MINISTRY NEWS

Lynda Willmann, who retired as pastor at Lanark at the end of 2024, begins serving as quarter-time interim pastor for Mount Morris on March 15, with an initial contract of six months. We welcome Lynda back to pastoral ministry in the district!

Several members of the district are exploring calls to ministry. The district’s Ministry Leadership Development Team has connected them with ordained district mentors, and they are meeting with discernment cohorts to continue exploring paths to ministry. Please be in prayer for them as they seek God’s direction for their lives and work.

“Redeeming AI: Biblical Guidelines” is this year’s theme for the pre-Annual Conference Church of the Brethren Ministers’ Association continuing education event. Russell Haitch, Bethany Theological Seminary professor of theology and human science, will be the keynote speaker. The event will take place Saturday evening, June 27, and all day Sunday, June 28, in Fort Wayne, Ind. Find out more and register at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/#events.

Note: The current IRS mileage rate for business travel is 72.5 cents per mile for 2026, up 2.5 cents from 2025.

Congregational vacancies/updates: 

Cerro Gordo: 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 be meeting with the search committee again on March 15. 

Highland Avenue (Elgin): Krista Dutt (Chicago First) was commissioned (ordained for term of service) in the Church of the Brethren in October and is serving as interim pastor. The congregation has called a search committee, and a profile is now available.

Mount Morris: Lynda Willmann begins as quarter-time interim pastor for six months on March 15. Jonathan Shively is also doing a consultation process with Mount Morris this year as they discern direction. Conversations about next steps for pastoral ministry are ongoing.

Naperville: A search committee has been formed, and a profile for their full-time pastoral position is now available. Conversations about interim possibilities are under way with the church board. Naperville is currently using pulpit supply.

Woodland: Local pastor Mathew Thiner and Woodland member Kevin Sager are taking turns filling the pulpit, an arrangement the congregation says is working well for them at this time.

York Center (Lombard): Gay Bouwmeester began as part-time interim pastor in November. The congregation’s search committee has now recommended Gay for the settled pastor position; a call Sunday is scheduled for April 19.