October
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District Court rules against Vision (Oct. 28)
Last week a U.S. District Court judge ruled against Vision UMC in its $10 million lawsuit against the village of Long Grove. The suit charged that the village violated the First and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons Act of 2000 by “maliciously” preventing construction of its church building.
Marengo members connect to United Methodist ‘heartbeat’ (Oct. 28)
As Russ Murray and Duane Oranger, members of Marengo UMC, prepared to pull out of the parking lot of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sager-Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., they saw an amazing thing: vans, U-Hauls and pickup trucks from all over the country arriving with supplies for hurricane victims. At the same time, trucks were pulling out to distribute the very health kits Oranger and Murray had delivered the day before.
Interfaith vigil for immigrant rights set for Nov. 4 (Oct. 28)
United Methodists are invited to participate in an Illinois Interfaith Vigil for immigrant rights at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Providence of God Catholic Church, 717 W 18th St., Chicago. The vigil is a witness to the growing interfaith consensus for a just solution to the U.S.’s immigration laws that are contributing to the suffering of nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom have U.S. citizen children or spouses.
2 new Foundation pamphlets address investments, giving (Oct. 28)
The Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Foundation has created two new pamphlets for use by local churches: “Investment Opportunities for Local Church Funds” and “Planned Giving Strategies for United Methodist Christians.”
Baker Memorial UMC to dedicate 3 crosses outside building on Nov. 6 (Oct. 28)
Three lofty concrete crosses newly added to the Baker Memorial UMC landscape will be the focal point of All Saints Day worship Sunday, Nov. 6, at Third Ave. and East Main St. in St. Charles. Worship will be in the sanctuary at both the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services. Then the congregation will move outdoors to the site of the crosses for a service of dedication.
Barrington Salem to have children’s worship monthly (Oct. 28)
A new Sunday worship service focusing on children has been formed at Salem UMC, 115 W. Lincoln Ave., in downtown Barrington. The service takes place at the regular worship time of 10:30 a.m. once a month. It will occur on the fourth Sunday of each month.
Bishop’s Mission Bus Tour will visit ministry sites Nov. 14-16 (Oct. 21)
The itinerary of the Bishop’s Mission Bus Tour, Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 14 to 16, has been announced. The tour of Northern Illinois Conference mission sites will be led by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, and will feature discussions facilitated by the bishop, who will also lead worship, often in route. Tour is limited to 47 persons.
Barrington, Belvidere churches earn recognition for design excellence by Saavedra Gehlhausen (Oct. 21)
Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects of Rockford was awarded the 2005 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture for its design of Barrington UMC. The firm also received a 2005 AIA Merit Award for the design of First UMC, Belvidere.
Rockford Urban Ministries issues call for prayer, contacts with local authorities about new site (Oct. 21)
The Rockford City Building Department has yet to issue permits for Rockford Urban Ministries’ new space at 201 Seventh St. Rockford Urban Ministries (RUM) is an outreach of 20 Rockord-area United Methodist churches.
Bishop Jung, Campolo urge men to open themselves to the Holy Spirit (Oct. 14)
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, religious leader of the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC), and Dr. Tony Campolo, inspirational speaker and noted evangelism authority, both urged NIC United Methodist Men (UMM) to open themselves up to the Holy Spirit and transform their lives so they can transform the world. Jung and Campolo were featured speakers at the NIC United Methodist Men’s Spiritual Congress held Sept. 16-18 at Conference Point in Williams Bay, Wis. The event attracted 165 men, the largest attendance in the past five years.
Nominations seeks lay men for CCFA (Oct. 14)
The Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Committee on Nominations met Sept. 10 to fill vacancies and consider nominations received after the Annual Conference session in June. Resignations on the Conference Council of Finance and Administration (CCFA) created six vacancies: three clergy, one lay woman and two lay men. There is a continuing need to find lay men able to serve on CCFA, according to the chair of Nominations.
UMCom to film Rogers Park use of Faith We Sing (Oct. 14)
United Methodist Communications will videotape the worship service at United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse Ave. on Chicago’s north side, on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. The video is for United Methodist Publishing House about congregational singing promoting The Faith We Sing songbook.
Naperville CROP walk sets goal of $55,000 on Oct. 16 (Oct. 14)
The 23rd annual Naperville CROP Walk will be Sunday, Oct. 16. Registration is at 1 p.m. and the walk steps off at 1:30 p.m. The 10-, 5- or 1-kilometer walk will begin and end in front of Community UMC, 20 N. Center St. The Naperville CROP Walk has set a goal of 600 Walkers and hopes to raise $55,000 to help fight hunger in the local community and around the world.
520 youths take part in Outreach ‘makeover’ (Oct. 7)
About 520 junior and senior high youths and their adult leaders from churches throughout the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) participated in this year’s Youth Outreach. The annual event offers students in grades 6 to 12 the opportunity to worship and sing together and then go out into the community to do hands-on mission projects to help others.
DeKalb District to commission Lay Criers at Oct. 22 banquet (Oct. 7)
A banquet for all lay speakers in the DeKalb District and their spouses/guests will be Saturday, Oct. 22, at Rochelle UMC, 709 Fourth Ave. A buffet dinner will be followed by a praise and worship service with Bishop Hee-Soo Jung preaching. District Superintendent the Rev. Larry Hilkemann will commission the district’s new Lay Criers during the service.
DeKalb Laity Sunday is Oct. 1: Single-use disciples (Oct. 7)
Northern Illinois Conference Lay Leader Roger Curless says “We are all one in the Spirit and we are all in ministry as disciples of Jesus Christ. As we observe Laity Sunday (Oct. 16), we should be considering our own discipleship and what it means.
Missionaries sought for Rockford Hilltop Ministry (Oct. 7)
Rockford District Superintendent the Rev. Addison Shields will lead an information program Wednesday, Oct. 12, for people interested in becoming missionaries at the Hilltop Ministry Center. Each Rockford area church has been asked to send 10 people to serve as missionaries to the center located on 20 acres of land on the northeast side of Rockford on Mitchell Road one mile north of Rte. 173 and one mile south of Swanson Road.
