2025januarycurrent

NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE

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River Ramblings THE AGENDA FOR 2025…AND BEYOND Later this month, Donald Trump will take the oath of office for a second time, becoming only the second person in our nation’s history to serve two, non-consecutive terms as president. As with any new president, he will come to the office with an agenda, and

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as Wesley’s Christian conferencing; (4) send persons into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being and becoming a compassionate, caring presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel; and (5) continue the mission of seeking, welcoming and gathering persons into the community of the body of Christ (¶122, numbering added). This process for making disciples would not

Photos courtesy of Lynette Barnett Harrisburg First UMC holds Chili Cook Off event for local “Coat to Kids” campaign 4

commentators often focus on the first one hundred days of a president’s time in office. I have not yet heard of a 100-day agenda from the incoming administration, though there have been a number of statements about “day one.” At least one of those statements, about being “a dictator,” we hope was simply hyperbole. Regardless of how we voted in an election, we all want our political leaders to succeed insofar as they succeed in promoting the common good. Too many people are struggling in the current economy. Too many are finding it difficult to find affordable housing. Health care continues to be a concern to many. Violence is still too prevalent. We want our leaders to succeed in addressing such issues. But this is not my focus. As we begin the new year, I remind us that the church has an agenda, not a day one agenda, or even a 100-day agenda, but a long-term agenda. The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Most of us are familiar with that statement of our “mission,” our “agenda,” from The Book of Discipline . What we may be less familiar with is the description of the disciple-making process that is also found there. We make disciples as we: (1) proclaim the gospel, seek, welcome and gather persons into the Body of Christ; (2) lead persons to commit their lives to God through baptism by water and the spirit and profession of faith in Jesus Christ; (3) nurture persons in Christian living through worship, the sacraments, spiritual disciplines, and other means of grace, such

BISHOP David Alan Bard

4 Local Church News 5 Conference News 6-7 Camping 8 National News 9- 10 Global News 11-12 Conference News

Hurricane Helene Recovery: (ABOVE) Chunks of broken asphalt lie among mud, rocks and other storm debris after severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene tore through Burnsville, N.C. At rear is Laurel Branch Baptist Church. 8

feel out of place in most Christian churches. Yet our agenda as United Methodists is to make disciples in a Wesleyan way. We are followers of Jesus who live in the stream of the Christian tradition that traces its beginnings to John Wesley and similar-minded people such as Philip Otterbein, Martin Boehm and Jacob Albright. At the heart of the Wesleyan stream of the Christian tradition are certain ideas and emphases. Grace, God’s lavish love offered freely and without fail to all persons is at the heart of Wesleyanism. No one is outside God’s care. All persons are persons with whom God wants to be in relationship. Growth in grace is another hallmark of Wesleyanism. We not only say “yes” to God’s grace in Jesus Christ at some moment in our lives, we are also invited to a life-long journey of growing in grace and love. For Wesley, holiness was defined by growth in love. As Wesleyans, our faith in Jesus Christ is to be experienced. We encourage a warm-hearted faith. We are to know the love of Jesus in our hearts. We also encourage a thoughtful faith, a thinking faith. In an August 17, 1760 letter to a preacher named John Premboth, Wesley wrote: “What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear to this day, is want of reading… Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer.” Finally, for followers of Jesus in the Wesleyan way, the journey with Jesus is not only a personal journey of transformation, but a journey that moves us into the world in concern and service, engaging in acts of compassion and justice, and offering witness to the love we have come to know in Jesus Christ. None of this is new, so why put it in an essay to begin the new year? Unlike presidential administrations, which have four years to accomplish their goals, we in the church have a longer timeline. Our mission has been our agenda for all time. And there is a certain urgency in our need to focus intently on our agenda. We have spent a great deal of time and energy asking important questions about what inclusion should look like in the church. We need to remember again what it is that we are including people in – a community whose agenda is transformative disciple-making. We are rightly engaged in needed work to address long-standing racial issues in our church and our world. Yet we risk losing the essential tether to our mission if don’t frequently remind ourselves that anti-racism work is rooted in our understanding of the breadth of God’s grace and that

