DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2026
Online registration is now open with links for delegates (DELEGATE District Conference Registration) and non-delegates (NON-DELEGATE District Conference Registration). Delegate registration fees are covered through the congregational assessments, which must be paid before delegates can be registered. Information on delegate allotments and fees were sent to all congregations in August, with a follow-up mailing this month. Non-delegate fee is $15 per person. A Saturday lunch is available for $20 per person, with Tuscan chicken and vegetarian options. Credit card payment is available, or mail a check to the district office. Please register by Oct. 31. Meals will not be available after that date.
The conference will begin with a hymn sing and worship starting at 7:10 p.m. Friday evening, followed by an ice cream social. (Registration will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m., and exhibits open at 6 p.m.) It continues with business, an equipping session, and lunch on Saturday. Jocelyn Watkins (Peoria First) will serve as moderator and Sharon Rice (York Center) as moderator-elect. They will also serve as the speaker and worship leader, respectively, for Friday evening’s worship.
Annual Conference moderator Dennis Beckner (whose wife, Beth, is originally from the Franklin Grove area and grew up attending Camp Emmaus!) will be joining us for the event and leading an equipping session focusing on congregational renewal as well as a worship time on Saturday.
Business this year will include the 2027 district budget, the slate of those nominated to district positions, and polity related to congregations that decide they no longer wish to be part of the Church of the Brethren, as well as reports from various agencies, organizations, and district teams.
A HEARING on the proposed congregational withdrawal policy will be offered on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. A link will be sent in the coming weeks. This will be an opportunity to hear from the team that developed the policy, background information, and to ask questions or share any concerns in advance of district conference. This is a type of policy that many other districts have but that had never formally been developed here. While we hope to use it infrequently, it felt important to have a process on paper. The hearing is open to both delegates and non-delegates and is expected to last up to an hour.
An exhibit area featuring various denominational and district organizations will be available. Based on the feedback received, activities for children and youth will not be offered this year at the conference, although National Youth Conference will be highlighted during the sharing time.
A service project will assist the local Lifeline Food Pantry, which has been an important outreach ministry for Polo Church of the Brethren. Started in the early 1970’s out of a resident’s garage, it has grown over the years to continue to support the growing population of food insecure families and individuals. Currently the pantry serves about 100 to 115 families a month feeding around 400 individuals. Changes in SNAP benefits and the increase in inflation continue to add new people to its client list. Most clients are employed unless retired or disabled; the majority are seniors or families with children. The food banks which were previously relied upon as the main source of supplies have less and less food to offer, forcing the pantry to buy a lot of its food. This year it added five raised garden beds along with beds at the Polo church to grow as much produce as possible.
The following items are needed: Toilet paper; any canned meat; juice; shampoo; body wash; deodorant; laundry soap; canned fruit; sugar; canned soups; spaghetti sauce; canned vegetables; ketchup; mayonnaise; cheese of any kind. Those attending conference are encouraged to bring some of these items to be collected as donations to the pantry.
There is no official conference hotel this year. Instead, those attending who need lodging are encouraged to make direct reservations with one of the area hotels; the nearest are in Dixon, Rock Falls, or Oregon, along with some possible options near White Pines State Park. A list of area options can be found on the district conference web page. The Polo church is at 401 S. Congress Ave. in Polo.
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