The Reflector - April 2026
Wednesday, April 01, 2026
The Village ILWIDIot
Walt Wiltschek
“Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?” —Luke 24:18b, MSG
A cheery voice on the radio extolled the brilliant dawn of Easter morning and the joy of the day.
Meanwhile, rain pounded on my windshield as I sat in the church parking lot, glancing up at heavy, gray skies.
The world feels kind of like that right now, doesn’t it?
Once I made it inside the Pennsylvania church where I was attending Easter worship and shook off my umbrella, I greeted some friends and took my seat. I was glad to be there, but I confess my spirit wasn’t soaring the way it should on Easter. My mother was in the hospital, seismic world events were spinning out of control, and the church was carrying burdens of its own.
And then the hymn came. Not one of the familiar, well-worn Easter strains, but something fresh—at least to me. It comes from our hymnal, but it wasn’t etched in my memory like the others. Titled “Christ has arisen,” it comes from the African church, originally in Swahili. Its lilting, unbridled tune and hopeful words—especially as performed by the congregation’s band—shook me out of my doldrums.
“For our Redeemer burst from the tomb, Even from death, dispelling its gloom,” the lyrics proclaimed, in part. The young man playing the hand drums even shouted out an emphatic “Yeah!” at the end.
It struck me that while we take the resurrection of Easter as common knowledge now, for those living it in real time, most of them still didn’t know the news that Easter morning. The Emmaus Road story, for example, spotlights two disciples still downcast over all that had happened that weekend. For others, the news likely took even longer to ripple out.
Even then, and even after the Pentecost that followed, the Christians of the early church had some very difficult times and dark days to face in their first-century reality. But they had something else to carry with them alongside the weightiness of their world.
Sometimes that is the work of the church: to carry joy and gloom, light and darkness, together, letting one redeem the other and tending the flame of faith until it does.
By the time I left the sanctuary, the skies were still overcast, but the rain had stopped. Life is full of little resurrections.
DISTRICT EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE
In addition to regular meetings, Walt will be assisting with a “Call Sunday” at York Center on April 19, attending Camp Emmaus’ “Spring Into Camp” April 25, worshiping and meeting with Oak Grove on April 26, attending the district clergy gathering April 27-28, worshiping and visiting with Virden and Girard May 2-3, attending Chicago First’s centennial anniversary celebration May 9-10, and worshiping at Polo May 17. Walt will be on vacation May 28-June 11.
Walt is available to visit your church, do pulpit supply, lead sessions, have conversation times, or otherwise connect with your congregation. Please contact IWDDE@outlook.com to schedule a time. He is half-time and is usually on district duty late afternoons/evenings on weekdays plus weekends.
REMINDER: Please use the correct district office address for all mail correspondence: Church of the Brethren IL/WI District, 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard, IL 60148. As noted previously, please do not send district mail to Canton, as there is no longer a district office there. Thank you!
IN A TIME LIKE THIS
“I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you” (2 Timothy 1:6).
Beloved in Christ,
There are moments in the life of the church when the question is not simply what we believe, but how we will live, and this feels like one of those moments.
In recent weeks, violence and conflict have come into clearer view again. The United States’ increasing involvement in conflict with Iran is one example. At the same time, the language of division and hostility seems to surface more quickly, not only in distant places, but in the spaces we inhabit every day.
In a time like this, it is worth asking who we are, and how we are called to live.
For the Church of the Brethren, that question has never been abstract. We have long understood that following Jesus means taking seriously his refusal to participate in violence. We have named this as nonresistance, as peacemaking, as a commitment to live in ways that reflect the life and teachings of Christ. But we have also understood something else that feels especially important right now.
Peace is not only about what we refuse. It is also about how we live together.
Our tradition has long held that truth is best discerned in community. We gather, we listen, we speak honestly, and we remain with one another long enough to move toward understanding. We call this consensus—not as a procedural requirement, but as a way of trusting that the Holy Spirit works through patient, communal discernment.
In a world that moves quickly toward division, this is a different way of being, and it raises questions for us.
How do we engage one another when we disagree? How do we speak about conflict, whether global or local, without mirroring the hostility we see around us? What does it look like to remain in relationship when it would be easier to withdraw or divide?
If our commitment to peace is real, it must take shape somewhere.
It takes shape in our personal lives, in how we respond to fear, in how we speak about others, and in whether we choose to escalate conflict or interrupt it.
It takes shape in our congregations, in whether we create space for honest conversation, in whether we model listening, and in whether we are willing to remain present with one another when agreement does not come easily.
And it takes shape in our public witness, in whether we are willing to say, clearly and without hesitation, that violence is not the way of Christ, even when that position feels out of step with the world around us.
To live as a people committed to peace is not to be passive. It does not mean withdrawing or remaining silent. It means choosing, again and again, to engage the world in a different way, one that refuses violence while still taking responsibility for how we live, speak, and act.
This is not easy work. It is slower than we would like, and it requires humility, patience, and a willingness to examine our own habits as much as the world around us.
But this is also the moment in which our witness is most needed.
In a time when violence is again being justified, explained, and normalized in public life, silence carries its own weight. If we believe that the way of Christ is a way of peace, then this is not only something to hold internally or practice privately. It is something to be named, embodied, and, when necessary, spoken with clarity.
The apostle Paul writes to Timothy, “I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you.” If we speak of being Kindled Anew, perhaps it begins here, with a renewed willingness to live what we have long professed, even when doing so feels difficult or costly.
So, I find myself wondering:
Where is peace being practiced in your life right now? Where is it being avoided? What would it look like for your congregation to be known not for its agreement, but for its commitment to remain in relationship? And what small, concrete step might you take this week that reflects the way of Christ in a world shaped by conflict?
We may not be able to change the course of nations, but we are not without influence in the places we inhabit, and we are not without a calling to live in ways that bear witness to something different.
In a time like this, that calling matters.
(2026 logo designed by Madalyn Metzger)
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Gifts Discernment and Call Committee, April 16, 7 p.m.
District clergy gathering, April 27-28, Bishop Lane Retreat Center, Rockford
Council of District Executives spring check-in meeting, April 29
Church Revitalization and Development Team, May 16, 9 a.m.
Program & Arrangements Committee, May 18, 6:30 p.m.
Ministry Leadership Development Team, May 20, 6:30 p.m.
Church of the Brethren Young Adult Conference, May 22-24, Petersburg, Pa.
Leadership Team, June 2, 6:30 p.m.
Annual Conference briefing for Illinois/Wisconsin District, June 20, 10 a.m.
Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, June 28-July 2, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference, July 18-23, Estes Park, Colo.
2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference, Nov. 6-7, Polo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren
[all meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted]
IN OUR PRAYERS
A district prayer calendar has been created for your use in praying for our district and related programs through the year. We invite you to include the following in your prayers in coming weeks:
Week of April 12: Pray for the York Center congregation in Lombard and for the work of the denomination’s Intercultural Ministries as it helps us grow with new languages and new understandings.
Week of April 19: Pray for the Milledgeville (Dutchtown) congregation. Pray also for the worldwide ministry of Heifer International, as well as for SERRV, and other organizations birthed by the Church of the Brethren.
Week of April 26: Pray for the Ministry Leadership Development Team of the district, and for the clergy gathering being held near Rockford this week, as well as for all the clergy—active and retired—in our district.
Week of May 3: Pray for the denominational L.E.A.D. conference wrapping up in Ephrata, Pa., and for all those seeking innovative and creative ways to move our church forward.
