2014 Annual Conference Edition
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CurrentJuly 2014 • Vol. 18 No. 12 Annual ConCOVERAGE f e r en ce 2014 F THE P {OUT O EWS} Post-Conference Issue News from the Episcopal Office 2 Cabinet Address 3 Christian Conversations 4 Local Church News 5-6 Annual Conference Wrap-up 7-26, 28 Ephesians 4:11-16 Memorial Service 12 Retirees 13 Appointments 22-26 Ordination News 28 National/Global News 27 NEWS From The Episcopal Office Annual Conference NEWS 2015 Holy Land Pilgrimage Life doesn’t frighten us dates announced (Editor’s note: Below is the transcript of the Cabinet Address Caleb, is prophetic, saying in effect, “Wouldn’t it be cool everything from delivered by Rev. Dr. Terry Harter at the 2014 Annual Con- if?” “We can go ahead, we can do God’s will, if only we leaves to seals and Bishop Jonathan Keaton has announced that the 2015 Holy Land Pilgrimage NEWS ference. Due to the large number of requests for the address, don’t lose hope” which we can translate as a passion for oak trees, then what will be Feb. 10-19, 2015. From The Episcopal Office the address is presented in transcript form instead of a news the possible. The majority report, as one might expect, is is it I can’t do?” Cost for the trip is $3,196 from St. Louis, Chicago or Indianapolis. Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton article.) pragmatic. The prudence it counsels only thinly veils the The giants we To learn about the Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2015 Bishop’s Holy Land Last Wednesday, at the age of 86, Dr. Maya Angelou set cowardice of those submitting it. It speaks of “giants in the face are not an iden- Pilgrimage, visit the EO website at: www.EO.travel/find_trip (there is aside her writings, books and poetry, her clarion calls for land” – the sons of Anak, literally, “the long-necked one”. tifiable group in the an underscore between find and trip). The Tour is HL15 and the Code is The substance of commencement full humanity and dignity and fearless living in community “And we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers and so we church or the world 021015K. with all on this planet, as well as her stories and testimony seemed to them.” (Numbers 13:33) Predictably, the chil- – much as we would The 2014 Annual Conference reflected of healing and blessing – because her greatest work… her dren of Israel accept the majority report and we read that like to point them the substance of Commencement. Praise life … was completed. Appointments was conferred. New beginnings were initi- Since then, she rightly has been hailed as a Renaissance " Ahead are giants. But what are giant obstacles if not brilliant In consultation with the Cabinet of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, ated. And our faith was renewed. woman, poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, opportunities brilliantly disguised as giant obstacles? " Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton appoints the following: A total of 30 pastors retired. To replace producer, actress, historian, filmmaker and civil right Floyd Blackard to Fairbury, Vermilion River District, effective July 1. them, five persons were commissioned. activist… And three were ordained as full members. Was she not also one who (in the words of Paul in “all the congregation raised a loud cry and the people wept out as this or that Timothy Pate to Alton Main Street lead pastor, Mississippi River District, Both groups have begun writing new chap- Ephesians) “was given for the equipping of the saints … that night; and all the people of Israel murmured against interest group of the left or the right. The giants instead are effective July 1. ters in their lives. for the edifying of the body … that we should no longer be Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, forces that act to deter the daring action and risk-taking Debra J. Hoertel to Alton Main Street associate pastor, Mississippi River Five congregations received church children tossed to and fro and carried about …” “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt, … and they ventures to which Jesus calls us … In the churches that have District, effective July 1. growth awards. Although Beason UMC But speaking the truth in love, Dr. Angelou still speaks said to one another, ‘Let’s choose a captain and go back to suffered loss of membership over the past year, there is the Gerald Aloran to Geneseo First-Cambridge Multisite, Spoon River District, received 9, Mt. Olive UMC 14, Midland to us this morning as God’s children, fellow disciples: as Egypt.” And then when Aaron and Moses remonstrate, and giant of uneasiness and discomfort that invites us to focus effective July 1. He will be launching a new church start with Geneseo First UMC 40, Geneseo First 57 and Fairview