Rogers Park to celebrate 100 years (Oct. 7)
The history of United Church of Rogers Park in Chicago is richly intertwined with the communal life of one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods. For that reason, the church will celebrate 100 years of ministry with a community festival Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., that will feature live music, a film festival, art sale and community fair with children’s activities.
Deceased amateur artist’s work will be on display at Rogers Park Communty Festival (Oct. 7)
The work of an amateur artist whose collection of watercolor paintings was discovered only after her death will be prominently displayed at United Church of Rogers Park’s Oct. 15 Community Festival in Chicago. Jean Price was a long-time member of United Church, known for her dedication to the United Methodist Women’s organization, her support of the Methodist Home and her service as a communion steward.
North Central College will kick off renovation of Koten Chapel on Oct. 15 (Oct. 7)
North Central College (NCC) in Naperville is beginning a major renovation of Koten Chapel and the rest of the Student Service Center, which was known for many years as the administration building for Evangelical Theological Seminary (ETS). Alumni of the college and seminary and other interested members of the public are invited to attend a kick-off ceremony for the project at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.
Chicago CROP Walk will step off Oct. 23 (Oct. 7)
The 23rd Annual Chicago CROP Walk Against Hunger will be Sunday, Oct. 23, starting at the University of Illinois — Chicago Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted. Registration is at 1 p.m. and will be accompanied by a music concert by Last Minute Music. The walk will step off at 2 p.m.
District Court rules against Vision
(Oct. 28) Last week a U.S. District Court judge ruled against Vision UMC in its $10 million lawsuit against the village of Long Grove. The suit charged that the village violated the First and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Land Use and Institutional Persons Act of 2000 by “maliciously” preventing construction of its church building.
 Members of Vision Church, a Korean-American congregation that has been trying for more than six years to build a church on property it owns in Long Grove, a suburb 38 miles north of Chicago, have decided to appeal the ruling to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeal process is expected to take at least one more year.
In his ruling, Judge Charles Norgle of the U.S. District Court of the Northern Illinois District of Illinois said: “There is no evidence in the record to suggest that the village, through the enactment of the Public Assembly Ordinance, has endorsed a specific religion, that the village’s stated reasons are disingenuous, or give the impression that one religion is favored or preferred.”
Norgle also said that “the maximum square footage allowed by the village does not constitute a significant burden on religion for First Amendment purposes.”
Seems to have missed religious freedom issue
The Rev. Arlene Christopherson, Elgin District superintendent, said: “The congregation is really disappointed and a little bit frustrated because the ruling seems just not to address a lot of the areas they felt were strong in their case. The judge indicated that this suit had no place in federal court because it was a land-use case. He seems to have completely missed the religious freedom issue.”
Andy Norman, the church’s lead attorney, said the appeal will focus “substantively on his [Norgle’s] failure to look at the majority of the record.”
A particularly disturbing part of Norgle’s ruling was that in the “facts” section of his decision, Norgle referred to Vision UMC as “composed mainly of American-born Chinese.”
Apparently the judge wrote the inaccurate description after visiting a Web site for a Vision church in New York for Chinese-Americans.
“Judge Norgle’s opinion fails to mention many of the abuses that Vision Church suffered from Long Grove,” said Han Cho, chair of Vision UMC’s committee on building construction. “His opinion expresses that civil rights cases for churches are unwelcome in federal courts. Given that he has problems telling the difference between a Korean church in a Chicago suburb and a Chinese church in New York City, he may have a point.”
Bishop saddened by cultural insensitivity
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung said: “I am very saddened by the cultural insensitivity of Judge Norgle’s ruling. It’s very hurtful that the judge is not aware of differences among Asian cultures. His ruling has caused a great deal of pain to the members of the Vision Church congregation who feel as if they have not even been recognized by the judge. I have to assume that the judge was just not paying attention to the details of the case.”
Bishop Jung also said he felt “very sorry” for Long Grove “because the village is losing an opportunity to serve a wider circle of the community and to benefit from our nation’s growing diversity.”
Jung said the church must be concerned about a community that is not open to social change. “We need to continue to educate our own community not to go the exclusive way, whatever the rationale,” Jung said, “and not to take such a defensive role to isolate themselves.”
The lawsuit was the latest effort in the congregation’s six-year struggle to make Long Grove its home.
June 1999
In June 1999, members of Vision signed an intent to purchase 27 acres of land in unincorporated Lake County on the condition that the village of Long Grove would annex the land and approve the church’s plans to construct a worship facility.
During numerous meetings with the Village Plan Commission, the congregation made expensive revisions to its original architectural plans to comply with commission requests. In September 2000, after receiving an informal go-ahead from Long Grove’s Plan Commission, the congregation bought land at the corner of Gilmer and North Krueger roads for $1.1 million.
But instead of approving the project, the Long Grove Plan Commission put the church through another year of negotiations, public hearings and revisions to architectural plans. Finally, in spring 2001, the village rejected the church’s request for annexation and building approval.
Vision Church then applied to Lake County for a building permit. Just as county officials were finalizing approval of the church plans, Long Grove successfully delayed that process and accelerated annexation and development of property south of Vision Church’s land. By completing in 80 to 90 days development approvals that normally take 1½ to 2 years, the village was able to completely surround Vision Church property and forcibly annex it. As a result of the forced annexation, the pending final approval of the church’s proposal to Lake County became void.
Upon annexation, the church property was automatically rezoned by Long Grove to a residential district that allows churches only if trustees vote to give special permission. In January 2002, Vision Church members applied again for a special use permit. It was rejected in July 2002.
Amended zoning codes
Long Grove then took steps that made it impossible for Vision Church to build a facility that would comply with village criteria. Among other things, Long Grove amended its zoning codes to require any church owning more than 20 acres of land to front a state highway — a requirement that applied only to Vision Church, guaranteeing to exclude it because the church’s property is on a county road.
Vision UMC filed its lawsuit in August 2003. It was joined in the lawsuit by the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Alliance Defense Fund, America’s largest public-interest religious-liberty legal alliance.
