South Conference

The Professional leaders of the South Conference meet monthly from September through May.  These meetings give us a chance to worship together, discuss issues and learn more about the workings of our church through programs, speakers and our experiences.  These are also wonderful opportunities to support and uphold one another in prayer, with fellowship, and the sharing of God’s love.

During the past two years we have seen a fairly large turnover within our conference.  This past year, however, we were fortunate that most of the changes had to do with welcoming several Professional leaders into our conference.  These were:  Pastor Kim Lee Brown (St. John’s, Princeton), Pastor Kevin Weeks (Zion, LaMoille), Pastor Dale Peterson (St. John’s, Mendota) and Pastor Sherri Hoening (Bethany, Leland).  Along with the joy brought with these arriving pastors, we did need to say farewell to Pastor David Raben (Trinity, Ottawa).  We wish him well in his new endeavors.

At our monthly meetings this past year, our programs and discussions consisted of the following:

-A presentation by Mr. John Califf along with Thrivent on charitable gifting resources within congregations.

-A program by Pastor Ernie Rex on the Healthy Congregation.

-A presentation by Mr. Mike Bryant on Diakonia.

-An informational presentation by Mr. Chris Csernus of the Mendota Lutheran Home and Mr. Karl Norem of Pleasant View Luther Home of Ottawa concerning the challenges of operating church-related nursing facilities.

-An introduction to Mr. Russ Senti, director of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center along with an update on LOMC and what is available to the church families of our synod.

-A program by Ms Susan Bursztynsky, the protocol manager of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council, on domestic abuse and mandated reporting.

-A discussion on suicide and the emotional effects it has upon involved families.

-A presentation by Rev. Ron Voss of Followers of Christ Lutheran Church, Plainfield on Outreach within the synod and what congregations and conferences can do to become involved with this effort.

To top this off, we enjoyed our annual Christmas communion worship, carol singing to the residents, and festive meal at Pleasant View Luther Home in Ottawa.

We are actively planning to host a Conference Bible Study Day, and to make this opportunity available to as many people as possible.

We in the South Conference, continue to be proud members of the Northern Illinois Synod.  We thank Bishop Wollersheim and his staff for their leadership, concern, prayer and love.  Thanks also to the officers and to the pastors and professional church workers of our conference.

Pastor David J. Ufkes
South Conference Dean