McHenry County Blog

Although Scott Milliman’s deposition was sealed, the Northwest Herald ran parts of it in an article.

That headline pretty much summarizes the final question Federal Judge Frederick Kapala had to decide in whether or not to dismiss former McHenry County Sheriff Deputy Scott Milliman’s wrongful termination suit.

The Judge points out it had to determine “whether the constitutional right violated was clearly established when defendants engaged in their retaliatory actions…

“In this case, it means that Milliman must show that the law was clearly established that a sheriff could not terminate a deputy sheriff for providing true testimony, pursuant to a subpoena and while under oath, that the sheriff and other deputies had engaged in illegal and otherwise corrupt activities.”

Sheriff Keith Nygren and Deputy Scott Milliman during friendlier days.

The Judge then cites the 2007 case of Morales v. Jones.

The case found that a police chief could not take retaliatory action against a subordinate for exposing corruption by the chief in a sworn deposition in a civil case.

“Accordingly, based on the facts as alleged in the complaint,” Kapala wrote, “Milliman has met his burden to demonstrate that the law was clearly established at the time of the violation, and therefore this court declines to dismiss Milliman’s complaint based on [a concept called] ‘qualified immunity.’”

Milliman’s wrongful termination suit was filed in December, 2011.

He was fired on August 17, 2011.

To read the entire decision, click here.

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Article one is here.

Article two is here.

My Grandmother Addie Watling-Skinner had a glass replication of Durer’s praying hands on her coffee table. My cousin has them now.

Nothing expensive, but they probably had more significance than I realized as a youth.

Today is a day that some Christian church’s hold prayer vigils. My First United Methodist Church has done this for several years and is doing again this year tonight through Easter.  (If you have prayers for the vigil, drop them off at the church–corner of West Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues–anytime before or during the vigil.)

That brings me to the Message of the Day–my grandmother’s praying hands, but rendered in chocolate, rather than in glass.

Albrecht Durer’s Praying Hands rendered in chocolate.

Tyler Natoli

University of Chicago doctoral student Tyler Natoli spoke to the United Methodist Men of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake Saturday morning about his stay in Antarctica.

He has just returned.

He is part of the team that built and is operating the microwave telescope at the South Pole.

Helping interpret the captured data as well, I would assume.

10,000 feet above see level set on about two miles of ice, the telescope measures waves from within 300,000 years of the 13,7 billion year-old universe.

Tyler Natoli points to our location in the universe.

Take a look at the telescope specifications:

The telescope is built on packed snow, bed rock being almost two miles below.

The telescope was custom-built by University of Chicago personnel in cooperation with Argon Laboratory in suburban Chicago.

Natoli explained the path of the microwaves into the telescope. There are two mirrors, two bounces to the receptors.

The telescope focuses the microwaves and then captures them.  Note that the building rests upon stilts, which will fill in with drifted snow over time.

The receptors are gold plated and work like a digital camera.

The receptors are custom-made of copper and aluminum coated with gold.

The targeted microwave part of the spectrum is highlighted in this illustration.

The astrophysics lecture was about the Big Bang Theory.

Tyler Natoli posed the question, “Where did the Big Bang happen?”

Part travel log and part science lecture, physicist Natoli introduced a new concept to this science-impaired listener:

There were multiple, simultaneous Big Bangs.

Using his arms Tyler Natoli explained how the universe is expanding.

“In every direction, we see the Big Bang happened.  We can see that it happened in every point in space,”Natoli explained.

The first slide in this series was a series of blue dots representing the simultaneous Big Bangs. Tyler Natoli explains they moved away from each other and continue to do so.

He said that the space between the points are moving away from each other as the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate.

The Big Bang is seen in every direction from earth.

Why’s the telescope at the South Pole?

First, because the atmosphere is thinnest there and, second, because it is a desert without water in the air.

He explained how a microwave oven heats up and agitates the molecules of water in the food being cooked.  The relative lack of water in the atmosphere above the South Pole allows the least interference with the microwaves coming from space.

Why not put the telescope in space?

It takes ten years to test what is sent up in space so a telescope sent there is ten years behind cutting edge technology.

And it can’t be repaired.

The South Pole

Those two problems do not exist at the South Pole.

From the Staff-Parish Committee of Wheatland Salem Church in Naperville comes this news:

Pastoral Transition for our Congregation

Scott Field

Bishop Sally Dyck, Regional Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Northern Illinois, after consultation with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee of Wheatland Salem Church, our District Superintendent, Rev. Diana Facemyer, and our pastors, has announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Scott N. Field, our pastor since 1980, to become Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake, Illinois as of July 1st.

