Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist

Bonnie Beckonchrist received her M.Div. from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary 1982, and her D.Min, from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2010. She is lead pastor at First UMC Arlington Heights, IL a Reconciling church since 2008. A member of The Northern Illinois Annual Conference she has served as chair of Committee on Investigation, Chair of Emerging Ministries Committee of Board of Global Ministries, two District Committees on Congregational Development and Redevelopment, two District Committees on Ordained Ministry, NIC United Methodist Foundation and myriads of task forces. Bonnie was actively involved in RMN witness, planning and execution, 1996, 2004, 2008; has assisted in planning and implementation of several convocations, and served in several ways with leading GC witness. Bonnie led two congregations, one small urban parish and one large suburban church, to become reconciling.

She has enjoyed resourcing other congregations, in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference and others, in the reconciling process, through clergy mentoring, task force planning and preaching.