In Sympathy: Lora Zink
Rev. Lora Zink, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.
Jan. 14 date was postponed due to weather conditions.
There is no cost, but please register here to help us prepare the correct amount of food.
Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Iva Carruthers - General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC), an interdenominational organization within the African American faith tradition focused on justice and equity issues.
Remarks from our Bishop Dan Schwerin - Northern Illinois Conference
Rev. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers
Rev. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers is General Secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC), an interdenominational organization focused on justice and equity issues. SDPC is both a 501c3 and United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). As founding CEO and a trustee of SDPC, she has steered the organization as a unique, influential and esteemed network of faith-based advocates and activists, clergy and lay.
Dr. Carruthers is Professor Emeritus and former Chairperson of the Sociology Department at Northeastern Illinois University and was founding President of Nexus Unlimited, an information and educational technology firm. She was appointed to the White House Advisory Council on the internet, "National Information Infrastructure", Mega Project; the educational software she developed was awarded a ComputerWorld Smithsonian Award. Dr. Carruthers has a long history of teaching, engagement in community development initiatives and social justice ministry, including initiatives related to the U.N. Decade of People of African Descent and the establishment of the Center for Reparatory Justice, Transformation and Remediation at McCormick Theological Seminary.
She received the B.A. degree from the University of Illinois; the M.A. and the Ph.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University and a Master in Theological Studies degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Recipient of many awards, she was recognized by the History Makers in 2003 and most recently honored by her oil portrait being hung in the International Hall of Honor, Morehouse University Chapel.
Rev. Lora Zink, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.
Mrs. Freda Whittle, surviving spouse of Rev. Paul Whittle Jr., a deceased member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on April 16, 2025.
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