Practicing Hope Requires Leading Courageously
Eugene Williams, Northern Illinois Conference co-lay leader, says that to practice hope, we must take brave actions. "Giving up power and extending equity is hard to do; especial…
Bishop Sally Dyck and Illinois Great Rivers Bishop Frank J. Beard are expressing their concerns on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision clearing the way for states to legalize sports betting, striking down a 1992 federal law that had prohibited most states from authorizing sports betting.
"As United Methodists, we have long held that 'gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic and spiritual life [and] destructive of good government' (Social Principles, ¶163G). Our concern for Illinoisans is the seduction of an easy way out of our state's financial mess with unfunded pension liabilities and a backlog of unpaid bills. Advocates will once again parrot a familiar refrain that we can solve our financial problems on someone else's dime."
For resources and advocacy contact Anita Bedell, Executive Director of ILCAAAP at 217-546-6871 or through the website www.ilcaaap.org.
Eugene Williams, Northern Illinois Conference co-lay leader, says that to practice hope, we must take brave actions. "Giving up power and extending equity is hard to do; especial…
Rev. Christian Coon, the NIC director of congregational development, once thought there might be some yet-to-be-discovered magic program or resource that is going to help the chur…
"Our sacraments are baptism and the Eucharist," Bishop Dan Schwerin says. "They are gifts for pilgrims, a bath and a meal. Surely walking alongside is another ancient embodiment of Jesus…
Some 657 lay and clergy members of Northern Illinois Conference gathered to practice hope at their annual session, held June 14-16 at the Schaumburg (I…