Leading the Laity: Let’s walk a mile in each other’s shoes

I recently had an opportunity to do some sincere reflection and soul searching. I looked at the past and present of who we are in the Northern Illinois Conference and The United Methodist Church as a whole. Then I pondered where we might be a year from now.

DYK Leading with Presence in uncertain times

This is the season of assessment and planning for most organizations. As we near the end of the year, our congregations are gathering for their church conference. They will reflect on the past and plan their future. This cycle of reflection (evaluation) and planning is important for any organization. This work happens at many levels in an annual conference: in congregations’ committees; at the Annual Conference Shepherding Team table, where chairs and leaders of the conference gather to coordinate and collaborate; in Cabinet meetings, and on the floor of the annual conference session.

Appreciating—and preventing—pastoral burnout

In case you missed it: October was Pastor Appreciation Month. In many Northern Illinois Conference congregations, Staff-Parish Relations Committee chairs said words of appreciation, passed out gift certificates, and/or offered a hearty handshake in celebration of their pastor(s)’ efforts. In other congregations, no such appreciation was offered. This was not necessarily due to pastoral issues, but simply because church members were unaware.

Sympathy Notice: Lowell D. Allen

Rev. Lowell D Allen, retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away Saturday, October 14, 2023.

Sympathy Notice: Mrs. Elinor A. Sorenson

Mrs. Elinor A Sorenson, surviving spouse of Rev. Charles Sorenson (deceased member of the Northern Illinois Conference), passed away Saturday, September 30, 2023.

Northern Illinois United Methodists Honored by UM Schools

Rev. Dr. Irene Taylor and Nadia Kanhai from the Northern Illinois Conference have been recognized as outstanding alumnae at two United Methodist higher education institutions this year. Rev. Dr. Taylor (retired elder) is one of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary’s 2023 Distinguished Alums. Nadia Kanhai, an active layperson with extensive leadership in the conference and the community, been added to North Central College’s Wall of Witness.

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