General Conference 2020 (2024) Updates
The UMC General Conference (postponed from 2020) came to order on the morning of April 23. Follow daily reports focusing on topics of interest to Northern Illinois Conference readers.
Posted: January 30 2020 at 01:22 PM
Establish or build on your church's intentional disciple-making systems.
Presenters Rev. Dr. M. Scott Hughes and Rev. Dr. Ken Sloan
Rev. Dr. M. Scott Hughes and Rev Dr. Ken Sloan will lead "Digging Deeper," a conference-wide follow-up to the Intentional Discipleship Systems training offered in fall 2019 designed to help leaders become more intentional about making disciples in their ministry setting. Consisting of two inspirational and informative workshops, this event will occur six times in six different NIC locations from March 24 through 26. Attend with a group from your district or simply register for the date and location that works best for your schedule.
Workshop: Exploring the “How” in the Formation of Mature Disciple
Discipleship is grounded in baptism. In baptism we experience both our acceptance as a child of God and call to lifelong discipleship. What role does the church have in forming disciples? How does worship contribute to disciple making? How can small groups contribute to forming of disciples? How might engaging your community impact our church’s activities and growth as disciples? Find out answers to these and other questions designed to help churches take next steps in discipleship formation.
Workshop: Exploring The “How” of Growing Generous Disciples
We know that generosity is a key ingredient in what make a maturing disciple of Jesus Christ. Yet in too many churches the focus of stewardship work is overwhelmingly centered on “how do we pay the bills?” Funding your church’s mission and ministry is vitally important, so how do we do that while still keeping our attention on raising up generous disciples? How do we lead people from skills and practices that have met the needs of the churches but ignored the needs of our members to experience the joy of generosity? How do we make generosity a part of disciple-making focus in when our donors are not content to simply give but want to see impact and transformation of lives?
Tuesday, March 24, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Chicago Northwestern District
Northbrook UMC, 1190 Western Ave, Northbrook, IL 60062
Tuesday, March 24, 2 to 5 p.m.
Chicago Southern District
Oak Lawn: First UMC, 10000 Central Ave, Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(100th Street & Central Avenue)
Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
DeKalb District
Ashton: Reynolds UMC, 2496 Reynolds Road, Ashton, IL 61006
Wednesday, March 25, 2 to 5 p.m.
Rockford District
Freeport: Harmony UMC (formerly Freeport: Trinity), 2600 W Pearl City Road, Freeport, IL 61032
Thursday, March 26, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Elgin District
Schaumburg: Our Saviour's UMC, 701 E. Schaumburg Road, IL 60194
Thursday, March 26, 2 to 5 p.m.
Aurora District
Naperville: Grace UMC, 300 E. Gartner Rd., Naperville, IL 60540
Rev. Dr. M. Scott Hughes is Director of Adult Discipleship as well as Executive Director of Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship at Discipleship Ministries. An Elder in the North Georgia Conference, he received his M.Div. Asbury Theological Seminary and D. Min. from Southern Methodist University. Current projects include Facilitator of How to Start Small Groups teachable course; Co-Host of the Small Groups in the Wesleyan Way podcast, and creator of the Courageous Conversations project.
Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane is Director of Stewardship & Generosity at Discipleship Ministries. An Elder of the Greater New Jersey Conference, his M.Div. & D. Min are from Drew Theological School. He has an Executive Cert. in Religious Fundraising (ECRF) and Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) from Lilly School of Philanthropy. In 2006 he was appointed to serve as Director of Communications Ministry at United Methodist Communications. He moved into the Stewardship role at Discipleship on October 1, 2011. He does training in Finance, Stewardship, and interpreting Connectional Giving.