June
For complete text of each story, click on its headline.
To subscribe to The Reporter.
168th annual conference will focus on ‘Sharing God’s Gifts’ (June 1)
The 168th meeting of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference will be Saturday, June 9, to Tuesday, June 12, at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. Theme of the annual meeting will be “Sharing God’s Gifts: The Heart of Global Mission.” Five bishops of the United Methodist Church and the top executive of the denomination’s mission agency will make featured presentations during the annual meeting at which voting for lay and clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences will be a major focus.
Flat 2008 budget will be proposed by CCFA (June 1)
The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA) will take a 2008 budget proposal to the 168th Northern Illinois Annual Conference that is slightly lower than the 2007 budget. CCFA approved a budget recommendation for 2008 of $7,499,939. The 2007 budget was $7,545,053.
e-Safety, Ethics task force proposed (June 1)
The Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Communications Commission will propose to the 168th annual conference that a task force be created to address “e-Safety and Ethics.” According to the commission’s proposal, the bishop will appoint a “Task Force on e-Safety and Ethics” that will include representation from, but not limited to, the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Church and Society, the Communications Commission, Outdoor and Retreat Ministries, Christian Education Section of the Nurture Committee and Conference Youth Council.
$200 scholarships offered to attend Spanishtown (June 1)
Clergy and laity in Northern Illinois can now apply for a $200 scholarship to attend Spanishtown, a seven-day complete immersion experience in Spanish. Spanishtown begins Aug. 5 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center in Rockford.
‘Peter Pan’ benefit will help Wesley Willows Good Samaritan Fund (June 1)
Wesley Willows, a United Methodist-affiliated senior continuing care facility in Rockford, invites you to the 35th Annual Benefit for The Good Samaritan Fund on Sunday, June 10, at the Rock Valley College Starlight Theatre, which will be presenting “Peter Pan.”
Hewitson speaks out on environmental justice as member of Women’s Division ‘Green Team’ (June 1)
Karen Hewitson, a member of the local United Methodist Women unit at Lanark UMC, is part of the “Green Team.” She is one of 20 women throughout the U.S. chosen by the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries to spread the message about environmental justice issues to all who will listen.
Rochelle will host Spanish classes during summer (June 1)
The DeKalb District Hispanic Ministries Consortium will offer Spanish language classes at Rochelle UMC, 709 Fourth Ave., on Wednesdays 10 a.m. until noon from June 6 to Aug. 1.
Migrant Head-Start program hosted by Mendota Zion (June 1)
After months of negotiation, Zion UMC, 808 Jefferson St., Mendota, is hosting a Head Start Program for children of migrant workers June 1 through Sept. 15.
100 attend Zone youths summit on environment (June 1)
More than 100 community leaders and youths gathered at The Zone, corner of 117th and Avenue O, Chicago, on May 22 for a Youth Environmental Summit organized by The Zone’s Youth Environmental Initiative.
168th annual conference will
focus on ‘Sharing God’s Gifts’
(June 1) The 168th meeting of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference will be Saturday, June 9, to Tuesday, June 12, at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St. (Rte. 64), in St. Charles. Theme of the annual meeting will be “Sharing God’s Gifts: The Heart of Global Mission.”
 Five bishops of the United Methodist Church and the top executive of the denomination’s mission agency will make featured presentations during the annual meeting.
Voting for lay and clergy delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences will be a major focus of the gathering. Annual Conference members will also debate and vote on legislation and take time to recognize many ministries found across northern Illinois.
The Annual Conference will celebrate 100 years of Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA), the work of Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR), and the ministry of Deacons and Diaconal Ministers.
Walking Toward Harvest 2020
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, who will chair the plenary sessions, will also deliver a state of the church address during the Ministry Celebration on Monday, June 11, at 7:30 p.m. His topic will be “Walking Toward Harvest 2020.” Harvest 2020 is a vision for the future of the conference that the bishop has conceived. It includes spiritual growth and evangelism goals to accomplish by the year 2020.
Bishop Gaspar Domingos of West Angola Conference will be guest preacher during the meeting. He has served as general secretary of the Council of Christian Churches in Angola. He worked in peace, reconciliation and youth ministry as staff executive for the church’s Africa Central Conference. He will also be the keynote speaker for the annual Rainbow Covenant luncheon celebrating mission giving on Monday at noon.
Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker (retired), who served as Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) episcopal leader for eight years (1988-1996), will preach at the Memorial Service on Saturday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. The service commemorates those members of Annual Conference who have died since the last meeting.
