We Are Connected

Conference:  The Conference is a shorthand way many United Methodists refer to the connectional system

which ties together all Illinois Great Rivers Conference United Methodist local churches, boards, agencies,

and other bodies.  According to The Book of  Discipline, the Conference is actually a body consisting of all

clergy members and of an equal number of lay persons duly elected by their local churches.  This body meets

at least once a year to make certain decisions for the whole body of United Methodists in our conference area. 

This body employs a staff to give spiritual oversight and leadership to the conference between its annual meetings.

           DISTRICT:  A district is a regional group of churches or charges,

                    supervised by a district superintendent.

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT:  A district superintendent is an ordained minister appointed by a bishop to oversee the pastors and local churches in a district. A district superintendent may not serve in that capacity more than eight years consecutively, and no minister may serve more than a total of twelve years as a superintendent.  The superintendent carries a wide range of responsibilities for the local churches in the district and throughout the Conference as a whole. Primary responsibilities relate to overseeing the work of the local churches, including presiding at Charge Conferences, and supervising the work of the pastors, including participating with the bishop in the making of appointments.

	10 Illinois Counties
	99 local churches
	46 ordained or licensed pastors
	1 extension ministry at Eastern Illinois University Wesley Foundation

The Embarras River District is one of ten districts in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference (IGRC) of The

United Methodist Church. A superintendent is assisted to each district.  The ten superintendents together are

called a "cabinet." 

For more definitions of mysterious UM terms check out this United Methodist Glossary.

Read more about our United Methodist Values in John Wesley's words.

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is one of 12 conferences in the North Central Jurisdiction.
 

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is also one of 120 UM conferences world-wide.  We have United Methodist brothers and sisters not only in The United States, but also in Africa, Asia, and Europe.  Lay and clergy representatives from all of these conferences meet together in a General Conference once every four years to determine the denomination's future direction.  They are the only group authorized to speak for the United Methodist Church.  To visit the Official United Methodist Church Website, click here.

Finally, the United Methodist Church cooperates ecumenically with other Methodist denominations, as well other churches and organizations world wide, living out John Wesley's vision of all people of God working together:  "If your heart is right, as mine is with yours, give me your hand."

Our Episcopal leader:  Bishop Gregory Palmer  Illinois Area Office

Assistant to the Bishop:  Rev John Hartleroad

Director of Finance and Administration:  Rev Rick VanGiesen

Director of Connectional Ministries:  Rev Kent Lolling

Director of Communications:  Rev Paul Black

Conference Lay Leader:  Rhonda Whitaker