Program & Arrangements Committee, Aug. 21, 7 p.m.

National Older Adult Conference, Sept. 1-5, Lake Junaluska, N.C.

Ministry Leadership Development Team, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.

Church Revitalization and Development Team, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.

“Love Has No Borders: Immigration Issues, Deportation Issues, and Today’s Church,” Oct. 4, 10 a.m.

Leadership Team, Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.

Illinois/Wisconsin District Conference, Nov. 7-8, Chateau Hotel / Conference Center, Bloomington, IL

[all meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted]

August Newsletter

This year’s National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) will be held Sept. 1-5, at Lake Junaluska, N.C., with the theme “Alive in the Spirit!” (from Romans 15:13). Find information at www.brethren.org/noac. Registration fees are $250 for regular registration. First-time attendees receive a $20 discount. A virtual participation registration option is available for $150 per household.

The vibrant week includes worship, keynote sessions, workshops, service projects, field trips, ice cream socials, and more. This year’s keynote speakers are: writer and poet Cole Arthur Riley; musician and storyteller Ken Medema; playwright and actor Ted Swartz; and Dominique DuBois Gilliard, director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church. Preachers include Greg Davidson Laszakovits, Rebecca Dali, Herb Smith, Samuel Sarpiya, and Audri Svay.

While our district will not have transportation to the event, the Western Plains District will have a bus passing through southern Illinois that might be able to accommodate a few additional passengers ($450 round-trip from Kansas). If interested, please contact Monica Frye at 620-241-0919 x264 or mfrye@thecedars.org.

Please be in prayer for all the members of our district participating in this event! The NOAC planning team includes Heidi Berkenbosch, Deanna Brown, Bonnie Kline Smeltzer, Leonard Matheny (Peoria First), Don Mitchell, Karlene Tyler, and coordinator Christy Waltersdorff (York Center). Debbie Noffsinger (Highland Avenue) designed the NOAC 2025 logo.

Camp Emmaus has had a good summer, with at least 20 campers registered for each of Elementary, Senior High, Middle School, and Intermediate camps. The following events are still on the upcoming schedule:

Aug. 22-24 Men’s Camp
Aug. 29-Sept. 1 Labor Day Family Camp
Sept. 13 Camp Celebration Day and Lunch (free event), beginning 12 p.m. 

The camp also has been offering public swims during the summer, 1-4 p.m. Sundays. 

Camp Emmaus is raising funds to replace its commercial dishwasher, which has reached the end of its useful life. Learn more at www.campemmaus.org. 

Camp Emmanuel is expanding its programming with the purchase of two tandem and two single kayaks. Donations toward the project can be made at campem.com or by mailing a check to Camp Emmanuel, 14999 Reservoir Rd, Browning, IL 62624. Mark the gift as “Kayaks.” 

Camp Emmanuel had a successful day camp program July 14-18, with 70-plus children registered and an average of about 65 in attendance each day. The theme for the week was “I will make you fishers of men!”, drawing on water themes. The camp featured a long slip-and-slide, and a variety of area congregations participated. Woodland Church of the Brethren (Astoria) provides significant funding support for the program. A Creation Camp also took place July 18-20, with other age-group camps in June. 

Family Camp is coming up Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Learn more about Camp Emmanuel at www.campem.com.

Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) is continuing work this year at a rebuilding site in Letcher County, Ky., with new builds and repairs of homes damaged during the July 2022 flooding event. Illinois/Wisconsin is scheduled to assist with a team in Letcher County Dec. 7-13. A second project site is expected to open later this year. BDM is currently building its volunteer schedule for 2026. 

In response to a request from the Red Cross, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) sent two Critical Response Childcare teams to Texas to care for children affected by the early July flash flooding in the Kerrville area. Two CDS teams also responded to the aftermath of the May 16 tornado in St. Louis, Mo. 