T H E current JAN 2025 | VOL. 29 • NO. 5

Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church

East District Administrative Assistant The Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference is seeking an individual with a servant’s heart to maintain an effective administrative system undergirded by excellent relational, communication, and organizational skills. The successful applicants for the position will exhibit the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality, the desire to work collaboratively with a variety of team members toward ongoing improvement, attentiveness to detail, appreciation for complex processes/procedures, proficiency with technology, and software that assists with communications. BASIC FUNCTION: Works under the direction of the District Superintendent to administer all functions for the East District Office of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Serve as a liaison between the District Superintendent and local pastors, church members, district leaders, Conference office, and Conference at large. 2. Manage as needed the District Superintendent’s calendar, correspondence, files, and telephone/email communications. 3. Prioritize and follow up on issues and concerns addressed to the District Superintendent, including those of a sensitive and/or confidential nature. 4. Responsible for distributing, collecting, and disseminating Charge Conference materials; distributing appointment notices and any other necessary items. 5. Handle basic office functions such as email, answering telephones, filing, copying, processing mail, purchasing office supplies, etc. 6. Responsible for accounts payable/expense reports. 7. Other duties as assigned by the District Superintendent. 8. Adheres to IGRC’s Personnel Policy and Information Systems Security Policy. QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Supports the vision, mission, and core values of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and The United Methodist Church. 2. Knowledge of the United Methodist system. 3. Possesses a high level of confidentiality. 4. Possesses excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. 5. Adept at working with and relating well to all kinds of people; excellent interpersonal relationships and customer service skills. 6. Able to perform detailed work in a fast-paced environment and to keep information and materials confidential. 7. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. 8. Able to work on multiple projects simultaneously with minimum supervision. 9. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively as a team member and to work independently. WORKING CONDITIONS: Office environment; non-smoking PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to suc- cessfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop or kneel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. NOTE: This job description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards and expectations of the position. The Administrative Assistant will follow any other instructions, and perform any related duties as required by the responsibility of the role. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time and will provide reasonable notice of any changes. The job description is not to be construed as a contract for employment. Accommodation will be provided to individuals with disabilities within ADA guidelines. Email resumé and cover letter to Rev. Dr. Charliam Renner at crenner@igrc.org Closing Date: January 3, 2025 No Staffing Agencies or Recruitment Firms

APPOINTMENTS In consultation with the Cabinet of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference Bishops David Alan Bard and Kennetha Bigham-Tsai appoint the following: Linda Vonck to Urbana: Quest Grace, East District, effective Jan 1, 2025. Michael Hall to Springfield: Kumler, Central District, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Floyd Blackard to Springfield: Kumler, Central District, effective Dec. 1. This is a 30-day interim appointment in addition to his appointment to Riverton. Roberta Blackard to Springfield: Kumler, Central District, effective Dec. 1. This is a 30-day interim appointment in addition to her appointment to Riverton. Kathy Murphy to Hoopeston, East District, ¾ time, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Annelle Ruemmler to Director of Connection Praise Team, Quincy: Vermont Street, West District, ¼ time, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Hope Kobbert to Mt. Vernon: Epworth-Wayne City-Zion, South District, less than ¼ time, effective Nov. 15. This is a charge realignment and is in addition to her current appointment to Mt. Vernon: First. Regina Ellis to Mt. Vernon: Epworth-Wayne City- Zion, South District, less than ¼ time, effective Nov. 15. This is a charge realignment and is in addition to her current appointments to Mt. Vernon: First and Spero Family Services. Todd Krost to Mattoon: First-Greenup- Cottonwood, East District, effective Aug. 1. This is a charge realignment with Greenup and Cottonwood being yoked with Mattoon: First. Supply not appointed Erik Slingerland to Farmington, North District, ¼ time, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Cheryl Webb to Mt. Vernon: Zion, South District, less than ¼ time, effective Nov. 15. Robin Gregory to Sidell, East District, ½ time, effective Oct. 1. Joe Irwin to Oliver, East District, less than ¼ time, effective Oct. 1. This is a charge realignment, having previously been yoked with Marshall:

