Annual Conference 2023 Recap
Annual Conference Report
Pastor Derek Rogers and lay delegate Bob Pritchard attended the 184th Annual Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church on June 6-8 in Schaumburg. Among the reports, debate and votes, there were moments of joy (commissioning of three and ordination of eight new clergy) as well as moments of sadness (the closing of three churches and disaffiliation of eight local churches).
There were a few important moments for Hinckley First that we specifically want to mention. You, as a congregation, donated 59 pounds of soap and shampoo to help fill the truck that will go via Midwest Mission Distribution Center to respond to disasters and needs around the nation. As a conference we collected 7,000 pounds. You also donated $400 to the Bishop’s Appeal that is going to support migrant needs in our local area including Justice for Our Neighbors. The total amount raised to date is $36,372. Hinckley First was celebrated for having paid 100% of our apportionments to the conference and general church, and for being a Mission Link awardee having given $2,909 to mission projects.
Following are a few of the topics and comments from the conference.
Come to the Table
The focus for the conference was bringing people together at the table Christ has set for us. Bishop Dan Schwerin in his conference address noted that America is being pulled apart by many inequalities and polarized philosophies. He challenged the church to be a counterforce to bring people to the table. He stated “I believe in this time of pulling apart we have a prophetic and evangelical opportunity to be people who are about coming together and bringing together and healing together as a resistance and alternative to the hurt and harm in our culture.” To read the Bishop’s State of the Conference address in it’s entirety click this link.
Civil Conversation
The conference’s opening session for laity led participants to discover how to have Christlike conversations with people when they disagree. It was a response to the polarization of society to the point of rage, in some cases. The painful conflicts in the church have also challenged church members’ abilities to remain respectful when discussing controversial topics.
The session leaders stressed the principles of Christlike conversations. They said “It’s impossible to love Christ and hate others. Any response to another person needs to start with humility, this was key for Jesus.” The advice was to stay calm and speak in a normal tone.
Other tips included seek to understand the other person by listening to them. Repeat and summarize what your conversation partner said. Acknowledge the person’s feelings and background. Ask questions to draw out the other person. Don’t use the word “why” since it can be inflammatory. And don’t give advice that wasn’t requested. Finally the leaders said search for and focus on things where the two of you agree.
To read more click here.
Peace in Korea
A group of Korean-American pastors led the Northern Illinois Conference members in prayers, songs, and personal testimonies for peace in Korea on the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice. The armistice ended the war, but an expected peaceful settlement has never been completed. The division of the peninsula into two nations separated families. Conference members had an opportunity to join the prayers for peace and unity by writing messages on strips of fabric and tying them to a model of the fence that separates North and South Korea.
Praise for Local Church Outreach
Co-Lay Leader for the conference Mark Manzi provided many examples of ways churches are providing excellent ministry among their neighbors. He mentioned safe spaces for students after school, leadership training for youth, knitting prayer blankets, and opening churches for shelters. “You are reaching out as Jesus would--to the least and the lost; those in need of food, water, and shelter; and those in need of a caring word and a smiling face.”
Churches can get absorbed with ministries behind the church walls he cautioned. Those are important, but they must strengthen us for our ministry outside the church and in our neighborhoods.
To watch a recording of the Laity Address click here.
Church Disaffiliation
The disaffiliation of eight churches in the Northern Illinois Conference was approved by delegates on June 6. The churches that signed disaffiliating agreements with the conference and were eligible for consideration are: Calvary UMC in Stockton, McConnell UMC, Faith Evangelical UMC in Elmhurst, Fenton UMC, Plano UMC, Van Brocklin-Florence UMC in Freeport, La Luz UMC in Elgin, and Willow UMC.
Earlier this year, 18 churches explored the process of disaffiliating but only ten of these took the step of taking a church-wide vote on the decision and signed disaffiliation agreements. They also demonstrated that they have the means to fulfill the financial requirements of the agreement. If the churches do not fulfill all the terms of disaffiliation by June 30, the approval will be null and void.
The process of disaffiliation, closed for Northern Illinois churches in February of 2023 and will expire as agreed upon at the 2019 General Conference on December 31, 2023. It was in response to a decades-long conflict over the role and status of LGBTQ people in the denomination.
Pastor Salary Equity
As the 2024 budget for the conference was debated, passionate discussion developed over the minimum annual pay increase for full-time pastors. While the Finance Committee recommendation was for a 1.5 percent salary increase for the next fiscal year, many felt that with the cost of living rising at a faster rate, salaries had become inequitable especially for women and people of color. Amendments were passed to raise the increase to 8.7 percent and create a team to study the compensation of all appointed pastors in the conference. The 11-member group was charged with developing an equitable compensation proposal by the next annual conference that considers the size and capacity of churches to pay equitable salaries.
The approved 2024 Conference budget is based on payments from local churches being about $300,000 more than in 2022, and conference expenditures for ministries, programs and committees being $4.4 million which is slightly less than the 2023 budget.
To view the 2024 NIC Budget click here.