Skip to Main Content

NCJ Delegation special session report

Posted: November 15 2021 at 10:38 AM
The North Central Jurisdictional (NCJ) Conference met virtually for two days on November 10-11, 2021. Delegates spent most of the first day, engaged in small group conversations,  discussing three main topics: dismantling racism, episcopal leadership, and the future of The United Methodist Church.
 
The reports from these discussions, and other pre-work reports, helped a six-person writing team (selected by delegation heads) to develop a covenant. Our own Rev. Brian Gilbert served on the writing team that brought the “Covenant to Build a Beloved Community” to the floor. The delegates overwhelmingly supported and adopted the covenant, which is grounded in the United Methodist baptismal vows, connecting our sacramental life to our praxis of faith.  
 
The covenant (linked here) calls on the NorthCentral Jurisdiction to: 
 
  • Name colonialism, racism, sexism, classism, and heterosexism as sins;
  • Commit to the ongoing work of ending racism;
  • Request the NCJ Bishops of Color convene all BIPOC delegates to address the trauma in communities of color; 
  • Request the Mission Council to address white supremacy and Christian nationalism at the next NCJ session;
  • Support the work of the Conference Commissions on Religion and Race and Annual Conference anti-racism task forceAvoid pursuing charges to LGBTQIA+ clergy;
  • Request the Bishops to dismiss charges related to LGBTQIA+ identity or officiating same-gender weddings;
  • Convene a special session of the NCJ on November 2-5, 2022, if the 2020 General Conference, currently scheduled for 2022, is further postponed or canceled;
  • Use existing disciplinary and conference provisions to accommodate local congregations and clergy seeking disaffiliation; and,
  • Encourage conversations about contextualization and regional unity.
     

The NIC delegates actively engaged and offered leadership in the pre-work, strategy development and building collaboration with other Annual Conference delegates, fully support the covenant and commit to live into it. We hope for our Annual Conference to also adopt this covenant and continue the work of ending racism. Please feel free to get in touch with our delegation chair, Rev. Alka Lyall (pastoralkalyall@gmail.com) if you have any questions. 

 
Submitted by:
Hwa-Young Chong (Hannah)
Communicator for the
Northern Illinois Conference General and Jurisdictional delegation

News & Announcements

Hispmanreadbible

A Scripture and a Prayer for the Church After a Shooting Death

Bishop Dan Schwerin offers a prayer and meditation on scripture following the news that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a man leaving the…

Nic Collections End July 2024 Cmyk

Have you made your contribution?

In an effort to be more transparent, the Finance and Administration office is going to be consistently sharing where we are as a conference are in regards to the giving versus what is needed fo…

From The Bishop Leads Us Not Into Temptation

From the Bishop: Lead Us Not Into Temptation

As the nation's president talks about sending the National Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement troops to Chicago, Bishop Dan Schwerin urges United Methodists to return oft…

Rockford Work Camp Cmyk

Summer Community Experimentation Strengthens Faith

This summer, churches across Northern Illinois embraced Bishop Schwerin’s call to experiment with new ways of being the church—reshaping Vacation Bible Schools, hosting local…

Print