MINISTRY NEWS

The five-year ethics training and CEU cycle for all ministers will be occurring in 2024-2025. An ethics training session will be held during the spring clergy retreat April 15-16 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center near Rockford. Another in-person training will likely be scheduled in the district at a later date for those unable to attend in April.

The denomination’s Yearbook office received updated forms and information from only 13 of our congregations this past year. The forms collect updates on contact information, church leadership, membership, and other statistics. Please keep an eye out for these forms when they arrive in early 2024 and send them back promptly to assist with denominational and district record-keeping.

A new planning resource for ministers, A Year of Intention: Reflection Prompts and Planning Tools for Clergy, is available from pastoral coach Laura Stephens-Reed. This planner with reflection prompts and planning tools is offered in the hope that it can help clergy focus on what is most important in their professional and personal lives and to name the behaviors and supports that will undergird that focus. Cost for this downloadable resource is $15.

Congregational vacancies:

Cherry Grove: Using regular pulpit supply

Girard: Terry Link is assisting in providing pastoral leadership

Oakley Brick: David Roe has announced his retirement effective November 2024

York Center: Christy Waltersdorff has announced her retirement effective December 2024

Grants available: The denomination’s Office of Ministry has shared that grants are available through the Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program for pastors who would like to do a sabbatical or continuing education experience. For more information or an application, contact district executive minister Walt Wiltschek at IWDDE@outlook.com

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