This Week's Current Week in Review

The Current Week in Review

February 4, 2022

State of Georgia honors Bishop White

with civil rights award

Former United Methodist Church Council of Bishops President retired Bishop Woodie W. White was recently honored by the state of Georgia with the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Civil Rights Award. The award was given during the State of Georgia’s 37th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration of Service.

The Rev. Lowery Civil Rights Award is named in honor of the iconic United Methodist minister who was the founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr. and others, serving as its president, later chairman of the board. He died March 27, 2020. The Rev. Lowery Civil Rights Award is given annually to an outstanding individual or organization in recognition of their unwavering advocacy for leadership development in the fight for civil rights.

Bishop White served as episcopal leader of the Illinois Area from 1984 to 1992 and the Indiana Area from 1992 to 2004, prior to his retirement.

Covenant Keepers 2022 videos and resources

Videos and recordings of the live segments of Covenant Keepers 2022 are now available for viewing.

A list of resources provided by the keynote speakers will be posted here as well in the upcoming days. Check back often for more information.

VIEW RECORDING AND RESOURCES

Churches begin long process of recovery from tornadoes

Churches begin recovery following tornados

Relief work is just beginning following a string of tornados that struck overnight Dec. 10-11, leaving a path of destruction across several states and leading to dozens of death.

The Kentucky and Tennessee-Western Kentucky conferences are collaborating on recovery efforts.

As material needs have been met and the area is not ready for teams to deploy, the best way to support the ongoing efforts is through financial donations.

United Methodists help addicts kick habit

In Zimbabwe and Liberia, United Methodist church ministries reach out to youth to keep them off the streets.

The Glen View Football Academy in Zimbabwe rehabilitates young people by teaching soccer. Some go on to play professionally.

Through Metro Harvest in Liberia, the Rev. Caleb S. G. Dormah and Malichi Queniah care for abandoned children in a safe house.

Ministry opportunity with UMRC

United Media Resource Center Director Jill Stone is retiring at the end of May and new UMRC management using volunteers will be needed.

Does your church or community feel a calling to serve churches by connecting them to a wide variety of resources for Christian education, leadership development, and personal spiritual growth? Do you live in the Springfield area OR have a large space for housing the UMRC’s collection and office?

Having a small group of volunteers to share responsibilities would be ideal.

Please contact Jill Stone, UMRC director (jstone@igrc.org), or Curtis Brown, Director of Connectional Ministries (cbrown@igrc.org), for more details.

Applicants sought for IGRC scholarships

The Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry Illinois Great Rivers Conference Undergraduate Scholarship is being offered. Applicants must be members of a United Methodist Church in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference for a minimum of one year. Scholarships awarded will be sent to the community college, college or university that the student will be attending during the 2022-2023 school year to help pay for their undergraduate tuition.

The scholarships awarded will be a minimum of $500.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Feb.15.. If you have any questions, contact Christy Blickensderfer at cblickensderfer@igrc.org.

EZRA portal open for year-end reports

The Ezra portal for year-end statistical reports is now open through Feb. 28. Remember - your user name is the church's six-digit GCFA number and the password on the initial log-in is password This is reset annually.