Marengo members connect
to United Methodist ‘heartbeat’
(Oct. 28) As Russ Murray and Duane Oranger, members of Marengo UMC, prepared to pull out of the parking lot of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sager-Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., they saw an amazing thing: vans, U-Hauls and pickup trucks from all over the country arriving with supplies for hurricane victims. At the same time, trucks were pulling out to distribute the very health kits Oranger and Murray had delivered the day before.
 “This is awesome,” said Murray. “This is why we made the trip,” Oranger agreed.
For Oranger, Hurricane Katrina was a personal tragedy. He has family in Louisiana and a love for the city of New Orleans. The day after the hurricane devastated the area he called his pastor, the Rev. Steve Bullmer, and said: “God has put it on my heart to do something about this. What’s the best way to help?”
“When the disaster strikes a foreign country you really can’t do anything except write a check,” said Oranger. “But this happened here in America. People lost everything and they have little prospect of ever getting back to what they had.”
Oranger wanted to collect supplies, load them into a truck, and personally take them to Louisiana. But what do people need the most, and what relief agency would make sure the supplies went where they were needed?
Contact with UMCOR
Bullmer put Oranger in contact with UMCOR. Over the next two weeks Oranger was in almost daily communication with UMCOR’s Sager-Brown Depot. “The trip has really educated me on the awesome power of UMCOR,” he reflected after the trip.
And so, Oranger spearheaded an effort to get health kits made to take to Sager-Brown. He put up signs around Marengo. One man, in a local bank, saw Oranger’s daughter, Ashleigh, putting up a sign about the relief effort. He gave her $100 on the spot.
Oranger contacted his family and solicited their support. His mother, a member of Burlington UMC, talked to her pastor, Brian William, and their church collected more than 250 health kits.
Bullmer is married to the Rev. Sharon Bullmer, pastor of Harvard UMC. That congregation contributed 100 school kits.
“People wanted to help,” Oranger said. “People were happy to give.”
More than 500 health kits, 100 school kits, 60 blankets and 44 hand towels were taken to the Sager-Brown Depot. They were transported in a U-Haul rented from Rockford at almost no cost to Oranger. “All [the owner] wanted was enough money to cover his insurance,” Oranger explained.
God-moment
Meanwhile, Murray was attending the wedding rehearsal of a family friend at which Steve Bullmer was officiating. As they ate dinner, Bullmer was telling the people at the table of his “God-moment” earlier that day when Oranger and he formulated the plan for taking supplies to Sager-Brown. Murray quickly responded, “I want to go with Duane.” Murray made arrangements to take vacation days from work for the trip.
“It was a highlight of my spiritual journey,” said Murray afterwards. “As we were pulling in, there was a little old guy in a camper with Idaho license plates pulling a trailer full of supplies. That guy drove 2,500 miles to deliver that. Not 10 minutes later another pickup truck pulls in from Virginia, loaded with supplies. I just stood there and felt connected to the heartbeat of the United Methodist Church in a way I never had before.
“The words on the sign in front of the Sager-Brown Depot said it all. It was a quote from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism: ‘Do all the good you can.’ Yeah, that’s what
we were doing.”
The trip may be over, but it has just whetted Oranger’s and Murray’s appetite for more. “I see this as an ongoing project,” said Oranger. “I want to take another U-Haul to Sager-Brown.”
Murray sees a different continuation of this project. “My wife and daughter and I would like to lead a week-long mission trip to Sager-Brown,” he said, smiled and added, “Besides, these are Methodists. You should see the meals they feed their volunteers!”
’Duane’s and Russ’ excellent adventure
The bank account for Hurricane Katrina relief donations at Marengo UMC is still open. Money has continued to come in since “Duane’s and Russ’ excellent adventure.” The remainder will be sent to UMCOR in the next few weeks.
“This has given us such a good feeling, being connected to our church in a way that we can’t see or appreciate with just the 200 people who worship at Marengo UMC on Sunday morning,” both Murray and Oranger said. “When we pulled the last box off our U-Haul, looked into the empty truck, and saw how God made all this happen, all this work out, we knew we had experienced a prayer answered.”
Interfaith vigil for immigrant rights set for Nov. 4
(Oct. 28) United Methodists are invited to participate in an Illinois Interfaith Vigil for immigrant rights at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Providence of God Catholic Church, 717 W 18th St., Chicago.
The vigil is a witness to the growing interfaith consensus for a just solution to the U.S.’s immigration laws that are contributing to the suffering of nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom have U.S. citizen children or spouses.
“As Congress begins to debate these immigration issues, it is of vital importance that the faith community makes its united presence felt,” said Emma Lozano, Church Council president for Adalberto UMC in Chicago. “At the last [Northern Illinois] annual conference, we passed a resolution calling on United Methodists to participate fully in the movement for comprehensive immigration reform and, especially, in the struggle to stop the separation of families. We need to act on that resolution from our local churches.”
Two other United Methodists, Julie Santos and Elvira Arellano, are members of La Familia Latina Unida (Latino Families United), a group of 35 families who have U.S. citizen children although one of their parents has been deported or is facing deportation under current laws.
The Nov. 4 vigil will feature special prayers led by the children of La Familia Latina Unida praying for the return of their fathers and mothers to the United States.
La Familia Latina Unida is calling for an organized program of 100 days of prayer, information and dialogue in local churches throughout
Illinois beginning Nov. 4. The program for the 100 days will be announced and information will be available at the vigil.
For more information, contact Walter Coleman, pastor of Adalberto UMC, (773) 782-8464, or Graciela Contreras, (847) 549-0164.
2 new Foundation pamphlets
address investments, giving
(Oct. 28) The Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Foundation has created two new pamphlets for use by local churches: “Investment Opportunities for Local Church Funds” and “Planned Giving Strategies for United Methodist Christians.”
 “Investment Opportunities for Local Church Funds” describes six investment options available for funds invested through the Foundation. The brochure also provides historical data on each fund and highlights the experience of the Foundation during its 55 years.
