2019 Conference Workbook

Conference Workbook

26th Session of the Dakotas Conference The United Methodist Church Bismarck, North Dakota June 6-8, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION Section 1:

PAGE Legislation 1.1 Organizational Resolutions 1.2 Proposed 2020 Budget 1.3

Section 2:

Section 3:

Section 4:

Annual Conference site proposal

4 4 5 12

Consent Calendar 2.1 Cabinet Resolutions 2.2 Equitable Compensation Schedule 2.3 Housing Allowance for clergy, staff and district superintendents 2.4 Rental/ Housing Allowances for retired and disabled clergy 2.5 Resolution to affirm reports Elected Leaders 3.1 Election of Delegates to the 2020 General Conference and Jurisdictional 3.2 Election of Conference Secretary 3.3 Nominations Committee Report Conference Reports

33

4.1 Common Table 4.2 Conference Commission on Archives and History 4.3 Executive Director of Ministries Report 4.4 Communications 4.5 Sessions 4.6 Developing Missional Leaders 4.6.1 Board of Ordained Ministry 4.6.2 Camp and Retreat Ministries 4.6.3 Conference Council on Youth Ministry 4.6.4 Lay Servant Ministry Report 4.6.5 United Methodist Women 4.6.6 Young Adult / Campus Ministries 4.7 Equipping Missional Congregations Link 4.7.1 New Church Development 4.8 Extending Missional Impact Link 4.8.1 Bakken Oil Rush Ministry—Out in Faith 4.8.2 Bakken Oil Rush Ministry—Watford City 4.8.3 Disaster Response 4.8.4 HOPE Center 4.8.5 Open Door Community Center 4.8.6 Solar Oven Partners 4.8.7 Southeast Pierre Mission UMC and Community Center

33 33 34 35 36 36 37 38 39 40 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 44 44 45 45 46

14 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 22 23

4.9

4.10

4.8.8 Spirit Lake Ministry 4.8.9 Tree of Life Ministry Generating Missional Resources Link 4.9.1 Builders Club 4.9.2 Conference Council on Finance and Administration 4.9.3 Dakotas United Methodist Foundation 4.9.4 Human Resources Committee 4.9.5 Board of Pensions 4.9.6 Board of Trustees Dakota Wesleyan University

46 47 48 48 48 49 49 49 51 51

Section 1: Legislation 1.1 Organizational Resolutions 1. The online agenda is the official agenda. Adjustments are made throughout the session as necessary. All requests for additional items to be placed on the agenda shall be given to the agenda coordinator, Duane Coates.

2. There will be seating assigned on the conference floor for clergy and lay members of Annual Conference.

There is also a designated area for guests and visitors.

3. The boundaries of the Annual Conference shall be the round tables marked for clergy and lay members. Voting members only are to be seated in this area. During Plenary Sessions all non-voting persons, including spouses of clergy and lay members, are to be seated in the area designated for visitors. Exceptions shall be made for lay representatives from non-chartered new church starts, Elisha and Samuel Project interns (who are not lay members), new clergy who will be beginning their appointment on or before July 1, 2019, and special guests of the Bishop.

These persons shall not have voice or vote.

4. The District Superintendents shall receive and relay to the presiding officer all requests of members to be excused from the Annual Conference Session. Those names will be printed in the journal.

5. Requests for personal points of privilege shall be submitted to the agenda coordinator.

6. The following persons shall be given the privilege of voice and vote on the Conference floor: i. Clergy persons related to other annual conferences or denominations but who serve United Methodist churches or who are affiliate members of the Dakotas Conference. Such clergy shall be granted the same rights and privileges as associate members of the annual conference. ii. Laypersons who are members of United Methodist churches or who are affiliate members of the Dakotas Conference. iii. Associate Members of the annual conference.

7. Retired clergy persons who have served churches of the Dakotas Conference but who are members of other annual conferences shall have privilege of the floor without vote.

8. Announcements shall be written legibly and submitted to the registration desk.

9. All reports from conference and other related agencies are published in the conference workbook. Advance permission must be secured from the agenda coordinator before any other printed materials may be distributed.

10. The consent calendar shall be those items listed on the consent calendar Section 2 of the conference workbook.

Requests to lift an item from the consent calendar must be submitted, in writing and have the signatures of 15 voting members, to the conference secretary by noon on Friday. A petition form to remove an item from the consent calendar is available at the registration desk.

11. Lay and clergy members shall confirm directory information for journal records. Any changes in directory information for laity, clergy, or church can be made at the registration desk.

12. If there are proposed changes in any form to the legislation, such as amendments, they must be submitted in writing to the conference secretary, using the strike through feature for removing information from the legislation and underlining new items that are being placed in proposed legislation.

13. To be recognized during plenary, you must move to a microphone. Select a card hanging from the microphone that represents your position on the item being considered—green card is an affirmative position, red card is a negative position, white card is a question 14. When you are speaking, please state your name, church or organization and relationship to the body— “Sally Jones, Sioux Falls First UMC, lay member.” You will have three minutes to speak.

4

1.2 Proposed 2020 Budget

2020 Budget Developing Missional Leaders Equipping Missional Congregations Extending Missional Impact Generating Missional Resources Support Services Cabinet Savings Fund Subtotal Pension & Insurance Direct Bills to Churches Subtotal

Total

2019 ApportionedBudget

Apportioned

Foundation

Donations / Other

551,000 275,000

538,100 253,500

1,236,759

1,194,059

185,000 52,000

1,270,600 289,000

2020 Total Budget 1,993,700 594,500

75,000

79,150

22,750

890,000

2,106,809

1,289,227

1,368,921

0

0

79,150

720,000

761,504

65,000

75,500

1,509,421

100,000

100,000

0

0

761,504

4,246,986

4,295,234

0 324,750

0 2,525,100

100,000 7,145,084

0

0

2,739,851

2,845,965

0

912,806

912,806

2,739,851

2,845,965

13,000 13,000

48,855 961,661

2,907,820 3,820,626

6,986,837

7,141,199

337,750

3,486,761

10,965,710

Note: Foundation includes funds the Conference expects to receive as endowment distributions or withdrawal of accumulated investment earnings. Donations/Other is primarily made up of donations from individuals or churches but also includes grants, registration fees, and reimbursements.

5

Treasurer’s Discussion & Analysis Overview – There is a 1.1% increase in the apportioned budget and a 3.9% increase in the total direct bill for Pension & Insurance. The overall increase is 2.2% or $154,362. In the aftermath of the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference, it was decided the apportionment percentage will remain at 16% for 2020. Below are some highlights of the changes from the 2020 budget: Developing Missional Leaders: Decrease of 2.3% or $12,900 ·

Decrease is a result of the plan for Camping & Retreat Ministries to become apportionment neutral of operations. 2020 will be the final year Camping will receive apportionments for operations. Apportionments will continue to help care for the properties, insurance, and property taxes as well as the Central Office expenses.

Equipping Missional Congregations: Decrease of 7.8% or $21,500 ·

New Churches will see a decrease as few multiplication efforts are traditional church plants which are expensive. Instead, we are seeing good results in adding new services, new locations, new partnerships, and helping churches “reboot.”

·

MCCI and Journey Renewal decreased based on historical costs.

Extending Missional Impact: Decrease of 3.5% or $42,700 ·

Continuing to help move our Conference Missionaries toward being self-sustaining. Bakken Oil Rush Ministry will be off apportionment support in 2020 and will be a self-funded, self-governed United Methodist ministry.

Generating Missional Resources: Increase of 5.5% or $4,150 ·

Bonus for the Treasurer. Just kidding. This is to cover the costs of sending leaders to the General Church’s quadrennial training events.

Support Services: Increase of 6.2% or $79,694 ·

$21,000 decrease in UMConnect expected as we bid this contract out. Video conferencing continues to become more affordable as the technology improves.

·

Trustees increases by $15,060 primarily in anticipation of moving, and needing to provide housing for four instead of three District Superintendents.

·

Chancellors was increased back to $10,000. It was probably foolish to set this at $5,000 for 2019 with the Special Session of General Conference.

·

Annual Conference Session increased by $5,000 based on historical costs and current contracts.

·

Episcopacy increased by $2,200 to cover the cost of quadrennial training and increased costs of a transition in bishops.

·

Conference Center Operations increased by $49,384. About half of this is just increases in the cost of wages and benefits. The other half is the phasing out of support from Thrive to support the addition of staff to support Leadership Development and New Churches.

·

Area Office Support increased $15,000 based on historical costs.

Cabinet: Increase of 5.8% or $41,504 ·

Starting in July of 2018, we have had 3.5 District Superintendents. We are preparing for if we return to four full-time District Superintendents.

Saving Fund: No Change ·

Established in 2019, the goal is to have $1 million set aside or 25% of the apportioned budget.

Pension & Insurance: No Change in Apportionment; Increase of 3.9% or $106,114 in Direct Bills ·

Zero requested for apportionments for the second consecutive year as a result of the Board of Pensions Funding Strategy.

6

·

Wespath had declared a holiday from CPP premiums for 2018-19. CPP is the death/disability coverage for our pastors.

The savings had been passed onto the churches.

·

For decades, full-time pastors had received an added pension benefit of the church making a 3% contribution into the pastors’ UMPIP (personal investment plan) each year. This benefit was extended to ½-time and ¾-time pastors.

·

HealthFlex Direct Bills will go down 1.29% as a result of decreasing premiums.

Submitted by Jeff Pospisil, Treasurer

7

Apportioned Budget Detail Program/Pathway DEVELOPING MISSIONAL LEADERS MISSIONAL LEADER LINK LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OFFICE BOARD OF ORDAINED MINISTRY MINISTERIAL EDUCATION FUND LAY SERVANT MINISTRY LAY LEADER CAMPING & YOUTH OFFICE CAMPING & RETREAT MINISTRIES YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ON YOUTH MINISTRIES YOUNG ADULT & HIGHER ED SAFE & SACRED PLACES NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE DEVELOPING MISSIONAL LEADERS EQUIPPING MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS LINK DIRECTOR OF MINISTRIES OFFICE

NEW CHURCHES MCCI JOURNEY RENEWAL

TOOLS/TRAINING FOR CHURCHES

EQUIPPING MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS EXTENDING MISSIONAL IMPACT MISSIONAL IMPACT LINK GENERAL APPORTIONMENTS CONNECTIONAL MISSIONS CONFERENCE MISSIONARIES EXTENDING MISSIONAL IMPACT GENERATING MISSIONAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF FINANCE & ADMIN FINANCE OFFICE EQUITABLE COMPENSATION D&O; WORKER'S COMP COVERAGE GENERATING MISSIONAL RESOURCES

2018 Actual

2019 Budget

1,275 21,074 75,947 27,147 1,343 4,135 15,285 227,509 36,199 6,927 110,378 1,995 111 529,323

1,500 20,500 78,650 39,000 7,750 3,000 18,550 200,250 21,500 37,550 119,250 2,900 600 551,000

218 8,960 11,989 9,712 9,206 15,385 55,470

1,000 12,800 186,750 40,000 15,650 18,800 275,000

582 892,830 59,060 233,853 1,186,325

800 973,209 56,250 206,500 1,236,759

541 10,868 4,851 32,700 48,960

1,700 24,300 5,000 44,000 75,000

*Due to rounding, numbers presented on this report may not add up precisely to the totals.

8

2020 Budget

1,500 20,700 79,150 43,850 8,250 3,500 18,850 179,500 22,000 38,050 119,250 2,900 600 538,100

2021 Budget

2022 Budget

2023 Budget

1,500 20,900 91,650 30,000 8,750 3,750 19,150 146,750 22,500 38,550 119,250 2,900 600 506,250

1,500 21,100 92,150 30,000 9,250 4,250 19,450 147,000 23,000 39,050 119,250 2,900 600 509,500

1,500 21,300 92,650 30,000 9,750 4,500 19,750 147,250 23,500 39,550 119,250 2,900 600 512,500

1,000 11,700 176,500 32,500 13,000 18,800 253,500

1,000 11,700 194,500 32,500 13,000 18,800 271,500

1,000 11,700 194,500 32,500 13,000 18,800 271,500

1,000 11,700 194,500 32,500 13,000 18,800 271,500

800 973,259 57,750 162,250 1,194,059

800 665,606 52,750 152,000 871,156

800 665,606 47,750 141,750 855,906

800 665,606 47,750 136,750 850,906

3,750 26,400 5,000 44,000 79,150

2,000 25,700 5,000 44,000 76,700

2,000 26,200 5,000 44,000 77,200

2,000 26,650 5,000 44,000 77,650

Program/Pathway DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENCY SHARED EXPENSES SOUTHEAST NORTHEAST NORTHWEST SOUTHWEST CONTINGENCY FUNDS INTRODUCTORY MEETINGS MOVING FUND DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENCY COMM DISTRICT BUILDING & LOCATION RESPONSE TEAM DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENCY SUPPORT SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE UMCONNECT CONF SECRETARY/JOURNAL TRUSTEES CHANCELLORS ANNUAL CONFERENCE SESSION COMMON TABLE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE EPISCOPACY COMMITTEE ARCHIVES & HISTORY CONFERENCE CENTER OPERATIONS AREA OFFICE SUPPORT SUPPORT SERVICES

2018 Actual

8,926 129,929 134,885 130,392 110,624 17,974 3,660 97,648 158 0 0 634,197

12,500 143,987 145,187 145,387 115,239 20,000 8,400 125,000 1,000 1,000 2,300 720,000

63,502 47,601 7,516 135,186 9,369 79,784 8,442 647 2,010 38,414 851,020 24,759 1,268,249

44,200 58,000 4,125 140,500 5,000 67,800 16,800 1,250 4,000 44,400 893,152 10,000 1,289,227

0

100,000

3,722,524 262,568 3,685,584

4,246,986

SAVINGS FUND WITH FOUNDATION TOTAL EXPENSES OTHER UNRESTRICTED INCOME APPORTIONED INCOME

2019 Budget

4,246,986

*Due to rounding, numbers presented on this report may not add up precisely to the totals.

9

2020 Budget

2021 Budget

2022 Budget

2023 Budget

12,500 146,576 147,776 147,976 147,776 20,000 8,600 126,000 1,000 1,000 2,300 761,504

12,500 148,661 149,861 150,061 149,469 20,000 8,800 127,000 1,000 1,000 2,300 770,653

12,500 150,647 151,847 152,047 151,449 20,000 8,800 128,000 1,000 1,000 2,300 779,591

12,500 152,668 153,868 154,068 152,213 20,000 8,800 129,000 1,000 1,000 2,300 787,416

44,200 37,000 4,125 155,560 10,000 72,800 25,000 2,500 6,200 44,000 942,536 25,000 1,368,921

100,000

4,295,234

4,295,234

44,200 37,000 4,125 156,310 10,000 72,800 11,200 1,250 4,400 47,227 971,304 25,000 1,384,816

44,200 37,000 4,125 157,060 10,000 72,800 11,400 1,250 4,600 45,928 989,428 25,000 1,402,791

44,200 37,000 4,125 157,310 10,000 72,800 11,600 1,250 4,800 47,854 1,007,914 25,000 1,423,853

100,000

100,000

100,000

3,981,076

3,996,488

4,023,826

3,981,076

3,996,488

4,023,826

Pension & Insurance Detail

1

HealthFlex Premiums - Actives Retiree HRA Contributions Retiree Health Admin Expenses Medicare Part B Allowance for Uncollected (0.5%) HealthFlex Expenses

2017

2018

2019

2020

Actual

Actual

Budget

Request

1,769,281 532,012 10,446 55,838

1,804,754 571,260 10,625 61,865

1,403,880 651,371 11,000 57,000 7,000

1,371,216 660,806 11,000 75,000 7,000

2,367,577

2,448,504

2,130,251

2,125,022

(59,053) (1,231,672) (449,862) (532,012) (2,453) (2,275,052)

(32,143) (1,162,068) (452,543) (107,000) (571,260) (6,660) (2,331,675)

(72,500) (1,282,880) (121,000) (651,371) (2,500) (2,130,251)

(88,000) (1,371,216) (660,806) (5,000) (2,125,022)

92,525

116,829

-

-

Apportionments Pre-82 Transfer Direct Bill Churches Direct Bill Participants CPP Redirect Retiree Health Fund Transfer Investment Earnings - Deposit Acct HealthFlex Offsets Expenses Less Offsets

2

Pension Program Premiums CPP CRSP-DC CRSP-DB UMPIP - Parish Contribution Allowance for Uncollected (0.5%) Pension Expenses

1,526,495

Apportionments Direct Bill Churches Conference Budgets Endowment / Investment Earnings Pension Offsets

Expenses Less Offsets

249,113 241,830 809,321 226,231

245,373 805,533 219,726

1,270,632

256,012 765,941 226,928 7,000 1,255,881

263,933 254,862 739,917 265,892 7,000 1,531,604

(1,419,993) (50,671) (11,026) (1,481,689)

(1,440,550) (47,112) (15,297) (1,502,960)

(1,456,971) (50,581) (12,000) (1,519,552)

(1,474,749) (42,855) (14,000) (1,531,604)

44,806

(232,328)

(263,671)

-

*Due to rounding, numbers presented on this report may not add up precisely to the totals.

10

3

Benefit Grants Program, Seminars, Stipends, Etc. Benefits Office Administration Expenses Transfer from Endowment

4

5

Expenses Less Offsets

Retiree Health Active Participant Contribution - 3% Expenses Less Offsets

Board Expenses Pre-82 Transfer Apportionments

Total Pension & Insurance Expenses Total Offsets Balance Apportionments Direct Bill to Churches Total to Churches HealthFlex Participant's Share

2018

2019

2020

Actual

Budget

Request

22,326 5,032 82,249 109,607

24,064 10,909 90,365 125,338

50,000 10,000 100,000 160,000

40,000 10,000 104,000 154,000

(109,607)

(125,338)

(160,000)

(154,000)

-

-

-

-

53,983 (53,983)

54,305 (54,305)

-

-

5,508 (8,684)

-

5,045 (6,265)

(3,176)

Expenses Less Offsets

2017 Actual

10,000 (10,000) -

(1,220)

10,000 (10,000) -

4,063,170 (3,929,016)

3,903,824 (4,020,542)

3,556,132 (3,819,803)

3,820,626 (3,820,626)

134,154

(116,718)

(263,671)

-

67,737 2,651,665

38,408 2,602,618

2,739,851

2,845,965

2,719,402

2,641,026

2,739,851

2,845,965

503,845

506,848

-

-

*Due to rounding, numbers presented on this report may not add up precisely to the totals.

11

1.3 Annual Conference site proposal 2021-2024 In preparation for the next quadrennium, the Sessions Committee recommends annual conference locations for the years 2021-2024. At the Annual Conference 2016 it was decided to alternate between two locations Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Bismarck, North Dakota, for the years 2017-2020. Previous to 2017, the practice was to schedule annual conference in a different location each year, according to districts.

The decision in 2016 was, in part, connected to moving away from the traditional ballroom setting in a hotel to accessing an event center that can accommodate the rising technological demands of the plenary and worship production.

This change fulfilled five main criteria that were voted on by clergy at the fall leadership event 2015: 1. Large open and flexible space for plenary sessions 2. Space that allows for use of multimedia technology 3. Adequate and easily accessible space for workshops, clergy session and various luncheons 4. Cohesive space that flows and keeps the event in one area 5. Adequate bathroom facilities Consequently, the 2017 Annual Conference took place at the Bismarck Event Center and the 2018 Annual Conference was held at the Sanford Event Center in Sioux Falls. The 2019 Annual Conference will take place in Bismarck and the 2020 Annual Conference will take place in Sioux Falls.

The post-event evaluations affirmed the importance of sufficient space in the plenary and worship area, as well as the easy access to the surrounding meeting room spaces. This convenience led to another positive change in 2018, lunch was provided on Thursday and Friday for all registered attendees in buffet style. The availability of lunch for all attendees on site, allowed for the use of lunch time for fellowship, participating in one of the lunch and learn sessions, or attending one of the various special luncheons that were scheduled. The change was made possible because of the availability of space in the event center setting. This criterion was added to the search.

The same criteria, plus space for lunches, were again applied during the search for annual conference locations for the next quadrennium 2021-2024. Members of the Sessions Committee conducted site visits to Fargo and Rapid City as alternative locations to Bismarck and Sioux Falls. Please see the comparison in the table.

Other sites considered included Jamestown, North Dakota, and Watertown, South Dakota. However, site visits were not conducted as Jamestown and Watertown both failed to meet the criteria. In general, the event space is either outdated (Jamestown) or too tight (Watertown) to comply with size and needs of our group. Also, the newer, smaller locations that we had not considered in 2015 such as Aberdeen (DEC Center) and Mitchell (Highland Conference Center) were immediately disqualified because of their space limitations as well.

