Around the Conference April 24
Around the Conference April 24, 2017
Want to know the latest news and events happening in the Dakotas Conference? Stop and read what is happening "Around the Conference."
Pray with us
Many in the church are anticipating the upcoming Judicial Council ruling on the Western Jurisdiction’s recent election of a married lesbian bishop, Bishop Karen Oliveto. The Judicial Council meets and rules on April 25-28, 2017. Let us pray for the Church during this week of discernment.
Please pray with Bishop Ough and members of the Dakotas Conference cabinet.
"We are Easter People and we are not afraid! Come Holy Spirit! Come and grant us ears to hear and hearts to discern your wisdom for such a time as this. Empty all of our preconceived solutions and preferences. Holy Spirit rush in and fill us with new possibilities, new hope, new life. Amen."
Prayer by Bishop Ough
Annual Conference FAQs
The 24nd session of the Dakotas Annual Conference will kick off in two short months—June 8-10, 2017 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Here are a few questions people have been asking about this year's conference "Encounter the Spirit: Live expectantly!
Click here to read the 2017 frequently asked questions.
Early Bird Camping reminder
Early bird registration ends May 1st, 2017. It's $5 off per night at a camp, so a two-night camp would be $10 off. If you're unsure of the prices, they're included online under the link, "Camp & Events". Find the camp(s) you're interested in and click the "MORE INFO+" button. If you have any trouble, call our camping hotline at (605) 990-7780. DAKCamps.org
Myth or Fact Workshops
In case you missed them last fall, they’re coming back for an encore tour. Conference Treasurer Jeff Pospisil, Dakotas UM Foundation Director Sheri Meister, and Pastor Bob Ruedebusch will be bringing their Myth or Fact workshop to Watertown and Bismarck in April. This workshop is open to church treasurers and finance committee members as well as anyone interested in giving and stewardship. The Saturday workshops will run from 9:00am – 1:00pm CDT and lunch is provided on April 29th in Bismarck, ND at Legacy UMC.
Please email the Foundation office or call (605) 990-7790 so we know how to plan for lunch.
Sponsored by the Dakotas Council of Finance & Administration, Dakotas United Methodist Foundation, and Sioux Falls First United Methodist Church.
Youth Worker Academy 2017
Who: Kenda Creasy Dean
What: Training for all youth workers in our conference
When: April 28-30, 2017
Where: Lake Poinsett Camp
Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained elder in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference (United Methodist) and professor of youth, church, and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she works closely with the Institute for Youth Ministry. A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, she served as pastor in suburban Washington, DC and as a campus minister at the University of Maryland-College Park before coming to Princeton Seminary. She is currently appointed as the coordinating pastor of Kingston United Methodist Church in Kingston, New Jersey. For more information, contact Pastor Jeff Lathrop here via e-mail, or phone at (605) 352-8604.
Download a detailed schedule here.
Breakthrough Ministry Grants Available
The Missional Impact Link is again taking applications for Breakthrough Ministry Grants.
Breakthrough Ministry Grants are intended to be seed money to launch new ministries or expand existing ministries to reach new people. The grants are a response to the movement of the Spirit in the hearts of Dakotas United Methodists.
Breakthrough Ministry grants are offered to churches and related organizations from the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation and Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Grants will be awarded quarterly. Applications are due on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 annually.
To read about past recipients of Breakthrough Ministry Grants, click here.
Exploration 2017
Do you know a young adult who is considering a call to ministry? EXPLORATION is a three-day event for young adults age 18-26 to hear, discern, and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry and to explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church. It will be held November 3-5, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. The Dakotas Conference will be sponsoring a group of young adults.
If you know of someone that would be a good fit let the Office of Leadership Development by e-mail or calling 605-990-7796.
Click here for more information.
Online quilt auction and Fall Mission Events
The Dakotas Conference will hold an online quilt auction again this fall to support hunger projects. If your quilts are ready by early June you can send them with your pastor or lay persons to Annual Conference so the quilts can be displayed there for everyone to see first-hand. All quilts brought to Annual Conference will then be transported to the Mitchell Conference Office for the fall auction. Fill out a form so we have the necessary information about each quilt.
Fall mission events dates have been set. Saturday, September 16 is the Prairie Hills East Mission Fair at Southeast Pierre UMC. The date of Saturday, September 30 has been set for Mission Café and Bakery in Sioux Falls, SD.
For more information, contact JoAnn Schlimgen via e-mail here.
Other CAMPING Opportunities at MISSION u
July 13 – 16, 2017 at Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell SD
“Faithful Servants” Youth Camp — $ 130
Students grades 7 – 12
“In Mission Together: A Youth Study on Missionary Conferences”
Youth Camp Director: Rev. Scott McKirdy
-
"Missions for Me" Children's Camp— $120 Students grades 3 – 6
"Joined and Held Together: A Children's Study of Missionary Conferences"
Children's Camp Director: Colleen McKirdy
Parent / Guardian must attend Mission u
For Registration Information, please contact:
Don Armstrong, (H) 605-271-8846 (C) 605-988-7128
5202 S. Woodsedge Trail
Sioux Falls, SD 57108 email: donanddawn@sio.midco.net
