The Current Week in Review
October 29, 2021
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Bishop Beard update
Bishop Frank J. Beard underwent surgery on his right eye Wednesday and doctors at the Mayo Clinic are saying the surgery went well.
The goal of the surgery was to save what vision he has in his right eye. He currently has 5 percent in his right eye. The percentage refers to how much of the field of vision can be used for sight. That percentage, combined with one’s eyesight determines what vision a person has. The pain level is well-managed.
Bishop Beard and his wife left Mayo Clinic Thursday morning Springfield. Every 7-10 days, Bishop Beard will return to Mayo Clinic to monitor his progress.
The first surgery on his left eye in July has resulted in 20/20 vision in the 15 percent field of vision that remained prior to surgery. The pressure to the left eye is normal and he is no longer using eye drops.
The Bishop wishes to thank you for prayers, cards and notes of concern. He said he is grateful and thankful to have such a circle of prayer and support.
And he again reiterated that he will be “back on the clock” come Jan. 1, 2022.
The North Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops approved a medical leave for Bishop Beard to run from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2021. Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, episcopal leader of the West Ohio Conference, is also serving as the Illinois Area's interim bishop.
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Prayer requested for IGRC pastor
It is with sadness and a heavy heart, that I share that the Rev. Dr. Howard White suffered a stroke on Saturday, Oct. 23. According to the current prognosis, Dr. White has suffered brain damage because of the stroke. His physicians have advised that due to the parts of his brain which were damaged, that his prognosis is grave.
At the request of the White family, we are strongly urging you to not contact the White family at this point. Their full attention is with Howard and upon each other in the family. We urge you not to reach out to them presently, in order that they may navigate through these initial days as a family.
Bishop Gregory Palmer and the Cabinet of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference share the sorrow which you must now be experiencing. In our Cabinet Session, we lifted Rev. White and his family in deep prayer. We will be working with the church's SPRC and church leaders to provide Pastoral Care and leadership during this time of grief and loss.
Most importantly, please join us in praying for Dr. White. Our Lord Jesus is the Great Physician, and God is fully in control. Our trust and faith is fully in God. Please also lift up in prayer Leah, Sophie and Dow. The entire White family needs our fervent prayers, greatest support and unending love. This was totally unexpected by all of us, but together as the body of Christ, we are journeying through this. Through all of this, the White family continues to thank God for all that God has led them through, and their full trust is in God.
Again, we ask that you not directly call, text or send cards to Leah, Sophie or Dow. Until further notice, any cards or messages may be sent directly to the Carbondale First United Methodist Church Office, 214 W. Main St., Carbondale, IL 62901, which in time will pass them on to the White family.
In Christ’s love,
Cache River District Superintendent
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For All the Saints
Bishop Gregory V. Palmer reflects on the observance of All Saints' Day in his column published in the November issue of The Current..
"Maybe All Saints Day comes every year so that we can learn again how to say Thank You and really mean it," Bishop Palmer writes.
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Jurisdictional Conference to meet in special session Nov. 10-11
Delegates from the 10 annual conferences that comprise the North Central Jurisdiction will meet Nov. 10-11 online for a special session of the North Central Jurisdiction.
The theme of the special session is Building Beloved Community and will aired from the Michigan Area office in Lansing, Mich. Persons will be able to view the proceedings via a livestream at: www.igrc.org/ncj2021 Delegates will be conferencing via Zoom and will be in a secure room to deliberate and participate in breakout sessions.
In a letter to delegates on Oct. 19, Bishop David Bard, president of the NCJ College of Bishops said that the agenda will consist of three presentation blocks:
- The Future of The United Methodist Church
- Dismantling Racism
- Episcopal Leadership in the Jurisdiction
The Illinois Great Rivers Conference has been well represented in the preparation for the special session. Rev. Dr. Curtis Brown, IGRC Director of Connectional Ministries, is one of four individuals on the team planning the Future of the UMC presentation. Brown serves as the NCJ Mission Council representative to the panel.
Delegates are being surveyed around the following questions which will guide the discussion which will center around the denomination following an anticipated split following General Conference:
- How would you describe the values of the future United Methodist Church? (identity)
- What is God calling The United Methodist Church to do more of? (mission)
- What would make being a United Methodist ever better? (vision)
The Anti-Racism team includes IGRC General Conference delegate, Dr. Pamela Hammond-McDavid and Rev. Sara Isbell, pastor of Bloomington Wesley UMC and chair of the NCJ Committee on Episcopacy, will join Bishop David Bard in making the presentation on Episcopal Leadership. In addition to some pre-conference work, delegate will also consider a proposal to declare the jurisdiction’s intent to reducing the number of bishops to a total of eight active bishops in the NCJ College.
With the retirements of two bishops, the proposal anticipates reducing the number of bishops by one.
Both days of the special session will open with worship. IGRC Communications is producing the Thursday worship designed by IGRC delegate, the Rev. Eric Swanson fashioned around the conference theme.
Bishop Palmer will be sharing Scripture and three voices – representing Believing, Belonging and Becoming – will narrate the worship experience which will include video representations of Beloved Community in the 10 annual conferences. Music will be provided by Pekin Grace UMC and by Bloomington Hope UMC.
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Delivered to you webinar
Nov. 8-9
Wespath Benefits and Investments – Delivered to You takes place in the afternoon for two days, Nov. 8-9. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. CST on both days. On November 9, there will be optional breakout opportunities beginning at 11:30 a.m. CST.
The virtual link to attend will be sent to you within one week of the event from Wespath Events.
