Stay Connected to IMC!

Transitions within IMC staffing mean there are questions about communication. We want to ensure that you have your questions answered and needs met as effectively and efficiently as possible.

  • For general questions, comments, concerns, and/or financial questions, please call (309) 340-4503 or email imcinfo@mennonite.net
  • To contact CEM, David Miller, call (574) 296-6246, text (814) 360-0591 or email at dbmiller@ambs.edu
  • To contact ACM, Martin Navarro, call or text (773) 957-7951 or email at mnavarroimc@gmail.com
  • To contact moderator, Darrel Miller, call (309) 261-8668 or (309)563-4495 or email at dlmiller@frontier.net

We also use various channels to communicate the ongoing mission and activities of IMC and items of interest from MC USA. They are…

  • www.illinoismennonite.com
  • facebook.com/illinoismennconf
  • instagram.com/illinoismennonite
  • twitter.com/illinoismenno

The more you engage these communication channels, the more you will know about opportunities within IMC.

Initial Healthy Boundaries 101 Trainings Complete

Normal, IL – On Thursday, March 8, over twenty IMC pastors gathered for Healthy Boundaries 101 training. This was the last of four training events offered by IMC following the implementation of a policy requiring all active IMC pastors to have healthy boundary training.

Pastors from across Central Illinois discussed the difference between boundary crossing – which is necessary for healthy and effective pastoral ministry – and boundary violations – which are harmful to those pastors serve. The pastors also explored diverse topics such as appropriate touch, dual relationships, gifts, transference and self-care.

This training is part of IMC’s commitment to ensuring our pastors are healthy and well-supported in their ministry. IMC is committed to healthy pastors in healthy congregations.

If you are a congregational leader, please do all you can to create space for your pastor to engage in healthy self-care through having well-defined, reasonable expectations for pastoral ministry. Each pastor is responsible for maintaining their health and vitality in ministry. Each congregation is responsible for making that possible. If you need assistance with job descriptions, covenants of understanding, salary guidelines, or assistance with pastor/congregational relationships, please contact Conference Executive Minister, Michael Danner at michaeldanner@mennonite.net

First Impressions: Connecting your congregation and community in the digital age!

Click Here to Register

 

Click here for an event flyer suitable for printing/posting

 

Click here for a printable registration flyer

 

People used to form a first impression of your church when they walked through the doors on Sunday morning. Now they do it with a google search. What they discover about your church on the web will form their first impression of your church.

Will they encounter a clear and consistent message? Will they be able to sense the kind of community you are by what they see, read, and hear?

There are incredible, affordable – and even free – communication tools waiting to be used by local congregations to make an accurate first impression.

This one-day workshop will help you…

  • Sharpen your church’s core message
  • Evaluate which online communication tools fit your resources and capacity
  • Plan to communicate your core message effectively

Dustin Wyse-Fisher PRESENTER: Dustin Wyse-Fisher is an educator and designer in central Illinois. He spends most of his time teaching graphic design and multimedia at an area community college. For more than a decade, he has worked as a freelance designer and printer, most recently overseeing web services at a small liberal arts college managing all aspects of the college’s online presence.

When: Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 9 am – 3 pm

Where: Roanoke Mennonite Church, Eureka, IL

Cost: $35 per person including lunch, snacks, etc.

Use links above to register or get printable posters and registration flyers!

Hillary Watson Affirmed for Ordination

Lombard, IL – On Tuesday, January 23 the Church Life Team (CLT) of Illinois Mennonite Conference (IMC) affirmed Hillary Watson, associate pastor at Lombard Mennonite Church, for the credential of ordination. Hillary is now an ordained minister within Illinois Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA.

L to R – Anne Munley, Doug Roth, Michael Danner, Hillary Watson, Curt Fenton, and Melissa Bietler

Hillary’s ordination is the culmination of a 4-year process. During the last four years, Hillary was active in ministry. Her call was tested and her gifts were demonstrated in the church community. Her call was confirmed and her gifts were affirmed.

Ordination candidates prepare a written response to questions about their faith, theology, spiritual disciplines, leadership, and Anabaptist witness. The candidates responses serve as the basis for the interview. The CLT reports joy in reading Hillary’s writing and engaging her in substantive discussions sparked by her journey.

Michael Danner, of IMC, says, “I look forward to seeing how God will continue to use Hillary’s gifts and passion for others in ministry.”  Please pray for Hillary as she lives into this calling. A celebration is being planned by leaders at Lombard Mennonite Church.

The IMC Church Life Team consists of Anne Munley, Doug Roth (chair), Charlotte Lehman (absent for this interview), and Curt Fenton. Michael Danner, Conference Executive Minister, also participates in credentialing interviews.

