Laity Convocation focuses on discipleship making

One year after laity and clergy pondered the “why”, participants at the 2018 Northern Illinois Conference Laity Convocation focused on the “how” local churches carry out the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. About 270 people gathered at Sycamore United Methodist Church on Feb. 17 to learn strategies for transforming ministry plans into action. General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries Rev. Dr. Junius Dotson delivered the keynote challenging local churches to move from the ‘why’, (the purpose), to the ‘how’, (seeing all the people.) Dotson calls it “missional engagement.”

NIU remembers and grieves 10 years after school shooting

As bells tolled and wreaths were placed in remembrance of the 10th anniversary of the Valentine’s Day shooting which killed five students at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, news of another horrific school shooting was breaking in Florida. Feelings of shock, fear and disbelief reemerged for the families of victims, survivors, students, University staff, the community and faith leaders who were gathering for the memorial service at the garden outside Cole Hall, where a gunman opened fire in a lecture hall the afternoon of Feb. 14, 2008 taking the lives of Ryanne Mace, the granddaughter of two retired pastors from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, and Daniel Parmenter.

Unite to End Racism

The Northern Illinois Conference and our Pan-Methodist partners along with the Illinois Conference of Churches are arranging buses to Washington D.C. so Illinois residents can take part in the anti-racism rally on the national mall on April 4, the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme is ACT Now! Unite to End Racism. The memorial service in Memphis, Tenn. will be broadcast on the mall.

Sympathy Notice: Rev. Kenneth H. Crandall

Rev. Kenneth H Crandall, retired clergy member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Rev. Kenneth Crandall served at Wilmington, Tinley Park, Libertyville, Roselle, and Lansing: First.

179th Annual Conference - Navigating Uncharted Waters

The 2018 Annual Conference will gather for another year June 3-5 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Ill. This year’s theme is “Navigating Uncharted Waters” with a focus on Romans 5:3b-4 – “trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Bishop Sally Dyck says the theme will help us focus on how we anticipate the unknowns in life, our ministries, and communities.

Sympathy Notice: Mrs. Marilyn C. Gillham

Mrs. Marilyn C. Gillham, spouse of retired clergy member Rev. John M. Gillham of the Northern Illinois Conference passed away on Friday, January 12, 2018.

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