While this leaving is bittersweet in many ways, we anticipate new seasons of ministry together for Wheatland Salem Church, for First UMC in Crystal Lake, for Pastor Scott, and for our new Senior Pastor who will be appointed to begin serving our congregation and community beginning on July 1st. Presently the Staff-Parish Relations Committee is actively working with our District Superintendent and Bishop to select and appoint our new Senior Pastor.

The First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

You will receive a letter in the next few days with some additional detail on this transition. In addition, next Sunday, February 24th, members of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the pastoral staff will be available at both campuses for an informal and open opportunity to give an overview our process of transition and respond to questions, concerns, and suggestions. Through the next 3-4 months before Pastor Scott’s departure, we will have opportunities to celebrate the past, engage the present, and prepare for the future. We have not experienced a change in our Senior Pastor position in a very long time, but we believe we have the capacity to make the transition and move into a new chapter of mission and ministry together.

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee

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The current minister at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake is Steve Bullmer. He is retiring.

Field has been a leader in the evangelical organization called “Good News.”  It describes itself as “an orthodox renewal and reform ministry within The United Methodist Church.”  You can find the organization’s web site here.

Under Field’s leadership, the church grew from 18 at services in 1980 to 650 today. The Naperville church started a church in Oswego, where 150 now worship worship.

A press release from a lay group of the Methodist Church in Northern Illinois:

Bishop’s statement does not represent Church on Gay Marriage

In response to United Methodist Bishop Sally Dyck’s endorsement of gay marriage, the Northern Illinois Conference Evangelical Association (NICEA) Chairman, James Blue, issued the following statement:

Jim Blue

“What Bishop Dyck has expressed is her personal opinion.

“It does not reflect the official position of the United Methodist Church in which the definition of marriage as ‘the union of one man and one woman’ was first articulated in 1972.

“A separate but related action in 2004 called upon the church to ‘support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.’

Unfortunately, the general public will assume that Bishop Dyck speaks for our entire Church.

“She does not.

“Support for traditional marriage has received overwhelming majority support at all recent quadrennial General Conferences where all United Methodists are represented.

“Support of traditional marriage is the one issue, among all sexually-related issues, that garners the broadest support within the Church.

“We regret the disunity that Bishop Dyck’s statement will inevitably bring to local congregations and we encourage the Illinois General Assembly to find another way to ensure the civil rights of gay couples without redefining marriage which has for millennia, been the foundational unit of human society.”

In a complete contradiction of church policy, Sally Dyck, the new Bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church has called on the Illinois Legislature to pass a bill authorizing same sex marriage.

I would note there was a time when a Methodist Bishop issued a statement that unified local church members. That was in about 1990 when Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker led the fight against casino gambling in Illinois.

Dyck has decided to take a divisive, rather than unifying path in her stewardship of local Methodists.

Her statement follows:

Bishop’s statement on Illinois Marriage Equality Bill

01/10/2013

To the Clergy and Members of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference.

Sally Dyck

Today the new General Assembly of the State of Illinois is expected to discuss and soon vote on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. It is expected that it will pass into law. I want to express my views on it and my support of it as law.

I believe in the institution of marriage as the source of emotional and legal stability and security for families and communities.

In May I will have been married for 37 years. I have many friends who are not presently married and have never married, but I believe most of them have wanted to find a lifelong relationship to which they are committed for spiritual, physical and emotional comfort and support.

And I have friends, acquaintances and former parishioners who have been in lifelong relationships with someone but have not been able to have their relationships recognized by the state or the church because they are in a same-sex relationship. In spite of all the same pressures and stresses that heterosexual couples face, they have managed to stay faithful and true to each other, providing stability and strength not only for their families but for their communities and churches.

Marriage also provides stability and security for me in a way that I usually take for granted especially as both my husband and I grow older. We just assume that we can be with each other in the emergency room or that if, God forbid, something happens to the other that we will be provided for through our combined resources. After all, we’ve built those resources together over the last almost 37 years.

But same-sex couples can’t assume the same benefits, not even the benefit of being with each other should there be an emergency or in critical last moments to hold the other’s hand…no one should have to be getting permission to be by a loved one’s side at a time like that but that is the reality for same-sex couples.

I believe in marriage because it also is the institution that best provides for the well-being of children. I believe that children need to have parents who have the emotional and legal benefits of marriage as well as parents who are active in their lives.

In addition to the benefits of marriage that I have described above, I also believe that the State of Illinois needs to be on the forefront (if #10 of 50 is the forefront) of providing for marriage equality in order to promote economic growth. People look for places to work and start businesses that will attract as many good workers, entrepreneurs and business people as possible and a marriage equality state can provide that added edge to the competitive economic market.

