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Urban Ministries

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Urbanstrategy

The Chicago Urban Strategy Summit was convened by the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church under the leadership of Bishop Sally Dyck on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The summit was held at South Shore International College Preparatory High School, a public school on Chicago’s south side. This date also coincided with “Change the World” weekend and Pentecost Sunday was the next day.

It is prayerfully anticipated that Pentecost winds of change will continue to stir the hearts and minds of United Methodists into a cohesive movement that will sweep across the City of Chicago long after the Chicago Urban Strategy Summit.

In March 2013 some 30 leaders from across the Northern Illinois Conference met to discuss ways in which United Methodist churches in Chicago and the Chicagoland area might be in ministry with the people of the city of Chicago. The consensus of this meeting was that if as United Methodists we are going to “seek the salvation of the city” and have the greatest positive influence in transforming Chicago, a strategic focus targeting the four areas whose underlying cause is poverty was needed.

These four strategic areas include Community Safety, Education & Literacy, Restorative Justice and Food Security. It was also agreed that a “Chicago Urban Strategy Summit” calling United Methodists throughout the City of Chicago and surrounding Chicagoland area to come together to address challenges facing residents of Chicago and to begin the development of an urban strategy for the United Methodist Church in Chicago.

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News & Announcements

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HEAL Well Plans Earth Day Event and More

Northern Illinois Conference’s HEAL (Helping Everyone Access Life) Well ministry has planned an Earth Day event for all ages on April 26, 10:30 a.m., at Olivet UMC in Chicago.

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Glenview UMC and Nearby Fire Departments Donate Vehicles for Guatemala

Glenview UMC partnered with nearby fire departments to donate fire trucks and ambulances to Midwest Mission, which sent them to towns in Guatemala.

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Exhibit on Native American Boarding Schools Recounts a Painful History

Nearly 30 United Methodists attended Schingoethe Center Museum at Aurora University on March 13 for a private viewing of the “Away from Home” exhibit, whic…

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North Central Jurisdiction Hispanic/Latinx Leaders Gathered to Renew their Call

About 60 Hispanic/Latinx pastors and lay leaders from the North Central Jurisdiction gathered March 28-30 for the Escuela de Ministerios 2025 (Sch…

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