1. During 2002 Elgin District has had over 2 dozen churches involved with interfaith dialogues. There is a Federated American Baptist/UMC church in Gray's Lake.
2. Aurora District  in 2002-2002 has a major Muslim/UMC meeting at St. Thomas UMC, Glen Ellyn. Bethany Fox Valley and Roman Catholic churches have exchanged choirs.
3. On Southern District inter denominational justice work finds a venue in cooperation with the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
4. In Rockford and DeKalb Districts UM District Superintendents, Peter Lovell, and David Carlisle meet regularly with counterpart Judicatory heads in these counties.
5. United Power has worked on Muslim understanding in Du Page County and is doing organizing work by county
6. In Deerfield Common Ground is a center for dialogue and mutual spiritual/social examination. http://www.cg.org/index.html
7. Roman Catholic--United Methodist--Protestant Dialogues in homes
took place in the Joliet Diocese.  As part of  Project Renew during Jubilee Year, 15,000 Catholics met in small groups in homes to understand how  base communities could enhance spiritual formation and jubilee justice.  During Lent,  500 Protestants joined them in their homes.  Pastor Lora Going, First Lockport UMC had 6-7 persons ecumenically involved in dialogue, and she was a member of the organizing task force for a culminating ecumenical celebration and leadoff for the  fall 2000 dialogues.  Call Lora for information 815-838-1017.
8. Study of World's Religions
is done at First Waukegan UMC, 128 N. Utica St.  for eight weeks.  The program uses two videotape series, group discussion and special speakers.  Running from 4 - 5:30 each Sunday from Sept. 24, 2000 to Nov. 12 the schedule included introductrion, then Oct. 1, Hinduism;  Oct 8, Buddhism;   Oct. 15, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto; Oct 22, Islam;  Oct. 29, Christianity led by Rev. Gerald Forshey; Nov. 5, Judaism  led by Rabbi Michael Rascoe; and Nov. 12, old and new conclusions.  For details call the church (847) 623-2433.
9. H.O.P.E. (Harvard Outreach Program for Emergencies)
is an ecumenical welfare procedure sponsored by Harvard United Methodist Church along with Presbyterian, Catholic, ELCA, and Missouri Lutheran,  Episcopal  and Baptists churches in Harvard, Illinois.  Every ecumenical worship service, youth meeting, the UM and Catholic joint VBS, and the community  and churches at every opportunity raise funds for distribution in food, medical, electric and gas,  housing and transportation emergencies.  The Salvation Army provides funds also to the board (clergy of the above churches) for these purposes.  When pastors are aware of needs of local or walk-in applicants this becomes a central clearing house for aid distributed either by pastors or a part-time staff.
10. Prayer
is Ecumenical! Why don't we all do something like this (writing a letter and including in prayers each Sunday)? The United Methodist Church in Riverside received at letter from St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in the village at the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 2000. It said that the church appreciated the ecumenical covenants that were manifested in the town, but going on to say that as a congregation they wanted to lift up the United Methodist Church and other congregations there, as brothers and sisters, during every Sunday's liturgy throughout the year.
11. Ecumenical New Year's Eve Service in Batavia. Rolla Swanson, Pastor of Visitation and Outreach reported that 406 persons from eight denominations (Covenant, Bethany Lutheran, Episcopal, Congregational, Brethren, Baptist, Immanuel Lutheran and United Methodist) attended the service (sanctuary holds 300). Children carried in candles from Bethlehem, Mayor Jeff Schielke gave the message. As the service broke up the bells of the other downtown churches began to peal.
12. A good idea for any community. The Week of Prayer for Christianity 2000 in Nashville, TN found all the churches along Lebanon Pike using their outdoor bulletin boards to put up signs say things like, "Pray for Unity," or "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," or "That they may all be One - John 17:21".
13. The General CCUIC has provided us with a Leaders Guide "One in the Bond of Love: A Workshop on Christian Unity" for use in the local church or on the district. It contains a videotape and resources for four sessions.