While the United Methodist Church holds that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, it also holds the teaching and a long tradition (albeit a struggle every inch of the way) of civil rights. Marriage equality is a civil rights issue; it provides for all what is afforded to some.

The marriage equality act in Illinois does not bind anyone who is licensed by the state to perform marriages to perform a marriage for a same-sex couple (as no one can bind us to perform a marriage for a heterosexual couple). In fact, even though I support this legislation, I can’t perform a same-sex marriage as a United Methodist clergy person and as the bishop I can’t give permission to any other clergy to do the same. But just because I can’t provide the service of marriage to same-sex couples doesn’t mean that I should prevent people from being able to commit their lives to each other in the State of Illinois.

Therefore, I believe it is to the benefit of our families, communities and the state of Illinois for the Marriage Equality Bill to become law in our state. Not all United Methodists will agree with my belief on marriage and they are entitled to their own belief. Because I believe in marriage, it’s my belief it will be a benefit for this law to pass.

Bishop Sally Dyck

A reply from a group in the evangelical wing of the Methodist Church called Good News:

Bishop Sally Dyck has issued a public statement of support for a same-sex marriage measure in Illinois. In a statement to members of the Northern Illinois Conference, she writes: “While the United Methodist Church holds that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, it also holds the teaching and a long tradition (albeit a struggle every inch of the way) of civil rights. Marriage equality is a civil rights issue; it provides for all what is afforded to some. … Because I believe in marriage, it’s my belief it will be a benefit for this law to pass.”

Robert Renfroe

The Rev. Rob Renfroe, president and publisher of Good News, issued the following statement in response to Bishop Dyck’s public campaigning for same-sex marriage.

“Good News is disappointed that Bishop Sally Dyck has chosen to advocate for the legislative approval of same-sex marriage in the state of Illinois.

“Since 2004, our church has said that we ‘support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.’

“Indeed, our definition of marriage as a covenant ‘between a man and a woman’ dates back to 1972.

“This position received a 77 percent vote at General Conference in 2004 and still represents the one issue among all the sexuality-related issues that garners the broadest support across the church.

“We respect Bishop Dyck and have worked well with her in the past in relating to the Unity Task Force of the Council of Bishops which she led.

“However, we believe that for Bishop Dyck to advocate a minority position that is at odds with the stated position of the church fosters disunity and deepens the sense of disconnect felt by many United Methodist members.

“In 2011, more than 14,000 United Methodists signed a letter to the Council of Bishops asking them to support the denomination’s position on same sex marriage. The Council issued a statement of support.

“Bishop Dyck’s advocacy flies in the face of the Council’s statement.

“We share Bishop Dyck’s commitment to ensure the protection of the civil rights of all persons.

“However, there are other ways to ensure the civil rights of gay and lesbian persons without redefining the bedrock institution of marriage.

“We see no reason why the church should allow a secular, anthropocentric, hyper-sexualized Western culture to tell us what marriage is, rather than looking to the Scriptures and, with real concern for the rights of all, maintaining what God has revealed.”

Good News has been an independent, evangelical voice within The United Methodist Church since 1967. As a renewal and reform movement, Good News has been a beacon of hope to traditional United Methodists by urging the church to be faithful to the biblically-based principles of its historic Wesleyan heritage.

In our desire to see The United Methodist Church centered on Jesus Christ, we want to see our church engaged in vital ministry, growing disciples of Jesus Christ, and transforming the world.

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The poster of this article has been a member of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake since 1958.

If you feel that tug to be with people on Christmas Eve for a church service, may I suggest the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

I’d show you a view of a Christmas Eve service, buy my wife frowns on my taking pictures in church.

There are three services, as you can see below:

Christmas Eve services at the Crystal Lake Methodist Church.

As you can see, se4rvices will be held at 6, 9 and 11.

First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

The church is at the corner of West Crystal Lake Avenue and Dole Avenue.

Great place to find reasonably priced gifts, so I’ll just re-run last year’s article below. This is where I buy my $15 gifts for our Crystal Lake Kiwanis Christmas grab bag. I’ve even found items for $10.

The items are on sale after the 5 PM Saturday service and the ones at 8, 9:30 and 11 on Sunday morning.

This weekend the Scrappy Quilters of the United Methodist Women of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake will offer the results of their efforts after all four services.

For those of you who just want a chance to buy quilts priced from $15 to about $65, come to the church at the corner of West Crystal Lake and Dole Avenues 5:30 to 6ish Saturday night or from 9 to 12:30 on Sunday.

The quilts will be displayed on the second floor above the narthex outside the main sanctuary toward the back of the church.

