Property & Assets Management Team, Aug. 26, 7 p.m.

Leadership Team, Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m.

Ministry Leadership Development Team, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.

District Hymn Sing & Ice Cream Social, Emmert Meeting House, Franklin Grove, IL, Sept. 27, 2:30 p.m.

Program & Arrangements Committee, Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.

Church Revitalization and Development Team, Oct. 17, 9 a.m.

2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference, Nov. 6-7, Polo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren

2027 District Potluck event, April 17, 2027, Cerro Gordo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren

[all meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted]

August Newsletter

The 2026 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference was held June 28-July 2 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the downtown Grand Wayne Convention Center. Moderator Don Fitzkee led the event with the theme “Imagine!” 

The days included worship, business sessions, equipping sessions, meal events, service project opportunities (including a morning of “Sparking, Serving, and Stirring”), age-group activities, exhibits, a peace witness event, and more. A total of 1,675 people attended, either in person or online, a bit more than in recent years due to the central location.

Amy Gall Ritchie of North Manchester, Ind., was called as moderator-elect. Others called to positions included Natasha Beaumont (Lebanon, Pa.), Program & Arrangements Committee; Chad Whitzel (Madison, Wis.), Pastoral Compensation & Benefits Advisory Committee; Terri Welch Luzynski (Dayton, Va.), Mission & Ministry Board Area 3; Gretchen Zience (Seattle), Mission & Ministry Board Area 5; Adelia Lucatorio (Cranberry Township, Pa.), Mission & Ministry Board At-Large; Leslie Bolser (Richmond, Ind.), Drew Hart (Harrisburg, Pa.), Keri Ladouceur (Raleigh, N.C.); Steve Longenecker (Bridgewater, Va.), Dominick Peruso (Huntingdon, Pa.), Jeff Sheridan (Richmond, Va.), and Ben Walters (Cincinnati), Bethany Theological Seminary Board of Trustees; Kevin Boyer (Plymouth, Ind.), Eunice Culp (Goshen, Ind.), and Randy Yoder (Huntingdon, Pa.), Eder Financial board; Susuyu Lassa (Troy, N.Y.), Anesu Makufa (Leeds, U.K.), and Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred (Spruce Creek, Pa.), On Earth Peace board.

Other business included adoption of a resolution on weapon transfers, adoption of the resolution “Walking Together” related to supporting immigrants and refugees, adjustments to ministerial polity for licensed and commissioned ministers, updates from the Review and Evaluation Committee, and conversation about the ongoing Eder Financial-Everence merger, among other reports. Delegates approved a 4.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment to the pastoral salary scale for 2027. Find a full report at https://www.brethren.org/news/wpcontent/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/AC2026-WrapUp.pdf.

District congregations who sent delegates included Canton, Cerro Gordo, Dixon, Freeport, Highland Avenue, Lanark, Mount Morris, Naperville, Neighborhood, Polo, Springfield First, and York Center, plus our Standing Committee delegate, Kevin Kessler.

The 2027 Annual Conference will be held later than usual, July 28-Aug. 1 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Find more details at www.brethren.org/ac.

Both of our district camps had a successful summer season, drawing more than 200 campers between them over the past few months. We rejoice in their important ministry and community connections!

Camp Emmaus capped its summer season with women’s camp earlier this month, with 25 participants. Camp dates still upcoming at Emmaus this year include the following:

Sept. 4-7: Labor Day Weekend Family Camp

Sept. 19: Camp Appreciation Day and Celebration Lunch, starting 1 p.m. The day will also include an auction, a look back at summer highlights, and opportunities to hike and enjoy the camp.12

Note that Camp Emmaus no longer has a PO box. All mail should be sent to the camp at 3011 W. Camp Rd., Oregon, IL 61061.

Camp dates still upcoming at Camp Emmanuel include the following:

Sept. 4-7: Family Camp

Learn more at www.campem.com.

NATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE

The Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference, an every-four-years event, took place July 18-23 back at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado—a site it had used prior to 1990. The theme was “Light Within Us,” based on Matthew 5:14-16.

About a dozen youth from our district and several advisors, along with denominational staff and volunteers, were among the almost 700 people who attended. Congregations represented included Canton, Highland Avenue, Naperville, Neighborhood, Peoria First, and Springfield First.

