February 10, 2026 Meeting

Assembly Highlights
* Nearly 80 people gathered virtually on February 10
* We welcomed new minister members, the Rev. Dr. Anne Marshall (Springfield, Westminster) and the Rev. Gray Marshall (member at large), and introduced several new Ruling Elder Commissioners.
* The Rev. Dr. Cheyanna Losey led us in a prayer service in which we were invited, in the face of the present suffering of the world, to meet our fear with kindness and mercy, harness our courage, and use our anger in our work for justice.
* The Rev. Dr. Sara Dingman-Kibler, Executive of Lincoln Trails, explained the process for calling a new Lead Presbyter.
* A special Presbytery Assembly has been called for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 6:00 pm, Zoom only, to elect the Lead Presbyter Nominating Committee.
* CARE led us in an interactive exercise about the ways that Jesus cared.
*RE Krista Steller (Springfield, Westminster), Betsy McKnight Latko (East Moline, First), and the Rev. Katie Styrt (Milan, First) shared moving reports about how their churches used the $5,000 emergency refugee grants from the Visioning Team to provide compassionate assistance to individuals and families whose financial support from federal sources was abruptly cut last year.
* Katie Styrt also spoke about the powerful experience of participating in the Minneapolis Clergy Rally in late January. The purpose, she said, was to bear witness to the courage of the citizens of that city and the immigrants and others who have been targeted. One of the most profound takeaways was the importance of knowing our neighbors and showing up for them.