Other information includes investment practices used for funds under Foundation management and important considerations for local churches when setting investment goals. This brochure is designed for use by local church leaders and committees seeking the best combination of investment options to meet local church priorities.
“Planned Giving Strategies for United Methodist Christians” is to assist individuals in estate planning and planned giving. The pamphlet describes a variety of charitable gift strategies and the advantages and benefits of each type of gift.
The brochure discusses several personal benefits received by United Methodist Christians who remember the church and its mission through planned gifts. Those considering a gift are urged to consult a financial planner or attorney prior to finalizing a planned gift.
Foundation staff members are available to assist individuals and local churches with gift planning and Foundation investment management services. Contact the Foundation office by phone, (312) 346-9766, ext. 104, or via e-mail hnicol@umcnic.org for assistance or to receive copies of these resources.
Baker Memorial UMC to dedicate
3 crosses outside building on Nov. 6
(Oct. 28) Three lofty concrete crosses newly added to the Baker Memorial UMC landscape will be the focal point of All Saints Day worship Sunday, Nov. 6, at Third Ave. and East Main St. in St. Charles. Worship will be in the sanctuary at both the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services. Then the congregation will move outdoors to the site of the crosses for a service of dedication.
Made from concrete, the crosses have been embedded to a depth of six feet. The center cross, the empty cross of Christ, is 18-feet high and 12-feet wide. Crosses at each side are 12-feet tall and 10-feet wide. According to Keith Breslich, Trustee chair, the production process included locating actual hewn timbers in Wisconsin that were then molded in a latex solution to replicate the look and grain of wood. Ten tons of concrete were used to form the crosses.
A West Chicago firm, ASE, provided the concrete forming process and the Driessen Construction Co. of St. Charles did the finishing work.
The Rev. Ronni Sue Verboom, pastor, said the placement outdoors of “the cross of Christ is an expression of the congregation’s desire to reach out to the community and the world with Christ’s love.”
At a later date a bronze plate inscribed with names of donors will be added along with a seating area for reflection and prayer, and a system to light the church and crosses
at night.
Breslich said “it all began as a kind of Baker Church goes Hollywood” concept. He recalled that a small group who had viewed Mel Gibson’s production of “The Passion of the Christ” were deeply moved and wanted, as an expression of faith, to see a large, visual presence of the cross at their church.
Dr. C. Alfred Patten, former pastor, is well-known for his personal collection of crosses and had made it a central feature in his lectures and sermons, and his study of church symbols and architecture. He offered his support for the project and enlisted others to provide gifts, particularly memorial gifts.
For more information, call (630) 584-0904.
Barrington Salem to have
monthly children’s worship
(Oct. 28) A new Sunday worship service focusing on children has been formed at Salem UMC, 115 W. Lincoln Ave., downtown. The service takes place at the regular worship time of 10:30 a.m. once a month. It will occur on the fourth Sunday of each month.
In the service, Salem’s pastor, Ann Spurgeon, and new Children and Youth pastor, Jen Stuelpe, lead the children through songs, skits and a craft with the help of the adult congregation.
“We begin by reminding the adults that there is a small child in each of us that just wants to come out and play every once in a while,” said Spurgeon. Even adults that we thought might be hesitant to join in the service had a good time. But most important, the children and their parents were delighted with the singing, stories and prayer developed just for them.”
The first service was in September. The second in October featured the Children’s Choir in brightly colored new choir shirts. For more information, call (847) 381-0524.
Bishop’s Mission Bus Tour will
visit ministry sites Nov. 14-16
(Oct. 21) The itinerary of the Bishop’s Mission Bus Tour, Monday to Wednesday, Nov. 14 to 16, has been announced. The tour of Northern Illinois Conference mission sites will be led by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, and will feature discussions facilitated by the bishop, who will also lead worship, often in route.
The tour will be limited to 47 persons and will originate in Naperville at the Hampton Inn. At 4:30 p.m. the tour will travel to North Central College (NCC) for dinner and an evening program featuring the Wiley College A’Capella choir from Marshall, Texas.
Naperville
Welcome and Orientation will be by Bishop Jung and Harriet McCabe, arrangements coordinator. Dr. Hal Wilde, NCC president, will welcome the tour members. After dinner, the Rev. Lynn Pries, NCC chaplain, and students will make a presentation about campus ministry.
 Following that will be an overview of United Methodist mission activities and missionaries by Wayne Rhodes, North Central Jurisdiction Field Representative of the General Board of Global Ministries, and Emmy Lou John, Conference Secretary of Global Ministries.
At 8 p.m. the Wiley choir will perform. The choir will be introduced by Linda Rhodes, a trustee of Wiley College, one of the United Methodist Church’s 11 historically black colleges.
Bishop Jung will lead a debriefing and closing worship at 8:45 p.m. before returning to the hotel.
Tuesday, Nov. 15, the tour will travel to Wesley UMC, Naperville, for worship and breakfast. The Rev. Jason Reed, pastor, will discuss the church’s peace and justice ministries.
Travel west
Afterwards the tour will travel west to Norway UMC for a presentation about rural ministry and Norway and Sheridan UMCs. The Rev. Sally Chipman, pastor of the two churches, will make the presentation. Donna Pfoltner, chair of the Jennings-Lyon Day Care Center at Sheridan UMC, will talk about the center, which is a Rainbow Covenant Advance Special of the conference.
The next stop will be at Epworth UMC in Ottawa. The Rev. Jim Crone, pastor, will present Epworth Village.
After lunch, the tour will travel to Reynoldswood Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Dixon, one of the Conference’s Outdoor and Retreat Ministries facilities. Reynoldswood manager the Rev. Ben Moore will lead a tour of the retreat center assisted by Claudia Moore, program director.
From Dixon, the tour will travel three miles south of Roscoe to the “Hilltop” property that has been donated by Bill and Joyce Russ to the Conference for a new church site. The Rev. Martin Lee, Conference director of Congregational Development and Redevelopment, Rockford District Superintendent the Rev. Addison Shields and the Rev. Jay Carr, pastor of Roscoe UMC, will discuss new church development.
