Mennonite Central Committee Needs Your Help!

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In response to a call from churches and individuals, MCC is creating an MCC toolkit on gun violence prevention! They would love your feedback so they can better understand your needs, concerns, and questions.  

This resource will cover gun violence in all of its forms, including suicide, as 2/3 of all gun deaths in the US are suicide. 

Please contact Krista Dutt, Program Coordinator for Chicago and Church Relations Associate for MCC Great Lakes, at  312.623.4227 or kristadutt@mcc.org

IMC Names New Associate Conference Minister for Hispanic Ministries

Illinois Mennonite Conference is excited to welcome Martin Navarro as the new Associate Conference Minister for Hispanic Ministries. This is a new part-time staff position within the conference.

Navarro is a Chicago native. He grew up in the Comunidad Cristiana Vida Abundante in Cicero, IL. He has an M.Div. from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Currently, he holds the position of stewardship consultant and financial service representative with Everence. In that role, he serves exclusively Hispanic Anabaptist churches.

Navarro says, “In this position (with IMC) I expect to bridge cultural gaps and also strengthen relationships with the Hispanic churches within IMC. Also, I’m hoping that this will be a time where reconciliation can occur between the Hispanic congregations and the conference. Historically, Hispanic churches have been neglected or not well represented within IMC…”

Conference Executive Minister, Michael Danner, said, “I’m excited to have Martin on the staff of IMC. I’m hopeful that his work will help us begin to move towards being a multicultural conference in practice, not just on paper.”

Danner also said, “In my excitement, I’m also careful to guard against a quick fix mentality. The relationship between Anglo and Hispanic congregations in IMC has a long history. Moving towards a new way of functioning will take time. Having Martin on staff is a good first step. ”

Illinois Mennonite Conference leaders are excited about the possibility of growing relationships between our Hispanic congregations and the rest of the conference. Martin Navarro began his work with IMC on August 11, 2017. You can reach him via email at mnavarroimc@gmail.com

 

Bio: Martin and his wife Viri live in Elkhart IN. Where they both attend Prairie Street Mennonite Church. Martin enjoys spending time with family, and also vegetable gardening.

Martin and his wife are Chicago natives. He grew up in the Comunidad Cristiana Vida Abundante. He is also an MDiv alumni from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He has a passion for the study of the intersection of Mennonite identity and Latino theology.

MCC Immigration Grants

Is your church working with Immigration within your community?  Would your church like to begin working with Immigration in your community? If so, Mennonite Central Committee has funding to help. The following is a list of activities MCC will be funding:

  • Immigration Law Training – This is a 40-hour training in Akron, PA. The training will teach the fundamentals of immigration law which will help churches better explain and advocate around the tension in our country right now. The training will also teach skills for working with immigrant communities on their rights and pathways to citizenship.
  • Immigration Documentation Programs – The grant will provide start up/support funds for churches who are offering immigrants assistance will preparing proper documentation and helping communities better understand the system of immigration and their rights.
  • Know-you-right brochures – If your church needs the know-your-rights brochures and postcards, please contact MCC Great Lakes and we can assist with getting them for their specific communities.
  • Trauma Healing Training – If someone in your church or community is interested in taking Trauma Healing Training, the grant will pay for classes in your area. WE have limited spots for this part of the grant, so if people are interested they should contact me soon.
  • Translation  – The grant will pay to have immigration material translated to Spanish.
  • Advocacy Day – The grant will pay for a few people to go to Washington DC for advocacy training. The grant will also pay to bring Washington DC staff to your community and offer a training as well.

    These are a few areas in which MCC has funding for local congregations and communities. If you would like more information about these grants, please email Cyneatha Millsaps, MCC Program Director for the Great Lakes Region. 

Seeking Peace in Israel Palestine

Click Here to read the Seeking Peace in Israel and Palestine Resolution

At the Mennonite Church USA gathering in Orlando (July 2017), delegates overwhelming affirmed a resolution entitled Seeking Peace in Israel and Palestine. Now it is up to individuals, local congregations, and conferences to live into the resolution.

