A handful of staff members are voluntarily leaving their roles in the Northern Illinois Conference. While the conference bids them farewell, it is seeking applicants for the positions now available.

Two part-time district assistant positions are open: one in Lake South and the other in Prairie Central. The assistants will work from the district’s geographic area and provide direct assistance to the superintendent. This is a change from the current arrangement of dividing all district assistance work between two staff people who worked full-time from the conference office in downtown Chicago.

Learn more about and apply for the Lake South and Prairie Central district assistant positions.

A new district assistant in Prairie South, Shelley Harold, will start work on Aug. 17. The district office will be located at Sycamore United Methodist Church.

"I am delighted to welcome Shelly as our new district administrative assistant," says Rev. Brian Gilbert, superintendent of the Prairie South District. "Shelly brings the gifts of experience and a spirit of collaboration that I think will strengthen our shared ministry across the district and help our congregations remain connected to our mission as a conference.”

Debra Rogers remains on staff as the assistant to the Lake North and Prairie North districts and coordinator of clergy moves.

Rev. Cheryl Weaver, who has been dividing her time working as conference benefits officer for the Northern Illinois and Wisconsin conferences, has accepted a full-time position with the Wisconsin Conference, effective Oct. 1.  Northern Illinois is now looking for a part-time benefits officer.

“Cheryl stepped in when we had a void in the role for many years,” says Elaine Moy, NIC’s treasurer and director of administrative services. “She helped us catch up and put us on steady ground, and for that we are grateful. Cheryl will bring much to Wisconsin as she steps into an expanded role there.”

Learn more about and apply for the conference benefits officer position.

Two other staff members are leaving the conference. Marva Andrews, executive assistant to the bishop, retires on Oct. 1. The posting will be available soon.

Rev. Victoria Rebeck, director of communication, retires as of Sept. 1. Learn more about and apply for this position.

"We have been blessed with a crop of those who leave us after service they saw as ministry," says Bishop Dan Schwerin. "Their service was not just a job, but a gift offered to the altar of God—and God gives that offering back to us in abundance. I will miss that spirit in those to which we say farewell.

"That said, every moment in our life together is a reminder that faith is lived in formative community. We have an opportunity to speak well of our covenant, know that our mission matters, and brag on our God. The late Edwin Friedman, a pioneer in systems thinking, says that 'how we begin and end relationships is often how we do relationships. That is, farewells and beginnings summon intentionality. May this season of transition bless those who go to new vistas, those who remain, and those who welcome."