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Communicator's
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Daylight Savings Time Ends this Sunday. Set your clocks back one hour Saturday night.
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November Reporter
The November Reporter should be arriving in your mailbox soon. Please note the paper was printed before the GCFA's new announcement regarding membership numbers and a possible reduction in bishops for the North Central Jurisdiction - the Bishop's Column and the bottom front page story do not reflect the change.
November is Native American Heritage Month
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Are you attending General Conference?
The General Conference Delegation would like to have a list of people who will be attending General Conference next year as visitors, volunteers, or with another organization.
Find-a-Church
Today's tech-savvy seekers turn to the internet as their primary source for information. Local United Methodist churches can be prepared with an updated profile on Find-A-Church which now has enhanced features to include events, social media, and worship information.
In the News
A pastor's report from North Korea
The Rev. Kay Keyong-Ah Woo visited North Korea recently with other leaders of the Committee on Peace of the Korean Association of The United Methodist Church. Woo shared her impressions in the newsletter of First United Methodist Church of Kirkland, Ill., where she is pastor.
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North Central Jurisdiction retains same number of Bishops
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After further review of the numbers, the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) says that the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) does have enough members to retain nine bishops for the episcopal area.
In September GCFA notified NCJ leadership that membership totals from 2014's statistics showed a drop below the threshold formula required by the Book of Discipline for nine bishops for the area and a recommendation for one less bishop was possible.
Northern Illinois Conference treasurer Lonnie Chafin explained that the Book of Discipline's paragraph 259.3 provides that members participating in new faith communities are to be reported as members to the annual conference.
"When the NCJ fell 4,463 members short of the number necessary to maintain the current level of bishops, annual conference statisticians in the NCJ sought to report these pre-chartered church members. But there was no simple way to do so. Previously only local churches with GCFA numbers were allowed to report in the system," said Chafin.
Responding to the desire to count people participating in new faith communities and "new places for new people" being a priority of the denomination, GCFA created an ability to report "conference members at-large" and gave every annual conference until October 15 to amend their reports said Chafin.
"'New Places for New People' can be the engine that drives growth in our denomination and creates an opportunity for us to reverse the trend of declining membership," said Bishop Sally Dyck.
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Special Session Registration Deadline Extended
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Registration for the Nov. 7 Special Session of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference will close Monday, Nov. 2 at midnight. Special Session will be held at Court Street UMC in Rockford beginning at 8am concluding with singing and prayers at 12noon.
The purpose of this special session is to present, discuss and (where appropriate) vote on these matters:
To register click on this link where you will also find the documents referenced above that you may download and review. If Childcare is needed please be sure to indicate this on the registration form.
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| Transformative Difference:
Apportionment dollars at work
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| | Volunteers with the new "Hungry Huskies" ministry are serving nearly 100 meals every Sunday evening. |
Every Sunday evening, students with the Wesley Foundation at Northern Illinois University are serving other students a free, home-cooked meal - a real gift to hungry college students! The new "Hungry Huskies" ministry started this semester and they've already fed nearly 500 students (between 70-90 each Sunday). "This is a place where students can feel connected, safe and welcomed," said campus minister Rosa Lee. Pastor Lee says three students who came for a meal re-identified themselves as United Methodists and joined to help on a regular base. Several neighboring United Methodist churches are also helping by providing food and donations. If you are interested in helping out or providing meals contact Pastor Rosa Lee at niupastor@gmail.com or call 815-669-9NIU. Five campus ministries in Northern Illinois receive financial support through the Program Council budget and your generous apportionment dollars.
As we approach the Northern Illinois Annual Conference Special Session on Nov. 7 to vote on the 2016 budget, we are continuing our series of stories of how apportionment dollars are transforming lives. Click here to read more...
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HealthFlex Changes
For 2016 there will be some changes to our HealthFlex program provided by the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits (GBOPHB) to the Northern Illinois Conference. To all Church Treasurers and/or those responsible for establishing the Church budgets: For 2016 there will be no increase in premium to the churches for the cost of the HealthFlex program. The monthly charge for the HealthFlex program will remain $1,350 a month. To Participants: In 2016 the HealthFlex plan deductible will increase from $750 to $1,000 per individual and $2,500 to $3,000 per family. Open Enrollment for the 2016 HealthFlex program is from Nov. 4, 2015 to Nov. 19, 2015. For all the details click here.
Drawing Closer to God - Nov. 14
Registration is open for this Spiritual Formation committee event at Christ UMC in Rockford. Bishop Linda Lee will be the guest speaker. Workshops include contemplative photography, walking the labyrinth and praying with beads. Cost is $15 and includes lunch. Registration deadline is Nov. 5. Click here for more information.
Vital Congregations Conversation Series - Nov. 13-14
The Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment invites you to the "VITALITY CONGREGATIONS CONVERSATION SERIES: HEALTHY DISCIPLESHIP SYSTEMS I" seminar. This is intended to empower laity, pastors, church staff, conference staff and others in the area of discipleship. The first of a two part presentation. The keynote speaker is Rev. Junius B Dotson who is known for creating teams that "get things done." Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel in Northbrook. To register click here.
Town & Rural Festival - Nov. 21
Join us as we celebrate new and exciting ministries happening in the rural areas of our annual conference. Come hear churches share details of how they are reaching out to their neighbors. Rev. Jill Sanders will be offering the keynote address. Where: Faith UMC, 702 E. Dixon, Polo, IL. Click here for more details.
Youth Summit in the City - Nov. 21
Celebrating the Death of Gun Violence In Our Time. United Methodist Youth (6th to 12th grade) are invited to participate in the 2nd annual Urban Strategy Youth Summit in the City at St. Matthews UMC in Chicago from 10am-3pm. The aim of the Youth Summit is to empower youth to hope for, imagine and envision the possibility of a country with no more hand gun violence in their lifetime. Click here for registration information and more details.
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