For those interested in volunteering with CDS, two trainings are available this fall: Sept. 26-27 at Warrensburg (Mo.) First United Methodist Church and Oct. 17-18 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, and two in spring 2026: Feb. 20-21 in Beaufort, S.C., and Feb. 27-28 in Glendale, Ariz. Registration, including all meals, curriculum, and overnight is $55 for early bird, and $65 if sent less than three weeks before the event. Participants in the 25-hour training, which includes a simulated shelter experience, learn to provide comfort and encouragement to children by offering the healing young children need in traumatic situations. Learn more and register at www.brethren.org/cds/training/.

The district will host a special workshop on Saturday, Oct. 4: “Love Has No Borders: Immigration Issues, Deportation, and Today's Church.” This online Zoom event will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. and will be led by Phyllis Dodd, a social worker and Church of the Brethren member from Greensboro, Md. 

Phyllis has worked extensively in the fields of immigration and deportation cases for many years and wrote the book "Love Has No Borders: True Stories of Desperation as Seen by a Social Worker." A graduate of Juniata College, she has also served as refugee resettlement coordinator for Mid-Atlantic District and is a talented musician who plays bass with a local band. 

There is no charge for this event, and anyone is welcome to attend. Clergy can receive 0.15 CEU's for participating. To register and receive the Zoom link, please contact the IL/WI District office at iwdde@outlook.com. 

Deportation Defense Response Team: This denominational effort, organized by several districts with large numbers of undocumented members to provide support, advocacy, and legal assistance as needed—is inviting partnerships. Congregations wishing to aid this need through special offerings or other fundraising can send gifts to Atlantic Southeast District; contact district executive Beth Sollenberger for more information about sending an offering to the Deportation Defense Response Team at atlanticsoutheastcob@gmail.com. The team will distribute funds received to members of the church facing immigration challenges who are in need of legal support. The group is also seeking Brethren attorneys who might be willing to assist the work. If you can help, please contact Julie Avila, Educator & Organizer on the Deportation Defense Response Team, at migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org. Also, a “Service of Lament for Families Disrupted by Deportation” is being planned by the team and at least three congregations in Ohio. Leaders of Church of the Brethren congregations who have members who have been detained or deported are planning the public service of lament on Aug. 24 at 5:30 p.m. Central. The outdoor service will include church members’ stories, scripture readings, songs, and prayer. It will take place in southwest or south-central Ohio.

The 2025 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference will take place Nov. 7-8 at The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington, Ill. Bill Williams (Yellow Creek) will serve as moderator, with the theme “Are You Being Called?” Jocelyn Watkins (Peoria First) serves as moderator-elect.

A continuing education event will be offered for clergy and others during the day on Friday, Nov. 7, with the main conference starting with worship Friday evening in the Smart Auditorium followed by the traditional ice cream social and continuing with business and equipping sessions in that space on Saturday, along with meals, exhibits, and other events in an adjacent ballroom. The spaces are handicapped-accessible, and ample parking is available. Cerro Gordo and perhaps other area congregations will help to “host” the conference. Peoria First members are working on worship center plans.

All congregations are encouraged to send their allotted delegates to the conference. Per the 2022 constitution revisions, each congregation of 100 or fewer members can send three delegates, with one additional delegate for every 100 members or portion thereof. The pastor (if any) and board/leadership team chair typically serve as delegates, along with at-large members called by the congregation. The district Program & Arrangements Committee recently voted to increase the district conference assessment to cover costs; it will now be $30 per allotted delegate. Non-delegate registration will also increase slightly, to $15 per person. A block of rooms will be available at the hotel (located just off Veterans Parkway in Bloomington) for Thursday and Friday nights for $99/night including breakfast.

Among the items on the agenda will be the district budget for 2026, the slate of candidates for offices that is being finalized by the Gifts Discernment and Call Committee and the leadership team, agency and committee reports, and equipping session workshops. A district auction will not take place at the conference this year. Registration will open in late summer or early fall. We hope that you and other members of your congregation will join us for this important time in the life of our district!

