This Week's Current Week in Review

The Current Week in Review

July 22, 2022

District superintendent killed outside her home

Please pray for the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church who are mourning the death of Rev. Dr. Autura Eason-Williams who died July 18 after being shot during a carjacking outside of her home in Memphis, Tenn.

At a news conference Tuesday, Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said three juveniles had been taken into custody as people of interest in what she called a “heinous killing." Police were interviewing them, but it was not immediately clear if they would be charged.

The killing rocked the United Methodist Church community in Memphis. Church members attended a vigil for Eason-Williams on Monday night.

“We all are shocked and saddened by this senseless act,” the conference said in a statement.

Eason-Williams was a wife and the mother of four children, according to a biography posted on her website. She was superintendent of the conference’s Metro District.

Ordination photos now available

Photos of individuals ordained, commissioned and accepted into associate membership are now available for viewing and downloading.

The galleries include individual photos as well as group photos and photos taken during the June 11 Service of Ordination and Commissioning.

VIEW THE PHOTOS

Participate in NCJ Committee on Episcopacy survey

In preparation for the upcoming election of bishops, The North Central Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy (NCJCOE) has created an assessment to gather data about each annual conference. This information helps the committee to understand the needs, strengths and opportunities of our annual conference prior to assigning bishops to particular annual conferences within the jurisdiction.

The IGRC Committee on Episcopacy is reaching out to a cross-section of IGRC leaders to respond to this survey. Your participation is vital in providing this feedback. There are only six questions and the survey should not take longer than 15 - 20 minutes. Please complete the survey as soon as you can. All responses are anonymous.

Closing date is Aug. 30.

PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY

A country at war

Newly assigned bishop of the Ukraine and Moldova Provisional Annual Conference, Christian Alsted treasures opportunity to meet Ukrainian United Methodists. Vanload of eight United Methodist representatives travels to Ukraine to assess the situation and the church’s response.

The United Methodist Church in Ukraine, composed of only 10 congregations and 350 active members, is accomplishing amazing things.

What to do when people leave your church

Ron Edmondson writes that people leave churches for all kinds of reasons, but it’s still hard not to take it personally. He shares five tips to ease the pain of losing those in whom you’ve invested.

August issue of The Current looks at NCJ episcopal candidates

Delegates to the North Central Jurisdictional Conference Nov. 2-5 will have at least eight candidates to consider to fill any vacancies due to retirements.

The August issue spotlights the upcoming Conference, the process and the candidates as well as providing places to learn more about the candidates.

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.

GO TO CHURCH PORTAL LOG-IN PAGE

VIEW CLERGY BENEFITS AND COSTS FOR 2023

VIEW IMPORTANT NUMBERS FOR CHARGE CONFERENCE

Time to order your 2022 Journal-Yearbook

Lay Members to Annual Conference and Clergy Members are entitled to receive one free copy of the Journal-Yearbook. Extra copies may also be purchased.

If you DO NOT place an order by July 31, you will receive your free copy of the Journal Yearbook in CD form rather than in printed form, unless you've opted out of receiving the Journal in the past in which case you will receive neither.

PLACE YOUR ORDER

Search for Congregational Development Director's position extended through July 31

Applications are being sought for the vacant IGRC Director of Congregational Development position have been extended through July 31.

The position became vacant due to the appointment of the Rev. Mike Crawford as Spoon River District Superintendent July 1.

VIEW THE CLASSIFIED AD

UMRC holding massive liquidation giveaway

In preparation for the move to Kumler Outreach Ministries I have been streamlining the United Media Resource Center collection so that it will fit nicely into its new location. As a result, there are LOTS of good resources up for grabs!

You are invited to schedule a time to come in and browse through a large selection of resources that you can take for use at your church or for your own personal use.

DVD studies, books, curriculum.

Topics: Bible study and Christian life, leadership, Methodism, Advent and Lent, children and youth, and more!

First come, first served. No holds. No items will be mailed. Bring your church leaders!

Monday – Friday only. Note: July 13-15 are not available.

Contact Jill Stone to arrange your time to come to the Conference Center when she can be there.
Bring boxes and bags to take items home.
Go home with a variety of free items!

Visit our website

United Methodist Center Contact Information

USPS (U.S. Postal Service)

P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207

Office Phone: 217-529-2040

Email: info@igrc.org

UPS and FedEx deliveries only use the street address:

United Methodist Center

5900 S. 2nd Street

Springfield, IL 62711

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