Below is a letter from Danny Aramouni, a pastoral intern at Reba Place Church in Evanston, IL. Danny provides a starting place, as well as helpful information about legislation that is intended to limit peacemaking efforts. This letter was originally sent to Reba Place Church members. IMC is posting it here with Danny’s permission.

Let us know how your church is living into this resolution!

Dear Reba Place Church family,

As you know, our denomination, Mennonite Church USA, recently overwhelmingly passed a resolution in opposition to both anti-Semitism and the oppressive Israeli military occupation of Palestine. One of the points of the resolution is encouraging our denominational agencies to divest from companies that support the occupation. When we discussed this resolution as a congregation, many of you asked how you could personally make your voices heard against military occupation, and I pointed you to the international boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement to put pressure on Israel to recognize the human rights of Palestinians.

Recently, however, a bill has been introduced in the Senate known as the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which would make boycott activity in conjunction with an international governmental organization, such as the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), a criminal offense punishable by up to a $1 million fine and 20 years in prison. This is not only counter to human rights–it is also a blatant and unprecedented violation of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to boycott, as in the early colonial American boycott of British goods and the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the Civil Rights Movement.

I would strongly encourage you to watch the short video (under two minutes) linked below from our Quaker friends at the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) regarding this bill, and then, if you feel led, to use the form they provide below the video to quickly and easily contact your senators and representatives, informing them of your opposition to this bill and support for global human rights. I believe that this is the most consistent action we can take as people of God, whose Kingdom transcends all earthly powers.

Watch AFSC’s video and make your voice heard.

If you are interested in more information concerning the bill, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has a helpful FAQ page about it.

Thank you for your time and support.

Grace and peace in Christ,

Danny Aramouni

RPC Pastoral Intern

Visit the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center

Click here to visit the Heritage Center website

Learn about the history of Mennonites in Illinois by visiting the Mennonite Heritage Center on Rt. 116, beween Germantown Hills and Metamora, IL.

The Heritage Center is open from 10 am – 2 pm on the following dates (call the Heritage Center for special events, times and dates).

  • June 30th
  • July 14
  • July 28
  • August 11
  • August 25
Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Center board chair, Deb Bertschi, describes the work of the Heritage Center this way:
As a public school teacher, my students often ask me why they have to study history. Making history relevant to them can be empowering beyond the classroom. Our mission at the Heritage Center is to help people find as many pieces of the historical puzzle that they are looking for as possible, utilizing primary documents and artifacts. The study of history forces us to ask questions and provides us with the tools for asking essential questions that use our higher critical thinking skills, so by studying history, a student learns the skills of asking questions and looking to evidence to answer these questions.

At the Heritage Center, in our archives, library, gallery . . . .in fact throughout the entire campus, we can search for answers to our historical questions.   We can study the primary documents and artifacts that are central to the narrative of Central Illinois, Anabaptist traditions, family and food-ways as well as political, social and philosophical questions. Research is essential to understanding who we are and research is important to finding the lost pieces of our memory puzzle. The Heritage Center continues to provide research and education resources to the churches as well as the public.

The Heritage Center is there to serve you. Contact them with your needs.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Heritage Center, please email the Heritage Center at imhc@mtco.com

501c3 Status

Do you know your congregation’s tax status with the IRS?

Some congregations believe they have tax-exempt status due to their participation in Illinois Mennonite Conference (IMC). While that may have been true at one time, it is no longer the case. IMC has individual 501(c)(3) status, not group status. That means that congregations do not have tax-exempt status just because they belong to IMC.

If you believe your church is tax-exempt because they are a part of IMC, you may not actually be considered tax-exempt by the IRS. Please double check your status to ensure that you are, indeed, tax-exempt.

Churches are not required to formally file for an exemption with the IRS. Churches can accept tax-deductible donations and function as a tax-exempt organization (no need to file a 990, etc) without official exemption.