Week of May 10: Pray for the Oakley Brick congregation this week, and for all the work of our denomination’s Youth/Young Adult Ministries office and all the ways it equips the younger members of our church.
MINISTRY NEWS
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/.
Randall Westfall (Mount Morris), manager at Camp Emmaus, wrote the meditation for this coming Sunday’s bulletin in the Living Word Bulletin Series, titled “Stations of the Emmaus Road.”
The Seraj Library Project is offering an event on “Palestine for Clergy and Faith Leaders” on April 19, 4-7 p.m., at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston. Find more information at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/2026palestineforclergy/event/palestineforclergyandchurchleaderscopy/.
The “Shine” children’s/youth curriculum of which Brethren Press is a part will offer a free webinar on May 5, 7 p.m. Central Time, to introduce the newly updated Shine curriculum resources. Register at https://forms.gle/VZeAeguWygqEu6116.
Note: The current IRS mileage rate for business travel is 72.5 cents per mile for 2026, up 2.5 cents from 2025. It’s possible this will increase in coming months due to the current economic conditions.
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 met with the search committee in March, and conversations about interim possibilities are taking place this month.
Highland Avenue (Elgin): Krista Dutt (Chicago First) 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 now available.
Mount Morris: Lynda Willmann bean 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: 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.
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 began as part-time interim pastor in November. Gay, a member of the Highland Avenue congregation, felt a call to ministry that she finally7 realized as a second career, and she was licensed by the district last year. The congregation’s search committee has now recommended Gay for the part-time settled pastor position; a call Sunday is scheduled for April 19. District executive Walt Wiltschek will be present to facilitate the event.
DISTRICT CLERGY GATHERING
Don Fitzkee, the 2026 Annual Conference moderator, will be with us to lead Monday's segment with the focus: "So, What’s New?"
The Bible says God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yet Jesus said he came to make all things new and declared we must be born anew. It seems like change is the only thing that’s constant. In our time together we’ll discuss how the world is changing, how the church is changing, how our individual faith understandings have changed or are changing. Maybe we’ll even find time to talk about how artificial intelligence already is shaping our lives, how we are using it in ministry (intentionally or not), and whether we are wrestling with ethical concerns about how we use AI. Annual Conference Moderator Don Fitzkee will bring some discussion starters. Come prepared to talk.
On Tuesday, NOAC Coordinator Christy Waltersdorff and Dan Radcliff of Eder Financial will be with us to talk about how we plan, prepare for, and eventually live into a healthy, sustainable, and fulfilling retirement. Anyone who participates in the full event will receive 0.5 CEU's.
The retreat will begin Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. with an hour to settle in, have fellowship, and enjoy the grounds, followed by worship, dinner, and our opening session. Tuesday will have a mix of sessions, worship, and R&R time. (For any additional nights at Bishop Lane for personal retreat, they might be available by contacting the retreat center directly.)
Cost is $75. The Ministry Leadership Development Team is subsidizing the cost to make it more affordable; if the price is the only thing preventing you from attending, though, please send us a confidential email, and we'll see what we can do to make it possible for you. Everyone will have a private room with bath, but if you prefer to share a room with someone, please let us know. Also let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. After registering, please send payment ($75), payable to the district, to 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard, IL 60148.
CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS
Chicago First is planning a special weekend May 9-10 to celebrate the congregation’s centennial in its building in the East Garfield Park area (425 S. Central Park Ave.). The congregation’s history dates to 1885, but it moved to its current location in January 1925. The big celebration is coming a year after the actual centennial, to celebrate 101. A program and open house are planned for 1-5 p.m. Saturday, and former pastor Orlando Redekopp will preach for a special service on Sunday at 11 a.m. All are welcome. Find more details and updates at 100 Years. … Chicago First members have also been taking part in a neighborhood Bible study titled “Discipleship According to Jesus,” led by Eric Kneel Little.
Canton offered a multi-focused music and meditations Easter season service, titled “As I Have Loved You,” on March 29. Approximately 70 people in attendance “were inspired with relatable, heartwarming stories, engaging scriptures, and soothing music presented instrumentally and vocally.” The intent of the service, written by Carol Davis along with contributing writers Chad Murphy and Lindsey Larson, was to offer peace and calm in the midst of the current uncertain times. Brunch was served following the service.
Cerro Gordo put together snacks for college care packages on March 22.
Dixon has joined with two other churches in town to create the Dignity Drive of Dixon, fulfilling the vision of a member to provide diapers and other incontinence products to those who need them. A gathering of donations took place on Palm Sunday, when the congregation also hosted a community hymn sing.
Huntley Brown, a world renowned pianist, gave a concert at Polo Church of the Brethren on March 22. Local piano students performed first, followed by Brown. About 90 people attended. A love offering was collected, and refreshments were served following the service.
Highland Avenue (Elgin) will hold an all-church potluck on April 19 following Sunday school. … The congregation has also been continuing its tradition of volunteering at the Northern Illinois Food Bank, most recently going on April 13.
Neighborhood (Montgomery) baptized Ezekiel and Serenity Hernandez during its Palm Sunday service on March 29.
Woodland (Astoria) held a Super Bowl luncheon in February, raising about $400 for the community food pantry.
The Neher family at York Center (Lombard) is holding a “house concert” with Brethren band “Friends with the Weather” on April 24, with music starting at 7:30 p.m. A donation of $10 and beverages/snacks to share are requested.
Mark your calendars! The 2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference will take place Nov. 6-7 at Polo Church of the Brethren with the theme “Kindled Anew.” The district Program & Arrangements Committee is hard at work on plans for the event, and they want to survey congregations to see whether you expect to have any children or youth attending from your church. If so, please email the district office with the approximate number and age of those who might attend. This will help the committee determine whether to schedule children's/youth activities during the conference. Watch for more details in the coming months!
DEPORTATION DEFENSE RESPONSE
A denominational effort, organized by five districts with large numbers of undocumented members in partnership with On Earth Peace and Intercultural Ministries, has been formed to provide support, advocacy, and legal assistance as needed. A Deportation Defense Response (DDR) webpage is now online at www.onearthpeace.org/deportation_defense_response_team. A toolkit of resources is at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/168SYbD3cMBO8ORb4sDXMqMbA2yvSGCN. To be added to the DDR newsletter list, to share other helpful resources for the toolkit, to share how a resource from the toolkit benefited your congregation or community, to find out how to get involved with the work, or for other questions, email migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org
The group is inviting local partnerships and offering a process for online donations for the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund at www.onearthpeace.org/legal_mutual_aid_fund_donations. You can also mail checks payable to Atlantic Southeast District with “DDR” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to Atlantic Southeast District, 64954 Orchard Dr., Goshen, IN 46526. For questions contact atlanticsoutheastcob@gmail.com. The fund is described at www.onearthpeace.org/immigrant_legal_mutual_aid_fund. It is seeking a total fundraising goal of $250,000; more than $200,000 has now been raised. Grants are being made regularly. Congregations needing financial help to aid their immigrant church members may apply for grants from the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund by contacting ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com or 561-647-8981 to receive the application form. The team will distribute funds received to members of the church facing immigration challenges who need legal support.
