Preachers' Aid Society and Benefit Fund - IGRC

04/13/2026

The scam email about getting the attendees for Annual Conference is still circulating. It may come from various addresses including "Holy Green." The subject line may be: "Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference 2026" That is how it came to me this morning on an older church email account.
Any official correspondence from the Annual Conference will come from an igrc.org address. So, before replying to or clicking on any links in an email, make sure it is a legitimate email. Never open an attachment unless you are expecting it and verify it was sent intentionally.
As they say on the cop shows, "Be careful out there."

04/07/2026

“Hey IGRC Clergywomen!
You're invited to a day long retreat at Faith United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 22nd.
We're sensing a growing need to gather for a day of fellowship and listening to/alongside one another.
Faith Church is making space for us to do just that.
We're calling it the WITH Gathering and you are invited!
Here's some images with more info and a link to register.
We invite you for a lovely day spent with clergy sisters!
*All (active, retired, part-time, elders, deacons, local pastors, supply, on leave, etc) clergywomen are invited!
Thanks to the IGRC East District and the Rev Sara Unger Isbell for being lovely and providing us with some funding for this day apart.”

a one-day retreat for IGRC clergy women

04/02/2026

Confluence II of Retired Pastors
This is our second summit of its kind for retired pastors and spouses—a catalyst to reflect and confer, drawing on one another for imagination, hope, and energy. Presentations and panels will address the following and more:

Over the Hill: Re-imagining The Call. How does our “calling” morph once we retire?
Re-Thinking Friendships and Community. How do we refresh friendships and community after we retire?
Old Dogs, New Tricks, Beyond Obedience. Creating a Blueprint: How can we influence the church (our congregations, neighborhoods, and conference) from this new and unfamiliar status of “retirement?”
June 29, 30, & July 1
(1 p.m. Monday through 11 a.m. Wednesday)
At the Northfield Inn & Conference Center in Springfield
3280 Northfield Dr.,Springfield (Take the Sangamon Ave. exit 100 off of I-55)

https://www.pasbf.org/community-fellowship/events/confluence-ii-of-retired-pastors/

04/02/2026

Another scam targeting IGRC folks. Be careful! If you get an email claiming to have a list of registered attendees for Annual Conference, it is likely a scam!

03/31/2026

Email scams are plentiful! You can't be too cautious. Before clicking any links in an email, carefully verify the sender's address to ensure it is coming from a legitimate source.

From Paul Black:

Email Scam
First it was Bishop Bard...now it is Bishop Bigham-Tsai. Bogus emails are being circulated from a Gmail account purporting to be Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai. As we have warned you countless times, official communications are handled through IGRC.org and iaumc.org email accounts. Neither system has been compromised. A Gmail account can be set up in a matter of five minutes and one can say they are anyone.
If the email is from IGRC.org, then contact the Conference Office for verification. If it is from a Gmail account, the quickest way to handle it is by pressing the Delete button on your keyboard.

03/30/2026

Olney Area Gathering, 3/30/2026

03/26/2026

Carbondale Area Gathering, 3/24/2026

03/02/2026

Mt. Vernon Gathering on 2/27/2026.

01/02/2026

12/27/2025

We have received word that IGRC retired pastor, the Rev. Curtis L Rush, 77, died Dec. 24.

Rev. Rush was a retired Associate Member of the Conference who served 26 years in active ministry, retiring Jan. 1, 2010 from Mt. Carmel: Evangelical. He also pastored Bloomington: Park in retirement from 2018 to Dec. 30, 2020.

Funeral services will be 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Downs UMC, with visitation from 10 a.m. to noon at the church.

Additional information will be posted as it is received.

12/27/2025

Elouise J. Hahs, 98, widow of the Rev. Billy Gene Hahs and mother of IGRC retired pastor, Rev. Jame Hahs, died Dec. 25.

Together with her husband, the Hahses served 45 years in the former Southern Illinois Conference, retiring in 1993 from Mt. Vernon First UMC. Elouise was a former General and Jurisdictional Conference delegate and was active in United Methodist Women, serving as Conference President during the 2001-2004 quadrennium.

The funeral will be noon Saturday, Jan. 3 at Mt. Vernon First UMC. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the church. Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon is in charge of arrangements.

For a complete obituary, visit: https://www.hugheyfh.com/obituaries/Elouise-Hahs?obId=46794065 #/obituaryInfo

Condolences may be sent to the Rev. Jame Hahs, 931 Prairie Xing, O’Fallon, IL 62269-3155.

View Elouise Hahs's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.