This October, the United Methodist Council of Bishops will host leaders from the episcopal areas around the world in Calgary, Canada, for "Emboldened by the Spirit: Imagining a Church Yet to Be,” a meeting to envision the denomination’s future. From the Northern Illinois-Wisconsin Area, Rev. Violet Johnicker, Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, Eugene Williams, and Rev. Jeremiah Cottrell-Duebner will participate.
Read MoreThe 2027 apportioned budget for the Northern Illinois Conference will be $5,647,000, which is an increase of $539,000 over the 2026 approved budget. Apportionment receipts for 2025—the most recent numbers available—reached 80 percent of the amount apportioned, which is the highest percentage since 2016.
Read MoreAbout 150 Northern Illinois United Methodists marched to demonstrate their support of justice for immigrants on June 15, near the Schaumburg Renaissance Convention Center.
Read MoreHope is like a refuge, Bishop Dan Schwerin said in his episcopal address on June 15. He was not talking about escape but the biological idea of refugia, a pocket of safety that allow species or populations to survive hostile conditions on their way to their next phase.
Read More2026 is a year of significant ministry anniversaries in The United Methodist Church, for full clergy rights for women (70 years), UM Volunteers in Mission (50 years), the Northern Illinois Conference's decision to become a Reconciling Conference (40 years), and the establishment of the order of deacons (30 years). Northern Illinois Conference celebrated these on June 15.
Read MoreAs one of its first acts in its 187th session, the Northern Illinois Conference ordained an elder, commissioned two people for deacon's ministry and six for elder's ministry, and recognized five new local pastors. On June 14, NIC held its celebration of ministry service, which observes the entry of people into orders and roles of ministry, both lay and clergy.
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