The Current Week in Review
September 17, 2021
Update from Bishop Beard

Bishop Frank J. Beard taped the above greeting Thursday for the IGRC Committee on Episcopacy Committee meeting today.

Speaking from the north rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Bishop Beard gives an update to the committee and expresses his thanks for everyone's prayers and support.
The latest email scam

Bishop Beard does NOT need your help purchasing gift cards for staff gifts. While staff realizes we would be worthy of such honors, the Bishop remains on medical leave and the scammers don’t know that. Besides, the email was from a Gmail address not an IGRC email account. If you are still insistent in getting these gift cards, remember that Bishop Beard enjoys fishing not phishing..
McKendree University logo
McKendree unveils Clear Path initiative

McKendree University will launch its Clear Path tuition initiative, which extends to 34 counties throughout Southern Illinois for students entering in the Fall 2022 semester. Clear Path will provide transparency in the scholarship and financial aid process for students by ensuring that residents from these counties will pay no more than $15,000 in tuition and fees to attend McKendree University. McKendree has been educating students longer than any other post-secondary institution in the state and is committed to strengthening its relationship with Southern Illinois by providing an affordable, high-quality educational experience to students across the region.
 
The Clear Path initiative grants students the opportunity to receive the personalized experience provided by a private institution at the price of a public school. Students residing in the following counties are included: Alexander, Bond, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, St. Clair, Saline, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Williamson counties.
For years there has been a perception that people have stayed away from church because “the church is always asking for money.” This has led many churches to feel like money is a taboo subject – reserving that uncomfortable conversation for a Sunday in the fall (if at all) and then put it back on the shelf for another year. In so many ways this fear has worked against our mission to grow faithful, generous disciples.

Join Rev. Ken Sloane, Director, Stewardship & Generosity, as he welcomes his guest, Bonnie Marden, Founder and President of MYTE Ministries, consulting with church leaders on growing generosity in local churches. Bonnie has pioneered a successful teaching curriculum titled “Cultivating the Craft of Asking” which has increased confidence in church leaders to “boldly ask” for financial gifts to empower their church's ministry.

Click on the banner above to learn more and to register for the session.
The rise in person-to-person giving

Helping those in need is a biblical principle, so the increase in direct cash gifts to people struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic should come as no surprise. But is direct giving taking the place of charitable giving and tithing for Christians?

Direct person-to-person giving happens when a person learns of a need of a friend, family member, or neighbor, and gives money directly to that person to help with the need. It may be due to a health concern, unemployment, a catastrophe, or some other unexpected expense.

A recent article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy indicates that these direct gifts increased during the pandemic. Cash transfer and crowdfunding applications, like Venmo, PayPal and GoFundMe, have made direct giving quick and easy.

Those who choose to make person-to-person direct gifts seem to be motivated by two factors: personal connection and specificity.
From Afghan resettlement to
disaster response, you can help!

UMCOR is prepared to assist with refugee resettlement through its partnership with Church World Service and is currently in conversation about assisting Church World Service with temporary housing for Afghan refugees. Those interested in supporting the UMCOR-CWS partnership can make gifts online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/3022144 or by checks sent to Global Ministries/UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068, with Advance #3022144 in the memo line.
 
If you are interested in connecting directly with Church World Service. Here are some of the key ways community members can be involved in welcoming refugees:  
 

HURRICANE IDA:   In response to the extreme winds and flooding caused by Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm that made landfall on the U.S. gulf coast on August 29, UMCOR remains in prayer for the many states and communities that were in its path. 

UMCOR is in coordination with conference disaster response coordinators to assess the scale of damage and has awarded grants to the Louisiana and Mississippi conferences to support initial emergency relief efforts. 

As the situation evolves, early response teams will be invited to help with needs such as debris removal and the tarping of roofs.

Donations can be made to Advance #901670, U.S. Disaster Response and by designating Hurricane Ida Relief.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE: The United Methodist Committee on Relief’s response to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on Aug.14 is underway. The quake, which particularly damaged the southern and western regions of the island, has left more than 2,200 dead and 12,000 injured.

Several hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. Those still open are completely overwhelmed, lacking sufficient personnel and medical supplies. UMCOR has already awarded grants to provide urgently needed medical supplies.

The first grant, to the Église Méthodiste d’Haiti (Methodist Church in Haiti), in coordination with local doctors and nurses, will supply two clinics in Gebeau and Les Cayes with medical supplies.

The second, to Service Chrétien d’Haiti (SCH), will supply Les Cayes General Hospital. These grants will enable the procurement of bandages, gauze, IV fluids, antibiotics, and, given the continuing coronavirus pandemic, Personal Protection Equipment. Access to the impacted areas is limited due to extensive damage and, sadly, gang violence, but the Haitian government and high-ranking United Nations officials have negotiated humanitarian access for relief convoys.

Donations can be made to Advance #982450, International Disaster Response and by designating Haiti Earthquakes.
Disability Awareness Sunday Sept. 26

Disability Awareness Sunday in the IGRC is observed on the 4th Sunday of September or at another time convenient to the congregation.

Above part one of a two-part video series contributed by Pastor Jim Aniol and his running partner, Jacob Martin, demonstrating how one grant from the Disability Awareness Sunday offering has been used.

Check the link below for Part 2 -- in which Pastor Jim and Jacob demonstrate some of the challenges facing individuals with disabilities who try to come to many of our churches - and for a sermon by Pastor Randy Shepard, a pastor with a disability.

All of these videos are available for your church to use in your own observance of Disability Awareness Sunday.

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.
Be prepared to connect with people who are searching online for information about churches in your zip code. By reviewing and updating your church’s Find-A-Church profile, you’re ensuring a welcoming first impression. Get started by clicking the red “update church” button at the bottom of your church’s profile. Update today by clicking the button below and then get to your church's page.
Bishop Palmer's midweek service

Bishop Palmer has extended an invitation to the IGRC to join in with the midweek service online at 11 a.m. Central time each Wednesday.

The Facebook Live event will be shared on the IGRC Facebook group.
Paperwork
Charge Conference materials available online

Forms and other materials needed to prepare for the 2021 Charge Conference season are now posted online on the IGRC website.

Forms can be accessed through the Church Portal page located in the upper right corner of the IGRC Homepage.

  • Choose your District
  • Choose your Church
  • Type in the six-digit GCFA number for the church as the password

In addition, the Finance Office has put together information needed to build local church budgets for 2022. Apportionments are also available below.
United Methodist Center Contact Information
USPS (U.S. Postal Service)
P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207
Office Phone: 217-529-2040
UPS and FedEx deliveries only use the street address:
United Methodist Center
5900 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62711
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