DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2025 WRAP-UP
The theme was “Are You Being Called,” drawn from 1 Samuel 3 and explored during opening worship Friday evening, with Bill Williams sharing. Rich and Yvonne Brode led a hymn sing for the beginning part of the service as well as hymns and special music during the service. Donations were received for the Champaign congregation’s community outreach programs, with a large pile of items received, and an offering was taken to support district ministries, with more than $850 given. An ice cream social with various packaged ice cream treats followed worship.
Business on Saturday included approval of the district’s 2026 budget, a variety of reports from district teams and denominational agencies, disorganization of the Rockford (Ill.) Community Fellowship; and approval of the slate for the upcoming year. Newly elected were Sharon Rice (York Center) as moderator-elect; Suzi Lauterbach (Peoria First), to fill an unexpired term on the leadership team; Vicki Matheny (Peoria First) to Ministry Leadership Development Team; Jan Dietrich (Mount Morris) and Bob Hamlin (Neighborhood) to the Gifts Discernment and Call Committee; Michael Cole (Dixon) and Phyllis Batterton (Woodland) to the Church Revitalization and Development Team; and Christine Knotts (Peoria First) to the Ethics Team. Affirmed for second terms were: Chris Douglas (Highland Avenue) on Program & Arrangements Committee; Ed Carper (Canton) and Dawn Blackman (Champaign) on leadership team; Bill Williams (Yellow Creek) to resume the term on CRDT he vacated to become moderator; Anna Lee Hisey-Pierson (York Center) on Shalom Team; and Neil Brinkmeier (Dixon) on the Property & Assets Management Team. Kevin Kessler (Canton) and LeAnn Harnist (Highland Avenue) were affirmed in their roles as Standing Committee representative and treasurer, respectively. Camp Emmaus, Camp Emmanuel, and Girard Area Homes also held their meetings as part of business, and Naperville pastor Dennis Webb shared an emotional update on the hurricane aftermath in his home country of Jamaica.
Equipping sessions Saturday afternoon, following a catered lunch at the conference center, featured one session on “Calling the Called,” sponsored by the Ministry Leadership Development Team and including five people sharing their “call” stories; and one, led by Dawn Blackman, looking at Champaign’s community connections and outreach efforts. Ten exhibitors surrounded the perimeter of the meeting and eating room, including a small bookstore by Brethren Press. In addition, a pre-conference workshop led by Rhonda Baker and Sherri Bevel provided training in Kingian Nonviolence principles for 14 participants.
A consecration of Jocelyn Watkins as the 2026 district moderator and Sharon Rice as moderator-elect culminated the conference. The 2026 district conference will take place Nov. 6-7 at Polo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren. The Highland Avenue congregation in Elgin will host the 2027 event.
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