Skip to Main Content

Vital Partnership Workshop

Location: First United Methodist Church, 503 N. Lily Creek Rd., Freeport, IL.

Vital Partnerships 2022

March 19

Registration fee: $20 - lunch box provided

Download Flyer

Speaker: Dirk Elliott

Churches come in all forms of health: some are healthy and growing, others are maintaining the status quo, and some are declining. But they all have one thing in common – they want to be fruitful and healthy. One way this can happen is through partnerships or mergers. Attend this workshop and explore new ways your church might become healthier through a merger.

Pic Elliott Dirk

Dirk Elliott

Speaker Bio: Dirk Elliott is Director of Congregational Vibrancy and Leadership Development for the Michigan Conference.  Dirk has been a congregational developer for 21 years after serving 18 years in pastoral ministry. He serves on the Path 1 Strategy Team, the New Church Start division of the United Methodist Church. Dirk authored "Vital Merger: A New Church Approach that Joins Church Families Together to Change Lives and Communities."

Sponsored by the Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment

Watch below the inspiring story of the merger of two churches in Elgin, Wesley UMC and Epworth UMC, to form Journey of Hope.


News & Announcements

Picture 5

UM Missionaries see lives changed in Asia and Africa

United Methodist Global Ministries missionaries Rev. Jonathan McCurley (Japan) and Rev. Dexter Ceballos (Mongolia) visited local congregations in February, sharing powerful…

Nic Collections End July 2024 Cmyk

Have you made your contribution?

In an effort to be more transparent, the Finance and Administration office is going to be consistently sharing where we are as a conference are in regards to the giving versus what is needed fo…

Sympathy625x400 2a417

In Sympathy: Ronald W. Purser

Rev. Ronald W. Purser, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025.

Sympathy625x400 2a417

In Sympathy: Robert "Bob" Lacock

Robert "Bob" Lacock, spouse of Rev. Dr. Michelle Oberwise Lacock, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, Friday, February 28, 2025.

Print