To help in your discernment of where you might like to serve the Annual Conference, the Nominations Committee is providing this list of Boards, Committees, and Work Areas. It is our goal to give a brief description of the work of each group and to provide some understanding of the time commitment involved in serving. Complete descriptions of the responsibilities of each board or work area may be found in the Conference Standing Rules and the Book of Discipline.

Administrative Areas

001 Conference Council on Finance and Administration
The Discipline ¶611 defines the purpose of the council on finance and administration: “to develop, maintain, and administer a comprehensive and coordinated plan of fiscal and administrative policies, procedures, and management services for the annual conference.” Membership is not less than five or more than twenty one and there must be one more lay than clergy member. The council elects its own officers from its voting membership. No member or employee of any conference agency receiving funds in the annual budget is eligible to be a voting member of the council. The responsibilities of the Council include making recommendations to the annual conference on an annual budget and spending plan and overseeing conference investments. The council recommends a method or formula by which apportionments are determined. The council meets two times a quarter at 9:15 on Saturday mornings at Community UMC in Naperville.
Sally Chipman (sallychipman@insightbb.com) is the current chair of the council.

002 Committee on Personnel
The Committee on Personnel develops and executes all personnel policies for all persons employed by the conference in consultation with conference agencies. These personnel policies shall include employment policies, salary scales, hiring, evaluation and termination policies and procedures. The committee recommends to the council on finance and administration salary, housing, utilities, allowances, professional and business reimbursement, travel expenses and continuing education for inclusion in the annual conference budget. The committee has eight at-large members and must include at least 2 clergy, 2 laymen, and 2 lay women. The dean of the cabinet convenes the group at the beginning of the quadrennium to elect officers. The committee meets every other month from 4-6 on Thursdays at Park Ridge UMC.
The current chairperson is David Krumweide (dkrumwiede@krumwiede.com)

003 Committee on Nominations
The Committee on Nominations presents nominations for membership on conference agencies to the annual conference for election. The process of nominations is an open one and persons, lay and clergy, can be nominated from any source within the conference. The committee works to follow rules for membership as set forth in the Discipline and Standing Rules of the conference. When a vacancy occurs the committee fills the vacancy until the next session of annual conference. Membership of the committee is sixteen with at least two from each district. The chairperson is elected by the conference at the beginning of each quadrennium. The committee meets five times a year on Saturday mornings at the Elgin Program Offices.
The current chairperson is Betsy Houghton (bhoughton@sbcglobal.net)

004 Annual Conference Committee
The Annual Conference Committee prepares for all regular, special or adjourned sessions of the Annual Conference. The committee is responsible for planning the agenda including daily proceedings of the annual conference in consultation with the bishop, cabinet, and conference staff. They are responsible for budgeting, arranging the location of conference, registering of all members of annual conference, communicating to members of annual conference and all people of the conference information regarding the proceedings of the conference, providing child care and enlisting such additional persons as necessary for the carrying out of all conference session, including those who will address the conference. Membership is twenty-four, 1/3 clergy, 1/3 laymen, and 1/3 laywomen. Officers are nominated by the committee on nominations and elected by the conference for the quadrennium. The vice-chairperson serves as Chair of Daily Procedure. The committee currently meets five times per year for two hour sessions on weekday evenings, most recently at St. Andrew UMC in Carol Stream, with additional tasks as required.
The current chairperson is Mark Manzi (mmanzi@sbcglobal.net)

006 Credentials Committee
The Committee’s responsibility is to monitor provisions of the equalization formula and to be responsible for matters pertaining to the certification and seating of Conference members. Membership is seven persons, one from each district, and the Conference Registrar. The Committee currently meets as needed.
The current chairperson is Margaret Lundahl (lundahlenterprises@earthlink.net)

008 Board of Pensions
The Board of Pensions is responsible for the general supervision of all pension and benefit programs adopted by the Annual Conference for clergy members of the Conference and all employees of local churches, agencies and boards of the Annual Conference. Membership is twenty, with at least two members from each district, serving 8-year terms, one-half elected each quadrennium. The board elects its own officers. The Board currently meets Jan, Mar, May, Sept, and Nov on a Saturday morning at the Community United Methodist Church in Naperville.
The current chairperson is Robert Campbell (RBC@Post.Harvard.edu)

