District Clergy Gathering and CEU event, Bishop Lane Retreat Center, Rockford, May 1-2

National Youth Sunday, May 4

Church Revitalization and Development Team, May 17, 9 a.m.

Young Adult Conference, Brethren Woods Camp and Retreat Center, May 23 – 25

Leadership Team, June 3, 6:30 p.m.

Gifts Discernment and Call Committee, June 10, 7:15 p.m.

Annual Conference briefing with moderator Dava Hensley, June 14, 10 a.m

Ministry Leadership Development Team, June 18, 6:30 p.m.

National Junior High Conference, Juniata College, June 20–22

Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, July 2-6, Greensboro, N.C.

[all meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted]

April Newsletter

Holy week. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. A time when we should reflect on the mountaintop highs and the valley lows of Jesus and his disciples. 

Jesus stopped in Bethany at Lazarus’s home the day before riding the colt to enter Jerusalem. Jesus’ feet were anointed with the oil that was meant for his burial. Judas said it should have been sold and the money given to the poor. He really thought the money should have been used to line his pockets for personal gain. 

On Monday, Jesus went into the synagogue and saw it being used as a bank: Money being exchanged for the purchase of sacrifices for Passover. Jesus showed a side of his temperament that you rarely see, his arms being used as shovels. Tables of money flew everywhere in frustration. In Matthew 21: 13, Jesus says: “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” After calming himself, the blind and lame came to him, and he healed them. After Jesus talked to the chief priests and scribes, He went back to Bethany to lodge for the night. 

On Tuesday, Jesus was back in the synagogue teaching and stumping the chief priests and elders on the question, ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ (Matt 21: 23). Jesu asked them a question that they couldn’t or wouldn’t answer, and Jesus did not directly answer them. 

Wednesday is a tough day. Scripture tells nothing of what Jesus did. He may have stayed in Bethany, come back to the synagogue or went somewhere to pray. Nothing is written. 

Thursday we know of the Passover meal and the teaching of the meaning of communion and foot washing to the disciples. Judas leaves the table to receive his potter’s field money for the betrayal of Jesus to the soldiers. On maps we see the paths taken around Jerusalem for Jesus’ trial and beating. The same people that cried, “Glory to Hosanna in the highest” on Sunday are saying “crucify him” on Thursday/Friday, Peter denying he knew Jesus 3 times. 

Friday. The crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The forgiveness that Jesus asked for. ‘Forgive them, they do not know what they do’. The forgiveness of one thief, but not the other. His burial in Joseph’s tomb. Guards stand watch. 

Saturday. With Jesus in the tomb, nothing is said of what happens. 

Easter Sunday. Mary goes to the tomb to prepare Jesus’ body according to Jewish law. We all know that on that glorious morning, the stone was rolled away, a gardener talked to Mary, and eventually Jesus ascends to be at the right hand of God. 

My research for this article came from the greatest book ever written: the Bible. The rest came from a book by Max Lucado called And the Angles were Silent. Part of what I learned from this reading was that Jesus showed his human side: Along with tenderness and his willingness to teach others, he can get angry and show a rough side. In the end, Jesus showed compassion and forgiveness to those who showed repentance and to those who showed nothing. 

During this time, be willing to teach, slow to anger, and to listen before speaking. 

Blessings to all.

Bill Williams
IL/WI District Moderator

The 2025 Illinois/Wisconsin District clergy gathering and CEU event will take place May 1-2 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center near Rockford (7708 E. McGregor Rd.). The event, planned by the district Ministry Leadership Development Team (MLDT), will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 (with registration and check-in available beginning at 3 p.m.) and will conclude by 4 p.m. on Friday. Register at https://ilwiclergygathering2025.rsvpify.com.

The event is open to all those in the district who are licensed or ordained or are currently in a ministry discernment program. Our leader this year will be Stan Dueck, director of organizational leadership for the Church of the Brethren, on the theme "Ministry in a BANI* World" (*Brittle, Anxious, Non-Linear, and Incomprehensible). Stan has spent significant time researching the changing landscape of the church and ministry and will be leading some fascinating exploration and conversations. Pastors, chaplains, denominational staff, retired ministers, or those serving in another role should all find it helpful and engaging. 

