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MLK Celebration: Dangerous Times Call for Dangerous Religion

Over 300 people gathered at Trinity United Methodist Church in Mount Prospect on Jan. 18 for the conference's annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, where they affirmed that King’s words and life are still relevant to our Christian witness today.

Time to Submit Your Church Statistics and Final Apportionment Payments

It’s that time of year for churches to report their 2025 attendance, ministries, and financial records to the conference office. Reports are due Jan. 31. Also, the deadline for submitting check payments for remaining 2025 apportionment and second-mile giving is Jan. 9.

14 Chicago Church Leaders to Call US Government to Recommit to Paris Agreement

As the U.S. government prepares to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change effective Jan. 27, leaders of 14 Chicago-area Christian denominations will gather on Jan. 24, 2 to 4 p.m., to call the government to heed this international treaty.

Dr. King Wanted to Build a Better World, Not a Monument

In his reflection, Rev. Dr. Charles A. Woolery Sr., challenges readers to move beyond a comfortable, sanitized remembrance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to engage his full prophetic witness. He lifts up King’s critique of racism, poverty, and militarism, warning that honoring monuments and sound bites is easier than living out the costly work of justice.

Gathering in Hope Together

Clergy and lay members will gather June 14–16 in Schaumburg for the Northern Illinois Conference’s 187th Annual Conference, centered on the theme “Practicing Hope.” With inspiring worship, engaging Lunch-and-Learns, a returning mass choir, and supportive childcare, the conference invites participants to deepen connections and explore how hope shapes ministry and mission. Grounded in Romans 5:3–5, the gathering encourages endurance, renewal, and faithful leadership for the future.

From Your Bishop: A Year of Practicing Hope

Acknowledging the challenges of a fractured and uncertain time, Bishop Dan Schwerin lifts up gratitude for the resilience, courage, and faithfulness of the Northern Illinois Conference. He reframes smaller numbers not as loss, but as opportunity, reminding readers that God uses remnants to create new possibilities. Looking ahead, he invites congregations to consider how they will actively practice hope in 2026, offering a clear and compelling witness to the hope found in Christ.

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