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Illinois Great Rivers Conference Report
June 8-11, 2006, Peoria, IL
The Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference met at the Peoria Civic Center under the leadership of Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher. The theme was “By Faith ? In Tents,” based on Hebrews 11:8-19. In addition to worship services and business sessions held throughout the four-day session, several innovative activities promoted the living out of the Wesleyan concept of Means of Grace through works of piety and works of mercy.
The New Streams Team, a collaborative effort of the conference and the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, introduced training resources for the local church for discipleship formation and leadership training. A workbook, Charting the Course of Christian Discipleship, and DVD, Opening Ourselves to Grace: Basic Christian Principles, were distributed to each local church. Tom Albin, dean of the Upper Room, served as plenary speaker. Albin was joined by Board of Discipleship colleagues Steve Manskar and Donna Gaither to present workshops on the workbook and DVD.
Conference members were invited to live out works of mercy by participating at a variety of mission projects throughout the Peoria area on Friday and Saturday afternoons. The conference also sponsored a concert by Christian artist Nicole C. Mullen that was open to the public.
During the State of the Conference report, the conference cabinet presented a proposal for aligning the conference structure with the vision and mission. The proposal includes personnel changes and a variety of ongoing conferencing opportunities for lay and clergy leaders. The conference celebrated significant missional giving in 2005, including a 170 percent increase to the Advance for Christ and His Church. Additional reports were given on an inclusiveness study and activities of the Liberia Task Force, which reported on the continuing partnership between the Illinois Great Rivers and the Liberia annual conferences. At several points during the conference, special prayers recognized the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women.
A new church start, Fountain of Life United Methodist Church (just east of Springfield) was chartered during the annual conference session. Two other new church starts, chartered in 2006, were recognized: Jesus es el Senor in Cobden and Quest in Urbana.
The Midwest Mission Distribution Center and Kumler Neighborhood Ministries collected missional items for local and worldwide ministries. The conference received $20,101.28 from the United Methodist Publishing House and voted to give the funds to the Central Conference Pension Initiative.
In conference business, the members 1) approved a direct bill of pensions and health insurance; 2) referred a proposal for tithe-based apportionments to the Conference Council on Finance and Administration; 3) tabled a proposal for requiring parsonages for full-time appointed clergy; 4) passed a resolution that local churches be urged to provide full accessibility for those with disabilities.
The 2007 budget of $13,861,503 was approved at a slight increase over 2006 (more than $3 million of the budget was moved to direct bill status).
Four offerings were taken, totaling nearly $25,000: scholarships for Liberian children, Africa University Richard Reeves Maintenance & Endowment Fund, Tom Brown Scholarship for Wiley College and the annual Ordinands Mission Trip. In addition, nearly $4,000 was collected during a special appeal from the Liberia Task Force to purchase rice for the February 2007 Liberia Annual Conference.
Bishop Christopher ordained 10 elders and two deacons. Other categories recognized included one associate member, deacon; one - recognition of orders and probationary membership; five -commissioning and probationary membership, elder; two - probationary membership, deacon; one - associate membership; two - full membership, orders previously recognized; and one candidate for certification in specialized ministry. Twenty-one clergy, representing nearly 500 years of service, retired.
Membership stands at 149,003, down 3,115 (2.0 percent). Worship attendance stands at 74,168, down 1,743 (2.3 percent). Weekly church school attendance is at 28,274, down 1,393.
Additional information is posted to www.igrc.org, including a list of award winners, a new clergy effectiveness document, worship service bulletins, and photographs.
-- Susan Meister
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