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Bishop's Column: Becoming a Bishop

In 1996 I was only in my sixth year in the South Indiana Conference and pastor of The Methodist Temple in Evansville when the delegation selected me as a candidate for bishop. The Rev. Susan Ruach led the delegation through a discernment process to see if anyone should be recommended from South Indiana, where Leroy Hodapp and David Lawson had been elected as bishops by previous jurisdictional conferences. I did not offer myself; they prayed and asked me!

Bishop Hopkins statement on Highland Park tragedy

Yesterday, on July 4th, our holiday gatherings were shaken by the sobering news of a mass shooting when a young man opened fire on those attending an Independence Day Parade in Highland Park, Illinois. What should have been a memorable outing for families became a nightmare. I invite you to join me in praying for the six victims, ranging in age from 8 to 85, who died and more than 30 spectators who were wounded and injured in the attack. Let us lift up in prayer the named victims, Nicolas Toledo and Jacki Sundheim, and the four others as we learn their names.

Back Together Connecting in Christ

After two years of meeting virtually, nearly 700 clergy, lay members and guests came back together in person for the 183rd Northern Illinois Annual Conference held June 8 - 10 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center.

Bishop names new Shepherding Team co-chair

We give thanks to Rev. Myron McCoy for serving more than four years and beyond his term as the first clergy Co-Chair of the Annual Conference Shepherding Team (ACST).

Bishop's Column: Connected in Christ at Annual Conference

Just three days after Pentecost Sunday, the Northern Illinois Conference gathered June 8-10 at the Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill. Members from our churches came to share the gift of the Holy Spirit and celebrate the goodness of God in the first in-person conference in three years. That is 36 months, 156 weeks, or 1,095 days that we had not gathered to be connected in Christ!

2022 Annual Conference Highlights

The 183rd Northern Illinois Annual Conference wrapped up on Friday, June 10 after three days of worship, business, Bible study, ordination, and reconnecting with one another after being apart for three years.

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