12

Comparison of Venues

Quality:

Above Standard (++)

CRITERIA

1. Plenary Space

2. Multimedia technology 3. Clergy Session, workshops, luncheons

4. Cohesive Space – flow of traffic

5. Adequate bathroom facilities

Church for CLM service (Fri eve) Costs

Meeting Standards (0)

Not Adequate (-)

FARGO, ND

BISMARCK, ND

RAPID CITY, SD

SIOUX FALLS, SD

Delta

Convention Center

Sanford Center

-

++

Plaza Civic Center 0

Ballroom setting Ballroom Setting 0

Hall C/D

++

0 Can be sectioned off

+

Only possible in the plenary space Calvary too tight No RFP – ballroom setting disqualifies this venue

Adequate space but low ceiling / older space no ceiling trusses possible -

+ Upstairs rooms

NEW: buffet Thu / Fri

Good (+)

Extra rental, cannot use mtg rooms combined 0

+ One side of the Event Center

++ Exhibit Hall 1&2 ++

++ Meeting rooms 12-14 ++

Access hallway open to public traffic

Space access only for us, hallway and mtg rooms close to plenary space

0

++

limited

Various by mtg rooms

++ Downstairs and upstairs +

+

+

Hall C Share with display area

Food Court

Ballroom A/B Share with display area

+ Legacy

No Church space

+ SF First, Embrace

Space rental high Catering low

Waiting for bid Caution: hotel prices

Space rental low Catering high

The hotel room costs can be calculated around $115 average with increase because of yearly inflation.

The catering costs are also subject to price increases with yearly inflation.

THEREFORE, the Sessions Committee recommends that: Annual Conferences for 2021-2024 will be held at the same two locations as in the previous quadrennium as follows: 2021 and 2023 in Bismarck, North Dakota at the Bismarck Event Center 2022 and 2024 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the Sanford Event Center WHEREAS, rotating to each district would provide a level of geographic “fairness," it would reduce the quality of the event due to facility limitations in Fargo and Rapid City. Additionally, it may have financial and logistical effects on contract negotiations of working with a venue only every four years versus every two.

13

Section 2: Consent Calendar 2.1 Cabinet Resolutions 1. WHEREAS the following congregations have voted to recommend dissolution as a United Methodist congregation; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that these congregations be recognized with thanks to God for their faithful service, and that they be officially discontinued under the provisions of The Book of Discipline, paragraph 2549 by the Dakotas Annual Conference: Northeast: Cavalier First Northwest: Mohall Southeast: Mt. Vernon Southwest: 2. THAT July 1, 2019, be designated as the beginning of all new appointments for 2019-2020, unless prior arrangements have been made. The moving pastor’s current charge shall pay the compensation, health, pension and other benefits through June 30, 2019.

3. THAT the moving schedule be flexible enough to consider the need of the pastors and the families, and that the parish would have sufficient time to prepare the parsonage for the arrival of the incoming pastor. Moves shall be scheduled to occur between June 15 and July 15. If a move is scheduled to happen prior to the last Sunday in June, compensation shall still be paid by the current charge through the end of the month.

4. THAT both congregations and pastors be sensitive and respectful as to the transition of pastoral leadership in a charge. Negotiations between the Staff-Parish Relations chair, and the incoming and outgoing pastor as to first Sunday and care for priestly functions shall be done on a case-by-case basis. July 1 shall be the start date for all incoming pastors unless other arrangements have been made.

5. THAT consideration be given by the congregation to the incoming pastor to have his/her first Sunday serve as a welcoming Sunday, and that formal preaching and worship leadership responsibilities begin the following Sunday.

2.2 Equitable Compensation The purpose of Equitable Compensation is to work with the District Superintendents in the effort to support congregations as they strive to become viable (Rule 1.4). This is done by A) providing salary support grants to churches/ charges served by a full-time United Methodist pastor and B) making an annual recommendation of the minimum compensation needed by pastors to allow them to focus their efforts on the ministry instead of seeking secondary employment.

ANNUAL RECOMMENDATION OF MINIMUM COMPENSATION The Base Cash Salary for each year: 65% of the Conference Average Compensation for Full Connection Clergy; 62% of the Conference Average Compensation for Less than Full Connection Clergy.

The Base Cash Salary for both clergy groups listed in paragraph #1 shall include any personal tax deferred annuities, personal IRA’s paid by the local church, or personal pension plan in addition to the recommended contribution to the Pension program (UMPIP).

The pastor shall receive the following in addition to minimum compensation. A) Pension Program Contribution (UMPIP) equal to 3% of the Denominational Average Compensation; B) Continuing Education allowance (minimum of $150); C) Travel Allowance by voucher at the current IRS rate; D) Utilities paid in full (minimum of heat, electricity, local phone service, water, garbage service, and internet); E) Accountable Reimbursement Plan (minimum of $500).

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SALARY SUPPORT GRANTS The following requests will be considered: Strategic Appointment Grant – Available when a new appointment results in significantly increased costs to the church/charge. These increased costs will be so burdensome that it is unlikely that the Church/Charge will have adequate resources available to take the necessary steps to becoming viable without outside assistance. The purpose of this grant is to assist the church/charge in its transition to being able to fully support the newly appointed pastor. The Church/Charge shall provide monthly written status reports to the District Superintendent and Conference Treasurer. Status reports shall at a minimum report progress towards benchmarks.

Discernment Grant – Available when a Church/Charge has declined in its ability to support a full-time United Methodist pastor to the point where it is unlikely to be able to provide the recommended minimum compensation.

The purpose of this grant is to provide time for the Church/Charge and District Superintendent to evaluate the viability of the congregation and decide upon a ministry plan that is appropriate for the Church/Charge. The District Superintendent shall provide a report on the viability and the ministry plan at the next Equitable Compensation meeting. Depending on the ministry plan adopted by the District Superintendent and the Church/Charge, it may be appropriate for the Church/Charge to provide monthly written status reports to the District Superintendent and Conference Treasurer.

Emergency Grant – Available when a Church/Charge provides evidence that they will not be able to provide their full-time United Methodist pastor with the recommended minimum compensation. The purpose of this grant is to ensure that the pastor is properly cared for.

Churches/Charges shall pay their apportionments in full during the years they receive salary support grant payments.

Churches/Charges that do not comply with this shall not be considered for a Salary Support Grant the following year with the exception of Emergency Grants.

The maximum amount to be paid for Strategic Appointment Grants and Discernment Grants shall be $5,400 annually. Grant payments to Churches/Charges shall be made monthly. A Church/Charge shall not receive Salary Support Grant payments for more than 36 consecutive months.

Salary Support Grant requests shall be submitted in writing to the District Superintendent and the Conference Treasurer. In order for Salary Support Grant payments to continue into a new calendar year, the written request must be updated and resubmitted.

The Churches/Charges receiving support will be listed in the Conference Journal.

Equitable Compensation Calculation: The Commission calculates the Equitable Compensation amount based on the Conference Average Compensation. See calculations below: Year

Full Connection Clergy

Less than Full Connection Clergy

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

67,573 x 65% = 43,922 66,035 x 65% = 42,923 63,616 x 65% = 41,350 62,799 x 65% = 40,819 61,169 x 65% = 39,760

67,573 x 62% = 41,895 66,035 x 62% = 40,942 63,616 x 62% = 39,442 62,799 x 62% = 38,935 61,169 x 62% = 37,925

The charges which received Equitable Compensation support in 2018 were: Bottineau, Burke/Herrrick, Jamestown Regional Parish, Kindred/Walcott, Lisbon/Enderlin, Murdo/Draper, Prairie View, Presho/Kennebec/Reliance, and Williston 2.3 Housing/Parsonage Allowance for Ordained or Licensed Conference Staff and District Superintendents WHEREAS, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits a minister of the gospel to exclude from gross income the rental value of a parsonage furnished to the minister; WHEREAS, a minister is also allowed to exclude from gross income the amount paid to him/her as a properly designated parsonage allowance to the extent used for actual expenses incurred in maintaining a parsonage;

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WHEREAS, a minister is also allowed to exclude from gross income the amount paid to him/her in lieu of a parsonage when properly designated as a housing allowance to the extent used for actual housing expenses not to exceed the fair rental value of the home (including furnishing and appurtenances such as a garage, plus the cost of utilities); WHEREAS the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is the qualified organization for the designation of housing and parsonage allowances for all ordained or licensed persons who serve as District Superintendents, as paid officers of the conference or as members of the conference staff; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that of the cash salary paid to the following persons the following housing exclusions are hereby designated for the calendar year 2020 and for all future years unless otherwise provided: • Dakotas-Minnesota Area Director of New Church Development - $33,500 • Executive Director of Ministries- $25,000 • Fargo Area new church start pastor - $5,000 • Northeast District Superintendent - $30,000 • Northwest District Superintendent - $8,800 • Southeast District Superintendent- $30,000 • Spirit Lake Ministry Director - $7,000 • Wesley Acres Camp Director - $7,000 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to cash salary, the following person(s) will be paid the following amount instead of being furnished a parsonage in which to live, and this additional amount is hereby designated as a housing allowance for the calendar year 2020 and all future years unless otherwise provided: • Executive Director of Ministries - $20,335 • Fargo area new church start pastor - $10,235 • Northeast District Superintendent - $20,335 • Southeast District Superintendent- $20,335 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, during the interim between meetings, the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church authorizes the Conference Human Resources Committee to designate housing and parsonage allowances in accordance with section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code. Such designations are to be recorded in the official minutes of that Committee.

Pensions & Health Actions of the 2019 Annual Conference The Budget: The Board recommends that the 2020 Board of Pensions Budget be adopted as proposed in the 2020 budget.

2.4 RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO RENTAL/HOUSING ALLOWANCES FOR RETIRED AND DISABLED CLERGYPERSONS are found in the “Consent Calendar” section of the 2018 Journal, p. 32. The Board recommends adoption of the same resolutions for calendar year 2020.

Submitted by Leana Stunes, Conference Benefits Officer 2.5 Affirmation of reports of the agencies, boards and committees for 2019 WHEREAS the Conference Secretary has called for each agency, board and committee of the Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church that performed duties throughout 2018-2019 as requested by the membership of the conference and 25th session: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the reports submitted by such agencies, boards and committees are affirmed as listed in Section 4.

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Section 3: Elected Leaders 3.1 Election of 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegates General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church. The assembly meets at the beginning of each quadrennium to consider revisions to church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs for the next four years.

At the 26th session of the Dakotas Annual Conference, voting members will elect one clergy delegate, one lay delegate, one clergy reserve delegate, and one lay reserve delegate to the 2020 General Conference. These four will serves as delegates to the North Central Jurisdiction Conference in 2020. Three clergy reserve delegates and three lay reserve delegates will be elected to the 2020 North Central Jurisdiction Conference (NCJ).

Being a delegate is a serious commitment of time and energy with many meetings, much study and preparation. The 2020 General Conference will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from May 5-15, 2020. Jurisdictional Conference will be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from July 15-18, 2020.

Lay Delegate election Lay delegates must be professing members of The United Methodist Church for at least two years and active participants in The United Methodist Church for at least four years. There is no age requirement as long as membership and participation requirements are met.

Interested and qualified lay members of our conference who are also able to meet the associated time, attendance and financial responsibilities were invited to consider placing themselves in nomination for election as delegates.

Tanner Carlson Tanner Carlson is a life-long United Methodist and a member of Bismarck Legacy UMC. He has completed two years of undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma. He participates in a local church while away at school as a co-leader of the young adult Sunday school class and as a liturgist. He also works as the custodian at the Wesley Foundation student ministry near campus.

Tanner states: I have loved this church for as long as I can remember. I am currently at the district level in the candidacy process, and this summer I am an Elisha intern at Canyon Lake UMC in Rapid City. I also have served as a lay delegate to Annual Conference the last two years first as part of the Conference Council of Youth Ministry and then as a delegate from my home church. Beyond the annual conference level, I have been selected to serve as the North Central Jurisdiction participant in the Young Peoples Ministries Holy Land Pilgrimage organized by Discipleship Ministries (one of our general church agencies).

This fall, I will be starting my third year at the University of Oklahoma, where I am majoring in Religious Studies and History. Prior to enrolling in college, I spent my whole life living the Bismarck, ND area. Despite being out of state for school, I am eager to return to the Dakotas, and I am very proud of our annual conference.

Being a worldwide church means our polity must be flexible both to different cultural contexts but also to different legal and political arrangements. I believe the global nature of our church is one of its greatest strengths because it makes us look just a bit more like the church universal. I also recognize that being global is a challenge because it forces us to listen sacrificially and be open to reevaluating our priorities based on the input of United Methodists from other regions.

Our congregations are vital when they truly see all the people of our communities and take clear steps to engage with them in ministry. There is no single path to church growth but embracing this call to see all the people and be in ministry with our neighbors is the start. When our congregations are vital, this is a gift to the work of the global church because we are released from an attitude of scarcity and can passionately give of our time and money to the general church and the mission of "making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." The Dakotas can be a sign of hope that decline need not be the foregone conclusion about United Methodism in this country.

Jodi Cataldo Jodi Cataldo is a member of Lehr United Methodist Church and serves as the lay administrative pastor and pastoral care coordinator on the Luke 10 Ministry Team serving Lehr, Ashley and Edgeley in North Dakota.

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Jodi serves on the Standing Committee for Central Conference Matters, the Interjurisdictional Episcopacy Committee, the NCJ Episcopacy Committee, the Dakotas Conference Episcopacy Committee and the Dakotas Conference Independent Scholarship Committee. Most recently she was employed from 2013-2018 by the General Board of Discipleship as the Director of Laity in Leadership with responsibility for denomination-wide Lay Servant Ministries, Lay Leaders and Laity Sunday.

Previous to that Jodi served as the Director of Leadership Development for the Dakotas Conference from 2010-2013 with responsibility for Lay Ministry, Board of Ordained Ministry and Congregational Development. She was on staff at the General Board of Global Ministries from 2006-2010 as the Executive Secretary for Emerging Churches Resources with specific emphasis on new mission initiatives. Before serving on staff at GBGM, she and husband Chet served as missionaries assigned to Lithuania from 1999-2005.

Jodi states: I have been a part of the Dakotas (and formerly the ND Conference) since 1990. I have been active in the United Methodist Women serving as a district treasurer and president of the local unit. I have also taught Schools of Christian Mission and will be teaching again this summer and next at Missionu. I feel blessed to have had extensive experience now in the UMC at all levels which has truly expanded my knowledge of the church both locally and globally. I feel this knowledge is an asset as a representative from the Dakotas Conference to the general church. I was elected as the Lay First Reserve Delegate for the 2012 General Conference and the Lay Delegate for the 2016 General Conference. At the 2016 General Conference, I had the opportunity to script and help design the Laity Address as well as host the Laity Dinner in cooperation with the United Methodist Men and the United Methodist Women. I am married to Rev. Dr. Chet Cataldo (43 years now) and we are the parents of three grown children: Jeremiah, professor at Grand Valley State University Honors College in Grand Rapids, MI; Tobin, Executive Director for the Jefferson County Library Cooperative in Birmingham, AL; and Natalya, LPN at the Avera Cancer Center in Sioux Falls, SD. I have felt the call of God upon my life since I was a young girl and have loved the adventure of serving Christ in many different aspects of the journey through my relationship with Jesus and the Church.

Being a worldwide church invites understanding and cooperation at many levels because of a wide variety of cultural contexts. It is so important to truly hear what joys and concerns each one celebrates and to treat every person (no matter where a person comes from) as an equal member at the table, with all the rights and privileges of such membership. It is definitely a complicated relationship as a global church because of both legal and cultural norms which may differ from the USA context.

We, as the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, take this very seriously and are looking to design a general (global) UM Book of Discipline that respects all those different cultural perspectives, mainly by slimming it down to the essentials which can mutually be agreed upon while also recognizing the differences among us. The benefits of a worldwide church are an example of what the Body of Christ can look like and behave like, the richness of its diversity.

By focusing on our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ, congregations become vital. It is our mandate to reach out, welcome persons into the body, nurture them in the faith, equip them to make other disciples and send them out to live out their faith in the world and to invite others into relationship with Jesus Christ. When we fulfill this mandate, we will focus on Christ and the mission, and see ourselves as part of the larger Body of Christ--the global church. This is a relationship which again treats all sisters and brothers as equal members at the great banquet table of Jesus Christ.

Sheila Dailie Sheila Dailie is a member of Milbank Central United Methodist Church where she is the church organist, and a member of church book club. Since 2015, Sheila serves as the chair of the Common Table for the Dakotas Conference. She is the author of a daily devotional, that goes out five days a week, to encourage readers to dig into Gods word.

Sheila states: I believe God’s word defines the best way for men and women to live, which includes taking up our cross to follow Him. My husband Kenne is a living example of God’s redemptive love and grace. Teaching and writing to encourage others to learn to trust God’s deep love for us underlies the work I do as a piano teacher and field enumerator. Our four daughters and their families—seven grandchildren and one more expected— help me keep up with our rapidly changing culture.

The worldwide church is also the bride of Christ, reminding us that we have more in common than we have as differences.

However, this does not make automatic acceptance, but challenges us to view everyone as Jesus sees them. Cultural differences make for interesting interaction but can also make clear communication more challenging.

A vital church sees its mission field outside the four walls of the church and seeks to meet the needs of its community with the ultimate goal of sharing the love of God and the good news of the gospel. Just as every candle dispels darkness, so each church holds back the forces of darkness that try to distort the message of the Gospel.

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Beata Ferris Beata Ferris grew up a United Methodist preacher's daughter and has always been active in the ministries of The United Methodist Church in every community where she has lived. She has been in leadership roles for the UMC since high school serving the Conference Council of Youth Ministry, then exploring a call to ministry in college. She is currently active in her local church, Pierre First UMC, serving on the praise and worship team, leading and teaching youth, VBS teacher, adult Bible study volunteer, and on the church leadership team. She serves as the Dakotas Conference Missional Leaders Link chair and as the Project and Marketing Coordinator for the Dakotas-Minnesota Camp and Retreat Ministries.

Beata states: I try to lead by example through my involvement and service to church committees, groups, and activities. I hope that my love of God and of my neighbors is evident to others in the way I lead and invite others to be involved.

Serving as the Dakotas Conference lay delegate to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference was an honor and I am thankful for the opportunity. It was a difficult several days. There were mountain-top moments when we worshiped and sang together. There were deep-valley and desert-wilderness moments when it was clear that we were not living into our Wesleyan call to first do no harm. Even though those moments were difficult, I am thankful I experienced all those moments. I will carry them with me as a part of my faith journey and they will help me to be a better disciple of Jesus.

Through the experience of serving as the delegate, I was blessed to travel through the Dakotas Conference and meet the amazing people of our local churches. I learned more deeply what it means to see all the people as God's beloved children, each with hopes and fears and dreams for their lives and for our church.

God loves all. All people in all places. To be the worldwide church means we must first believe that God loves all of creation. God's love will be interpreted and put on display in a multitude of ways, in as many different ways as there are different people in different places. No one way to show God's love will reach and speak to all of God's people. As the worldwide church we are challenged to show God's love in real and meaningful ways to the great diversity of God's creation.

We are called to rise to the challenge of showing who God is to all without building barriers and walls to divide us. As a worldwide church we are blessed to experience God in all the ways and in all the places God connects to us. What a joy it is to celebrate God who loves us all in our own ways!

The Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church is a unique part of the Body of Christ. We have large churches in the big cities and small churches on the prairie nestled between small communities. Just one ministry model does not work in the diversity of our conference. We are innovative in trying new ways of making ministry work in our very different situations. In the Dakotas, we have passionate leaders and servant ministers who are willing to address our challenges head on. We can use this vitality to continue to take the love of God to our neighbors in the cities and on the prairie and in the hills and through all the world. We can be a model for others in the denomination as to how to be in ministry and work together to live into the mission of creating disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world even when we don't all look or think or do ministry in the same way.

Jane Hincks Jane Hincks, is a life-long United Methodist and a member of Bismarck Legacy. She is part of a team of people at a new church startup, Bismarck Legacy South, that gets to transform a dance studio into a church and back into a dance studio all in a span of the few hours each week. In addition to setup, tear down, she greets, ushers, and is on the hospitality and prayer teams. Jane leads a great circle of UMW ladies. Jane feels that small groups are the lifeblood of the church, so co-leads a new small group.

Jane is the Conference Co-lay Leader for the Dakotas Conference. She serves on the Missional Impact Link, Extended Cabinet, Laity Leadership, and Sessions committees. As Conference Colay Leader, she has spoken at district charge conferences, annual conference and facilitated Breakthrough Prayer workshops across the Dakotas. Jane will take part in the Breakthrough Prayer Pre-Conference workshop at 2019 Annual Conference. She has been involved in the MCCI revitalization process as a visiting team member interviewing people, listening, and helping write prescriptions.

Jane states: I am blessed to be the mother of two teenagers and work as a Software Support Engineer with a fun, hardworking team. I am passionately empowered by prayer ministry and encouraging others to feast on prayer.

Being a worldwide church makes us a unique Protestant denomination that blends cultures, values and beliefs which is excit19

ing but also brings challenges. For over 20 years, I have worked in a global organization in which I interact with people from other countries and cultures daily. I can see firsthand the benefits of incorporating broader perspectives to reach more people and the challenges, such making judgments, rather than seeking to understand can cause division and strife.

Being united as one in the body of Christ is a powerful benefit to focus our time and energy on reaching the next person for Jesus rather than disagreeing amongst ourselves. I pray we seek God and seek to love one another despite our differences, because when we follow God's leading, rather than our own flesh, how can we go wrong?

Changing the focus from inward to outward and upward is a part of revitalizing congregations. In the Dakotas, we also focus on starting new church plants to reach more people and training them to multiply disciples by finding their calling.

All of these can be utilized to influence the work of the global church.