To learn more about the ordination process and what ordination means within an Anabaptist/Mennonite context, read A Shared Understanding of Ministerial Leadership, available at mennomedia.com

Mennonite Disaster Service Begins New Work in Ottawa, IL

Click here for background on the Ottawa-Naplate worksite

Starting the first week of February, work will begin in Ottawa and Naplate, Illinois, repairing and rebuilding homes damaged by the tornado that went through the area February 28, 2017. This will be an Illinois Unit project.   The local recovery committee has identified several homes with which we will be working over the next five or six months to repair. One brick home will be gutted and restored, beginning with replacing the roof of the home. We have volunteers signed up to begin work the first week of February. We expect to rebuild the roof that week and get the house once more under cover.

Volunteers are now needed:

  • We need a state licensed roofing contractor
  • Demolition crews
  • Carpenters
  • Cooks

In the coming months, we will need:

  • Electricians, including a licensed electrician
  • Plumbers, including a licensed plumber
  • Cooks
  • Drywallers
  • Painters

Persons interested in volunteering on this project may contact Jill McHugh, our Volunteer Coordinator.

In addition, we are looking to borrow a pickup or cargo van from time to time during the course of the project. Please contact Ronn Frantz, our Project Coordinator, if you know of a vehicle or vehicles that could be used for hauling materials when we have work crews on the job.

We will also be needing to purchase additional tools and supplies for our work and for housing and feeding our crews. Donations for work in Ottawa/Naplate can be made out Illinois MDS Unit and mailed to Mahlon Householter. Please add in the memo line, “Ottawa/Naplate.”

MDS Ottawa/Naplate Leadership Committee

Ronn Frantz, Project Coordinator.   Text or call at 773/401-4165.

Jill McHugh, Volunteer Coordinator. Text or call at 708/522-8080.

Doug Goertzen, Construction Supervisor. 309/256-6482.

Ronn, Doug, and Jill can all be emailed at ILMDSunit@gmail.com.

Mahlon Householter, Treasurer. 309/231-6262. house@mtco.com 1545 Church Rd., Eureka, IL   61530.

Help Shape the Future of Illinois Mennonite Conference

Let me set the scene. The conference continues to support congregations and pastors through pastoral coaching, mediation, pastoral searches, resourcing, relationship building, and credentialing. Our staff consists of one Full-time Executive Minister, 1 half-time Executive Assistant, and one 1/8 time Associate Conference Minister for Hispanic Ministries. The conference has made almost every substantial cut in expenses – we’re pretty lean. Yet, we are still facing a projected loss that will eat up what remains of our reserves (this is not 100% – January is the last month of our fiscal year – but we project being in the red $13,000).

There are many factors contributing to this reality. However, they do not change that reality. Our current income levels cannot support our current approach.

The conference is our congregations! The decision making authority of the conference rests with congregational delegates. Therefore, the delegates have some discernment to do. That discernment is the focus of our February 17, 2018 business meeting at Metamora Mennonite Church, beginning at 9 am.

If you are used to delegates gathering to “rubber stamp” budgets, THIS is NOT THAT!

Right now the conference needs congregations and delegates to gather together, fully-engaged, making spiritual discernment about the direction of the conference.

On our end, conference leaders are working to set the stage for effective discernment at that meeting.

The IMC Business meeting is on Saturday, February 17, 2018, at Metamora Mennonite Church in Metamora, IL.  We will begin at 9 am and conclude no later than 4 pm.  Each congregation is allowed 5 delegates. Congregations, please do your best to be represented in full or part.  Credentialled leaders, please participate in this gathering – your wisdom and insight are needed.

There is no cost for this event. We will take a donation to cover meal expenses if you are able (please don’t let this be a reason you do not participate).  For planning purposes, please RSVP to Holly Mason by February 5.

 


IMC Annual Business Meeting on February 17, 2018

On Saturday, February 17, 2018 the Delegate body of Illinois Mennonite Conference (IMC) will meet at Metamora Mennonite Church, Metamora, IL for a newly formatted annual business meeting.

This is the primary business meeting of the conference for the year. This meeting replaces the business portion of the Annual Assembly (a second gathering will take place October 19 and 20, 2018  at Sonida de Alabanza for the purpose of worship and equipping).

At the IMC business meeting, our goals are to approve the 2018 – 2019 IMC budget, to consider a change to the work of the Financial Advisory Team, and to discern the strategic direction of IMC.  It is possible we will add additional agenda items, or refine goals stated above. A full agenda will be sent to all congregations, pastors, and registered delegates two weeks prior to the meeting.

To register, please email hmason@mennonite.net. Let her know how many delegates will be attending from the congregation. There is no registration fee for this event. It’s our desire to ensure that every congregation can participate fully, regardless of economic resources. Your RSVP is helpful in planning.