May 22-25 - Memorial Day Weekend June 12-14 - Counselor 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 - YAAYAH Camp July 26- Aug. 1 - Middle School Camp August 6-8 - Women's Camp September 4-7 - Labor Day Weekend

May 29-31 - Women's Camp  June 5-7 - Creation Camp  June 7-13 - Middle School Camp  June 16-20 - Junior Camp  June 26-28 - Pre-junior Camp  July 9-12 - High School Camp  July 13-17 - Day Camp  August 7-9 - Men's Camp  September 4-7 - Family Camp

The next Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference (NYC) will take place July 18-23, 2026, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo., with the theme “Light Within Us.” Because it will be a new location for many of the advisors who will bring youth, it seemed helpful to offer a chance to experience the location prior to bringing youth. Thus, an NYC 2026 Advisor Preview will take place Oct. 11-13. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the campus, check out the food and lodging, and see what recreation options are like. 

Additionally, participants will have a learning opportunity with Charles (Chuck) Hunt, who will lead sessions based on the book Faith Beyond Youth Group. The sessions will build on work by the Fuller Youth Institute, where Hunt is senior director of training, all while inspiring participants and providing new tools to help in various ministry contexts. Continuing education credit will be available. 

Early bird registration is $300 and is available until July 31. Regular registration is $375. Registration includes two nights’ double-occupancy lodging, four meals, and all sessions. All registrants will be responsible for their transportation to and from the YMCA of the Rockies. (Denver International Airport is the most convenient, and there is shuttle service to the YMCA.)

For more information, go to www.brethren.org/yya/advisor-preview-weekend-for-nyc-2026 or contact Becky Ullom Naugle, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at bullomnaugle@brethren.org or 847-429-4385. 

Registration will open in January. Learn more about NYC 2026 at the National Youth Conference page.

 

• Official IL/WI Channel
• Older Content

There is a Speakers List for the Illinois/Wisconsin District. Persons included in this document have accepted the invitation to be available to preach during worship services or for other special events as indicated. Hopefully you will find this tool useful and valuable when the need arises for inviting a guest speaker.

The speakers on this list are all credentialed ministers, either licensed or ordained. We would like to expand the list to include more credentialed ministers as well as interested laity. If your name is absent from the list and you have interest in serving as a guest speaker, please inform the district office. We would also welcome the names of persons you might suggest for inclusion on the list.

Since this is a new venture, it is likely we may need to provide more information than is included. Your input as to how the list can be improved would be welcomed.

Please share with the District Office any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.

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, realizes that this dilemma exists and 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.

All ordained ministers, licensed ministers, and congregations need to keep the District Office informed of changes in contact information. Changes include: phone number, cell phone number, email address, mailing address, and congregational email or website. Please email Peggy Moylan, peg.district@gmail.com, or call 630-644-4259 with your updates. Your effort will save valuable staff time trying to track down these changes. Other information to share: changes in key leadership positions at the church or the death or serious illnesses of minister, retired ministers, or spouses. Help us serve better!

Do not wait to begin to log your Continuing Education Units. The 2025 Five-year Ordination Review process for ALL ordained ministers will launch in 2024. Ordained ministers are required to produce verification of 5 CEU credits for this five-year period. It is your responsibility to secure certificates, letters or verifying documentation regarding CEU credit. Retired clergy are exempt from this requirement with the exception of those retired clergy actively involved in Interim Ministry.

CEU Notation: The district does not grant CEU credit for personal study and/or self-designed experiences you have had and/or books you have read. It is the minister's responsibility to secure a CEU certificate, Letter of Verification, and/or authentication document for completed training, seminars or workshops, or learning experiences offered by the presenting organization. This verification should always state the number of hours of the training - 10 hours of training equals 1.0 CEU credits. Please take personal initiative to become a life-long learner and increasingly effective minister of the Gospel.

The Gifts Discernment and Call Committee seeks your help. We are commissioned to call active, informed, and committed members of congregations or fellowships from within our District to positions of service. These persons, both pastors and lay members, are to be called from all parts of the District and to represent the diversity among us. Our committee's knowledge of members eligible and capable to serve is limited. Therefore, we make this appeal for assistance.