Kara Togel Kara Togel is a member of Rapid City First UMC and a seminary student at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She is a lifelong United Methodist and the granddaughter of Rev. Boyd Blumer, retired elder of the Dakotas Conference. She serves a small church, Trinity UMC in New Freedom, PA, as part of the student pastor program. Her responsibilities as lay supply pastor include: leading worship every week, making connections within the community for outreach events and providing opportunities for spiritual growth through small groups and Bible studies. She is also involved with Wesley’s weekly chapel service by reading scripture and serving communion.

Kara has been to Dakotas United Methodists camps throughout the years, attended many mission trips, served on the Conference Council on Youth Ministry as a youth delegate, and Elisha Intern at The Bridge in Box Elder, SD. She has assisted with the training for current Elisha Interns for the past two years. She attended the 2019 special session of General Conference as an observer.

Kara states: I am a full-time seminarian from Watertown, SD, attending Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., pursuing my Master of Divinity degree. I am participating in the Student Pastor Program and serving as the Lead Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in New Freedom, PA. I see my ministry as doing what I can to love God with all my being and to love all our neighbors. My hope is this is evident in the ways I lead and minister to others and comes as a clear invitation for all to be involved in that ministry.

One of my favorite things of The United Methodist Church is that we are a global church with a structure that allows us to do ministry in almost any way imaginable. Being a worldwide church means that we share a connection with all people across the globe. While there are challenges that come with the different cultural understandings, languages being spoken, and differing perspectives and views, the benefits of being united in our call to make disciples for the transformation of the world is much greater than the challenges that can build walls. I also believe these challenges are great benefits because they provide us with ways to see how God's love is spread across all the world in different nations, places, and cultures.

A vital congregation is one that equips and empowers people to be disciples of Jesus Christ in their homes, churches, local communities, across the state, and around the world. In the Dakotas, congregations are growing and providing ministries that other conferences are having difficulty living into. What I have seen in the Dakotas Conference are passionate leaders finding innovative ways to reach people in our communities and share the love of God with our neighbors. I believe that continuing this creativity and innovation will only lead to empowering more people to be disciples. By finding new and exciting ways to do ministry in the Dakotas, the global church will see how we are flourishing, and we will become a model for all.

Clergy Delegate election Clergy delegate election eligibility to vote and be elected Judicial Council Decision 1181 clarifies who is eligible to vote for clergy delegates of General Conference and who is eligible to be elected as clergy delegates: Here is an excerpt from that case, effective Feb. 12, 2011: “The persons who are eligible to be elected as clergy delegates to the General Conference, the jurisdictional conference, or the central conference by the annual conference or the provisional annual conference are the full clergy members of the annual or provisional conference. Eligibility to be elected is conferred by full conference membership without regard to ordination or to years of service. The persons who are eligible to cast ballots as electors in choosing the clergy delegates to the General Conference, the jurisdictional conference, or the central conference, are (a) the persons who are eligible

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for election, (b) the associate members, (c) the provisional members who have been judged by the annual conference to have completed the educational requirements and have been elected to provisional membership, and (d) the local pastors who have met two criteria: they have, by either of two options as determined by the annual conference, completed the constitutionally specified level of education; and they have been appointed by the bishop and served for two consecutive years, immediately preceding the election, during which time no withdrawal of the appointed status has occurred. Any enabling legislation in [the] 2008 Discipline that does not conform to ¶ 35 is unconstitutional.”

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry supplied this guidance as late as 2015. (I’ve updated the paragraph numbers to reflect their placement in the 2016 Book of Discipline) ELIGIBLE FOR ELECTION AS CLERGY DELEGATES Deacons and elders: In full connection, active or retired: those elected to full connection during or before the 2018 Clergy Session are eligible to vote and to serve as delegates, even if they have not yet been ordained.

Leave categories eligible for election: Sabbatical Leave (¶351), Voluntary Leave of Absence (Personal, Family, Transitional) (¶353), Maternity or Paternity Leave (¶355), Medical Leave (¶356) NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ELECTION AS CLERGY DELEGATES —Those on leave in the following categories: Involuntary Leave of Absence (¶354.7), Honorable Location (¶358.2), Administrative Location (¶359.3) Provisional members Associate members Local Pastors ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AS CLERGY DELEGATES Deacons or elders in full connection (active or retired) Leave categories eligible to vote: Voluntary Leaves of Absence (personal, family, transitional) (¶353), Sabbatical Leave (¶351), Maternity or Paternity Leave (¶355), Medical Leave (¶356) Provisional members who have completed all their education requirements and have been elected to provisional membership Deacons and elders who have been elected to provisional membership but not yet commissioned are eligible to vote.

Judicial Council Decision 1181 says, in part, “As a practical matter, an annual conference may delay its first ballot for selecting clergy delegates until after answering the question: ‘Who have “completed all of their educational requirements” for provisional membership?’”

Associate members (active and retired) Local Pastors who have completed Course of Study or an M.Div. degree and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment immediately preceding election.

NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR CLERGY DELEGATES Leave categories not eligible to vote: Clergy on Honorable Location (¶358), Clergy on Administrative Location (¶359.3), Clergy on Involuntary Leave of Absence (¶354.7) Local Pastors who do not meet the criteria listed above [completed Course of Study or an M.Div. degree and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment immediately preceding election.]

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3.2 Election of Conference Secretary A vacancy for Conference Secretary will occur July 1, 2019 due to a resignation. According to the 2016 Book of Discipline para. 603. 7 "In the case of a vacancy in either office in the interim of the sessions, the bishop, after consultation with the district superintendents, shall appoint a person to act until the next session of annual conference and an election occurs."

Nomination for Conference Secretary: Amber Laffey Amber Laffey is a member of Mitchell Fusion United Methodist Church, has a passion for ministry. She stays,“I have always loved being at church. I love being in the encouraging, caring environment of a church family. It is the place I wanted to go, loved going, even as a child.”

Amber is currently as the part-time program assistant for Higher Ground, a clergy leadership development initiative funded through the Lilly Endowment. She is involved in lots of church activities. As a child, she sang in the adult choir—with older adults. At Mitchell Fusion, Amber has assisted with children’s activities, been part of the praise team, engaged in mission and service projects, and volunteered wherever needed.

Currently, she is helping to lead the Women's Life Group that includes women from the congregation and several students from Dakota Wesleyan University.

Nominated by: Nominations Committee

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3.3 Nominations Committee Report Committee/Agency

THE COMMON TABLE (CT)

(3 Lay, 3 Clergy)

First Name

Last Name

Role

Sheila

Dailie

Chair

Cody

Warns

Steve

Behrens

Phone

CONFERENCE

Email

605-949-0660

skdailie@gmail.com

Laity at large

605-480-0369

cwarns@hotmail.com

Clergy at large

605-266-2135

steve.behrens50@gmail. com

Joel

Higgins

Clergy at large

DeAnn

Eidem

Clergy at large

joelhiggins@hotmail.com 605-348-1080

deann.eidem@clumc.com

Laity Bob

Ruedebusch

Conference Council on Finance & Administration

605-336-3652

pastorbob@sfumc.org

Myrna

Hill

Conference Co-Lay Leader

605-490-0109

myrnajhill@yahoo.com

Kermit

Culver

District Superintendent

701-391-2340

kermit.culver@dakotasumc.org

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop@dkmnareaumc.org

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries/ Cabinet Rep.

605-990 -7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

CONFERENCE CHANCELLORS

Tim

Ottmar

North Dakota

701-252-7229

tottmar@ottmarlaw.com

Nancy

Oviatt

South Dakota

605-886-5812

nancy@grolawfirm.com

THE EXTENDED CABINET

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop@dkmnareaumc.org

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Ex officio Members (with vote) Ex officio Members (without vote)

Ex officio Members (with out vote)

MISSIONAL LEADERS LINK

(12 including standing committees)

Standing Committees (Membership with vote) Ex officio Members (with vote)

Ex officio Members (without vote)

Randy

Cross

DS Northeast

701-639-0317

randy.cross@dakotasumc.org

Roger

Spahr

DS Southeast

605-880-0011

roger.spahr@dakotasumc.org

Kevin

Kloster

DS Southwest

605-580-5049

kevin.kloster@dakotasumc.org

Kermit

Culver

DS Northwest

701-391-2340

kermit.culver@dakotasumc.org

Ben

Ingebretson

Area Director of New Church Development

612-230-6124

ben.ingebretson@dkmnareaumc.org

Deb

Kjerstad

Director of Leadership Development

605-990-796

deb.kjerstad@dakotasumc.org

Keith

Shew

Area Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries

612-230-6130

keith.shew@dkmnareaumc.org

Sheri

Meister

Exec. Director of Dakotas UM Foundation

605-990-7790

sheri.meister@dakotasumf.org

Jeff

Pospisil

Exec. Director of Finance & Administration

605-990-7786

jeff.pospisil@dakotasumc.org

Doreen

Gosmire

Director of Communications

605-990-7794

doreen.gosmire@dakotasumc.org

Jane

Hincks

Conference Co-Lay Leader

701-202-5456

janehincks@hotmail.com

Myrna

Hill

Conference Co-Lay Leader

605-490-0109

myrnajhill@yahoo.com

Sheila

Dailie

Chair Common Table

605-949-0660

skdailie@gmail.com

Beata

Ferris

Shelby

DEVELOPING MISSIONAL LEADERS Chair

605-222-8284

bkferris05@msn.com

Stotz

605-343-2548

shelbystotz@gmail.com

Steve

Schlasner

218-399-0209

easternsunrisedll@midco.net

Eric

Van Meter

870-219-6255

ervanmet@dwu.edu

Melissa

Gall

605-880-4500

melissa.gall@hotmail.com

Corey

Enfield

605-665-2991

cenfield52@gmail.com

Anita

Tulp

701-320-9058

crazy4bookslms@gmail. com

Randy

Hedge

920-420-9901

madison.umc@midconetwork.com

Kris

Larson

605-860-8781

krislarson1@msn.com pastorjefflathrop@gmail.com

Young Adult and Campus Ministries

Board of Ordained Ministry

Jeff

Lathrop

Coordinator for CCYM

701-772-1869

Clay

Lundberg

Camping Representative

605-775-2752

pastorclayumc@hotmail.com

Jane

Hincks

Conference Co-Lay Leader

701-202-5456

janehincks@hotmail.com

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org deb.kjerstad@dakotasumc.org

Chair of Nominations Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

Deb

Kjerstad

Director of Leadership Development

605-990-7796

Keith

Shew

Area Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries

612-230-6130

keith.shew@dkmnareaumc.org

Betty

Janke

Co-Director of Lay Servant Ministries

703-629-6709

BettyJ131@hotmail.com

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Committee/Agency

First Name

Last Name

Role

Phone

Email

STANDING COMMITTEES UNDER THE MISSIONAL LEADERS LINK BOARD OF ORDAINED MINISTRY (BOM)

(Nominated by the Bishop)

Val

Reinhiller

Chair & Dean of Licensing & Lay Ministry School

701-426-5456

vreinhiller@msn.com

Brandon

Vetter

Vice Chair

701-223-4401

brandon@legacyumc.org

Katie

Ricke

Secretary

605-763-2861

pastorkricke@gmail.com

Sara

McManus

Registrar

701-282-5765

pastorsara@flameoffaithumc.org

Sharla

McCaskell

Clergy

605-484-4588

knollwoodpastor@gmail.com

Gary

Ball-Kilbourne

Conference Relations Chair

701-500-0985

gbk@prairiescribbler.com

Howard

Grinager

Retired Liaison

605-297-1060

grinagerh@gmail.com

Michelle

Brennan

Deacon Liaison

701-952-3718

michellebrennan@hotmail.com

Bruce

Forbes

Extension Ministries Liaison

612-708-3419

forbes@morningside.edu

Ray

Baker

Northeast Committee Chair

701-220-4803

ray@fargofaithumc.org

Nancy

Manning

Southeast Committee Chair

605-215-3429

nancyserving@gmail.com

DeAnn

Eidem

Southwest Committee Chair

605-484-6041

deann.eidem@clumc.com

Joel

Winckler

Northwest Committee Chair

701-269-9960

nodakjoel@gmail.com

Dean

Trapp

Clergy

605-354-6227

pastordean@santel.net

Chang

Yi

Clergy

701-772-1893

pastorchangyi@gmail.com

Kris

Larson

Local Licensed Pastor Registrar

605-860-8781

krislarson1@msn.com

Marilyn

Spurrell

Clergy

605-270-3185

pastormarilyn@watertownfirstumc.com

Clergy

Ex officio Member (with vote)

COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Janelle

Jones

Lay

605-722-5911

jljones@midco.net

Richard

Wahlstrom

Lay

605-484-7761

rkw68@live.com

Tom

Dravland

Lay

605-222-0579

dravland@pie.midco.net

Alisha

Vincent

Lay

605-995-2937

alvincen@dwu.edu

Jen

Tyler

Clergy

701-642-4439

pastorjent@gmail.com

Kris

Mutzenberger

Clergy

701-532-0520

krismutzenberger@gmail.com

Keith

Nelson

Clergy

605-630-6586

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

Roger

Spahr

Cabinet Representative

605-880-0011

roger.spahr@dakotasumc.org

Deb

Kjerstad

605-990-7796

deb.kjerstad@dakotasumc.org

605-360-2352

nghallenbeck@gmail.com

Chair Nancy

Hallenbeck

Southeast District

Marilyn

Stroh

Southeast District

605-366-1870

mjstroh516@gmail.com

Pat

Siefken

Northeast District

605-395-6626

lpksiefken@nvc.net

Sandra

Marquardt

Northeast District

701-265-4308

smarquardt3@gmail.com

605-787-5799

godaboveall@hotmail.com

Northeast District Connie

Eichinger

Southwest District

Jeff

Adel

Southwest District

605-350-5159

pastorjeffa@gmail.com

Marjean

Stotz

Southwest District

605-442-2556

marjeanstotz@gmail.com

Sharman

Zachrison

Northwest District

701-320-0463

sharman.zachrison@gmail.com

Anita

Tulp

Northwest District

701-320-9058

crazy4bookslms@gmail. com

605-490-0109

myrnajhill@yahoo.com

Northwest District

Ex officio Member (without vote)

Conference Co-Lay Leader

Myrna

Hill

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Deb

Kjerstad

Director of Leadership Development

605-990-7796

deb.kjerstad@dakotasumc.org

Conference Secretary

conference.secretary@dakotasumc.org

NON-PERMANENT STANDING COMMITTEES UNDER THE MISSIONAL LEADERS LINK CAMP AND RETREAT MINISTRY COUNCIL

Nicole

Anderson

Lyall

Workman

Chair

24

605-237-6786

nianders.89@gmail.com

701-250-9379

lworkman@barr.com

Committee/Agency

Ex officio Member (without vote)

Auxiliary/Invited (without vote)

CONFERENCE COUNCIL OF YOUTH MINISTRIES (CCYM)

District Coordinators

District Youth Representatives

First Name

Last Name

Kevin

Tulp

Kris

Mutzenberger

Tyrel

Schlecht

Keith

Shew

Christy

Role

Phone

Email

701-646-2123

office@epworthvalley.com

605-228-5139

krismutzenberger@gmail.com

701-320-7636

tyman_nd@hotmail.com

Area Director of Camp and Retreats

612-230-6130

keith.shew@dkmnareaumc.org

Heflin

Site Director Lake Poinsett

605-983-5547

christy.heflin@dakcamps.org

Levi and Lara

Ziegler

Site Directors Storm Mountain

605-343-4391

levi.ziegler@dakcamps.org, lara.ziegler@ dakcamps.org

Paul and Brenda

Lint

Site Directors Wesley Acres

701-733-2413

paul.lint@dakcamps.org

Jeff

Lathrop

Conference Coordinator of Youth Ministries (Northeast)

701-772-1869

pastorjefflathrop@gmail.com

Brenda

Lint

Northwest

701-733-2413

paulnbrenda@hotmail.com

Clergy

Diane

Kisch

Southeast

605-660-1242

dkischfumc@gmail.com

John

Britt

Southwest

605-787-2414

pastorjohnbritt@gmail.com

Steve

Hilton

Southwest

605-390-1301

andone39@gmail.com

Quaya

Ackerman

Northeast

701-261-6492

pastorquaya@arthurumc.org

Peggy

Hanson

At Large

605-584-1328

pastor@leadtumc.com

Cyndee

Mattke

Southeast

Leah

Marshall

Southeast

Andrea

Hult

Southeast

Bailey

Wiesler

Southeast

Tyler

Rasmussen

Southeast

Lauren

Kjerstad

Southwest

Abbie

Ferris

Southwest

Paige

Lehrkamp

Southwest

Elisabeth

Ortiz

Southwest

Haley

Ferguson

Southwest

Sara

Jones

Northeast

Landon

Brown

Northeast

EQUIPPING MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS LINK (12)

Ex officio Member (without vote)

Scott

McKirdy

605-642-3457

scott.mckirdy@spearfishumc.org

Justin

Schnackenberg

Chair

701-370-6794

pastorschnack@gmail.com

Adam

Weber

605-271-3249

adam@iamembrace.com

Mark

Rockeman

701-240-8705

Rockeman@srt.com

John

Srstka

605-941-6048

J1srstka@aol.com

Thom

Bowsher

605-432-4766

pastorthom@milbankcen-tral.org

Jenene

Earl

605-720-5578

ljearl@outlook.com

Matt

Morrison

605-366-5009

matt@sfasbury.org

Michele

Slott

605-341-2429

mrvys1998@gmail.com

Cory

Thrall

701-462-3220

thrallcory@gmail.com

Roger

Spahr

Cabinet Representative

605-880-0011

roger.spahr@dakotasumc.org

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop.ough@dkmnareaumc.org

Ben

Ingebretson

Area Director of New Church Development

612-230-6124

ben.ingebretson@dkmnareaumc.org

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

25

Committee/ Agency

First Name

Last Name

Ron

Olson

Holly

Role

Phone

EXTENDING MISSIONAL IMPACT

701-440-1102

ronolson58@gmail.com

Sortland

605-877-0705

hollysort@gmail.com

Gail

Arnold

605-892-5007

gail.arnold.ga@gmail.com

Marty

Toepke-Floyd

605-472-0770

pastor.redfieldumc@midconetwork.com

Kristen

Krogman

775-910-9801

conference.secretary@ dakotasumc.org

Travis

Krogman

605-895-2353

gospelofluke17.10@gmail. com

Laura

Borman

605-321-5218

lborman@att.net

Karl

Kroger

605-787-4858

karlkroger@gmail.com

Leisa

Richards

505-228-1667

leisa@leisarichardslaw.com

Standing Committees (Membership with vote)

Marsha

Timm

United Methodist Women President

605-695-9368

edmatimm@yahoo.com

Bobbi

Larson

Conference Secretary of Global Ministries

605-871-9809

bglarson@hur.midco.net

Ex officio Member (with vote)

Diane

Culver

UMW Mission Coordinator for Social Action

605-690-4443

quilter48@icloud.com

VirLyn

Hoff

UMW Mission Coordinator for Education

701-845-1727

virlynhoff@yahoo.com

Ex officio Member (without vote)

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Kevin

Kloster

Cabinet Representative

605-580-5049

kevin.kloster@dakotasumc.org

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN (UMW)

Marsha

Timm

President

605-695-9368

edmatimm@yahoo.com

glenda

Kluckman

Vice President

605-941-1071

kluckmang@gmail.com

Robyn

Nadvornik

Secretary

701-690-8958

robynandrich@ndsupernet.com

Julie

Wayne

Spiritual Growth

701-269-9498

kjwayne@daktel.com

Barb

Lindbloom

Secretary of Program Resources

605-224-4489

bklindy@pie.midco.net

Penny

Galinat

Communications Coordinator

605-224-9586

plgalinat@yahoo.com

Joyce

Carter

Committee on Nominations Chair

701-662-3248

joyce.carter47@outlook. com

LaVina

Kleese

Committee on Nominations

701-252-3777

lavinak@csicable.net

Janet

Madsen

Committee on Nominations

605-765-2746

jmadsen@venturecomm.net

Cheryl

McKnight

Committee on Nominations

605-786-7424

johnsyellowrose@hotmail.com

Brenda

Rekow

Committee on Nominations

701-535-0109

bpets@drtel.net

MISSIONAL IMPACT LINK

UNITED METHODIST MEN (UMM)

Chair

Email

President Robert

Schultz

Treasurer

605-987-2569

BOMAR67@q.com

GENERATING MISSIONAL RESOURCES MISSIONAL RESOURCES LINK

Task force members to be named when called upon by the Bishop.

