MINISTRY NEWS

Lisa Fike has announced her resignation of pastor of the Woodland congregation (Astoria) effective Dec. 15. She has been called as pastor of Wabash (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, which will allow her to be closer to her family. We are grateful for Lisa’s wide-ranging service to the district and Camp Emmanuel, and we wish her well in this new call.

Terri Monnin will end her service as pastor at Dutchtown (Milledgeville) effective Dec. 31. She had been serving there since October 2022. Our prayers are with her as she seeks a new call.

Christy Waltersdorff will be retiring as pastor of York Center (Lombard) effective Dec. 31 after almost 29 years of serving the congregation. A special service of celebration and farewell is being planned for Dec. 14 at the church.

Jonathan Shively and Tony Asta have been called as an interim pastoral team at York Center beginning Jan. 1. Jonathan (who will be serving at 40 percent time) is a member at Highland Avenue and an accomplished musician who also serves as executive director at Fox Valley Hands of Hope in Geneva. He has previously served as a pastor and in denominational leadership. Tony (serving at 30 percent time) is a member at Chicago First, and former member at York Center, and currently works for the Illinois Tollway. He has past experience as a pastor, including in interim ministry. We welcome them to this new role in the district!

Lynda Willmann has announced her retirement as pastor at Lanark effective Dec. 31. She and her husband plan to relocate to Rockton. We are grateful for Lynda’s service at Lanark and wish her all the best in this next chapter of life. Lanark has formed a search committee and is working on plans for an interim period.

Northwest region pastors planned to meet Oct. 15 at Lanark for their fall time of connection and sharing.

Girard and interim pastor Terry Link are developing a unique proposal for someone to come and provide ministry leadership and community outreach for the small congregation as an “RV Rider,” who would live onsite in an RV with the church covering all lot expenses and utilities and providing education/training assistance. For more information, contact Terry at 217-494-3850 terry .link@yahoo.com.

The 2025 district clergy gathering and CEU event will be May 1-2 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center near Rockford. Stan Dueck, director of Organizational Leadership for the Church of the Brethren, will be our keynote leader. Watch for more details.

The district plans to offer another ethics training through the denomination’s Ministry Office sometime in late summer/early fall 2025 for those who still need it, likely in an online format. The training is required every five years as part of the ordination renewal cycle, which ends in 2025. All ministers should also begin gathering information for their CEU report, which will be due by mid-2025. Copies of the continuing education report form can be found at https://www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/forms/.

The 2025 Denominational Clergywomen’s Retreat, an every-five-years event sponsored by the Church of the Brethren Ministry office, will take place Feb. 10-13 at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Winter Park, Fla., near Orlando. The theme, drawn from Ephesians 5:2, is “Love the World Like Jesus: with Courage, Care, and Healing.” The keynote speaker will be Meghan Larissa Good, author and lead pastor of Trinity Mennonite Church in Phoenix. Early bird registration is $325 for double occupancy, $450 for single. Cindy Weber (York Center) is among the planning team members. Registration for the event is now open at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice. The district's Church Revitalization and Development Team has some partial scholarships available to assist with registration and travel for those in need. To make a confidential request for scholarship aid, please contact district executive Walt Wiltschek or the district office.

Please note a change in Eder Financial’s insurance policies, effective January 2025: Eder has decided to provide free life insurance only to individuals who have also elected to purchase another ancillary insurance product. If a congregation wants to provide its pastor or other church employees with life insurance, then they need to purchase at least one additional ancillary insurance coverage, such as short- or long-term disability.

Clergy Mental Health grants are available through Eder Financial through the Church Workers Assistance Plan, offering up to $2,500 for financial assistance with expenses not covered by insurance. Find more information at ederfinancial.org/Church-Workers-Assistance-Plan.

Congregational vacancies:

Cherry Grove: Using regular pulpit supply

Dutchtown (Milledgeville): Terri Monnin will be ending her service as pastor effective Dec. 31. The congregation is beginning to work on next steps.

Lanark: Lynda Willmann has announced her retirement effective Dec. 31. A search committee has been formed.

Woodland: Lisa Fike has announced her resignation effective Dec. 15 to accept a call as pastor of Wabash (Ind.) Church of the Brethren.

York Center: Christy Waltersdorff has announced her retirement effective Dec. 31. A search committee has been formed, and a profile will soon be available. Jonathan Shively and Tony Asta will provide interim team leadership beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Grants available: The denomination’s Office of Ministry has shared that grants are available through the Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program for pastors who would like to do a sabbatical or continuing education experience. For more information or an application, contact district executive minister Walt Wiltschek at IWDDE@outlook.com.