This Week's Current Week in Review

The Current Week in Review

October 7, 2022

IGRC Webcast - Conference Reorganization

Bishop, announce first steps in Conference reorganization

Bishop Frank J. Beard and members of the Illinois Great Rivers Cabinet announced the composition of the five districts, beginning July 1, 2023, as the first step toward reorganizing the conference for its mission.

The beginning steps were hammered out at a recent Cabinet retreat focused on meeting the needs of individual districts, pastors and churches. Thursday's announcement was shared via a live webcast from the Conference Center and streamed online.

Beginning July 1, 2023, two districts will join together to form a new district. The pairings of the existing districts are:

Cache and Kaskaskia River districts
Embarras and Iroquois River districts
Illinois and Vermilion River districts
LaMoine and Spoon River districts
Mississippi and Sangamon River districts

VISIT THE IGRC REORGANIZATION WEBPAGE

Invitation to Breakthrough Prayer

Psalm 127:1a says, “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” IGRC is undergoing a restructuring. The 2022 Annual Conference approved going from 10 Districts to five Districts effective July 1, 2023.

The Bishop, Extended Cabinet, and IGRC Committees are working on how to “build our [IGRC] house.” We are inviting the entire Annual Conference to join with us in calling upon God to breakthrough and guide our plans.

Throughout October and November, we are covenanting together to pray for ONE MINUTE each day asking God to breakthrough and reveal God’s will. You are welcome to utilize the prayer provided below or your own prayer. Opportunities will be provided throughout the IGRC to receive what you are hearing from God during this prayer time.

In light of Psalm 127:1, you are invited to join with the Bishop & Extended Cabinet to pray wherever you are at 1:27 p.m. for one minute. It is suggested that folks set a daily alarm on their phones at 1:27 p.m. (to begin your prayer time) and at 1:28 p.m. (to close your prayer time).

Potential Prayer:

Gracious and Merciful God, we come before You acknowledging that Your ways are higher than ours and Your wisdom is greater than ours. While we love and care deeply for our communities and congregations, Your Love for the people of and in IGRC is greater than ours. We also know that You do nothing except in believing prayer. So, we are calling out to You and asking for You to breakthrough in new and fresh ways. Reveal to us and our leaders Your will, Your guidance, Your direction. Bring Your wisdom as we seek to restructure in ways that will allow us to be more faithful and fruitful in making disciples of Jesus the Christ that will lead to our world being transformed in God-glorifying ways. Thank You, in advance, for working in and through us to accomplish Your plans and purposes. Please speak for Your servant is listening…. Amen.

A possible devotional companion to the breakthrough prayer is Dynamite Prayer: A 28-Day Experiment by Rosario Picardo and Sue Nelson-Kibbey. The book is available through Amazon.com as a paperback for $14.99. A Kindle version is instantly available.

NCJ Committee on Episcopacy, College of Bishops recommend three elections

The NCJ College of Bishops and the NCJ Committee on Episcopacy announce support for the election of three bishops at the Nov. 2-5 session in Fort Wayne, Ind. The three elections would replace those that have already departed and will depart Jan. 1, 2023. Several retirements are anticipated in 2024 so any reduction in those elected bishop will be made in 2024.

The NCJ was to reduce the number of bishops by one due to declining membership based upon the disciplinary formula. The Judicial Council ruled earlier this year that the size of each College of Bishops could be determined by the 2016 formula since GCFA’s recommendation has not been acted upon since the 2020 General Conference has not met.

It appears that two, possibly three bishops will retire in 2024, so when the 2024 session meets, the reduction will be taken there while enabling three to get a little experience since only three of the current bishops will remain after 2024.

Hurricane Ian disaster response

Because of the size of Hurricane Ian, the Rescue phase that is primarily handled by the local community is longer than many other disasters. As we wait to receive a call to begin sending people for recovery, we have the opportunity to begin building resources and prepare to help.

We have three ways that everyone can be involved in disaster response.

Pray! Join in prayer for all involved.

God of hope and mercy, we lift to you all victims of Hurricane Ian and all those responding with assistance and aid. Protect all those that are in danger; provide help to everyone in need; console the grieving hearts; heal the wounded and suffering; bless those engaged in disaster response efforts with safety and help all people of good will respond with compassion and generous hearts. Amen.

Give! Grants of $10,000 were quickly approved for Florida and South Carolina by UMCOR. The best thing that you can do right now would be to donate to UMCOR, the Florida Conference's hurricane fund, or donate supplies to Midwest Missions Distribution Center. midwestmission.org/hurricane-relief

Send an ERT (Early Response Team)

If your church is interested in getting a team together, we have trainers that would be able to set up a training at your church or nearby area. If you are interested in starting an ERT team, you can contact me. Curt Franklin at cfranklin@igrc.org.

For hurricane relief updates, the affected area's annual conference websites are the best places to look: https://www.flumc.org and https://www.umcsc.org

October issue of The Current

The October issue of The Current focuses on grassroots organizations which are forming around the country by those who wish to remain United Methodists.

The issue provides persons who want to stay with a variety of resources dealing with the issue of disaffiliation.

The printed copy should be reaching subscribers' mailboxes over the weekend or early next week. But you can view the issue online by clicking on the cover on the right.

Internship program opens for applicants,

host churches

Applications for the 2023 and 2023-24 IGRC Intern Program open Saturday, October 1. Prospective interns, mentors, and host churches/ministries are all invited to apply. The program handbook and application links are available at the IGRC Intern page by clicking the button below.

Priority deadline is Jan 17, 2023. Final deadline is March 1, 2023.

Charge conference forms online

Forms for charge conferences which will be held in the fall are now available through your Church Portal Page.

To access the documents, click on Church Portal on the IGRC Homepage or go to: https://www.igrc.org/churchportal to find the log-in page. Select your District from the dropdown menu. This will trigger a second drop-down menu where you select your Church. The passcode is the church's six-digit GCFA number which can be found on the monthly remittance form for apportionment payments.

In preparation for charge conferences in the fall, the Finance Office has prepared two pages of information that will assist you in your budget building for 2023.

A document outlining the Clergy Benefits and Costs for 2023 includes action taken by the 2022 Annual Conference with regard to minimum salaries for full-time elders and full-time local pastors.

A second document Important Numbers for Charge Conference provides additional information and background. The Apportionment calculations and the Charge Conference forms will be published in the next few weeks.

Churches that have been identified as receiving an additional member to annual conference for equalization purposes should elect that person at the church's charge conference.