One of six conferences in the Central/Southern Illinois Synod, ours is 

geographically the largest, covering the southern-most counties of Illinois south of a line running from Chester in the west to Olney in the East.  The conference consists of 21 congregations.

We are led by our dean, currently the Rev. David Eidson, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Jonesboro.  He was elected in March of 2009 for a three-year term, replacing retiring dean, the Rev. Dr. Richard Hertenstein.

Pastors and Synodically Authorized Ministers (SAMs) meet monthly from September through May on the third Tuesday of the month.  Our December meeting is usually our annual colloquy with the bishop.  Twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, we meet in assembly with lay and clergy voting members to conduct conference business.  

There is also a text-study for conference pastors and SAMs that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 9:30-noon at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Carbondale.  After the text study we adjourn to a local restaurant for lunch.

Other conference-wide activities occur through the Women of the ELCA and Lutheran Men in Mission organizations.