Bishop Judith Craig (retired) will preach at the Ordination Service on Sunday, June 10, at 3 p.m. This is usually among the more pageant-filled events at the annual meeting. It begins with a procession of ordained members attired in their best and brightest robes to signify the welcoming of new persons who have answered God’s call to service.
Challenge to raise $1 per member
Bishop Fritz Mutti (retired), coordinator of the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund, will speak at 11:30 a.m. Sunday during the Conference Board of Global Ministries report. Local congregations are being challenged to raise $1 per member for the fund. A first fruits offering will be accepted during the “Celebration of Our Global Connection” on Sunday at 7 p.m.
The Rev. Randy Day, general secretary of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, and Domingos will be featured speakers at the celebration worship in the conference center.
A Market Place of mission and ministry opportunities will be in the St. Charles Ballroom. Music and refreshments will be provided after the celebration worship. The Market Place will also be open in the afternoon before the Ordination Service.
Bible study
Bible study leader during the annual conference will be the Rev. Grace Imathiu, who was born in Kenya and has earned an international reputation as a preacher and Bible study teacher. She has served churches in Kenya, Washington, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin. She is a founding member and associate director of Kenya Methodist University in Meru, where NIC-related missionaries Lahi and Yema Luhahi serve.
Bible study will be at 9 a.m. in the business area on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Delegate elections
Ten delegates — five clergy and five laity — will be elected to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 2008. General Conference, the United Methodist denomination’s top legislative body, will convene April 23 through May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth, Texas. All persons elected to General Conference will also be delegates to Jurisdictional Conference.
North Central Jurisdictional Conference will meet July 17-20, 2008, in Grand Rapids, Mich. The major function of Jurisdictional Conference is election of bishops.
The 10 Northern Illinois Conference delegates to General Conference are one less in each category than in 2004. An additional 10 persons will be elected to Jurisdictional Conference. Alternate delegates will also be elected in each category. Those elected to General Conference are automatically members of the Jurisdictional delegation.
According to NIC Lay Leader Roger Curless, 25 persons have put their names forth as nominees for lay delegates. He said the nominees come from every district and are racially and culturally diverse. He added that there is also a spread in ages, although no youths have been nominated.
All clergy members are automatically put forth as nominees to the two conferences. The conference will not close until the delegation is completed.
No legislative sections
The annual conference session will begin with registration at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 9. Opening worship will be at 9 a.m. in the conference center. At 10:30 a.m. clergy will move to the St. Charles Ballroom for their annual closed session. Lay Members will hold their meeting in the conference center at the same time.
This year, there will be no Legislative Sections. In previous years, Legislative Sections were where members could discuss and debate proposed legislation, get answers from resource persons assigned to a topic, and make decisions about how to vote on issues. Instead, what used to be called Pre-Conference Briefings were restructured to replace Legislative Sections as the place where small groups of people can discuss proposed legislation.
The first plenary session will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the conference center. The Nominations Committee report will be presented. Members of annual conference will celebrate MFSA’s 100 years and Church World Service’s 60th anniversary. Church World Service will have a trailer and drop-off boxes to accept disaster relief kits during the first two days of the conference. CWS is accepting health kits, school kits, baby kits and kids’ kits.
Budget presentation
After a break at 3:45 p.m., the plenary session will reconvene at 4 p.m. for the first round of balloting. The “Laity Address” will be presented, and Black Methodists for Church Renewal will make a report. The Conference Council on Finance and Administration will present the proposed budget for 2008. Voting on adopting the budget will be Tuesday at 8 a.m.
The Memorial Service with Bishop Duecker will be at 7:30 p.m. in the conference center.
Sunday at 8 a.m. balloting will resume. Bible study will be at 9 a.m. and more balloting will follow in the 10 a.m. plenary. United Methodist Men will report as will the Conference Board of Global Ministries, featuring Bishop Mutti.
‘Small Group Ministers’
After lunch the 1:30 p.m. plenary highlight will be the certification of more than 200 persons as graduates of the NIC Institute for Small Group Ministry. These persons, designated as “Small Group Ministers,” have completed five training sessions over a year and a half period. The training was to help prepare them to lead and recruit persons toward recapturing the small group dynamic in local churches that John Wesley created in his Methodist classes.
Also recognized will be more than 30 persons who have completed the NIC Latino/Hispanic Academy. They have been trained to help the conference reach out to the burgeoning numbers of Spanish-speaking constituents in northern Illinois.
