The CurrentIllinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church News Magazine December 2011 | Vol. 16 No. 4 Giving is a gift 3 4 5-9 15 Don't be DROPPED Learning LOCAL Mission from the mailing list! hospitality partnerships Return your card by from the church in Liberia, December 31st gaming NEWS Honduras, industry Eastern Europe Advent: A Time to Change (Editor’s note: The following column by Bishop Gregory V. Palmer first ap- the efforts of this season to come alongside the needy continued NEWS peared in the December 2009 issue of The Current.) with the same intensity all year long? After all the rearrangement of our priorities around the things of God, but especially being Advent is here and Christmas will be soon. The former pre- in solidarity with the poor, was never intended to last for just pares us for the latter. four or five weeks. “when the time had fully come God sent forth The amazing thing about both is their capacity to invite the the Son” not just to save or change us for a few weeks. No, the complete rearrangement of our lives around different priorities. plan was and his to change us and the whole cosmos forever. We are invited if not indeed jerked to pay attention to God’s ac- Perhaps that is why the words of Howard Thurman continue to tivity, movements and yearnings for the whole cosmos. In many bless and haunt us. In referring to the Work of Christmas he says: respects we do remarkably well in the church and the even in our personal discipleship in trying to be responsive to the biddings When the song of the angels is stilled, of God as we are bathed in the biblical texts, proclamation, music When the star in the sky is gone, and activities of the season. This we do against formidable cul- When the kings and princes are home, tural messages inviting is to delve ever deeper into the quicksand When the shepherds are back with their flock, of greed and consumption. Although the current economic chal- The work of Christmas begins: lenges chasten us mightily alongside the gospel, this does not To find the lost, give a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment. To heal the broken, Among the ways that we rearrange during this season is To feed the hungry, around responsiveness to the pervasiveness of human need and To release the prisoner, suffering. Every church I know anything about is busy collect- To rebuild the nations, FROM THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE ing money and goods to alleviate suffering and depravation. I To bring peace among brothers, read about these noble, compassionate efforts in church bulle- To make music in the heart. tins and newsletters and I see the same on websites. The efforts Have a wonder filled and blessed Advent and Christmas all Appointments of people of faith during this season of the year blow me away. year long. More than that, they make a real difference in the lives of real In consultation with the Cabinet of the Illinois Great people. Thanks be to God for you and what you are doing with Yours in Christ, Rivers Conference, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer appoints such focus and generosity. Gregory Vaughn Palmer the following: I have often thought, and this year is no exception, what if Michael Ebersohl to Salem Grace, Kaskaskia River Dis- trict, effective Jan. 1. Russell D. Collister to Maxey Chapel (1/4 time), Spoon Bishops vow to uphold same-sex union ban River District, effective Nov. 1. By Heather Hahn Carl Johnston to New Baden (3/4 time), Mississippi While acknowledging the denomination’s “deep disagree- church is over the practice of homosexuality, recently height- River District, effective Sept. 15. ments” over homosexuality, the United Methodist Council of ened by a group of clergy who have declared that they will per- Tim Pearce to Newton Grace (80 percent), Embarras Bishops promised to uphold church law banning same-sex form holy unions in opposition to the Book of Discipline. This River District, effective Aug. 1. unions in a letter released Nov. 11. has caused different experiences of deep pain throughout the The bishops’ statement marked the first time the council as a church. As the bishops of the church, we commit ourselves to Tim Pearce to Falmouth (20 percent), Embarras River body has addressed the pledges to bless same-sex unions signed be in prayer for the whole church and for the brokenness our District, effective Aug. 1. this year by more than 1,000 United Methodist clergy across the communities experience. Furthermore, we "implore families and United States. In the New York Annual (regional) Conference, churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and Supply not appointed 732 lay people also have signed “a covenant of conscience” in friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all Russ Thebold to Victoria (1/2 time), Spoon River Dis- support of such unions. persons" (par. 161F). We will continue to offer grace upon grace trict, effective Nov. 7. The pledges, in turn, sparked a countermovement by other to all in the name of Christ. Karen Martin to Galva Grace (1/4 time), Spoon River United Methodist clergy and lay people urging the bishops to At times like these we call upon each other to remember and District, effective Nov. 1. make clear that they will enforce the Book of Discipline, the de- renew our covenant with God and with one another as United nomination’s law book, on this issue. Altogether, the denomi- Methodist Christians. As bishops chosen, consecrated and as- Reallf Otteson to Geneseo Grace (1/4 time), Spoon nation has about 44,400 clergy and 7.8 million members in the signed by the Church, we declare once again our commitment River District, effective Oct. 10. United States. The United Methodist Church has more than 12 to be faithful to this covenant we have made. As the Council of Janet Seymour and Beverly Dehler to Ritchey (1/4 million members worldwide. Bishops we will uphold the Book of Discipline as established by time), Vermilion River District, effective Oct. 1. The complete text of the letter is as follows: General Conference. Terry Ralston to Essex (1/4 time), Vermilion River Dis- Even in the midst of our differences, we believe that we can Dear United Methodist Sisters and Brothers in Christ: trict, effective Oct. 1. together be about our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ who calls us to for the transformation of the world. We invite all United Meth- faithfulness during a time of great and unsettling change around Charge realignment odists, lay and clergy, to join us in strengthening our congrega- the world that God loves so deeply and also within the Body of tions unto greater vitality for the sake of our mission. Sally Swaim to Middlefork-Collison, Iroquois River Christ where Jesus is both head and redeemer. To that end, may we continue to live together in the spirit of District, effective Oct. 1. We give thanks for each one of you as you seek to be faithful Philippians 2:1-5: witnesses and fruitful disciples wherever God has called you to Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort Change of status live and share the grace that offers salvation to the world. Your in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy faithfulness brings encouragement, inspiration and hope to us Jung-il Rhee, discontinuation of appointment for lo- by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united and and to all who live in the influence of your witness. cal pastor, effective Nov. 1. agreeing with each other. Don't do anything for selfish purposes In a time when the world seems to be torn apart with di- Oren Banks, discontinuation of appointment for local but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead vision, inequality, injustice, hatred and violence, as Christians pastor, effective Sept. 30. of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what we bear responsibility to give witness to "a more excellent way" is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus. Doug Rettig, discontinuation of supply, effective (1Corinthians 12:31). The church is not exempt from struggles. Sept. 30. (Phil. 2:1-5). We are not the first to experience upheaval in culture and church and we are not the first to have serious and deep disagreements Your brothers and sisters in Christ, about issues of great importance. The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church Deaths One of the deep disagreements and divisions within the Retired pastor, Rev. Charles Fradenburgh, Jr., died The Current (USPS 014-964 is published monthly by the Oct. 19 in Tuscon, Ariz. Rev. Fradenburgh was a pas- tor in the former Central Illinois Conference, retiring in Illinois Great Rivers Conference of 1985. Condolences may be sent to his wife, Barbara at: The United Methodist Church Fountains of LaCholla, 2001 W. Rudasill Rd., Apt. 4204, 5900 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62711 Tuscon, AZ 85704. An individual subscription is $15 per year. The opinions expressed in viewpoints are those of the writers and do not Retired pastor, Rev. Carl C. Cummins died Oct. 18. Rev. necessarily reflect the views of The Current, The Illinois Great Cummins served several churches in the former South- Rivers Confernce, or The United Methodist Church. ern Illinois Conference, retiring from Sparta in 1999.