Illinois Conference

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?”
Isaiah 43:19

Join us for a weekend of inspiration and growth at the Illinois Conference Annual Celebration as we Embrace God’s Imagination! This year’s event will take place November 1st-2nd at First Congregational Church of Western Springs. Check in and registration begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday and the event will kick-off at 10:00 a.m. with opening worship.

There are optional pre-event training opportunities on Thursday, October 31st including Boundary Training and Bias Awareness Training. You can add these trainings to your registration for an additional $30. Also on Thursday – there will be a special discussion time for Committee on Ministry (COM) members with Tara Barber from MESA. This is a free event, but also needs to be added on to your registration.

The business meeting on Saturday will be a hybrid gathering and you can participate online via Zoom, however participation may be limited. The link, meeting ID, and passcode will be included in your registration confirmation. The worship services and keynote will be livestreamed to our Conference YouTube channel and Facebook page.

EVENT COST:
The cost this year is $125 per person and includes a boxed lunch on Friday and Saturday as well as the banquet dinner on Friday night. Retired Ministers and youth only need to pay the cost of the banquet and members-in-discernment receive a 50% off discount. The full price breakdown is below:

Full Event – $125 per person
Retired Clergy/Youth (Under 18) – $60
MIDs (1/2 Price) – $62.50
Friday Only – $80
Friday Only (Retired/Youth) – $60
Friday Only (MIDs) – $40
Saturday Only – $60
Saturday Only (Retired/Youth) – FREE
Saturday Only (MIDs) – $30
Virtual Only – FREE

HOTEL INFORMATION:
Holiday Inn Express – Countryside
6201 Joliet Rd, Countryside, IL 60525
King Room – $129/night
Double Queen – $139/night

Call the hotel at 708-354-4200 to reserve your room. The deadline to reserve a room is October 19th. You will need the block information below when you call to make your reservation as part of the Illinois Conference room block.
Group Block – ICUCC
Block Code – ICC

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Click here to register online. The deadline to register is Wednesday, October 23rd. This is a hard deadline for meals. You can register at the door, but meals are not guaranteed.

SCHEDULE, OPTIONAL TRAININGS, WORSKSHOPS:
Below you will find an informational flyer, the full schedule, and details about all the optional training and workshop offerings. We look forward to seeing you there!

Annual Celebration Flyer | Annual Celebration Schedule | Trainings/Workshops

QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Naomi Else or Sarah Lohrbach
708-344-4470
Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

VOTING MEMBERSHIP – FROM CONFERENCE BYLAWS

1. Every local church which has standing in an Association of the Conference shall be entitled to representation in the Conference by one voting lay delegate, and in addition thereto, each such church shall be entitled to representation by one voting youth delegate (a person at least 14 years of age, but not older than 22). A church of 800 or more members shall have one additional delegate and one additional youth delegate. Delegates shall be chosen by each church, and unless otherwise ordered by the church shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors are elected, except that a delegate’s term of office shall terminate upon removal from membership in his/her local church. Each church may appoint or elect one or more alternate delegates, one of whom shall be designated by the church as its voting delegate in the event the regular delegate cannot be in attendance at the annual or special meetings of the Conference.
2. All ordained, commissioned, and licensed ministers who have standing or recognition in an Association of the Conference shall be voting members at the annual meeting or special meetings of the Conference.
3. The members of the Conference Council shall be members of the Conference during their term of office.