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Bishop Hopkins' Instructions for Lent

As we begin a forty-day journey into Lent on Ash Wednesday, Bishop John L. Hopkins gives us four key instructions for the journey.

Church recognized for community outreach

Attending the local Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet last August, the Rev. Megan Smick, who leads Oregon UMC in the Prairie South District, received a big surprise for her small church. "I was flabbergasted!" said Smick, who had no idea she would be presented with the 2021 Civic Leadership Award for Oregon UMC that evening.

Churches increase apportionment giving amid pandemic

The Northern Illinois Conference is thankful to its many churches for their faithful apportionment giving and celebrates those who paid in full, despite challenging times. In 2021, 198 churches paid 100% of their calculated apportionments compared to 159 in 2020. Forty churches paid over 100% and nearly 50 went the second mile as Mission Links churches. The Conference also celebrates the 42 churches that have consistently paid 100% for ten years.

Churches face another test with omicron

The high-speed surge of the omicron coronavirus variant over the last few months presented another pandemic challenge to United Methodist churches, prompting some to put the pause on in-person gatherings, with others making more modest changes.

Apportionment receipts exceed expectations

Despite challenging times and strain on church finances because of the ongoing pandemic, apportionment largess for 2021 far exceeded expectations and will allow the Conference to pay 100 percent General Church apportionments for the first time in nearly a decade.

United Methodists reach settlement in Boy Scouts’ Bankruptcy Case

United Methodist leaders have reached a settlement in the matter of the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) pending bankruptcy proceedings. Upon final court approval, the settlement would absolve any claims of sexual abuse that may have occurred in congregation-sponsored Scouting programs.

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