2025junecurrent

Pre-Conference edition for the 2025 Annual Conference; the 2025 Prentice Sermon

JUN 2025 | VOL. 29 • NO. 10

Preview of the 2025 Annual Conference THE current

Hope that Does Not Disappoint

ROMANS 5:5

Inside

NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE

River Ramblings Conferencing as a means of grace

THIS ISSUE 1 News from the Episcopal Office

Charles Wesley , and others, we get a sense of the profound hope this gathering contains for Methodism. “It is desired that all things be considered as in the immediate presence of God. That we may meet with a single eye,

As the calendar turns from May to June here in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference we will be gathering for our annual conference session in Peoria June 5-7. This will be my first annual conference with you as your bishop, an honor I share with Bishop Kennetha Bigham- Tsai. It will be my first extended time in Peoria since my election as a bishop in 2016 at the North Central Jurisdictional Conference held there. In United Methodism the term “annual conference can be a bit confusing. An annual conference may refer to an organization – structure and staff, including the assigned bishop(s) and the bishop’s cabinet. An annual conference may also refer to a geographic region and all the United Methodist people and churches in that area, both lay and clergy. Finally, annual conference is a meeting, the annual gathering of clergy and elected lay members from our congregations for the purpose of connecting, celebrating, inspiring, recognizing, learning and caring for business. The latter is what will be in Peoria June 5-7.

The differing meanings of annual conference are related to one another. As we gather in June we will make decisions that support and provide direction for our conference staff and structure, decisions about budgets and benefits and values. The input of all the members of annual conference matters, and the purpose of the annual conference as an organization is to enhance the vibrancy and vitality of our local churches and other places of ministry. It is in those places that the mission of the church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world is primarily carried out. And so we gather to pray, to worship, to connect, to celebrate, and to conduct business. There is joy as we greet old friends and make new ones. There are deeply moving moments when we are touched profoundly by God’s Spirit, and we don’t know ahead of time when such moments may occur. We gather. This year we will be voting on important amendments to our constitution, including amendments that will fundamentally restructure decision-making in our denomination by regionalizing it. We will also introduce a new vision statement for The United Methodist Church, offered as a result of cooperative work between the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table. Our mission remains constant, “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Our new vision statement adds some direction to that mission. “The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.” We gather at conference to conference. The language of “conference” can be traced back to the founder of the Methodist stream of the Christian tradition, John Wesley. In his own writings about conference, contained in the volumes of Minutes of Several Conversations between the Rev. Mr. John and

2 Announcements & Events 3 Christian Conversations 4-5 Historical Messenger 6 Conference News 7-8 General Churchl News 9-11 Annual Conference 2025 12 AC Voting Information 14-17 Honoring our Retirees 18-19 Churches Completing Their Mission 20 100% Paid in 2024 / Five-Star Mission Churches T H E current JUN 2025 | VOL. 29 • NO. 10

BISHOP David Alan Bard

Photo by Paul Black Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai completed her Town Hall meeting circuit May 4 when she met with United Methodists from the South District at Carbondale: First UMC.

and as little children who have everything to learn. That every point which is proposed may be examined to the foundation. That every person may speak freely whatever is in his heart, and that every question which may arise should be thoroughly debated and settled.” ( The Works of John Wesley , v. 10, p. 844). Wesley held high aspirations for conferencing, and considered Christian conference a means of grace. Of the quality of dialogue for Christian conference, Wesley also proposed a high ideal. “Are we convinced how important and how difficult it is to order our conversation right? Is it always in grace? Seasoned with salt? Meet to minister grace to the hearers?” (856-857). It is my hope and prayer that we will arrive at annual conference with aspirations that this will be a means of grace. It is my hope and prayer that we will arrive at annual conference ready to order our conversation right, to be people through whom the grace of God flows freely, even when there may be disagreements. The theme of our gathering is Rivers of Grace: Hope That Does Not Disappoint . May rivers of grace flow through us and around us. May we know the hope of the risen Christ deep in our souls so that we might move out into the world to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. On a River Ramble toward Annual Conference, Bishop David Bard

Photo courtesy of ???? Bishop David Bard (fourth from the left) joined with his ecumencial colleagues in a celebration of the 1700th anniversary celebration of the Nicaean Creed at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. Pictured from left are: Deacon John Foder, Diocese of the Missouri Valley, Anglican Church of America; Bishop Greg Busboom, Central/Southern Illinois Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, Latin Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois; Bishop David Alan Bard, Illinois Great Rivers Conference, The United Methodist Church; Rev. Father George Pyle, Presiding Priese, St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, Springfield; and Dar Taniel Manjikiam, Priest, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Granite City. The Nicene Creed is a statement of Christian belief widely used in various denominations, including Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and many Protestant churches. It articulates fundamental doctrines about the Trinity, the person of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit and was developed in A.D. 325 by the ecumenical council of Nicaea and later refined by the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381