Nine months ago, during a report to the delegates at Annual Conference, the group challenged the congregations of the church to raise $100,000 to create a new Legal and Mutual Aid Fund to meet the needs of Church of the Brethren immigrants due to harsh immigration enforcement. On Easter weekend, they gave thanks that compassionate individuals and churches within the denomination have donated more than a quarter of a million dollars ($250,000) in the last nine months. Beth Sollenberger of the church’s Atlantic Southeast District, which has administered the grants, reports that more than 95 grants have been made via more than 30 congregations. “It is my privilege to be the middle person,” she states. “Day after day, the mailbox contains envelopes with a check enclosed. I am in awe of the generosity of people supporting the DDR Legal and Mutual Aid Fund. I am also inspired by congregations requesting grants to support individuals and families caught in the immigration system. In the Church of the Brethren we are blessed to be able to assist our sisters and brothers with your gifts.”
Biweekly Prayer Gatherings for Immigrant Justice are now held every other Thursday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Central over Zoom, next on April 23. Find more info and RSVP at Prayer Gathering for Immigrant Justice - On Earth Peace.
The DDR team also is looking for stories of individuals in congregations who have been directly impacted by immigration enforcement and policy changes, and for stories of people practicing “faith in motion” on behalf of immigrant neighbors and siblings in Christ. Contact migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org with a short, written story or to schedule a virtual call.
Do you have congregational news: celebrations, milestones, “Jesus in the Neighborhood” stories or other things to share with our district family? Please send them to iwdde@outlook.com,
CAMP NEWS
Camp Emmaus is planning a Spring Into Camp event for April 25. Visit the camp’s website for more details. Camp Emmaus also has announced its 2026 summer camp dates, and registration is now open at www.campemmaus.org:
May 22-25: Memorial Day Family Camp
June 12-14: Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
June 13-14: Elementary Camp
June 14-17: Target Sports Camp
July 5-11: Senior High Camp
July 12-18: Survivor Camp
July 19-23: Intermediate Camp
July 24-26: Young Adult/Young at Heart Camp
July 26- Aug. 1: Middle School Camp
August 6-8: Women's Camp
September 4-7: Labor Day Weekend Family Camp
Camp Emmanuel has announced its 2026 schedule:
May 29-31: Women's Camp
June 5-7: Pre-Junior Camp
June 7-13: Middle School Camp
June 16-20: Junior Camp
June 25-28: High School Camp
July 10-12: Mommy and Me
July 13-17: Day Camp
August 7-9: Men's Camp
September 4-7: Family Camp
Learn more at www.campem.com.
The 2026 OMA “InsideOut” camp curriculum will be titled “In the Wilderness.” An introduction to the theme notes: “Wilderness is a time or place where we encounter what is new, strange, scary, lonely, unknown or mysterious. The wilderness is a wild and beautiful time and place where we can discover the sacred within each person and all creation. … The wilderness reveals our strengths, growing edges, and potential as God equips us for the unknown still to come. The wilderness awaits us all, and God meets us there.” Daily themes will examine the nature of wilderness and how it’s woven into our lives (Psalm 139:7-14); how we experience awe in the wilderness (Job 12:7-10); God’s presence in our wilderness times (Exodus 13:17-22); Jesus’ example of using the wilderness to recharge and renew our souls (Matt. 14:22-30); the sense of community and never being alone (Esther); and being equipped to face our wilderness moments (Jer. 29:11-14). The annual InsideOut curriculum is a partnership between the Church of the Brethren and a variety of other denominations for use in outdoor ministry. Learn more at https://insideoutcurriculum.com/.
NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE
The NYC service project this year will involve making fleece tie blankets to donate for children’s hospitals, in partnership with Fleece and Thank You. In addition, NYC youth participants are invited to create and send in various worship elements built around the NYC theme. The plan is to use these worship elements as part of the worship services during NYC, which gives youth the opportunity to help shape what worship looks like. Find the submission form at https://forms.gle/UP9Y5et17G1FANdz5. Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@brethren.org with questions.
*Currently, six congregations (Canton, Highland Avenue, Naperville, Neighborhood, Peoria First, and Springfield First) have reported that they expect to have youth and advisors attending this year’s NYC. If you have members planning to attend and have not yet informed the district office, please do so as soon as possible. We will not have enough participants to do a bus, so congregations are working on local transportation options, likely flying to Colorado. The district Leadership Team is working on approving scholarships to aid the attendance of our youth participants.
National Youth Sunday 2026 resources are now available online at www.brethren.org/yya/national-youth-sunday. Resources are focused around the theme of National Youth Conference, “Light Within Us,” based on Matthew 5:14-16. The suggested date is Sunday, May 3.
YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE
DISASTER RESPONSE
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), responded in Aroma Park, Ill., a suburb of Kankakee, March 17. The CDS volunteers served at a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) supporting the community following a tornado that passed through Aroma Park on March 10. CDS also responded in Union City and Three Rivers, Mich., March 20-21 at MARCs supporting those communities following a tornado that passed through the cities. In Union City, an EF3 tornado damaged or destroyed approximately 70 homes in the area, 3 people were killed, and 12 more were injured.
In Aroma Park, through communication during coordination calls with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and state or county COADs, CDS connected with emergency management to offer care for children of those impacted and who were coming to the MARC. The assistance center was open Monday, March 16, and Tuesday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDS volunteers cared for children ages infant through age 15 while their parents received help and information on how to move forward after the destruction of their homes.
Brethren Disaster Ministries is continuing work at a rebuilding site in Letcher County, Ky., with new builds and repairs of homes damaged during the July 2022 flooding event. In 2026, our district’s volunteer week is shifting to the summer, late August/early September.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026
Our district Annual Conference briefing will take place Saturday, June 20, 10-11 a.m., via Zoom. All are welcome, but delegates are particularly encouraged to attend. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.
The Annual Conference office recently announced that advance registration for delegates will be $350 and for non-delegates $175. Onsite registration is $425 and $210, respectively. Daily fees are also available for those not attending the full week. A virtual registration option will be available for $220.
The three official conference hotel options will range in cost from $128 to $135 per night plus tax, with a discounted daily parking fee of $8. Annual Conference registration and housing opened to the public on March 4. All five daily worship services during the Conference will be available both in person and online free of charge to all registrants and non-registrants.
A special discount is being offered for congregations that have not been represented at Annual Conference since 2019. The Program and Arrangements Committee is providing this registration discount for in-person attendees (delegates and nondelegates). The discount will only apply to advance registration for in-person attendance at the full Conference. It will not apply to onsite registration. To take advantage of this discount, contact the district office for more information. The special rates are $75 for non-delegate registration and $150 for delegate registration, plus fees.
Attendance for the virtual portions of the Conference are offered at no charge this year, thanks to generous contributions from Living Stream Church of the Brethren and Pacific Northwest District. This gives people who cannot attend in-person the opportunity to engage in business, a number of Equipping Sessions, and the Wednesday evening concert featuring Brethren musicians—all virtually. Those wishing to participate virtually still need to register to gain access to the streaming platform. Virtual attendees are encouraged to make a donation to the ministry of Annual Conference as an expression of appreciation. Donations can be made at www.brethren.org/giveAC.
Annual Conference organizers have announced the preachers for the five daily worship services to be held during the Conference. Each worship service will focus on a theme and symbol from the Church of the Brethren’s biblical heritage. Speakers will be asked to reexamine and reappropriate historic Brethren themes for our time. They include moderator Don Fitzkee, Sunday evening; Beth Jarrett on Monday evening; James Washington on Tuesday evening; Becky Zapata on Wednesday evening; and Caleb Kragt on Thursday morning.
