2026 Will Be a Year of Hope
Bishop Schwerin looks ahead to 2026 by turning to scripture; specifically, Psalm 130:5: “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in his word, I hope.” He ponders, What kind of spiritual focus is nee…
Welcome to our Church Conference support page
On this page you have access to all the information you need to know about the Church Conference forms. Below you will find categories of information to ensure you are successful in completing the forms.
Popular supported web browsers: Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, we recommend that you use the latest version. Note for Mac/Apple Users: The fillable PDFs linked within the forms may not open properly in Safari. We strongly recommend using an alternate browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox to complete these forms. This applies to Apple tablets and smartphones as well.
For questions and support, please reach out to the following:
At the Church Conference
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2025 Church Conference agenda (doc.) (.pdf) (Rev. 8/7/25)
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Download the video message from the Bishop
Before the Church Conference
People Portal Login
Access the People Portal (All forms are now on the People Portal)
Click here for more detailed directions on the People Portal
- Everyone with an email in our database has individual People Portal access.
- If you have not logged in before, click here for the People Portal Initial Sign-In.
Use your email address that we use for you and hit submit. You will immediately receive an email from “Notifications at Northern Illinois” to set your password. - After you have set your username/password, go back to the People Portal Login and enter your username/password.
- If you have not logged in before, click here for the People Portal Initial Sign-In.
- Review & Update your information as needed (instructions)
Access and Submit Church Conference Forms
- Access your forms through your People Portal.
When you login to the People Portal, click the 2025 Church Conference Forms link, which will appear in the black box in the upper lefthand corner of your screen.
Note: Only the clergy, church office administrator, SPRC Chair, Finance Chair, Financial Secretary, Church Treasurer and Trustees Chair have access to all forms. This is one reason why updating your leadership assignments is very important. - Complete your Church Conference Forms on your People Portal
Forms Timeline, Checklist & Instructions- Submission Process:
- Before the Church Conference: due 7 days before the Church Conference
Complete and save each form in the Church Dashboard (Make sure all attachments are uploaded if the form requires them. Example: Report of the Trustees).- These forms must be printed and available for the voting members of the Church Conference.
- After the forms are saved, they will become accessible for the District Superintendent’s review.
- Report of the Pastor
- Report of Additional Appointed Clergy (if applies)
- Report of Clergy in Extension Ministry, Retired Clergy, or in Honorable Location (if applies)
- Membership Report
- Nominations Report
- Profile of the Local Church
- Recommendations Report of the Charge Conference (if applies)
- Report of the Finance Committee & Financial Summary
- 2026 Budget
- Report of the Trustees
- Accessibility Report
- Safe Sanctuaries® Report
- Parsonage Report (if applies; one report for each church-owned parsonage is required)
- After the Church Conference: due 7 days after the Church Conference
- Complete & save remaining reports
- Charge Conference Minutes
- Any missing reports
- Complete & save remaining reports
- Before the Church Conference: due 7 days before the Church Conference
- After completing and saving all the forms, the “Officially Submit” button will become visible at the bottom of the page, allowing you to sign and submit them to the District Office
- Submission Process:
Clergy Only - Access and Submit Clergy Compensation Form
- Access, complete and submit your Clergy Compensation form through your People Portal.
When you login to the People Portal, it will appear in the black box in the upper lefthand corner of your screen.
Note: Only the clergy will have access to their Clergy Compensation form. - Submission Process:
- Before the Church Conference: due 10 days before the Church Conference
Complete and save your Clergy Compensation form. (2026 Clergy Compensation Form Instructions) - At the Church Conference: clergy compensation package is passed
- After the Church Conference: due 7 days after the Church Conference
Complete, save & submit the Final Clergy Compensation Form.
- Before the Church Conference: due 10 days before the Church Conference
Resources
- 2025 Church Conference Report Training: Aug. 19, 7 p.m. - Watch the recording
- 2025 Clergy Compensation Form Training: Aug. 20, 11 a.m. - Watch the recording
- Mission Links Form (formerly Rainbow Covenant)
- Lay Servant/Speaker/Minister Instructions for completing forms Instructions to come
- Equitable compensation for 2026 (doc. 680.02)
- NIC Housing Covenant (passed at 2024 Annual Conference)
- 2025 Checklist & Report Instructions
- 2026 Clergy Compensation Form Instructions
- 2026 Health Insurance Plan for clergy rates table
- 2026 Benefit Updates and Church Benefits billing information
- Housing Allowance Explained
- Number of Annual Conference Lay Members per Church (for nominations report)
- Northern Illinois Conference Who We Are Brochure