The tour will then travel to Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus in Rockford. At the new facility tour members will learn about Rosecrance Healthcare Network. Presenters will be Philip Eaton, president/CEO, Lynne Vass, vice president of church relations, and the Rev. Bill Lenters, chaplain.
Following dinner, Stanley Campbell, executive director of Rockford Urban Ministries, will discuss the work of his organization, an outreach of 20 Rockford-area United Methodist churches.
Bishop Jung will lead a debriefing and worship on the return to Naperville.
Chicago
Wednesday, Nov. 16, the tour will be primarily oriented east toward Chicago, but the first stop will be at First Korean UMC in Wheeling for breakfast. The Rev. Kwang Tae Kim, pastor, will discuss the church.
The tour will then travel to Broadway UMC in Chicago where the Rev. Vernice Thorn, assistant pastor, will welcome the tour for lunch and the Rev. Greg Dell, senior pastor, will make a presentation about the church’s ministries.
The next stop will be at Kendall College for a presentation and tour by Kendall President Howard Tullman.
The tour will move to First UMC at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St., where a visit has been arranged at the Episcopal and Conference offices on the 18th and 19th floors. Tour participants will also visit the “Chapel in the Sky,” where they will have a debriefing and closing worship led by the Rev. Oscar Carrasco, Conference director of Connectional Ministries. Afterwards, the tour will conclude in Naperville.
For more information or to reserve space, contact Harriet McCabe at (630) 355-4617.
Barrington, Belvidere churches earn recognition
for design excellence by Saavedra Gehlhausen
(Oct. 21)  Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects of Rockford was awarded the 2005 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture for its design of Barrington UMC, 98 Algonquin Rd., Barrington Hills.
The firm also received a 2005 AIA Merit Award for the design of First UMC, 610 Bonus Ave., Belvidere.
 Daniel Saavedra, AIA, and Guy Gehlhausen, AIA, have collaborated on architectural projects for more than 15 years, and have been in business together since 1991.
The firm also was awarded the 2000 AIA Honor Award for Excellence for the design of Poplar Grove UMC.
The awards banquet last month was attended by the Rev. James Wilson, pastor, and Mel Franklin, representing Barrington UMC. Bob Clair, Chuck Drewes, David Meyer and David Meyer II attended from First UMC in Belvidere.
Rockford Urban Ministries issues call for prayer, contacts with local authorities about new site
(Oct. 21) At press time, the Rockford City Building Department has yet to issue permits for Rockford Urban Ministries’ new space at 201 Seventh St. Rockford Urban Ministries (RUM) is an outreach of 20 Rockord-area United Methodist churches.
RUM was instrumental in helping shut down a pornographic bookstore at 623 Seventh St, its current headquarters, and celebrated the closing of a package liquor store at 201 Seventh St.
“It’s been two months of waiting for simple permits for small demolition and construction,” said Stanley Campbell, RUM executive director. “We have to rebuild some stairs and construct two accessible bathrooms.”
The city wants RUM, which will lease the storefront, to define the “social services” that will be there. “They also want us to explain ‘fair trade’ and what type of store will occupy the building,” said Campbell. “We have 30 days to respond, and they have 30 days to respond to us.”
That means RUM may not get a permit until Dec. 6, if the city doesn’t come up with other reasons to delay work.
“We will try to answer all their questions, but please call the mayor, (815) 987-5590, to show support for RUM,” Campbell said. “Leave a message with his secretary, unless you can get through to him. Let Mayor [Lawrence] Morrissey know you support Rockford Urban Ministries’ move to 201 Seventh St.”
Letters may be sent to: Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey, City Hall, 425 East State St., Rockford, 61104.
Campbell said 11th Ward Ald. Jeff Holt is “under direct pressure from big-time developers” who do not want to see any more “social service or church programs” on Seventh St.
Campbell also requested prayer support. “Please share a prayer in your churches for Rockford Urban Ministries and its mission,” he said. “And if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call me, (815) 964-7111 or send e-mail to rockfordurbanmin@aol.com.”
Bishop Jung, Campolo urge men
to open themselves to the Holy Spirit
(Oct. 14) Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, religious leader of the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC), and Dr. Tony Campolo, inspirational speaker and noted evangelism authority, both urged NIC United Methodist Men (UMM) to open themselves up to the Holy Spirit and transform their lives so they can transform the world. Jung and Campolo were featured speakers at the NIC United Methodist Men’s Spiritual Congress held Sept. 16-18 at Conference Point in Williams Bay, Wis.
The event attracted 165 men, the largest attendance in the past five years.
 Jung, who serves on the United Methodist Commission of United Methodist Men, preached for worship services and then met with 35 leaders and officers on the NIC UMM executive committee. The bishop urged the UMM leaders to be Christian witnesses, powerful transformers and more than bread winners for their families.
“Bread winning is a critical thing,” Jung said, “but you need to go beyond bread winning. God expects miracle things out of us.” He urged his listeners to “rethink and reclaim that we are called” by God.
“If we realize that God has called us,” Jung said, “then we can reclaim our frozen assets immediately. God can transform the world through us.”
Jung told the men that maintaining the status quo and focusing on maintenance or survival “doesn’t really give you joy.” He urged them to rely on God, rather than their own intellect, and allow God to direct their lives.
 “When you say you are going to change,” Jung said, “God will give you a tremendous sense of joy and a tremendous sense of hope.” He also said if we do God’s will, rather than the people’s will, we can do greater things.
“Christians today live with very tiny expectations from God,” Jung said. “They don’t see how God can perform miracles. I want to challenge you to dream.”
The bishop told the men that they need to be full of the spirit, on fire. “The Holy Spirit wants you to be an agent of transformation,” he said.
“God is an amazing God,” Jung said. “God is able to do greater things than we can imagine.”
Jung also urged the UMM leaders to reach out to other ethnic groups, particularly Hispanics, and challenged the men to have half of the attendees at next year’s Spiritual Congress be Hispanic. He told them to translate materials into Spanish and Korean and then visit ethnic churches and invite men to participate.