009 Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees oversees all properties owned by the Annual Conference and holds in trust for the Annual Conference any donations and bequests given to the Annual Conference. The subcommittees for this Board include Finance and Investments; Insurance; and Properties/Housing. Membership is twelve persons. Each district must have at least one representative. Recommended membership is one-third clergy, one-third laymen and one third laywomen, elected in classes of three to serve 4-year terms. The Board elects its own officers. The Board currently meets at 3 pm on the fourth Thursdays of most months at Wesley UMC in Naperville.
The current chairperson is Phyllis Tholin (tholbooks@aol.com)

013 Commission on Archives and History
The Commission collects and preserves the historically significant records of the Annual Conference and encourages and assists local congregations in preserving records and celebrating their heritage. Membership includes one representative from each district. Meetings are usually at Garrett where the archives are held.
The current chairperson is Richard Wang (jdwang1990@yahoo.com)

022 Equitable Compensation Commission
The Commission recommends to the Annual Conference standards for pastoral support and educates local congregations about pastoral salaries. Membership includes an equal number of lay and clergy with one representative from each district and six members-at-large with representatives from at least four churches with fewer than 200 members. The commission currently meets quarterly at Dekalb First UMC on Saturdays.
The current chairperson is Joyce Frankfother (jaffother@essex1.com)

028 Committee on Episcopacy
The Committee supports and counsels the Bishop, interprets the needs of the Conference to the Bishop and interprets the nature and function of the Episcopal office to the people of the Annual Conference. In addition, the Committee on Episcopacy reports the needs for Episcopal leadership to the Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy through the elected Conference members of that Committee. Membership shall number at least seven, but no more than seventeen. One-fifth shall be appointed by the bishop. In addition to members of the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy, it is recommended that the committee be one-third laywomen, one-third laymen, and one-third clergy, provided one lay person is the conference lay leader. The committee elects its own chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. The Committee currently meets four times a year on Thursday evenings at the First UMC Elgin.
The current chairperson is David Bein (dbein@dewpointllc.com)

Program Emphasis Areas

Unless otherwise required by The Discipline, Program Emphasis areas shall be at least 24 persons – three per district and 6 at large. Special care is to be taken to balance the participation with adequate clergy, lay, male, female, age and ethnicity representation. No person may serve on more than one Program and one Administrative area at any given time.

060 Program Council
The purpose of the Conference Program Council is to be in ministry with the Director of Connectional Ministries in carrying out the priorities of focusing and guiding the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church within the Northern Illinois Annual Conference and to relate to the Connectional Table on all connectional matters. There are four ministry teams, Nurture, Outreach, Witness and Advocacy. Membership is the Chairperson, Secretary, four ministry team chairs and 6 at-large members, one from each district, all nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Annual Conference. Membership also includes the Conference Lay Leader, Conference Ecumenical Officer, and Conference Mission Secretary. The Program Council works closely with the Bishop and the Cabinet to provide coordination, support and vision for the ministries of nurture, outreach, witness and advocacy. The Program Council meeting dates are on the conference calendar and are usually held at the Elgin Program Office.
The current chairperson is Robert Sathuri (rsathuri@hotmail.com)

061 Board of Church & Society
The Board of Church and Society serves the Annual Conference by connecting the General Board of Church and Society and the district and local churches and enabling the local churches and districts to relate the Gospel to the communities in which they live. The Board develops and provides education and action on issues confronting the church that is consistent with the Social Principles. Of particular interest to the Board has been prison release ministry, ministry to persons with mental illness, worker justice, and peace. The Board has four divisions: peace with justice, environmental justice, economic justice, and civil and human rights. The Board currently meets, generally monthly, in various churches so that travel loads are shared equally.
The current chair of the Board is Gary Hougen (holytrouble@muchomail.com)

062 Board of Discipleship
The functions of the Board of Discipleship are divided into work ares: education, worship, spiritual formation, evangelism and stewardship to lead and assist congregations in their efforts to communicate and celebrate the redeeming and reconciling love of God as revealed through Jesus Christ. Currently each of the five work areas is functioning through the Nurture Ministry Team of the Program Council.
Each work area has a chairperson:
Education: Linda Lowery (llowery@umc-cornerstone.org)
Evangelism: Jay Carr (pastor@roscoeumc.org)
Spiritual Formation: Bonnie Campbell (RevBonCamp@aol.com)
Stewardship: Daniel Diss (danielosl@hotmail.com)
Worship: Kathryn Ling (lislemir@rrb.gov)

