From June 25 to 28, members from the Northern Illinois, Illinois Great Rivers, and Wisconsin Conferences embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage organized by the NIC Committee on Religion and Race to historical places in Illinois and learn about our state's history through the lenses of its diverse peoples.
Read MoreEugene Williams, Northern Illinois Conference co-lay leader, says that to practice hope, we must take brave actions. "Giving up power and extending equity is hard to do; especially when are afraid or hesitant to lead courageously," he says. "We've settled at times just to move parts of our overall agenda forward."
Read MoreAbout 40 United Methodists from across Illinois gathered at the state Capitol on April 15 for an advocacy day organized by the Northern Illinois Conference Commission on Religion and Race. Participants met with legislators to discuss issues such as food and environmental justice, immigration, and youth empowerment, grounding their efforts in the United Methodist Social Principles. The day concluded with prayer, song, and a vigil at the Lincoln statue, calling participants to continue the work of justice.
Read MoreUnited Methodists from across Illinois will gather for a four-day Illinois Pilgrimage focused on faith, history, and justice, offering opportunities for learning, reflection, and community-building. The journey will include visits to significant historical and cultural sites across the state, concluding with worship and a visit to Cahokia Mounds. Open to participants of all ages, the pilgrimage invites deeper understanding and connection through shared experience.
Read MoreWith strong conference support of the Emergency Solidarity Fund, $60,000 was distributed in three rounds of assistance to 20 Hispanic/Latinx churches and ministries, helping meet urgent needs such as rent, food, transportation, and legal expenses. This generous response reflects the Northern Illinois Conference’s commitment to stand with immigrant siblings in Christ, embodying hope through compassionate action.
Read More"When Fear Knocks, the Church Shows Up: A Chicago Story” tells the stories of how immigrant communities in Northern Illinois struggle to continue working, attending worship, obtaining groceries and other needs, and sending their children to school, and how conference churches have reached out to help.
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