Speakers at the twice-daily worship times included Cindy Laprade Lattimer, Calvin Park, Keyon Williamson, Dianne Garcia, George Hopkins, Michaela Alphonse, Dennis Beckner, Kat Armas, Jeff Seace, and Brandon Grady. The schedule also included a welcome fest, a “spiritual scavenger hunt,” small groups, hiking and other recreation, service projects, and late-night activities.

We look forward to hearing more from our group at district conference!

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY is Nov. 1. Resources will be available on www.brethren.org/yya this fall.

Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) has opened a new rebuilding project site in Yancey County, N.C., expanding its long-term response to communities affected by Hurricane Helene in 2024. The site opened June 7, after volunteers served earlier this year in Ashe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. Yancey County was among the communities hardest hit by the storm. Historic flooding and mudslides destroyed homes, claimed lives, and left neighborhoods isolated as roads washed out and fallen trees blocked access. Power outages lasted for weeks in some areas, and emergency responders at times were forced to suspend operations because conditions had become too dangerous.

BDM volunteers are completing home repairs, constructing new homes, and helping finish two apartment units for Feed-A-Child, a local nonprofit. The apartments will provide temporary housing for families while their homes are repaired or rebuilt. Although Yancey County residents have worked tirelessly to rebuild and support one another, significant needs remain. The Yancey County project site will remain open through Aug. 15. BDM hopes to complete as much work as possible before the project concludes. Volunteer openings may still be available during the final week of the project.

As work in Yancey County winds down, additional rebuilding projects are planned across western North Carolina. A new BDM rebuilding site is scheduled to open Aug. 30 in Buncombe County, N.C., and remain in operation through May 15, 2027. Working in partnership with Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders, Brethren Disaster Ministries will serve qualified families identified through the organization by making home repairs and constructing new homes in the ROOTS Community Land Trust, a 50-home affordable housing initiative in Black Mountain, N.C., for families displaced by Hurricane Helene. Many lost not only their homes but also the land beneath them or rental housing they can no longer return to.

BDM also will return to Ashe County, N.C., for a short-term rebuilding project from Sept. 6 through Oct. 31. Working in partnership with the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, volunteers will make home repairs and build new homes. BDM previously served at this location during a two-week project in April 2026. Volunteer housing will be provided at the Ashe Baptist Campground.

Learn more about volunteering at www.brethren.org/bdm/rebuild/volunteer. Our district’s volunteer week this year is in late August/early September. Please be in prayer for those who are serving. Rick Koch, our district disaster coordinator, has said he plans to step down from that role at the end of this year. If you would have interest in serving, or know someone who might, please contact the district office.

Children’s Disaster Services, a program of Brethren Disaster Ministries, recently deployed a team of four volunteers to support families affected by the ongoing wildfires in Washington State. Brethren Disaster Ministries personnel continue to monitor the situation and remain in contact with local Church of the Brethren congregations and Pacific Northwest District leaders.  According to Daniel Klayton, administrative assistant for Pacific Northwest District, firefighting crews have successfully protected structures—including homes and churches—in and around Tonasket, where the Whitestone Community Church of the Brethren and Ellisforde Church of the Brethren are located.

Earlier this summer, CDS volunteers aided the Kerrville, Texas, as the community commemorated the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic flood that devastated their town and the surrounding area. Kathleen (Kat) Fahrner and Katherine (Katie) Marshall joined with volunteers from CDS partner Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) and other organizations to help.

Join with others from around the district on Sunday, Sept. 27, for an afternoon of ice cream, fellowship, worship, and singing at the old Emmert Meeting House and Cemetery of the former Franklin Grove congregation! The ice cream social will begin at 2:30 p.m., with worship and an oldfashioned hymn sing following, around 3:15. The event is being hosted by the Dixon congregation and is free. Bring a lawn chair, an appetite, a smile, and your best singing voice! The Emmert Meeting House is located on the north side of Route 38, 3 miles west of Franklin Grove or 1 mile east of Nachusa.

The Illinois/Wisconsin District Potluck Experience, a sort of district conference without business, is held in the district every other year. Cerro Gordo has agreed to host the 2027 event on Saturday, April 17. Mark your calendars, and plan for a day of worship, workshops, good food, and good fellowship! Watch for more details in the coming months.

 

• 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, 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.

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 the district office, iwdde@outlook.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!

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.