In Sympathy: Donna Atkinson
Rev. Donna Atkinson, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on January 24, 2026.
Location: Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178
“Communities of Faith in a Divided Society: Learning to Talk with Our Neighbors”
March 17-18, 2019
Cost: $150.00 ($100 for students), includes Sunday evening dinner and Monday lunch.
The church seeks to create a community of faith in a society that is increasingly divided along lines of identity, interest, and polarized politics. The loss of a shared language of commitment and purpose challenges the church in both its pastoral ministry and its social mission. A church which cares about human goods and human needs must seek new ways to talk with our neighbors, as well as new programs to serve them. Wesleyan theology, which once enlivened and deepened the language of charity with a spark of divine love, must breathe new life into the public language of social responsibility, lest we end up in a world where we are talking only to ourselves.
Dr. Robin W. Lovin will give four presentations on “Communities of Faith in a Divided Society” for the 2019 John Wesley Theological Institute. Lovin is Professor of Ethics emeritus, Southern Methodist University. Two respondents, Dr. Cynthia G. Lindner and Dr. Darryl W. Stephens, will follow up with further conversation with participants.
Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. One CEU credit is available for continuing education.
Event Contact: Rev. Fernando Siaba, Registrar 630.414.2429 | fsiaba48@yahoo.com
Initiated in 1974, the John Wesley Theological Institute is an annual learning event for laity and clergy to engage scholars and practitioners in understanding and relating Wesleyan theology to our contemporary context.