 “If we’re simply monolingual, there is no way they’ll be comfortable to come and join you,” Jung said.
The bishop also urged the men to attend Small Group Ministry Leader training that is being offered by the NIC to learn how to lead other men and how to express faith.
“In our culture today,” Jung said, “faith is no longer a private matter. Faith is a public matter. When you experience God’s love, you’ve got to share it in a public way.”
Campolo also urged the men to be open to the Holy Spirit. “We have to allow the Holy Spirit to invade us,” he told the men, “to change us.”
Campolo pointed out that you can’t “earn” the Holy Spirit. “What you really need to do is simply surrender,” he said. “Go off to the still place, the quiet place, and wait for God to come to you.”
Campolo told the men that God wants to work through them “to change the world that is into the world that ought to be.”
Nominations seeks lay men for CCFA
(Oct. 14) The Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Committee on Nominations met Sept. 10 to fill vacancies and consider nominations received after the Annual Conference session in June.
Resignations on the Conference Council of Finance and Administration (CCFA) created six vacancies: three clergy, one lay woman and two lay men. The Rev. Dean Frances, the Rev. Michael Morris, the Rev. Jennifer Wilson and Sandra Jones, Chicago, were appointed to serve until they can be elected at the next session of Annual Conference.
“There is a continuing need to find lay men able to serve on CCFA,” said Betsy Houghton, Committee on Nominations chair. “Noting the need for diversity on the council, it is hoped that ethnic minority lay men can be found.”
Also appointed to serve, beginning immediately, were Board of Church and Society, Dorothy Williams; Board of Global Ministries, Joel Hartland; Commission on Religion and Race, the Rev. Regina Davis Bridges; Committee to Implement National Hispanic/Latino Plan, the Rev. David Eichelberger, Barbara Greicar and the Rev. Bettye Mixon; and Committee on Native American Ministries, Dave Coughlin.
The death this summer of the Rev. Ricardo Magtanong, chair of the NIC Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, created a vacancy on that board. “Membership on that board needs strengthening as its number is small,” Houghton said. “Naming a new chairperson was deferred until Nov. 5 to allow time to receive new nominations.”
To nominate persons for CCFA or the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, contact Houghton at (847) 395-5463.
UMCom to film Rogers Park use of Faith We Sing
(Oct. 14) United Methodist Communications will videotape the worship service at United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse Ave. on the city’s north side, on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. The video is for United Methodist Publishing House about congregational singing promoting The Faith We Sing songbook.
The promotion piece also will feature St. Luke’s UMC, Memphis, and Hamilton UMC, Antioch, Tenn. It will demonstrate how these three diverse congregations use the variety of songs in The Faith We Sing to enhance their worship experiences. The video will be sent to all United Methodist congregations in the United States.
“It is an honor to have this opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to passionate and exuberant congregational singing,” said Mark Bowman, United Church minister of music. “This congregation takes great pride in its spirited singing of a diversity of Christian music from around the world.”
Anyone is welcome to worship and sing with the United Church of Rogers Park congregation and be a part of this experience. For more information, contact the church at (773) 761-2500.
Naperville CROP walk sets
goal of $55,000 on Oct. 16
(Oct. 14) The 23rd annual Naperville CROP Walk will be Sunday, Oct. 16. Registration is at 1 p.m. and the walk steps off at 1:30 p.m. The 10-, 5- or 1-kilometer walk will begin and end in front of Community UMC, 20 N. Center St.
The Naperville CROP Walk has set a goal of 600 Walkers and hopes to raise $55,000 to help fight hunger in the local community and around the world, through self-help development initiatives. A portion of the funds raised in Naperville will go to the hunger-fighting work of the Loaves and Fishes food pantry and the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Last year, 527 walkers raised almost $50,000 in the Naperville CROP Walk.
This year Naperville and some 2,000 cities and towns nationwide are joining together in interfaith community CROP Walks around the theme “Walking Together.”
For more information about the Naperville CROP Walk, contact the Rev. Duane Mevis, CROP Walk coordinator, (630) 428-3942.
520 youths take part in Outreach ‘makeover’
(Oct. 7) About 520 junior and senior high youths and their adult leaders from churches throughout the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) participated in this year’s Youth Outreach. The annual event offers students in grades 6 to 12 the opportunity to worship and sing together and then go out into the community to do hands-on mission projects to help others.
Gathering Saturday, Sept. 24, in Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College in Naperville, the youths began the day with a spirited praise and worship service. Music was led by the band, “Subject to Change.”
Theme for this year’s event was “A Real Makeover,” and every participant received a bright green t-shirt emblazoned with the event’s logo.
 Preacher for the worship service was Reggie Blount, professor in Youth Ministry and Christian Education at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He talked to his audience about what it means to have “a real” makeover: “We’re living in a culture that seems to be obsessed with how one looks on the outside.”
Blount said society pushes us “not to like something about ourselves” and noted that there is always a product for sale that will fix whatever it is you don’t like.
“There seems to be a product to satisfy every need, and, in extreme cases, all kinds of surgical procedures to change what it is you want to change,” he said.
 But Blount questioned who is being allowed to set the standards and whose guidelines are being followed. Blount said he looked through the Bible and could not find a single place where God criticizes someone’s outward appearance or calls someone ugly.
“God does want us to experience a change — a transformation — a makeover,” Blount said, “not on the outside, but on the inside.”
Blount urged his young listeners to quit looking at their outward appearances. “Take some time to look on the inside,” he said. “Look at your heart. Look at your character. Look at your ability to love and care.”
“God desires for your heart to match up with the masterpiece God has created you to be,” Blount said. “You can start that today as you go out to love and care and serve today. Don’t whine. Don’t catch an attitude. Don’t think about all the other things you could have done today. Ask: ‘What does God want me to do today? Who does God want me to help today? Who does God want me to bless today?’ And then say ‘yes’ today. Say ‘yes’ to God. Say ‘yes’ to the real makeover that is taking place in you today.”
