The 183rd Northern Illinois Annual Conference wrapped up on Friday, June 10 after three days of worship, business, Bible study, ordination, and reconnecting with one another after being apart for three years.

Highlights:

Day One: The 2022 Annual Conference began with a standing-room-only Laity Session, which included updates from each district lay leader and worship. Bishop John L. Hopkins opened the Annual Conference session with the Memorial Service, honoring and remembering clergy, spouses and lay members who have passed away since our last gathering. The day included table talks led by the Annual Conference Shepherding Team (ACST) Co-Chairs Rev. Myron McCoy and Liz Gracie around the #BeUMC campaign and posing questions about why you are United Methodist. Business ended with legislative sections for the first time in more than a decade and voting on legislation for the consent calendar, which included 17 items of concurrence and one non-concurrence. Click here for photos of day one.

Day 2: The Retirement Service opened the second day by celebrating 16 retirees with a combined 364 years of service. Click here to find the list of retirees, read their bios and watch the recorded livestream. The day included a vote on the consent calendar, which passed. One piece of legislation was lifted from the consent calendar - 700.12 (Elections for General Conference). After a substitute amendment to include the phrase: unless Judicial Council requires the 2020 delegation to be seated in 2024, the legislation passed.

Bishop Hopkins delivered his Episcopal Address, asking if we are ready for a "spiritual awakening."

He said, "Can we let the Holy Spirit of Pentecost weave us together and join with others to spread scriptural holiness across the nation? Are you ready to go? Let’s do it!" Watch the video. For a printed version, click here.

The afternoon included a Bible Study with Rev. Jane Eesley focusing on the story of  Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8: 26-40 and the Laity Address delivered by NIC Co-Lay Leader Eugene Williams.

Click here for photos of day two.

Day 3: The morning included a vote to approve the 2023 budget totaling $6,073,45 - an $82,036 decrease from 2022. The day continued with award recognitions and the Bishop's Appeal offering, which brought in a record $275,000 for Ukraine assistance through Global Ministries.

The Annual Conference closed with the Ordination and Commissioning Service welcoming back Bishop Jonathan Keaton to preach. Bishop Hopkins commissioned four candidates toward Elders Orders and ordained seven (six elders and one deacon). He recognized one person for the office of Deaconness.

Photos may be viewed and downloaded for free at nicordination22.shutterfly.com (you will need to create a free account to download photos.) Click here for more photos from Day 3. The offering for the Ministerial Education Fund (MEF), which supports the ongoing work of the NIC Board of Ordained Ministry for recruitment and empowering and educating those who serve in ordained ministry, raised $2,400.

Look for a complete wrap-up report and photos in the July/August Reporter and on the Annual Conference webpage at umcnic.org/AC2022.

For those who attended Annual Conference, please watch for a survey that will be emailed to you soon.

Save the date for the 2023 Annual Conference scheduled for June 6 - 8 and returns to the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center with the theme "Connected in Christ: Come to the table."