Skip to Main Content

Vital Partnership Workshop

Location: First United Methodist Church, 503 N. Lily Creek Rd., Freeport, IL.

Vital Partnerships 2022

March 19

Registration fee: $20 - lunch box provided

Download Flyer

Speaker: Dirk Elliott

Churches come in all forms of health: some are healthy and growing, others are maintaining the status quo, and some are declining. But they all have one thing in common – they want to be fruitful and healthy. One way this can happen is through partnerships or mergers. Attend this workshop and explore new ways your church might become healthier through a merger.

Pic Elliott Dirk

Dirk Elliott

Speaker Bio: Dirk Elliott is Director of Congregational Vibrancy and Leadership Development for the Michigan Conference.  Dirk has been a congregational developer for 21 years after serving 18 years in pastoral ministry. He serves on the Path 1 Strategy Team, the New Church Start division of the United Methodist Church. Dirk authored "Vital Merger: A New Church Approach that Joins Church Families Together to Change Lives and Communities."

Sponsored by the Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment

Watch below the inspiring story of the merger of two churches in Elgin, Wesley UMC and Epworth UMC, to form Journey of Hope.


News & Announcements

Judith Jean Mitchel Headshot

NIC Welcomes Judith Jean Michel to Episcopal Office

Judith Jean Michel will join the Northern Illinois Conference on Nov. 4 as Executive Administrative Assistant to the Bishop and the Assistant to the Bishop. With more than 10…

20260926 130148

Disability Education Summit Encourages Inclusion and Justice

The NIC Committee on Accessibility welcomed approximately 30 church leaders from 13 congregations to its inaugural Disability Education Summit on Sept. 26 at Bethany…

Sympathy625x400 2a417

In Sympathy: Martin Deppe

Rev. Martin Deppe, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026.

Leadership Gathering Niw Episcopal Area Reps

Imagining a Church Yet to Be: Local Leaders Reflect on Global Gathering

Bishop Dan Schwerin and four leaders from the Northern Illinois-Wisconsin Episcopal Area joined United Methodists from around the world to imagine the fut…

Print