The Current Week in Review
September 3, 2021
Bishop Palmer, conference treasurer issue further guidance in BSA bankruptcy case

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer and Conference Treasurer Mike Potts issued a letter to assist churches that sponsor Boy Scout troops and is providing guidance on the renewal of charters with Boy Scout troops in light of an apparent settlement by the Boy Scouts of America with some of its claimants.

In a letter dated Friday, Bishop Palmer and Rev. Potts outline three possible responses for churches when scouting organizations solicit a renewal of its charter with the church:

  1. "When a charter comes up for renewal, the local church can tell the Local Council it will not sign a new charter and will only agree to an extension of the existing charter through Dec. 31, 2021.
  2. When the charter comes up for renewal, the local church can tell the Local Council it will only agree to enter into a Facilities Use Agreement recommended by the General Commission on United Methodist Men and that such agreement will only extend through Dec. 31, 2021.
  3. Whether or not the charter is coming up for renewal, advise the Local Council that the local church wishes to immediately terminate the charter at least until the conclusion of the bankruptcy, or that the charter must be converted to a Facilities Use Agreement which will only extend through Dec. 31, 2021."

While the Boy Scouts have reached a tentative settlement with most of the victims, the victims’ lawyers said, “We will now negotiate with the insurers and sponsoring and chartering organizations who have billions of dollars in legal exposure, of which a substantial portion is necessary to fairly compensate the survivors.” United Methodist congregations are the largest active collection of chartered organizations.

The United Methodist denomination continues to maintain a relationship with the BSA and local churches may continue to support scout troops and engage in a scouting ministry.

However, an ad hoc committee established by the General Council on Finance and Administration’s Legal Department to represent United Methodist interests in the BSA bankruptcy proceedings is very concerned that the BSA did not include chartered organizations in the $850 million settlement agreement with the victims. This may leave as many as 5,000 United Methodist congregations exposed to potential lawsuits without access to the insurance coverage the BSA has promised to provide.
Information on Afghan refugee resettlement

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:  
 
  • Check out the CWS Welcome Afghans landing page
  • Visit the CWS Learn page to learn more about what has been happening in Afghanistan and watch the Welcoming Afghans webinar which was recorded on Aug. 30. 
  • Visit the CWS Community Engagement Webpage where you can find helpful resources and past Lunch and Learn recordings to continue to learn about issues facing displaced people.  You can also download a PDF of its community sponsorship manual from that page as well to share with congregations. 
  • Check out our monthly Immigration and Refugee Community Engagement Newsletter.  
  • Give financially to assist Afghans as they resettle to their new communities. Please encourage congregations to make financial gifts at this link. If they have questions about donations feel free to connect them to me.  
Special session of jurisdictional conference will be virtual

The NCJ College of Bishops met Tuesday and have announced the cancellation of an in-person special session of Jurisdictional Conference. However, Bishop David Bard, president of the NCJ , indicated that a virtual special session will be held Nov. 10-12. In a letter to delegates, the following was noted:

“Yesterday, the resident bishops of the jurisdiction met and made the difficult and disappointing decision that we will not hold a special session of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference as an in-person event in Fort Wayne. Part of the difficulty in making this decision is that deposit monies at Fort Wayne hotels, which were carried over from reservations for the 2020 regular session of the jurisdictional conference, will be lost. Nevertheless, the current health risks of gathering hundreds of people inside confined spaces were too significant to ignore.

"We are not cancelling the special session. We have begun work on holding the special session virtually on November 10-12, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. We will use these sessions to:

  • To worship and pray;
  • To receive reports on work being done in our jurisdiction and annual conferences on dismantling racism and to consider how we might further this essential work in our jurisdiction and its annual conferences;
  • To utilize the processes being developed by the Connectional Table and other denominational leaders, including jurisdictional leaders, to discuss the future of The United Methodist Church, such discussion could include the development of a covenant for living together as The United Methodist Church in the coming months, regionalization in the future of The United Methodist Church, the future of jurisdictions in The United Methodist Church, and the future work of the North Central Jurisdiction;
  • To receive reports from the NCJ Committee on the Episcopacy, the NCJ Episcopal Leadership Task Force and other appropriate persons on the future shape of episcopal leadership including episcopal areas, and to engage in a conversation about the future deployment of bishops and the role of bishops in The United Methodist Church.

“We will not hold a memorial service, nor celebrate the retirements of Bishop Sally Dyck and Bishop Bruce Ough. We think those moments are better marked together in person, and we joyfully anticipate being together in 2022.

“With these revisions, the remainder of our earlier call to this special session remains intact. In the event that we are unable to secure the resources and logistics to hold this special session virtually in the time given, we will re-schedule the session. We remain committed to important conversations on dismantling racism, episcopal leadership, and the future of The United Methodist Church. Please know we will make every effort to hold this conference on these dates, but need to acknowledge the complexities of organizing a virtual conference session.

“Please save the dates Nov. 10-12 and watch for additional communication in the near future.”
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.
Circuit to circuit partnership enhances mobility for Zimbabwean pastor

Hwedza United Methodist Church members sang and danced to show their gratitude to God after receiving their first circuit vehicle.

The Rev. Godknows Risinamhodzi, Chitungwiza Marondera District superintendent, said nothing is as essential as ensuring pastors have mobility for the ministries they are called to serve.

“Mobility is one of the greatest challenges, among many, in most rural setups,” he said. “With the current economic challenges, this achievement was never a walk in the park. Such an achievement was borne out of great sacrifices.”
Bishop Yambusu honored posthumously by World Methodist Council

The World Methodist Council (WMC) has named the late Bishop John K. Yambasu as the recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award for 2020. Bishop Yambasu served as The United Methodist Church (UMC) resident bishop of Sierra Leone until his untimely death in August of 2020.

"This Award is given annually by the World Methodist Council to individuals or organizations who have contributed significantly to peace, justice and reconciliation," WMC General Secretary Ivan Bishop Abrahams said when he made the announcement today.

“The Peace Award is the highest honor of the World Methodist Council,” Bishop Abrahams explains. The criteria for the Peace Award are courage, creativity and consistency in one's witness to peace, justice and reconciliation. Previous recipients of the award include, among others, Presidents Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat, Nelson Mandela, Boris Trajkovsky (Macedonia), Father Elias Chacour, The Community of St. Egidio (Rome) and the Grandmothers of the Plaza De Mayo (Argentina). 

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.
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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