 After worship and lunch, the youths headed out to put their faith into action. They visited with residents of retirement communities, convalescent homes and rehabilitation centers, did yard work, bagged potatoes for Society of St. Andrew to provide to soup kitchens and food pantries, and helped sort and load supplies to be sent to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In an offering taken during the morning worship service, the youths collected $940 to be divided between Society of St. Andrew and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for hurricane relief.
DeKalb District to commission
Lay Criers at Oct. 22 banquet
(Oct. 7) A banquet for all lay speakers in the DeKalb District and their spouses/guests will be Saturday, Oct. 22, at Rochelle UMC, 709 Fourth Ave. A buffet dinner will be followed by a praise and worship service with Bishop Hee-Soo Jung preaching. District Superintendent the Rev. Larry Hilkemann will commission the district’s new Lay Criers during the service.
The DeKalb District Lay Criers program is patterned after a program developed by the Chicago Northwestern District in May 2000. Lay Criers were created when lay speakers complained that they were not being given enough to do while the district superintendent had too much to do and couldn’t maintain a satisfactory level of communication and connection with congregations.
To help resolve this situation, the office of Lay Crier was created as an extension of the district office. Each certified lay speaker who chose to become a Lay Crier was assigned a church, other than his or her own, to strengthen the bond and connection between the district and the congregation.
“Most important, the Lay Criers would create a power base of prayer out of which the congregation would do ministry,” explained Denny Shaver, DeKalb District director of Lay Speaking. “To date, this program has been a tremendous success for everyone involved and has truly strengthened the connection in that district while creating a bond between individuals and congregations.”
With this in mind, Shaver said the DeKalb District has decided to offer this same ministry to all of its recognized certified lay speakers. He said a job description for Lay Crier has been sent to all certified lay speakers accompanied by a call to expand their lay speaking ministry.
“Anyone wanting more information or a job description can contact the DeKalb District office and let us know you are interested,” Shaver said. “Our intent is to have the Lay Criers commissioned and assigned before November.”
Shaver can be reached at (815) 663-0368. The DeKalb District office phone number is (815) 756-5383.
Laity Sunday is Oct. 1: Single-use disciples
 By Roger Curless, Northern Illinois Conference Lay Leader
(Oct. 7) The theme for Laity Sunday, Oct. 16, is “One in Spirit — All in Ministry in Discipleship.” We are all one in the Spirit and we are all in ministry as disciples of Jesus Christ. As we observe Laity Sunday this year we should be considering our own discipleship and what it means.
Some of you reading this will recall in the Laity Address at Annual Conference this past June I referenced a conversation with a friend who is a city planner. Regarding the closing of a church, he lamented how difficult it is for a city because churches tend to be built as “single-purpose” buildings, meaning there are not a lot of options once the building is vacant.
That caused me to do some thinking about how many of our churches have become “single-purpose” even though they are still open. It is a critical issue because we as United Methodists believe and affirm that the local church is the center for the recruiting, developing and nurturing of disciples.
We also believe that discipleship involves much more than an hour or two on Sunday mornings. Being a Christian disciple is a life-changing and continually life-changing experience. Christian discipleship is a process, not an event. It is active participation in the life of the church, the ministry of the church in the community and around the world.
While most of our churches in the Northern Illinois Conference would not be characterized as being “single-use” buildings, there are too many “single-use” disciples: Too many of our congregation members, professing to be Christian, do little more than attend worship, if that. Now, I would not want to discourage anyone from being a regular worshiper, but Christian discipleship requires more, much more.
As Christian disciples, we are the body of Christ in the world today. It is for us, as that body of Christ, to be more intentional about our discipleship. There are some things that are clear:
We are to recruit other disciples. It is for us to tell our stories, share our faith journeys with others who may be seeking and welcome them into the fellowship. These “recruits” may be in our neighborhoods or places of work, or they may be in mission sites around the world. As disciples today, we are to be actively making the disciples of tomorrow.
We are to unconditionally love and care for others. Whether in our family, congregation, community or other parts of the world, we are called to do those things that demonstrate God’s love through us for others. Our response to the victims of natural disaster whether in the Indian Ocean region or the southern United States has demonstrated that love.
We are to ensure justice for all God’s children. Injustices continue to abound. When we see conditions that inflict difficulty or hardship on others, we are required to find ways to engage ourselves to end those injustices.
To do these things we need to be active in Bible study, prayer, worship and hands-on ministry work for others. Yes, it takes time, but we are talking about the disciples of Jesus Christ continuing to reshape the world.
These times demand all of Christ’s disciples to be active. As we observe Laity Sunday, let us all take stock of our ministries together and affirm that we will not allow ourselves to become “single-use” disciples.
Missionaries sought for Rockford Hilltop Ministry
(Oct. 7) Rockford District Superintendent the Rev. Addison Shields will lead an information program Wednesday, Oct. 12, for people interested in becoming missionaries at the Hilltop Ministry Center. Each Rockford area church has been asked to send 10 people to serve as missionaries to the center located on 20 acres of land on the northeast side of Rockford on Mitchell Road one mile north of Rte. 173 and one mile south of Swanson Road. The land was donated to the conference by Bill and Joyce Russ, members of Centennial UMC, to build a new church.
Roscoe UMC volunteers have been evangelists in the area around the Russ property while it is being conveyed to the Northern Illinois Conference. The missionaries will broaden support for the project and will be trained in various methods of evangelism, new member assimilation and stewardship development.
A one-year commitment is sought from the missionaries, whose church life will be focused on the Hilltop Ministry Center. Their membership will remain with their sponsoring church, and they can return to attending there after the year is over.
The introductory meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Roscoe UMC, 10816 Main St. For more information, call the Rockford District Office, (815) 968-697.
Rogers Park to celebrate 100 years
(Oct. 7) The history of United Church of Rogers Park in Chicago is richly intertwined with the communal life of one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods. For that reason, the church will celebrate 100 years of ministry with a community festival Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., that will feature live music, a film festival, art sale and community fair with children’s activities.