The Nominating Committee of the Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference has announced the ballot for the 2026 Conference, topped by Amy Gall Ritchie of North Manchester, Ind., and Gilbert Romero of Glendora, Calif., as candidates for moderator-elect. Complete biographical information for all nominees is online at www.brethren.org/ac2026/business/ballot and will be printed in the Conference booklet.
From the Annual Conference usher coordinator: During worship we need volunteer ushers to help receive offerings and record attendance. Congregations in the Fort Wayne area will usher at Sunday’s worship, while Manchester University students and alumni will do so Tuesday. While an important role in our worship services, ushering requires very little time and does not take away from participating in the rest of the worship service. You will be able to sign up when registering for Annual Conference and/or at the usher table when you arrive and check in for the conference. Once you have registered for conference, please follow the links to sign up to volunteer as an usher. You can also reach out to usher coordinator Angela Finet at angelafinet50@gmail.com with your congregation name, and your affiliation (if any) with Manchester University. Please use “AC usher” in the subject line. She can also be reached at 717-916-4694.
Find more details and register at www.brethren.org/ac2026.
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
• Upcoming courses from the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership include “Multivocational Ministry,” online, Aug. 19-Oct. 13, led by John Fillmore (registration deadline July 22), 2 CEU’s available; “Cultivating an Everyday Faith,” online, Sept. 23-Nov. 17, led by Joan Daggett (registration deadline Aug. 19); and “Introduction to the New Testament,” online, Oct. 21-Dec. 15 (registration deadline Sept. 16). Register and pay online at Brethren Academy Course Registration/Biannual TRIM Payment | Bethany Theological Seminary (bethanyseminary.edu).
• The Brethren Academy's Directed Independent Study Unit, Redeeming AI: Biblical Guidelines, will be a two-step program requiring registration for both the Minister's Association Pre-Annual Conference event on June 27 in Fort Wayne, Ind., and the DISU itself. Russell Haitch will be the speaker at the pre-annual conference event, while Tabitha Rudy will be the instructor in the DISU. This course will explore what AI is, how to make informed decisions on its use in ministry settings, and identify some biblical principles for how to interact with it. For TRIM and EFSM students, this course fulfills the multiple program requirements. For those looking to fulfill CEUs, this course is worth 2 CEUs. Registration deadline is May 6.
• Mediator, professor, and consultant Betty Pries’ book The Space Between Us: Conversations About Transforming Conflict will be the focus of the next offering by the denomination’s Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program. The nine-week discussion of Pries’ book will be facilitated by “circuit rider” John Fillmore on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. Central Time starting April 21 and concluding June 16. Register at https://forms.gle/Gxmt4fgh8PBbGmrDA. This book discussion leads up to Pries’ presentations at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference this summer in Fort Wayne, Ind.: the Discipleship and Leadership Formation Dinner on Monday, June 29; an Equipping Session on the evening of Monday, June 29; and the Clergywoman’s Breakfast on the morning of Tuesday, June 30.
• McPherson College’s “Ventures in Christian Discipleship” series will offer “God’s Earth, Our Home: Engaging Creation Care through Faith,” led by David Radcliff, May 2 (note new date), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Central. All sessions are via Zoom. Suggested donation is $25 per course. Learn more and register at https://www.mcpherson.edu/ventures/.
• Lombard Mennonite Peace Center offers a variety of training sessions. Upcoming options include “Restorative Conversations,” May 12 via Zoom; “Peaceful, Productive, Pastor-Parish Relationships,” May 14 via Zoom; “Conflict Transformation Skills,” June 10 or Aug. 26 via Zoom; and “Strengthening the Body of Christ,” Sept. 16 via Zoom. For details and registration information, go to https://www.lmpeacecenter.org/trainings. LMPC has also begun offering free quarterly clergy roundtable events. Watch their website for details on future roundtable opportunities (next on April 16, 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Central).
• Registration for this year’s L.E.A.D. (Listen – Equip – Adapt – Disciple) Conference, May 1-3 at Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, is now open at www.brethren.org/dlf/lead-conference. The scripture theme is Hebrews 11:8, which talks about Abraham following God through unfamiliar territory. Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience, will be the keynote speaker. Michaela Alphonse, pastor of Miami (Fla.) First Church of the Brethren, will be the opening preacher. Registration is $140 through April 24. A virtual option is also available; registration $75 through April 24.
• New Community Project continues to offer learning tours to “Go. Meet. Learn. Grow. Change – yourself and your world.” Upcoming trips include: Ecuadorian Amazon, May 28-June 3 (native communities, toucans and pink dolphins, toxic tour, nature's splendor); Borneo, June 11-19 (orangutans & sun bears, mangroves, palm oil plantations, snorkeling amidst coral, beaucoup biodiversity); Lybrook, N.M., July 8-14 (Dineh (Navajo) life and culture, Chaco Ruins, magnificent vistas, medicine woman, daily work around the site); Denali/Kenai Fjords, July 27 – August 4 (hiking, wildlife (sheep, moose, bears), volunteer day at dogsled kennels; whales and puffins along the coast); Yellowstone/Tetons, early August 9-16 (thermal springs, waterfalls, bison, 'mazing mountains, camp and hike); Nepal, January 12-24, 2027 (hosted by Shakti Samuha, learn about human trafficking and meet survivors; visit Chitwan National Park (rhinos!)). Find more information at www.newcommunityproject.info or contact dradcliffncp@yahoo.com.
• Designed particularly for ministers new to the Church of the Brethren denomination, Bethany Theological Seminary’s new certificate of achievement in ministry studies (CAMS) includes six courses that focus on Brethren history and theology, practical experience with the ordinances and preaching of the church, biblical interpretation, and peace studies. The certificate can be completed in two years or even one year, depending on course offerings. Five of the six courses can be completed at a distance. For more information go to https://bethanyseminary.edu.
PERSONNEL NOTES
Matt DeBall and Nancy McCrickard accepted the positions of interim co-directors for Mission Advancement for the Church of the Brethren starting March 23. In the interim co-director role, Matt will provide leadership for the stewardship and communication portion of Mission Advancement, while maintaining his current role and responsibilities as the Coordinator of Mission Advancement Communications. Matt will continue to work from the General Offices in Elgin. Nancy will take leadership of the giving and planned giving portion, while maintaining her current role and responsibilities as the Mission Advancement Advocate. Nancy will continue to work remotely from her home in California.
The Middle Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren has called Duane Crumrine to join the district’s Interim District Executive Minister team beginning April 1. Other members of the team include Mark Liller and Rebecca Zeek. Duane will replace Janet Sell, who served on the team previously. Duane has served as co-pastor of the Clover Creek congregation in the district since 2019, sharing ministerial duties with co-pastor Barbara Hammond. He plans to retire as co-pastor at the end of 2026. He previously served an interim pastorate at the Williamsburg congregation. Duane is currently a member of the Shalom team of the Middle PA district. He completed the TRIM program in 1988 and a Master of Arts from Bethany Theological Seminary. In addition to his pastoral service, Duane is concluding a 50-year career as a professional pilot. Duane and his wife Jo Ellen live in Martinsburg, PA and are the parents of one child.