she said in an interview just last year that it was her faith in Caleb gets up once again, and Joshua, and say, “The Lord is on what will add numbers without counting the cost to the at Cambridge. Heights Christ 90 professions of faith, their God that allowed her to full-voiced gospel. In the market-driven religious environ- Duane Ambrose to Louisville, Kaskaskia River District, effective Jan. 1, work of Christian nurture has only begun. achieve such incredible " The giants are forces that act to deter the daring action ment, there is the giant of temptation to offer only what will 2014. He is a retired elder serving ¼ time. We praised members of IGRC who feats. and risk-taking ventures to which Jesus calls us. " please – rather than stir and transform. For the church that now residing in the church triumphant. Dr. Angelou told struggles with its identity, there is the giant of a temptation Walter Carlson to Coal City, Vermilion River District, effective July 1. He They will be remembered. Later, we af- her interviewers: to settle on the lowest common denominator, one that will will be serving as a retired elder full-time. His retirement date is June 30. firmed persons ministering to our neigh- “I found that I knew not only that there was God but with us” the congregation said to stone them. (Numbers 14: hold people together at all costs. And there is the equally Terry Lancaster to Sheffield, Illinois River District, effective July 1. He bors in Liberia, China, Zimbabwe, Central that I was a child of God, when I understood that, when I 1-10). corrupting giant desire to provide a formula-faith that will also be serving Mineral in the Spoon River District. The churches will America, etc. Our witness in mission will comprehended that … more than that, when I internalized I recall this story because that line “We seemed to invests authority in what is less than ultimate: our experi- remain separate and not a two-point charge. never be done. that, ingested that, I became courageous. ourselves like grasshoppers” seems to reflect the constant ence, the scripture, the church, some creed, some political Nick Jordan to Bartonville-Kingston Mines, Illinois River District, effective We sang the praise of all the above I dared to do anything that was a good thing. I dared to problem, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” viewpoint – rather than what IS ultimate – the God who July 1. Bartonville and Kingston Mines becomes a new charge. This is Nick conferring on them plaudits like Cum do things as distant from what seemed to be in my future. As in Jesus’ story of Jordan’s first appointment in the IGRC. Laude. If you had heard Dr. Lallene Rector, If God loves me, if God made everything from leaves to the one-talent man, we " there is the giant of temptation to offer only what will first woman President of Garrett-Evangeli- seals and oak trees, then what is it I can’t do?” see again the protective Jame Hahs to Havana, LaMoine River District, effective July 1. cal Theological Seminary; General Sec- My name is Terry Harter, and I am serving as the Con- strategy of deliberate fail- please – rather than stir and transform. " Supply not appointed retary Barbara Boigegrain of the General ference Superintendent for the Sangamon River District. I ure, only with two added Mark Hendrickson to Nauvoo, Spoon River District, effective July 1. This Board of Pensions and Health Benefits; Dr. want to ask my fellow Superintendents to stand, acknowl- wrinkles: if you think other people make you into a failure calls us, graces us, and send us in Jesus Christ. is Mark’s first supply arrangement in the IGRC. Colleen Hester first woman President of MacMur- • Third, Harper Jane Krost (above) was edging their service, and relieving them for responsibility – “giants in the land” – then you don’t have to feel badly There is the alluring giant, in an unstable environment, ray College; Bishop Hopkins’ Ordination Sermon, baptized during the Ordination Service. for the content of this address on their behalf. about being one. And if you think that those trying to wean to long for and to seek a risk-free world – or at least to make Dennis Gambill to Ashley, Kaskaskia River District, effective May 1. He Dr. Terry Harter’s Cabinet Address and Morning Harper became a member of Christ’s holy It is inherent to the office of Superintendent that, from you from your sense of failure – the Joshuas and Calebs of the church an enclave of assurance and comfort – And then currently serves Richview UMC and will continue to serve both congrega- Manna speaker Jessica Davenport deliver their mes- church. Moreover, we promised to help time to time, we encounter both pastors and congregations the world – are only trying to push you around, then you there arises in the church a culture of intimidation that tions.