40-year ban on gay clergy struck down
Without debate, General Conference removed the UMC’s ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” —a prohibition that dates to 1984.
Read MoreDYK: What is a General Conference?
United Methodists have heard the phrase General Conference tossed about frequently these days. A General Conference is a representative gathering of laity and clergy who come together to set church laws, processes, budgets, elect committee members, consider resolutions on social issues, hear reports, and frame the work of the denomination for the coming four years.
Read MoreMission Links giving connects across the globe
The Northern Illinois Conference appreciates the churches that went the second mile as Mission Links churches. To become a Mission Links 100% Supporter, a church needs to pay its conference and general church apportionments in full and donate to at least one Mission Links project in each of the giving areas. In addition to their apportionment giving, Mission Links 100% Supporters gave almost $451,500 in second-mile gifts and over $89,500 in Special Sunday offerings.
Read MoreNorth Central Jurisdiction Confirms: Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Will Share a Bishop
It’s official: Wisconsin Conference and Northern Illinois Conference will start sharing a bishop on Sept. 1. The North Central Jurisdiction, meeting online in a special session on Jan. 23, passed two motions: to form a new episcopal area composed of Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Conferences and to form another composed of East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences.
Read MoreWhat does ‘regionalization’ mean for the UMC?
You may have heard over the past few years that the United Methodist General Conference will be voting on regionalization. What does that mean? What’s the United Methodist interest in this?
Read MoreSpecial NC Jurisdiction Conference Called for Jan. 23
The North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church will hold a special, virtual session on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. Central Time. The sole item for consideration at this session is the recommendation that four episcopal areas (regions overseen by a bishop) be combined into two. Wisconsin and Northern Illinois conferences are among those proposed to share a bishop.
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