Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
except such as relates to the vote itself or such business as the presiding officer may deem appropriate.
IV. ANNUAL CONFERENCE STRUCTURES A. The Local Church (¶ 243, 2020/2024 Book of Discipline )
1. The local church is the foundation of Nurture, Outreach and Witness of all ministries to the community of believers and beyond. 2. Each local congregation is urged to assess annually its programs and the needs and opportunities for ministries in the community and on the basis of this assessment develop a mission statement to be adopted at a charge or church conference. B. The District Superintendents will partner with clergy and lay leadership in ordering the work of the district to equip and connect the local church and extension ministries in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. C. The Annual Conference Vision and Mission Statements Vision & Mission: The mission & vision of the churches, people, and organizations of The Illinois Great River Conference is: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” This statement is based in the mission statement of the entire global denomination of The United Methodist Church, found in The Book of Discipline. As such, we share this mission and vision with millions of United Methodists around the world. Guiding Principles: In addition, our Conference shares a common set of values and principles that guide our organizational culture. These are the ways that we come together, the implied ethics that guide our decisions, and the passions that drive energy throughout our churches, connected ministries, and Conference. The Guiding Principles of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference describe us as: • Christ following • Community reaching • People centering • Intentionally welcoming • Relationship building D. Conference Agencies (¶ 610, 2016 Book of Discipline ) 1. In accordance with the Book of Discipline ¶610 “Annual conferences are permitted the flexibility to design conference and district structures in ways that best support the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ in an increasingly diverse global community… These structural matters will be defined and approved by the annual conference session. Further, conferences are permitted to create contextually appropriate structures that encourage collaboration and partnerships among all program, administrative, and financial entities.” 2. Conference and district boards, committees, commissions, councils, task forces, teams, and other elected and appointed program and administrative entities (hereafter, “committees”) are an important means by which the Annual Conference carries out its mission. Some committees are specifically
334 Standing Rules
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