STANDING COMMITTEES UNDER MISSIONAL RESOURCES LINK CONFERENCE COUNCIL ON FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (CCFA)

Ex officio Member (without vote)

Bob

Ruedebusch

Jeff

Adel

Jennifer

Chair

605-336-3652

pastorbob@sfumc.org

605-350-5159

pastorjeffa@gmail.com

Erickson

605-254-5780

jennifer@jefinancial.net

Arlyn

Coalter

605-929-5727

revac54@hotmail.com

Ruth

Barrett

605-348-5045

rvbarrett@rap.midco.net

Geoff

Hilton

701-721-7313

velvaumcpastor@yahoo.com

Mary Lee

Nielson

701-845-5717

marylee@quiltedceiling.com

Josh

Willprecht

605-254-2545

jjwillprecht@hotmail.com

Mark

Johnsen

605-424-2080

pastormarkjohnsen@gmail.com

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop@dkmnareaumc.org

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Vice Chair Secretary

26

Committee/ Agency

BOARD OF PENSIONS AND HEALTH BENEFITS (BOPHB)

Ex officio Member (without vote)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT)

Ex officio Member (without vote)

HUMAN RESOURCES (HRC)

Ex officio Member (without vote)

First Name

Last Name

Role

Jeff

Pospisil

Treasurer

605-990-7786

Jeff.pospisil@dakotasumc.org

Sheri

Meister

Dakotas UM Foundation Executive Director

605-990-7790

sheri.meister@dakotasumf.org

Eric

Walth

Board of Pensions Representative

701-220-6331

Eric@rock30games.com

Randy

Cross

Cabinet Representative

701-639-0317

randy.cross@dakotasumc.org

Phone

Email

Elaine

Roberts

Chair

605-331-5788

ejroberts@sio.midco.net

Eric

Walth

Recording Secretary

701-220-6331

Eric@rock30games.com

Don

Armstrong

605-271-8846

donanddawn@sio.midco. net

Anne

Osborne

701-435-2927

osborne@daktel.com

Al

Roll

701-223-4401

treasurer@legacyumc.org

Jack

Erickson

605-448-2900

jack@venturecomm.net

Alona

Burtz

605-842-1812

alonaburtz@hotmail.com

Joy

Tracy

605-532-3915

pastor.jtracy@gmail.com

Roy

Caudill

605-940-1742

roybcaud@aol.com

Shawn

Culey

605-360-8352

Shawn.Culey@dakotasumc.org

Debra

Coalter

605-929-5446

dcoalter@hotmail.com

Valerie

Hummel LaBounty

605-660-5419

ladypastorvalerie@gmail.com

Leana

Stunes

605-990-7785

leana.stunes@dakotasumc.org jeff.pospisil@dakotasumc.org

Conference Benefits Officer

Jeff

Pospisil

Board Treasurer and SD Registered Agent

605-990-7786

JoAnn

Schlimgen

Assistant Board Treasurer

605-990-7787

joann.schlimgen@dakotasumc.org

Howard

Grinager

BOM Representative

605-297-1060

grinagerh@gmail.com

Bob

Ruedebusch

CCFA Representative

605-336-3652

pastorbob@sfumc.org

Randy

Cross

Cabinet Representative

701-639-0317

randy.cross@dakotasumc.org

Dennis

Holm

Chair-Lay man

605-324-3674

djh@venturecomm.net

Kathy

Mah

Lay woman

605-360-6421

Kathy@ameri-star.com

Deb

Mack

Clergy

605-448-5357

ndmack@venturecomm.net

Bill

Bates

Clergy

605-610-6209

igtwlb@vastbb.net

Boyd

Blumer

Clergy

605-995-1961

besquare@mit.midco.net

Marvin

Winstryg

Clergy

701-516-7407

mwinstryg@yahoo.com

Mark

Stearns

Lay man

Merril

Knodle

Lay man

701-799-9833

merrilkno@aol.com

Kristi

Barber

Lay woman

605-343-2015

kristibarber37@gmail.com

Al

Goehring

Lay man

701-269-2968

agoehri@daktel.com

Joyce

Carter

Lay woman

701-740-5795

joyce.carter47@outlook.com

Jeff

Pospisil

Treasurer

605-990-7796

jeff.pospisil@dakotasumc.org

Tim

Ottmar

Conference Chancellor ND

701-252-7229

tottmar@ottmarlaw.com

Nancy

Oviatt

Conference Chancellor SD

605-886-5812

nancy@grolawfirm.com

Randy

Cross

Cabinet Representative

701-639-0317

randy.cross@dakotasumc.org

Barry

Whipkey

Clergy - Chair

605-256-2162

pastorbarry55@gmail.com

Laura

Borman

Clergy

605-338-4562

lborman@att.net

Nancy

Bohlen

Laity

605-692-7744

nbohlen@swiftel.net

Sheila

Mennenga

Laity

605-881-2159

csmennenga@gmail.com

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-996-6552

rebecca.trefz@dakotaumc.org

Beata

Ferris

Missional Leaders Representative

605-222-8284

bkferris05@msn.com

Scott

McKirdy

Missional Congregations Representative

605-642-3457

scott.mckirdy@spearfisumc.org

Ron

Olson

Missional Impact Representative

701-440-1102

ronolson58@gmail.com

Bob

Ruedebusch

Missional Resources Representative

605-336-3652

pastorbob@sfumc.org

Steve

Behrens

Common Table Representative

605-266-2135

steve.behrens50@gmail. com

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop@dkmnareaumc..org

Jeff

Pospisil

Treasurer

605-990-7786

jeff.pospisil@dakotasumc.org

Roger

Spahr

Cabinet Representative

605-880-0011

roger.spahr@dakotasumc.org

27

Committee/ Agency

First Name

Last Name

Role

Duane

Coates

Chair

Tom

Phone

Email

SUPPORT SERVICES COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY (CAH)

Ex officio Member (without vote)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE SESSIONS COMMITTEE

605-695-5561

dcoates70@yahoo.com

Thaden

605-624-3286

tommy123@vyn.midco.net

Sheri

Fadley

701-213-9344

sherifadley@gmail.com

Jerry

Stravia

720-985-7845

straviaj@gmail.com

Tabitha

Sonne

605-351-1687

Cheryl

Finney

Conference Historian

605-332-9959

fcheryl6@aol.com

Laurie

Langland

Archivist

605-995-2134

LaLangla@dwu.edu

Pat

Breidenbach

Archivist emeritus

605-996-9230

breidenbach@mit.midco. net

Stephen

Perry

Historical Society Chair

763-427-6080

historian@centurylink.net

Kay

Braun

Chair

701-232-1915

braunk@cableone.net

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop@dkmnareaumc.org

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-0-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Jane

Hincks

Conference Co-Lay Leader

701-202-5456

janehincks@hotmail.com

Roger

Spahr

Host District Superintendent

roger.spahr@dakotasumc.org

Host Team Host Team Host Team Host Team

(appointed by the Bishop) Bea

Stucke

Site Coordinator

605-990-7791

bea.stucke@dakotasumc.org

Taylor

Johnson

Worship Coordinator

605-413-8851

johnsont@sfumc.org

Lou

Whitmer

Worship Coordinator

605-226-1279

pastorlou@nvc.net

Doreen

Gosmire

Communications Coordinator

605-990-7794

doreen.gosmire@dakotasumc.org dcoates70@yahoo.com

Duane

Coates

Agenda Coordinator

605-695-5561

Deb

Kjerstad

BOM Representative

605-990-7796

deb.kjerstad@dakotasumc.org

Dayne

Zachrison

At Large

701-845-0340

pastordayne@gmail.com

Stephen

Perry

Chair

763-427-6080

historian@centurylink.net

ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE (2017-2020) - Clergy

Nancy

Manning

605-215-3429

nancyserving@gmail.com

Gary

Rae

605-940-7865

gary.w.rae@gmail.com

(nominated by the Bishop)

Jeff

Adel

Alternate

605-350-5159

pastorjeffa@gmail.com

Jerry

Bass

Alternate

701-775-5696

jerry.bass@gra.midco.net

Doug

Diehl

Clergy

605-431-1123

dugdeal@gmail.com

Jenene

Earl

Clergy

605-720-6389

ljearl@outlook.com

COMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATION

Penny

Eberhart

Clergy

605-310-8504

ebhartp@gmail.com

Kim

Callies

Laity

605-270-2327

birdiecallies@yahoo.com

Joanne

Ottmar

Laity

701-252-7229

jottmar@ottmarlaw.com

Terry

Pendergast

Laity

605-351-6934

tpendergast@gra.midco.net

Jerry

Bass

Clergy alternate

701-775-5696

jerry.bass@gra.midco.net

Laity alternate

COMMITTEE ON EPISCOPACY (COE)

Jennifer

Larsen

Laity - Chair

605-359-6682

jlarsen@hwalaw.com myrnajhill@yahoo.com

Myrna

Hill

Conference Co-Lay Leader

605-490-0109

Janet

Madsen

Laity

605-765-2746

jmadsen@venturecomm.net

Jennifer

Tyler

Member appointed by Bishop

701-642-6202

pastorjent@gmail.com

Al

Roll

Member appointed by Bishop

701-223-4401

treasurer@legacyumc.org

Keith

Nelson

Member appointed by Conference

605-630-6586

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

Ryan

Mutzenberger

Member appointed by Conference

701-232-4416

ryanmutzenberger@gmail.com

Rebecca

Trefz

Member NCJ COE

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Jodi

Cataldo

Member NCJ COE

701-378-2327

jodicataldo@yahoo.com

28

First Name

Last Name

Role

Phone

RECORDS, RULES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries, Chair

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Duane

Coates

Member

605-695-5561

dcoates70@yahoo.com

CONFERENCE DISASTER RESPONSE

Rick

Craig

Conference Disaster Response Co-Coordinator

701-968-3361

imrickcraig@icloud.com

Lisa

Johnsen

Conference Disaster Response Co-Coordinator

605-440-3201

pastormarkjohnsen@gmail.com

Mark

Ellingson

Planning

218-779-5707

mellingson56@gmail.com

Linda

Baldock

Planning

605-786-2262

lindambaldock@gmail.com

Jim

Unkenholz

Operations

701-667-2050

junkenholz@aol.com

Mike

Flowers

Operations

701-799-1174

Childharvest@msn.com

Committee/ Agency

DAKOTAS UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION BOARD

Conference Secretary

Email

conference.secretary@dakotasumc.org

Libby

Flowers

Operations

701-799-1174

Spiritlakeministry@outlook.com

Linda

Kropenske

Training

605-371-1205

lkropenske@yahoo.com

Nancy

Trefz

At Large

605-765-4335

trefzponyexpress@hotmail.com

Connie

Eichinger

At Large

605-787-5799

godaboveall@hotmail.com

Jim

Eichinger

At Large

605-787-5799

godaboveall@hotmail.com

Jeff

Pospisil

Administration and Communication

605-990-7786

jeff.pospisil@dakotasumc.org

Doreen

Gosmire

Administration and Communication

605-990-7794

Doreen.gosmire@dakotasumc.org

Richard

Platt

Chair

605-996-4488

richard.platt@bankwestsd.com

Sharla

McCaskell

Vice Chair

605-343-7145

knollwoodpastor@gmail.com

Sheri

Meister

President/CEO

605-990-7790

sheri.meister@dakotasumf.org

Jeff

Pospisil

Treasurer

605-990-7786

jeff.pospisil@dakotasumc.org

Secretary Jeff

Nelson

605-376-5388

jeff@605advantage.com

Dave

Page

605-432-7874

D.DPage@outlook.com

Scott

Jones

605-224-9346

scottddp@yahoo.com

Bob

Ruedebusch

605-336-3652

pastorbob@sfumc.org

Steve

Pietila

605-760-4916

spietila@firstdakota.com

Richard

Wahlstrom

605-484-7761

Rkw68@live.com

Eric

Walth

701-220-6331

ericwalth@gmail.com

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop@dkmnareaumc.org

DISTRICT NOMINATIONS NORTHEAST DISTRICT (NE)

Steve

Schlasner

Co-Lay Leader

218-399-0209

easternsunrisedll@midco.net

Don

Fox

Co-Lay Leader

605-886-2122

foxdcpa@dailypost.com

NE District Committee on Ordained Ministry

Ray

Baker

Chair

701-220-4803

ray@fargofaithumc.org

Steve

Olson

Clergy

701-742-2925

norskie@drtel.net

Jerry

Bass

Clergy

701-775-5696

jerry.bass@gra.midco.net

Kris

Mutzenberger

Clergy

605-361-0899

krismutzenberger@gmail.com

Jennifer

Tyler

Clergy

701-642-6202

pastorjent@gmail.com

Don

Miller

Laity

701-885-9082

donald.miller@und.edu

Randy

Cross

District Superintendent

701-639-0317

randy.cross@dakotasumc.org

Mark

Ellingson

Clergy

218-779-5707

mellingson56@gmail.com

Thom

Bowsher

Clergy

605-432-4766

pastorthom@milbankcentral.org

Randy

Cross

District Superintendent

701-639-0317

randy.cross@dakotasumc.org

Ryan

Mutzenberger

Chair - Clergy

605-228-4779

ryanmutzenberger@gmail.com

Katherine

Tweed

Laity

701-235-2115

Dave

Motta

Clergy

701-232-5650

dave@calvaryfargo.com

Melanie

Reiners

Clergy

605-432-4796

mmreiners@itcmilbank.com

NE Building and Location Committee

NE Superintendency Committee

29

First Name

Last Name

NE Committee on Nominations

Pat

Siefken

Sandra

Marquardt

SOUTHEAST DISTRICT (SE)

Nancy Val

SE District Committee on Ordained Ministry

Committee/ Agency

SE Building and Location

SE Superintendency Committee

SE Nominations

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT (SW) SW District Committee on Ordained Ministry

SW Building and Location Committee

Role

Phone

Email

605-395-6656

lpksiefken@nvc.net

Clergy

701-265-4308

smarquardt3@gmail.com

Hallenbeck

Co-Lay Leader

605-360-2352

nghallenbeck@gmail.com

Melmer

Co-Lay Leader

605-280-4035

valmelmer@hotmail.com

Nancy

Manning

Clergy - Chair

605-215-3429

nancyserving@gmail.com

Ron

Johnson

Clergy

605-665-2991

revron24@gmail.com

Jo

Flesner

Clergy

307-689-4093

je.flesner@gmail.com

Bob

Ruedebusch

Clergy

605-336-3652

pastorbob@sfumc.org

Steve

Trefz

Clergy

605-251-5316

sgtrefz@gmail.com

Kip

Roozen

Clergy

605-645-9630

kip@sfasbury.org

Troy

Hansen

Laity

605-263-3104

ethansen@iw.net

Val

Melmer

Laity

605-280-4035

valmelmer@hotmail.com

Connie

Smith

Laity

605-363-5097

cmsmith@siouxvalley.net

Nancy

Hallenbeck

Laity

605-360-2352

nghallenbeck@gmail.com

Roger

Spahr

District Superintendent

605-880-0011

roger.spahr@dakotasumc.org

Gary

Rae

Clergy

605-940-7865

gary.w.rae@gmail.com

Keith

Nelson

Clergy

605-630-6586

keith@downtownfirstumc.com

Roy

Caudill

Clergy

605-940-1742

roybcaud@aol.com

John

Claggett

Laity

605-770-7248

johnclaggett@mit-tel.net

Cortland

Carnes

Laity

605-763-5427

Roger

Spahr

District Superintendent

605-880-0011

roger.spahr@dakotasumc.org

Nancy

Hallenbeck

Co-Lay Leader

605-360-2352

nghallenbeck@gmail.com

Diane

Kisch

Laity

605-665-1500

dkischfumc@gmail.com

Charles

Schnabel

Laity

605-692-5655

cvschnabel@brookings.net

Kim

Callies

Laity

605-270-2327

birdiecallies@yahoo.com

Ron

Johnson

Clergy

605-665-2991

revron24@gmail.com

Jo

Flesner

Clergy

307-689-4093

je.flesner@gmail.com

Arlyn

Coalter

Clergy

605-929-5727

revac54@hotmail.com

Sara

Hock

Laity

605-427-0209

hockssd@iw.net

Dave

Severtson

Chair

605-940-7581

pastordave@sio.midco.net

Nancy

Hallenbeck

605-360-2352

nghallenbeck@gmail.com

Marilyn

Stroh

605-366-1870

mjstroh516@gmail.com

Co-Lay Leader Richard

Wahlstrom

Co-Lay Leader

605-484-7761

rkw68@live.com

Deann

Eidem

Chair

605-484-6041

deann.eidem@clumc.com

Peggy

Hanson

Clergy

605-584-1328

pastor@leadtumc.com

Greg

Kroger

Clergy

605-224-5939

gregscot@gmail.com

Jenene

Earl

Clergy

605-720-5578

ljearl@outlook.com

Sharla

McCaskell

Clergy-LLP

605-343-7145

knollwoodpastor@gmail.com

Karl

Kroger

Clergy

(605) 999-9898

karlkroger@gmail.com

Ashley

Alsup

Laity

605-390-4296

ashleyalsup@hotmail.com

Joanne

Hipple

Laity

605-222-0357

joanne.hipple@outlook.com

Kevin

Kloster

District Superintendent

605-580-5049

kevin.kloster@dakotasumc.org

Sharla

McCaskell

Clergy

605-343-7145

knollwoodpastor@gmail.com

Gordon

Higgins

Clergy

605-499-8757

higgins557@msn.com

30

Committee/ Agency

SW Superintendency Committee

First Name

Last Name

Role

Phone

Jeff

Adel

Clergy

605-765-9702

pastorjeffa@gmail.com

Email

Darwin

Kopfman

Clergy

605-673-3473

drkopf@goldenwest.net

Robert

Puffer

Laity

605-745-4819

puffer@gwtc.net

David

Bonde

Laity

605-280-9680

Eileen

Wilson

Laity

605-673-3401

pew@gwtc.net

Kevin

Kloster

District Superintendent

605-580-5049

kevin.kloster@dakotasumc.org

Co-Lay Leader Richard

Wahlstrom

Co-Lay Leader

605-484-7761

rkw68@live.com

Ashley

Alsup

Laity

605-390-4296

ashleyalsup@hotmail.com

Jenene

Earl

Clergy

605-720-5578

ljearl@outlook.com

Holly

Sortland

Clergy

605-877-0705

hollysort@gmail. com

SW Committee on Nominations

Connie

Eichinger

Clergy

605-787-5799

godaboveall@hotmail.com

Jeff

Adel

Clergy

605-765-9702

pastorjeffa@gmail.com

NORTHWEST DISTRICT (NW)

Barb

Owen

Co-Lay Leader

701-388-1253

barb_o11@hotmail.com

Annie

Carlson

Co-Lay Leader

701-269-4483

morningjoyfarm@hotmail.com

Joel

Winckler

Chair

701-269-9960

nodakjoel@gmail.com

Perry

Schnabel

Secretary

701-255-4281

pastorperrys@msn.com

Michelle

Brennan

Clergy

701-952-3718

michellebrennan@hotmail.com

Kermit

Culver

District Superintendent

701-391-2340

kermit.culver@dakotasumc.org

Dayne

Zachrison

Chair

701-845-0340

pastordayne@gmail.com

Richard

Craig

Clergy

701-968-3361

imrickcraig@icloud.com

Paul

Lint

Clergy

701-880-8274

wac@dakcamps.org

Cory

Thrall

Clergy

701-462-3220

thrallcory@gmail.com

Kermit

Culver

District Superintendent

701-391-2340

kermit.culver@dakotasumc.org

Art

Scanson

Retired Clergy

701-391-3912

lscanson@msn.com

Sharman

Zachrison

Laity

701-320-0463

sharman.zachrison@gmail.com

Anita

Tulp

Laity

701-320-9058

crazy4bookslms@gmail. com

NW District Committee on Ordained Ministry

NW Leadership Team (Superintendency and Buildings and Locations)

NW Committee on Nominations

TREE OF LIFE MINISTRY

OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dennis

Unkenholz

President

605-280-4581

dgu47@aol.com

Jo

Watkins

Vice President

605-665-4681

pastorjowatkins@hotmail.com

Jason

Christensen

Appointed to White River/ Mission

605-490-2601

Springer96@msn.com

Tom

Gilmore

Member

605-665-8303

Tojan41@yahoo.com

Jeanine

Carpenter

Member

605-987-5110

umwjeaninec@hotmail.com

Bruce

Millikan

Secretary

605-366-4675

stilladamsdad@hotmail.com

Randy

Burnison

Member

605-350-6978

rgburnison@santel.net

Linda

Garriott

Executive Director

605-856-4266

treeoflife@gwtc.net

Bruce

Ough

Bishop

612-230-3334

bishop@dkmnareaumc.org

Kevin

Kloster

District Superintendent

605-580-5049

kevin.kloster@dakotasumc.org

Rebecca

Trefz

Missional Impact Link Representative

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Steve

Van Dyke

Chair

701-426-8662

stevevandyke@lignite.com

Phil

Sjursen

Secretary

701-751-1338

psjursen@yahoo.com

Derrick

Hobein

Treasurer

701-258-5716

dhobein@bepc.com

31

Committee/ Agency

First Name

Last Name

Role

Jolene

Puhalla

Director

Phone 701-222-3004

Email opendoor@midconetwork.com

MaryLee

Steele

Trustee Representative

Linda

Bohrer

Member

701-223-0021

mlsteele47@hotmail.com llbohrer@bis.midco.net

Jim

Unkenholz

Member

701-667-2050

junkenholz@aol.com

Randy

Meissner

Member

701-663-2305

rmeissner@nd.gov

Kenneth

Hogue

Member

605-255-1014

Brandon

Vetter

Member - Clergy

701-223-4401

brandon@legacyumc.org

Bruce

Adams

Member - Clergy

701-663-8909

bruceadams2261@yahoo. com

Jennifer

Hallenbeck Orr

Member - Clergy

701-255-1160

jhallen03@yahoo.com

Perry

Schnabel

Member - Clergy

701-255-4281

pastorperrys@msn.com

Mark

Ehrmantraut

Member - Clergy

701-934-7272

mehrmantraut@mccabeumc.com

Ex officio

Kermit

Culver

District Superintendent

701-391-2340

kermit.culver@dakotasumc.org

SOLAR OVEN PARTNERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS (SOP)

Phil

Lint

President and Southeast District

605-363-3470

pmllint@goldenwest.net

Gene

Bethke

Northeast District

605-233-0168

gbethke@itctel.com

Dave

Silbernagel

Northwest District

701-425-1382

silbernagel.dave@yahoo.com

Gloria

Borgman

Southwest District

605-642-5321

ron.borgman@yahoo.com

Marjorie

Evans-deCarpio

Director and Communications Team

612-226-6556

sopdir@swiftel.net

Karen

Workman

Expertise Gifts Processing and Communications, Northwest District

701-214-2234

karenworkman@centurylink.net

Connie

Smith

Communications Team

605-270-1097

cmsmith@siouxvalley.net

Donna

Fisher

Communications Team

605-391-9733

dmfisher@wildblue.net

Deb

Holland

Communications Team

605-491-1973

Holland@rushmore.com

Jay

Niedert

Conference At Large Member

605-270-9259

niedertj@yahoo.com

Emily

Warns

Conference At Large Member

Ariana

Arampatzis

Conference At Large Member

605-216-5933

Ariana.arampatzis@dwu.edu

Rebecca

Trefz

Executive Director of Ministries

605-990-7791

rebecca.trefz@dakotasumc.org

Jerry

Bass

President

701-775-5696

jerry.bass@gra.midco.net

Kathy

Hammond

Member

701-833-5357

hammond@min.midco.net

Gary

Osborn

Member

701-474-5783

Jake

Roemmich

Member

701-740-8497

wiredkrr@yahoo.com

Brian

Jackson

Member

Valerie

Luick

Member

701-640-9923

valerie.luick@hotmail.com

Mike

Flowers

701-799-1174

Childharvest@msn.com

Libby

Flowers

701-799-1174

Childharvest@msn.com

Ex Officio

SPIRIT LAKE MINISTRY CENTER ADVISORY BOARD

Ex officio

32

eswarns@hotmail.com

Section 4: Conference Reports 4.1 Common Table The Common Table continues to partner with the Extended Cabinet in stewarding and implementing the vision of the Dakotas Annual Conference. In the past year, our conversations and decision-making have centered around several topics and areas of focus.

