Creatively connecting over the summer
During the summer, many churches in Northern Illinois face declining attendance as families focus on vacations and outdoor activities. However, churches have found creative ways to engage…
Without debate, this year’s NIC session members passed a 2025 budget of $4,630,098. It represents an increase of $243,254 over the 2024 budget.
This year’s (2024) budget is lower than the 2023 budget.
Rev. Linny Hartzel and Rev. Scort Christy answer questions from members about the conference budget.
“The increase of 5.25 percent from 2024 is an increase in every area of the budget; every grouping was increased,” explained Elaine Moy, conference treasurer and director of administrative services. “There was not a single large expense. All areas went up.”
Last year, Northern Illinois churches shared 77 percent of what was needed to support the conference budget, which their conference voting members passed. One-third of churches remitted less than 50 percent of their apportionment, another third remitted between 51 and 75 percent, and the other third paid between 76 and 100 percent.
We are asking churches to pay as much as they can of their apportionments,” Ms. Moy said. “The members who approved the budget include the members of the local churches who valued the missional and outreach programs. We hope the annual conference members return to their local churches to share what they have learned and to support the annual conference budget.”
In the coming year, an apportionment task force will reexamine the current apportionment formula.
During the summer, many churches in Northern Illinois face declining attendance as families focus on vacations and outdoor activities. However, churches have found creative ways to engage…
‘Racism is incompatible with Christian teaching.’ ‘We are God’s daring alternative to fear and hate.’ ‘We walk the path of vulnerable love with the help of vulnera…
The first week of August was a powerful week for the NIC United Methodist community as we volunteered at the return of the School of Congregational Development (SCD) with D…
For years, Christian Cook has been trying to figure out and codify ways that we can put together creative metrics to help get a sense of a church’s vital ministry. Worship attendance and…