5
NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE
Inside
River Ramblings THE WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD Many of you may be familiar with the work of
THIS ISSUE 1 News from the Episcopal Office 2 Announcements & Events 3 Christian Conversations
lost, healing the broken, feeding the hungry, making peace. I hope you will look this meditation up and ponder it during Advent. Yet I have been thinking about Thurman’s words as our election approaches. As I write we are still in the heat of the campaign season. Given what I am reading about some changing election laws and pending lawsuits about the election, I expect things could be messy and unclear in the days at once following election day. It will be a time for all of us to put on patience and love. Eventually, the election will be behind us, and I hear parallels to Thurman’s Christmas meditation. When the ballots have been counted, when the elections have been certified, when the oaths of office have been administered, the work for the common good begins. Work for the common good is not only the work of our political and governmental systems but is work belonging to us all. It is part of the work of the church which proclaims that God so loved the world… The world. We often personalize John 3:16, and that is proper. God loves each of us in Jesus and that is good news to be shared. Yet “the world” also means communities of people and how they live their lives together. The world includes the planet on which we live. God’s love is meant to be embodied in systems of governance by which people organize their lives together. God’s love for the earth is meant to influence how we care for the planet. Our political and governmental systems will never fully embody God’s love and justice. We are always waiting for a kingdom yet to come. That’s the danger with a Christian nationalism which
baptizes candidates or parties in a way that indicates they fully embody God’s love and
Howard Thurman (1899-1981). While I knew of his work before, during COVID I found myself bumping into it again and again. It was a serendipity of God’s grace. Thurman’s writings combined powerful insights into the inner spiritual journey with a prophetic call to engage the wider world in the quest for justice. Perhaps his best-known work is Jesus and the Disinherited , a book Martin Luther King, Jr. carried with him during the Montgomery bus boycott. Here is one of Thurman’s brief meditations which particularly caught my attention during the pandemic. “There must be always remaining in every [person]’s life some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful and, by inherent prerogative, throws all the rest of life into a new and creative relatedness, something that gathers up in itself all the freshets of experience from drab and commonplace areas of living and glows in one bright white light of penetrating beauty and meaning – then passes…. Despite all the crassness of life, despite all the hardness of life, despite all the harsh discords of life, life is saved by the singing angels.” Thurman was a Black man in 20th century America. He knew hardness and harsh discord. His words rang true and touched me deeply during the hard days of the pandemic. Another of Thurman’s profound meditations is on the work of Christmas. I know, it seems I am a month early on this one. The brief meditation begins with “When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone” and it continues for a few more lines about the ending of the birth story of Jesus. Thurman goes on to say that when the story is ended, “the work of Christmas begins,” and for Thurman the work includes finding the APPOINTMENTS In consultation with the IGRC Cabinet, Bishops David Bard and Kennetha Bigham-Tsai appoint the following: Steve Miller to Grayville: First, South District, 3/4 time, effective Oct. 1. Grayville: First is now a single-point charge with Browns closing. Ronald Johnson to Mount Moriah, South District, less than ¼ time, effective Oct. 1. Nixon Estioko to Vienna: First, South District, ½ time and Anna: First, South District, ½ time, effective Oct. 1. Sylvester Weatherall to Springfield: Kumler, Central District, ½ time, effective Sept. 1. Lori Van Horn to Pinckneyville: First-Nashville: Grace, South Districe, ¼ time, effective Oct. 1. This is an interim appointment. Change of status Jon Warren , discontinuation of appointment, West District, effective Nov. 1. He previously served as associate pastor at Christ UMC Quad Cities. Justin Iverson to Mascoutah: Bethel, Central District, ½ time, effective Oct. 1. This is a move from full-time to ½ time. James Lambert , discontinuation of appointment, South District, effective Oct. 1. He previously served Mount Moriah. Daniel Skelton to Dogwood Prairie-Seed Chapel, East District, effective June 10. He is now appointed as a provisional elder. Allen Williams to New Baden, Central District, ½ time, effective Sept. 1. Rev. Miller is now appointed as a part-time local pastor. Rocio Reyes Williams , discontinuation of appointment, South District, effective July 29. The Greater Maron Hispanic- Anglo Faith Community (Churros and Chocolate) has disbanded.
justice. Even if God’s love and justice are never fully embodied this side of God’s kingdom, we look to do what we can to make more real God’s love and justice. When the ballots have been counted, when the elections have been certified, when the oaths of office have been administered, the work for the common good begins. It is the work of feeding the hungry, healing the broken, rebuilding communities, creating peace, fostering justice, building more beloved community, recognizing our common humanity as created in the image of God, and encouraging each person to grow in love. It is work we engage in as followers of Jesus Christ who proclaim that God so loved the world. Before signing off this month, I want to note that November is a time for gratitude. Among the things for which I give thanks is each of you who are part of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Thank you for your faithful ministry for Jesus Christ. Thank you for welcoming Julie and me into your fellowship as a conference. The Work Continues on this River Rambling, Bishop David BISHOP David Alan Bard
4-5 Local Church News 6-7 Historical Messenger 8-9 Hurricane Helene & Milton Response 10-14 Apportionments / Global Church News 15-16 Conference News T H E current NOV 2024 | VOL. 29 • NO. 3
Photos courtesy of Pekin First UMC The ROCHouse ministry of Pekin First UMC began construction of a duplex which will be used as a part the church’s housing ministry. 4
Photo courtesy of Mike Crawford Six United Methodist churches in Bloomington-Normal and ISU MERGE Wesley Foundation banded together this fall to lead a “Kindness Campaign” throughout our community.
