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General Conference
If you would like to share more about General Conference in your local churches, see below for a special video wrap up which may be downloaded for individual use or in worship settings. Click here to download.
To read the NIC Delegation's Report given at Annual Conference click here.
Watch Sanctuary
Sunday, June 19 at 12:30 pm on ABC-7 Television
What's the real story behind the controversy between Professor Larycia Hawkins and Wheaton College? Dr. Hawkins is a Christian who declared she was wearing a Muslim headscarf for Advent to express her solidarity with Muslims facing Islamophobia. Presented at the First United Methodist Church, Chicago Temple, in partnership with the Chicago Sunday Evening Club and Tim Frakes Productions.
Become an Earthkeeper
Global Ministries has started a new program with the goal of commissioning 500 Earthkeepers over the next seven years. Earthkeepers will be trained to articulate the connection between our Christian faith and caring for God's creation, and they will be trained in community organizing - either community development projects or advocacy campaigns. Training is scheduled for November 15 -20, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. The application deadline is
Acts of Repentance Survey
At the 2015 Northern Illinois Annual Conference, the members engaged in Acts of Repentance with Native Americans.
As a part of that action, registered attendees at the Conference were given a copy of the study Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival.
This survey is asking you to indicate your follow-up with that resource or any other resource you might have used. It also asks for any Native American Ministries Sunday resources you might have used.
Your response to this 4-questionnaire is much appreciated. Click here to complete the survey.
Free Insurance eBook
United Methodist Insurance (UMI), the insurance company for the denomination's local churches, has created an easy to use, free resource for local churches that provides a quick glance at insurance concepts to be considered when reviewing insurance policies. To receive the free eBook, click here.
Now is the time to register for summer camps at Wesley Woods or Reynoldswood.
Click here for a listing of the 2016 camps, dates and prices. Also look for and share this special insert found in the March Reporter.
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Check out our new Instagram Account
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Annual Conference Highlights
 The 177th session of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference wrapped up on Tuesday, June 7 following two and a half days of worship, legislative work, Bible study, ordination, honoring colleagues, fellowship and planning for a new quadrennium while focusing on the theme "Walk by Faith".
Highlights:
- Laity Session - Outgoing Conference Lay Leader Arnold Rivera was thanked for his eight years of service on Sunday during the Laity Session. Read Arnold's Laity Address from Tuesday by clicking here.
- Three Co-Lay leaders will succeed Arnold. They are Jessie Cunningham, Elisa Gatz and Mark Manzi.
- Clergy Session: Rev. Scott Field requested a Ruling of Law on a motion approving the NIC Board of Ordained Ministry's recent statement that LGBTQ candidates will be given equal consideration and protection in the candidacy process. Bishop Dyck has 30 days to respond and it will then go to the Judicial Council. Read Bishop Dyck's remarks from the clergy session.
- Ordination: Bishop Dyck ordained 15 Elders, two Deacons, commissioned one person for the work of a Deacon and six for the work of an Elder. There was one Recognition of Orders. For downloadable photos go to: https://nicordination2016.shutterfly.com. To watch the Bishop's Sermon on YouTube click here.
- Bishop Dyck's Episcopal Address: "The Bridge Beneath Our Feet". Click here to read the text. A report by the Landscape Task Force followed.
- Memorial Service: This year we remembered one retired Bishop (Jesse DeWitt), 13 retired Clergy, 10 spouses of Deacons or Elders, four lay employees, and six Lay members of the Conference. Rev. Cerna Rand delivered the message personally sharing her battle with ovarian cancer and offering hope, "My God is bigger than my cancer," she said. "In life and in death, God is with me."
- Bible Study: Drs. Jack Seymour and Margaret Ann Crain led Bible study on Monday and Tuesday teaching and encouraging everyone to become Bible Study leaders with a 3-step process of 1. See (listen to the text. What do you see?) 2. Judge (what does the text help you see about your world?) and 3. Act (as a follower of Jesus, name what will you do?). For the PowerPoints from the Bible Study go to: www.umcnic.org/AC2016 and click on the "Guests/Presenter" tab.
- Retirement Service: We honored and thanked 16 retirees with more than 485 combined years of service. Visit the NIC Facebook page for photos. A special thanks to NIC Media Resources Director Susan Gieseler who is retiring July 1 after 7 1/2 years of service. We are grateful for all her work behind the scenes at Annual Conference as well as in the Program Office.
