MINISTRY NEWS

Congratulations to York Center and Gay Bouwmeester! York Center called Gay as their parttime settled pastor, effective May 1. Gay had been serving there as interim pastor since November. Gay, a member of the Highland Avenue congregation, felt a call to ministry that she finally realized as a second career, and she was licensed by the district last year. The call Sunday and vote occurred April 19, with district executive Walt Wiltschek present to facilitate the event. An official installation service will take place on Aug. 16.

Two congregations have recently called interim pastors. Cerro Gordo has called David Biggs, a semi-retired pastor from the Decatur area, effective May 15, and Naperville has called Tony Asta, who is ordained in the Church of the Brethren and lives in Wheaton, effective June 1. We welcome David and Tony to these new roles in the district!

Brethren Press has shared that the inventory of printed copies of For All Who Minister: A Worship Manual for the Church of the Brethren has been exhausted. It is scheduled for reprinting in 2027, but in the meantime downloadable copies of the essential services of ordinances are now posted at: https://www.brethren.org/bp/ministry-resources/ for those who might need them.

The denomination’s Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program will be offering three online listening sessions throughout the summer to give opportunity for multivocational pastors (MVP’s) to meet with other MVP's and share their thoughts, ideas, and ways that the program can be helpful and supportive of their lives and ministries. The first one will take place on Tuesday, May 27, from 6-7:30 p.m. Central (sign up at https://forms.gle/iQcLx5bLMyjPhPvm8); the second will be Wednesday, July 29, from 6-7:30 p.m. Central (https://forms.gle/LANW8VRXVc938S1FA); and the third will be Tuesday, August 26, from 6-7:30 p.m. Central (https://forms.gle/fuzTdcg5rc9KrpVj8). In addition, there will be an in-person listening session at Annual Conference the morning of Tuesday, June 30 and an equipping session that evening from 8:30-9:30 p.m. entitled “Betwixt and Between: Following Jesus in the midst of liminality.” If you cannot make one of the in-person or online sessions, a survey can also be completed at https://forms.gle/pG1BFAUY9MF22sdi9.

A new informational resource about sabbath rest and renewal is available via the "Faith in Process" podcast, which recently featured a conversation with pastor Angela Finet about her book in the Covenant Bible Study Series about Sabbath. They can be found at: Episode 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/54SibW0HZRge0tP5lytbjM?si=IFUwukIpQj-yufA9RRfCkA; Episode2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/49wWeJHdktZuGsrRd7TLa8?si=Kpjz7pIATVGAonIH_FpiuQ. These will also be added to the Ministry Office website under Sabbath Renewal: https://www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/sabbath/.

Congregational vacancies/updates:

Cerro Gordo: David Biggs has been called as part-time interim pastor for a one-year period beginning May 15. The search committee will remain active, and a congregational profile is available.

Highland Avenue (Elgin): Krista Dutt was commissioned (ordained for term of service) in the Church of the Brethren last fall and is serving as interim pastor through at least October. The congregation has called a search committee, and a profile is available. Conversations about next steps are ongoing.

Mount Morris: Lynda Willmann began as quarter-time interim pastor for at least 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, and the congregation is working on a profile.

Naperville: Tony Asta has been called as part-time interim pastor beginning June 1. The search committee will continue its work, and a profile for their full-time pastoral position is now available. Naperville is using pulpit supply this month.

Oakley Brick: Pastor David Roe retired in March. Initial conversations have begun with the congregation about next steps. They are currently using pulpit supply.

York Center (Lombard): Gay Bouwmeester has been called as the part-time settled pastor at York Center, effective May 1. Gay had been serving the congregation as part-time interim pastor in November. The call Sunday and vote occurred April 19.