Patton. Oliver is now a single-point charge. Change of status Kathy Murphy to retired status, effective Jan. 1, 2025. She currently is appointed to Hoopeston- Wellington, East District. Melanie Hoth , discontinuation as a local pastor, effective Jan. 1, 2025. She has been serving at Newman-Murdock, East District. Eugene Turner , withdrawal to united with another denomination, effective July 27. His last appointment was to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center. Donald Goodenow , discontinuation as a local pastor, effective July 15. His last appointment was to Springfield: Kumler, Central District. Chris Easton , discontinuation of appointment, effective Aug. 1. Rev. Easton was a full member of another denomination and his last appointment was Sidell, East District. David Arnold , discontinuation of supply assignment, effective Aug. 1. He was serving at Mount Carmel, East District. R. Andrew Maxwell , withdrawal to unite with another denomination, effective Aug. 1. He was a retired elder prior to withdrawing. Sylvester Weatherall , discontinuation of appointment, effective Dec. 1. He was last serving at Springfield: Kumler. James Crozier , to retired status, effective July 1, 2025. He is currently serving at Camp Point- Centennial Ebenezer, West District. Lisa Wiedman , to retired status, effective July 1, 2025. She is currently serving at Milan: Trinity- Green River, West District. Rick Atchley , discontinuation of appointment, effective Jan. 1. He is currently serving at Farmington, North District. Carol Stufflebeam , to retired status, effective July 1, 2025. She is currently serving at Havana: First-Oakford, West District. Ann Champion , to retired status, effective July 1, 2025. She is currently serving at Orion, West District. Justin Iverson , discontinuation of appointment, effective Jan. 1. He is an elder from the Dakotas Conference, currently serving at Mascoutah: Bethel, Central District.

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DEATHS

Shirlee Williams , 99, widow of the Rev. Darrell Williams, died Nov. 25. Together with her husband, the Williams served 23 years in the former Central Illinois

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

IGRC retired pastor Arla M. Morse, 94, died Dec. 10, in Pontiac.

Rev. Morse served 11 years in ministry as a local pastor, retiring in 2000 from Biggsville- Gladstone. She is also the widow of the Rev. William F. Morse, with whom she served alongside in ministry. Rev. William F. Morse died April 9, 2017. She is also the mother of retired pastor, the Rev. Teri Shane. For a complete obituary, visit: https:// calvertmemorial.com/obituaries/arla-morse Condolences may be sent to her daughter, Rev. Teri Shane, 1802 Meadowlake Dr., Charleston, IL 61920-3241.

Conference, serving appointments at Casey, Shelbyville: First, Morton and Chillicothe, where he retired in 1984. Rev. Williams died June 19, 1988. For a complete obituary, visit https://www. masonfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Shirlee- Williams Condolences can be sent to daughter Sandy Reed, 5724 W Deer Park, Peoria IL 61615.

Mildred Irene Garabrant , 98, widow of the Rev. Richard V. Garabrant, died Nov. 23 in Atlanta, Ill.

IGRC retired pastor, the Rev. Elaine Smith , 84, died Nov. 28 in Chesterfield, Mo. She was also the widow of the Rev. Robert R. Smith. Elaine served 10 years in active

Together with her husband, the Garabrants served 23 years of ministry at McNabb, Grand Ridge and Sidell, retiring in 1989. Rev. Garabrant died Aug. 30, 2015. For a complete obituary, visit: https:// calvertmemorial.com/obituaries/mildred- garabrant , where condolences may be left for the family. Or condolences may be sent to a daughter, Janet Turner, 1556 U.S. Highway 136, Atlanta, IL 61723-9324.

ministry, retiring from Edwardsville Immanuel in 2006. Prior to entering the ministry, she was a grade school and remedial reading teacher. Rev. Robert R. Smith died Jan. 24, 2021. For a complete obituary, visit: https://www. weberfuneralhome.com/obituary/RevElaine- Smith , where condolences may be left for the family.

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