Each congregation is allowed to send 5 delegates to this meeting, in addition to any credentialed pastors in your congregation.

In order to make the best decisions possible for the future of IMC, it is important to have as many participants as possible.

Details:

  • We will begin at 9 am and conclude no later than 4 pm.
  • There will be snacks throughout the day, opportunities to get to know others at table groups, and lunch.
  • There is no registration fee for this event.
  • A love offering will be collected to help cover the expenses for lunch and snacks.
  • Please RSVP to Holly Mason at hmason@mennonite.net

 

Financial Update

At the Illinois Mennonite Conference Annual Meeting in the Spring of 2017, the delegate body had an extended conversation about the financial condition of Illinois Mennonite Conference. During that meeting, a budget was approved and an approach to lower expenses by closing the physical office was also implemented.

At the end of September, we were 8 months into the current fiscal year. Here is a snapshot of where we are year-to-date:

  • We are currently 17,910.38 in the red  (income is under expenses).
  • Expenses are down 3%
  • Congregational giving is up $24,049.73

A few words as we move forward:

  • Congregational giving is up, in part, from a generous gift from an IMC congregation who had a budget surplus.
  • Due to the timing of our annual meeting and the time it took to close down the office, we had six months of office expenses (rent, utilities, phone, etc.) in this fiscal year. Therefore, our expenses compared to last year will continue to trend down.

What can you do to support IMC financially?

  • If your congregation currently contributes to IMC, please continue to do so. Your support makes the ministry of the conference happen.
  • If your congregation has not contributed to IMC this year, please consider taking a love offering for the conference before the end of the fiscal year (Fiscal year end is January 31).
  • If you are an individual and engage in charitable giving, please consider a gift to IMC as the year ends. You can donate online or send a check to IMC using the address below.
  • There are others ways to contribute to the ongoing work of IMC through other charitable giving. Brian Veeder, IMC Treasurer and Everence Rep, would be happy to talk to you about those opportunities. You can reach him at Brian.Veeder@everence.com

If you’d like more information on the ministry of IMC and the benefit this ministry provides to local congregations, please contact Michael Danner. He is more than happy to share the vision and work of IMC.

IMC and CDC Ordain Debra Sutter

Evanston, IL – On Thursday, October 26 the Illinois Mennonite Conference Church Life Team, along with Central District Conference Minister, Doug Luginbill and CDC Ministerial Committee member Ardean Friesen (via skype), interviewed Pastor Debra Sutter for ordination at Reba Place Ministry Center.

Debra Sutter is a pastor at First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana, where she has served on the pastoral staff since 2015. She has been a member of the church since 1991.

Following a time of questioning, the team voted unanimously to affirm Debra’s ordination. This concludes a two-year period of licensing towards ordination, which is a season of confirming the initial call to ministry. Debra, the congregation of First Mennonite, and the credentialing bodies of CDC and IMC all confirm that there is evidence of God’s call to ordained ministry in Debra’s life and ministry.

This is a joyful time in Debra’s life, the local church, and the wider church where we celebrate that God calls and equips God’s people to serve God’s church. We recognize that God does this in many ways. One of those ways is the call to pastoral ministry in the church.

An ordination service is planned for November 19, 2017 at First Mennonite Church.

For more information about ministerial credentials within Mennonite Church USA congregations, please read A Shared Understanding of Ministerial Leadership, published by Menno Media.

IMC Gatherings in 2018!

The Illinois Mennonite Conference Annual Assembly is the central yearly gathering of the delegates of the conference. This event has taken many forms through the years. One consistent piece of feedback we receive about the annual assembly is “There is not enough time for business” and “There is not enough time for worship and equipping.” By trying to do both things in one gathering, we’re wondering if we are doing either of them as well as we can.

In 2018, we are experimenting with a new pattern of gathering.

  • On Saturday, February 17 we will have a one-day delegate business meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to review the past year’s financials, approve the budget for the upcoming year, and to make strategic decisions about the future direction of IMC. Imagine the business portion of the annual assembly, with more time and space to fully consider various options for moving forward. The meeting will be held at Metamora Mennonite Church.
  • On Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20, we will gather for a time of worship and spiritual formation at Sonido de Alabanza.  We will gather around a theme, which will be the focus of IMC for the upcoming year. We will worship together, in styles that represent the breadth and depth of the conference. We will have various teaching/equipping tracks. We will fellowship together and build relationships.  As part of the gathering, you will have the option of staying an extra evening and worshipping with one of the many IMC congregations in Chicago.

Keep your eyes out for more details as they become available. Delegates will get more information about the business meeting agenda items beyond the budget so that you can prepare for the gathering. There is also no cost for the business meeting and will be a modest registration cost for the worship and equipping gathering.