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The Current Week in Review
November 17, 2017
Board of Pensions offer navigation services to pastors
Full-time pastors who are signing up for 2018 health insurance plans in the Marketplace ( www.healthcare.gov ) may once again access Navigation services through Monte Chamberlain and Gravie.
 
In order to engage the service, call Monte Chamberlain at Cost Stewardship: 317-409-2984. If your situation indicates that you can be helped, he will connect you to the Gravie Navigators.
 
There is no cost to you for this service.
 
You must not delay - open enrollment period this year only lasts until Dec. 15.

January
28-29
Monday-Tuesday
Covenant Keepers 2018

Online registration is underway for Covenant Keepers 2018 at the Regency Conference Center in O'Fallon. The Revs. Rudy and Juanita Rasmus will be the keynote speakers with the praise band from Christ Church in Fairview Heights leading the worship. Deadline for registration is Jan. 19.
February
6-8
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Sexual Ethics Training

The mandatory quadrennial sexual ethics training will be held at three sites across the conference. Sites for the training are at Mt. Vernon West Salem Trinity UMC, Springfield First UMC and Peoria First UMC. This training is required for persons who are appointed or assigned to a local church
Africa University campus - aerial view
AU campus, students safe following military coup
Students and faculty at the United Methodist university in Zimbabwe held classes as usual Nov. 15 as the military took control of the capital city of Harare and held President Robert Mugabe and his wife under house arrest.

United Methodist conference staff reported church members are safe, too.
Finding our Way Forward

Bishop Beard speaks of the process and progress by the Commission on A Way Forward. He is also working with the General Conference delegation on securing sites for conversation within the IGRC.
Mission, unity, space, contextuality part of interim report to Council of Bishops

The Council of Bishops (COB) is exploring sketches of three models as possible directions for a way forward for The United Methodist Church over LGBTQ inclusion.
Be respectful in difficult times

As the denomination faces an uncertain future, bishops urge their fellow United Methodists to address their differences with respectful conversations.
Church Mutual Insurance
Armed Intruder Webinar

Church Mutual has partnered with industry experts to keep your people safe before, during and after a violent attack.

Firestorm, a nationally recognized leader in crisis management, helping clients minimize disaster exposure and plan for a crisis, and ALICE Training Institute, the number-one active shooter civilian response training organization in the nation, have come together to bring you this informative webinar series.
Sexual misconduct at church:
What members should know
More and more women are speaking up against sexual harassment. Here are resources the church offers to address this issue.
December issue of The Current
The December issue of The Current should be arriving in the mail over the weekend. The December issue is the special double issue that includes the 2018 Camping Guide. Click on the cover photo to view or download this issue.
United Methodist Center Contact Information
USPS (U.S. Postal Service)
P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207
Office Phone: 217-529-2040
Email: info@igrc.org
UPS and FedEx deliveries only use the street address:
United Methodist Center
5900 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62711
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