Thanks to a subsidy from MLDT, the per-person registration cost is just $75, which includes a private room with bathroom (or shared room for those who would like to share a double with someone), three meals, and all program fees. Participants will receive 0.5 CEU's. (If money is an issue, please contact district executive Walt Wiltschek directly and confidentially at iwdde@outlook.com to discuss options.) In addition to the sessions and meals, the schedule will include time for worship and some "down time" to enjoy the beautiful grounds, play games, or have some R&R. Anyone who would like to come early to stay Wednesday night at Bishop Lane for a longer retreat time should contact the center directly at 815-965-5011 to inquire about possibilities.

The concert on the historic Kurtz organ at the Brethren offices in Elgin (as noted in the April district newsletter) has been moved up a week and will now be at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18. The other details remain the same as before. All are welcome. An updated advertisement is below:

The historic Kurtz organ will be played in a rare concert on Sunday, May 18, at 4 p.m. in the chapel at the Church of the Brethren General Offices at 1451 Dundee Ave. in Elgin. The small, hand-pumped pipe organ, which is part of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA) collection, is more than 320 years old. This is a very rare public appearance of the organ, which in recent decades has been played in concert only a handful of times. The concert is part of the Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour 2024-2025 organized and led by Jeff Neufeld, music director and organist at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elgin, with support from guest musicians. To attend the May 18 concert, park in the rear lot of the General Offices and enter the building through the staff/kitchen entrance. For more information about the tour see https://fcc-elgin.org/organ-tour.

For any congregations currently involved in immigration issues, the following resource from the Wisconsin Council of Churches might be helpful:www.wichurches.org/immigration. A denominational task force is also working on this issue, as noted in a recent issue of Newsline. It is primarily centered in the districts that have large populations of members who are immigrants, but they are inviting other congregations with interest to partner with them in the effort. If you have interest and have not yet been contacted by the team, please let the district office know.

Registration for the Camp Emmaus 2025 summer season is open at campemmaus.churchcenter.com/registrations. A discounted price is available for those who register before June 1.

The camping season will kick off with the Spring Into Camp event on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 1 p.m. A Primitive Shelter Day will be held as part of the Escape to Emmaus series on April 19 (10 a.m.-2 p.m., cost $10, register by April 16), and the annual Camp Clean-Up Day will be May 31. The summer schedule will include the following offerings:

May 23-26 Memorial Day Family Camp
June 20-22 CIT Training
June 21-22 Elementary (K-Grade 2)
July 6-12 Survivor Camp at Camp Mack (Grades 6-8)
July 13-19 Senior High (Grades 9-12)
July 20-26 Middle School (Grades 6-8)
July 27-31 Intermediate (Grades 3-5)
Aug. 1-3 Young Adult/Young at Heart (Ages 18+)
Aug. 3-6 Target Sports Camp
Aug. 7-9 Women’s Camp
Aug. 22-24 Men’s Camp
Aug. 29-Sept. 1 Labor Day Family Camp

For more information about the camp, visit www.campemmaus.org.

Registration for the summer season at Camp Emmanuel is also now open! Visit www.campem.com to register, and for other Camp Emmanuel news. A spring work week to prepare for the summer is scheduled for April 26-30. The camp opens to the public May 1 for fishing and hiking, etc. The summer schedule will include:

May 30-June 1 Women’s Camp
June 5-8 High School Camp
June 8-14 Middle School Camp
June 15-19 Junior Camp
July 14-18 Day Camp
July 18-20 Creation Camp
Aug. 8-10 Men’s Camp
Aug. 29-Sept. 1 Family Camp

Both camps are currently seeking lifeguards for the summer season. Contact the respective camps for more information on these paid positions.

National Youth Sunday on May 4 will be an opportunity for congregations to empower senior high youth to plan and lead worship. The theme is “Embodying Our Gifts.” Resources are posted at www.brethren.org/yya/national-youth-sunday. The National Youth Cabinet met in March in Elgin to develop these materials and begin planning for National Youth Conference 2026.

Young Adult Conference is planned for May 23-25, at Brethren Woods near Keezletown, Va. The annual event offers people ages 18-35 a chance to enjoy fellowship, worship, recreation, Bible study, service projects, and more. See www.brethren.org/yya/yac. 