JOB OPENINGS
The Church of the Brethren is seeking to fill a full-time salaried position of Director of Ministry. The Director of Ministry leads and administers the Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office, overseeing systems for calling, credentialing, placing, and supporting ministerial leaders. The director is a custodian of ministry polity and documents, collaborates closely with the Council of District Executives, and provides consultation to districts on leadership and organizational matters. Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree and Master of Divinity or equivalent; 15 years of pastoral ministry including administration (5 years of district leadership preferred); bi-lingual abilities preferred; and current ordination and active membership in the Church of the Brethren. They should be knowledgeable and experienced in budget development and management, able to understand and direct the implementation of the Ministerial Leadership and Ethics in Ministry Relations polity of the Church of the Brethren, and have strong interpersonal skills contributing to effective work across the denomination. Position can work remotely within the United States. Applications will be received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Qualified candidates may send a cover letter and resume to COBApply@brethren.org.
The Church of the Brethren is seeking to fill a full-time, salaried position of Manager of Accounting and Treasurer Assistant. The Manager of Accounting and Assistant Treasurer is responsible for the functions of handling the general ledger processes and report generation, provides account analysis and reconciliations, provides internal audit processes and carries out other assigned functions. Leads audit preparation for annual CPA audit. Candidates should have accounting skills and knowledge of computerized general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll systems; ability to work and communicate well with others; excellent organizational skills and problem-solving abilities; spreadsheet and word processing software skills; and proficient at 10-key. Candidates also should have at least three years of accounting experience, fund accounting preferred, and at least three years working on a computerized financial accounting software system. Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business and computer training required. Fund accounting classes are preferred. Location is at the Church of the Brethren offices in Elgin. Applications will be received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Qualified candidates are invited to send a cover letter and resume’ to COBApply@brethren.org.
The Church of the Brethren is seeking to fill a full-time salaried position of Director of Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM). Major responsibilities include providing oversight and administration of Brethren Disaster Ministries with a focus on the home rebuilding program. This includes identifying and opening new home rebuilding sites as necessary, managing long-term and weekly rebuilding volunteers and leading the training of volunteer leaders. Required skills and knowledge include strong interpersonal skills; ability to uphold and support the basic beliefs and practices of the Church of the Brethren as determined by Annual Conference; and ability to act within a multicultural and multigenerational team environment. Training or experience with making effective presentations and providing adult education, especially in conducting skill training workshops; managing staff and volunteers and in house construction and repair is required. Knowledge of International Building Codes is preferred. A bachelor’s degree is required, advanced degree in related field preferred. This position is remote and based at the Brethren Disaster Ministries office, New Windsor, Md. Applications will be received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Qualified candidates are invited to send a cover letter and resume to COBApply@brethren.org.
The Church of the Brethren is seeking an individual to fill the full-time hourly position of program assistant for Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) – Children’s Disaster Services (CDS). The major responsibilities of this position are to support programming and administration of CDS. These activities include providing administrative, programming, and clerical support to the associate director of Children’s Disaster Services. This includes support of volunteers, volunteer training and response, and assistance with general administration of BDM. Candidates should have an understanding of child development, excellent communication and organizational skills, experience using computers and technology (especially Microsoft Offices suite; Raisers Edge experience helpful), and ability to work independently. Two years of office experience and previous experience working with children or in child development is preferred. Associate’s degree or equivalent life/work experience is required. Applications will be received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Qualified candidates may send a cover letter and resume to COBApply@brethren.org.
The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy will have an opening for an associate starting this August. The position/fellowship is through Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS). Applications are now open through BVS at https://lnkd.in/gHpq6kCq. The position description is at https://lnkd.in/gepvXnBd. Deadlines for application: for Summer Orientation the deadline is May 20; for Fall Orientation the deadline is June 24. For questions contact Nathan Hosler, director of the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, at nhosler@brethren.org.
DENOMINATIONAL NEWS/NEWSLINE
Brethren Disaster Ministries has recently directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to continued support for the Nigeria Crisis Response ($95,000) as well as to support people in Lebanon who are affected by the war between Israel and Hezbollah ($25,000).
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, meeting March 13-15 in Modesto, Calif., issued a resolution on immigration that emphasizes the church’s longstanding commitment to civil disobedience when government policies are unjust or conflict with biblical teachings. The board drew on decades of church statements to urge individuals, congregations, districts, and the denomination to support immigrant communities, speak out against policies that harm families, and engage in civil disobedience when necessary. “Church of the Brethren history and tradition include radical discipleship, conscientious objection, and participation in civil disobedience,” the board said. The seven-page resolution, titled “Walking Together: Immigration, Peacemaking, Conscience, and Supporting One’s Neighbors,” will be provided online in multiple languages.
The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has signed on to an interfaith letter opposing the proposal for a $1.5 trillion budget for the Pentagon. On Friday, April 3, the White House issued the Presidential Budget Request that included the $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for Fiscal Year 2027. “This staggering 50% increase comes at a moment when millions of Americans are losing access to health care, food assistance, and other vital support,” said organizers of the letter.
Intercultural Ministries Café: Faith & Culture Conversations—rooted in relationship, discipleship, and practical intercultural engagement—will be held once a month for the next few months. The online event starts on Tuesday, April 21, and continues on a monthly basis through Oct. 20. The registration link is available at www.brethren.org/intercultural/#cafe.
Annual Conference moderator Donald Fitzkee and his wife, Carolyn, along with Roy Winter as executive director of Service Ministries, attended the 79th Majalisa or annual meeting of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) in March.20
The Church of the Brethren denomination suffered a ransomware attack in mid-December 2024 that breached the organization’s computer network. Since then, staff have been working with attorneys and insurance companies to compile a list of those whose personal information may have been in the data that was affected, while the Finance and IT staff have worked tirelessly to assess the damage, rebuild and fortify online protections, and recover data and files. The list of those whose personal information may have been affected is now complete and a formal letter was sent to those people. The delay in sending this information has come as denominational leadership adhered to the procedures and policies that are advised for this type of event. The majority of the Church of the Brethren membership is not affected and will not receive a letter. Only those whose personal information may have been affected will receive a letter.
The Church of the Brethren’s webpage on conscientious objection to war is at www.brethren.org/peacebuilding/co. Links on this page direct young people who want to learn more about what conscientious objection means and its biblical and Brethren roots to a free downloadable curriculum titled “Call of Conscience.” The direct link to the curriculum is www.brethren.org/peacebuilding/co/introduction.
Registration for the 2026 Song and Story Fest taking place July 5-11 at Inspiration Hills in Ohio is now open. Access all the information about this event at: On Earth Peace Event Page for Song and Story Fest. The organizers note that they have added more detail to the online registration form about which meals and nights participants will be present for. Also, if any members of a family will have different arrival and departure times and therefore different numbers of meals and/or nights at the camp, please have those individuals register separately.
The deadline to apply for the Church of the Brethren’s Health Care Education Scholarship in 2026 has been changed to May 22. This scholarship, made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment, is available to members of the Church of the Brethren enrolled in degree programs for nursing, medicine, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy, and other health professions. Scholarships of between $5,000 and $10,000 are awarded to a limited number of applicants each year. For more information and to apply, go to www.brethren.org/healthcarescholarship.
GRANTS AND GIVING
Grants available through the district include the following:
1. Mission and Mortar: Sustaining and developing ministry (mission) within congregations, as well as maintaining property (mortar), is sometimes hindered because of inadequate financial resources. The Illinois/Wisconsin District, whose mission is to support the growth and development of member congregations, desires to financially support congregations that are in good standing with the district and have specific needs. More information can be found here.
