The Central Conference has courtesy room blocks with several hotels located near the Celebration 2025 site. Special rates will only be available through the dates noted by each hotel or until the courtesy room blocks fill up (whichever comes first).

Sonesta Simply Suites Chicago Libertyville
1100 N. US Route 45, Libertyville, IL 60048
Make reservation by phone: 847-247-9900  and mention “The Central Conference Annual Meeting (Group 0430Centra)
Make reservation online (click on link)
Rate: Queen Studio Suite: $89/night; Queen One Bedroom Suite: $104/night
Reservation must be made by March 30, 2025

Residence Inn Chicago Lake Forest/Mettawa
26325 N Riverwoods Boulevard Mettawa, IL 60045
Make reservation online (click on link)
Rate: 1 King and Sofa bed, Studio or 1 King, Sofa bed: $139/night
Reservation must be made by April 9, 2025

Holiday Inn Express Chicago NW-Vernon Hills
75 North Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills, IL, 60061
Make reservation online (click on link)
Rate: Varies based on room type
Reservation must be made by March 30, 2025

Central Conference Ministerial Association Registration Categories and Fees

• Credentialed Minister: $55
• Retired Minister: $30
• Non-Credentialed Minister: $30
• Spouse / Guest: $30
• Late Fee (after April 25): additional $15

CCECC Annual Meeting Registration Categories and Fees

• Delegate: $95
• Non-Delegate or Advisor: $55
• Friday Lunch (early arrival): additional $10

Late Fee (after April 25): additional $15

As a member church of the Central Conference, your church is entitled to select delegates for the Central Conference Annual Meeting. The number of delegates is based on the number of members in your congregation. Member congregations shall be entitled to representation as follows:

Church Members                 Delegates Church Members                    Delegates
   Up to 99                                     2   450 to 699                                                      5
   100 to 224                                  3   700 to 999                                                      6
   225 to 449                                 4   1000 to more                                                 7

• Each association recognized by the Central Conference shall be entitled to one delegate.
• Each affiliated corporation and institution shall be entitled to one delegate.
• A church plant within the Central Conference that is not yet a member congregation may send two advisors to the Conference Annual Meeting.

IF YOU ARE A DELEGATE:

• You must register online as a delegate for your church.

• You must also submit a delegate credentials form (by April 25) and have your church chairperson and secretary sign the form, to confirm that you are an elected delegate of your church. Please only submit one form per church. If there is more than one delegate attending from your church, please coordinate getting the signatures from your church chair and secretary with the other delegates.

• Please mail or email your delegate credential form to the Central Conference office as soon as possible. Delegates must submit this form AND register for the conference annual meeting to receive delegate materials. The regular online registration deadline is April 25, 2025.  No refunds after April 25, 2024.

Safeguarding Our Children: Strengthening Child Protection Policies in the Church
This essential seminar is designed to equip church leaders with the knowledge and tools to protect the children in their congregation. We will address key issues surrounding sexual abuse awareness training and offering insight into the preventative measures that every church community should understand. Participants will learn about effective child protection policies and best practices for creating safe environments within the church setting, ensuring that staff, volunteers, and families are trained and supported. The session will also focus on actionable steps for creating and implementing policies that safeguard children while fostering a culture of trust and accountability. Join us for this important discussion on safeguarding your congregation’s most valuable members—our children—and take home practical next steps to ensure their safety.

Presenter: Emma Mueller is the Program Director at Covenant Harbor Bible Camp, bringing over six years of full-time camping ministry experience to her role. Passionate about sharing the Good News with children of all ages, Emma combines her expertise in ministry with a strong background in business and nonprofit management. She holds a degree in business and nonprofit management and she is set to complete her seminary degree in Christian Formation next year, both from North Park University. Emma has been leading annual training sessions for camp staff for over three years, equipping them with the tools and knowledge needed to create safe, welcoming environments for all campers. She has also received training from Ministry Safe and The RedWoods Group, ensuring that her programs are both effective and up to date. When she’s not at camp, Emma enjoys hiking in the great outdoors and perfecting her sourdough bread recipes.

Trauma-Informed Ministry in the Local Church
Appropriate for: Pastors, Staff, Ministry Leaders, Small Group facilitators and volunteers. An informative, interactive research based, hands-on training workshop that both educates and provides opportunities for practical engagement for participants. Points of Learning: What is trauma? How might past trauma be affecting the people in my church? How does trauma affect the brain? The spiritual life? What about forgiveness? What are the six key principles of trauma-informed ministry?