APPOINTMENTS In consultation with the Cabinet of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Bishops David Bard and Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai appoint the following: Connor Morrison to Abingdon-Roseville-Swan Creek, West District, effective July 1. This is a charge realignment with Roseville and Swan Creek yoked in a new three-point charge. Deepak Holkar to General Evangelist of the United Methodist Church, extension ministries, effective July 1. Angie Lee to Belleville: Union- Mascoutah: Bethel, Central District, effective July 1. This is a new two-point charge. Bobby Davis to Belleville: Union-Mascoutah: Bethel (Assoc), Central District, effective July 1. This is a new two-point charge. Mike Olson to Belleville: Union-Mascoutah: Bethel (Assoc), Central District, ½ time, effective July 1. This is a new Bloomington-Normal: Hope (Minister of Multiplication), North District, effective July 1. Nic Showalter to Bloomington: Wesley-West Olive, North District, effective July 1. Sheri Renner to Camp Point- Centennial Ebenezer-Columbus, West District, effective July 1. This is a new charge alignment adding Columbus to the charge. Dala Lawrence to Caseyville- Collinsville: First, Central District, ¾ time, effective July 1. Robert Dillingham to Rochester-Edinburg, Central District, effective July 1. two-point charge. Sophie Woods to

Gregory Boylan to Chaplain: U.S. Navy, extension ministries, effective May 1. He previously was serving at El Paso-Secor. Supply not appointed Jacob Kersh to Taylor Ridge-Reynolds, West District, effective July 1. This is his first assignment in the IGRC. Charles Feeney to El Paso- Secor, North District, ½ time, effective July 1. This is his first discontinuation of appointment, Central District, effective July 1. Rev. Francis is currently serving at Belleville: Signal Hill. Delbert Pancake , discontinuation of appointment, Central District, effective July 1. Rev. Pancake is currently serving at South Fork. Robert Roy , discontinuation of appointment, Central District, effective July 1. Rev. Roy is currently serving at Mt. Zion- Bethany. assignment in the IGRC. Change of status Arthur James Francis , Deborah (Jill) Johnson-Scott to retired status, effective July 1. She is currently on medical leave. Joe Tomich , discontinuation of appointment, West District, effective July 1. He is currently serving at Virginia-Fairview. Therese Melena to retired status, effective July 1. She is currently serving Cornerstone UMC, South District. Maurice Midgley to retired status, effective July 1. He is currently on medical leave. Cathy Duffy , discontinuation of appointment due to medical reasons, effective April 15. She was serving at the Prairie River Parish (Henry-Washburn-

For the 2025 IGRC conference, the Digital Computer Church Organ is provided by Church Organ Network IL-IN-KY . The Yamaha Concert Artist Grand Piano provided by Piano Network of Illinois .

Showrooms are located in Peoria – Effingham – Springfield - Champaign. For information, visit Web site: PianoNetworkofIL.com or phone 217-342-2207.

DEATHS

Renda Chase , 81, wife of IGRC retired pastor, the Rev. Ronald G. Chase, died May 8 in Waterloo. Together with her husband, the Chases served in ministry in the Baptist Church before transferring to the former Southern Illinois Conference. They served 21 years at Columbia: Bethany before

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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

retiring in 2007. For a complete obituary, visit: https://www.leesmanfuneralhome. com/obituaries/renda-chase/#!/Obituary Condolences may be sent to Rev. Ronald G. Chase, 735 Columbia Ave, Apt. 44, Waterloo, IL 62298-1090. Rev. Vonna Lou Larson , 89, a retired deacon in full connection, died May 6 in Gilson. Vonna Lou began her ministry as a diaconal minister in 1996 and was ordained a deacon in full connection in 1999. She served 13 years on staff at Peoria FIrst UMC as Pastor of Older Adult Ministries. She retired in 2006 and continued to serve in that capacity until 2009. For a complete obituary, visit: https://www.hurd- hendricksfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Vonna-Lou- Larson?obId=42407756 Condolences may be sent to her daughter, Holly Oglesby, 1065 Knox Rd 1350 E, Gilson, IL 61436-9411. Jennie Evans Wise , 91, widow of the Rev. Donald Wise, died May 2. Together with her husband, the Wises served 40 years of active ministry in the former Central Illinois Conference, retiring from Aledo in 1989. Rev. Wise died March 3, 2018. For a complete obituary, visit: https://calvertmemorial.com/ obituaries/jennie-wise-2025 Condolences may be sent to her son, Fletcher Wise, at 12850 Cellar St., Fishers IN 46037-7432.

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Photos by Paul Black Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai completed her Town Hall meeting circuit May 4 when she met with United Methodists from the South District at Carbondale: First UMC. The morning began with Bishop Bigham-Tsai preaching morning worship at Mt. Vernon: First and then holding the Town Hall meeting in the afternoon. A reception followed the Town Hall meeting where the 40 attendees had an opportunity to visit with Bishop Bigham-Tsai. The town hall meetings at Belleville: Union, Charleston: Wesley, Pontiac: First, Monmouth and Carbondale provided opportunities to ask questions of the bishop. It provided a way for the bishop to get acquainted with different parts of the conference and for United Methodists to meet and get to know Bishop Bigham-Tsai.

