Clergy serving in the local church fulfill many expectations. We show up to lead worship on Sundays, preach a good sermon, visit the sick, administer the church, provide comfort to the grieving, teach, witness, make disciples, and engage in social justice.
Read MoreThis fall, the Wesley Foundation at Northern Illinois University (NIU) has undergone a name change and has a newly appointed campus minister.
Read MoreLaity Sunday, October 20, focuses on the celebration of the ministry of all lay Christians. A Sunday to commemorate, recognize, and honor the partnership between ministry and laity in every church. It may be a Sunday where the lay leaders and lay servants lead the worship service.
Read MoreOn Sunday, June 30, the Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) held its Annual Worship Celebration at historic St. Mark UMC, a Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) Chicago Southern District landmark church that produced Chicago BMCR founders and early leaders such as Rev. Maceo D. Pembroke, Sr., Rev. William T. Carter, Helen M. Fannings (Ammons) and Marie McFarland.
Read MoreAt the Nov. 16 Special Session of Annual Conference, a Bishop's Appeal offering will be taken to help our local farmers who faced a difficult season due to a rainy, cold spring and subsequent drought in July.
Read MoreThe first question may be “What is a disciple?” The Rev. Junius Dotson, General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries for The United Methodist Church, says that a disciple is a person who Knows Christ, Grows in Christ, Serves Christ, and Shares Christ! Dotson says that we must be disciples to make disciples. Making disciples is the WHY of The United Methodist Church. He says we must move away from “fixing” churches toward making and growing disciples.
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