Two Northern Illinois Conference staff members are preparing to retire: Marva Andrews, executive assistant to the bishop (Oct. 15), and Rev. Victoria Rebeck, director of communication (Sept. 1).  

Marva has worked for the NIC for over 13 years, always in her current role. “I was interested in this position because I wanted to work in a Christian environment,” she says. 

"I am grateful for Marva's attention to detail and advocacy for me while our office navigated many realities and challenges," says Bishop Dan Schwerin. "She is always graceful with me, and her care for nuance has made me a better bishop and us a better conference. I will miss her but I wish her a happy retirement."   

Most interesting tasks for Marva include some of the everyday ones; she has enjoyed planning events, caring for the bishop’s correspondence, and working with the district administrators.  

Among the most memorable opportunities have been meeting bishops from around the globe, attending ordination worship services, and forming relationships with conference staff as well as the General Council on Finance and Administration. 

Wryly, she notes that one of the most continuing changes has been the conference’s efforts to adapt the best database software for its needs. 

Marva is a member of First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. In retirement, she plans to do some travel, spend time with her three children and nine grandchildren, volunteer for not-for-profit organizations, and take bicycle trips with her husband.  

Victoria has been Northern Illinois’s director of communication for three years. A deacon, she has spent a good bit of her career serving The United Methodist Church. 

"I am grateful for Rev. Rebeck's grace and acumen," Bishop Schwerin says. "She helped make our words better. She helped us tell our stories. I appreciate her devotion to the mission and knowledge of the UMC. We will miss her, and wish her joy in retirement." 

Victoria notes that she believes one of the best aspects of working for the NIC is "its dedication to biblical peace and justice. I have been able to express honestly the conference’s stands as well as my own faith commitments.” 

She worked for The Christian Century magazine, two conferences, and two general agencies before joining the NIC staff. She became a deacon while she was part of Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette, soon after the change in ministry orders established the separate and equal order of the diaconate. 

“Trinity is where I became United Methodist,” she says. “I felt at home there. I appreciated the liturgy that followed the UM Book of Worship and their way of developing disciples that engages heart, mind, and spirit.” 

Working for other UM entities gave her a great opportunity to understand the details of how the denomination serves its people and churches and meet many denominational leaders—which has informed her work at the NIC and other UMC locations. 

In retirement, she plans to volunteer as an Illinois Master Naturalist and continue performing as a storyteller with GreenMan Theatre in Elmhurst, Ill.