Annual Conference 2017: Dates and deadlines approaching

The twenty-fourth session of the Dakotas Annual Conference will take place on June 8-10. 2017 at the Bismarck Event Center.  Here are some some dates and deadlines you will want to pay attention to:

Annual conference registration is open - click here to register. Fees for the 2017 conference session will remain the same as last year. The cost will be $85 for all delegates and retirees ($110 after May 19) and $5 @ day for those visiting. Fees do not include meals and some special events. You can select a variety of meal options when you register online.

Nominate someone for an award.  Several awards will be announced at annual conference including the Denman Award for Evangelism, One Matters Award, Francis Asbury Award and the Streams of Justice Award.  Award nominations are being accepted through March 29.  Click here for details.

All proposals for petitions and resolutions for the 2017 Dakotas Annual Conference Session must be submitted electronically to Rev. Rebecca Trefz, by March 30, 2017.  Items should be created using the Petitions and Resolutions form.  If you have questions about resolutions and petitions, you may contact Rebecca by e-mail or phone 605-990-7791.  The Dakotas Conference Petitions and Resolution Committee will review submissions before being placed on the agenda for consideration at the 24th Session of the Dakotas Annual Conference. Click here to download a template form.

Elisha deadline extended

The deadline for internship applications to be considered for the Elisha Project has been extended until Friday, March 24th. Elisha interns and church congregations both benefit from each other throughout these 10-week summer internships. See what some of our past interns and their mentoring pastors had to say in the linked videos on the Elisha Project web page.

Brandon Heath LIVE at Huron First UMC this Friday, March 24

There’s something incredibly special about the moment you first believe; when Jesus comes into your heart and your life is forever changed. Brandon Heath, a Nashville native, is an established storyteller with a lengthy list of achievements. Heath has received five Grammy nominations, won an Emmy Award, and was BMI’s songwriter of the year for 2014. His three previous albums have landed in the top ten, and he’s scored four No. 1 hit singles with “Give Me Your Eyes” going platinum in RIAA Digital Sales in 2016.

Click here for all the information, tickets, and links to his music.

Attend Breakthrough Workshop for tips on going digital

Do you want to create a digital presence for your church?  Are you struggling with effective ways to send e-newsletters, use Facebook and other social media? Make plans now to attend the Breakthrough Workshop: Compelling communications.  Presenters will include trainers from United Methodists Communications and the communication team from the Dakotas-Minnesota Area.

You can attend two ways.  Huron First UMC will be the host site where you will be able to interact face-to-face with the trainers.  There will be six live stream sites at:  Bismarck Legacy, Brandon Celebration, Jamestown First, Rapid City Canyon Lake, West Fargo Flame of Faith and Winner.  Participants at the live stream sites will watch the presentations and have a chance to submit comments and questions to the presenters.

Click here to register

Here is the agenda for the day:

2:30-4:00 p.m.: Church marketing and branding

4:00-5:00 p.m.: Electronic newsletters tips and tools

5:00-6:10 p.m.: Social Media—Using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

6:10-6:30 p.m.: Taking digital photos for the web and social media

6:30-7:30 p.m.: The whys and hows of live streaming

Hiawatha Asylum Program at Chester UMC

A presentation hosted by the Chester United Methodist Church and co-sponsored by the SD Humanities Council will be given on March 26, 2017, beginning at 6:00pm and ending at 8:00pm.

Scholars Jerry Fogg and Anne Dilenschneider will be presenting about the Hiawatha Asylum for Indians, which operated from 1902 until 1934 in Canton, SD.

The Chester UMC is at 303 2nd Ave, Chester, SD  57018

For more information on this event, contact: Susan Jennys  via e-mail here, or call the church office at Church Office: 605-446-3835.

For more information on the Hiawatha Asylum for Indians click here.

Walk to Emmaus

Dakotas Walk to Emmaus will hold Men's Walk #55 on March 23-26, 2017, and Women’s Walk #56 on March 30 – April 2, 2017, at Inspiration Hills near Canton, SD. The Walk to Emmaus program is a 72-hour experience starting Thursday evening and ending on Sunday. Participants are asked to separate themselves from their daily activities for this time period. There is no physical walking distance, but rather a “walk” with others in fellowship, learning and fun.  Click these links for the  and Women’s retreats:

Men’s Retreat                   Women's Retreat

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.

• April 22nd in Watertown, SD at Cornerstone UMC, and
• 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 cohort ministry training April 1st

For the 10 churches invited to be part of the Youth Ministry Cohort will meet for their fourth and final  training with Stephanie Caro April 1st, 2017 from 9:30 am-3:30 pm CDT at Wesley Acres Camp. 

For more information and registration click here.

Summer youth mission opportunity

Sioux Falls First UMC invites all youth grades 6-12 to a weeklong summer mission opportunity serving various agencies in Sioux Falls, S.D. Intentional Ministry Promoting Active Community Transformation (IMPACT) will take place June 18-23, 2017.  Registration is now open.

Contact Andrea Johnson at (605) 336-3652. 

Click here for more information from Sioux Falls First UMC.