Illinois Great Rivers Conference
SPRINGFIELD – Bishop Frank J. Beard announced June 11 that he has been approved for long-term disability due to his ongoing battle with glaucoma.
In a letter to the North Central Jurisdictional College of Bishops Secretary, Lanette Plambeck, Bishop Beard requested to be relieved from the performance of all regular episcopal duties, effective Aug. 1. Under the Wespath Comprehensive Protection Plan, long-term disability can span up to 34 months, at which time Bishop Beard would either return to active service or retire from the episcopacy.
Frank Beard
Bishop-elect Frank Beard of the North Central Jurisdiction
“My ongoing battle with glaucoma has caused me to become legally blind,” Bishop Beard wrote, in which copies were also sent to the Dr. Barrie Tritle, chair of the NCJ Committee on Episcopacy and Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, president of the Council of Bishops. “It has been a very difficult decision for me and my family, but we believe that the Lord will continue to direct our paths and guide us through this season of challenge and change.”
As a result of Bishop Beard’s notification, the NCJ College of Bishops will share the information with the NCJ Committee of Episcopacy and after an affirmative vote, the final approval will come from the executive committee of the Council of Bishops. The Council of Bishops will then assign an interim Bishop to cover the episcopal area.
The Council of Bishops could assign a retired bishop in the interim or could select an active bishop who would assume additional responsibilities in the Illinois Area as well as their episcopal area. The latter course of action was taken in July 2021 when Bishop Beard went on short-term disability for six months and Bishop Gregory Vaughn Palmer was assigned to the Illinois Area in addition to West Ohio.
Bishop Beard was elected to the episcopacy in 2016 and is completing his second quadrennium of service with the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. The 2024 Jurisdictional Conference will be held July 10-13 in Sioux Falls, S.D., where episcopal assignments are announced for the new quadrennium, beginning Sept. 1 by the NCJ Committee on Episcopacy.
Bishop Beard had served two quadrennia in the Illinois Area but a disciplinary provision enables bishops to serve a third quadrennium in an episcopal area for missional reasons. Bishop Beard was scheduled to retire in 2028.