- 2017 Budget of $6,626,961was approved. The total was adjusted to reflect General Conference changes to the General Church apportionments.
- Other legislation approved included: the discontinuation of First UMC Westmont, support of a FAIR COPS proposed ordinance which calls for the implementation of an Independent Police Auditor's office in Chicago, a Conference Organization Task Force to recommend an alternative organizational structure following Landscape survey results, creation of a Northern Illinois Ministry and Building Assessment Team and mandatory participation in a conference-wide insurance program (CWIP).
- The NIC UM Foundation thanked outgoing president Rev. John Peterson and announced Rev. Chris Walters will be the next president.
- Livestream Archive: click here to watch the livestream recordings including Ordination, Memorial and Retirement services.
- A complete wrap-up and report will be available in the July/August Reporter as well as on the conference website at: www.umcnic.org/AC2016 with more updates in the coming days.
You will be receiving an email with the AC survey. Please help us make the 2017 Annual Conference even better by sharing your thoughts and recommendations.
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| A special thanks to Mark Miller and his band for the incredible, inspirational music during worship and throughout the session.
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District Mission Challenge - We have a winner!
The Northern Illinois Conference Board of Global Ministries challenged each district to bring school supplies to Annual Conference this year such as pencils, rulers and sharpeners. The collection will support the UMCOR depository for the Midwest area, the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) in Chatham, Illinois to put together school supply kits.
This year, each district went above and beyond donating 100% and more of the items requested.
The district that exceeded the amount asked of them the most this year, with 226% of the items requested, was... this district won it last year, too, so it wasn't too much of a surprise... suspense makes the reveal fun... the DeKalb district with over 16,000 pens given for school kits.
This will allow volunteers at the MMDC to assemble nearly 1,000 school kits with the items that we donated at Annual Conference. Because each district gave 100% of their challenge item, the real winners in our mission challenge are the children who cannot afford basic school supplies to begin their education this fall. Your gifts allow a child to participate fully in classroom learning. Click here to read more....
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Bishop's Appeal
The 2016 Bishop's Appeal offering at Annual Conference raised more than $54,000 to benefit Rosecrance and its Launch to Life Campaign which will support a new counseling and recovery residence in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.
Traveling Trophy
Congratulations to the Rockford District for earning the Bishop's Appeal traveling trophy for highest percentage of donations! Rosecrance started 100 years ago in a small town south of Rockford. Dr. James and Fanny Rosecrance, members of New Milford Methodist Episcopal Church, left their estate to the church with instructions for the home to become an orphanage. The Methodist church involvement continues today with support from congregations across the conference and participation of the Rockford District Superintendent on the Rosecrance Health Network Board.
Artwork Auction:
The artwork silent auction and postcard sales raised $2,660. Our special thanks to artist Rev. Kristine Marshall for her gifts and talents. Click here to watch a video of Kristine walking through her thought process behind each painting.
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Post-GC 2016 Reconciling Clergy and Laity Gathering, June 12
The NIC RMN Task Force welcomes all laity and clergy of Reconciling Congregations to gather for a post-General Conference 2016 presentation and conversation on Sunday, June 12 at 3 pm at First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge, 418 W. Touhy Ave. Interested persons from throughout the connection are welcome. Membership or appointment to a "reconciling congregation" is not required. RSVP to: pastordavid@parkridgeumc.org by Thursday, June 9. Click here for more details.
Keep Families Together
Between Mother's Day and Father's Day, Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors is running a Keep Families Together Campaign. For the cost of a bouquet of flowers or a tie, you can help immigrant families stay together. Read Marcel's family story and visit nijfon.org/donate to learn more.
Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation - Your Spirit Calls
Registration is open for the 5 Day Academy for Spiritual Formation which will be held August 1-6, 2016 at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington Hills, IL. The Academy for Spiritual Formation is a program of Upper Room Ministries, providing an opportunity for clergy and laity to deepen their relationship with God through a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, learning and reflection. Read more....
School of Congregational Development The Northern Illinois Conference and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary are hosting the 2016 School of Congregational Development Aug. 17-20 in Evanston, IL. This year's theme is: Into The Deep to Discover, Engage, be Equipped, and to live into the Possibilities that surround us as we share the grace and love of Jesus Christ in our congregations and communities. SCD is sponsored by Discipleship Ministries, Global Ministries, and Path 1. Click here to learn more.
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