Our fall Leadership event has been a key strategy of the Common Table as a way to re-energize and re-focus our efforts going into a new year. For 2018, we chose to unite with the Minnesota Conference for a joint event called Reach! This conference, held at Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, focused on reaching new people for Christ. Keynote speakers including Adam Weber, Jacob Armstrong, Debi Nixon, Roz Picardo, and Bishop Ough, as well as various workshop speakers, fueled over 500 attendees with inspiration and strategies to expand their local ministries.

In Fall of 2017, we raised the question, “How can the Conference better support churches in developing ministries with children?”

This led to some intentional shifts and plans to integrate this focus into our Conference ministries. Our work with Stephanie Caro and Ministry Architects expanded beyond youth ministry into cohort training to include children’s ministry as well. Caro was also our speaker for laity session to share with all churches the importance of reaching the next generation. For Annual Conference 2019, we will include a workshop on how churches are doing this in unique ways. Additionally, we continue to explore how we might develop a conference-wide initiative to focus on ministry with kids.

The Common Table joined the rest of the conference in conversations around a Way Forward for The United Methodist Church.

One of the most vital initiatives that has emerged to support this effort is our focus on breakthrough prayer. Our Conference Co-lay Leaders, Myrna Hill and Jane Hincks, have been diligent in expanding our Breakthrough Prayer training efforts utilizing the resources from Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey.

As we look to 2020 and the retirement of Bishop Ough, a task force has been put together to better help us prepare for these transitions and help ensure systems are in place to help us navigate the change. As a way to celebrate Bishop Ough’s ministry, as well as the collaborative work with the Minnesota Conference that has developed under his leadership, we are planning our 2020 Annual Conference to overlap with Minnesota’s, both held in Sioux Falls.

Submitted by Sheila Dailie, chair, Common Table 4.2 Conference Commission on Archives and History Whatever your opinion of the 2019 General Conference, I think it’s clear we are living in historic times. People in the present are looking to how our denomination and its predecessors handled previous challenges to denominational unity. To determine that, they use the records people in the past preserved for such future study. No doubt future historians, church politicians and perhaps even people in the pews will wonder, “How did we get here?” To answer that, they will need to access not only the opinions of past leaders, but also the facts of what transpired.

Also, you may have noticed that efforts at congregational renewal in our conference begin with the understanding that all organizations, including churches, have earthly life cycles. They are born and they die at some point. Researchers have found that the way to prolong life for the organization is to remember and re-enact its vision and put that in the driver’s seat. In some churches, there is no vision, and so the church needs to discern one together, based on long-held shared values, traditions and aspirations. In other churches, creating a new life cycle means recapturing the missionary zeal with which the church was chartered. Both activities involve reviewing the past in order to give the church a brighter future. Your Commission on Archives and History can assist with that life-giving ministry.

When church life cycles do come to an end, faithful members of those churches may wonder, “Where does the memory of my church go once it ceases to exist in this denomination?” The answer is that it goes to the archives. The historical presence of each discontinued church is carefully preserved and is accessible in our conference archives.

Your Commission on Archives and History (CAH) participates in the present mission and future vision of our conference by taking seriously and personally our General Conference mandate “to collect, preserve, and make accessible the historically significant records of the annual conference and its agencies.” We also stand ready “to encourage and assist the local churches in preserving their records, compiling their histories, and celebrating their heritage” and “to provide for the permanent safekeeping of the historical records of all abandoned or discontinued churches in the bounds of the annual conference and its antecedents.” (¶641.1 of the 2016 Book of Discipline) To equip local churches in their historic-preservation tasks, we offer guidelines on which artifacts, records and/or documents to preserve and for how long. Those are accessible here: https://www.dakotasumc.org/media/files/old/00/Conference/Finance/Legal/RecordRetention.pdf for a summary related to some of the more common records. For a more extensive listing, see http://s3.amazonaws. com/gcah.org/Resources/Guidelines_Publications/Local-ChurchSched-2017.pdf Our conference’s items of historic significance are maintained in a high-quality archival space within the George and Eleanor Mc-

33

Govern Library on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, To appropriately archive those materials and assist researchers in accessing them, your conference apportionments fund half the cost of employing the archivist we share with DWU, Dr. Laurie Langland. These two items of archives and personnel, the highest of our priorities, consumed 94.7% of our 2018 apportionment expenditures and represent 84.6% of our 2020 apportionment request. We are now in our second 10-year agreement with DWU that freezes the cost of renting that space at the 2008 level until 2027.

You may notice a $400 decrease in the proposed budget. That does not represent any decrease in quality or services. We are just getting better at stewardship and predicting certain costs based on our spending history.

We will maintain the ability to equip local churches with grants. If you approve our budget recommendation, we will again make available $2,500 in 2020 for matching grants to local churches. Churches willing to invest in preserving the DNA necessary for reproduction of their organizations will find the commission a willing partner in that effort with up to $500 per project. In fact, you can apply for those grants in 2019, as well. Go to: https://www.dakotasumc.org/media/library/fluid-mod-page/137/documents/ Kuhler-Grant-Application-2017-081916.pdf Your CAH participates in the conference mission of “providing a connection beyond the local church” through its involvement in both the Historical Society of The United Methodist Church and the North Central Jurisdiction Commission on Archives and History (NCJCAH). The NCJCAH comprises members of the GCAH from this jurisdiction as well as three additional voting delegates from each of the jurisdiction’s 10 annual conferences. It meets annually to promote historical projects within the jurisdiction, provide a forum for the exchange of historical information, consider nominations for historic sites or heritage landmarks within the jurisdiction and set collection policies for the jurisdictional archives. The site of the annual meeting rotates through the jurisdiction’s episcopal areas. At each meeting, each conference commission reports on how its mission is fulfilled there. General Commission staff also make live reports. I am in my fourth year as the chair of the jurisdictional commission, giving me an ex-officio seat on the General Commission on Archives and History.

Your CAH, comprising eight voting and one non-voting member, met three times in the past year (twice in person and once by conference call) in pursuit of our 12 mandated Disciplinary provisions. (¶641) At each meeting, CAH takes a tithe of its scheduled meeting time to pray and stay in love with God. Here are some of our activities the past year: Jubilee Clergy: We designate those clergy members of our conference with 50 years or more of pastoral service as “jubilee clergy.” We collect short essays from recipients describing their lives and ministries since retirement. Assuming this report is accepted, we will recognize the following persons as jubilee clergy: Eldon Reich and Peggy Kieras. Look for their reflections in the 2019 Conference Journal.

Grave markers: From a large supply purchased more than a decade ago, your CAH provides the Cabinet with clergy grave markers presented at the individual memorial or funeral service of each of our deceased clergy.

Update to conference history publication: Our project historian, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Perry, is in his 16th year of researching and writing this. In the past year, he completed a draft of the third chapter of an expected seven-chapter book we hope to publish by 2024. That chapter can be found at the following website: https://dakotahistorianblog.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/chapter-3-ofdakotas-conference-history-posted/ Submitted by R. Duane Coates, chair, Dakotas Conference Commission on Archives and History 4.3 Executive Director of Ministries We continue focus and work on the Culture Shifts of Calling, Multiplication and Generosity. These align with our three missional imperatives (Grow in Love of God and Neighbor, Reach New People and Heal a Broken World) as well as our Strategic Pathways (Developing Missional Leaders, Equipping Missional Congregations, Extending Missional Impact and Generating Missional Resources) to fulfill our mission to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

2018 was marked by some significant ministry developments made possible by strategic visioning and plan development as well as by the generosity of Lilly Endowment. Spurred on by the DK-MN Area Lilly Grant for Clergy Financial Health, the non-profit church leadership certificate program was developed and enrolled its first cohort—eight pastors from the Dakotas and ten from Minnesota. This program is another example of the fruit born out of the ongoing partnership with Dakota Wesleyan University as well as our collaboration with the Minnesota Conference. Through this program, clergy are being equipped with skills, knowledge and experiences to effectively lead their churches in the stewarding of vision and resources.

In August, we also received word that the Dakotas Conference and Foundation had received a $926,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment Thriving in Ministry program. This money will underwrite the launching of our Higher Ground Initiative. This two-part initiative addresses the issues of clergy burnout as well as the need for coming alongside clergy leadership to equip and empower

34

them to thrive personally and professionally and thereby be enabled to lead their congregations to thriving ministry.

Our first ever Reach! Conference infused the conference with a spirit of multiplication and outward-focus. I am appreciative for the partnership of the Minnesota Conference and Embrace Church in making that event an impactful experience. I am also grateful for the hands-on work I am blessed to continue to do through the Journey Renewal Partnership (JRP)process. Although we held off on starting a new cohort, I continue to meet with nine pastors of JRP churches—quarterly as a learning cohort and every six-weeks through one-on-one support conversations. The work of changing leadership is challenging and often isolating so we are seeking to counteract that through this continued connection.

The evolutions and expansions in our Missional Impact Ministries are testaments to the growing Culture of Generosity of time, talent and treasure to Heal a Broken World. Those breakthroughs include: Solar Oven Partners developing new partnerships in Sierra Leone and Native American tribes in the Desert Southwest; Tree of Life partnering with non-profit “No Means No” as well as exploring the possibilities of opening a satellite thrift store in White River; the continued development of a new church start at the Spirit Lake Ministry Center; and continued growth in impact through Bakken Oil Rush Ministry—Williston Out in Faith reaching new people as well as Bakken Oil Rush Ministry—Watford City laying the ground work for continued impact even as they prepare for leadership transition with the retirement of Jim and Kathy Konsor.

Navigating the challenges of our denominational struggles can often be draining. Yet, it is the people of the Dakotas and their innovative, connectional spirit that continues to remind me of God’s faithfulness and fruitfulness among us. I am grateful for the privilege of serving God and the Dakotas Conference in this capacity.

Submitted by Rebecca Trefz, executive director of ministries 4.4 Communications Communications continue to tell the story of the ministries of the Dakotas Conference. The website, www.dakotausmc.org, which serves as the home base for all communications, grew in usage and efficiencies. This Week @ Dakotas—weekly video announcements gained momentum, social media presence increased, the number of subscribers to Mondays @ Dakotas—e-news grew, and video storytelling continued.

The conference website, www.dakotasumc.org, is the place where you will find all news, events, and announcements. The website is a partnership with camping—www.dakcamps.org, foundation— www.dakotasumf.org, and youth—www.dakyouth.org. There are daily updates with an emphasis on visuals, including photos, graphics, and video. The result is increased traffic of 22%.

This Week @ Dakotas, weekly video announcements, provides a venue to share upcoming events, ministry announcements, and resources with local churches. Each Tuesday, a local pastor or lay leader, records a 3-4-minute video of the latest happenings across the conference and the denomination. Each week, there is an average of 2,500 viewers, through the website, e-mail, or on social media.

The social media presence of the Dakotas Conference continues to grow. Daily posts and tweets continue through HootSuite.

Engagement has increased by 25% through shares on Facebook and retweets on Twitter. Facebook is the most popular channel with 575 average daily views.

Video contributes to telling the ministry story. This past year, the communications team produced more than 40 hours of video for the Dakotas-Minnesota area with more than 35,000 shares and views.

Mondays @ Dakotas remains a popular format for sharing the ministry and telling the story of the Dakotas Conference. Mondays @ Dakotas continues to reach an average of 1,300 viewers per week.

UMConnect continues to be a resource and tool for Conference ministries and churches. Enhanced features include the ability to join from any computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Video conferencing is used an average of 10 hours each week with over 60 users per week.

The United Methodist Association of Communicators recognized the Dakotas Conference communications team with five awards.

First place video for Everybody Goes to Sunday School in Kensal. Second place for website design. Third place in video for Creating a Culture of Call. Third place in video series for Called: One Word, Many Ways. Internet communications, third place for Mondays @ Dakotas.

The communication team is thankful to tell the story of United Methodists across the Dakotas who are passionate about making disciples.

Submitted by Doreen Gosmire, director of communication

35

4.5 Sessions Committee In addition to planning the 2019 Annual Conference, planning is underway for the 2020 Annual Conference in Sioux Falls, SD, on June 11-13. It will be held in the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The theme, Be the Light: Live Hope, was set by the Sessions Committee in partnership with the Minnesota Conference Sessions Committee based on our Missional imperatives.

The 2020 Annual Conference is being planned so that the schedule of events overlaps with the Minnesota Annual Conference. This was affirmed by the members of the 2018 Annual Conferences of both the Dakotas and Minnesota Conferences. It allows for celebration of our joint ministry. It will also be a time to recognize and give thanks to Bishop Ough for his leadership of our two conferences as he prepares to retire.

Locations for the 2021 through 2024 Annual Conferences are also being explored.

A reminder notice was sent to churches which are served by retired pastors that each church is responsible for their pastor’s expenses to attend annual conference.

Submitted by Kay Braun, chair, Sessions Committee 4.6 DEVELOPING MISSIONAL LEADERS LINK The Developing Missional Leaders Link lives boldly into the words of Jesus recorded in John 4:1-26 by offering the love of Jesus and bringing forth springs of the water of life bubbling out of all the ministry areas connected to this link. Through these ministries we are able to offer the bold love and grace of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and to make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Our work in the various branches of this link connects us to many people in the Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church who are reaching out of comfortable ministry areas and encountering others where they are in their faith journey.

Our work strives to boldly share the love of God that quenches even the deepest thirst and changes lives by bringing others into a deep, loving relationship with Jesus. Some of the highlights of our work this year are shared in this report.

Lay Servant Ministries is comprised of district and conference co-leaders that seek to empower laity by providing training opportunities to equip them to answer the call God has placed on their hearts. Through classes such as Laity Discernment, participants discover their spiritual gifts and follow Wesleyan doctrine to use these gifts to serve and disciple. Breakthrough Prayer training engages wide swaths of the congregation to pray for God-sized breakthroughs in their lives, churches and communities. Our primary focus will continue to be inspiring churches and laity to lead and share their story to raise up the next generation of leaders through our Culture of Call employing the mantra of We Are ALL Called! Lay Servant Ministries dares to reach local church lay persons and empower them to love boldly in their communities.

Dakotas-Minnesota Area Camp and Retreat Ministries, boldly lead by Keith Shew, continues to reach out to our neighbors through opportunities to encounter Christ in creation. Dakotas camping was blessed to end 2018 operations financially in the black. There has been a lot going on camping ministries over the past few months. UMC Camping Executives National Summit was hosted at Storm Mountain Center. Levi and Lara Ziegler joined our team as new co-directors at Storm Mountain Center. Dakotas-Minnesota Area Camp and Retreat Ministries has hired a new Marketing and Outreach Project Manager, Beata Ferris. In February, 17 staff from the Dakotas and Minnesota attended our denomination’s top camping training and networking event in Florida. In March, volunteers from churches and local communities helped prepare the lower part of Lake Poinsett for potential flooding. Now is an exciting time as the 2019 summer camping season is just about here! Through camping we dare to reach the next person for Jesus and love boldly all who join us at camp this summer!

Conference Council of Youth Ministries (CCYM)in the Dakotas continues to dare to reach the young people of the Dakotas through engaging ministry and mission opportunities. Through the loving and bold leadership of Jeff Lathrop, Dakotas Conference ministry to youth is flourishing. Leadership Training Camp, DakYouth, and Winter Connection are youth led events that empower our youth to discover how God may be calling them to reach out and boldly love their peers. The youth lead, not only through the ministries of CCYM, they are also leaders within their local churches and communities. The impact they are making is being experienced throughout the Dakotas. This past year, we have witnessed an increase in attendance for conference youth events and growth in energy and drive to make a difference. CCYM, youth and adults, challenge one another to grow in their discipleship, to live out their faith, and to recklessly love, striving to serve those on the margins. The ministries of CCYM are dynamic and relevant, connecting with the youth of today. While at Annual Conference 2019, dare to reach out to the CCYM youth members and engage with them to show the bold love of Jesus to our neighbors.

The Young Adult and Campus Ministries group, under the loving leadership of Melissa Gall, continues to support and strengthen ministries in churches and on campuses across the Dakotas that create, foster, nurture, and equip younger adults to be bold missional leaders and disciples of Christ. Young Adult and Campus Ministries Team continues to ensure that grant funds are used in fruitful and powerful ways through annual reports, site visits, and open communication with the churches/campuses/ministry settings involved. The Young Adult and Campus Ministries Team works with the Board of Ordained Ministry to help connect the young adult lay members to Annual Conference, as well as those who are candidates for ministry. This year the Young Adult Ministry Grants application process was streamlined to work jointly with Culture of Call grants and technology grants. Those wishing to apply for

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grants need only complete one application and committee members filter the applications received to the appropriate committees. The application process is now a rolling submission date, so grant applications will be accepted quarterly. The hope is to make the application process as smooth and as inviting as possible. Young adult groups are supported in their daring outreach in their areas and ministry dreams are brought to life!

Dakota Wesleyan University Campus Ministry continues to thrive under the bold, loving leadership of Eric Van Meter, with approximately 175 participants and 38 student leaders in 2018-19. Three students have been certified as candidates for ministry this year and there will be at least four working in United Methodist camps this summer. This year, student leaders also began Age to Age, which brings DWU students into area nursing homes to lead programming. In addition to weekly worship, Bible studies, and service projects, DWU Student Ministries led retreats for area youth groups and sent students into local churches to lead music and to preach.

As a university, DWU continues to provide educational opportunities and ministry scholarships for undergraduates from across the Dakotas. DWU dares to reach the next generation through developing today’s young Christian leaders.

As we enter into another season of ministry in the Dakotas, the Developing Missional Leaders Link will continue to dare to reach and to love boldly through our ministry areas. We will continue to tell the stories of how our ministries have brought the thirst quenching radical love of God to our neighbors. We will think outside of our comfortable ministry activities and explore new ways to invite our neighbors to drink from the well so that their thirst may be quenched. We will strive to follow Jesus’ directive: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) Submitted by Beata Ferris, chair, Developing Missional Leader Link 4.6.1 Board of Ordained Ministry Report The Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) has become increasingly intentional about our work and mission. We are all disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. God is moving in the hearts of people of all ages.

We as a board are blessed with the task of building a culture of call throughout the Dakotas, nurturing people through the candidacy and ordination process, training new clergy and lay leaders in the Dakotas, creating and maintaining standards for clergy effectiveness throughout a clergy member’s life of service, and honoring the service of our clergy members at pivotal transition points. This is quite a task, but each of us take it seriously. We pray and seek God’s guidance as we work with each person.

We are excited to be once again offering the Elisha and Samuel Projects. College students may apply to participate in the Elisha Project. A team of clergy and laity select interns for host churches from the pool of applicants.

Elisha Interns for 2019-2020 approved by BOM: Tanner Carlson—former CCYM, University of Oklahoma, home church Legacy-matched with Rapid City Canyon Lake UMC, Rev Kevin Kloster, mentor.