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Representatives for information and specifications – Larry Waldhoff (IL-IN-KY Region, 217-343-1795) – Tom Booth (Peoria/Lasalle/Macomb Region, 309-337-1062) – Tommy Kirkpatrick (Champaign/Bloomington/Danville, 217-260-5233) – Matt Waldhoff (Springfield/Carbondale Region, 217-652-2790) – Randy Cone (Peoria/Bloomington Region, 309-263-2502) - Shay Thiele (Peoria/Effingham/Springfield Region, 217-972-7320) – Dennis Lading (Effingham/Southern IL Region, 217-342-2226) - Sue Jones (Champaign, Bloomington Region, 217-737-6263)

Lacon: Sparland-Varna- Minonk), North District.

THE CURRENT | MAY 2025 | 1

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

C H R I S T I AN CONVERSATIONS

Youth Director – Part-Time Pekin First UMC in Pekin, Illinois is seeking a part-time Youth Director. We are seeking an experienced and passionate person who has: • A heart for, and calling to serve, middle and high school youth • Experience in leading a team and/ or group • An ability to communicate with youth as well as parents and the wider church • A FUN personality • Experience working with youth in some capacity • A driver’s license and clean driving record • Good organizational skills To apply, please send a letter of inter- est and a resume to: speters@pekin- first.org . Open until filled.

WHY OUR CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE

Group labyrinth walk at Charleston Wesley

IGRC UMC congregations and agencies to begin programs, plan events, and host activities that celebrate the purpose and objectives of the IGRC Church and Society Committee, specifically anti- racism, immigration, LGBTQ inclusion, and environmental justice. Funding for the IGRC Peace with Justice Grant is generated by the local churches and Annual Conferences from the Peace with Justice offering taken on Peace with Justice Sunday in June which “witnesses to God’s demands for a faithful, just, disarmed, and secure world.” Visit: https://www.igrc.org/peacewithjustice for a Peace with Justice Grant application. Grant applications are reviewed in April, July and October. Email Christina Krost, christina. krost@gmail.com , if you have any questions. Candidacy Summit at Little Grassy Camp MAKANDA – The next Candidacy Summit is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1-2, in-person at Little Grassy Camp. Registration is currently available until July 15 by visiting: https://igrc-reg.brtapp.com/ candidacysummit25 There is a $15 discount for those who register by July 1, and persons may either commute or stay overnight at camp. Before someone registers for the Candidacy Summit, they need to have read and discussed The Christian As Minister with their pastor or campus minister or another UM clergy member; written a “letter” (or email) to their District Superintendent regarding their current understanding of their call to ministry; and met with and secured their DS’s approval to begin the candidacy process. They do NOT need to have been

recommended by their SPRC or Charge Conference; those steps come later in the process. Candidates are generally added to Passage UMC and directed on how to complete the background check process when they come to your office seeking approval. If you are aware of anyone who should be encouraged to begin this process, or who is perhaps serving as supply and thinking about becoming a local pastor or beginning the ordination process, please reach out to them and either let them know how to get started or contact Beth Fender, IGRC Coordinator of Ministerial Excellence. Youth Rally at the WIU Wesley Foundation MACOMB – A Youth Rally for middle school and high school students will be Sunday, June 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Wesley Foundation at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Join with other youth for a time of connection, fellowship, worship and service through a meal packaging project. Registration is $15 per person through June 18 by visiting: https://igrc-reg.brtapp. com/2025YouthRally For more information, contact Curt Franklin, associate coordinator of camping and youth KENOSHA, Wis. – Discipleship Ministries is hosting Laity Boot Camp 2025, Oct. 23-25, at Kenosha First UMC in Kenosha, Wis. The theme this year, All Called, All Sent: Making Disciples, Transforming the World , underscores the belief that everyone has a purpose and a mission. Over the course of this gathering, you’ll be challenged and inspired to live out your calling with clarity and ministries at cfranklin@igrc.org Laity Boot Camp 2025

CHARLESTON – A group labyrinth walk will be held at Charleston Wesley UMC on Sunday, June 1, at 2 p.m. While this walk is open to everyone, those who are new to walking the labyrinth are especially welcome. The walk will be facilitated by IGRC Coordinator of Ministerial Excellence Beth Fender, a Veriditas-trained labyrinth facilitator. In addition to the opportunity to learn more about labyrinths and walk the indoor labyrinth in the Wesley UMC chapel, participants will have the opportunity to use finger labyrinths and to discuss their experience following the walk. While registration is not required, you are encouraged to let us know you are coming at https://igrc-reg.brtapp.com/LabyrinthWalk More information about labyrinths may be found at https://veriditas.org/ To find a labyrinth near you (there are 72 public, outdoor labyrinths in Illinois and more than 3,700 throughout the world), please visit https://labyrinthlocator.org/ . The labyrinth is an ancient symbol and spiritual tool, found in Christian traditions and other cultures throughout history. Walking the labyrinth is a form of embodied prayer, inviting you into a sacred space where you can reflect, listen, and rest in God’s presence. Walking the labyrinth in a group reminds us that we are all on life’s journey with God, though at different paces and places. Peace with Justice grants SPRINGFIELD – How would you work for justice in your community if you only had the money? Peace with Justice grants are available to

