The 181st Northern Illinois Annual Conference with the theme “Y Church” was marked by some firsts and lasts. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to keep members safe and healthy, the first-ever virtual conference was held as a one-day webinar on Nov. 14.
Read MoreGovernor J.B. Pritzker has announced new Tier 3 mitigation guidelines that are to go into effect on Friday, November 20, 2020. The state of Illinois like most other states is experiencing an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases and in order to prevent further infection and death as well as to avoid overwhelming hospitals, we must all do our part.
Read MoreOver a year ago, “Y Church” became our theme for AC2020 because we had just come off a particularly difficult special General Conference 2019 where further restrictions were put on the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons. It was a painful time for many clergy and local churches. Y Church—why put up with all this—we were wondering on some days.
Read MoreOur virtual annual conference is over and now we begin the work to address the many changes that are before us. One of those changes is the redistricting of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference.
Read MoreI hope all of you who are eligible to vote exercised this important civic responsibility. Now we await the official outcome of the election for the President of the United States. Most if not all of us are weary from the pre-election season and knowing the result would be a relief. But there are various methods of voting affected by various state laws, which means that it could take days before there is an official outcome. While we wait for the final outcome, there may be all kinds of rumors, name-calling, protests, threats and demonstrations.
Read MoreWe keep saying that we are in unprecedented times. But the fact of the matter is we are in a time of great change. Everything has changed and we know that more will yet change. And change is strange!
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