This Week's Current Week in Review

The Current Week in Review

January 14, 2022

Mandatory sexual ethics training is underway

The Quadrennial Ethics and Boundary Training events are underway with the first session completed on Jan. 13. Identical sessions will be offered today and on Jan. 15.

Desiring to provide support and encouragement to our clergy, the Board of Ordained Ministry with the Bishop’s Response Team on Relational Ethics is offering a fresh approach to the 2021-2024 Quadrennial Ethics and Boundary Training events. Though still mandatory for all appointed and assigned clergy and lay ministers, this year’s workshop will engage the topic of relational ethics from a “whole person” perspective – considering how to strengthen both personal and professional relationships in a highly stressful environment.

Each webinar will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Each will be broken into 4 sections with a lunch break.

The training is mandatory for all persons under appointment and will fulfill the requirement for the 2021-24 quadrennium.

DOWNLOAD HANDOUT OF PRESENTATION NOTES

Bishop to host Conversation sessions Jan. 19

We are back from the holidays and Bishop Frank J. Beard is on the job. He will be hosting a listening session on Jan. 19 for laity.

Bishop Beard is inviting IGRC laity to attend one of two sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 19 -- either at 3 p.m. or at 5:30 p.m.

This will be the first time Bishop Beard will have to visit and listen to laity since returning from his medical leave. There isn't really any set agenda other than a word of encouragement from Bishop Beard and time to answer questions you may have.

We are asking you to register your attendance in order that the link is not published unless you register.

Each session is limited to 500 persons.

IGRC Clergy: separate sessions have been scheduled for you on Jan. 18. Please look for the email for the particulars. However, if the date scheduled does not work for you, you are more than welcome to join either of the Jan. 19 sessions.

Little Grassy Camp lease renewed

As part of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference's ongoing commitment to making disciples through our camping and retreat ministries, the Conference is in the process of renewing its lease of the property of Little Grassy Camp from the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.

Little Grassy Camp is mostly located on U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife managed property surrounded Little Grassy Lake. IGRC has leased this property for many years. Little Grassy Camp and the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge have enjoyed a good relationship and strong partnership which will continue through this renewed lease.

As part of the lease renewal, the northern section of the camp property will be returned to direct stewardship of the Department of Fish and Wildlife midway through 2022. This part of the camp property was originally developed as a Seventh Day Adventist church camp and became part of Little Grassy Camp about 30 years ago. This northern section of the camp is somewhat under-utilized at this time, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife is interested in returning it to more wilderness and refuge purposes.

The Disciple’s Ridge cabin area will be retained along with the entire south section of the camp for Little Grassy Camp purposes. The staff housing, equipment garage, and camp shop will be relocated off of the northern section. The lease renewal and relocation process is not expected to interrupt camping and retreat opportunities at Little Grassy Camp.

Nancy Folsom Lane, IGRC Coordinator of Camping and Retreat Ministries, commented: “We are grateful that this lease modification allows us to direct more resources toward our campers and guests and the main section of Little Grassy Camp. Many of the structures on the north side posed safety concerns due to their size limitations and ongoing maintenance needs. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has assured us we will continue to have access for environmental education and hiking after the northern section's restoration. We thank God that Little Grassy will continue to be a place that connects people, nature, and Christ, and we look forward to welcoming retreat groups this spring and campers throughout the summer.”

For more information, contact Nancy Folsom Lane (nlane@igrc.org) or Curtis Brown, IGRC Director of Connectional Ministries (cbrown@igrc.org). You can register for retreats, camping, or summer camp at Little Grassy at https://igrc.campbrainregistration.com/

Covid-19 safety practices updated

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is seeing continuing outbreaks of COVID-19 throughout the communities in our region. This current wave is larger and more widespread than previous outbreaks, and it has put a critical strain on our health care services, especially availability of Intensive Care Unit beds and Emergency Room capacities.

With this in mind, an update to the best safety practices was issued Tuesday to assist local churches in their management plans. It is located on the Coronavirus page linked below. You may also get a direct download on the document by using the link to the right below..

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to your District Superintendent or our IGRC Director of Connectional Ministries, Curtis Brown at cbrown@igrc.org.

READ THE LATEST GUIDELINES

DOWNLOAD LATEST SAFETY PRACTICES

Human Relations Day offering Jan. 16

On Human Relations Day, we join other UMC congregations in a special offering to support neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk youth through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs.

In recognizing Human Relations Day, we are called to make an impact in communities where people struggle because they don’t have the tools or resources to reach their God-given potential. Our gifts are part of building beloved community through faith-based volunteer programs, community developers and programs that work with at-risk teens.

READ MORE AND ORDER RESOURCES

Covenant Keepers 2022 to be all virtual

The planning committee for Covenant Keepers 2022 announced Thursday that it will switch the Jan. 31-Feb. 1 event to an all-virtual event in light of current COVID trends with the Omicron variant.

For those that have already registered for the in-person option, you can cancel any hotel reservation you may have.

All those who are registered should have received an email today with the Zoom log-in credentials. If you have not received those call-in credentials, contact Paul Black immediately. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE EVENT! There are many responsibilities on those days to ensure the technology runs smoothly that the tech team won't be able to help you the day of the event with missing credentials.

Registration is still underway and any future registrants will receive the credentials in their confirmation email.

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, 2022. 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.