14. A Lenten Devotional - "Liberation and Unity" published by the AME, AMEZ and CME churches is available from the Consultation on Church Unity, PO box 2143, Lowell, MA 01851 Phone/fax 978-453-2842. Cost $1.50 plus $1.01. Bruce Robbins (GCCUIC) writes in the March Circuit Rider that May 4 at the General Conference there will be a liturgy of repentance concerning the racism within the white Methodists in the 19^th century that gave rise to the historic black denominations--a first step in reconciliation among the Pan Methodists.
15. Calvary UMC Villa Park
hosts a Taize service monthly at 7:30 p.m. on every 3^rd Friday night. It is conducted by the Villa Park Ministerium with participation of Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and United Methodist churches.
16. Calvary UMC Villa Park
also marches with 300 others  in an ecumenical Good Friday Way of the Cross  which includes a liturgy such as praying for jubilee relief for poor nation debt when in front of the bank.
17. Bill Landis at First UMC, Savanna  reports "We are part of the Savanna Interchurch Council.  This ecumenical group of 5 churches (RC, Presbyterian, Assembly of God, UCC and UMC) does a myriad of functions and ministries together:VBS, Invite a Friend, Baccalaureate, Lenten Services, New Year's Eve, Erase the Hate, 20 weeks of Palisades State Park Services, Thanksgiving Services,etc.  Call 815-273-2345  for details.  This group has been in existence since a least the 1940s and we are often told is one of the best examples of ecumenical work in a small town anywhere.  We've been featured in Religion in American Life (Gallup) and in 1998 were used as the model for UM Communications example of how to do an "Invite a Friend Program."
18. Steward/Creton UMC
  hosted a Sedar Meal around Easter.  We have a band and all ages attend.  More information from  Judy Bowman 661-396-2478.
19. Wesley UMC, Cicero
holds Lenten pot luck services with Lutherans, Baptists, United Methodists,  Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, and Reformed.  They help to staff a pantry that serves 180 families every week.
20. David Echelberger, Director of FOCUS and UM Commuter Campus Minister at UIC reports that he and  Ernestice Pierce, Director of N.E.W. and student minister at UIC shared in the Interfaith Circle of Conversation between Jewish, Moslems and Christian students at UIC sponsored by the Religious Workers Council of UIC.  We discussed our calendars of sacred times and shared how these are commemorated in food and decorations, etc.
21. DuPage Interfaith Resource Network
sponsors a county-wide service of thanks the Monday before Thanksgiving at St. Procopius College in Lisle.
22. The Order of Saint Luke
(UMC liturgical order) has has  met with a group, Religious for Christian Unity, which includes other clergy of various denomination who are in religious in orders.  The group meets at  the Archdiocese of Chicago. Check with Charles Emery or David Eichelberger.
23. Bishop Sprague
told what a Roman Catholic priest and a servant leader colleague of his,  Rev. Ronald Payne, at 1st UMC, Troy, Ohio, did for the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity.   Volunteers from both congregations, in the facilities of St. Pat's, prepared a gourmet  meal for Methodist and Catholics parishoners.  The meal consisted of French Onion Soup, Baked Chicken Breast with Glazed Carrots and Rice Pilaf, Small Individual CheeseCakes.  A free-will donation for the meal (attended by 180 guests, almost equally from both congregations) paid for the meal (about $2/plate) and "netted" about $300 for the St. Vincent De Paul Society's community outreach. .  While the film Babette's Feast (available at the NIC Media Center) was shown between courses, 180 people engaged in discussion.   The following week they gathered at the UMC location for a hymn sing with the priest playing the music.  The discussion guide used has a page for each separate course of the meal. .  Call Ed Hiestand 708-660-9168.for Babbett's feast guide.
24. Evanston Ecumenical ActionCouncil
put on an Ecumenical Choir Concert with choirs from many denominations to benefit both the EEAC and the African-American Ministers Alliance.
