MINISTRY NEWS

Happy Pastor/Clergy Appreciation Month! We hope you show appreciation to your pastor and other clergy members EVERY month, but make an extra effort to do so this month. 

Dennis Webb has announced his retirement as pastor at Naperville, effective Dec. 31. Dennis has served the church there for well over two decades, and we wish him well as he plans for the next chapter of his life! Conversations have begun with the congregation about next steps. 

Gay Bouwmeester was officially licensed to ministry in the denomination during a worship service at the Highland Avenue congregation in Elgin on Sept. 21, fulfilling a lifetime dream. She is currently in the TRIM ministry studies program. Gay was recently called to serve as part-time interim pastor at the York Center congregation in Lombard, beginning Nov. 16. (Photo by Jay Wittmeyer) 

Also at Highland Avenue, Krista Dutt, who is serving as interim pastor at Highland Avenue, was commissioned to ministry in the denomination at an evening service on Oct. 12. Many of her family members and friends from Chicago were able to attend. Commissioning is equivalent to ordination, but for a specific location. 

Ed Livengood will be licensed to the ministry during worship on Nov. 2 at Dutchtown (Milledgeville), where he began serving this year as an internally called preacher. District executive Walt Wiltschek will officiate. Ed is exploring future educational possibilities. 

Eric Wetzel will begin as pastor at Lanark on Nov. 2. Eric was called to serve the congregation during a visit weekend Aug. 30-31. He has been serving the Mountain Grove congregation in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where they have several adult children. Sherry works in food service for the local schools and will be seeking similar work here. Welcome, Eric and Sherry! 

Several other members of the district are discerning a call to ministry and will be exploring with calling cohorts or interviews in the coming months. Please be in prayer for them as they seek God’s direction for their lives and work.

The Church of the Brethren Ministry Office has a new webpage focused on Sabbath Renewal. Resources from the Pastoral Compensation & Benefits Advisory Committee available there include a 5-minute video of pastor Angela Finet sharing about her sabbath renewal experience and a brief Google forms survey on Sabbath Renewal, which pastors are encouraged to take. 

A recording of an equipping session offered at this year’s Annual Conference titled “Many Hands Make Weighty Work Light: A Shared Ministry Model” is now available. Featuring presenters from four congregations, including our own Springfield First, the session describes how such a model strengthens a congregation’s sense of giftedness, its call to discipleship, and mission. Find the recording at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/shared-ministry-model. Plans for a shared ministry team event in 2026 are also under way. 

Any ordained or commissioned ministers who still have not turned in their paperwork for the 2025 ordination renewal cycle should do so as soon as possible. Ordinations and commissionings cannot be renewed for the next five-year period until all the forms have been received. 

Congregational vacancies/updates: 

Cerro Gordo: Larry Traxler retired as pastor effective Aug. 10. A search committee has been formed, and a congregational profile is now available. Cerro Gordo is currently using pulpit supply. District executive Walt Wiltschek will visit the congregation and meet with the search committee on Oct. 19. 

Highland Avenue (Elgin): Krista Dutt (Chicago First) began serving as interim pastor on April 1. Krista was recently affirmed for commissioning in the Church of the Brethren. The congregation has called a search committee and is working on a profile.

Lanark: Eric Wetzel was called as pastor on Aug. 31 and will begin Nov. 2.

Mount Morris: Rodney Caldwell completed his service as pastor effective Aug. 31. District executive Walt Wiltschek is serving as a partial interim pastor through the fall (two Sundays per month) to assist with the transition, as the church also recently sold its building and is now meeting in the Allure of Pinecrest Grove community building. Walt and the congregation have met several times to work on next steps.

Naperville: Dennis Webb announced his retirement effective Dec. 31. Initial conversations with the church board have begun about next steps.

Woodland: Local pastor Mathew Thiner is serving as an interim preacher and providing some pastoral care. Woodland member Kevin Sager is also helping to provide interim leadership, aided by a congregational team.

York Center (Lombard): Jonathan Shively and Tony Asta completed a nine-month contract as an interim ministry team on Sept. 30. The congregation had a farewell/thank you reception for them on Sept. 28. Gay Bouwmeester has been called as part-time interim pastor beginning Nov. 16. The congregation is considering next steps, and a congregational profile is available.