Methodist Church to advance an ideological agenda, the authority of the church is diminished, and we become little different from any other civic, even partisan, organization. The more we act like a secular political group, the more mainline Protestant church attendance can be expected to plummet. Political ideology has infused the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church. In contrast, local churches focus on helping the needy and spreading the Good News in their communities. The church hierarchy should do more to assist local churches and less to advance narrow political viewpoints. Over the years, the denominational hierarchy has imposed significant hikes in apportionments. In my local church, apportionments now account for 14 percent of our total budget. That deprives local churches of the resources needed to do their good work. United Methodist Church officials should stop pursuing ideological goals, which exacerbate the divisiveness we see all around us. During these turbulent times, our society desperately needs the reconciling ministry of Jesus Christ. Christian churches should be the instrument of God’s healing instead of a combatant in the political arena. The good intentions of the United Methodist leadership are not at issue. Rather, the question is the role of the church and how we can make more disciples of Jesus Christ. On our current course, the denomination’s motto of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” is quickly being transformed into a less welcoming recruitment message of “Join the UMC — But Only If You Agree With Our Politics.” (White is an attorney and has been active member of his United Methodist congregation in the Virginia Conference since 1980.) biblical grounding. At Church and Society, we engage individuals and congregations with our unwavering commitment to provide educational and practical resources for our United Methodist Social Principles; to organize communities to create positive social change; and to advocate with a worldwide network of elected officials, faith leaders and civil society influencers for the transformation of the world. Oftentimes, it means taking a controversial stand against political policies and government actions that are in direct conflict with our Social Principles. For example, I know that clinical workers and researchers in Southern Africa and at United Methodist-related Africa University who were engaged in the lifesaving work of fighting tuberculosis and malaria were interrupted because of the freeze on funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. Treatment for HIV-positive patients in Zimbabwe was also interrupted because access to drugs depended on humanitarian aid. I have heard the testimony of clinicians and researchers whose jobs were their ministry — providing compassion and mercy in places based on need and not politics — who were forced to halt their work due to lack of funding. Every nation’s budget is a moral document. No matter what political party or government entity is involved, United Methodists should speak out when food assistance programs and access to medical assistance for those in need are eliminated for millions of citizens. When diversity, equity and inclusion are defined by a president or lawmakers as a problem to be eradicated, rather than recognized as progress toward a more just society, it’s time to speak up. When bills are passed that suppress access to voting and COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

one of these groups described its mission as “electing the next generation of progressive leaders” and another declared before the November election that “we must stop Donald Trump.” • Shortly after the last presidential election, the Council of Bishops issued a pastoral letter accusing President Trump of “racist, xenophobic, nationalistic and anti-migrant hate speech” and declared that “our baptismal vow” to “resist evil” compels us to take a number of policy positions, some of which are fuzzy, but all of which seem to pertain to congressional debates over immigration policy. • On Feb. 4, the Board of Church and Society reiterated its oft-stated position that congressional budget debates boil down to a question of “grace over greed.” The board opposes the Republican-sponsored national defense budget, which the agency suggests “increase[es] threats of war,” and instead urges increases in social spending and advocates for many other positions adopted by the political left. Additional pronouncements have been issued more recently with all of them favoring more spending and less national defense. Much, if not most, of the materials generated by the board and national leadership, from “Pages for Progress” reading recommendations to social action guides, reflect an entrenched “progressive” political ideology. Every one of us should be guided in everything we think and do by our Christian faith. But parishioners legitimately apply the lessons of Jesus in different ways and combine faith with their own reasoning in pursuit of different political outcomes. By using the good name and resources of The United its intent through church and community witness and General Conference actions to advance the cause of peace and justice. In the church’s constitution, we declare we are part of the Church Universal, one Body in Christ. While affirming all people are of sacred worth, we also explicitly declare our commitment to racial justice, gender justice, climate justice, peace with justice and ecumenical relations. Should United Methodists be advocating for justice in a nonpartisan way in the face of so much political, economic and humanitarian disruption? “While we do not believe churches should affiliate with particular political parties, we do encourage churches to speak out boldly on social issues from a gospel perspective. We further believe churches have a right and responsibility to educate and equip their members to be effective advocates for justice in the wider world.” (United Methodist 2020/2024 Book of Discipline , Government Responsibilities, A., Church and Governments ¶ 163, page 136) Like many people of faith and people called Methodist, we see justice as an expression of love personified and expressed best in healing of community and making right that which brings harm to others. That expression is the manifestation of the United Methodist Social Principles. “The Social Principles provide our most recent official summary of stated convictions that seek to apply the Christian version of righteousness to social, economic and political issues.” (United Methodist 2020/2024 Book of Discipline , Our Doctrinal Heritage, ¶ 102, page 55) The United Methodist Church’s Board of Church and Society is mandated to uphold the Social Principles adopted by the General Conference, the denomination’s top legislative assembly. The prayerful, thoughtful and succinct Social Principles are not defined as progressive or traditional. They are globally relevant teachings with strong theological and

BY CLIFF WHITE

A recent Pew Research report revealed that United Methodism in the United States is in steep decline, with the percentage of the U.S. population who identify as United Methodist dropping nearly by half since 2007.