Allison Galbreath—University of Jamestown- home church Steele, ND ,matched with Sioux Falls First UMC, Rev. Bob Ruedebush, mentor.

Zach Gors—camp dean at Storm Mountain,DWU student, home church is in Tea, SD, matched with DWU/Fusion Church, Rev. Eric Van Meter, mentor and Rev. Steve Trefz. This will be a yearlong internship at DWU/Fusion beginning in the fall.

Allison Jensen—former CCYM, SDSU student, home church is Beresford, SD, matched with Spearfish UMC, Rev. Scott McKirdy, mentor.

Samuel Project Intern is designed for a high school senior with a plan to enter ministry. We approved one candidate, Grady Maland from Watertown First UMC, who will work with Rev. Sara Nelson.

The Board of Ordained Ministry worked with a class from Dakota Wesleyan University regarding a Mandatory Reporter bill. The class was taught by a Board member, Professor Alisha Vincent. The students in conjunction with Professor Vincent and Board members, drafted the South Dakota House Bill 1230. HB1230 was an Act to add Clergy to the list of Mandatory Reporters in the state of South Dakota. HB1230 was endorsed by Bishop Ough and the Dakotas Board of Ordained Ministry. HB1230 was eventually defeated.

We continue to offer events and opportunities in the Dakotas Conference: Licensing and Certified Lay Ministry School, pre-conference gatherings for seminary students and young adult members of the annual conference, facilitate groups at the various denominational events, such as Exploration, and the Clergy Leadership Academy (CLA) gatherings for provisional members and licensed local pastors.

We urge all clergy and churches to prayerfully consider God’s leading and be aware of God’s call on people’s lives. Each Christian has a call and ministry which is God-given. Some have a call to pastoral ministry (whether Licensed Local Pastor or Ordained Clergy). If you have a call to pastoral ministry, please seek out your pastor or District Superintendent and share your call.

Submitted by Val Reinhiller, chair, Dakotas Board of Ordained Ministry

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4.6.2 Camp and Retreat Ministries Staffing Transitions and Celebrations —Thank you to Sean Binder for his leadership as Director of Storm Mountain Center. Sean moved on in the fall of 2018. Welcome Levi and Lara Ziegler as new co-directors of Storm Mountain Center and began their ministry in January 2019. Welcome Beata Ferris as Area Marketing and Outreach Project Coordinator, Eric Reshley as Maintenance and Facilities Director at Koronis, Kevin Albers as Maintenance and Facilities Director at Storm Mountain, and Diane Hepburn as Food Service Director at Storm Mountain.

Operations ending in black—For the fourth year in a row in Minnesota, and for the third year in a row in the Dakotas, your camp and retreat program ended financially in the black. Success is attributed to unified financial system, newly established financial controls and review process, staff management, review and establishing rates based on actual costs, and real-time access to accurate data and information Camp Ambassador outreach—In March of 2019, the area camping ministry hired Beata Ferris as Area Marketing and Outreach Coordinator. Beata works in collaboration with camping central office staff, campsite directors, and the Area Camp and Retreat Ministry Director, to lead and implement an updated and enhanced outreach that helps identify and strengthen relationships with local church representatives (Camp Ambassadors) who encourage their churches and communities to attend an Area United Methodist Camp. With the timing of Beata’s hire, our outreach to Camp Ambassadors was later than anticipated. However, Beata is quickly making up for lost time and has been connecting with our local church leaders.

Camping statistics and additional highlights see 2018 missional report Strategic Ministry Plan updates: Dakotas—Lake Poinsett construction of new maintenance shop set to begin summer, 2019. Addition of children’s park, play area, and welcome pavilion – anticipated fall 2019 Lake Poinsett was named as the primary beneficiary of the James “Jim” Larson Estate. Jim was a longtime volunteer and supporter of camping ministry and Lake Poinsett Camp. Dakotas camping established “James Larson Endowment” in 2019 to help fund site maintenance and improvements into the future Minnesota – Koronis, $1.75M committed to project including funds raised though Koronis capital campaign, “Give S’more for Camp," and camp sale proceeds with an anticipated ground breaking of early summer, 2019 Other site additions and improvements—Wesley Acres, New pontoon boat, new truck/plow, Updated zipline. Storm Mountain Center new directors house roof, updated internet/wifi, Northern Pines Red Pine Dining Hall flooring replaced, roofs for new Wesley cabin, two tree houses, and the block house, Dining Hall alarm system upgrade, Fan and lighting upgrades to Lodge, Purchased new truck.

Kowakan Adventures - new Kevlar canoes.

Updates and reminders: Shared area mission, core values, outcomes—Mission: Helping campers and guests to experience Christ, Creation, and Community through camp and retreat ministries. Core values: Providing sacred places apart, nurturing Christian faith and discipleship, teaching creation care and appreciation, partnering with United Methodist churches and agencies, extending Christian hospitality and community, developing principled spiritual leaders, and inspiring and equipping lives for love and justice. Outcomes: Disciples and leaders who hear and respond to God’s call to share their faith, love and accept everyone, serve others, and trust God. Site Advisory Teams—Campsites continue to develop and strengthen their site advisory teams/councils/These teams allow volunteers an opportunity to participate in the camping ministry in the areas they love most, provide direct feedback to our site directors and staff, and extend the reach of each site. People interested in serving on a site team should contact the director of the site.

Dakotas-Minnesota Area Alignment—All Dakotas-Minnesota staff, including site directors and central office staff, continue to meet and plan consistently together. Governance, since 2016, the Dakotas and Minnesota conferences’ camp and retreat ministries have combined their strengths and leadership and have come together to form a joint governance council. This arrangement expands the camping-related offerings for United Methodists in each conference as well as sharing of best practices to create the strongest possible area camp and retreat ministry. The Camp and Retreat Council is made up of equal representation from each conference and meets quarterly. In addition, since 2017 Dakotas-Minnesota Camp and Retreat Ministries has served our area churches, clergy, and staff through a centralized administration office.

Dakotas—Living into a sustainable operating model. Apportionment neutral in camp operations - Dakotas Camps are committed to becoming apportionment neutral, in the funding of the camping operations only, by 2021. Camps will continue to receive apportionment support in the areas of capital development and maintenance, central office staff support, property taxes, and insurance. Annual Fund Development - The camp and retreat ministry has partnered with the Dakotas Foundation to develop an annual fund campaign to provide financial support and long-range sustainability with a goal of increasing giving as apportionment funds are reduced. Fee/ Rate Review – A comprehensive review of all fees and rates for camps and retreats was completed in 2016. A phased multi-year plan to adjust rates was implemented in 2017. Financial Policies/Controls - Each site develops a monthly spending plan based on prior year’s actuals. Monthly conversation and review of any variances on established spending plans helps ensure real-time management and

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course correction as needed with a goal of no new deficits.

American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation—Dakotas and Minnesota staff regularly review every facet of camp programs and operations to ensure a safe and quality camp experience for all participants. In 2017, Lake Poinsett Camp and Wesley Acres Camp joined Koronis, Northern Pines, and Kowakan as fully accredited operations through the American Camp Association, the national accrediting body for camping programs. Storm Mountain Center will seek accreditation in 2019. To earn accreditation, camps must comply with hundreds of health, safety, and program quality standards. Only one in five camps nationwide achieves this distinction.

Current staffing—Dakotas: Christy Heflin - Director, Lake Poinsett Camp; Levi and Lara Ziegler – Co-Director, Storm Mountain Center; Paul and Brenda Lint - Co-Directors, Wesley Acres Camp. Minnesota: Leslie Hobson - Director, Northern Pines Camp; Dan Ziegler - Director, Koronis Ministries and Kowakan Adventures. Central Camping Office - Stacey Edwards - Camping Coordinator; Linda Bowers - Camping Assistant; Beata Ferris - Marketing and Outreach Project Coordinator; Susan Shellberg - Camping Accountant; Keith Shew – Area Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries.

Thank you for your continued support of your camp and retreat ministries in the Dakotas and Minnesota Annual Conferences. Thank you for making sure that the children, youth, families, and adults in your church and community know about camping opportunities!

Your support and encouragement helps ensure that Lake Poinsett, Koronis, Storm Mountain Center, Wesley Acres, Northern Pines, Kowakan, and many off-site programs and events can continue to be places where God meets with people. An experience at one of your Dakotas and Minnesota United Methodist Camps has changed the lives of generations of our Annual Conferences’ leadership.

Thank you! “Camp Gives Kids a World of Good!” American Camp Association Submitted by Keith Shew, Area Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries 4.6.3 Conference Council on Youth Ministry “It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.” -Roy T. Bennett The Dakotas Conference Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM) continues to refine and make changes to the youth ministry program.

God continues to move in our Conference! DAKYOUTH 2018 was hosted at the Aberdeen Recreational and Cultural Center. We had 400 participants and our hope is to continue building upon what God has started and nurtured in our midst. We plan to improve our overall engagement throughout the Conference and hope that the lives of the youth who attend leave empowered and energized to engage the world around them, whether in youth group, local church, school, or home.

Training, supporting and equipping the paid and volunteer youth workers across our conference is a recognized and valuable part of our ministry.

Our annual training event for pastors and youth workers, Youthworker Academy, was held, April 26-28 at Lake Poinsett Camp. Our guest presenter was Jeff Dunn-Rankin, Executive Vice President of MINISTRY ARCHITECTS, a regular columnist for Group Magazine. He has co-written three books with Mark DeVries: Before You Hire a Youth Pastor, The Indispensable Youth Pastor, and Training on the Go (volume 2).

Our CCYM election process was solidified this past year. Applications were made available online back in January with a deadline of May 1st. Current CCYM leadership selected participants based on their gifts and potential to serve within the Dakotas Conference.

Leadership Training Camp continues to offer the opportunity for elected youth leaders to practice leadership. Staffed by CCYM adults and other conference leaders, the youth in attendance select classes to attend daily, learn about, plan, and lead worship, enjoy fun and fellowship, and build lasting friendships. They study biblical themes each day in large and small groups. This year’s theme was “Ripples” from Psalm 147:15 and our guest was Andrew Root, Professor of Youth and Family Ministries.

We continue to promote our events through Mondays @ Dakotas, special e-mails, Facebook, text, paper mailings and continual revisions and additions to our website: www.dakyouth.org. To receive text updates text “DAKYOUTH” to 40650.

The CCYM continues to be an important area in which young leaders discern a call to ordained ministry. As leaders, we take this responsibility seriously, as well as the responsibility to educate and nurture leaders for the future of the church. As we continue to work more closely with the Board of Ordained Ministry, we hope to strengthen the process of encouraging and connecting with those discerning a call into ministry, both as laypersons and as clergy.

Our CCYM continues to be a blessing to the Dakotas Conference as we seek to empower, equip, and encourage our young people for the transformation of the world.

Submitted by Jeff Lathrop, conference youth coordinator

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4.6.4 Lay Servant Ministry As laity, we promote the message that we are all "Called" as it says in 1 Peter 2:9. We work to help laity to live into their calling by providing training and equipping opportunities. Our Certified Lay Ministry Training is becoming more accessible as it is online through the Ohio Conference. We also had an opportunity for growth and equipping, as many of us attended the teaching and breakout sessions at the Reach! Conference. We are energized for reaching that next person for Jesus!

The Holy Spirit is on the move through our Dakotas! We hosted three Discernment Retreats for 24 participants from 16 churches in three different states. The exciting news is that 1/3 of the participants have shared that they are progressing in the next steps to their calling in ministry. We facilitated four Breakthrough Prayer workshops, one in each district with more than 50 participants representing 10 churches. And in May 2019, we supported the Southwest District in hosting a Congregational Care Workshop with Karen Lampe from Church of the Resurrection as continuing education toward certification.

We can’t wait to see what our amazing God will do when these churches start feasting on prayer. And not only the churches, but the impact prayer will have in the lives of the community as their focus is upward and outward. Next year looks to be fruitful as we have been in contact with three churches from three districts that have expressed interest in hosting Breakthrough Prayer events and another requesting Congregational Care training. Be open for an opportunity near you to join in one of these training opportunities that will break through into your ministry or consider hosting an event at your church.

We are grateful for these wonderful opportunities and continue to seek new ways to serve our laity across the Dakotas. We encourage you to participate in the life of your church. If you would like to be a part of an amazing Laity Leadership Team that is on a mission to teach, serve and equip the next generation of leader. Please reach out to any of our district or conference leadership to find out more.

Submitted by Myrna Hill and Jane Hincks, conference co-lay leaders 4.6.5 Dakotas United Methodist Women United Methodist Women is the official women’s organization of the United Methodist Church. Membership is voluntary and open to all women committed to and engaged in mission who affirm the purpose. We collaborate with organizations worldwide that address the condition of women, children, and youth around the world. Our 2018 theme was “Sacred Spaces." Sacred spaces are not only places of religious significance; but also because of the interactions that take place between God and humans. Each encounter helps those persons see God clearly. When interacting with God, we learn something about ourselves and we discover God’s purposes for our lives. Also our encounters with others become sacred when we consider that humans bear God’s image and are recipients of God’s love and grace.

As followers of Christ, we are entrusted with creating spaces of wholeness and abundance for all. The Dakotas Conference Mission Team met three times during the year. A team planning meeting was held in Selby, SD, during January 2018, to get to know each other and to plan the upcoming year. The Conference and District Officers were trained to facilitate conversations about A Way Forward at upcoming UMW events. The second meeting was a conference call in early August. The final meeting was held prior to our Annual Celebration in October.

Each of the four districts held Focus Day events in April. These day meetings were planned and presented by representatives of Conference and District Officers. They offer an opportunity to fellowship with area women in worship, hearing about mission studies, learning about social action concerns, and how the organization works for women, children and youth worldwide. Twenty-six women from the Dakotas attended Assembly 2018 in Columbus, Ohio, May 18-20. The theme was The Power of Bold. Over 6000 women from around the world, with the same purpose, joined together. We worshiped during Community Gatherings, heard the story of Mary the mother of Jesus in her BOLD stages of life, grew in our own relationship with God, learned at various workshops or Table Talks, participated in the activities throughout the Experience Hall, shopped at the Marketplace, and shared ideas and personal stories as we connected with other United Methodist Women throughout the weekend. The entire Assembly served as a reminder to all of us what it means to be a UMW member and why we should take bold action when we can...because it matters that we do God’s work. The social action priority issues for the quadrennium include: climate justice, maternal and child health, criminalization of communities of color, and economic inequality. The UMW Committee on Racial Justice (and friends) presented a program during the UMW Breakfast at Annual Conference in Sioux Falls, SD, in June 2018. Mission u was held on consecutive weekends in July: first at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, (Southern site) and then the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, ND, (Northern site). Mission u is an opportunity for women, men, children and youth to study current issues in society. The studies in 2018 included “Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Perspective for Covenantal Living," “What about Our Money?” and "Missionary Conferences of UMC in the United States." Missions for Me Children's Camp encouraged their education and participation. All four of the Districts held Annual Meetings/Retreats in August or September. The women of the districts met for business, programs, worship and fellowship. The local organizations are recognized during this time for Mission Today, Five Star Giving and Reading Program Participation. The Dakotas Conference UMW Annual Celebration was held October 12-13, 2018, at Legacy in Bismarck, ND. Jolene Puhalla, Director of Open Door Preschool was the Friday evening speaker. She explained the need for and the benefits of their move to the preschool’s current location at Bismarck McCabe UMC. Many units gave cash donations or provided items from her wish list. Saturday morning, in response to our invitation, Bishop Ough shared a Power Point and then led a question and answer period about A Way Forward. He also provided a handout entitled Resources for A Way Forward in preparation for the Special Session. We enjoyed blessing the Bishop with about 250 Love Ribbons.

Sixteen Love Ribbon grants were awarded for a total of $3000. The New Opportunities Grant was awarded to Kara Togel of Watertown, SD. Two active women represent the Dakotas Conference beyond our borders. Dawn Armstrong serves on the Program Advisory

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Group. Her duties include the Legacy Fund Steering Committee. Bobbi Larson functions as the Committee on Nominations Chair of the North Central Jurisdiction Leadership Team. Both women have travelled many miles in their positions. We look forward to our activities in 2019. The United Methodist Women of the Dakotas continue to tell their stories and learn about the history of the organization as we approach the 150th Anniversary. The Legacy Fund has been established to maintain funding our missions for women, children and youth in future years. The 150th Anniversary of the founding of United Methodist Women (or predecessor organizations) was March 23, 2019 with many local units, Focus Areas, Districts, and the Conference celebrating. The 2019 Annual Dakotas Conference Celebration is scheduled for October 4-5 at Pierre First UMC with the theme “Celebrating 150 Years in Sisterhood." United Methodist Women are faith, hope and love in action.

Submitted by Marsha Timm, Dakotas UMW President 2019 4.6.6 Young Adult and Campus Ministries The Young Adult and Campus Ministries group continues to support and strengthen the ministries in churches and on campuses across the Dakotas to create, foster, nurture, and equip younger adults as missional leaders and disciples of Christ. We desire to inspire new ministry and new connectional opportunities. This year the application process was streamlined. Those wishing to apply for grants complete one application and committee members filter the applications received to the appropriate committees (ex. – Culture of Call grants, Technology grants, Young Adult/Campus Ministries grants, etc.). The application process is now a rolling submission date, so grant applications will be accepted quarterly. Our hope is to make the application process as smooth and as inviting as possible. Ministry dreams are brought to life!

For the first quarter of 2019, the Developing Missional Leaders Link accepted and awarded two grant applications from the following churches for ministries involving young adults and/or college students: Madison UMC has a goal of continuing and growing their on-campus presence at Dakota State University. The grant funds help to provide Sports Specific Bible Studies for student-athletes. This ministry takes Bible study and fellowship outside the walls of Madison's church building to reach students in the community. The goal for this ministry is to reach 50+ students.

West Fargo Flame of Faith UMC launched a new worship service in 2017 designed to reach out to young adults in the West Fargo area.

The worship service utilizes new technology and continues to seek leaders for small groups. The ministry need this year is to provide a worship leader for the service. The goal for 2019 for this group is to develop a culture of outreach and welcome, through personal invitation, small groups, and leadership development.

The Missional Leaders Link and the Young Adult and Campus Ministries Team continue working to ensure that grant funds are used in fruitful and powerful ways through annual reports, site visits, and open communication with the churches/campuses/ministry settings involved. The Young Adult and Campus Ministries Team works with the Board of Ordained Ministry to help connect the young adult lay members to Annual Conference, as well as those who are candidates for ministry.

Submitted by Melissa Gall, chair, Young Adult and Campus Ministries 4.7 EQUIPPING MISSIONAL CONGREGATIONS LINK The Missional Congregations Link continues to work towards building a culture of multiplication throughout the Dakotas Conference.

Below is a list of some of the key strategies used in 2018.

Multiply Compass Group: District Superintendents completed the “first round” and engaged in some follow-up with pastors/churches who are working on multiplication projects.

Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI) and Journey Renewal Partnership (JRP): The MCCI launched its fourth cohort.

Churches involved include: Harrisburg, Mitchell First, Rapid City Rapid Valley, Dickinson Prairie Winds, Jamestown St. Paul’s, and Fargo Calvary. The engagement by these churches has varied. Prairie Winds and St. Paul’s stepped out of the process. Rapid Valley had consultation weekend but were not at a point of receiving prescriptions and taking the next step. Mitchell First had a great consultation weekend, voted to accept prescriptions and is moving forward. Harrisburg held their consultation weekend in late March. Calvary has not yet set a date for their weekend.

We are delaying the start of a next cohort for capacity reasons. We will be working with Sue Nilson Kibbey to offer some strategic workshops which will be open to all.

Journey Renewal Partnership (JRP)—The Journey Renewal Partnership process launched its second cohort which include the following churches: Plankinton/White Lake, Howard Beach, Rapid City Open Heart, Lead Trinity, Bismarck Calvary, and Langdon. Pastor Quaya Ackerman also joined the cohort after being appointed to Arthur, a church from Cohort #1. All of these churches completed consultations except Howard, which is on hold for now. All voted to accept their prescriptions except Lead Trinity.

Because of capacity issues, we will be delaying starting the next cohort until fall 2019. This will also give us time to better assess the current model and make adjustments as needed.

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Small Church Adaptive Conversations: Gathering qualitative and quantitative data through JRP prescription implementation (what are the unique opportunities and challenges when leading change in a small church?), Embrace Network churches (how can different staffing models help smaller churches?), new models for team pastoral ministry (e.g. Edgeley/Ashley/Lehr, Mitchell Fusion, Washburn/ Center/Turtle Lake and Hazen/Beulah).

New Church Updates: Our first Reach! event was a success. Several workshops continued through follow-up track cohorts.

Jason Mehring is laying the groundwork for a start-up as a planter for Fargo. Working on 2 multi-site projects in Bismarck area—Lincoln site from Legacy and Celebrate Recovery out of McCabe.

New Embrace Network churches—White/Aurora and N. Sioux City ARK. New Church start at Spirit Lake Ministry Center.

Submitted by Scott McKirdy, chair, Equipping Missional Congregations Link 4.7.1 New Church Development Report Starting new services…new sites…new solo start up congregations is a proven way to reach new people making them disciples of Jesus Christ. The Spirit is moving, and we are following with a wide range of new initiatives to reach new people!

Germinating: New starts that are not yet in public worship.