At 3 p.m. Sunday, Bishop Craig will preach at the ordination service. A “Global Feast” featuring a mix of foods from around the world will be served at pool side at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. Bishop Domingos and Day will be featured at the “Celebration of Our Global Connection” worship service. The Market Place exhibition of mission and ministry opportunities will reopen in the St. Charles Ballroom following worship.
Cabinet report on Monday
Monday’s opening plenary will resume with balloting at 8 a.m. Bible study will be at 9 and more balloting is expected at 10 a.m. plenary. The Retirement Service for persons who are stepping down from active service as clergy members of the conference will be at 10:30 a.m.
The United Methodist Foundation annual meeting will be held during the 1:30 p.m. plenary session. Legislation will be voted on as will delegates, if necessary. The Cabinet report will be presented during this session.
Bishop Jung’s state of the church address will be during the 7:30 p.m. “Ministry Celebration” in the conference center.
On Tuesday, June 12, voting on adoption of the budget is scheduled for the 8 a.m. plenary. Bible study will be at 9 followed by a 10 a.m. dialogue on the Bible studies.
Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries will report at the 1:30 p.m. plenary. Legislation will be addressed and special recognitions will be made.
At the 3:15 p.m. plenary Cokesbury will make a presentation, Nominations will present its final report for approval, and more legislation will be addressed.
Local church appointments
Closing worship at 4 p.m. will feature consecration of the elected delegates
and fixing of appointments for local churches.
The conference is scheduled to adjourn at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Throughout the four days various agencies and organizations will hold special events to emphasize their particular ministries.
On Saturday, the Fellowship of Local Pastors will host a lunch at 12:15 p.m. At 6 p.m. Imathiu will be the featured speaker at a dinner hosted by the Northern Illinois Conference Evangelical Association.
NIC Council on Youth Ministries has invited youths and adult leaders to a pizza party at 5 p.m. on Sunday prior to the “Celebration of Our Global Connection.” The party will be an opportunity to share about conference youth programs.
Rainbow Covenant luncheon
The Rainbow Covenant luncheon saluting local church second-mile giving to designated mission projects will be Monday at noon. Attendees will be asked to vote on the best cover for the next Rainbow Covenant Book of Advance Specials. The covers have been designed by elementary-age children across the conference.
Also at noon on Monday will be the Anti-Gambling Task Force luncheon and those of the Fellowship of Asian-Americans, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and retirees.
Monday at 7 a.m. North Central College will host a breakfast. The United Voices for Children breakfast on Monday will include its annual awards to persons and organizations that have excelled in child advocacy.
United Methodist Women (UMW) will celebrate 138 years in mission during its dinner on Monday at 6 p.m. Susan Pellowe will recreate “Susanna Wesley” for the program. Deacons and Diaconal Ministers will also host a dinner at 6 p.m.
MFSA will host lunch at noon Tuesday.
Flat 2008 budget will be proposed by CCFA
(June 1) The Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA) will take a 2008 budget proposal to the 168th Northern Illinois Annual Conference that is slightly lower than the 2007 budget. CCFA approved a budget recommendation for 2008 of $7,499,939. The 2007 budget was $7,545,053.
The proposed budget is predicated on an 85.3% payment of apportionments by local churches. In 2006, local churches paid $7.1 million.
Lonnie Chafin, treasurer and director of Administrative Services, said CCFA was able to maintain the budget level chiefly because General Church apportionments decreased from 2007 levels by about 7.5% from $2.17 million to $2.01 million for 2008.
The proposed budget contains a $25,000 increase in the conference programming line item to $825,000. Support of mission sites within the conference remained at $115,000.
The most notable increase in line items in the proposed budget that fall under “Connecting the Annual Conference.” The Episcopal Area increases notably due to the hiring of the conference’s first Bishop’s Assistant. That line item reflects
office, salary and housing costs for the new position. The increase is essentially a wash due to changes in personnel in other areas.
Also under that section, the 2008 budget has $32,000 allocated to support General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference delegates. This item appears every four years.
District Supeintendent Salary and Benefits go up a little over $20,000, which represents a 2% increase. Salary will be $73,809 per District Superintendent.
A 14% increase in Conference Communications and Web site expenditures is more than offset by program staff salaries and benefits that will drop by 13.4% through reduction of one position.
The proposed budget will be presented Saturday, June 9, at the 4 p.m. plenary session. It will be voted on at the Tuesday, 8 a.m. plenary session.
e-Safety, Ethics task force proposed
(June 1) The Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Communications Commission will propose to the 168th annual conference that a task force be created to address “e-Safety and Ethics.”