5 Photo courtesy Peoria University UMC Peoria University UMC is making a concerted effort to pinpoint and address some of the needs in its community as it seeks to live out Matthew 25:35-36.
The Current (USPS 014-964) is published monthly by the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The UMC, 5900 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62711 An individual subscription is $15 per year. The opinions expressed in viewpoints are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Current, The IGRC, or The UMC . Communications Team Leader: Paul E. Black Team members: Kim Halusan, Michele Willson Send materials to: P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207 or tel. 217.529.2040 or fax 217.529.4155 thecurrent@igrc.org , website www.igrc.org Periodical postage paid at Peoria, IL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to The Current , Illinois Great Rivers Conference, P.O. Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207
Photos by Liz Winders, Iowa Annual Conference The Illinois Great Rivers Conference welcomed its new episcopal leaders in a Service of Celebration Sept. 28 at Normal Calvary UMC. Pictured are Bishops Kennetha Bigham-Tsai and David Bard as they are introduced to the audience (Installation 1). Following the service, many extended their personal greetings including Conference Lay Leader Lorene King (Installation 2).
DEATHS
Judy L. Daughenbaugh , 90, wife of IGRC retired pastor, the Rev. Howard L. Daughenbaugh, Jr., died Oct. 12 in Peoria. Together with her husband, the Daughenbaughs served 40 years of active ministry, retiring in 1998, as Superintendent of the Springfield (later
Ricky J. True , 70, surviving spouse of the Rev. Alice Faye True, died Oct. 14 in Richview. Mr. True was an over-the-road truck driver. The Trues were married for 35 years prior to her death Sept. 23, 2014. For a complete obituary, visit: https://www.
DVD studies: #121036 Unlikely Advent: Extraordinary People of the Christmas Story (4 sessions) #108079 Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation (4 sessions) #105100 Experiencing Christmas: Christ in the Sights and Sounds of Advent (4 sessions) #116117 Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist (4 sessions) #101111 Angels of Christmas: Hearing God’s Voice in Advent (4 sessions) #108077 Heart That Grew Three Sizes: Finding Faith in the Story of the Grinch (4 sessions) #101109 All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas (4 sessions) #112125 Light of the World: A Beginner's Guide to Advent (4 sessions) #109065 Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas (4 sessions) #118069 Redemption of Scrooge (4 sessions) UMRC Advent DVD studies available to borrow from the UMRC! Items can be sent to your church or home address and can be requested from the online catalog: www.igrc.org/umrc or by email: umrc@igrc.org No rental fee – the only cost to churches is return postage. UNITED MEDIA RESOURCE CENTER
Sangamon River District). Rev. Daughenbaugh then served eight years as Assistant to Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher, retiring a second time in 2006. For a complete obituary, visit: https://calvertmemorial.com/ obituaries/judith-l-daughenbaugh Condolences may be sent to Rev. Howard L. Daughenbaugh, Jr., 1301 W Jefferson St, Apt. 29A, Morton, IL 61550-1359. IGRC retired pastor, the Rev. William Minor , 77, died Oct. 4, at his home in Jackson, Mo.
campagnafuneralhomes.com/obituary/ricky-true Condolences may be sent to his wife, Bobbie Vaughn-True, 47 N. Hickory St., Richview, IL 62877-1965.
L. Duane Yockey , 76, a former lay member to annual conference and member of Normal First UMC, died Oct. 13 at his home.
The UMRC is located at Kumler Outreach Ministries, a ministry of the Kumler United Methodist Church in Springfield. The new mailing address is: Kumler Outreach Ministries, Attn: United Media Resource Center 303 E North Grand Ave, Springfield IL 62702-3822 Questions, comments? Contact us at umrc@igrc.org
Mr. Yockey was a member of the IGRC Council on Finance and Administration and a former chair of the IGRC Board of Trustees. For a complete obituary, visit: https://calvertmemorial.com/ obituaries/l-duane-yockey Condolences may be sent to his wife, Carolyn Yockey, 508 Normal Ave., Normal, IL 61761-2413.
Rev. Minor served 32 years of active ministry in the former Southern Illinois and later, Illinois Great Rivers Conference, retiring in 2012 from Anna. For a complete obituary, visit: https://www.
If you are interested in volunteering at the UMRC during weekday hours, please call 217-523-2269 and ask for Sharon Brown or leave a message including your name and church name.
crainsonline.com/obituaries/William-Minor-11/#!/Obituary Condolences may be sent to his wife, Willene Minor, 192 Pleasant Lake Ct., Jackson, MO 63755-6864.
THE CURRENT | NOVEMBER 2024 | 1
Powered by FlippingBook