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The Army Corps of Engineers has denied a permit for the construction of a key section of the Dakota Access Pipeline, granting a major victory to protesters who have been demonstrating for months.
The decision essentially halts the construction on the 1,172-mile oil pipeline just north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Thousands of demonstrators from across the country had flocked to North Dakota in protest. The destination of the pipeline is near Patoka, in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
"Our prayers have been answered," National Congress of American Indians President Brian Cladoosby said in a statement. "This isn't over, but it is enormously good news. All tribal peoples have prayed from the beginning for a peaceful solution, and this puts us back on track."
Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Army's assistant secretary for civil works, said after talking with tribal officials and hearing their concerns that the pipeline could affect the drinking water, it became "clear that there's more work to do."
"The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing," Darcy said in a statement.
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While United Methodists from across the U.S. have protested the Dakota Access Pipeline, the agency that oversees the denomination's pensions has engaged in its own form of advocacy.
Wespath Benefits and Investments, which has investments with the company behind the pipeline, sent a letter in mid-September urging company leaders to talk to affected communities, including the
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
"We specifically urged the company to communicate a clear strategy for conducting open and ongoing consultation with those affected by the pipeline," Dave Zellner, Wespath's chief investment officer, told United Methodist News Service.
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Bishop issues call to prayer for Jan. 22-28
Bishop Frank J. Beard is asking that the Illinois Great Rivers Conference set aside the week of Jan. 22-28, 2017, as a Week of Prayer for the Way Forward Commission and its work.
The week selected is part of a church-wide call to prayer in 2017 and 2018 as the Commission moves forward its work. Bishops of the church have covenanted with one another to pray 15 minutes each day for the Commission. The second phase is involving each individual annual conference in prayer for a week.
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Covenant Keepers set for Jan. 30-31
Online registration is now open for Covenant Keepers 2017 which will be Jan. 30-31 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in East Peoria.
Registration and more information can be found at:
www.igrc.org/CK2017. Registration is $30 per person and includes a Monday noon luncheon.
The theme for this event is:
CK2017: Keepers of the Covenant.
Keynote speakers for the event are Dr. Jay Carter and Dr. Sandra Whitacre Herron.
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Board of Pensions approves navigators to assist pastors
Recognizing the struggles some pastors are going through to find affordable healthcare, the Conference Board of Pensions is funding a Healthcare Navigation and advisory service. These folks are like Navigators on steroids.
One of our pastors agreed to be a test case, and the service helped him save around $10,000 in healthcare costs.
A letter will be going out to full-time pastors serving local churches tomorrow that has all the details. Right now, this service is only available to full-time pastors who are receiving the health insurance allowance. For more information, call Monte Chamberlain at Cost Stewardship: 317-409-2984. He will connect you to a company called Gravie.
If you are satisfied with your health insurance arrangement, there is no need to do anything.
There is no cost to the pastors for this service. The CBOP will pay the fee from leftover health insurance plan funds.
Gravie may be engaged directly at the website below or the toll-free number 800-501-2920, but it is a better idea to call Chamberlain at 317-409-2984.
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New overtime regulations stayed
IGRC Director of Administrative Services Rick Van Giesen says a federal court's stay of the new overtime regulations is a good opportunity for churches to clean up the mis-classification of employees as self-employed contractors.
The regulations, which were set to take effect on Dec. 1, would have made millions of employees eligible for overtime pay, including some church lay employees.
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The opinion piece for the December Current is moot, at least for the time being, except for one thing: It's still true that some churches have classified some employees as 'self-employed contractors' who are not actually self-employed contractors," Van Giesen said. "Mis-classification of employees is a serious IRS violation."
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Liberia's ban on divorced bishops could be tested
Liberians are firm in not wanting an episcopal leader who has had a failed marriage, but debate and election loom in West Africa Central Conference.
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Meanwhile, Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan, currently leading the Manila Episcopal Area, was re-elected as a United Methodist bishop by delegates at the Philippines Central Conference.
Juan, 55, was elected on the 16
th ballot at the quadrennial meeting in Angeles City, receiving 323 of 458 votes cast on Dec. 3.
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Bishops continue two-century-old tradition
In a congratulatory letter to President-elect Donald Trump on behalf of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, Council president Bishop Bruce R. Ough sent a prayer and a plea for the nation to come together.
"We are a deeply divided nation in a world community marred by division, war and unprecedented forced migration," writes Bishop Ough, following Trump's election as the 45th president of the United States. "This is a time for all Americans, particularly our political leaders, to put aside divisiveness and rancor and come together for the common good of this nation and the world."
He further pledged that the Council of Bishops will work to "build bridges to understanding that will lead to overcoming the gulfs that divide the nation and the world."
"I call to mind the best that is in us: we live under God; we are indivisible; and liberty and justice extend to all," said Ough.
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Annual Conference 2017 shortened by a half day
Bishop Frank J. Beard, in consultation with the Executive Team of the Annual Conference Sessions committee has announced that the 2017 Annual Conference will be held June 8-10 at the Peoria Civic Center.
Plans are to have the clergy and laity sessions begin at 10 a.m. Thursday with the opening worship set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon with the Service of Ordination and Commissioning being held on Saturday morning.
While the shorter agenda may not actually result in persons being able to reduce the number of lodging nights, it is an ongoing attempt at listening to attendees and trying to make the schedule easier for those who must take time off from their work to attend.
The Sessions Committee will be working on streamlining the agenda and further announcements will be made as plans unfold.
The 2017 theme is Let's Get Fired Up! and will focus on ministries to children.
Photos for the clergy directory will also be taken at the annual conference session as well as at Covenant Keepers Jan. 30-31 at the East Peoria Holiday Inn.
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Chuck discusses liturgical colors in encore
Ever walk into your Sunday morning worship service and realize the colors have changed around the sanctuary? That's why Chuck was talking about Liturgical Colors on his first show!
The award-winning
Chuck Knows Church, a production of Discipleship Ministries, is an online web series. Use each episode in worship, youth groups, fellowship groups, confirmation classes, worship teams, new member classes and late-night snack viewing!
Follow Chuck on his website:
www.ChuckKnowsChurch.com
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Sincerely,
Paul E. Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
217-529-2848
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