According to the commission’s proposal, the bishop will appoint a “Task Force on e-Safety and Ethics” that will include representation from, but not limited to, the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Church and Society, the Communications Commission, Outdoor and Retreat Ministries, Christian Education Section of the Nurture Committee and Conference Youth Council.
“The Task Force on e-Safety and Ethics will provide and annually review training materials for children, youths, parents, clergy and church leaders on topics of safe and moral use of electronic media and communications,” according to the resolution.
Appoint and train presenters
The Task Force on e-Safety and Ethics will appoint and train persons who will present these topics annually at Conference and District events, including but not limited to required clergy sexual boundaries trainings, educational events for church school teachers, Safe Sanctuaries training, camp counselor training, and district lay academies.
The Task Force on e-Safety and Ethics will work with Safe Sanctuaries in support of adding safe electronic media and communications sections to guidebooks and guidelines. The Task Force will also advise and encourage changes in industry that favor safe electronic media and communications, and the ability for parents to be more aware of what their children do online and how to protect them.
“All levels of government have organized services to protect children and youths from Internet predators and dangers,” points out the commission, which is chaired by the Rev. James Galbreath. “We believe the church also has a responsibility to protect children and youths from abuse involving electronic media and communications.”
Sexual material they didn’t want to see
In its rationale, the resolution says that 34% of Internet users surveyed, age 10 to 17, saw sexual material online they did not want to see in 2004-2005, and this was an increase, from five years earlier, in exposure to unwanted sexual material. This increase occurred despite greater use of filtering, blocking and monitoring software in households of youth Internet users during the same period. Thirteen percent of youth Internet users surveyed in 2004-2005 received sexual solicitations, and 18% of arrests for Internet sex crimes against minors actually involve family members and acquaintances, who take advantage of the anonymity of electronic communications.
To strengthen its case for the task force’s formation, the commission will distribute at annual conference a brochure on “E-Safety and Ethics” and a more in-depth document prepared by Jerry Sims, NIC director of Information Systems. The materials include references on
e-safety and such issues as “cyberbullying” and “txt2flrt,” a dictionary of text messaging abbreviations.
For a copy of the material, contact Sims at (312) 346-9766, ext. 129, or jsims@umcnic.org.
$200 scholarships offered to attend Spanishtown
(June 1) Clergy and laity in Northern Illinois can now apply for a $200 scholarship to attend Spanishtown, a seven-day complete immersion experience in Spanish. Spanishtown begins Aug. 5 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center in Rockford.
Spanishtown is unique in the United Methodist Church. It is an affordable way to be immersed in Hispanic culture as well as the Spanish language. To participate you must have a knowledge of basic Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
For more information, visit www.spanishtown.info or contact the Rev. Kirk Reed, wkirkreed@gmail.com.
‘Peter Pan’ benefit will help Wesley
Willows Good Samaritan Fund
(June 1) Wesley Willows, a United Methodist-affiliated senior continuing care facility in Rockford, invites you to the 35th Annual Benefit for The Good Samaritan Fund on Sunday, June 10, at the Rock Valley College Starlight Theatre.
The afternoon will include an Ice Cream Sundae Bar presented by DQ Grill & Chill, a Wonderland Book Fair, backstage tours of the Starlight Theatre, and a Coloring Contest for Kids and Senior Kids!
These pre-show activities begin at 1 p.m. The Rockford College Theatre production of “Peter Pan,” under direction of Mike Webb, starts at 2 p.m.
Please join Wesley Willows’ presenting sponsor, The Trust and Investment Group of Alpine Bank, in helping raise funds for the Good Samaritan Fund. Proceeds from the event assist Wesley Willows residents who have outlived their financial resources.
“We are excited about our 35th annual benefit,” said Bill Pratt, president and CEO of Wesley Willows. “The benefit helps us keep our promise to provide a home for active seniors that is safe and secure, and provides ongoing personalized care for the rest of their lives. We hope everyone will come out and enjoy this great afternoon.”
Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children. For tickets and information, or to make a donation, call Sondra at (815) 316-1570 or go to www.wesleywillows.org.
Wesley Willows, 4141 N. Rockton Ave. in Rockford, is a not-for-profit continuing-care retirement community affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
Hewitson speaks out on environmental justice
as member of Women’s Division ‘Green Team’
(June 1) Karen Hewitson, a member of the local United Methodist Women unit at Lanark UMC, is part of the “Green Team.” She is one of 20 women throughout the U.S. chosen by the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries to spread the message about environmental justice issues to all who will listen.
