Bishops recommend One Church Plan as A Way Forward

United Methodist bishops, meeting in Chicago, engaged in a prayerful process to discern a way forward. At the conclusion of the discernment process, the Council of Bishops strongly approved the following motion and rationale:

Having received and considered the extensive work of the Commission on a Way Forward, the Council of Bishops will submit a report to the Special Session of the General Conference in 2019 that includes:

Bishop Beard issues pastoral letter

Bishop Frank J. Beard issued a pastoral letter Tuesday providing some insights into the Council of Bishops' decision.

"I love The United Methodist Church and am convinced that this issue need not divide us. I am convinced that we can live together, like family, and still have differences in our approaches regarding issues of human sexuality," writes Bishop Frank J. Beard in his pastoral letter following last week's Council of Bishops' meeting. "I remain committed to the preaching and teaching of the Good News of the Gospel. I remain convinced that everyone needs a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. I believe the United Methodist church is stronger and can accomplish more when we focus on those things that unite us; GRACE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, FORGIVENESS, and our MISSION and MINISTRY to the World that God loves."

Bishop Beard issues pastoral letter

Bishop Beard also passed on an invitation from 2017 Annual Conference speaker Terry Tekyl:

How can we keep the United Methodist Church united?

I believe the prayer of agreement that Jesus talked about in Matthew is a way to keep us one in heart and purpose. He said, “Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 18:19)

Therefore at this crucial crossroads in the UMC I am asking pastors and churches to join us in agreement by Praying the Lord’s Prayer at Noon. Here in Houston, we have done this through a Christian radio station. (KSBJ) We call it Pray Down at High Noon. Thousands pray every day and the results in Houston have been outstanding.

Would you and your church pray His Prayer at noon every day? Both progressives and conservatives and middle of the road folks can do this. I want His Will to be done in the UMC, so let us ask Him. It only takes 21 seconds and unites us in prayer every day no matter where we are. For the last 25 years I have had a passion for prayer in the United Methodist Church. We have taken 100’s of Prayers Delegates to the last 6 General Conferences. We have built prayer rooms and raised up prayer for pastors. Plus we have encouraged churches under “house arrest” to go out into the community and claim it for Christ. As we pray we will find our way forward together. Amen

Just let me know if you will at  [email protected] .

We would like to register your intent to pray in agreement with so many others. Thank you.

Dr. Terry Teykl

P.S. Would you consider being a Prayer Delegate to General Conference in St Louis February 23-26? We are asking people to do this at their expense plus we will assign you a Bishop to pray for there. Perhaps your church would pay your way. Pray and the Holy Spirit may elect you as a delegate.

Ratification votes canvassed

Bishops also canvassed and certified the results of ratification votes in each Annual Conference on five constitutional amendments approved by the 2016 General Conference.

Three of the five amendments were approved by the two-thirds majority of the aggregates votes of all annual conferences. Two others narrowly were defeated.

On Thursday, it was discovered that the wording on one of the proposed amendments that was defeated included language which the General Conference had removed prior to its approval. That means annual conferences will be provided the information in 2018 and 2019 to conduct a re-vote on the one amendment. Depending on how fast the General Conference Commission can get the correct information to the annual conferences will determine whether voting is conducted by the 2018 or 2019 Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference.

Illinois State alum new WF director at Western Michigan University

The Board of Directors of the Wesley Foundation of Kalamazoo announced April 30 that Illinois State University Wesley Foundation alum Jess Davenport has been selected as its new campus minister. She will begin ministry on July 9.

Davenport was an active student in the ISU Wesley ministry and spoke as a Morning Manma speaker at the 2014 Annual Conference. She is also a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washingon, D. C.

Annual Conference registration is open!

Registration for the 2018 Annual Conference is now open through May 17.

The Annual Conference will get underway at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 7, with workshops and conclude by noon on Saturday, June 9 following the Service of Ordination. A tentative agenda has been posted and persons can use the Sched app to create their own customized schedule for the Annual Conference. The Sched app also allows for last-minute changes that are pushed out to everyone who is using it.

New process for Annual Conference materials

All 2018 Conference Registration Material packets will be picked up ON SITE in the Registration Office in the Terrazo Lobby beginning Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 a.m. Registration materials include parking passes, special meal tickets, roll call card, name badges and supplemental packets.

Tornado totes offering at Annual Conference

Churches in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference are urged to purchase plastic totes that are invaluable during tornadoes and floods. This is an item not a part of UMCOR's response but are warehoused by the Midwest Mission Distribution Center and distributed when the need arises.