Fargo, ND, Mission Fargo: Jason Mehring is working on missional engagement planning a launch in 2020.

Dell Rapids, SD: Josh Willprecht is preparing the soil for an Embrace network church.

Hurley, SD: Re-starting this ministry with Rev. Ron Olson.

Parker, SD: Re-starting this ministry with Rev. Rick Andrus Hartford, SD: Starting a second service to reach new people led by Rev. Seth LaBounty.

Arlington, SD: Hispanic pre-launch evangelism led by Michael Sanchez.

Sprouting: Starts that have begun public worship.

Bismarck, ND, Legacy South Bismarck: Andy Early leads this new site that has launched in south Bismarck.

Bismarck, ND, Recovery Bismarck: Chris Chase leads this new congregation that has launched in Bismarck.

Fargo, ND,First African: Tamba Clark leads this congregation that is nested at Fargo Calvary.

Sioux Falls,SD, First UMC, “The Light:" Taylor Johnson leads this new service at Sioux Falls First UMC. Sioux Falls, SD, Sunnycrest : launched a new Hispanic service on Sundays Spirit Lake ND, Spirit Lake Ministry Center: Mike and Libby Flowers lead this new start as part of their mission work.

White SD: Krista Wisener leads an Embrace network church reaching new people.

Aurora SD: Donna Kuper has launched them as an Embrace network in a new outreach effort.

North Sioux City, SD, ARK: Christine Cappetta leads them as Embrace an network site, reaching new people.

Growing: Salem Unite Church Sioux Falls Embrace Sertoma Campus Mitchell Fusion Submitted by Ben Ingebreston, Area Director for New Church Development 4.8 EXTENDING MISSIONAL IMPACT LINK This has been a very fruitful year for the local churches in every neck of the Dakotas Conference woods (well, mostly plains)! The partnership with the Foundation and our ability to award Technology and Hunger Grant funds has proven to be a very effective way to provide dollars for projects that extend our outreach in so many ways. Just a few examples: we have been able to help fund social ministries, such as programs to prevent suicide, to feed the hungry, and to help those in recovery from various addictions. We have awarded grants to improve worship outreach, including funding for projection of worship aids, teaching of community Christian education, and renovation of sanctuaries to enable better technology utilization. And, we have been privileged to serve the little ones through community children’s outreach, the support of church-school partnerships, and other initiatives. Some of these dollars came from the “Kid’s Count” funds.

In 2018, we were able to award (a record, I think) $34,130 to these programs. These dollars have already and will continue to go a long way toward Extending our Dakotas Missional Impact. Thank you, our churches in the Dakotas, for your generous support. You truly are extending our missional impact in the Kingdom of God. To God be the glory!

Submitted by Rev. Ron Olson, chair, Extending Missional Impact Link

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4.8.1 Bakken Oil Rush Ministry Out in Faith Out in Faith is the hands and feet of Christ in northwestern North Dakota. We are a joint ministry with the Dakotas Conference and Williston Faith United Methodist Church. Our goal is to make disciples for the transformation of the world by means of meeting the felt needs of the community and then leading the community to the deeper relational need of a life in Jesus Christ.

The continued expansion and development of the Bakken Oil Fields brought about significant changes in Out in Faith ministry. We saw the transformation of the people coming into the area. Two years ago the majority of people were unaccompanied men involved in the exploration phase of the industry. Over the past year and a half we see more families coming to make Williston and the surrounding area their home. Many of these families are not prepared for the high cost of living (gallon of milk is $5) and the rapidly increasing rents.

These changes in the Bakken changed the focus of Out in Faith. We now spend more time and resources meeting the needs of women and children. Out in Faith is the main supplier of diapers and wipes for infants and children and a main source of feminine hygiene products. The support of the Conference churches and United Methodist Women make this work possible.

We expanded our feeding program and provided 4084 meals in 2018, up from 3251 in 2017. The increase is 833 more people being fed on a Saturday night, or a 26% increase over 2017. We partner with Community Connections (the ELCA ministry) providing a daily lunch Mondays through Fridays at Faith United Methodist Church. This new ministry averages 75 to 100 people a week.

Out in Faith is the first line ministry in the city of Williston from Friday night to Monday morning. We are the main organization to provide housing, gas and other immediate needs of people that come to Williston over the weekend.

We provide hats, coats, gloves, blankets and sleeping mats. From September 2018 to March 2019 over 500 coats were given out to people.

All of this activity is for the purpose of introducing people to our God and Savior. We are seeing a growing interest in developing a relationship with God among the people. We average between 5 and 15 children in our Kid Zone, Saturday Christian Education. We are reaching people from every continent, except Antarctica.

We invite you to like or join our Facebook pages: Out in Faith Bakken Oil Rush Ministry and GIFT Saturday Meals. These two pages share the work of Out in Faith!

Thank you for your faithfulness.

Submitted by Ross Reinhiller, pastor, Williston Faith UMC 4.8.2 Bakken Oil Rush Ministry Watford City Bakken Oil Rush, Watford City Outreach has now been in Watford City for 6 years. Lots of great things have happened during the ups and downs of what we call "The Bakken."

2018 was a very busy year for the ministry. We helped 5,050 families/individuals with clothing, winter wear, household, and now, even furniture, such as beds, couches, kitchen tables, recliners, etc.

In July a tornado went through an RV park in Watford City at 1 am. About 50 campers were destroyed, 28 people were hurt and one six-month-old boy died. It was a horrific event with no warnings given. We were called by the hospital around 1:30 asking if we could bring clothing and shoes to the hospital for people who were being treated and released, but had no dry or appropriate clothing to leave in. We quickly responded to that request. We opened the store early the next morning as folks were bussed from the civic center shelter to our store to get the clothing they needed. We were then very involved over the next several weeks helping people with bedding and household items lost during the storm. We were so glad to be available and stocked to help these folks.

In addition to events like the tornado, we are also working with the Salvation Army, the Family Crisis shelter, Social Services and the chaplains for the jail to provide clothing and whatever else might be needed to help folks in a crisis situation. In October we held our fall coat giveaway and gave away around 154 coats that afternoon and hundreds more throughout the winter. Late in October we held our 3rd Comedy Café fundraising event. We raised just under $36,000 to help fund the ministry. We had around 325 people attend this event. The Gathering Place events are growing in number. We had approximately 55-60 for our Thanksgiving meal sharing a devotional and discussion about having a “Heart of Thankfulness." We hold these events once a month.

We also had a Pre-Christmas Eve service that had 25 to 30 in attendance. Many of those who attended have no church affiliation and were traveling over the holiday season. There was a special presence of the Lord during this service. It is another way to touch and encourage the folks who visit our Thrift Store.

We held our annual Christmas event and Toy Mall event December 1st. We gave gifts to 120 kids with 85 to 90 adults in attendance as well. We read the Christmas story from Grandpa Jim's chair, Kathie played Mrs. Claus and had a gunny sack filled with items that she used to share object lessons about the meaning of Christmas to the kids. We sang carols, ate goodies and released 60 balloons at the end

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for kids to hit around and take home while we played a lively Christmas tune to end this marvelous evening. We had over 35 volunteers help with this event from a number of churches. The support of Bakken Oil Rush Ministry throughout the community and churches is amazing. We are so grateful.

We have been able to do a lot of improvements to the property that we purchased in late December of 2017. We had a local company donate and install all new LED lighting throughout our store, a local church donated the money to install air conditioning in the building. We installed a new door and windows and then had the building that had been three colors, painted a pretty eye-catching blue.

What a great improvement to the looks of the building. Just because we deal in used clothing and furniture doesn’t mean we need to look “used” as a property. The Quonset building was only partially insulated, and we were able to have it completed with spray foam and then in December another local church provided the funds to put in a large furnace to heat this 50 x 90 building.

In spite of the slowdown that occurred in the oilfield, the ministry had a 34% increase in traffic through the store compared to 2017.

We have had to run very hard with sorting and stocking to have enough items on the shelves and racks to keep up with demand.

There are big changes happening this year as Kathie and I are retiring at the end of June. We have been very busy finding and putting the right people in place to make sure the ministry continues strong and is able to keep meeting the needs of folks living in Watford City, and those who continue to arrive each month. We have a store manager hired and are in the interview process for hiring a new director to oversee the ministry and work with the local ministry board in Watford City.

Thank you to all of the individuals and churches that have supported us with clothing and household donations as well as financial support and prayer. There is no doubt in our minds that God has shown special favor to this ministry over the years. Also, special thanks to the groups that came to help us with special events and encourage us in our mission.

God is so very good and faithful, and we are so grateful to have been able to serve the Dakotas Conference in Watford City. We also take great joy in helping the folks that come to us weekly for help, whether they need clothing, household items, a listening ear or prayer and a hug!

Just in writing this report, we are reminded of how many people have worked to help make this ministry successful year after year. It is a testament to people’s faithful service to the Lord and to us!

“God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.” Psalm 9:18 NIV Submitted by Jim and Kathie Konsor, Bakken Oil Rush, Watford City Outreach 4.8.3 Disaster Response In 2018, several appeals for Emergency Response Teams (ERT) to respond to flooding and storm damages were passed on to ERT trained volunteers in the Dakotas Annual Conference. No accurate numbers are available at the time of this report as to how many volunteers responded to these appeals.

In March of 2019, Lisa Johnsen was added as Co-coordinator for disaster response for the Dakotas Annual Conference. In April 2019, a tool trailer furnished with disaster response tools/equipment was sent to South Dakota to enhance response time to future needs in South Dakota. Additional ERT training was offered in Sioux Falls, SD, in April of 2019.

Submitted by Richard Craig, Co-Coordinator for Disaster Response in the Dakotas Annual Conference.

4.8.4 The HOPE Center The HOPE Center began in 2010 as a vision of the First United Methodist Church in downtown Rapid City, SD. At that time, church leaders saw the need to provide services to the homeless and those living in poverty that would have a long-term impact. In 2014, the HOPE Center obtained its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the mission of: “Putting God’s love into action by enhancing dignity and hope as we build bridges out of poverty.” As the only day center in the Rapid City area, the HOPE Center offers its guests a safe environment where they can get off the streets while receiving supportive service.

In 2018, the following services were provided to those in need: 3800+ guests requested to use the HOPE Center as their address, our free laundry facility was utilized 1797 times, staff advocated for guests 1189 times, 911 referrals were made, staff assisted 131 individuals in receiving their identification, and 3600+ hygiene kits were provided to guests.

Our main objective at the HOPE Center is to establish relationships with the disadvantaged in our area, provide them with a respectful environment, and be a source of encouragement to those who often experience times of instability. We build trust with our guests and support them as they work through the crisis of poverty and homelessness. We do this by providing them with a stable environment and an abundance of grace.

Submitted by Melanie Timm, Executive Director, HOPE Center

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4.8.5 Open Door Community Center Is Open Door Community Center still a stand-alone UMC mission? That’s the question that’s getting asked since the preschool operated by the Open Door Community Center relocated in mid-August 2018, to McCabe United Methodist Church from its former location on South 12th Street in Bismarck. The answer is “Yes.” Over the past two years, Open Door has struggled financially as former sources of financial support were discontinued. After putting pencil to paper, it appeared that Open Door could “live” cheaper if it was housed at McCabe.

From McCabe’s point of view, the day care has the potential to be a new ministry that could lead younger families to Christ.

And because of McCabe’s location near the capitol, the number of pre-school-aged students might actually increase. However, more students would mean more teachers and support staff. We think this arrangement is a “Better Together” moment both for Open Door and McCabe.

The Open Door Community Center was first established in 1976 to serve families living in south Bismarck with a special focus on assisting families in economic need. The Open Door is a Dakotas Conference mission project of the United Methodist Church and is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The Open Door is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing all four UMC churches in Mandan and Bismarck.

The mutual goal of Open Door and McCabe UMC is to provide preschoolers with a high quality, Christ-centered program at an affordable price. The Open Door Board of Directors will remain separate from McCabe and we hope that all of our many supporters continue to give to this mission. The tuition that we charge families covers only the salaries of the teachers, cook and janitor. It is through donations that we have the ability to provide hot meals, snacks, educational materials and replace used and broken equipment and furniture.

Submitted by Steve Van Dyke, chair, Open Door Community Center 4.8.6 Solar Oven Partners Volunteers serve through Solar Oven Partners (SOP) in the Dakotas to prepare solar oven components for shipment to the three locations where we have ministry partners: the Dominican Republic, the Navajo Nation in Arizona and Sierra Leone.

Volunteer in Mission teams then travel to those locations to assemble the ovens and conduct cooking seminars together with the people who will receive them. Local churches arrange two-day solar cooking seminars, which culminate in a distribution of solar ovens. The seminars offer the opportunity for the local churches to share the gospel with new people in their community and to offer a faith community in which to live it out.

By sharing solar cooking in communities that live with the post-colonial burdens of poverty, disease and environmental degradation, we share a means of reclaiming a part of sovereignty in the simple yet elemental daily necessity of cooking family meals. Not beholden to gas companies, nor dependent on cutting trees, people with a solar oven can cook using free sunlight.

Cooks and their children no longer have to inhale smoke with every meal prepared, thus decreasing the chance for lung and eye disease. The decision to pasteurize milk and water no longer has to be weighed against the cost of cooking fuel to do so. And by reducing the need for trees cut in pursuit of cooking fuel, solar cooking reduces deforestation and its devastating consequences, which include soil depletion, flooding, mud slides and desertification. Jesus was constantly telling people who thought they had no power to get up, and they got up! He shared with his followers bread and wine as a sign of our sharing in his death and resurrection. How beautiful that the cooking of ordinary meals through this ministry becomes a way for burdened people to get up!

At the same time, volunteers in mission become witnesses, not only to the burdens faced by people in the communities where we distribute ovens, but also to the strength, ingenuity, courage and compassion with which they live their lives. Each volunteer return a witness and becomes an advocate to what God is doing in another part of the body of Christ.

In September, a team travelled to Arizona to carry out the first oven distribution on the Navajo reservation since our pilot trip.

We partnered with Tree of Life ministry on the Rosebud reservation, bringing two team members from there to serve as volunteers in mission. The Navajo and Lakota exchange was filled with joy, cultural exchange and mutual appreciation. Preparation for the volunteers from Rosebud led to a request for a small distribution there, which was carried out with the Rosebud youth development organization Boys with Braids serving as our volunteers. This distribution served to develop leadership among the Lakota youth and prepare the volunteers heading to Arizona. At the same time, it provided ovens for Rosebud tribal members, some of whom do not have a stove, some of whom are seeking ways to save on gas and electric bills, and some of whom talked about using the oven to extend their food sovereignty.

November 26 to December 8, a team travelled to Sierra Leone to introduce the solar cooking ministry to the communities beyond the church leadership to whom it was introduced during the pilot trip in March 2017. We began to develop recipes for solar-cooked Sierra Leonean food, and have enlisted the aid of the first Sierra Leoneans to obtain a solar oven to further perfect solar cooking techniques for their favorite foods. Our team consisted of four experienced Solar Oven Partners volunteers plus

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two new volunteers who are natives of Sierra Leone, now citizens of the United States. God provided the combination of skills, knowledge and enthusiasm in the volunteers in just the measure needed for a new mission field. We even had a carpenter on the team who built a storage box for the oven assembly tools and other supplies. Our ministry was featured on Sierra Leonean television news and we met with the director of the Sierra Leonean EPA in addition to carrying out three solar cooking seminars and oven distributions.

In March, a Volunteer-in-Mission team served in the Dominican Republic. The demand for solar ovens has been increasing as people have learned about solar cooking from friends, neighbors and neighboring communities. In order to keep the supply of ovens flowing, the focus is on inviting our churches in the Dakotas to send teams to serve at our workshops in Raymond, Zeeland and Montrose.

In July, we added a new workshop in Montrose, SD, where the oven insulation is cut and packaged for shipment. Our central workshop remains in Raymond, SD, just west of Clark, and the reflectors that sit atop the solar ovens continue to be manufactured at our workshop in Zeeland, ND. In an effort to reduce the amount of garbage, especially plastic, that we leave behind, we have purchased reusable plates and spoons for our seminars, eliminating the use of disposable dishes. In February 2019, we introduced cloth pouches to take the place of Ziplock bags that have been used previously to pack oven accessories. Our sewing volunteers in the Dakotas and beyond who agree to hem black bread pan covers and sew pot holders are also stepping up to sew the pouches.

Thanks be to God for the many hands that volunteer at our workshops, sew at home and at church, and volunteer to serve on SOP teams in other nations. We are most grateful to our donors, so that the manufacturing supplies can be purchased and the ovens shipped, as well as helping cover the expenses of volunteers in mission in need of scholarship assistance. Every contribution is living out our baptismal vows—to give of our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness. To God be the glory, great things he has done!

Respectfully submitted by Marj (Marjorie) Evans-de-Carpio, director, Solar Oven Partners UMC 4.8.7 Southeast Pierre Mission UMC and Community Center Our Thursday night community Banquet is still the highlight of each week at Southeast Pierre UMC and Community Center. Local organizations, churches, and clubs volunteer their time and resources as they prepare and serve 150-200 meals each week. During the winter months, donated coats, winter gear, and blankets are available for anyone to take. We are thankful for community support through the form of prayers, donations, and our partnership with Capital Area United Way and Feeding South Dakota.

In addition to our weekly Banquet, we also provide a safe space for elementary-aged students on Wednesday evenings. Often we come together for a Bible lesson, games, crafts, and a meal to share. While school is out of session for the summer, we pack and deliver about 100 sack lunches per day to area children who may otherwise not have a mid-day meal.

We worship together as a church family every Sunday morning. Our heart for mission overflows to Sundays as we share a potluck meal and collect a noisy bucket offering for a local charity on the last Sunday of each month. Our vision is to create and maintain our relationship with those who are lost and lonely by providing for their needs.

Submitted by Valerie Hummel LaBounty, pastor and director, Southeast Pierre UMC and Community Center 4.8.8 Spirit Lake Ministry The Spirit Lake Ministry Center food pantry operates year-round for emergency needs. The food pantry meets the needs of more than 125 people per month on and around the Spirit Lake Nation. The food pantry depends on the funds from the Spirit Lake Ministry, donations from churches and individuals, and food drive items. Recipients of the food pantry receive more than just physical sustenance.

They are given the opportunity for prayer and fellowship. This helps grow the faith community of The United Methodist Church on the reservation. We depend on The Tribal Council, Tribal Social Services, the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Dakota Prairie Community Action Organization, and local churches for referrals of persons in need.

The Spirit Lake Ministry provided Shoebox Christmas gifts for 5,989 children in poverty and need in 2018. The Shoebox gifts were distributed to eight reservations in the Dakotas Conference and the Red Lake Reservation in MN. The gifts provide the children with the story of Jesus’ birth, warm hats, scarves, mittens/gloves and fun toys. The gifts share the love of Jesus Christ and plant seeds of faith with the children who receive them. Shoebox Christmas gifts are donated by churches from around the country and within the Dakotas Conference.

The Community Children’s Fund provided emergency clothing and temporary housing for 48 children affected by life-changing events.

The Community Children’s Fund is used to purchase winter coats, hats, gloves, blankets, clothing, toys, and other items lost in fires or any other major event that occurs in the child’s life. We take items from the food pantry/clothing closet when available, but on occasion must purchase these types of items. The program depends on funds from the Spirit Lake Ministry, churches, and individuals to help defray the cost of these items. Last year we spent in excess of $2,700.

Spirit Lake Ministry provides the children of the Spirit Lake Reservation the opportunity to participate in a fast-paced Vacation Bible School program. This year we hosted a faith-based summer long day camp called Summer J.A.M., Jesus and Me. The day camp begins

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with a hot meal for the children and continues with a Vacation Bible School Experience with stories, songs, crafts, skits and supervised play. We are able to begin and reinforce basic spiritual learning for children on the reservation. Day camp averaged 50 children age 6 to 12 each day. Due to the popularity of this program, we split the older youth, 13 and up, from the younger group. The Youth attended Summer J.A.M. 2.0. This program averaged 15 youth and included an evening meal, interaction with youth groups from around the country and a short lesson. This group of youth attended “A Day of Fun” at Wesley Acres Camp. This one day of fun at Wesley Acres generated interest in the youth spending a week at camp in 2019.

This year the Ministry hosted 426 Volunteers in Mission from across the country. Volunteers built wheelchair ramps and decks, roofed houses, painted houses, painted or stained wheelchair ramps, rehabbed the POW WOW grounds, and provided spiritual fellowship to untold numbers of local residents. The focus of our teams is to build relationships that are meant to last a lifetime. We are building a faith community that allows the local residents to regain trust in the church and to bridge the gap of cultural differences. We focus not on the differences, but on the similarities of our cultures, those being our faith and trust in God. The ministry provides a place for children and adults alike to come and feel comfortable. We sponsored and hosted the annual Culture Camp, the Equine Diversion Program, health fairs, the Wellness Ride and the “Sacred Beginnings” camp weekend. These five programs brought more than 530 children and adults to the ministry. We hosted a back-to-school bash for the children on the reservation supplying more than 75 backpacks filled with school supplies to the children attending.

We continued our children’s and youth night out with an average of 18 children and youth attending events including movie nights, pizza parties, game nights, and spiritual conversations. Family night continues to be a success with an average of 40 persons attending this monthly activity.

