FOLLOW US
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   Like us on Vimeo
IN THIS ISSUE
QUICK LINKS


COMMUNICATOR'S 
CORNER

 
Job Listing: NIC Dir. of
Personnel and Benefits 

The Director of Personnel and Benefits oversees and administers the Northern Illinois Conference employee benefit programs for staff, and for active and retired clergy members, working closely with the Benefits Administrator, Human Resources Director and the Conference Treasurer.

______________

Annual Conference DVD


Looking for the Historical DVD shown during the Opening Worship at AC? It's available to download online a
t vimeo.com/98653062. Copies are also available in the NIC Media Resource Center.
Contact Susan Gieseler at [email protected] or 847-931-0710 ext. 17.
NIC Methodist History
NIC Methodist History
_____________
 

  

New Imagine No Malaria Website   

  imagine no malaria  

ImagineNoMalaria.org has re-launched and highlights last month's insecticide-treated bed net distribution in Sierra Leone.   

 

Trained volunteers provided nearly 400,000 nets and education about the preventable disease in the Bo District.

 

With easy navigation, the new website offers visitors a visual introduction to malaria, which claims a life every 60 seconds, and the importance of Imagine No Malaria in beating this disease through prevention, communication, trained health workers and facilities, grassroots education.

 

 

______________

Have you seen the new UMC Handbook?
 
The new United Methodist Handbook is now available in an easy-to-read and share digital format. 

 

The Handbook is among the best resources for laity providing leadership, people new to The United Methodist Church and clergy who occasionally get stumped by a question.
It includes: 
 
* United Methodist teachings,  
* church structure and organization,  
* denominational initiatives,  
* what it means to be a worldwide church,  
* connectional giving information,  
* a glossary of United Methodist terms ... and much more.

You can also download the Handbook for off-line reading, print pages for new member classes, leader training and other events and send it to others.

Check it out now and often! You'll find it a handy reference!

       

July 10, 2014
eNews
Save the Date - "What We Can Do"

Bishop Sally Dyck
Bishop Sally Dyck invites all clergy to a conversation on "what we can do," given Illinois' legalization of same-gender marriage.

So much of the talk around our denomination is about what we can't do, but there is much we can do and in fact, what we are required to do in relation to LGBTQ persons and families in our churches, families and communities.

On September 9, 2014 from 9:30 am until 3 pm,  clergy are invited to a gathering for the purpose of the following:
  • To hear from the Bishop about what clergy can do without threat of a processed complaint in responding as pastors to same-gender marriage for LGBTQ persons and families.
  • To learn and grow in our capacity as clergy to provide pastoral care in general for LGBTQ persons and families. 

The location is still to be determined. Click here to read Bishop Dyck's letter of invitation. 



Be a Mentor This Fall
 
Children at Faith UMC held anti-violence signs in
front of the church on July 2. 
Building on the Safe Haven program provided during this past spring break, several Chicago United Methodist churches are continuing to offer a safe place to go for neighborhood elementary school-aged children this summer.

About 200 children on average daily are participating in the program and receive breakfast/lunch, anti-bullying training and participate in field trips. On July 2, many of the church sites held peace rallies and anti-violence marches.

How can you help serve Chicago Public School Children?  

 

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is launching its Mentoring the Next Generation Initiative. The program provides Kindergarten and 8th grade CPS students with one-on-one support from a trained, caring adult mentor.  

 

Next Generation mentors spend one hour per week in schools, building relationships with students and working with classroom teachers to help children develop their skills.  Click here for a full description. Bishop Sally Dyck is setting the goal of 100 United Methodist Mentors in Chicago Public School classrooms this fall!  Read more... 


Click here for information on the training schedule and to register. Click here for the background check. For questions and if you plan on mentoring contact Rev. Robert Biekman at [email protected].
Bishop Ruling on Marriage Equality Doc. 700.08

From the floor of Annual Conference on June 9,  the Rev. Scott Field requested a decision of law regarding approved Document 700.08, "In Support of Marriage Equality".