National Junior High Conference takes place June 20-22 at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., with the theme “Let Your Gentleness Be Known.” Join other junior high youth and adult advisors for a weekend packed with powerful worship, fun workshops, music, recreation, and more. Registration and details are at www.brethren.org/yya/njhc.

National Youth Conference 2026 will take place July 18-23, 2026, with a return to the site that the conference used in 1990 and prior years: the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo. More information will come in the months ahead at National Youth Conference. 

MennoMedia has announced a “Living Forward: Anabaptism at 500 Essay Contest” offering eligible students the opportunity to earn a scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. This contest invites students to reflect on the enduring values of the Anabaptist tradition—which includes the Church of the Brethren—and their relevance in today’s world. The overall winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship, and the first runner-up will be awarded a $500 scholarship. Scholarships may be used toward tuition, book costs, and related course fees. Participants should write a 750 to 1,000-word essay responding to the prompt: “Timeless Values in a Changing World.” Writers will identify the distinctive values of the Anabaptist tradition and discuss how these values are shaping the future of the church and influencing broader society in the decades to come. Applicants must be current high school seniors, current college students, or students returning to college after a break from academics and enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours per semester) during the 2025-2026 academic year at an accredited two-year or four-year undergraduate or trade school program in the United States or Canada. Submit application and all required documentation postmarked or emailed by April 19. Find out more at www.mennomedia.org/living-forward-essay-contest.

Registration for Church of the Brethren FaithX short-term service trips closed on April 1. The theme this year is “Living with Purpose.” For information on this year’s schedule, visit www.brethren.org/faithx/schedule. Please be in prayer for all those serving this summer!

The city of Centralia, Ill., (located east of St. Louis) has reached out to Illinois Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) for assistance with muck-and-gut and clean up related to recent flooding. If your congregation or organization can assist, please contact the response manager, Robert Moulder, at 618-214-1855 or at rmoulder@cityofcentralia.org. Please let VOAD know if you respond at voadillinois@gmail.com.

Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) is organizing a special short-term, two-week response in Spruce Pine, N.C. (near Asheville) the weeks of May 11 and 18. The area was hard hit by Hurricane Helene this past fall. There are openings for the first 12 volunteers to respond for each week. Housing (at a local church), meals, tools, and transport to project sites will be provided. The deadline to sign up is May 1. To sign up, contact Kim Gingerich at 410-635-8730 or kgingerich@brethren.org.

BDM is also continuing work this year at a rebuilding site in Letcher County, Ky. Information is at: https://www.brethren.org/bdm/rebuild/schedules/. Illinois/Wisconsin is scheduled to assist with a team Dec. 7-13. A YouTube video about the Letcher County site is at https://youtu.be/gmKy5PDf4PE. A second project site is expected to open later this year.

Our prayers are also with those in central and northeast Illinois who have been affected by storms this spring. As best we know, no district congregations or families have experienced damage; if anyone has other updates, please contact the district office. A Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) team of four volunteers (three from Iowa and one from Missouri) provided disaster child care in Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) in areas of Missouri hit by tornadoes in March. The team spent two days each in MARCs in Rolla, Poplar Bluff, and Piedmont from March 25-30. Another team was planned for St. Louis the following week.

We're pleased to share that Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley will join us virtually for an Annual Conference briefing on Zoom on Saturday, June 14, at 10 a.m. This is especially designed for delegates to get a preview of business and other notable events at this summer's Conference (July 2-6 in Greensboro, N.C.), but anyone is welcome (and encouraged) to attend. It will last no more than an hour. A Zoom link and additional information will be sent at a later date; for now, mark your calendars and plan to join us for an informative morning!

Annual Conference registration opens at 12 p.m. on March 5 at www.brethren.org/ac2025.

We're pleased to share that Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley will join us virtually for an Annual Conference briefing on Zoom on Saturday, June 14, at 10 a.m. This is especially designed for delegates to get a preview of business and other notable events at this summer's Conference (July 2-6 in Greensboro, N.C.), but anyone is welcome (and encouraged) to attend. It will last no more than an hour. A Zoom link and additional information will be sent at a later date; for now, mark your calendars and plan to join us for an informative morning! (As noted above, Dava will also be visiting the Freeport church and preaching on May 11!)

