News

Farewell, welcoming celebration information

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Great Rivers Conference will say farewell to Bishop Gregory and Cynthia Palmer in two weekend events and will welcome its new episcopal leader in a Sept. 30 worship service. Farewell celebrations will be held on Sunday, Aug. 12 at Normal Calvary UMC and on Sunday, Aug. 19 at Fairview Heights Christ UMC.  Both services will be from 3 to 5 p.m.   The Area Episcopacy Committee will host a welcome celebration for Bishop Jonathan and Beverly Keaton...

Risk-Taking Mission: Peacemaking

PEORIA – In his final Morning Manna devotional, Bishop Gregory Palmer used the reunion story of Jacob and Esau as a backdrop to illustrate the risk of peacemaking. “All experiences of restoring broken relationships come with a nudging that says, ‘make things right,” Palmer said. “You ought to do something about this or say something about this.”   Palmer said that disagreement and estrangement brings distance, which in the short term, may be...

Risk-Taking Mission: Truth Telling

PEORIA -- What one says and what one doesn't say speaks volumes observed Bishop Gregory V. Palmer in the second Morning Manna Friday morning of the 2012 Annual Conference. "Speech -- what you say -- is a big deal, but what you don't say can also be a big deal," Palmer noted. "The Bible seems to be concerned about what we say about God and about each other." Using a text from Ephesians 4,  Palmer said Paul's interest was concerned about forming community....

The challenge of answering the call to "go"

PEORIA -- Bishop Janice Riggle Huie remembers fondly the family kitchen table. The table which Huie said today would range from "retro antique to junk," was the center of her family's activity. The table with a formica table, chrome legs and vinyl seat covers was where the worldviews were expanded as guests came and went. "The table is the most social piece of furniture," she said. "It is ready to welcome anyone." Huie said the table was where...

Risk-Taking Mission: Poverty

PEORIA -- Bishop Gregory V. Palmer challenged the Illinois Great Rivers Conference to answer the question of the Rich Young Ruler, "What one thing I lack?" in the first of three Morning Manna devotionals during Annual Conference. "Every moment we breathe, we get to answer that question," Palmer said. "If Jesus says to The United Methodist Church, to westernized Christians, 'you will find your life by connecting with the margins among the poor...or you...

Morning Manna focuses on Word, Sign and Deed

Bishop Gregory Palmer used the morning devotional times to examine the Conference theme of Intentional Faith Development from three perspectives: from Word, a focus on Scripture; Sign, a focus on the Sacraments; and Deed, a focus on works. Word “If we are to grow in Christ, we must have a life-long love affair with the Scriptures,” Palmer said, drawing upon Psalm 119: 103, 105.   Utilizing data from the Barna Research Group, Palmer noted the need for being better students...

Bishop defines reality and says 'thank you'

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer used his third Episcopal Address to report on the progress of four initiatives which he proposed at the 2010 Annual Conference and then said “thank you” to the Annual Conference for “showing up and responding in so many ways to the needs within our conference and around the world.” The Bishop reported that $1.5 million in pledges and financial commitments have been secured in the first six months of the $2.3 to $3.5 million Imagine No Malaria...

Palmer awarded honorary doctorate from Garrett

EVANSTON – Bishop Gregory V. Palmer delivered the address at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary’s 154th commencement, where he was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree. The service was held at First United Methodist Church in Evanston May 13. Bishop Palmer’s address titled, There’s a Crown Above Your Head, spoke of Howard Thurman’s experience as a student at Morehouse College. In his autobiography, With Head and Heart, Thurman said of his...

Bishop Palmer: The First Two Years

In our initial interview, we asked you about your first impressions of the IGRC. What is your impression of the IGRC after two years of living among us? Bishop Palmer: With either same words or in other words, I recall that among the things that were remarkable to me upon my arrival was the extraordinary giftedness -- particularly of leadership, in the life of the annual conference (lay and clergy). And secondly, strong resources in many areas beyond human leadership — material...