United Church, located at 1545 W. Morse Ave. at the intersection of Morse and Ashland Avenues, is the product of several mergers, most recently with Wheadon UMC in Evanston. Both churches have long been on the cutting edge of local and national social and political movements for peace and justice.
United Church began accessibility construction in 1967 — a quarter century before the “Americans with Disabilities Act” was passed by Congress. In 1983, Wheadon was the first United Methodist church in the country to give sanctuary to a Salvadoran refugee. Both were in the vanguard of the movement to fully include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons in the life of the United Methodist Church.
Numerous progressive organizations got their start or have been housed in the buildings of these two churches, including the North Suburban Peace Initiative, Centro Romero, Better Existence for people with HIV (BEHIV), Insight Arts, CeaseFire and the Rogers Park Community Action Network. A detailed history will be featured in a commemorative program book.
In addition to the community celebration on Oct. 15, the church will hold a special 100th anniversary worship service Sunday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. led by the Rev. Dan Davis, pastor. The Rev. John Auer, pastor from 1981 to 1992, will return to preach. A reception will follow the service. For more information, contact the church at (773) 761-2500.
Deceased amateur artist’s work will be on display at Rogers Park Communty Festival
The work of an amateur artist whose collection of watercolor paintings was discovered only after her death will be prominently displayed at United Church of Rogers Park’s Oct. 15 Community Festival in Chicago.
Jean Price was a long-time member of United Church, known for her dedication to the United Methodist Women’s organization, her support of the Methodist Home and her service as a communion steward.
Few congregation members knew that Jean was a talented artist who belonged to a watercolor club that traveled throughout the city finding beautiful sites to capture in their paintings. Throughout her lifetime, well into her 80s, she traveled with her canvas and brushes to capture her impressions of the city she so loved. But her talent was largely “undiscovered” and her paintings remained in a basement storage area at the time of her death in 2002.
United Church members Bill Eyring and Judy Bond recovered her paintings when the house’s owner moved. They catalogued 89 watercolors of various sizes.
Bond and fellow member Eric Will took the collection to Dan Glicken, a local art consultant. Together they estimated that Jean had left a legacy of paintings worth nearly $8,000.
“This is a fine opportunity to see why a dedicated amateur artist is to be treasured,” Glicken wrote in his evaluation. “She communicates a simple, primal feeling of the city and its interface with nature at particular moments in time. What she left us is the record of one poetic soul communing with an endlessly fascinating city.”
The watercolors will be for sale at the festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds from the sale will be used in part to pay for the restoration of a historic mural in the church building. Glicken said, “Any one or more of these images would make a lasting memento for those who appreciate such experiences in their own lives.”
North Central College will kick off
renovation of Koten Chapel on Oct. 15
(Oct. 7) North Central College (NCC) in Naperville is beginning a major renovation of Koten Chapel and the rest of the Student Service Center, which was known for many years as the administration building for Evangelical Theological Seminary (ETS). Alumni of the college and seminary and other interested members of the public are invited to attend a kick-off ceremony for the project at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.
 The program has been planned in conjunction with the college’s homecoming festivities and will include the Outstanding Alumni Awards for 2005.
The former ETS building will gain a three-story wing extension, an elevator and new rear entrance. Koten Chapel will be improved with a new balcony, narthex, refurbished stained glass and redesigned entrances.
The building is slated for completion in fall 2006 and will be renamed Kiekhofer Hall to honor a family with strong ties to the college through leadership and philanthropy. A lead gift was pledged by H. Robert Holmes, North Central class of 1966, and grandson of Benjamin and Elizabeth Kiekhofer, members of the class of 1912.
“This hall represents a history that includes many great people, from those who attended the seminary to the Kiekhofers and Kotens, who were students here,” said Rick Spencer, NCC vice president for Institutional Advancement.
On hand for the Oct. 15 event will be George St. Angelo, NCC alumnus and former chaplain. The campus ministry space in the renovated building will be named the St. Angelo Suite. Also in attendance will be Richard Eastman, professor of English and dean of faculty emeritus, whose service will be recognized through the Eastman Reading Room in the completed hall.
The refurbished building will include a wall honoring ETS graduates and the new Dr. Howard Mueller Classroom. Mueller is Dr. C. Frederick Toenniges Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus at North Central.
Contributions to the project in their names are welcome and can be made by contacting the Development Office at (800) 611-1861 or (630) 637-5205.
The kick-off ceremony will be held behind the Larrance Academic Center, 309 E. School St. Participants are welcome to also attend the homecoming parade at 11:30 a.m., which will begin at the corner of North Avenue and Loomis Street and proceed to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinal football game against Carthage College begins at 1 p.m.
Chicago CROP Walk will step off Oct. 23
(Oct. 7) The 23rd Annual Chicago CROP Walk Against Hunger will be Sunday, Oct. 23, starting at the University of Illinois — Chicago Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted. Registration is at 1 p.m. and will be accompanied by a music concert by Last Minute Music. The walk will step off at 2 p.m.
Sponsors of the walk, Church World Service (CWS), said they hope that more than 1,000 people can raise $80,000 to help local hunger programs and overseas relief. Donations will be raised through cash sponsorships solicited by the walkers themselves, based on their participation in the 6.2-mile walk.
There will also be a “golden mile” route. Volunteer walkers can call (888) 297-2767 for sponsor sheets, or contact one of more than 50 congregations, schools and businesses that are walking.
Local food banks and pantries will receive 25% of the money raised to help feed hungry people. The remaining 75% will go through CWS and other international relief agencies to provide food and disaster relief in more than 80 countries, including the United States.
The Chicago CROP Walk is one of nearly 2,000 annual walks held in communities across the nation. The Chicago CROP Walk is the “signature” CROP Walk for more than 50 walks to be held this fall in Northern Illinois. More than 15,000 walkers are expected to put their “soles” to the concrete and help stomp out hunger by raising more than $1 million from thousands of donors.
For more information about the Chicago CROP Walk and how to obtain a sponsor form, call (888) 297-2767 or visit www.chicagocropwalk.org on the Web. To get information on any of the other CROP Walks in the area, call (888) 297-2767.
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