063 Board of Global Ministries
The Conference Board of Global Ministries works with the Conference Mission Secretary to relate the Annual Conference to the General Board of Global Ministries and interpret the needs of local churches to the General Board. The Board helps equip local churches and districts to develop new ministries so that they may be units of mission in their communities. It is the responsibility of the Board to interpret the programs, plans and policies of the General Board, to cultivate Advance Special Gifts and promote the development of covenant relationships between local churches and GBGM personnel. Four area coordinators include Hunger, Volunteers in Mission, Disaster, and Refugee. The Board currently meets Saturday mornings at 9 am in the Elgin Program offices five times a year, Jan, Mar, May, Sep, and Nov.
The current chairperson is Irma Clark (irmklarc@aol.com)

064 Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministries
The Board Higher Education and Campus Ministries oversees, advises, evaluates and promotes the campus ministries of the Annual Conference. The Board sets the compensation of campus ministers and establishes and monitors housing and travel allowances. The Board promotes United Methodist Student Day and the Black College Fund. The Board helps resource local campus ministry Boards with fundraising and leadership and helps local churches do campus ministry. In addition the Board oversees denominational and Conference scholarships. The Board currently meets monthly at Congregational UCC in Arlington Heights.
The current chairperson is Rex E. Piercy (pastorcucc@sbcglobal.net)

065 Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns
The work of the Commission is to promote and interpret the work for the unity of the Christian church in every aspect of the life of the Conference and to encourage dialogue and cooperation with persons of other faiths. Of particular interest to this Commission are dialogues with the Muslim and Jewish Communities. The Commission works to interpret the work of national and world ecumenical bodies such as the National Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches, Churches Uniting in Christ and the World Methodist Council. The Board currently meets on the second or third Saturday of the month, 9:30 am to noon, at Our Saviour's United Methodist Church in Schaumberg. Summer months may be less consistent.
The current chairperson is Catiana McKay (mckayc@sbcglobal.net)

066 Commission on Religion and Race
The aim of the Commission on Religion and Race is to be a resource to the Annual Conference. The Commission supports local churches in application for funding to various general church agencies; examines ethnic representation on all of the conference boards and agencies to make recommendations for inclusiveness; works with annual conference boards and agencies to develop programs and policies of racial inclusiveness. The Commission currently meets at the Elgin Program Offices on Saturday mornings as needed.
The current chairperson is John Boryk (jaboryk@parkridgeumc.org)

067 Commission on the Status and Role of Women
The Commission works to inform and sensitize church and Conference leadership on issues that affect women. The Commission works to achieve full participation of women in the life of the church. COSROW recently organized training for all clergy and laity around the newly adopted policies of sexual harassment. Membership is to four clergy (two women, two men, one a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry), four laywomen, and four laymen. At least one member shall be named by the Conference United Methodist Women.
The current chairperson is Diane Johnson-Walker (faithworks4us@yahoo.com)

071 Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns
The Discipline ¶631 describes the functions of the Committee on Ethnic Local Church Concerns to be keeping the vision of ethnic local church concerns before the annual conference, providing guidance and resources to churches as they minister to ethnic constituencies. The majority of membership shall representative of racial and ethnic people reflecting the constituencies of the churches of the annual conference.
The current chairperson is Jacques Conway (coprev62@hotmail.com)

072 Committee on Disability Concerns
The Discipline ¶652 describes the functions of the Committee on Disability Concerns to be aware of and advocate for, the role of persons with disabilities in ministry; to help develop programs that meet the needs of persons with disabilities, and to be a resource for local churches who are attempting to develop ministries that are attitudinally and architecturally accessible. Membership shall include persons with physical and mental disabilities. The committee currently meets about four times a year at the Elgin Program Office.
The current chairperson is Fred Berchtold (fredb@mc.net)

073 Committee to Implement the National Hispanic/Latino Plan
The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry was established by the 2004 General Conference. Working through the Conference Program Council, the NIC Committee focuses on the development and strengthening of Hispanic Latino ministries in the Northern Illinois Conference. The purpose also is to meet the spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and psychological needs of the Hispanic community in the Conference by bringing people together for worship and celebration, to make disciples, and to mobilize them for service in the community. The Committee meets monthly, on Thursday at 10:00am usually at Wesley United Methodist Church, Naperville.
The current chairperson is Orlando Moller (Omoller@netzero.net)

