While the bankruptcy case is ongoing, the Boy Scouts of America, along with its local councils, recently reached an agreement with representatives of most of the survivors on a proposed $850 million settlement. This would be the largest settlement in a child sexual abuse case in U.S. history.
Read MoreWe remember, God of history and remembrance, we remember. We remember when the towers fell and the lives were lost; we remember the dust and the smoke, the despair, and the grief. We remember that sense of vulnerability and shock. We remember the numbness that overwhelmed us as we watched our screens for hours and hours, waiting for an explanation and understanding that never came. We remember.
Read MoreIt's Church Conference season! Online forms are ready to fill out and submit two weeks before your scheduled church conference.
Read MoreIn the early years of the United Methodist movement, clergy were itinerant. They traveled from place to place, taking the good news of Jesus Christ to people, baptizing converts, identifying local leaders, organizing small groups of disciples, and moving on with the assurance they would return for more preaching and teaching.
Read MoreWhat a year this has been. With God’s grace, we have found our way through the maze of a global pandemic, not a journey any of us claim lightly. This Friday, Illinois arrives at Phase 5. What a day of rejoicing we are in. You and your congregation have been part of this accomplishment. You have found ways to be a community to one another from a distance. You have found ways to be in your community as a witness of Christ's love.
Read MoreAt this moment, encouraging people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of the most effective things we can do to promote public health. The goal is simple: to have all of our churches encouraging their members, friends, families, and neighbors to get vaccinated or to speak directly with their primary care physician about their vaccine questions.
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