“The Green Team has a goal of realizing environmental justice — the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or education level — in environmental decision making,” said Sung-ok Lee, Green Team coordinator and executive secretary for Community Action in the Women’s Division.
Hewitson and other members of the Green Team chose as their mission “to be a voice for the voiceless.” The natural environment is unable to speak for itself, but as caretakers for God’s creation, it is the responsibility of all the faithful to listen, to be responsible for one’s own actions, and to take action to clean up the environment.
Hewitson has spoken to thousands of men, women, children and youths in several states about how precious water is and issues affecting pure water. She provides essential tips on how to conserve the water we have.
Hewitson said that the supply of water is dwindling every day and all persons, regardless of age, must begin to conserve that water. The average person in the world has five gallons of water to use each day. The average person in the U.S., however, uses 90 gallons of water a day.
Hewitson also speaks on recycling, urging everyone to “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.”
In 2008 Hewitson will add the important topic of Global Warming to her environmental issues of concern.
Hewitson is the North Central Jurisdiction representative for the Green Team. The jurisdiction includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. She has spoken as far away as Miami and Washington, D.C.
Hewitson is available to share information on these important environmental issues with any group.
“Each person must do his/her part in taking care of God’s creation,” Hewitson said.
Hewitson is doing her part to spread the news about environmental justice for all: persons, animals, water — anyone and anything that cannot speak for itself.
For more information on environmental justice issues or to schedule a program, contact Hewitson at (815) 493-2005 or heweyone@internetni.com.
Rochelle will host Spanish classes during summer
(June 1) The DeKalb District Hispanic Ministries Consortium will offer Spanish language classes at Rochelle UMC, 709 Fourth Ave., on Wednesdays 10 a.m. until noon from June 6 to Aug. 1.
The $25 registration fee will be used to further Hispanic ministries in the DeKalb District.
Janet Mundall, member of Sycamore UMC, is instructor. Her credentials include a BS and MS in Spanish/English, including graduate study in Oxford, Madrid, Mexico City and San Jose. She retired from a 34-year teaching career at Rochelle High School and eight years at Kishwaukee Community College.
Mundall has lived, traveled and studied in 15 of the 20 Spanish-speaking countries while working as an interpreter and translator for various corporations. She serves on the Conexion Comunidad Board of Directors that serves Latinos and non-Latinos in the DeKalb/Sycamore area.
Course objective is to begin to develop language skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing in Spanish. Students will develop sensitivity to the Latino viewpoint by discussing aspects of the culture.
Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited to 20 persons. Send registration and $25 fee payable to Rockford/DeKalb Regional Office to Rockford/DeKalb Regional Office UMC, 951 S. 7th St., Suite D, Rochelle, IL 61068. Check must accompany registration.
For more information, call (815) 561-8285.
Migrant Head-Start program
hosted by Mendota Zion
(June 1) After months of negotiation, Zion UMC, 808 Jefferson St., Mendota, is hosting a Head Start Program for children of migrant workers June 1 through Sept. 15.
Working with the Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Tri-County Opportunities Council, Zion UMC will provide space for 30 children Monday through Friday.
“Tri-County Opportunities Council and DCFS were impressed by the space we have available in our building, and we see this as an opportunity to serve the community,” said Bob May, chairperson of Zion UMC’s Administrative Council. “It will be nice to have children in our building during the daytime when most of the rooms are normally empty.”
For more information, call (815) 538-2186.
100 attend Zone youths summit on environment
(June 1) More than 100 community leaders and youths gathered at The Zone, corner of 117th and Avenue O, Chicago, on May 22 for a Youth Environmental Summit organized by The Zone’s Youth Environmental Initiative.
The Zone youths presented an original play and song that talked about our responsibility to work together to address various environmental challenges. They also made presentations on the importance of recycling, energy and water conservation, reducing the use of plastic bags by reusing them or using cloth tote bags instead.
Other presentations addressed use of energy-saving bulbs, global warming and over fishing.
“The youths have worked hard on this project for the past six months,” said the Rev. Zaki L. Zaki, pastor of East Side UMC whose community outreach ministry is housed at The Zone. He expressed gratitude for the support of Chicago Area Project and the Community Partners for the Common Good.
Zaki said the Youth Environmental Initiative will continue to meet on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. at The Zone and that one of their upcoming projects will be to develop a Youth Recycling Initiative.
All youths in grades 6 to 12 are welcome. For more information, contact Zaki at (773) 497-4141.
| 