There are many reasons for this. To help arrest this staggering loss, the church should urgently reverse the rapid secularization and politicization of the national United Methodist Church. Led by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and reflected in many actions of the Council of Bishops, the church in the U.S. has adopted ideological positions that are often outright partisan. These actions hollow out the timeless meaning of church, are not in the mainstream Wesleyan tradition, and detract from the mission of the church to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Here are just a few of many examples amongst an onslaught of political vituperations that are issued with great frequency:: • In commemorating the first anniversary of the Hamas massacre of innocent Israelis, the Board of Church and Society stated that the “violence did not start in October 2023” and called for an end to United States arms sales to Israel. Apart from the shocking moral equivalence made between terrorists who purposefully murder Jews and the state of Israel, the statements are disturbing because of their political nature. The board also signed a letter in support of partisan legislation to end arms sales that was co-signed by many groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America and groups dedicated to partisan causes. On its website,

confidence so you can make a real impact. Building on the success of SCD 2024 (SEE// CREATE//DISCIPLE) held in Chicago, which united church leaders from across the globe for a meaningful time of learning, worship, and renewed inspiration, Laity Boot Camp 2025 is a two-day event aimed at rekindling your passion for making a positive impact in your local church and community. This gathering will provide you with practical ministry tools to enhance your faith journey and foster connections with fellow leaders. Pre-register by visiting: https://newsletters. umcdiscipleship.org/scd-laity-boot-camp to ensure that you receive all the updates and information for this event. Read more about the Laity Boot Camp at: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/ scd-presents-laity-boot-camp-2025

Love demands compassionate response, prophetic witness BY BISHOP JULIUS C. TRIMBLE

“United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith in God, incarnate in Jesus Christ for our salvation and ever at work in human history in the Holy Spirit. ... Our heritage in doctrine and our present theological task focus upon a renewed

grasp of the sovereignty of God and God’s love in Christ amid the continuing crisis of human existence.” (United Methodist 2020/2024 Book of Discipline , Our Doctrinal Heritage, ¶ 102, page 47) God so loved the whole world! (John 3:16) Jesus declares his coming is to bring life and life more abundantly. (John 10:10) Jesus brings good news in his preaching and declares it must be good news to the poor. (Luke 4:18-19) I often quote a colleague pastor from Indiana who said, “United Methodists cannot transform the world by just going to church. We can transform the world by being the Church.” Christian discipleship is the lifelong journey of growing in love of God and neighbor. Our neighbors are not just those in our neighborhood or our theological, ideological, geographical, cultural or political tribes. The United Methodist Church, including its predecessor bodies, has a long and rich history of concern for social justice. In addition to carrying out acts of mercy, Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, spoke out against the abuse of animals, the exploitation of poor people and the treatment of human beings as chattel. Just as we read in Genesis 1-2:15 of the goodness and diversity of God’s creation, we as United Methodists have a legacy calling upon people to respect, protect and care for all creation and all interrelated aspects of it. I am a United Methodist in part because throughout my lifetime, The United Methodist Church has consistently stated

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HISTORICAL ME SSENGER

Celebrating

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS CONFERENCE VOLUME 57, NUMBER 1 • JAN-JUN 2025