25. The interfaith Oak Park/River Forest Community of Congregations, has monthly meetings highlighting the faith place of different denominations and synagogues and speakers on justice and tolerance.  They relate to various service groups: ASSIST, PADS, Pantry, Cluster Tutoring, Response (AIDS care), CROP walk, etc.  A newsletter is published and a website maintained.  A interfaith thanksgiving service is held, and linkage to the Yom Hashoah and Good Friday events. 708-386-8802.
26. Constantine's Sword: The Church and The Jews
  by James Carroll is being read by many involved in dialogues.  It presents the history of our relationships from the time of Jesus through the 1990s.  Carroll's  post-Holocaust reflections on scripture, theology,  history and his personal journey challenge us to think and feel beyond comfortable boundaries.  Various reviews are on the internet. pp. 776.
27. At the 2001 Annual Conference Bishop Joseph Sprague lifted up in prayer the World Methodist Council and the 20 persons attending the Brighton, England Conference July 25-31, with special thanks for the leadership of Frances Alguire, chairperson, and a previous member of Northern Illinois Conference.
28. The film The Message: Beginning of Islam, was shown at First UMC Oak Park to a group of CCUIC,  lectionary, and Bible Study lay people from various churches.  The three hour films shows the life of Mohammed without actually showing the priophet.  The film was oproduced by a Muslim director.  It is available for purchase at Amazon and other internet book distributors.
29. Church of the Incarnation, Arlington Heights, has held three meetings with Moslems from Rolling Meadows over the past three months.  The initial discussion meeting was followed by a dinner meeting at one of their homes, followed by a dinner meeting at our church.  Discussions of one hour (which stretched to one and a half hours) were held at all three sessions.  A fourth session is scheduled for this coming Sunday t their facility.  We are presenting our beliefs and practices to each other in each of the meetings. In addition, Dr. Jim Will presented a series of classes entitled "A Christian Approach to Islam" during the Sunday School hour for seven Sundays.  Jim has consented to be a resource for other groups and other churches who might be interested in sharing his presentation.  The materials could be presented in two to three sessions of two hours each, or in whatever form Jim and the interested parties could decide.  Anyone interested should contact Jim through Church of the Incarnation.
30. The Community of Congregations of Oak Park / River Forest has a religious exchange program for kids called "Youth and Religion.  The first of three planned meetings took place at River forest United Methodist Church January 27, 2002.  The plan is for high school-age leaders to host 6th through 8th graders from other participating congregations, churches and synagogues.  The hosts prepare a program including a tour of the building, history, religious beliefs and practices, followed by ice breakers.  Youth and Religion will continue in the fall.  Linda Abrams at 383-9062 has information.  As Leonard Grossman, president of the Interfaith Community of Copngregations said, "Knowledge does much more to dispel bigotry than rote memorization of a diversity clause can ever do."
31. Diversity Service at Thanksgiving. Rev. Kirk Reed Reports from Mt. Prospect Nov. 22, 2003: "The service is tomorrow evening, with our 3 elementary school districts being featured:  each will have one or more youth speakers on the theme of diversity, one adult speaker, and a song or video presentation (for example, saying "Happy Thanksgiving" in all the languages spoken in a school).  The framework for the service is provided by the clergy and church folks:  Scripture in 2 languages, hymns ("All Are Welcome" and "Now Thank We All Our God"), an African-American leader from the community reading an Afr-Am poem, an offering for Access to Care (health care for folks who can't afford insurance). It took a while to get to know the superintendents, but the trust is strong now, and we've been able to do this for three years now.  The first two years were CHARACTER COUNTS! services; this is the first year we've emphasized diversity.  This is the perfect theme for 2003 since we just completed a 3-week seminar in Mt Prospect on racism and diversity, attended by 60 residents.  At tomorrow's service we're inviting the whole community to attend a followup training event, led by the fair housing group in Chicago that several of us have been working closely with.  We're encouraged.
32. November 2005 Good Samaritan UMC, Addison, and the Niagara Foundation (mainly Muslims from Turkey) joined together for a Thanksgiving Dinner, prayers and dialogue.  The church provided the traditional Turkey.
    
33. Bishop's Ecumenical/Interfaith bus tour Feb. 24-26, 2006.
    

Return to Main page