MINISTRY NEWS

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

A special service of worship, celebration, and farewell is planned for Christy Waltersdorff on Dec. 14 as she prepares to retire as pastor of York Center (Lombard) effective Dec. 31 after almost 29 years of serving the congregation. Worship begins at 11 a.m., followed by lunch and a program.

Northwest region pastors will hold their next fellowship meeting at 2 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Mount Morris church.

Katie Shaw Thompson has decided not to continue as the district’s delegate to the Standing Committee of Annual Conference for the new term that begins in summer 2025. The district’s Leadership Team is working on a replacement.

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.

Open enrollment for ancillary insurance coverages from Eder Financial runs through Nov. 15. Please note that Eder will provide life insurance of $50,000 at no cost provided you sign up for at least one other insurance product. You can make changes or enroll in one of two ways: 1) Go to ederfinanical.org, select Health and Life Benefits then Member Portal; 2) Log in directly to ederfinancial.mybenefitvhoice.com. Payment for the additional insurance needs to come from the church via payroll deduction and not directly from the individual. Note that Eder now provides free life insurance only to individuals who have also elected to purchase another ancillary insurance product.

Eder also announced recently that it has partnered with Securian Life Insurance Company, which has purchased Eder Retirement Plan annuities and will care for the distribution of the annuity funds beginning in January. “This transaction, which increases retirement security for nearly 2,000 retirees and their beneficiaries, is a part of the long-term strategy and fiduciary duty Eder has to care for its members,” the release said. Eder will provide more information in the coming weeks. For more information, visit ederfinancial.org/annuity-transfer or email communications@eder.org.

The Brethren Academy is offering three new Strength for the Journey (SFTJ) cohorts for 2025. The cohorts are: 1) Team Ministry - for leaders of congregations living in new models of plural ministry; 2) Pastors of Visitation and Chaplaincy - for pastoral caregivers who seek community and conversation around best practices; and 3) Spiritual Refreshment and Preaching Renewal - for those interested in reflecting on their ministry of preaching as a spiritual practice and who would value time with other pastor-preachers learning how to connect with sermon listeners more authentically. Highland Avenue pastor Katie Shaw Thompson and Bethany Theological Seminary professor Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm will be accompanying this cohort. Cohorts meet on Zoom monthly, over the course of one year. There is no cost for participant other than a commitment of time. For a complete description of the SFTJ program, please visit: https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/strength-for-the-journey/

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 ended her service as pastor effective Oct. 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. The congregation is planning to use pulpit supply and internal speakers and pastoral care for the short term.
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.