Years

probation or provisional as an elder today. He was one of the 14 pastors during that time that year who was admitted on trial and was sent to Missouri to serve in the New Madrid Circuit. Two years later, in 1817, he was admitted in full connection by Bishop R.R. Roberts and appointed to the Missouri Circuit. Full connection means what we today call an elder with sacramental rights. In 1818, he was appointed back to the New Madrid Circuit. A year later in 1819, he was appointed to St. Francis. A year after that he was appointed in 1820 to Cape Girardeau, and in 1821 he was appointed to Saline. I talked to Nancy Fager before the service today and told Nancy that we used to move Methodist pastors every one or two years. We don’t do that much anymore. But what I told Nancy is it’s sort of like the current state of college basketball where the players only stay one or two years. But they did. They moved them every one or two years. In 1822, he was Located, meaning he gave up itinerancy. For up until that time, from the time he was admitted in 1815 to 1822, he was a circuit rider, riding the circuits, going from community to community, bearing the hardships. And those hardships had a toll on his body and on his health, because his health, like so many of the other circuit riders, began to go downhill during that time. So, he was Located, and he gave up being itinerant in Missouri due to health issues. He had a lung ailment. He first settled in Cape Girardeau and was limited in preaching due to his lungs, and he went to teach school as an educator. In 1823, he moved to a farm near Brownsville. And during that time until his death, his health improved, and once again, he went back to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, the person that we’re honoring and giving the memorial stone to this morning, Philip Reese Davis, is one of those people, one of those circuit riders that was responsible for developing Methodism, that laid the groundwork that eventually came to your congregation, the first United Methodist Church of Murphysboro. In a sense, you’re blood descendants. The rest of you are spiritual descendants of the circuit riders — the people that went forth and built Methodism to a point where it was the largest denomination in the United States. What can we learn form the circuit riders? There are two questions this morning. In the 1840s we were the largest denomination in the United States, around that time we were building two new churches per day, Methodist churches. We were sending out pastors at 17 years of age that would be willing to travel 500 miles on a circuit. Most of them were not married, and if they were married, they were away from their wives and their families. The first question is: How do we compare today to the 1840s in the days of those circuit riders? And I think you know the answer. It’s not something that I have to dwell upon that much, because we see the answer of how we are doing today compared to the 1840s? In 1990, 90 percent of the United States identified themselves as Christian; in 2007, the number of people in the United States that identified as Christians had dropped from 90 to 78 percent; in 2019 it had dropped from 78 to 62 percent. And if you go to the younger generations, the Millennials and the Zoomers, it’s even less than that, that identify as Christians. The number of people that attend church on a regular basis has declined. It used to be people attended regularly three out of four Sundays a month. And now at best, it’s one out of four Sundays a month.

And some of those things have been out of our control. One of the results of the circuit riders is they formed Methodist churches in just about any rural community that you would go through. But now 80 percent of brick-and-mortar buildings are found where only 20 percent of the population currently lives. In the 1700’s to the early 1800s, 90 percent of the country was rural and now it’s not. So, in many of our small communities, as I travel through our district, we go from Vandalia to Lawrenceville, Farina over to Harrisburg, down to Olive Branch, and down to Golconda and Rosiclare, 125 churches in 9,500 square miles. And as I travel through so many of those communities, the towns that you and I grew up in, we see the result of population change and decline. So, some of these factors are out of our control. We also have a culture today where Sunday is not as sacred as what it once was. Events on Sunday, traveling sports teams for young children, various other events on Sundays, where Sunday is no longer a sacred day as it once was. And then we had Covid which hurt so many of our churches that once were flourishing in attendance, but then people got used to not coming to church at all and began to stay home. There are fewer people going into the ministry. And the hardest thing of being a District Superintendent is finding pastors for churches because the number of pastors, not just amongst Methodists, but amongst all the denominations — Baptists, Pentecost, Lutheran, even the Catholics who are increasingly having to bring in priests from Africa — the number of pastors is declining, the number of people going to seminary is declining, the number of people actually answering the Call of God to go out and preach as the circuit riders did is declining and it’s stretching us thin. In our District, we only have 13 elders. Elders are the ones that have been to seminary and have full sacramental rights. Only 13 out of 125 churches. Most of our pastors are Local Pastors, Lay Ministers and Supply Pastors. And of those 13 elders, 11 of the elders are serving multiple churches, more than one church. It used to be that an elder just served one church, but now that’s not the case. Only two of our elders out of the 13 are serving one church. The others have two or sometimes three churches that they serve because of And that leads us to the next question: what was it during the circuit rider’s time that we have lost during our time, and what can we be focusing upon? The prime thing I would suggest to you is that so many of us have lost is our first love. The love of the itinerate riders, the Circuit Riders. I told you early on that circuit riders endured the hardships, the 500-mile journeys, the weather, the beating, and poor health because they felt like they were called by God. They realized what the question was that was asked by Paul, "How are people to believe unless they hear, and how are they to hear unless there are those that preach?" You see, they had this passion, a fire that built up from the time they were just 17 years of age, such as Rev. Davis. The passion and the fire that realizes that we have limited lifespans — 70, 80, 90, 100 years — and at some point, every single one of us is going to reach the end of that life span. At some point every single one of us is going to stand before God, before the judgment throne of God with Jesus at the right hand, seated at the right hand, and the scroll is going to be unrolled according to scripture, various places in the decline in the number of pastors. Rediscovering our first love

scripture it talks about that.

