This Week's Current Week in Review

The Current Week in Review

August 27, 2021

Bishop, Cabinet issue guidelines as state institutes indoor mask mandate

The Illinois Department of Public Health and Governor announced Thursday a state-wide mandate beginning on Monday Aug. 30, that all people wear face masks while with non-household members in public indoor spaces. On Aug. 24, the Illinois Great Rivers Conference Extended Cabinet and Bishop Gregory V. Palmer discussed and released the following statement:

As much as we’d like it be otherwise, COVID-19 is still a danger to our congregations and communities. As disciples of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, Christians are called to model the highest standards of care for others, especially those who are at higher risk of becoming sick. At this time, we strongly recommend that all IGRC pastors convene a meeting of their local church leaders to review and update their COVID-19 health safety practices as soon as possible.

A set of current best health safety practices for local churches can be reviewed at below with the downloadable document. If you have additional questions, please contact your district superintendent or Curtis Brown, IGRC Director of Connectional Ministries at cbrown@igrc.org or 217-529-2442.

DOWNLOAD COVID SAFETY PRACTICES FOR CHURCHES

STAFF CHANGES

King selected as Director of Ministerial Excellence

A veteran in leadership development within The United Methodist Church has been selected as the Illinois Great Rivers Conference’s Director of Ministerial Excellence.

The Rev. Dr. Jacqui King, an elder in the Texas Annual Conference, emerged as the top candidate from a nationwide search that yielded 13 applicants. She will begin her new responsibilities Sept. 16.

"Rev. Dr. Jacqui King brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the IGRC. I am happy to welcome her to our leadership team," said Bishop Frank J. Beard. "She has a very diverse background of experience within the Methodist family. Her hits and talents are many. Our pastors and our laity will benefit from her wide range of experiences across the church. Her passion and love for Jesus are contagious. She is a prayer warrior and an extraordinary preacher. Thank you all for welcoming and receiving her into the best conference in the Jurisdiction."

READ RELATED ARTICLE

Lane to head IGRC camping program

After an extensive search process, Rev. Nancy Folsom Lane has accepted the opportunity to serve as the Illinois Great Rivers Conference Coordinator of Camping and Retreat Ministries.

Rev. Lane, a deacon in full connection from the North Georgia Conference, will begin her service on September 1st and can be contacted through East Bay Camp after that time. Additional questions can be forwarded through the IGRC Office of Connectional Ministries.

In this role, she will provide leadership for the IGRC’s exciting and life-changing ministries at our year-round camping facilities at East Bay Camp and Little Grassy Camp and coordinate with our summer seasonal Epworth and Beulah camp programs.

Shreve leaving conference staff

Amy Shreve has announced that she will be leaving the Illinois Great Rivers Conference staff at the end of August 2021.

Ms. Shreve is relocating with her family out of state, but she will continue to provide some limited contract services with IGRC through the next couple of months. She can be contacted at ashreve@igrc.org. Other questions or inquiries can be directed to the IGRC Office of Connectional Ministries.

Amy is currently serving in two roles as the Coordinator of Higher Education and Young Adult Ministries and as Associate Coordinator of Congregational Development. In these roles she has helped to organize training events, led coaching cohorts, invested in developing leaders, and resourced many of our churches, campus ministries, and young adults throughout the IGRC.

DISASTER RESPONSE

September issue of

The Current

The September issue of The Current features the IGRC response to a pair of disasters -- flooding in Gibson City and an earthquake in Haiti.

The response has been significant in both those disasters as home and far away.

Click on the cover to view or download the issue to your computer.

You can help

Persons can donate to the Conference Disaster Fund by designating Advance #6800 or

donating online by clicking the link below.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is collecting financial donations through its International Disaster Response and Recovery Advance #982450. The relief arm, part of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, also is in conversation with partners on the ground about next steps.

Persons may also place their offerings at the local churches where treasurers will remit these to the Conference and the Conference will route them to UMCOR. Please indicate the Advance Number and the particular disaster such as "#982450 Haiti Earthquake Relief."

Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief have long-standing partners in Afghanistan, with projects and programs dating back to the mid-1960s. The work has been, and continues to be, in partnership with local Afghan communities, as well as with other humanitarian agencies concerned with health, community development and human rights. UMCOR is working with these partners to determine what assistance is most helpful at this time and the best avenue for ensuring humanitarian relief reaches the country. Through one project, UMCOR will provide cash assistance to displaced families residing in the Kabul area, enabling them to prioritize their most urgent needs such as food, shelter or medicine. Those interested in supporting UMCOR’s response in Afghanistan can make gifts to International Advance #982450 and designate "Afghanistan," or they can donate online.

DONATE TO CONFERENCE DISASTER FUNDADVANCE #6800

Early Response Training opportunities

There is a Basic Early Response Team (ERT) training that will take place on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Troy UMC.

Cost is $40, which includes training materials, lunch, background check, t-shirt and badging. Registration deadline is Sept. 6.

There will also be a recertification training that will take place online (remote training on Zoom) on Tuesday, Oct. 18-19 from 6 to 8 p.m.. Cost is $15, which includes training, background check, and the UMCOR badge.

BSA bankruptcy case

affects United Methodist congregations

An ad hoc committee overseeing the interest of The United Methodist Church has advised that churches that support scouting units should: (1) agree to extend an expiring charter through Dec. 31, rather than renew that charter; (2) replace an expiring charter with a facilities use agreement that expires on Dec. 31; or (3) terminate an existing charter and replace it with a facilities use agreement that expires on Dec. 31 in light of recent moves in the bankruptcy case involving Boy Scouts of America.

