simpson
#819055 Made to Move: Knowing and Loving God Through Our Bodies, by Wendy LeBolt
#852133 Stretch Out Your Hand: Exploring Healing Prayer, by Tilda Norberg and Robert Webber
The United Media Resource Center has books, DVDs, and more to lend to your church's Christian education, faith formation, and book club ministries for children, youth, and adults. Borrow a resource of your own interest as well. Check their online catalog.
List of resources
Online catalog
Contact the center
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