The Current Week in Review
January 22, 2021
|
|
|
|
Regions continue to move within mitigation tiers
Bishop Frank J. Beard and members of the Extended Cabinet are providing this update as of today for the following regions in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference:
Regions 2 and 7 move to Tier 1 mitigations
- For regular worship gatherings, churches are recommended but not required to limit their gatherings to 25 people or 25% of the room capacity, whichever is smaller
- For all other gatherings, including funerals and weddings, gatherings should be limited to 25 people or 25% of the room capacity, whichever is smaller
- Facemasks and social distancing are required
Regions 3, 5 and 6 move to Phase 4 with no mitigations
- Churches may gather indoors for any purpose in groups of 50 and less
- Churches with larger rooms may gather indoor groups of up to 25% of the room capacity, but may not exceed 100 people in total
- Churches may gather out-of-doors in groups of any size with proper distancing and masks
- Children and youth ministry programs may occur
- Social distancing, face masks, and other precautions should be taken for all activities
- Churches should not practice group singing
- Church buildings may be open all kinds of groups and meetings of appropriate size, and all church staff and volunteers can regularly use the building
- Facemasks and social distancing are required
Regions 4 remain in Tier 3 mitigations
- For the good of the congregation and community, churches are very strongly recommended not to hold in-person worship gatherings indoors
- Churches may cautiously gather for worship outdoors with precautions (see guidelines)
- Churches may gather for Drive In worship services in groups of any size with proper distancing
- Church buildings should close, and staff should work from home, except for essential and minimum basic operations that need to be conducted in the building
- Facemasks and social distancing are required
Because the metrics are very fluid, the regions could move between Wednesday announcements. When this occurs, the church is asked to use prudent judgment and decide based upon the congregation's comfort level.
|
|
|
|
Guidelines issued for attendance with virtual worship, other statistics for year-end reporting
The IGRC Finance office has sent the following email to appointed pastors and local church treasurers concerning the Ezra statistical reports for 2020. A link can be found on the IGRC Homepage at the top. Deadline for filing is Feb. 28.
|
|
|
|
Course of Study deadline nears
The deadline for registration for Course of Study April-May classes is rapidly approaching. Part-time Local Pastors can register at www.igrc.org/cos by Feb. 5 for COS 123 Formation and Discipleship taught by Dr. Beth Fender or COS 322 Theological Heritage III: Medieval--Reformation taught by Dr. Dennis Powers.
Remember you must have taken COS 121 and COS 122 before you can take these classes. All classes will be offered online.
|
|
|
|
Click on the graphic above to Read More about these webinars |
|
|
|
31 United Methodists serve in 117th Congress
A near-equal number of United Methodists serve on each side of the aisle in the 117th U.S. Congress, which faces the work of responding to a wounded nation and breached Capitol building.
The newly started Congress has 31 United Methodists — 16 Republicans and 15 Democrats. Six of the denomination’ members serve in the Senate and 25 in the House.
|
|
|
|
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day services |
|
|
|
Rebirth of Black Methodists for Church Renewal
Join us for a dialogue on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m., concerning the recommitment to our vision, to recover our purpose and to renewal our Spirit of unity and community in the Black Church. We look forward to seeing you and hearing your ideas to help us in this new beginning.
A quote from Rev. Dr. Ernest Smith, a founding member of BMCR: “Our time under God is now!” We are relevant members of the UMC who promote peace using our influential and innovative ways in the rebirth of the purpose of BMCR founders. Join us in this conversation!
Log-in for this Online Event via Zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 960 9086 7681
Passcode: 098934
For audio only, call: (312) 626-6799 (Chicago), using the above listed meeting code and passcode.
|
|
|
|
Pre-Retirement webinar Feb. 18-19
To help with clergy looking to retire this year, Preachers' AId Society and Benefit Fund will host an online event Thursday, Feb. 18 from noon to 5 p.m., and on Friday, Feb. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The webinar is designed for persons age 50 and older to assist in preparing for retirement.
Topics to be covered will include:
- Financial planning
- UMC retirement plans
- Long-term care
- Social Security
- Medicare overview
- Estate planning
- Health insurance in retirement
- Housing in retirement
- Taxes
- Transitioning into retirement
|
|
|
|
Covenant Keepers 2021 registration open
Bishop Beard has announced that Covenant Keepers 2021 will be held virtually on a single day -- Thursday, Jan. 28.
Registration will be required to receive credentials for logging into the Zoom meeting.
Speakers for the event will be Rev. Susan Beaumont, author of How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You Are. Beaumont is a consultant, coach, author and spiritual director who worked with hundreds of congregations and denominational bodies across the United States and Canada. She is known for her ground-breaking work in the leadership dynamics of large congregations.
Before establishing her own practice, Susan worked for nine years as a Senior Consultant with the Alban Institute. Susan has also served on the faculty of two business schools, teaching graduate level courses in leadership, management and organizational behavior. She has corporate experience in human resource management and organizational development. She currently teaches at Wesley Theological Seminary.
The other platform speaker, Romal Tune, is a thought leader, speaker and author. The focus of his life’s work is using the power of storytelling to bring about meaningful change. I teach individuals, non-profits and companies how to tap into the uniqueness of their stories and experience exponential growth.
Joining Covenant Keepers and preaching will be Bishop Sharma Lewis, episcopal leader for the Richmond, Va. Area of The United Methodist Church. Lewis made history when she was elected as the first African-American woman bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction in 2016.
|
|
|
|
Accessibility grants available
The deadline for Architectural Grant applications is Jan. 31, 2021.
If your church has a project that will make your building more physically accessible to the disability community, the IGRC Committee on Accessibility Ministries may be able to help you with a small grant.
|
|
|
|
Clergy Assistance Program
Make sure your IGRC pastor knows about this benefit provided through your apportionment dollars at work.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
