Northern Illinois Conference UMC Conference Lay Leader Letter, September 2003

(On Letterhead:  Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Church, Roger L. Curless Conference Lay Leader)

September, 2003

Dear Lay and Clergy Members of the Annual Conference,

Greetings.  I trust you have all had a blessed summer.  By now most of our churches are celebrating with Rally  Sundays and moving heavily into Fall programs.  It is an exciting time in the life of our churches.

The Book of Discipline paragraph 250, #2 states:

"The lay member(s) of the annual conference, along with the pastor, shall serve as an interpreter of the action of the annual conference session.  These persons (lay members and pastors) shall report to the local church council on actions of the annual conference as soon as possible, but not later than three months after the close of the conference."

The Book of Discipline lays out minimal requirements.  Reporting the actions of our annual conference is a marvelous time for pastors and lay members to demonstrate how, as partners in ministry, the work of the annual conference is accomplished.  I believe that the contributors of this piece to our discipline recognized that we are most effective when our pastors and lay leadership partner and that nowhere is our connection more evident than during the time of annual conference.  That is why your report, together, lay members and pastors, to your congregation is so important.

I have heard from some of you about your reporting and celebrate the wonderful responses you have received.  If you have not yet reported, please work tougher to report as soon as possible.

Thanks be to God for our conference and the great things we have and are accomplishing together as partners in ministry.

Your partner in building Christ's church,

Roger L. Curless

Conference Lay Leader

Note:  This is being FAXED to all churches.  Church offices and pastors who receive this FAX can help save our conference $246.00 by faithfully passing this to your Lay Members and Alternate Lay Members to annual conference.

Note: The above memo originated as an individual email and was not intended as an editorial for NIC VOICE.  It is published at the request of  NIC VOICE and with the permission of Paul Nolden

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