All of those options allow more time to see how the bankruptcy will impact United Methodist congregations.

The denomination continues to maintain a relationship with the BSA and churches may continue to support scout troops. However, the ad hoc committee is disappointed and very concerned that the BSA did not include its sponsoring organizations, charter groups, in the agreement with the claimants.

This leaves as many as 5,000 United Methodist U.S. congregations—or more than 15 percent of U.S. congregations—exposed to potential lawsuits by the survivor claimants. Charter organizations were promised by the BSA to be covered by their insurance, but at this time, it is not clear to what extent United Methodist congregations will be covered.

The United Methodist Church and its predecessor denominations have a relationship with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), which dates back more than 100 years. In February 2020, the BSA announced the national organization would file for bankruptcy to allow it to continue carrying on its mission while also compensating sexual abuse victims who were harmed during their time in scouting. While the bankruptcy is ongoing, the BSA, along with its local councils, recently reached an agreement with representatives of most of the survivors on a proposed $850 million settlement.

At this time, negotiations are ongoing for other parties with an interest in the bankruptcy. Questions remain about how that agreement might affect chartered organizations, including thousands of United Methodist congregations that have sponsored scouting programs. United Methodist congregations represent the largest active collection of chartered organizations. The interests of those congregations are represented by an ad hoc committee established to represent United Methodist interests, which is actively engaged in the bankruptcy process and related negotiations.

Covid-19 alters dreams at Africa University

Africa University students and staff know firsthand how COVID-19 can change lives overnight.

By summer 2021, more than 19 AU students and staff had lost loved ones to the pandemic. According to an April 2021 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and other entities, COVID-19 has left more than 1.5 million children worldwide experiencing the death of a parent or a grandparent caregiver.

The change from what university life was before COVID-19 to the current situation is dramatic. Some international students on scholarships remain on campus because travel home is expensive. Living under strict lockdown restricts movement and social interaction.

To address orphanhood, economic distress and poverty, and access to university education, Africa University is taking immediate and long-term steps. In 2020, the university provided more than $300,000 in one-time financial aid grants to students, in addition to the already available direct and endowed scholarships.

Prayer Guide released for September appeal for Our Conference, Our Kids in honor of Bishop Beard's fifth anniversary

A prayer guide to assist persons and churches in promoting the September appeal for Our Conference, Our Kids was released this week. Click on the link below to see the information and download the resource.

Sept. 1 marks the fifth anniversary of Bishop Frank Beard's tenure as Bishop of the Illinois Area and the Committee on Episcopacy and Our Conference Our Kids Steering Team are collaborating to underscore our appreciation for Bishop Beard’s leadership.

Join us in celebrating his ministry by engaging in prayer and by collecting a special offering in September from Sunday, Sept. 5 to Sept. 26.

Bishop Palmer's Leadership Clinics

extended to IGRC clergy, laity

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer has extended an invitation to IGRC pastors and laity to join him and the West Ohio Conference this fall for a series of online Leadership Clinics which will be held in September, October and November.

Cost for registration is $20 per session for West Ohio leaders, $40 for non-West Ohio leaders. However, the IGRC will be able to take advantage of the West Ohio price tier. There is also a special price of $50 for all three sessions for West Ohio (and IGRC) registrants and $100 for non-West Ohio leaders if registration is made prior to Sept. 13.

In order to register, you will need to set up an account on the West Ohio Conference website. Just follow the link, set up your account and make your seletions.

Speakers for the individual sessions are as follows:

Sept. 17, 9 to 11 a.m. Central time -- Nadia Bolz-Weber

A three-time New York Times best-selling author who has been called "a pastor for America's outsiders." The community of faith she planted in Denver -- House for All Sinners and Saints -- is a haven for a diverse community seeking affirmation and acceptance. In a time when institutions of every kind are struggling to exert influence and maintain relevance, Nadia's church thrives especially among Millenials. She has a popular podcast, The Confessional with Nadia Bolz-Weber and has been featured in The Washington Post, The New Yorker, NPR's Morning Edition, Fresh Air, on cable news and the BBC World Service. Nadia is a graduate of the Iliff School of Theology.

Oct. 14, 9 to 11 a.m. Central time -- Beth Comstock

Beth is known as GE’s Czar of Innovation, a bestselling author, corporate director/advisor, and nature conservationist. She built a career as storyteller, marketer and innovation champion, as GE's first female Vice Chair, as well as Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer. She was President of Integrated Media at NBC Universal as part of her journey through media, which included roles at NBC, CBS and Turner Broadcasting. Beth is currently a director at Nike and EVgo, a Trustee at National Geographic Society, and a partner in Climate Real Impact Solutions. Beth is considered one of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes magazine, a top ten most influential leader in the US, and a top 20 most influential communicator in the US. Beth’s book Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change has become a great resource for organizations looking to innovate and change. Beth is a graduate of The College of William and Mary.

Nov. 9, 9 to 11 a.m. Central time -- Jemar Tisby

Jemar Tisby is a New York Times best-selling author, the Deputy Director of Narrative and Advocacy at the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, and the founder of The Witness, Inc. His bestselling books, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the Church's Complicity in Racism and latest work How to Fight Racism have been used as resources by churches and organizations around the globe. Jemar has been a co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast since its inception seven years ago. His writing has been featured in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The New York Times, among others. He is a frequent commentator on media/news outlets. He speaks nationwide on the topics of racial justice, U.S. history and Christianity. Jemar has a degree from the University of Notre Dame and is currently finishing his PhD in History this year at the University of Mississippi where he studies race, religion, and social movements in the 20th century.