Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
It is not often that an annual conference bids farewell to a Bishop. After twelve years of Episcopal leadership to the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Bishop Sharon Ann Brown Christopher has announced her retirement. Just as a congregation pauses to celebrate the ministry of a pastor when there is an appointment change, IGRC will pause in its annual conference session to honor and remember the ministry of Bishop Christopher. We have much to give thanks for as she was assigned to serve our conference just one month after the merger conference of the two former conferences of the Illinois Area.
Thursday afternoon, June 5, will focus on celebrating the ministry of those clergy who are retiring at this session of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. It is appropriate to honor those who responded to the call of God to serve Jesus Christ and the church and offered their whole being in ministry to God’s world. Following the reception for the retiring clergy, all are invited to a dinner in the ballroom of the Peoria Convention Center to honor our retiring Bishop. The gathering will begin at 6 pm with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m.
Roger Kimball will provide instrumental music during the dinner with musicians from the Hispanic ministry entertaining during the ice cream buffet in the ballroom lobby following the time of celebration. A program is being planned to remember Bishop Christopher’s ministry through pictures, videos, and personal testimonies. A memory book is being assembled as well to include written appreciation of anyone who would like to contribute a letter from a congregation or individual. Please direct them to the attention of Linda Smith, PO Box 19215, Springfield, IL 62794-9215. Further, the Episcopacy Committee seeks to honor our Bishop through the establishment of an endowment fund to provide scholarships for children and other educational purposes in Liberia. Gifts to this fund will be received at the opening worship service of the 2008 annual conference or can be sent to the IGRC treasurer before or after the annual conference session to the attention of Rev. Rick Van Giesen, PO Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794-9207.
The cost of the meal which will be a Southwestern themed entre and includes the ice cream dessert is $19.50 for adults and $12.00 for children. A vegetarian option is available. Please indicate your meal selection on the conference registration form below. We are looking forward to our conference expressing appreciation to our Bishop and anticipate a delightful evening of remembrance.
Rev. John Hartleroad Rev. Dr. Kent Lolling
Assistant to the Bishop Chair of Sessions