Annual Conference Wrapup

Summary of the 2013 Annual Conference suitable for reprint in newsletters and use by lay and clergy members to making reports to their congregations.

Acts of the Holy Spirit: A Top 10 List

"We had a wonderful spirit-filled Annual Conference June 5-8 in Peoria, due to the dedicated work of numerous volunteers, clergy and laity," writes Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton. "Most importantly, we were led by a power greater than ourselves. So, I have laid the good to great things that happened directly at the feet of the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit."

Appointment Listing 2013-2014

 The complete appointment listing for the 2013-2014 conference year beginning July 1, 2013. This listing incorporates the addendum circulated at Annual Conference and can be downloaded or viewed.

Post-Conference Current

 Read all about the 2013 Annual Conference in the July issue of The Current due on your doorsteps June 14. Or click below to view or to download the issue to your computer. Read more »

A handout or a "hand up"?

 Being from the Midwest, where some of the most fertile soil has blessed us with bumper corn and soybean crops, the issue of hunger is hard to conceptualize and yet, it exists. Our farmland has been called “The Bread Basket of the World,” because enough is grown in our region of the United States to literally feed the world – and yet hunger kills more people that AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Empower those who are hungry and you will see the difference Read more »

Coordinating a Response

 Disaster response personnel are already beginning their plans for recovery and cleanup following the aftermath of a tornado that leveled the town of Moore, Okla. Cash donations are probably the most immediate need and gives the responders the greatest flexibility. Here's the latest regarding an early response. Read more »

Bishops at the border

 Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton was one of a delegation of active United Methodist bishops to visit the U.S.-Mexican border May 7 to immerse themselves in the reality of life along the southern U.S. border and how the church may be in ministry to persons residing there. View the UMNS photostream from the visit.  Read more »

Holding Back the Water

 Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton talks with a long-time resident of Beardstown during his April 24 visit to the community. Keaton was briefed on the community's efforts at containing the rising waters of the Illinois River that threaten to flood it. District early response teams are responding in several communities along the Illinois River. View more photos from the Bishop's visit. Read more »

A Call to Prayer

 Bishop Keaton urges United Methodists in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference to remember those that lost loved ones and those who provided assistance as first responders in the aftermath of the Boston bombing April 15 by asking each congregation to lift up these individuals in prayer Sunday, April 21. Read more »

Register for Annual Conference

 Registration is now open for the 2013 Annual Conference which will be June 5-8, at the Peoria Civic Center. Clergy are reminded to register online even if they are not purchasing special meal tickets in order to receive their credentials before arriving at the Conference and avoid waiting in line prior to the Clergy Session. Read more »

The Unfolding of the Resurrection

 Resurrection and new life sometimes takes awhile to fully unfold itself in us and lead us to act in new, fresh and empowered ways. But when we get it; when it gets us we are stirred to action and given fresh speech. Read more »

An Unforgettable Palm Sunday

 M.U.M.C., an all male acapella choir from the Harare West District of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference, sing one of several selections in a Palm Sunday celebration at Africa University. Bishop Jonathan Keaton's sermon reminded those in attendance the power of the story, weaving together the week's events on the last day of the 20th anniversary celebration. Read more »

A Day of Celebration

 The Africa University Jazz Combo perform at the 20th anniversary celebration of Africa University. The nearly five hour celebration included stories of the early days of the university which involved both an IGRC layman and a resident bishop. Read more »

Dreams Fulfilled and Dreams Deferred

 Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton serves as usher for an impromptu offering at the Fairfield Children's Home in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. Extravagant generosity of the IGRC and a group practicing extravagant generosity served as a reminder that we hold the key to turning dreams deferred into dreams fulfilled. Read more »

Open Day at Africa University

 Bishop Jonathan Keaton, Joyce Francis, IGRC Director of Communication Ministries Paul Black and Richard Straub are representing the IGRC at the 20th Anniversary celebration at Africa University. Black asks the question, "What would it look like to create a seismic shift on the continent of Africa?" Read more »

UMNS News

  • The Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock served as the site of the 11th session of the Arkansas Annual Conference, held June 9-12, 2013.
  • Delegates prepared to give themselves in mission during the 2013 Oklahoma Annual Conference. Amid seeking to bless others, they received an extravagance of blessings.
  • The Alaska Missionary Conference met May 31–June 1, 2013 at St. John United Methodist Church, Anchorage, Alaska.
  • More than 1,700 United Methodists from 637 area churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference gathered May 29-31 to sow seeds of worship, learning, mission, stewardship and holy conferencing in their continuing efforts to grow disciples for the transformation of the world.
  • The Czech and Slovak Republics Annual Conference met from May 31 to June 2, 2013, in Prague. Several times the 60 participants broached the “Characters of a Methodist.”