2026 District Conference
 The 2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference will take place Nov. 6-7 at Polo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren with the theme “Kindled Anew.”
Online registration is now open with links for delegates (DELEGATE District Conference Registration) and non-delegates (NON-DELEGATE District Conference Registration). Delegate registration fees are covered through the congregational assessments, which must be paid before delegates can be registered. Information on delegate allotments and fees were sent to all congregations in August, with a follow-up mailing this month. Non-delegate fee is $15 per person. A Saturday lunch is available for $20 per person, with Tuscan chicken and vegetarian options. Credit card payment is available, or mail a check to the district office. Please register by Oct. 31. Meals will not be available after that date.
The conference will begin with a hymn sing and worship starting at 7:10 p.m. Friday evening, followed by an ice cream social. (Registration will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m., and exhibits open at 6 p.m.) It continues with business, an equipping session, and lunch on Saturday. Jocelyn Watkins (Peoria First) will serve as moderator and Sharon Rice (York Center) as moderator-elect. They will also serve as the speaker and worship leader, respectively, for Friday evening’s worship.
Annual Conference moderator Dennis Beckner (whose wife, Beth, is originally from the Franklin Grove area and grew up attending Camp Emmaus!) will be joining us for the event and leading an equipping session focusing on congregational renewal as well as a worship time on Saturday.
Business this year will include the 2027 district budget, the slate of those nominated to district positions, and polity related to congregations that decide they no longer wish to be part of the Church of the Brethren, as well as reports from various agencies, organizations, and district teams.
An exhibit area featuring various denominational and district organizations will be available. Based on the feedback received, activities for children and youth will not be offered this year at the conference, although National Youth Conference will be highlighted during the sharing time.
A service project will assist the local Lifeline Food Pantry, which has been an important outreach ministry for Polo Church of the Brethren. Started in the early 1970’s out of a resident’s garage, it has grown over the years to continue to support the growing population of food insecure families and individuals. Currently the pantry serves about 100 to 115 families a month feeding around 400 individuals. Changes in SNAP benefits and the increase in inflation continue to add new people to its client list. Most clients are employed unless retired or disabled; the majority are seniors or families with children. The food banks which were previously relied upon as the main source of supplies have less and less food to offer, forcing the pantry to buy a lot of its food. This year it added five raised garden beds along with beds at the Polo church to grow as much produce as possible.
The following items are needed: Toilet paper; any canned meat; juice; shampoo; body wash; deodorant; laundry soap; canned fruit; sugar; canned soups; spaghetti sauce; canned vegetables; ketchup; mayonnaise; cheese of any kind. Those attending conference are encouraged to bring some of these items to be collected as donations to the pantry.
REGISTRATION
A NEW online Registration is now open for DELEGATES and NON-DELEGATES by clicking one of these links:
LODGING RECOMMENDATIONS
There is no official conference hotel this year. Instead, those attending who need lodging are encouraged to make direct reservations with one of the area hotels; the nearest are in Dixon, Rock Falls, or Oregon, along with some possible options near White Pines State Park. The Polo church is at 401 S. Congress Ave. in Polo.
South of Polo Church of the Brethren (401 S. Congress Ave., Polo, IL)
Dixon (20-25 min) All are clustered at Interstate 88 / Illinois Route 26
Super 8 - Wyndham
Tru - Hilton
Fairfield - Marriott
Holiday Inn/Candlewood Suites - IHG
Rock Falls (25-30 min)
Holiday Inn - IHG (close to Rock River off of Illinois Route 40)
Country Inn & Suites – Radisson (near Interstate 88 / Illinois Route 40)
Super 8 - Wyndham (near Interstate 88 / Illinois Route 40)
East of Polo Church of the Brethren (401 S. Congress Ave., Polo, IL)
Camp Emmaus (15-20 min) Limited availability
Retreat Lodge: 24 beds available: $150 per night (1-8 people) $225 (9-16 people) $300 (17-24 people)
Log Cabin: 14 beds available: $75 per night (1-7 persons) $100 per night (8-14 persons); $75 per night (1 fam.) $35 per night (2 fam.) $25 per night (3 fam.)
Hare Lodge: 3 apartment/dorm rooms available: $20 per night*
Craft Cabin Dorms: $10 per night/per person (Family Max $30)*
*not heated
Contact Randall at www.campemmaus.org for questions or reservations
White Pines State Park (10-15 min) Limited availability
White Pines State Park Lodge - cabins
The Cabins at Pine Creek - $$ - South side of the Pines Rd
Oregon (25-30 min)
Paddle Wheel Inn
2026 PRE-CONFERENCE CEU EVENT
Before district conference officially begins on Friday, Nov. 6, the district Ministerial Leadership Development Team will offer a workshop led by Josh Brockway, a member at the Highland Avenue congregation and director of Discipleship and Identity for the Church of the Brethren.
Josh’s title is "School for the Lord’s Service: Ministry in a PostInstitutional World." Here is his description of the ground he plans to cover:
For over two decades the Church in the United States has undergone dramatic changes. As we look at our buildings and organizational structures, we wonder what it means to be faithful disciples today. This session will start with a descriptive overview of the state of the Church in the United States. From there we will explore how the Church has reinvented itself at key moments in history, especially in the movements that birthed the Brethren tradition. The final section will start with practices as the framework for discipleship formation through the Rule of Saint Benedict and the traditional ordinances of the Brethren.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. and end by 4 p.m., with a lunch break. While clergy are especially encouraged to attend, anyone is welcome. Cost is $20, including lunch. To register, contact the district office or email iwdde@outlook.com.
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