2. Being Jesus in the Neighborhood: Congregations can apply for $100 in seed money to start a new outreach project or initiative in their local communities, or to expand an existing one. These should be projects that intentionally engage with the neighborhood immediately around the congregation or, for those in rural locations, with the town or area around the church. Each congregation receiving a grant will be asked to share a little about their project at district conference. More information can be found here.
3. Emerging Missions Fund: To facilitate the growth and establishment of new faith communities, this grant is available for church and ministry planting initiatives. New church and ministry plants are encouraged to apply by contacting the district office and/or the CRDT.
Supporting Your District
The Illinois/Wisconsin District is active in a variety of ministry and mission efforts, both directly and indirectly. Continuing these efforts requires resources in the form of time, tools, knowledge, and especially finances. Consider making a contribution to the district’s general fund or one of its special funds (disaster relief, youth, emerging ministries, etc.). Look for the donate button at iwdcob.org, or send your checks to the district office: 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard, IL 60148.
Sunday, March 01, 2026
The Village ILWIDIot
Walt Wiltschek
“Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love.” —2 Peter 1:5-7, CEV
I find words hard to come by these days. Much seems to be amiss at various levels of life, and the nouns, verbs, and adjectives I’d usually employ often don’t seem up to the task.
Most notably, of course, the recent war with Iran and the rippling effects in the Middle East and beyond have been filling the daily news, alongside another election season, immigration concerns, our own church challenges, illnesses and loss, and much more.
So I’m turning to others’ words for inspiration. Lately I’ve been re-reading Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie—probably the best of his many titles (though I also particularly enjoy Have a Little Faith, and I’m intrigued by his new book, Twice). In Tuesdays with Morrie, Albom makes regular visits to his old professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is slowly dying from Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) but still dispensing advice on living well.
During one visit, Morrie recalls a quote from his favorite poet, W.H. Auden: “Love each other or perish.” The actual original line from Auden—written in 1939 during the build-up to World War II—was perhaps even more stark: “We must love one another or die.”
Auden reportedly later disavowed these words, perhaps feeling them too simplistic or sentimental or seeing that love did not, in fact, prevent great suffering and death during the years of war. Yet the words have endured and become meaningful for generations since.
One literary scholar, pondering the controversy, concluded that “the line as originally written is at least partly true—unless we become more altruistic, we will destroy ourselves.”
Have we forgotten how to love well? Are altruism and compassion indeed perishing, and our humanity along with them? Is that why we bomb our neighbors, readily separate from anyone who doesn’t fully agree with us, or try to exclude those who don’t “fit”?
A recent statement on Iran from Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele said, “In line with our discipleship to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace … I urge Brethren everywhere to work and pray for peace.”
In that same spirit, I’d encourage us to work and pray with love. It might be simplistic. It might be sentimental. It might not prevent pain. But it’s a start. And sometimes that’s all we have. As Morrie later concludes: “Which side wins? Love wins. Love always wins.”
DISTRICT EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE
In addition to regular meetings, Walt will be preaching and meeting with the search committee at Cerro Gordo March 15, worshiping at Neighborhood on March 22, doing a to-be-determined church visit April 12, assisting with a “Call Sunday” at York Center on April 19, worshiping and meeting with Oak Grove on April 26, and attending the district clergy gathering April 27-28. He will tentatively be taking vacation March 28-April 5.
Walt is available to visit your church, do pulpit supply, lead sessions, have conversation times, or otherwise connect with your congregation. Please contact IWDDE@outlook.com to schedule a time. He is half-time and is usually on district duty late afternoons/evenings on weekdays plus weekends.
REMINDER: Please use the new district office address for all mail correspondence: Church of the Brethren IL/WI District, 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard, IL 60148. As noted previously, please do not send district mail to Canton, as there is no longer a district office there. Thank you!
WHEN THE SEASON TURNS
by Jocelyn Watkins, 2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District moderator
“He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head’” (Mark 4:26-28).
“I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you” (2 Timothy 1:6).
Beloved in Christ,
March rarely arrives gently in our part of the world. Winter does not simply step aside. The ground softens unevenly. Snow melts in one place while lingering stubbornly in another. Wind sweeps across open fields, and storms move through without much warning. Some days feel like spring, while others remind us that winter has not finished its work.
It can be hard to tell what season we are truly in, but if we pay attention, small changes begin to appear. The light lingers longer in the evening. Water begins to move again along the edges of fields and roads. The soil loosens beneath the surface. Life that has been held through the long cold months begins, slowly, to stir.
Scripture speaks often about seasons like this. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is “a time for every matter under heaven,” naming time itself as part of God’s ordering of the world. Jesus once described the kingdom of God in similarly patient terms. In the Gospel of Mark, he tells of a farmer who scatters seed on the ground and then simply continues with the rhythm of his days, sleeping and rising, night and day, while the seed sprouts and grows, though “he does not know how” (Mark 4:27).
Something important is happening beneath the surface, even when the signs are difficult to read.
Perhaps that is especially important to remember in a time when many of the headlines around us speak of conflict, division, and uncertainty. The Brethren tradition has long believed that peace does not begin with governments or armies, but with communities willing to live differently: patiently, deliberately, and with care for one another.
Living this way asks something of us. As the world grows louder with the language of conflict and retaliation, the church is called to practice something different. We are called to resist the habits of hostility, to speak with care when others speak with anger, and to remember that the work of peace begins close at hand: in the ways we treat one another, the ways we listen, and the ways we choose mercy over fear. Perhaps this, too, is part of what it means to be Kindled Anew.
March rarely tells us exactly what the coming season will hold, but it does offer small signs that the story is still unfolding; and sometimes, those first signs are enough.
(2026 logo designed by Madalyn Metzger)
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Property and Assets Management team, March 11, 6 p.m.
Ministry Leadership Development Team, March 19, 6:30 p.m.
Church Revitalization and Development Team, March 21, 9 a.m.
Program and Arrangements Committee, March 23, 6:30 p.m.
Leadership Team, April 7, 6:30 p.m.
Gifts Discernment and Call Committee, April 16, 7 p.m.
District clergy gathering, April 27-28, Bishop Lane Retreat Center, Rockford
Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, June 28-July 2, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference, July 18-23, Estes Park, Colo.
2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference, Nov. 6-7, Polo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren
[all meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted]
IN OUR PRAYERS
A district prayer calendar has been created for your use in praying for our district and related programs through the year. We invite you to include the following in your prayers in coming weeks:
Week of March 15: Pray for Brethren Disaster Ministries and its work at various sites, for district disaster coordinator Rick Koch (Lanark), and for all those who serve in the wake of disasters. Lift up prayers for recovery still happening in North Carolina, Kentucky, Washington state, California, Jamaica, and elsewhere. Also pause to pray for peace in our world.
Week of March 22: Pray for the Dixon congregation, and for the worship and witness of the growing Church of the Brethren faith community in Nigeria (Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria).
Week of March 29: During this Holy Week, quietly consider the gifts that we have been given and what we might need to do to better share them with others. Then rejoice in the new life of Easter, proclaiming the joy and hope of Christ’s resurrection and anticipating what else God might yet do among us.
Week of April 5: Pray for the district’s Gifts Discernment and Call Committee as it calls leaders for the work of the church, and pray that those who receive invitations to serve will discern deeply how God might be calling them.
Week of April 12: Pray for the York Center congregation in Lombard and for the work of the denomination’s Intercultural Ministries as it helps us grow with new languages and new understandings.