The Journey at Spirit Lake worship service continues to grow, with an average attendance of 45 for 2018. Worship at Spirit Lake Ministry begins at 5 pm on Sunday with Bible studies and youth group on Wednesday and Thursday. In worship we have seen an adult baptism, and five infant baptisms. Our congregation has a heart for mission in its local community and around our state. The fall season found our congregation winterizing 14 homes against the oncoming winter wind and cold. For Thanksgiving, we baked over 40 dozen cookies and delivered them, along with 55 blankets, to the elderly centers on the reservation and in the city of Devils Lake. The Jesus and Me (JAM) children’s program meets at the back of Arthur Hall during worship with an average of 20 children in attendance. The JAM session begins with a children’s teaching moment and crafts that follow the outline of the weekly worship message. Our Lenten series, “God’s Not Dead” was attended by over 25 adults and youth. We begin our study with a light meal of soup and sandwiches and then get into the study. God is truly moving on the Spirit Lake Nation and within the Spirit Lake Ministry. This worshipping congregation is a catalyst for sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the peoples of the reservation.

Submitted by Mike and Libby Flowers, co-directors, Spirit Lake Ministry Center 4.8.9 Tree of Life Ministry Tree of Life demonstrates Jesus’s love, power and grace to a broken, hurting society. We are the working hands and feet of God to the Lakota Nation residing on the Rosebud Reservation serving body, mind and soul. We feed, cloth, shelter and love. Grateful to be under the watchful eye and covering of Dakotas Conference we are excited to announce we have completed our second year without direct monthly ministry financial support from Dakotas Conference. We will celebrate at year five.

The Soup Kitchen: Through our partnership with Native American Heritage Association (NAHA), we were able to distribute 250 turkeys for Thanksgiving dinners, 250 turkeys for Christmas dinners, 250 hams for Easter dinners, and served or distributed to help supplement the evening or weekend meal 1,059,178 lbs. of food a value of $1,747,644.00. Through our partnership with Feeding South Dakota we distributed 2,760 elder boxes. With financial donations we buy and pay for everything else it takes to run a great kitchen. We are expanding our outreach by opening up a satellite food pantry and kitchen in White River.

Botanical Garden: Phase one is growing beautifully; Black and Gold Currants, Buffalo Berry, Chokecherry, Prairie Red Plum shrubs and Rose Hansen hedges. Phase two growing beautifully; 8 apple trees, 2 pear trees and 2 peach trees. Our garden produced for the soup kitchen, and food pantry with plenty to can. We will be expanding our garden and building a green house. We received $10,000 from South Dakota Community Foundation to build a Walinini Greenhouse for food sovereignty.

Thrift Store: In 2018 we received 130,990 lbs. of donations for our thrift store. We get donations from men and women of God all over the Dakotas and beyond and with the help of nonprofit organizations we have provided household goods, furniture, appliances, gently used and new clothing for babies, children, teens, men and women. This gives a family, a mom or dad an opportunity to buy at a very low cost and have the pride of knowing they have provided for themselves (a hand up, not a hand out). We serve an impoverished community with high unemployment and few resources to meet their very real needs. With that in mind we are expanding one more time to provide three times the inventory needed to get support out. We continue to go out twice a month to one of the 20 communities.

Construction Projects: We continue to work on homes that need repair, related to health and wellness issues. This year we had eight home projects, four were full roofs and 16 were self-help projects (family did the work while we provided the supplies and materials).

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We continue to invest in our own ministry with a major renovation project to place the thrift store and soup kitchen under one roof.

Volunteers In Mission (VIM): We had six South Dakota groups and 35 out of state groups serve the Lord through us this year. Together we are making a difference, toward the Kingdom of God, project by project. Our VIM dorms are updated, comfortable and safe. We provide a cross-cultural experience second to none and continue to add new and exciting activities and adventures for our VIM teams.

We would like to see more men and women of God visit us so they can experience the magnificent culture of the Sicangu Lakota Nation and to be a part of and witness the redeeming power of God to a nation.

Every prayer and donation is vital to this ministry. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Submitted by Linda Garriott, executive director, Tree of Life Ministry 4.9 GENERATING MISSIONAL RESOURCES LINK 4.9.1 Builders Club Builders Club is about doing ministry together to support the building projects of four churches each year through the donations of hundreds of individuals, organizations, and churches across the Dakotas. The goal is to help churches grow their current or new ministries to reach people in their communities by providing financial support for their building, remodel, or expansion projects.

In 2018, almost 600 individuals, organizations, and churches have partnered together and provided over $41,000 to help fund churches in their building projects. The following churches have benefitted from the generosity of our members: The mission of Open Heart UMC in Rapid City, SD, is to be the hands and feet of Christ in the surrounding community and offers a place for all people to come to know Jesus. With this grant, they were able to update their entry space to make it more welcoming and to reflect the love and acceptance that is found at their church.

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Milnor UMC in Milnor, ND, made their church wheelchair accessible by updating bathrooms to ADA standards, creating space in the sanctuary for wheelchairs, widening the entrance doors, and replacing the cracked and uneven sidewalk and parking lot. They want everyone to know that they are welcome in their church and want to ensure that physical barriers are not holding people back from knowing the love of God.

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There has been an influx of community members eager to worship at Sunnycrest UMC in Sioux Falls, SD. To keep up with all of the new and exciting things happening at this church, Builders Club was able to assist in providing a welcoming entry, fixing a leaky roof, replacing the boiler, and remodeling the bathrooms to make them wheelchair accessible.

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Marion Grace UMC is a small church with a big heart for the people in the town of Marion, ND. They were able to create a welcoming space for community members to gather and share in God’s love by replacing the outside siding, mending the crumbling sidewalk, and installing a multimedia system to enhance worship, Bible studies, and adult and children’s ministries.

If you would like to join Builders Club or would like to apply for a Builders Club grant, please visit the Builders Club page on our website: www.dakotasumf.org or contact our office at 605-990-7790.

Submitted by Sheri Meister, President/CEO Dakotas United Methodist Foundation 4.9.2 Conference Council on Finance and Administration The mission of The United Methodist Church and the Dakotas Annual Conference is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. As a Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CCFA), we take seriously our responsibility in making the mission happen through our apportionment dollars and other assets. Over the past six years we have continued to create a budget that has continued to live into our Journey Toward Vitality. We have focused on Developing Missional Leaders, Equipping Missional Congregations, Extending Missional Impact (which includes our financial commitment to the General Church), and Generating Missional Resources.

The role of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration is the oversight of the finances of the Dakota Annual Conference.

This includes recommending the annual budget to the Dakotas Annual Conference and setting policies and procedures on the use of the funds raised through apportionments and other assets.

The Conference Council on Finance and Administration approved the proposed budget for 2020. For more details see the 2020 Proposed Budget and Treasurer’s Discussion and Analysis in Section 1.

The audit report is available in the Dakotas Conference Finance Office.

Finally, we want to thank the staff: Jeff Pospisil, treasurer, JoAnn Schlimgen, assistant treasurer, and Dana Bassett, accounting clerk. We are grateful for the hard work and leadership of this team.

Submitted by Bob Ruedebusch, chair, Dakotas Annual Conference Council on Finance and Administration

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4.9.3 Dakotas United Methodist Foundation developing relationships * cultivating resources * embracing ministries The Foundation continues to grow. And with this growth, we are able to invest in the future of the Dakotas Annual Conference as we continue to support ministries within the local church and conference ministries across the Dakotas.

Seminary Scholarships – Investing in the missional development of our new leaders is essential. The Foundation takes pride in partnering with our seminarians as we walk alongside them financially in support of their journey. Thirteen students were awarded a total of $77,000 in 2018: Natalie Buck, Thomas Carlson, Don Dinger, Sarah Green, Paul Kimball, Jason Martens, Jennifer McDonald, Matthew Morrison, Michele Slott, Jeanne Sortland, Kara Togel, Kippy Udehn and Teresa Whetsel.

Breakthrough Ministry Grants are being awarded to churches who are finding new and innovative ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in their local communities. These grants are intended to be seed money for churches to fund new ministry or support expanding ministries. In 2018, over $34,000 was awarded to 24 different churches who introduced 25 new ministries in the Dakotas. Funds from the Called: One Word, Many Ways offering were received from the 2018 Annual Conference and are available to support churches, groups and organizations in creating opportunities to inspire and equip individuals to hear and respond to God’s calling. Breakthrough Ministry grant applications are being accepted to provide funds for ministry outreach, technology upgrades, church/school partnerships, support of individuals being called to leadership, campus and young adult ministry and hunger programs. The application can be found online at www.dakotasumf.org. Application deadlines are January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31.

Endowments, investment accounts, charitable gift annuities, legacy giving, or direct giving, are a few of the ways for individuals and churches to partner with the Foundation. Each of these options provide the church or ministry with opportunities to strengthen the mission of their church and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

In 2018, there were 6 new endowments totaling $102,917 and 7 new investment accounts totaling $345,547 Total Distributions in 2018: $583,525 Gift annuities - $80,358 Group Endowments - $31,983 Named Endowments - $302,484 Builders Club - $41,200 Passthroughs - $127,500 (Camp, Spirit Lake, Tree of Life, Solar Ovens, Local Church, DWU; includes stock gifts) There are great opportunities before us in the Foundation and we continue to look for new ways to partner with churches and ministries within the Conference and across the Dakotas.

Submitted by Rich Platt, Board of Directors Chair and Sheri Meister, President/CEO 4.9.4 Human Resources The Human Resource (HR) committee continued to work with Jeff Pospisil and Rebecca Trefz to assure our staff was aligned properly within our mission. A matrix for compensation for 2020 was approved along with a grading system for each position within our conference staff. Jeff, Rebecca and Bishop Ough completed evaluations of the staff based on a new “Annual Progress Conversation: SelfReflection Form” that has been adopted. It allowed for a positive conversation on the strengths and growing edges for the conference staff. Approval was given to the equitable compensation packages submitted by the District Superintendents. We want to thank Jeff and Rebecca for their continued efforts to make sure our staff is cared for and that they have the ability to have an open dialogue about how each might better serve our conference.

Submitted by Barry Whipkey, chair, Human Resources Committee 4.9.5 Board of Pensions The Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions (BOP) administers the pension, health care and other benefit programs available to clergy and lay employees of United Methodist institutions (local churches, annual conference, and other UM related entities). The purpose of the Board of Pensions of The Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is to wisely provide pension and health care benefits for its clergy, lay employees and their families so that they can more freely equip the local church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. (See Para. 639.1 in the 2016 Book of Discipline).

A summary of our work over the last year includes: the change of health plan to Wespath HealthFlex Exchange on January 1, 2019, and continuation of Medicare Part B premium grants for surviving spouses as those rates continue to increase each year. Reduced apportionment to zero ($0) from $98,000.

Clergy Medical Leave: The following item is contingent upon vote of the clergy session. It is provided her for informational purposes only. Clergy member, Glen Sayler is approved to continue on medical leave and to receive CPP Disability Benefits for the conference year of July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020.

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The Pre-82 (Past Service) Annuity Rate: The Board recommends that the 2020 Past Service Annuity Rate (effective 1/1/2020) be set at $735 for each year of pre-82 service in the Dakotas Conference. This is a 2.37% increase over 2019.

UPDATES ON THE HEALTHFLEX PROGRAM: HealthFlex is offered to Annual Conferences through Wespath (formerly General Board of Pension and Health Benefits). This plan is specifically designed for active and younger than age 65 retired United Methodist clergy and lay employees. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the health insurance carrier which administers the plan and processes claims. The HealthFlex insurance plan has strict guidelines regarding payment of premiums.

Beginning in 2019, we moved to Wespath HealthFlex Exchange giving active participant’s more coverage options. There are six plans to choose from along with dental and expanded vision coverage. The default plan for 2019 will be the CDHP C3000. The participant’s share calculations will no longer be based on participant’s total compensation. There will be a Premium Credit set for each type of coverage.

For the Conference to have some perspective on the actual health insurance bill for our participants, the following numbers are the actual cost for each category of participant enrolled in HealthFlex Exchange for 2020: ACTIVES: HDHP3000 Plan HDHP2000 Plan HDHP1500 Plan CDHP3000 Plan CDHP2000 Plan PPOB1000 Plan

Single $7,488 $8,604 $9,396 $8,184 $9,648 $10,152

2 Party $14,232 $16,332 $17,844 $15,552 $18,324 $19,284

Family $19,476 $22,356 $24,420 $21,276 $25,080 $26,388

Default plan –CDHP C3000 Plan The conference will provide a Premium Credit of the following: Single Coverage $ 7,236 2 Party Coverage $13,740 Family Coverage $18,816 Eligibility to participate will be as specified in the HealthFlex Plan Documents and Conference Policy. Premiums will be paid in accordance with Conference policies regarding such payments (see Policy section of the 2018 Journal). For 2020, the annual Direct Bill to churches will be 75% of the total active 2019 C2000 HealthFlex premium.

UPDATES ON VIA BENEFITS FOR RETIREES: The average HRA to a participant for 2018 was $2981. 64% of all our retiree HRA accounts had funds roll over from 2018. Of those accounts 68% rolled over a minimum of $1000.

UPDATE ON THE RETIREE HEALTH LIABILITY FUNDING PLAN AND NEW INFORMATION ON A RETIREE HEALTH FUNDING PLAN/HEALTH REIMBURSMENT ACCOUNTS To fund the Health Reimbursement Account contributions, the Board will use funds from three sources. It is the Board of Pensions hope that we will be able to increase the funding amount each year for our retirees: Funds that had been accumulated for the Retiree Health Liability. As of December 31, 2018, the amount of these funds was $1,742,509.

Earnings from the Frank Lynch Trust and Georgia Lynch Trust. In 2018, the trusts distributed a combined total of $637,892. As of December 31, 2018, the balance of these trusts was $12,437,731.

On January 1, 2019, 3% was added to the Active Participant Share in the "Salary Ratio" way that the Active Participant Share is currently calculated. The amount generated by the additional 3% will be directed to funding retiree health.

Regarding Corpus Amounts: Endowment and Trust Fund: The corpus was established at $1,000,000 for the merged Dakotas Conference as of 1/1/1994. Additions since merger total $84,646.59. The Corpus of the Endowment is $1,084,646.59, as of 12/31/18. The Corpus is not viewed as a “target balance." It is the “foundation” of all Dakotas Pension and Health Plans and cannot be expended for any reason. The Board of Pensions has adopted a strategy of “reserve savings” with accompanying policies endorsed by the Conference Council on Finance and Administration which will enable the Dakotas Conference to “weather” large increases in health insurance premiums; secure the Ministerial Pension Plan and the Pre-82 Plan; and provide funding for CRSP liabilities. Reports of the amount of this “Reserve Savings” and its use will be reported to the Annual Conference upon request.

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Administration of all plans and work of the Board: The Board recommends that the following be authorized to sign necessary documents relative to the Dakotas Board of Pensions for 2019-2020: The Board Chair, the Conference Benefits Officer and the Treasurer of the Board.

Pension Payments and Rental/Housing Allowance This document has been updated for 2020 and can be found in the “Annual Conference Minutes” section of the Journal.

Dakotas Annual Conference 2019 Comprehensive Benefit Funding Plan Opinion and Summary may be found on the Dakotas Conference website.

Submitted by Leana Stunes, Conference Benefits Officer 4.9.6 Conference Board of Trustees This report is being brought to the Conference, keeping in mind the three-fold ministry of the Conference Trustees to 1) care for the property of the Conference, making it available for the agencies of the Conference, 2) maintain the parsonages owned by the Conference, keeping in mind the needs of the families that live in the homes, and 3) invest funds so that the proceeds can be used to fund several committee ministries.

Below is a report of the properties of the Dakotas Conference: Property Storm Mountain Center (1) Lake Poinsett Camp (1) Wesley Acres Camp (1) Southwest District Parsonage (2) Conference Center (3) Spirit Lake Nation

Date Acquired

Cost

1946

2/27/2009 2/23/1970 4/14/2006

289,032 127,639 311,409

Insured Value

Responsible For 2018 Maint* Upkeep

4,501,000 5,736,000 Camping Council 2,672,000 328,000 Board of Trustees 843,000 1,255,000 SL Ministry

115,000 408 10,422 0

*Includes only the amount provided by Trustee Funds or Apportionments for maintenance.

1. $28,750 was transferred to each camp. The Camp and Retreat Ministry Council also holds $28,750 in reserve for large and unexpected maintenance that require immediate attention.

2. $408 was spent on the Southwest District Parsonage for minor repairs and maintenance.

3. $3,724 was spent to repair the elevator at the Conference Center after it stopped working. $2,046 was spent to repair the dampers and general maintenance for the HVAC system. $1,953 was spent on electrical work to update ballasts and add an electrical outlet.

The remaining $2,699 was for various other minor repair/maintenance items at the Conference Center.

In addition to our work in caring for Conference property, we also worked on advising and inspecting the construction of a shed at Lake Poinsett Camp, managing rental farmland lease agreements, and reviewing our relationship agreements.

Submitted by Jeff Pospisil, Board of Trustees 4.10 Dakota Wesleyan University - Mitchell, S.D. Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) is proud of our Methodist heritage which encourages our students to openly explore their faith and shape a tradition of strong ethical values. As an engaged, faith-affirming community, we embrace John Wesley’s Christ-centered model of uniting knowledge, reason, and vibrant faith in our curricular and co-curricular activities. We challenge students, faculty and staff to make a difference through creative, genuine service. Rooted in our Methodist tradition, service is a natural extension of our nurturing campus community. We foster excellence, drive, and the willingness to succeed, and anticipate our graduates will make a positive difference as the next generation of leaders.

DWU has a well-rounded, accomplished collection of graduates this year, who will start careers in education, business, communications, criminal justice, healthcare, ministry and nonprofit administration, poised with the sound conviction to serve. Many will go on to graduate school, law school, and medical school; including two of our students committed to attending seminary and one student who has been accepted into a global missionary organization, similar to the Peace Corps.

In addition to Dakotas Annual Conference funding of $85,500, Dakota Wesleyan’s financial commitment to United Methodist higher education is significant. $198,500 in scholarships were exclusively dedicated to supporting United Methodist student leaders. $95,000 supports a full-time United Methodist faculty member in religion. This individual introduces all students to John Wesley 51 through the general education program.

$148,500 supports campus ministry. This commitment includes one full-time and one part-time campus pastor, as well as programming. Programming includes bringing national speakers to campus, supporting internship opportunities for students in ministry, and providing supplies for our justice ministries, Bible studies, small groups, and mission trips. $20,000 of in-kind support for Mitchell Fusion United Methodist Church. $4,000 funded two interns for the Elisha Project. They served as key leaders in student ministry and also had some involvement in Fusion UMC and Mitchell FUMC to learn about vocational ministry.

Campus Ministry at DWU continues to thrive. Approximately 175 students are regularly involved with ministries, such as chapel, life groups, service projects, and Freshmen Ministry. This year, 45 students received Christian Leadership Awards (CLA) to help make college more affordable. These students commit to being involved in chapel, small groups, and at least one service project per year. Many of them also take part in Freshmen Ministry, which develops mentoring relationships between upperclassmen and new students that help in adjusting to adult life in college.

Thirty-eight students committed to Student Ministry Council (SMC) leadership in 2018-19. This group meets Sunday nights to pray, worship, and plan the weekly ministries. Many of these leaders have a wide range of influence in other clubs and organizations, including residence life, choir, athletic teams, band, McGovern Engagement Group, and numerous other activities.

This academic year the DWU campus ministry welcomed two interns through the Dakotas United Methodist Church’s Elisha Project.

Luke Wodahl (junior, Buffalo, WY) and Thanael Certa-Werner (senior, Superior, WI) met weekly with DWU Campus Pastor Eric Van Meter to discuss various aspects of ministry and leadership. Designed as part book study and part practicum, the internship grants the present-and-future church leaders the opportunity to think about ministry in an intentional way, then apply what they learned to their context as SMC leaders.

Campus ministry continues to emphasize the importance of Christian leadership not just in specifically church-related activities, but in every aspect of life. We are focused on developing natural talents, supporting achievement and preparing students for success.

“I’m working on becoming a pastor in the United Methodist Church, and so Dakota Wesleyan was a natural choice. The school is renowned for its commitment to faith development and for its strong connection to the church,” said Thanael Certa-Werner, Christian leadership and nonprofit administration major. “I honestly think that I am further ahead in my understandings of the Bible and how the church works than most first-year seminarians! Besides that, I have also grown by leaps and bounds in my faith through my program, the campus ministry, and Fusion church which are seamlessly integrated into each other. I declared my nonprofit admin minor later in my career after having taken some classes that were a part of the program. I realized that something that every pastor understands is the Bible and faith, but not every pastor knows how to run a church, and because of this program, I do. I can start light-years ahead of where I would have on my own because of DWU’s program.”

We have intentionally created Dakota Wesleyan University to be a place where students can grow intellectually and morally and where students can apply their distinctive strengths. All of this stems from a core mission based on our values of learning, leadership, faith and service. We are proud to put these values into practice in the classroom, on the athletic fields and in all of our co-curricular activities.

DWU is proud to offer rewarding opportunities to our student-body that continue to advance our devotion to United Methodist higher education.

Submitted by Jan Larson, director of marketing and communication, DWU

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