And there’s going to be a search to see if our names are in what’s called by scripture the Lamb’s Book of Life. And these preachers — from the ages of 17, 18, 20 years of age — went around to all these communities preaching to everyone they could on a daily basis quite often because they realized they were called by God to share the love, and the power, and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. And the promise of everlasting life. They truly believed it with a conviction, and a fire, and a passion, and a belief that sent them forth no matter what came at them, because that’s what they were called by God to do. My prayer is for all of our churches, all denominations, not just United Methodists, to realize the calling and the seriousness and the opportunity offered by God for eternal life and connection. I pray that we get that passion back in our country. The other thing I pray for is what Jesus said to pray for. Jesus gave those words, he said to those around him, “The harvest is plentiful, but...” what? “The laborers are few.” Jesus himself saying the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. And then he said this, “Pray to the Father that the Father will send laborers into the field.” Those laborers come from our churches, they come from our pews. It may be someone that’s only 13 years of age, someone young that’s leading the Lord’s prayer, it may be someone 80 years of age, the age of Moses. God doesn’t put limitations on age. But my prayer is that the churches will pray for those laborers to come forth and send them out as the Circuit Riders went out. My prayer is — and I honestly believe this would be the prayer of Rev. Davis this morning and all those other Circuit Riders — is that we realize the hope and the mission the circuit riders had. This morning, in just a few moments, we’re going to dedicate a memorial stone to Rev. Davis that he has not had since his death. And as much as he’s looking at us this morning, I believe that he’s going to be thrilled, happy and pleased that it is happening. But I think he would also pray and be happy if we sent laborers into the field just like him to preach the Word of God to all that he came across, to lead others to the beautiful feet of Jesus. Let’s pray. Gracious God, I thank you for this congregation, I thank you for the history of this congregation and the many people that came before. I thank you for the first pastor, Rev. Patterson. I thank you for those that in this area lived and continued to preach despite having had bad health, they continued to preach because the love of Jesus and the love of proclaiming the Word of God. I thank you for all the people that have continued through the ages, the 91 pastors of this church and all the members. I pray, Father, that you rekindle within us and within all of our churches, each and every day, the passion that these circuit riders had to spread the Word of God. I pray, Father, that each and every day, you call those that you’re calling to send out into the field, and the churches recognize them and support them and grow them. Gracious God, I pray also that each and every day for each and every one of us, you transform our lives, for if there was ever a time in our country’s history that it needs the presence of strong believers, genuine Christians who share the love, and the peace, and the serenity of God in a common effect, those times are now. I pray that you transform us. Lastly, Gracious God, I pray that each and every day for every single one of us, you make us more like you and less like us. This I ask and pray in Jesus' beautiful name, and we all say together, Amen.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: REDISCOVERING THE HOPE, MISSION OF CIRCUIT RIDERS

(Editor’s note: The following is a transcript of remarks offered by the Rev. Stan Irvin, South District Superintendent, at Murphysboro First UMC as part of the 2025 Prentice Sermon on April 27, 2025) Romans 10: 9-17 PRAYER: Gracious God, I ask your presence to be here this morning. As we focus upon the past, also, help us to look towards the future, building upon the past to build your kingdom. This morning for just a few minutes, help us to focus upon you and your message to transform us into lead others to Jesus Christ. As we ask, we pray in Jesus' beautiful name, Amen. BY STAN IRVIN South District Superintendent This morning is termed the Prentice Sermon. It began with a bequest from a Methodist lay person in Springfield. The intent was to honor a group of persons who were well known for their untiring proclamation of the gospel, and those people were the pioneering Methodist Circuit riding preachers. A person by the name of Hiram Buck desired a sermon delivered every year in our conference by a Methodist minister, to preach upon the topic of, “the ministry and service as exemplified by the life and labors of pioneer preachers of the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.” The location of this sermon that’s given every year rotates throughout the conference, and over about the past dozen years, it’s been preached at the following United Methodist churches: Riverton, Petersburg, Virginia, Lebanon First, Mount Carmel Trinity, Mt. Vernon First, Washington Evangelical, Quincy Union, Sheldon’s Grove and Astoria, Benton First, Lewistown, and at Paris First and Marshall Trinity. And this year it was chosen to be preached here at your community at the Murphysboro First UMC. Murphysboro First United Methodist is the older of two Methodist congregations in Murphysboro. On Aug. 25, 1825, the Brownsville Circuit was created. The person, a pastor by the name of Josiah Patterson was appointed the pastor. And, if you take the time, go down the hall to the archives, which (Rev.) Marty (McMichael) shared with us this morning, you’ll see on the wall all the prior pastors of this congregation. I believe there are 91 pastors on the wall with Josiah Patterson being the very first one to pass through your congregation. Under his leadership camp meetings were held. And often, those camp meetings were just down the street on 17th Street. Peter Cartwright, who is well known in our conference and in the United Methodist denomination, was one of those that preached at one of those meetings. Brownsville was a former town about 3 ¼ miles west of Murphysboro. It was the first county seat of Jackson County. And it was destroyed by a fire in 1843. There was a courthouse in Brownsville and the downtown area. The courthouse and the entire downtown area were demolished by the fire, so the county seat was moved here to Murphysboro. And today if you go to Brownsville (which was established in 1817 and incorporated two years later), you’ll find no evidence of its existence except for its cemetery. It was named after Judge Thomas Brown. Brownsville was a flourishing town until its fire of 1843. It was found on the North Bank of the Big Muddy River. Thus, today in our Prentice Hall sermon