Here are some from last year’s sale.

First take a look at some of the table runners:

Below are some square ones that could become wall hangings:

Finally, there’s the one that Mitten liked the best. It has jungle animals. It could be given to a baby.

The one below could be put on a natural wooden table:

Today we conclude the memories of John Kinsley’s boyhood in London during World War II.

He told them to the United Methodist Men at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.

John Kinsley

Down London Memory Lane with John Kinsley

In March 1945 Allied forces overran the launch sites and rounded up the scientists who developed it, most notably Werner von Braun.

Germany’s forces surrendered in bits and pieces and complete and total surrender occurred on May 6.

Spontaneous celebration all over Britain knew no bounds and I joined the crowds until late in the evening.

A few weeks after my 16th birthday I started work as an apprentice toolmaker, and as National Service was still in force I soon became eligible to be called up.

To my annoyance I found that due to the nature of my employment I was deferred from National Service as being essential for the country’s economic recovery.

From time to time I had been sent to look for

• sky hooks,
• glass hammers and
• long stands

and I failed to see how that could be regarded as an essential occupation.

However I found out that one could circumvent the Essential Works Order as it was called, by volunteering.

This I did, and aged 20 I became a soldier, and therein lies another tale.

Looking back over those formative years of my life I can honestly say I never knew fear.

The true horror of war was brought home to me in France when I visited the cemeteries of soldiers who lost their lives.

There were thousands of grave markers in neat rows of those who died, the vast majority young men, who had their lives ahead of them.

On Aug 6 and 9th atomic bombs were dropped on Japan and on the 12th Japan surrendered and WW II was over.

Some years later I visited Germany on business and in my conversations I found their focal point of understanding was that Germany had lost the war, not that they were responsible for it, and also the loss of millions of lives.

It made me sad.

On a service call to a company to which we had supplied machinery I met a German engineer.

I told him I had visited Germany and I asked him if he had visited England. He replied,

“Ja, London, many times I bombed it.”

We didn’t have much to talk about after that.

Today we continue the London wartime memories of Crystal Laker John Kinsley. He spoke at the First United Methodist Church to the Methodist Men’s breakfast the first Saturday of October.

John Kinsley

Down London Memory Lane with John Kinsley

The American Air Force bombed during daytime and concentrated on strategic targets.

The British bombed at night concentrating on population centers in major cities.

Germany complained bitterly about the bombing of population centers, and had to be reminded that it was they who started it by the blitz on London.

On some raids deep into Germany losses were as high as 40%, but it was not until after the war that we told about it.

We were however given wildly exaggerated figures on enemy losses.

The American Mustang P51, fitted with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine was developed in the US and towards the end of the war escorted bombers deep into Germany making a tremendous difference in the bombers surviving attacks by fighters.

Commenting on the raids, President Roosevelt remarked, “Hitler built a fence around his ‘Fortress Europe’ but he forgot to put a roof on it”.

On D day June 6, 1944 we were living on the South coast in Brighton and during that time army camps, troops, trucks, and tanks were to be seen everywhere .

There was some friction as the soldiers waited for action and it was said by the British soldiers of the Americans that they were

• over paid,
• oversexed and
• over here.

I read somewhere that there were 2 ½ million soldiers in the UK prior to the invasion.

The invasion took place along a 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast and it was two days before we got confirmed reports of the success of the landings.

The story is told that nobody dared wake Hitler to ask for his permission to release the Panzers that were on hold near Calais.

That was a big a big help to the Allies.

We all watched progress on the Continent and the newspapers published detailed maps so we could better understand what was going on.

General Patton became famous for various reasons and I remember that it was reported that he was the first to urinate into the Rhine.

It made good copy for our usually staid press.

In Germany converging calamities, the bombing, the collapse of the economy, and the advancing Allied forces undermined the people’s faith in Hitler’s promises that his secret weapons would turn the tide of battle, but Hitler had demanded that they hold ground to the last man and they fought on when it was obvious that defeat was inevitable.

In September 1944 Germany launched a new weapon.

It was the V-2 rocket. It carried a one ton warhead and travelled at supersonic speeds at an altitude of 50 miles.

German records indicate that 1400 of them were fired towards London but only 200 actually reached us.

Their approach made no sound until suddenly there was an explosion for no apparent reason.

Initially the government’s explanation was that there had been a gas main explosion.

One day a woman passed by a soldier who was roping off a bomb crater and asked if was from a V2.

“No Ma’am” he replied, “It was one of those flying gas mains”.

War damaged row houses.

It really frightened a lot of people causing some to leave London.

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More tomorrow.