May 27, 2016
2016 General Conference Reflections
2016 General Conference Reflections

 

2016 General Conference logo
Believe it or not, General Conference 2016 spent more than twice as much time debating a Rule of Order than the hot topic of human sexuality. After almost three days of considering an alternative method for discussing legislation, The United Methodist Church's top legislative body referred its most difficult subject - sexuality - to a study commission and moved on to other matters.

A move to adjourn at 6:30 every night meant no late-night sessions and hopefully healthier, less stressed attendees. During 10 days in Portland, delegates passed an increased budget, celebrated a number of church milestones and voted to create a new version of the hymnal.

Delegates blog from General Conference

Several members of the IGRC delegation blogged during the 10-day meeting in Portland and since returning home.

Clergy delegates Andy Adams, Chris Ritter, and Bob Phillips along with clergy alternate Roger Ross and lay delegate Kimberly Woods have already posted several entries on the General Conference blog found on the IGRC website.

The delegation will be offering a report on Friday morning during Annual Conference.
Download the pre-Annual Conference issue of The Current

June 2016 Current
Click on cover to view the June 2016 issue
The June 2016 issue of The Current should be arriving on your doorsteps this weekend.  The pre-Annual Conference issue provides a great deal of information for the upcoming session.

In addition, Bishop Jonathan Keaton gives his take on the passage of A Way Forward by the General Conference and how it affects the processing of complaints:

"Folks who have read every jot and tittle of the COB proposal do have a matter interpretive discourse that our Disciplinary skirmishes remain in vogue," Keaton writes. "For example, how does one interpret this sentence: 'We (COB) will continue to explore options to help the church live in grace with one another-including ways to avoid further complaints, trials and harm while we uphold the Discipline.' Which takes precedence? "ways to avoid complaints, trials and harm or upholding the Book of Discipline?"

"Here's the response guiding me during my 20 years as a Bishop. Do your best to be as grace-filled leader. If a complaint is filed, do not avoid it, deny it or make a public scene of it. Administer the Disciplinary process of supervisory response and be committed to finding just resolutions. If those processes do not work, follow the process still even if it leads to a Committee on Investigation that leads to a trial.

"In my 20-year episcopacy, two complaints have resulted in trials."

 Read Bishop Keaton's column...
Africa University Report to the  
2016 General Conference
Conference hits 2/3 mark on Making Dreams Possible

The Conference Treasurer's office reports that two-thirds of the $1 million goal for Making Dreams Possible scholarship campaign has been received. A total of $660,000 has been collected. When completed, eight more Africa University students will receive scholarships every year into perpetuity. Here's the report to the 2016 General Conference about one of the best-kept secrets in The United Methodist Church.

Churches are urged to bring their offerings to the opening worship of Annual Conference.
2016 Annual Conference information

AC 2016 logo
Online registration continues for the 2016 Annual Conference. Registration is also open for daycare and youth camp during the conference.

Within the registration, persons will be able to sign up for one of eight workshops being offered from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday following the clergy and laity sessions, which will begin at 1 p.m.

A list of hotels offering special block rates is posted on the IGRC website, although special block rates expired May 16..
 
The Yellow information, Red reference and Blue legislative sections that comprise the Pre-Conference workbook can also be viewed or downloaded. The Supplemental Legislation has also been posted which may be picked up at Registration on opening day of Annual Conference.

Information on the special offerings and collection for Midwest Mission Distribution Center can be found on the IGRC website. 
Special meals speakers announced