Participants will:
- Get tips to manage your Mental-Emotional, Financial, Spiritual, Social and Physical health and the benefits and services available to you,
- Be inspired to do things differently,
- Learn tips and tricks for using Benefits Access
- Hear more about the Savings Grace Financial curriculum available for you and your congregation
- Receive an exciting Event Care Kit full of great things - delivered right to your door - so you can participate fully and enjoy this event more
- Connect virtually, learn and enjoy being with other clergy across the denomination
The registration fee is just $59 and includes the event Care Package that will be shipped to you in advance. As a Pastor Appreciation gift, IGRC will reimburse half of the cost to anyone who fully completes the webinar. Since CEU's will be issued, participants seeking reimbursement may submit a copy of the CEU Certificate as proof of completion. Deadline for registering is Oct. 31.
Copies may be emailed to the Rev. Dr. Jacqui King (jking@igrc.org) or may be mailed to IGRC, Office of Ministerial Excellence, P. O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207.
The deadline for registration is Friday, Oct. 29. This deadline ensures that you will receive the Care Package and all of the materials to participate fully and enjoy the event.
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Discussion on UMRC's future
The IGRC United Media Resource Center will host an online discussion about its future ministries on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.. With planned changes in staffing and finance, the UMRC will need to significantly alter and adapt its current operations.
All of the UMRC’s users are invited to this important discussion to talk about how we might be able to support and provide for the UMRC. As part of the discussion, we’ll also invite participants to help form a Friends of the UMRC leadership group to provide ongoing support and guidance for the UMRC.
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Survey on reviving the Voigt Lectures
A committee, in cooperation with McKendree University, is studying whether to re-start the Edwin S. Voigt Lectures in Preaching, which have been hosted by the college and has been dormant for the past few years. This survey is seeking to measure interest in the lectureship and how it might be re-tooled for a new generation of church leaders.
An email with a link to the survey was sent to IGRC pastors under appointment Thursday. If you would like to participate in the survey, click the button below to begin this survey, which should take less than 5 minutes.
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Salley given additional responsibilities at AU
James H. Salley, a passionate, charismatic and demonstrably effective leader in institutional advancement, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Africa University (Tennessee) Inc., effective immediately.
The Africa University (Tennessee) Inc. Board of Directors, meeting in a virtual plenary on Oct. 18, voted to create the position of President/CEO and name Salley to it as part of the ongoing evolution of governance within the United Methodist-related institution. The new role is in addition to Salley’s current responsibilities as Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement.
“We are thrilled to name Mr. Salley the first President/CEO of Africa University, Inc., the US organization that raises, holds, and distributes funds for the benefit of Africa University,” said Board chair, Mrs. Lisa Tichenor.
Africa University (Tennessee) Inc. is the oldest of three legal entities that comprise Africa University. It is a registered U.S. 501c3 non-profit organization, created in 1988 to enable the birth of Africa University as part of the global mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church.
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Bishop Frank J. Beard will be hosting a trip to the Holy Land Feb. 21-March 2, 2022, that will include recently ordained elders and deacons.
Although the brochure was widely circulated with materials to the 2021 Annual Conference, the registration deadline for the trip is Nov. 8 and is getting closer.
Click on the cover of the brochure pictured on the right to download or view the information.
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Covenant Keepers 2022 Jan. 31-Feb. 1
Covenant Keepers 2022 will take on a new look as a panel of speakers will be a part of the program Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2022.
Organizers are planning for both a virtual and an in-person event since a decision has not been made as to whether it will be possible to host the meeting in-person. Time for the event will be from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 31 and from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 1.
Utilizing the theme Called to Holy Excellence, based upon Philippians 4:8-9, speakers will address the issue from a variety of perspectives.
Speakers include Rev. Dr. Jaqui King, IGRC’s new Director of Ministerial Excellence; Rev. Dr. Curtis Brown and Rev. Dr. Bener Agtatrap, authors of Ready, Set, Plant: The How and Why of Starting New Churches; Rev. David Neckers, retired clergy from the Indiana Conference, consultant and coach.
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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.
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Local church leadership training available online
With Charge Conference season underway, many churches will be electing new officers for 2022. New leaders often desire to receive training and understand both their responsibilities and expectations in fulfilling their elected roles.
The IGRC Cabinet, Congregational Development and IGRC Communications has created Leadership Resources with these needs in mind.
Launched earlier this year, the page is located at: www.igrc.org/leadership Under the quick links, there are specific track of learning for: Church Council Chair, Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, Lay Leader, Lay Member to Annual Conference and Staff Parish Relations Committee.
Each track of learning has common elements: a devotional by Bishop Frank J. Beard, and presentations on How to Lead a Committee or Board; Spiritual Health of Your Team; Leading an Effective Meeting; and Interaction Between Administrative Committees.
There are also direct links to the Board of Ministry (which is under construction presently), the Course of Study Extension School for part-time local pastors, Certified Lay Ministry; Lay Servant Ministries; License School for Local Pastor and the Conference Internship Program.
One can work at their own pace and have a training experience specific to their assigned job.
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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.
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November issue of The Current
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The November issue of The Current should be arriving in mailboxes this weekend.
The cover story focuses on trends as the Church emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic based upon research by church consultant and author Thom Rainer.
Bishop Palmer also shares an All Saints' Day reflection and the issue is full of news from local congregations and items within the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
To view the issue online, click the cover located on the left.
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United Methodist Center Contact Information |
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USPS (U.S. Postal Service)
P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207
Office Phone: 217-529-2040
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UPS and FedEx deliveries only use the street address:
United Methodist Center
5900 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62711
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