On June 10, Bishop Dyck received Rev. Field's written and signed request asking, in essence, if the document permits churches in the NIC to disobey disciplinary provisions that prohibit United Methodist Clergy from conducting same-sex wedding ceremonies. Click here to read full request.

Bishop Dyck issued her ruling stating: "Doc. 700.08 has four sections with areas of concern but overall, it is an aspirational statement and non-binding or specifically prescriptive. It doesn't cite any specific Disciplinary statement in relation to any specific action. It's an historical and aspirational statement without prescriptive force which does not specifically negate, ignore or violate provisions of the Discipline. Read the full text of the Bishop's ruling


Come out to UMW's Summer Mission u

One Day Sampler

July 12 - 8am- 4pm

  

Overview of the 3 studies: How Is It With Your Soul?, The Roma of Europe, and The Church and People with Disabilities.

 

Location: First UMC, 232 S. York Rd., Elmhurst

 

NIC UMW Mission U Weekend

July 17-20

Northern Illinois University, DeKalb

 

Click here for both English and Spanish brochures and more information.   


Spanish as a Second Language
Spanish as a Second Language -Dia de Amistad
Spanish as a Second Language -Dia de Amistad

Applications are now being accepted for host sites for the fall six-week sessions. If your church is interested, visit www.umcnic.org/ssl for information. Classes will start Oct. 1. Participant registration and training will start in late August/early September.


Safe Sanctuaries Training now online

Online training for Safe Sanctuaries is now available through "Safe Gatherings", a United Methodist affiliated organization based out of Kansas, to help churches and their congregants meet this responsibility through a comprehensive and consistent online training process.

 

The links below will take you to the Safe Gatherings website that is separate from UMCNIC.org. If you wish to participate in this training, first you need to register by clicking here. 

 

Once you are registered click here to Login to Safe Gatherings to continue your training.


Please contact Natarsha Gardner at the Conference office with any questions ([email protected] or 847-931-0710, ext. 14).

This training will also soon be available in Spanish.

News & Events

Called to Be, Called to BElieve, Called to BE Leaders Conference

 

A Vocational Discernment Conference for Young Adults, July 18-20, 2014.The "Called to BE" leadership conference at North Central College will help high school and college students to consider their vocational calling to serve God and to prepare for the future. Participants will meet young adults living into their vocations in their churches and communities. Click here for more information and click here for the registration form.   

   

Deadline to Apply for Ethnic Local Church Grants

Aug. 10
is the deadline to apply for an Ethnic Local Church Grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS). The grants are to strengthen ethnic minority local churches through education, advocacy or leadership development as they engage in social justice. Click here for info. Grant applications requiring the signatures of cabinet, staff and officers of the Northern Illinois conference must be submitted to those persons no less than seven calendar days prior to the application deadline.

  

11th Annual Stewardship Conference Registration Open  

Bounty: 10 Ways to Increase Giving in Your Local Church with
Kristine Miller and Scott McKenzie at Barrington United Methodist Church, Barrington, IL, Saturday, August 23 - 9 am - 2:30 pm. Registration and Light Breakfast beginning 8 am.  Click here to download the flyer. Click here to register. 

  

New Downloadable 3-Session Bible Study on Gun Violence

  

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has developed a three-session Bible study about the use of guns in committing violence. The study, "Kingdom Dreams, Violent Realities," uses Micah 4:1-4 as its scriptural foundation. Click here for more information.   

  

ChildServ Night at Ravinia with Train

   

The Board of ChildServ announces to the public its third annual evening at Ravinia, featuring Grammy-Award-winning artists Train, along with the Wallflowers. Proceeds will benefit ChildServ's programs for children and their families. The event, on Friday, August 22, features a 5 pm tented reception, 5:30 dinner and 7 pm lawn tickets for the performance. Tickets are $200 - $250 after August 1. For information contact: Suzan Lea at [email protected] or at (773) 867-7361.  

Mark Your Calendar
(click on title for more information)