Several groups hosting special meals at Annual Conference have announced their speakers for the 2016 annual conference. Today is the deadline for ordering special meal tickets. Remaining tickets will be available June 8 at Registration and will be sold only if there are tickets available and room capacity is not full:
  • Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Wednesday evening at Peoria First UMC) -- GETS President Dr. Lallene Rector
  • Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members (Thursday lunch) -- Rev. Randall Robinson, pastor of Danville St. James UMC and chair of the 2016 North Central Jurisdictional Conference's host committee speaking on the 2016 NCJ Conference
  • COSROW Women in Ministry (Thursday lunch) -- Rev. Nicole Cox, associate pastor of Springfield First UMC and Rev. Melissa Meyers, pastor in the Northern Illinois Conference, talking about their video blog, "PastorBesties."
  • Ethnic Local Minority Concerns/Commission on Religion & Race/Hispanic Ministries (Thursday lunch) -- Dr. Cheryl Walker, Director of African-American Ministries, Discipleship Ministries, Nashville, Tenn.
  • Reconciling United Ministries of Illinois (Friday breakfast) -- Emily Schmidt and Jess Howell, students at Eastern Illinois University and RUMI scholarship recipients
  • United Methodist Foundation (Friday lunch) -- Phil Haning, regional vice president at America Funds, part of the Capitol Group, based in Bloomington.
  • Asbury Seminary Alumni and Friends (Friday lunch) -- Dr. Joseph Dongell, professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Seminary
  • Good News (Friday evening) -- Rev. Andy Adams, pastor of Urbana Quest UMC and IGRC General Conference delegate speaking on the 2016 General Conference.
  • United Methodist Women (Friday evening) -- Dr. Thembi Conner-Garcia, internist, OSF Medical Group, Peoria.
  • Social Justice (Friday evening) -- Pauline Muchina, director of Healthy Families, Healthy Planet, project director, Healthy Families, Healthy Planet, General Board of Church and Society
Pastoral Care and Counseling to sponsor lounge in Lexus Club

Pastoral Care and Counseling is hosting Coffee, Coloring and Connection for clergy spouses from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday during Annual Conference in the Lexus Room, located on the mezzanine level above the Great Hall at the Peoria Civic Center.

The Lexus Club can be accessed by taking the set of escalators as if one was going to the Grand Ballroom on the fourth floor. The first set of escalators ends at the mezzanine level.

PCC is wanting to better support Clergy Spouses.  Have you ever watched a child color?  They get lost in the experience of it.  Picking the right color and making decision about coloring inside or outside the lines we are focusing on making beauty instead of our own worries.  Coloring helps us de-stress and self-express. Adults who color to relax (colorists) have reported that coloring helps them relax, decreases anxiety, increases mental clarity, and makes them feel happier. Of course, this is not art therapy, but colorists all over are reporting these and other calming affects at the same time as adult coloring books are flying off the shelves.

We will have adult coloring pages, colored pencils (and sharpener) and crayons on the tables. There will be coffee, tea, and water and space for you. Come by and connect with PCC Coordinator Shauna Summers. She will be there to listen and learn how we can better serve Clergy Spouses.  Leave your stress at the door.
Stay connected during Annual Conference

IGRC Communications will be working keep you connected during the 2016 Annual Conference.

Sched app:
In cooperation with Sched.org, persons registered for the Annual Conference will be able to set up an account and pre-select those schedule items that apply to you. Each day during Conference, your daily schedule will be emailed to you making it easy to carry on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Each item will have all the details for that particular time slot and any updates for room numbers, etc., will automatically update as a push from the app. In addition,worship bulletins and other supplemental materials will be attached to particular scheduling items. 

Persons just wanting to look at the total schedule can find it online at:
www.igrc.org/ac2016agenda.

The Daily Current:
IGRC Communications will be producing a daily e-newsletter during Annual Conference. Subscribers to The Current Week in Review will already receive the publication each morning. Others may subscribe by visiting: www.igrc.org/e-news

Web Streaming:
In cooperation with OCV Live, the Annual Conference will be streamed live beginning with Opening Worship at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Clergy and Laity Sessions Wednesday afternoon and the All-Conference Dinner and program on Thursday evening will not be aired. Visit www.igrc.org/ac2016live to view the web stream during Annual Conference.

Hashtag for Facebook and Twitter:
The Annual Conference Facebook group will be used during the Annual Conference (visit www.facebook.com/groups/IGRC2014). This page is different from the IGRC Group Page. The official hashtag for Twitter is #2016IGRC.

The Current:
On the Monday following Annual Conference, IGRC Communications will go into production of the July issue of The Current, which will provide a wrap-up of Annual Conference which may assist clergy and lay members in making their reports to their congregations. Look for delivery around June 17-18.
North Central Jurisdictional Conference information

NCJ 2016 banner
Information on the 2016 North Central Jurisdictional Conference is posted on the jurisdiction's website as well as in a special section of the IGRC website.


IGRC endorsed candidate Sylvester Weatherall has completed the formal nomination paperwork and his answers to questions are now posted at the NCJ website.
Sincerely,
Paul Black's signature
Paul E. Black
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
217-529-2848
 
 
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