Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
Ministries to advise churches on accessible housing and advocate for pastors and families living with disabilities and to promote the purchase of new parsonages that comply with The Book of Discipline 2544.4.b(1). 8. To allow clergy and their families time to care for themselves and make a healthy move, pastors receiving a new appointment be given at least the last two weeks off from all pastoral responsibilities (including two Sundays) from their current appointment before beginning their new appointment. During this time off, the clergyperson will continue to be paid. This time off is not to be considered vacation time and can be adapted or negotiated on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the District Superintendent. This time off is only available for those pastors under appointment. D. Moving Costs for Retired and/or Disabled Clergy and Surviving Spouses 1. The Conference Board of Pensions shall recommend the moving rate for retirees and/or clergy granted incapacity leave and surviving spouses, as de- fined in ¶ 639.1 to the Conference Council on Finance and Administrations (CCFA) for approval and inclusion in the Conference budget. This payment applies only to full-time clergy or clergy couples whose combined service equals full-time at the time of retirement or incapacity leave. (¶¶ 613.1, 638, 2020/2024 Book of Discipline ) 2. Surviving clergy spouses may also request the moving allowance under the same provisions for clergy as outlined in this section. 3. Moving expense shall be paid once after the date of retirement or to all who are granted incapacity leave. This provision applies retroactively to all previous retirements, disabilities and deaths. Exceptions for special situations may be granted by vote of CCFA. 4. This allowance must be claimed within one year after the date of retirement, the granting of incapacity benefits or a move associated with a clergy death. E. Bishop’s Resource Team on Relational Ethics 1. Purpose: Bishop’s Resource Team on Relational Ethics shall oversee the systemic awareness, training and compliance of the clergy and laity of the Il- linois Great Rivers Conference to the standards of relational ethics upheld by the conference policies on Sexual Ethics and Safe Sanctuaries. 2. The Bishop’s Resource Team on Relational Ethics is accountable to the Bishop and to the Annual Conference. 3. The members of the Bishop’s Resource Team on Relational Ethics shall include: the Bishop, the Executive Assistant to the Bishop, a District Superintendent, the Director of Connectional Ministries, a liaison from the Conference Board of Discipleship, a liaison from the Board of Ordained Ministry, a liaison from the Pastoral Care and Counseling Committee, a liaison from the Confer- ence Commission on the Status and Role of Women, and 5-7 other members nominated by the Bishop with expertise and diversity as criteria for selection. a) Bishop’s Resource Team on Relational Ethics, in cooperation with the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Clergy Orders and the Cabinet, shall provide sexual misconduct prevention training for all clergy members at least once during each quadrennium. b) Bishop’s Resource Team on Relational Ethics, in cooperation with the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Clergy Orders and Cabinet, shall provide sexual misconduct prevention training for all clergy receiv-
Standing Rules 343
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