The 2025 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference will take place Wednesday, July 2, to Sunday, July 6, at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. Registration and hotel reservations are open at www.brethren.org/ac2025. The Annual Conference office has announced the following registration fee schedule:

For advance registration (March 5-June 10): Delegates $350; Non-delegate adult, full conference, $175; Non-delegate adult, daily rate, $60; Post-high school to age 21, full conference, $50; Post-high school to age 21, daily rate, $20; Current high school student or younger, free; Active BVSer, free.

For on-site registration (opens July 1): Delegates $425; Non-delegate adult, full conference, $210; Non-delegate adult, daily rate, $75; Post-high school to age 21, full conference, $50; Post-high school to age 21, daily rate, $20; Current high school student or younger, free; Active BVSer, free. Note there is an additional fee for age-group activities.

Registration for virtual participation (non-delegate only): Adult (until June 10), full conference, $195 or daily rate, $75. Group/institutional registration, $500; Post-high school to age 21, full conference, $75. Worship services are available free of charge.

Pastors Dennis Beckner (Columbia City, Ind.) and Glenn Bollinger (Port Republic, Va.) headline this year’s Annual Conference ballot as candidates for moderator-elect. Find the full ballot at https://www.brethren.org/ac2025/business/ballot/. Worship preachers this year will be moderator Dava Hensley; a “cowbell service” featuring preachers Becky Baile Crouse, Josiah Ludwick, and Tony Price; Mount Hermon Church of the Brethren pastor Lupita Ortiz; Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary professor Gennifer Brooks; and South Waterloo Church of the Brethren pastor Dave Kerkove.

To date, the following congregations have registered delegates: Canton, Dixon, Freeport, Peoria First, Polo, and York Center. Please consider sending a delegate from your congregation. Congregations of up to 200 members receive one delegate, with one additional delegate for every additional 200 members or portion thereof. Delegate and non-delegate registration can be found at www.brethren.org/ac2025 (click “Registration”). A guide to registering online is available if needed.

Lodging: the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons is connected to the Koury Convention Center, making it extremely convenient for guests. The Annual Conference room rate is $120 plus tax (12.75%) totaling $135.30 per night. Parking is complimentary. The Sheraton Hotel provides complimentary shuttle transportation to and from Piedmont Triad International Airport from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. In room Wi-Fi is complimentary for all hotel guests. The link for hotel registration will come up immediately after registering for the conference.

New this year will be a conference welcome meal, beginning 5 p.m. July 2 at the hotel’s Joseph’s Restaurant. The dinner buffet will be $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for 12 and under. No reservations are required, and attendees will pay onsite.

Ushers needed: From usher coordinator David Ansley: “During worship we need volunteer ushers to help receive offerings and record attendance. While an important role in our worship services, ushering requires very little time and does not take away from participating in the rest of the worship service. You will be able to sign up when registering for Annual Conference and at the usher table when you arrive and check in for the conference, however I would like to have our first service covered on Wednesday night, before the conference begins. Once you have registered for conference, please follow the links to sign up to volunteer as an usher. You can also reach out to me directly at davidansley704@gmail.com and let me know if you are willing to serve on Wednesday evening, or for any of the other worship services. Please use ‘AC usher’ in the subject line. Feel free to contact me via text or call at 540-314-8146.”

The next National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) will be held Sept. 1-5, at Lake Junaluska, N.C., with the theme “Alive in the Spirit!” Registration will open May 1 at www.brethren.org/noac. Past attendees will receive an email with the registration link via email that day. Those needing special accommodations due to health/mobility issues will be able to register April 21-28.

Registration fees will be $220 for early-bird registration (May 1 to July 20), or $250 for regular registration. First-time attendees receive a $20 discount. A virtual participation registration option will be available for $150 per household.

NOAC recently announced this year’s keynote speakers: writer and poet Cole Arthur Riley; musician and storyteller Ken Medema; playwright and actor Ted Swartz; and Dominique DuBois Gilliard, director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church.

The planning team includes Heidi Berkenbosch, Deanna Brown, Bonnie Kline Smeltzer, Leonard Matheny (Peoria First), Don Mitchell, Karlene Tyler, and coordinator Christy Waltersdorff (York Center). Debbie Noffsinger (Highland Avenue) designed the NOAC 2025 logo. Registration information and other details will be coming out soon.