However, without an official exemption, congregations cannot get written proof of tax exemption from the IRS. The IRS can only issue a tax-exempt letter for congregations that are officially registered individually or as part of a group (which is not an option for IMC congregations).

If you find you are not officially tax-exempt, your church can do one of two things:

1. Continue current practice and have no official IRS sanctioned recognition as a non-profit. Daily functions are ok, but the church would not be able to add things like online donation capabilities and the church could never “really consider” itself as a non-profit.

2. Apply for separate 501(c)(3) status using form 1023 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf). Churches are exempt from the usual 27-months from organization date to apply. There is an $850 application user fee which is listed on the 1023 form on page 12. You can use this link to find these other useful publications (http://www.irs.gov) some of the useful publication could be 557, 1828, 1771 and 4220 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4220.pdf).

On the move…

We are in full-swing, moving the Illinois Mennonite Conference office. We expect to be fully moved and out of the Tremont office by July 1, 2017.  What you need to know…

  • The mailing address is: P.O. Box 3, Tremont, IL 61568
  • The new phone (active now) is: (309) 340-4503
  • All email address are the same.
  • You can reach CEM, Michael Danner, by phone at (309) 992-8000.

Executive Assistant, Holly Mason, will work out of her home office.  CEM, Michael Danner, will work out of his home office when not meeting with pastors and congregations in their respective towns, etc.

In order to keep communication flowing, Michael and Holly meet face-to-face once per week. They communicate daily using the phone, email, and #slack.

Here are a few guidelines that will help you communicate with Michael and Holly:

  • When communicating with Michael and Holly by phone, please leave a message if they are unable to answer.They will respond as soon as they are able.
  • We want to talk to you! We just can’t talk to more than one of you at a time.
  • If you send an email and haven’t received a response within 24 hours, please resend the email (sometimes they get stuck in spam filters, etc.) or follow up with a phone call. We want to engage and be as helpful and responsive as possible.
  • If you leave a message or send an email to Holly after 3 pm on Friday, she may not respond until Monday.
  • If you leave an urgent voice mail message for Michael, please send a text as well. He turns off his ringer during meetings, but text messages will show up and that can speed up his response time.

If you have any further questions about communication with IMC staff in this new reality, please don’t hesitate to call or email with questions.

It is your turn!

Church revitalization begins with telling a different story. But that’s not all.

It also requires you (and every you in the church).

It requires you because…

1.) It’s your turn! It’s your turn to engage in risky love, to extend radical hospitality, to proclaim the gospel with words and actions, to do what Jesus said, to clothe and feed and give a drink to the naked, hungry, and thirsty. You are not on the bench or even on deck. You’re up to bat. You’re on stage and they are about to open the curtain. The concert started and it’s time for your solo.

2.) There is no one else!  No one else can step into the opportunities that you have. Other’s can’t love the people in your life on your behalf. They can’t extend hospitality to the neighbor or stranger at your door. They can’t proclaim the gospel with your voice and life. They can’t do what Jesus taught for you. They cannot provide clothes, food, and water for those in need around you on your behalf. Your opportunities are uniquely yours.

3.) You are more than enough! Jesus prepared you to do this. The Spirit is working ahead of you. The Spirit is empowering you. The Spirit gives you every gift needed to do the good works God has in store for you. You are ready for such a time as this.

Are you responsible?

Are you able-to-respond to the opportunity that is yours? Will you take the opportunity to participate fully in what God is doing, in and through Jesus, by the Spirit, for the world?

It is not easy. It is not always fun. There are no guarantees.

Yet, Jesus points us to a kingdom that is worth the risk. 

Church revitalization happens when people in the church take responsibility for the mission that is uniquely theirs.

There are no short cuts. There are no workarounds or hacks. There is only the work of being present and responsible for the opportunities before you. A vital church is a collection of people, doing the daily work of living into their calling, as they follow Jesus together.