This Life-Changing Journey: God Extends Grace; Let Us Do the Same
In her reflection, Rev. Danita R. Anderson celebrates Annual Conference 2025 and recalls her own ordination journey, now over four decades in ministry. She lif…
June 5, 2024
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Arlington Heights: First UMC
1903 E Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights
Registration for Clergy Session is a part of regular registration.
Download the Agenda and Documents for Clergy Session
* updated June 3
Agenda:
- 8:30 a.m. - Gathering - Registration/Coffee/Snacks
- 9 a.m. - Worship and Speaker
Speaker Rev. Jacki Belile - A Deeper Work: Biblical Patterns for Sanctifying Community - 12 p.m. - Lunch
- 1:30 p.m. - Clergy Session of the Northern Illinois Conference
*Active clergy who are not attending Annual Conference need to send their reason for absence in writing to Episcopal Administrative Assistant, Marva Andrews either by e-mail at mandrews@umcnic.org or by postal mail to Northern Illinois Conference, Attn: Marva Andrews, 303 E Wacker Dr, Suite 2020, Chicago, IL 60601
Rev. Jacki Belile
Rev. Jacki Belile is an American Baptist pastor, life coach and spiritual director. She is the Founder and Director of Living Well Ministries, a nationwide spiritual coaching and retreat ministry. Ordained in 1999, Jacki has served four churches: Phoenix Community Church (Kalamazoo, MI), Grace Baptist Church of Chicago, South Church (Mt. Prospect, IL) and is now serving Eden United Church of Christ (Chicago, IL). Jacki holds degrees from Taylor University (B.S.W., 1990), Chicago Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1996) and the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (CPC, 2008).
Jacki holds a deep love for the local church and an enthusiasm about the spiritual practices of being community. She also honors the intimate work of listening and discernment in coaching and spiritual direction. God has used her journeys amid a variety of formative communities (fundamentalist, evangelical, progressive, New Thought and interfaith) to shape her as an imperfect, committed bridge-builder. She is known to comment on being a "closet Wesleyan" to various UMC colleagues. Nurtured by the contemplative traditions of East and West, Jacki seeks to cultivate Christ's wisdom for the work of social justice.
Since 1992, Jacki has served in dozens of volunteer or elected roles in the regional and national arenas of the American Baptist Churches-USA and holds a deep respect for the challenging and sanctifying work of denominational life. She has served on the national board of the Ministers Council of ABC-USA since 2016.
She is a member of Lake Street Church of Evanston and lives in Chicago with her partner of 36 years. Her grounding includes yoga, gardening and writing.
A favorite quote is “One of the soul’s greatest longings is for a sense of rootedness” (Simone Weil). She is convinced that people today hunger for the experiences of belonging and roots which the local church can provide, if it faithfully lives out Christ’s grace for today’s needs.