The 2025 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference will take place Nov. 7-8 at The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington, Ill. Bill Williams (Yellow Creek) will serve as moderator, with the theme “Are You Being Called?” Jocelyn Watkins (Peoria First) serves as moderator-elect.

A continuing education event will be offered for clergy and others during the day on Friday, Nov. 7, with the main conference starting with worship Friday evening and continuing with business and equipping sessions on Saturday, along with meals, exhibits, and other events.

All congregations are encouraged to send their allotted delegates to the conference. Per the 2022 constitution revisions, each congregation of 100 or fewer members can send three delegates, with one additional delegate for every 100 members or portion thereof. The pastor (if any) and board/leadership team chair typically serve as delegates, along with at-large members called by the congregation. The district Program & Arrangements Committee recently voted to increase the district conference assessment to cover costs; it will now be $30 per allotted delegate. Non-delegate registration will also increase slightly, to $15 per person.

More details will be coming in the months ahead, with registration opening in late summer or early fall. We hope that you and other members of your congregation will join us for this important time in the life of our district!

 

• Official IL/WI Channel
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There is a Speakers List for the Illinois/Wisconsin District. Persons included in this document have accepted the invitation to be available to preach during worship services or for other special events as indicated. Hopefully you will find this tool useful and valuable when the need arises for inviting a guest speaker.

The speakers on this list are all credentialed ministers, either licensed or ordained. We would like to expand the list to include more credentialed ministers as well as interested laity. If your name is absent from the list and you have interest in serving as a guest speaker, please inform the district office. We would also welcome the names of persons you might suggest for inclusion on the list.

Since this is a new venture, it is likely we may need to provide more information than is included. Your input as to how the list can be improved would be welcomed.

Please share with the District Office any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.

Grants available through the district include the following:

1. Mission and Mortar: Sustaining and developing ministry (mission) within congregations, as well as maintaining property (mortar), is sometimes hindered because of inadequate financial resources. The Illinois/Wisconsin District, whose mission is to support the growth and development of member congregations, realizes that this dilemma exists and desires to financially support congregations that are in good standing with the district and have specific needs. More information can be found here.

2. Being Jesus in the Neighborhood: Congregations can apply for $100 in seed money to start a new outreach project or initiative in their local communities, or to expand an existing one. These should be projects that intentionally engage with the neighborhood immediately around the congregation, or for those in rural locations, with the town or area around the church. Each congregation receiving a grant will be asked to share a little about their project at district conference. More information can be found here.

3. Emerging Missions Fund: To facilitate the growth and establishment of new faith communities, this grant is available for church and ministry planting initiatives. New church and ministry plants are encouraged to apply by contacting the district office and/or the CRDT.

All ordained ministers, licensed ministers, and congregations need to keep the District Office informed of changes in contact information. Changes include: phone number, cell phone number, email address, mailing address, and congregational email or website. Please email Peggy Moylan, peg.district@gmail.com, or call 630-644-4259 with your updates. Your effort will save valuable staff time trying to track down these changes. Other information to share: changes in key leadership positions at the church or the death or serious illnesses of minister, retired ministers, or spouses. Help us serve better!

Do not wait to begin to log your Continuing Education Units. The 2025 Five-year Ordination Review process for ALL ordained ministers will launch in 2024. Ordained ministers are required to produce verification of 5 CEU credits for this five-year period. It is your responsibility to secure certificates, letters or verifying documentation regarding CEU credit. Retired clergy are exempt from this requirement with the exception of those retired clergy actively involved in Interim Ministry.

CEU Notation: The district does not grant CEU credit for personal study and/or self-designed experiences you have had and/or books you have read. It is the minister's responsibility to secure a CEU certificate, Letter of Verification, and/or authentication document for completed training, seminars or workshops, or learning experiences offered by the presenting organization. This verification should always state the number of hours of the training - 10 hours of training equals 1.0 CEU credits. Please take personal initiative to become a life-long learner and increasingly effective minister of the Gospel.

The Gifts Discernment and Call Committee seeks your help. We are commissioned to call active, informed, and committed members of congregations or fellowships from within our District to positions of service. These persons, both pastors and lay members, are to be called from all parts of the District and to represent the diversity among us. Our committee's knowledge of members eligible and capable to serve is limited. Therefore, we make this appeal for assistance.