today we’re focusing upon the ministry and service as exemplified by the life and labors of pioneer ministers, pioneer preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church here in Illinois. We’re going to renew our knowledge this morning of who the Circuit Riders were. And we’re going to particularly focus upon the Rev. Philip Davis. Circuit rider – a strong foundation The Circuit Riders were the foundation, the strong foundation of the Methodist movement in the United States. They were begun by a bishop, Bishop Francis Asbury, who set up the circuits. He organized them and was a master at organizing where the circuits would be. They were most prominent from the years of 1784 to 1830, but also into the 1840s. In 1784, there were only 83 Circuit Riders, and amongst Methodists in our country in the year 1784, there were about 14,986 Methodists that those Circuit Riders and pastors reached. In 1839, those numbers had increased to there being 3,557 Circuit Riders. But they were also assisted by 5,856 local pastors. Who the Circuit Riders would go and lay the foundation to begin the churches, and then the local pastors came in when the buildings were built. There was one time about the year 1830 when there were two Methodist churches built, brand new churches built every single day. Can you imagine that? Every day there’d be two brand new Methodist churches built, as Methodism just expanded and exploded across the United States to the point whereby the 1840s there were over 1.5 million Methodists in the United States? And during that time there was a population of only about 17 million, so more than one out of every 17 people in the country were Methodists. They were the largest denomination in the United States, and they were grown by these circuit riders. Their circuits were extensive, traveling on horseback, there were no other ways of transportation, a distance of 200 to 500 miles, oftentimes they would come to a community only four times a year. And when they came, they would preach wherever they could, whether it be in buildings, or in bars, or out in the open space, wherever it was, they would preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with passion, and belief, and conviction, and authenticity. You see, they had this mission. And the mission was to preach the gospel, take the gospel to everyone that they could reach, to change souls, to transform lives, and to build the Kingdom of God. They had very little with them — a small lap desk, and in their saddlebags, a small Bible and hymn book. They would actually have some extra hymn books to sell. But the hymn books at that time only had words because the tunes that they sung were limited and people knew the tunes. Sometimes, circuit riders also carried small books on prayer; some of the books were ones that John Wesley himself had published on your health, how to remain healthy; and they would go to these communities, and with these small utensils, a few personal items, they would travel from place to place, staying wherever they could. They would eat whatever they were fed — sometimes with Methodists, sometimes with non- Methodists. They received a salary which they were told, averaging about $80 a year; quite often what they actually received was much less than $80 a year. When they would finish riding the circuit, their clothes would be tattered, their saddlebag worn out, their reins on their horses worn out, they would be

beat down, tired, exhausted, and sometimes even a little bit depressed because of the loneliness and the threats, the attacks by animals, the weather that they had to endure constantly traveling on horseback through the weather all year long, even during the winter time, the attacks by bandits or those that just did not want preachers coming into the community. But they continued despite these dangers to preach the Word of God. And when you hear that of how they endured through all the sufferings with such passion and conviction, it takes you back to the early parts of Christianity. If you know the New Testament, you know that what they endured, what they went through was the same sort of thing that the Apostle Paul went through. For Paul talks about it in II Corinthians 11. As he traveled, he said he had far more imprisonments, far more beatings, often near death, “five times I have received at the hands of the Jews, the 40 lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked, one night and a day I have been adrift at sea. On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food in cold and exposure. And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me in my anxiety for all the churches” (II Corinthians 11: 24-28). I can imagine those circuit riders as going through the cold, perhaps attacked by bandits, as they were hungry, as their clothes were coming apart, I can imagine them turning to II Corinthians 11. And reading those words of the Apostle Paul. They were given some assurance, because they realized as Paul was called by God, they were called by God and they were sent on a mission by God to reach people that did not know God so that they might know God and his love, his salvation, and the promise of eternal life. The contribution of Rev. Philip Davis One of the Circuit Riders that dedicated his life to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ was the person that we honor and center upon today, Philip Reese Davis. He was born Jan. 12, 1796, in Frederick County, Md. He died March 16, 1841, at only 45 years of age. By the 1840s of those that were Circuit Riders, about half of them died by the age of 30 years of age because of the intense pressure upon their body, upon their health from the ministry of Jesus Christ. Philip Davis was the oldest of 12 children. He married Margaret Logan Davis in 1822 when he was 26. And they had eight children, one of them that was mentioned this morning, Sarah. His wife’s half- brother was John A. Logan, and you all know who John A. Logan was. He became a general, he became instrumental in Memorial Day, we have a college named after him, one of the most famous generals during the Civil War era. Margaret Logan Davis was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Philip Davis was licensed to preach in 1813 by the Rev. Peter Cartwright. He was only 17 years of age when he was licensed to preach. Imagine how many people do we know these days that at 17 of years of age have realized the call of God, the covenant prayer that we just prayed in this service. And at 17 gave their life to God for the next 28 years, which is what he did. He was admitted On Trial — we call it being on

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