Specific sizes are still being finalized but what would be envisioned is that totes could be filled with heavy duty trash bags, work gloves and permanent markers.

More information will be shared shortly.

The in-kind offering is in addition to special offerings for Our Conference, Our Kids; the Tom Brown Scholarship at Wiley College and an offering for the Ordinands' Trip.

Native American study guides sought

A few years ago the UMW did a study called Giving Our Hearts Away. It is a study that is on Native Americans. The Commission on Native American Ministries will be doing this study in different locations in the conference and are looking for the study guides. 

Churches that have copies gathering dust and would like to donate them can do so by bringing them to the Native American Ministries booth at Annual Conference or by contacting Lisa Wiedman, pastor of New Baden UMC at [email protected]

Special meals speakers announced

More speakers have been announced for special meals at Annual Conference. Special meal tickets are part of the Annual Conference registration process. Deadline for tickets is May 17.

The following groups have announced speakers as part of their luncheons:

Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members Luncheon, Thursday noon – Speakers will be Buzz Swett, who will talk about College of Christian Life and Randy Azbell, who will update attendees on the national happenings for the FLP&AM’s.

Commission on Archives and History Luncheon, Thursday noon – Churches that are celebrating milestones in the past year (150, 175 and 200th anniversaries) will be recognized and presented with a certificate of recognition.

IGRC Youth Ministry Luncheon, Thursday noon – Findings of an assessment of IGRC Camping and Youth Ministries will be presented by representatives of Ministry Architect, the group working with the Conference on the assessment.

Committee on Disability Concerns, Thursday evening -- Tracy Bollinger of Colchester, director of the Wee Care Center in Macomb, will be sharing her story of raising a child with autism. Bollinger and her husband, Rick, are parents of a 12-year-old living with autism. Tracy has a degree in child development which prepared her for her career but not for raising an autistic child. Her daily struggles, humor and insight will provide insight into the world of an "Autism Mom."

Wesleyan Covenant Association, Friday breakfast – This special meal will be held off-site at Peoria First UMC, 7 p.m. However, you can order tickets as part of the Annual Conference registration.

Conference Board of Church and Society/Utah Wilderness Alliance, Friday breakfast -- Guest speaker will be Clayton Daughenbaugh, Midwest Coordinator for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance .  Clayton is a member of First UMC in LaGrange,   The Alliance is involved in efforts to protect the natural places and cultural resources pursuant to the United Methodist Social Principles and Resolutions .

Hispanic Luncheon, Friday noon -- The Hispanic luncheon will be held off-site at Peoria First UMC at noon. Lunch is $5 and includes two steak tacos with rice, salsa and drink. For more information or to register your plans to attend, contact Rev. Adrian Garcia at 309-673-3641.

United Methodist Women’s dinner, Friday evening – Dinner’s theme will be Stop the Violence. Speaking will be Mary Kay Mace, daughter of retired pastor Miley Palmer and mother of Ryanne Mace, one of four students at Northern Illinois University killed and 21 injured in a Feb. 14, 2008 mass shooting.

Additional information on speakers will be added to the Sched app as it is received. 

Trenton UMC offers JAM Scholarship

Trenton UMC is offering a $500 scholarship for a person who is an active participant in a music ministry within their church. Applicants must be a member of a United Methodist Church within the IGRC and may be graduating high school seniors, college undergraduates or students attending a tech or trade school.

Deadline to apply is June 15 with the recipient announced by the church in July.

The scholarship is named Justin Melzer and his ministry through music and to encourage participation in church music ministries. Justin is the youngest son of Rev. Debbie Melzer Reese (former pastor of Trenton FUMC) and Rev. Dr. Ron Melzer. Justin played guitar in the Crossroads Praise Band. He also played the bass guitar in the Wesclin Jazz and Pep bands, alto saxophone in the Wesclin High Marching Band as well as the church’s Chancel Band. Music was a big part of his life. It is our prayer and intention that this scholarship will cultivate and stimulate a future generation of church musicians. 

Golden Cross Sunday May 13

God works through your prayers and support in acts of mercy to bless the lives of individuals of all ages and at all stages of life.

Your 10 Golden Cross ministries are hard at work every day in their individual settings across our conference bringing hope and healing to people from cradle to grave.

Golden Cross Sunday is always the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day. When you give, your offering is divided equally among all 10 ministries.

Sexual ethics makeup session

A Sexual Ethics Training makeup session has been scheduled for those who were unable to attend any of the three February sessions, on Saturday, June 23, at the Sugar Creek UMC, 1022 New City Road, Chatham. The session will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is mandatory for all pastors and laypersons appointed or assigned to local churches.

Registration is open through June 16.