Annual Conference update
PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS to answer questions concerning legislation before the 2021 Annual Conference will be held in two sessions on the Zoom platform.
A video from the major presenters is found above and has been posted to provide time for persons to be briefed on the legislation before the Q & A sessions.
Both sessions will be recorded and available for playback. The dates and specifics for each session is as follows:
Wednesday, June 2, 7 p.m.
Meeting ID: 954 1348 8757
Passcode: 815261
Thursday, June 3, 2 p.m.
Meeting ID: 941 2795 7703
Passcode: 974409
You may also phone in to either session by calling:
1 312 626 6799 and then enter the meeting ID and passcode when prompted.
TECHNOLOGY CHECK-IN SESSIONS for those who are unfamiliar with Zoom will be held at the following times with the corresponding log-in information:
Monday, June 7, 7 p.m.
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 976 6101 7937
Passcode: 073182
Tuesday, June 8, 10 a.m.
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 959 9759 7932
Passcode: 386515
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKBOOKS: Pre-Conference workbooks are now available on the IGRC website or by clicking the download button below.
AGENDA: The Annual Conference agenda for the plenary session is now posted in the Download section of the IGRC website or by clicking the button below.
SPECIAL OFFERINGS: The 2021 Annual Conference will have three special offerings and an online giving portal has been created at:
www.igrc.org/ac2021specialofferings to accept individual and church payments. Churches may also remit offerings collected when remitting their monthly apportionment payments.
The three special offerings are:
- Our Conference, Our Kids -- A $2.5 million campaign to provide funding for the spiritual life programs at The Baby Fold, Chaddock, Cunningham Children's Home, Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House and Spero Family Services (formerly the United Methodist Children's Home) was approved by the 2016 Annual Conference and launched in 2017.
- Tom Brown Scholarship, Wiley College -- The Tom Brown Scholarship is one which assists a student of Wiley College, one of the 11 historical Black Colleges. Beginning in 1987, the former Central Illinois conference, named a scholarship in memory of the Rev. Tom Brown, a long-time supporter of the Marshall, Texas-based school. Rev. Brown was often the one who stood at the microphone after the presentation by the visiting Black College intern and would move that the annual conference session take up a special offering for Wiley College. Rev. Brown’s daughter, Sharon Brown, is the director of Kumler Outreach Ministries in Springfield.
- Ordinand’s Trip -- An offering will also be taken for the Ordinands' Trip in 2021. This trip, which will include the Classes of 2020 and 2021, is used to form spiritual leaders at the beginning of their ministry.
A button for making online offerings is provided below or you may send your offerings through your local church and having them remit them to the Conference as part of the church's monthly apportionment payment.
MIDWEST MISSION DISTRIBUTION CENTER COLLECTION: The Midwest Mission Center is conducting a collection through the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of its Most Needed Items May 20 through June 10.
Download the flyer below to see a list of needed items and then refer to the second page for when collections will be picked up.
MORNING PRAYER TIME: The IGRC Chapter of the Order of Saint Luke plans to offer online Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. on each of the two days of Annual Conference (June 11 and 12) via Zoom.
SPEAKERS: Bishop Sharma Lewis, episcopal leader of the Richmond Area (Virginia Annual Conference) will be preaching opening worship on Saturday at 10 a.m. Lewis was the preacher at Covenant Keepers 2021.
Rev. Mike Potts and his wife, Jamee, will preach the Memorial Service, which will air on Thursday, June 10, beginning at 7 p.m.
Rev. Judy Vidakovich, one of 25 retirees that comprise the Class of 2021, will preach the Retiree Recognition Service on Friday, June 11 at 7 p.m.
Both services’ broadcasts will premiere at those assigned times but playback will be possible on all broadcasts of the Annual Conference following their airings.
REGISTRATION: Tuesday, June 1 is the last day to register for the 2021 Annual Conference. Registration is essential for obtaining the log-in credentials for voting clergy and lay members.
Participants will be able to join the Annual Conference session online from their homes or they may choose one of eight remote sites from which to view the sessions and participate. The remote locations for annual conference are as follows:
- Marion Aldersgate UMC (Cache River District)
- Belleville St. Matthew UMC (Mississippi River District)
- Salem Grace UMC (Kaskaskia River District)
- Champaign New Horizon UMC (Iroquois River District)
- Bloomington Wesley UMC (Vermilion River DIstrict)
- Pekin Grace UMC (Illinois River District)
- Quincy Vermont Street UMC (LaMoine River District)
- Galesburg First UMC (Spoon River District)
Utilizing the knowledge gained from the virtual 2020 Annual Conference, participants will be able to offer speeches for and against and ask questions during the plenary session, slated for Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. The Annual Conference will be using the Zoom platform, utilizing the polling feature for voting (the same as last year) and the Q & A feature for posting questions or asking for recognition to speak for or against the motion.
No amendments or changes to the legislation will be possible.
CLERGY AND LAITY SESSIONS: The clergy session will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 11 and the laity session will be the same day from 5 to 7 p.m.
ORDINATION AND COMMISSIONING: Ordination and Commissioning services will be a week later – on Saturday, June 19. Commissioning will be aired in the morning with Ordination in the afternoon. Bishop Frank J. Beard will preach both services, which will be held with limited seating for family at Champaign Faith UMC. It will be aired live via the webstream.
Persons will need to register in order to obtain credentials once the screening process is completed the first week of June. Because of needing secure access to the room, persons will register, been confirmed as voting members and receive two log-ins – one for either the clergy or laity session on Friday, and one for the joint plenary session on Saturday.
