From our Bishop: Love Each Other Like Members of Your Family
Bishop Schwerin calls on United Methodists to reclaim the deep Christian call to love our neighbors—especially those who are suffering. Reflecting on lessons of emp…
Annual Conference session members and family and friends joyfully supported clergy and lay ministries recognized at the Celebration of Ministry on June 9.
Five elders and one deacon were commissioned for ministry. This begins a provisional period in their ministries. They are licensed for their ministry, appointed, and preparing for ordination interviews in a few years.
Elders have ministries of word, service, sacrament, and order. Most elders are appointed by the bishop to pastor churches.
Commissioned for the ministry of the elder:
Commissioned to the ministry of deacon
Six people were ordained as elders:
The bishop also recognized the consecration of Ruth Smith-Sumrall, a deaconess who had been consecrated at the United Methodist General Conference.
Deaconesses (laywomen) and home missioners (laymen) are called by God to be in a lifetime relationship in The United Methodist Church for engagement with a full-time vocation in ministries of love, justice, and service. They are members of a lay order.
Six people were licensed for ministry as local pastors: Rene Bello, Kurt Beystehner, Saturnino Espinoza, David Profitt, Sanha Kan, and Robert Wandell.
The service ended with a service of communion, in which the newly commissioned and newly ordained clergy distributed the elements.
Bishop Schwerin calls on United Methodists to reclaim the deep Christian call to love our neighbors—especially those who are suffering. Reflecting on lessons of emp…
United Voices for Children (UVC) is inviting nominations for its three annual awards. These UVC Awards honor extraordinary volunteer service or advocacy efforts on beh…
To support efforts to relieve damage caused by catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country over the Independence Day weekend, individuals may donate through their church to UMCOR U.S. D…
Mrs. Erma Bryan, the surviving spouse of deceased member Rev. Bill Bryan of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.