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.
DISTRICT CLERGY GATHERING
Don Fitzkee, the 2026 Annual Conference moderator, will be with us to lead Monday's segment with the focus: "So, What’s New?"
The Bible says God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yet Jesus said he came to make all things new and declared we must be born anew. It seems like change is the only thing that’s constant. In our time together we’ll discuss how the world is changing, how the church is changing, how our individual faith understandings have changed or are changing. Maybe we’ll even find time to talk about how artificial intelligence already is shaping our lives, how we are using it in ministry (intentionally or not), and whether we are wrestling with ethical concerns about how we use AI. Annual Conference Moderator Don Fitzkee will bring some discussion starters. Come prepared to talk.
On Tuesday, NOAC Coordinator Christy Waltersdorff and Dan Radcliff of Eder Financial will be with us to talk about how we plan, prepare for, and eventually live into a healthy, sustainable, and fulfilling retirement. Anyone who participates in the full event will receive 0.5 CEU's.
The retreat will begin Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. with an hour to settle in, have fellowship, and enjoy the grounds, followed by worship, dinner, and our opening session. Tuesday will have a mix of sessions, worship, and R&R time. (For any additional nights at Bishop Lane for personal retreat, they might be available by contacting the retreat center directly.)
Cost is $75. The Ministry Leadership Development Team is subsidizing the cost to make it more affordable; if the price is the only thing preventing you from attending, though, please send us a confidential email, and we'll see what we can do to make it possible for you. Everyone will have a private room with bath, but if you prefer to share a room with someone, please let us know. Also let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. After registering, please send payment ($75), payable to the district, to 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard, IL 60148.
CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS
Chicago First is planning a special weekend May 9-10 to celebrate the congregation’s centennial in its building in the Garfield Park area. A program is planned for Saturday, and former pastor Orlando Redekopp will preach for a speech service on Sunday at 11 a.m. Watch for more details.
Chicago First also shared this report from Joyce Cassel: “On Tuesday nights in February cars lined both sides of the 400 block of S. Central Park and the fellowship hall became alive with about 30 people interested in learning more about, and developing more sophisticated nonviolent strategies for peace and justice events. The walls of First Church surrounded them with history and words of resistance from conscience objectors in WWI and WWII; to civil rights struggles of the sixties; to Vietnam War resistance; to Central America actions; to justice for Palestine; to justice in South Africa; to Iraq War and now today to justice for immigrants in the United States. Three weeks of our time together began with a delicious Middle Eastern meal and on Feb. 24 we enjoyed a special meal prepared by men from our group. Sherrilynn Bevel provided leadership, looking both at strategies to incorporate into our actions as well as examples from her parents, Diane Nash and James Bevel, and Sherrilynn’s own activism. Folks remained engaged for three hours to gain increased understanding. Many told John and I how meaningful it was to meet at such a historic church.”
Canton has a new piano in its sanctuary after an interesting series of events. Some years ago, a baby grand piano was donated to the congregation. Approximately two years ago, the daughter of the donor discovered that the piano was at the church. She then entered into conversation with Canton’s Leadership Team about the possibility of acquiring the instrument, which had deep sentimental value to her. Following correspondence over several months, agreement was reached to transfer the piano to her. A company specializing in moving pianos and organs prepared the piano for shipment and removed it for transport to its new owner and location. From remuneration the church received from the transaction, a new electronic piano was purchased as a replacement instrument and now occupies that space in the sanctuary.
Canton held its annual trivia night in February, with first-place honors going to the team of Carol Davis, John Davis, Jessica Sparenberg, Trygve Meade, Chad Murphy, Colin Davis, Denise Kirgan, and Martha Harr.
Peoria First began its annual Can-a-Thon March 1, running through this month. The project helps support the food pantry at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Donations include peanut butter, canned soup, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pasta, and other items.
Mount Morris has been meeting in the Allure of Pinecrest Grove community building since the fall, but it recently shifted to a more intimate space within the building for its worship time. The room better fits the size of the congregation and has better acoustics while also requiring less shared space and set-up.
Mark your calendars! The 2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference will take place Nov. 6-7 at Polo Church of the Brethren with the theme “Kindled Anew.” Program & Arrangements Committee has begun working on plans. Watch for more details in the months ahead.
A WORD OF THANKS
The district received this note of appreciation from Champaign following the special collection at district conference in November for outreach ministries of the Champaign congregation:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our hearts and our pantries are full after our time at the district conference. Your gifts to support our ministries were much appreciated and very timely. I must admit to being overwhelmed, not only by the volume but at the way that your gifts dovetailed with our immediate needs.
Some of the things that you gave filled needs that we didn’t even know we would have. We were still putting things away when the first of our community members came to the door in need. A neighbor, a victim of a robbery, had his work boots stolen—and there among the boxes and bags of your donations were the size 11 work boots that he needed. He started his request with, “You probably don't have any work boots, but I need a pair of size 11 work boots if you have any.” But searching through the then-unpacked bags, we found what he needed. God knew before he did that he would need them, that we would have them, and that you had given them. The man was so grateful. He had been told that he could not return to work in tennis shoes. He and his children came back a few days later and raked and bagged the newly fallen leaves in the churchyard. Later when snow fell, they shoveled the sidewalks.
We had an increase (over last year) in the number of families we were able to serve in our food pantry, too. We are averaging two additional households weekly. We were able to purchase meat with the money that we did not have to spend on vegetables. As food prices have continued to rise, families are finding that they have “month left at the end of their food.” A young mom came by to donate two small crock pots. She and her sister have combined households, and they were on their way to purchase a larger unit that would serve their combined families. We had given her a small crock pot over a year ago while she was living in a motel. They were able to buy food with the money they saved because we were able to give her a new, larger crock pot. She also gave us two children's coats that none of the children could wear. Within the week we were able to bless another family whose children were wearing layered sweaters in below-zero weather. We were completely out of children’s coats! This morning her neighbor dropped off three more coats! Her neighbor told her about our closet when she saw that she had purchased new coats for her growing boys. They both offered to run a load of laundry for me if we received clothing donations that just needed a wash to be serviceable.
Many people are worried about feeding their families. We have more people than ever asking about getting garden beds for the spring, so the garden tools donated will surely come in handy.
God keeps filling needs. I praise God for all of you.
In His Name,
Dawn Blackman, Outreach Minister at Champaign COB
DEPORTATION DEFENSE RESPONSE
A denominational effort, organized by five districts with large numbers of undocumented members in partnership with On Earth Peace and Intercultural Ministries, has been formed to provide support, advocacy, and legal assistance as needed. A Deportation Defense Response (DDR) webpage is now online at www.onearthpeace.org/deportation_defense_response_team.
A toolkit of resources is at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/168SYb-D3cMBO8ORb4sDXMqMbA2yvSGCN. To be added to the DDR newsletter list, to share other helpful resources for the toolkit, to share how a resource from the toolkit benefited your congregation or community, to find out how to get involved with the work, or for other questions, email migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org
The group is inviting local partnerships and offering a process for online donations for the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund at www.onearthpeace.org/legal_mutual_aid_fund_donations. You can also mail checks payable to Atlantic Southeast District with “DDR” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to Atlantic Southeast District, 64954 Orchard Dr., Goshen, IN 46526. For questions contact atlanticsoutheastcob@gmail.com. The fund is described at www.onearthpeace.org/immigrant_legal_mutual_aid_fund. It is seeking a total fundraising goal of $250,000; more than $200,000 has now been raised. Grants are being made regularly. Congregations needing financial help to aid their immigrant church members may apply for grants from the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund by contacting ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com or 561-647-8981 to receive the application form. The team will distribute funds received to members of the church facing immigration challenges who need legal support.