074 Committee on Native American Ministries
The Discipline ¶653 describes the responsibility of the Committee on Native American Ministries to determine the distribution of the Native American Sunday offering, to coordinate the promotion of Native American Ministries Sunday and monitor Native American ministries within the conference. Where possible, membership shall consist of a majority of Native Americans. The committee meets about 4 times a year.
The current chairperson is Michelle Oberwise-Lacock (Mickiol@aol.com)

075 Commission on Communications
The Commission on Communications provides leadership and resources to the Northern Illinois Conference in the following areas:

Electronic communication and website

Print publications such as The Reporter

Multimedia services including video development and production

Local church training in communications, including Igniting Ministry training

Promotion and publicity

Crisis communication & secular media liaison

The Commission currently meets 8 to 10 times a year, usually on Monday mornings at 10 a.m. at Community UMC, Naperville but changes to accommodate special opportunities.
The current chairperson is James Galbreath (jtgalbreath@verizon.net)

078 Council on Older Adult Ministries
The Discipline ¶650 describes the purpose of the Council on Older Adult Ministries to strengthen the older-adult ministries in the local churches and districts of the annual conference. The Council advocates for adult ministries through education, resourcing and communication. The Council oversees Gold Cross Sunday and supports the ministry of five older adult agencies in the Annual Conference. Membership should be a majority of older adults.
The current chairperson is Joyce Fieldstad (joyfield@aeroinc.net)

079 Council on Young Adult Ministries
The Discipline ¶649 describes the purpose of the Council on Young Adult Ministries to be to strengthen the young adult ministries in the local churches and districts of the annual conference. Responsibilities of the Council include to initiate and support plans and activities of particular interest to young adults, to advocate for issues vital to young adults, and to cooperate with other boards, including UM related campus ministries to provide for the needs of young adults. Membership shall be young adults (age eighteen to thirty-five) with one young adult from each district elected by the district council on ministries and six at large nominated by the conference nominating committee. The Council currently meets as needed, usually on Saturdays.
The current chairperson is Katie Mapes (mapeskatie@yahoo.com)

081 Board of Laity
The Discipline ¶630 describes the purpose of the Conference Board of Laity to be to foster an awareness of the ministry of the laity within the local congregation and through their lives at home and at work, to promote stewardship of time, talent, and possessions, to provide for training of lay members of annual conference and to promote the observance of Laity Sunday. Membership includes the conference lay leaders, district lay leaders, conference director of Lay Speaking Ministries, the presidents and two representatives from UMM, UMW, UMYA and CCYM. In addition two laymen, two laywomen, and two youth nominated by the conference nominating committee. The Board is chaired by the Conference Lay Leader. The Board currently meets four to six times a year.
The current chairperson is Conference Lay Leader Roger Curless (rlcurless@comcast.net)

083 Council on Children's Ministries
The goals for the Council on Children’s Ministries are to be a clearing house for information; to see that ministries relating to the needs of children are being planned, executed and evaluated; and to relate to other children’s ministries groups in the Conference and help facilitate communication between the groups. The Council has met as needed weekdays at locations determined by the travel needs of its members.
The current chairperson is Margaret Harrison (gumcstory@peopleofgrace.org)

088 Board of Outdoor & Retreat Ministries
The Board Outdoor & Retreat Ministries oversees and supports the work of Outdoor and Retreat Ministries staff as they facilitate and/or sponsor camps and retreats for all persons of all ages throughout the year. The Board currently six times a year: at Reynoldswood or Wesley Woods in March and September; Downers Grove UMC in May and November; and DeKalb or other locations in January.
The current chairperson is Scott Cheffer (scheffer@ticoam.com)

Conference Secretary
The Conference Secretary is responsible for putting out the two-volume Conference journal and all pre-Conference materials for both sessions. The secretary receives and keeps a list of clergy appointments, information regarding actions taken against clergy and judicial decisions. The secretary is responsible for the team of people who take the minutes at all sessions of Annual Conference. The Conference secretary is also secretary to the Conference Board of trustees.
Current Conference Secretary is Harriet McCabe (harrietmccabe@earthlink.net)

Assistant to the Secretary for Standing Rules
The assistant to the secretary assists the secretary in ensuring that the by-laws and standing rules are consistent with themselves and the Book of Discipline; makes recommendations to Boards, Committees and Commissions for changes and receives recommendations for making changes to the standing rules; edits and prepares changes for the Annual Conference for approval; and prepares the by-laws and standing rules for publication in the Journal.
Current Assistant to the Secretary is Jack Ryder (rydercvt16@aol.com)