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Conference Council on Finance and Administration – Updates from Annual Conference

Members of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference approved the 2026 conference budget and a simplified apportionment formula during their June session. The balanced budget reflects no increase from 2025, in recognition of financial challenges facing local churches, and expresses deep appreciation for congregations that faithfully support shared ministry. The new apportionment formula is tiered by church income to ensure fairness and clarity, with additional training to come this fall.

2025 One Matters Award Winners

The Northern Illinois Conference recognized five churches with One Matters Awards. The United Methodist Church’s Discipleship Ministries created this award in 2015 to encourage congregations that in the previous year increased baptisms and professions of faith from zero to at least one. Wanting to recognize more churches, NIC makes four additional awards.

2025 NIC Conference Wrap-Up

About 700 clergy and lay members of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference met in session from June 9 to 11, 2025, in Schaumburg, Ill., to explore the theme “Grace is Sufficient” as they worshiped, heard inspiring sermons and Bible study, and passed legislation to further the conference mission and ministry.

Legislative Decisions at 2025 Annual Conference

Read the final actions that Annual Conference members took on legislation during their June 9-11, 2025, gathering.

Bishop Schwerin Calls Churches to Experiment with Ministry

Bishop Schwerin noted that in these days, churches should experiment with new ministry ideas--even if they end in failure. Resourcing, connectionalism, and upholding the call to love our neighbors are foundational to these efforts.

Reach Out to Each Other, Bishop Oliveto Says

"When you are willing to take Jesus's hand, all heaven breaks loose," Bishop Karen Oliveto said in her sermon during the Celebration of Ministry Service on June 9.

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