Biweekly Prayer Gatherings for Immigrant Justice are now held every other Thursday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Central over Zoom, next on March 26. Find more info and RSVP at Prayer Gathering for Immigrant Justice - On Earth Peace.
The DDR team also is looking for stories of individuals in congregations who have been directly impacted by immigration enforcement and policy changes, and for stories of people practicing “faith in motion” on behalf of immigrant neighbors and siblings in Christ. Contact migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org with a short written story or to schedule a virtual call.
Do you have congregational news: celebrations, milestones, “Jesus in the Neighborhood” stories or other things to share with our district family? Please send them to iwdde@outlook.com.
CAMP NEWS
Camp Emmaus is planning a Spring Into Camp event for April 25. Watch for more details. Camp Emmaus also has announced its *, and registration is now open at www.campemmaus.org:
May 22-25: Memorial Day Family Camp
June 12-14: Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
June 13-14: Elementary Camp
June 14-17: Target Sports Camp
July 5-11: Senior High Camp
July 12-18: Survivor Camp
July 19-23: Intermediate Camp
July 24-26: Young Adult/Young at Heart Camp
July 26- Aug. 1: Middle School Camp
August 6-8: Women's Camp
September 4-7: Labor Day Weekend Family Camp
Camp Emmanuel has announced its revised 2026 schedule:
May 29-31: Women's Camp
June 5-7: Pre-Junior Camp
June 7-13: Middle School Camp
June 16-20: Junior Camp
June 25-28: High School Camp
July 10-12: Mommy and Me
July 13-17: Day Camp
August 7-9: Men's Camp
September 4-7: Family Camp
Learn more at www.campem.com.
The 2026 OMA “InsideOut” camp curriculum will be titled “In the Wilderness.” An introduction to the theme notes: “Wilderness is a time or place where we encounter what is new, strange, scary, lonely, unknown or mysterious. The wilderness is a wild and beautiful time and place where we can discover the sacred within each person and all creation. … The wilderness reveals our strengths, growing edges, and potential as God equips us for the unknown still to come. The wilderness awaits us all, and God meets us there.” Daily themes will examine the nature of wilderness and how it’s woven into our lives (Psalm 139:7-14); how we experience awe in the wilderness (Job 12:7-10); God’s presence in our wilderness times (Exodus 13:17-22); Jesus’ example of using the wilderness to recharge and renew our souls (Matt. 14:22-30); the sense of community and never being alone (Esther); and being equipped to face our wilderness moments (Jer. 29:11-14). The annual InsideOut curriculum is a partnership between the Church of the Brethren and a variety of other denominations for use in outdoor ministry. Learn more at https://insideoutcurriculum.com/.
NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE
The NYC service project this year will involve making fleece tie blankets to donate for children’s hospitals, in partnership with Fleece and Thank You. In addition, NYC youth participants are invited to create and send in various worship elements built around the NYC theme. The plan is to use these worship elements as part of the worship services during NYC, which gives youth the opportunity to help shape what worship looks like. Find the submission form at https://forms.gle/UP9Y5et17G1FANdz5. Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@brethren.org with questions.
*Currently, six congregations (Canton, Highland Avenue, Naperville, Neighborhood, Peoria First, and Springfield First) have reported that they expect to have youth and advisors attending this year’s NYC. If you have members planning to attend and have not yet informed the district office, please do so as soon as possible. We will not have enough participants to do a bus, so congregations are working on local transportation options, likely flying to Colorado.
FAITHX
FaithX will offer six short-term service trips in summer 2026, along with the option for custom-designed trips for families, congregations, or districts. To prioritize senior high participation in National Youth Conference (NYC) this coming July, the program will offer fewer youth trips. Four trips will be available for junior and senior high youth (Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania), an adult international trip to Northern Ireland will be offered in June, and the We Are Able trip will be offered in Michigan in July. Additional information, trip descriptions, and registration links can be found at www.brethren.org/faithx.
YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE
DISASTER RESPONSE
Brethren Disaster Ministries is continuing work at a rebuilding site in Letcher County, Ky., with new builds and repairs of homes damaged during the July 2022 flooding event. In 2026, our district’s volunteer week is shifting to the summer, late August/early September.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026
The Annual Conference office recently announced that advance registration for delegates will be $350 and for non-delegates $175. Onsite registration is $425 and $210, respectively. Daily fees are also available for those not attending the full week. A virtual registration option will be available for $220.
The three official conference hotel options will range in cost from $128 to $135 per night plus tax, with a discounted daily parking fee of $8. Annual Conference registration and housing opened to the public on March 4. All five daily worship services during the Conference will be available both in person and online free of charge to all registrants and non-registrants.
A special discount is being offered for congregations that have not been represented at Annual Conference since 2019. The Program and Arrangements Committee is providing this registration discount for in-person attendees (delegates and nondelegates). The discount will only apply to advance registration for in-person attendance at the full Conference. It will not apply to onsite registration. To take advantage of this discount, contact the district office for more information. The special rates are $75 for non-delegate registration and $150 for delegate registration, plus fees.
Attendance for the virtual portions of the Conference are offered at no charge this year, thanks to generous contributions from Living Stream Church of the Brethren and Pacific Northwest District. This gives people who cannot attend in-person the opportunity to engage in business, a number of Equipping Sessions, and the Wednesday evening concert featuring Brethren musicians—all virtually. Those wishing to participate virtually still need to register to gain access to the streaming platform. Virtual attendees are encouraged to make a donation to the ministry of Annual Conference as an expression of appreciation. Donations can be made at www.brethren.org/giveAC.
Annual Conference organizers have announced the preachers for the five daily worship services to be held during the Conference. Each worship service will focus on a theme and symbol from the Church of the Brethren’s biblical heritage. Speakers will be asked to reexamine and reappropriate historic Brethren themes for our time. They include moderator Don Fitzkee, Sunday evening; Beth Jarrett on Monday evening; James Washington on Tuesday evening; Becky Zapata on Wednesday evening; and Caleb Kragt on Thursday morning.
The Nominating Committee of the Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference has announced the ballot for the 2026 Conference, topped by Amy Gall Ritchie of North Manchester, Ind., and Gilbert Romero of Glendora, Calif., as candidates for moderator-elect. Complete biographical information for all nominees is online at www.brethren.org/ac2026/business/ballot and will be printed in the Conference booklet.
From the Annual Conference usher coordinator: During worship we need volunteer ushers to help receive offerings and record attendance. Congregations in the Fort Wayne area will usher at Sunday’s worship, while Manchester University students and alumni will do so Tuesday. While an important role in our worship services, ushering requires very little time and does not take away from participating in the rest of the worship service. You will be able to sign up when registering for Annual Conference and/or at the usher table when you arrive and check in for the conference. Once you have registered for conference, please follow the links to sign up to volunteer as an usher. You can also reach out to usher coordinator Angela Finet at angelafinet50@gmail.com with your congregation name, and your affiliation (if any) with Manchester University. Please use “AC usher” in the subject line. She can also be reached at 717-916-4694.
Watch for more details at www.brethren.org/ac2026.