Presenter: Meagan Gillan is an ordained Covenant Pastor with 45+ years of experience in parish and denominational ministry.  She is certified in 40-hour Domestic Violence Training; certified in Trauma, Faith, and Resilience through Advocate Faith and Health Partnerships; qualified assessor for IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory); broad variety of mental health awareness training; accomplished facilitator of trauma healing groups; understands congregational systems and issues.

What is Spiritual Direction?
Have you heard of spiritual direction? Have you been wondering what it is? Briefly, spiritual direction is a time of sharing a person’s thoughts, questions, and wonderings with another person, trained in listening, to discern the presence and work of God in one’s life. As we believe that God is always calling us and leading us, sometimes we need a “soul friend” to help us recognize God’s voice and respond to God’s presence. Do you have someone, so trained, to listen to the stories of your life and help you recognize God’s presence? This workshop on “What is Spiritual Direction?” is designed to offer you an understanding of this way of listening to God.

Presenter: Bob Tenglin is a retired Covenant pastor, a spiritual director and spiritual director supervisor. He is a member of the Central Conference Spiritual Director Network leadership team and helps supervise those in training at the C. John Weborg Center for Spiritual Direction at North Park Theological Seminary. He has a ministry of listening to those who are listening to God. Bob has been meeting with his spiritual director for over 15 years.

Church Board Effectiveness and Team Emotional Intelligence
Effective Church boards work well together, lead their congregations better, and ultimately serve God better. Come and explore the results of a doctoral research study that examined the church board experience within the Central Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. The norms and behaviors of the boards were defined, and a group level of faith was established. Find out where our church boards excel and areas that need further development.

Presenter: Dr. Christine Hacket received her Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership and Master of Arts in Servant Leadership from Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Her research topics include team emotional intelligence and team effectiveness that surround church leadership. Findings of this research are applicable not only to church boards, but to other secular and volunteer organizations.

Corazones Inquebrantables: Liderando con Fe y Resiliencia (en Español)
Descubre cómo fortalecer tu espíritu pastoral y responder con sabiduría a los desafíos más intensos. Explora hábitos que te ayudarán a vencer la fatiga, recuperar la esperanza y liderar con compasión y nuevas fuerzas.

Presentador: Rev. Abraham Bejarano es pastor de Emanuel Covenant Church en Northridge, CA. El Pastor Abraham ha sido director de plantacion de Iglesias. Es responsible de la plantacion de varias iglesias y en el reclutamiento, asesoría y entrenamiento de este movimiento.

A Resilient Church for Challenging Times

How have the people of God persevered through times marked by confusion, division, and adversity? What have been the responses of the Church? We will explore these questions in biblical and theological perspective, while also engaging key examples of faithful Christian praxis in the life and history of the Church.

Presenter: Armida Belmonte Stephens serves as a teaching fellow at North Park Theological Seminary and is a member of New Community Covenant Church. A native of New Mexico and second generation Mexican-American, she is a pastor’s kid who was raised and formed in the Latina immigrant church. She works closely with the Covenant’s Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos (the Hispanic Center for Theological Studies).

Trauma-Informed Ministry
Appropriate for: Pastors, Staff, Ministry Leaders, Small Group facilitators and volunteers. An informative, interactive research-based, hands-on training workshop that both educates and provides opportunities for practical engagement for participants.

Points of Learning:

• What is trauma? 
• How might past trauma be affecting the people in my church? 
• How does trauma affect the brain?  The spiritual life? What about forgiveness?
• What are the six key principles of trauma-informed ministry? 

Presenters: Shelley Egeland is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) currently serving with DULY Health, with a full load of clients. God is using her in beautiful and amazing ways to help those she counsels. Active in her local church, she leads a small group for women with a broad variety of issues and concerns. 

Meagan Gillan is an ordained Covenant Pastor with 45+ years of experience in parish and denominational ministry. 

*Certified in 40-hour Domestic Violence Training
*Certified in Trauma, Faith, and Resilience through Advocate Faith and Health Partnerships
*Qualified Assessor for IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory)
*Broad Variety of Mental Health awareness training
*Accomplished facilitator of trauma healing groups
*Understanding of congregational systems and issues

*Meals will be served promptly at the times noted. These meals are included as part of the registration fee. Please be in the Fellowship Hall at the indicated times wearing your badge.

Central Conference Ministerial Association (CCMA) meals – Thursday dinner, Friday coffee, and Friday lunch

*Meals will be served promptly at the times noted. These meals are included as part of the registration fee. Please be in the Fellowship Hall at the indicated times wearing your badge.

Central Conference Annual Meeting (CCECC AM) meals – Friday dinner, Saturday coffee, and Saturday lunch