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Rev. Cheryl Weaver, who recently began work as the chief benefits officer for Wisconsin Conference, will also serve NIC in that role beginning June 1. NIC has been without a CBO since 2020. When the North Central Jurisdiction confirmed in January that Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Conferences would share the same bishop (while remaining separate conferences), the NIC board of pensions began conversing with Wisconsin about possibly sharing a CBO.
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Bishops Call GMC to Stop Coercing UMs
“The mission of the church is harmed by the denigration of one body at the expense of another," says Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, president of the UMC Council of Bishops, in a May 14 news release. “To that end, we call upon the members of the Global Methodist Church to formally recognize The United Methodist Church as an authentic and valid denomination and to cease all efforts to coerce members of The United Methodist Church to join their fellowship. Likewise, we commit ourselves to the same standard of respect and grace.” [Photo: MikeDuBose/UMNS]
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Small Acts Make a Great Difference
Even the smallest acts of kindness can bring light and hope. During this past Lent, Christ UMC in Rockford extended simple acts of kindness with neighbors, such as delivering treats to teachers, leaving bottled water and snacks for mail carriers, and making fleece-tie blankets for youngsters at a children’s home.
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Humboldt Park UMC migrant ministry
Since Texas began sending migrants to Chicago in 2022, the city has welcomed over 30,000 newcomers. A Sojourners magazine article asked Rev. Paula Cripps-Vallejo about Humboldt Park UMC’s ministry to the new neighbors. “The majority of Latinx congregations do this because this is what it means to welcome Jesus as Jesus welcomed us,” Rev. Cripps-Vallejo said.
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Madang Enhances Cross-Cultural Ministry
Korean pastors can hone their skills in cross-cultural appointments by attending CRCC Madang. It provides in-person and online training. Among the leaders are NIC clergy Heewon Kim, Misook Park, C.J. Woo, and Juyeon Jeon. The next session meets in August at UM Church of the Incarnation, Arlington Heights.
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Plan to attend the UMC School of Congregational Development, Aug. 4-7 in Schaumburg. Learn how to start new faith communities of genuine interest to others and how to motivate your congregation to revive its neighborhood ministry. Register here. Demonstrate Northern Illinois hospitality to participants by volunteering to help greet them, help them find rooms at the venue, and more.
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Apply for a Migrant Ministries Grant. The financial gift helps support ministries that directly assist individuals or families and include cost-sharing partnerships and in-kind donations.
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Sign up for Blueprint for Wellness Health Screenings
The screening involves one blood draw and a few measurements (height, weight, blood pressure and waist circumference). More than 25 key indicators are measured and provide valuable information about several common health risks. Earn $100 for participating annually. Visit your Wespath Benefits Access account and choose "Biometric Screening."
Fill the Truck with Missions Supplies
Obtain items from their list of most-needed items and bring them to the mission truck, which will be parked in the east lot of the convention center. Learn more.
Take Your Church's Bishop's Appeal Collection
United Voices for Children--supporting Kids Above All, MYSI, and Rosecrance--is this year's beneficiary. Bring your congregation’s donation for the Monday-afternoon collection or donate online. (Choose "Bishop's Appeal" from the drop-down menu.)
Coming up:
Find legislation and historical reports online starting May 16.
Other action items:
Stay up to date on all things Annual Conference 2024 here.
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Guidance for Starting Ministry in a New Setting
The Lewis Center offers “The Right Start: Beginning Ministry in a New Setting,” a video-based resource for clergy preparing to begin ministry in a new setting. It includes instructional segments, resources, planning aids, tools, and supplementary materials for planning a successful transition. The current version has been revised with new material, such as how to handle social media and issues of concern to single clergy and associate pastors.
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A partnership between Bel Air UMC in Maryland and the Zimbabwe East and Zimbabwe West annual conferences built a new medical clinic, the Munyarari Mission Clinic in Zimbabwe.
The state-of-the-art facility, constructed by funds from Bel Air and its Chabadza-Healing Hands Across Zimbabwe mission organization, was dedicated Feb. 24 by Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa (center in above photo).
The clinic boasts men’s and women’s wings (22-bed capacity each), a maternity wing, a spacious waiting area, an administration and treatment block, a modernized incinerator, a separate block of flashing-system toilets, dual-energy electricity and a fenced and gated campus.
In addition to the clinic, the church’s Munyarari Mission is home to a primary and secondary school and church sanctuary.
“Chabadza” is the cooperation between farmers who take extra hoes to the field and passersby who will take up the spare hoes and assist. Under this medical mission partnership, villagers provided bricks, stones, sand, and labor, and others provided the other building materials, such as roofing, windows and cement, and pay the contractor.
Village head Joseph Munyariri called the clinic a dream come true.
“We used to travel 11 kilometers to the nearest clinic. Expectant mothers bore the brunt,” he said. “With the clinic close by, no deaths are expected. Our hope is to have a full-fledged hospital and a boarding school as we continue to be partners.”
Photo: Kudzai Chingwe/UM News
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Listening for God's Guidance
How is God leading you and/or your church? Here are some resources that may help you discern God's guidance.
“Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks,” a seven-session DVD study with Priscilla Shirer
“Four Acts of Prayer,” a ten-session DVD study with Walter Wangerin
“God Is Closer than You Think,” a six-session DVD study with John Ortberg
Church Guide for Making Decisions Together, by Terence Corkin and Julia Kuhn Wallace
Living Into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment, by Valerie Isenhower and Judith Todd
Spiritual Discovery: A Method for Discernment in Small Groups and Congregations, by Catherine Tran and Sandra Hughes Boyd
List of selected resources
Find the online catalog here.
To contact the center, send them an email message.
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