Across the denominational spectrum, one of the fastest-growing demographic categories of churches are those with an average worship attendance of less than 25 persons. With this shift and population decline in many communities where these churches serve, pastoral and worship leadership models are being adjusted to adapt to changing missional and financial realities.

Several churches across the Dakotas are living into this new reality. Even as the appointive cabinet works to ensure pastoral oversight and sacraments are provided, they are also working with congregations to explore new ways to ensure essential functions like worship and care are provided.

Rev. Rob Salmonson.

One such group of churches is Clark, Frankfort, and Henry United Methodist Churches in South Dakota. All three churches lost their parish partner through disaffiliation. For a variety of reasons, a traditional three-point charge was not the solution to this challenge. Instead, the answer came in re-imagining how Pastor Rob Salmonson and several lay speakers could share the pastoral leadership of these rural congregations.
Pastor Rob's primary appointment is to Clark UMC. However, three Sundays a month, he travels out to Frankfort or Henry, located 30 miles west and 15 miles east, respectively.

"I attend Henry on the second Sunday of every month to preach, lead worship, and serve communion. Then on the first Sunday, I'm at Frankfort to preach and serve communion, and on the fourth Sunday, I'm just there to preach and lead worship," described Pastor Rob.

On the Sundays when Pastor Rob isn't in the other communities, lay speakers from Redfield, Garden City, and Watertown provide the preaching and worship leadership. Rev. Sandee Prouty-Cole, a United Methodist deacon from Watertown, S.D., travels out to Frankfort when there is a 5th Sunday in a month.

"This sort of creative arrangement is important because it allows a congregation that wants to remain open and available to their community to do so while still maintaining financial viability," said Rev. Kris Mutzenberger, northeast district superintendent.

For Frankfort, living into this new model has not been a stretch. "It's working very well for us," said Deanna Bindenagel, a member of Frankfort UMC. "Each one is different, and we like each one even with all their differences. We're very flexible in our church."

Henry, Clark & Frankfort UMCs.

For Henry, the model was not entirely new, as they have had a team preaching model for many years. However, in the past, the appointed pastor coordinated the pulpit supply and worship elements even if they were only present once or twice a month. This new configuration required them to take more ownership of those pieces.

"I take care of arranging the pulpit supply, my wife does the bulletin, one of the other women is the treasurer, and another plays the music on our CD system," explained Wally Hoch, the Henry UMC Board chair.

Flexibility and buy-in are essential for any new ministry model, and this is no exception.

"It's also taken some flexibility on the part of the sending church because they have to have adjusted their worship time to make that possible for the traveling in and out to these different places so that Pastor Rob can serve in that way," added Mutzenberger.

For Pastor Rob, the model aligns with his heart and calling.

"The small rural churches are where I grew up, and I like getting to build those one-on-one relationships with people," said Pastor Rob. "The challenge is making the most of my time while I am there since I am not there every Sunday. I have to be intentional about getting there early and staying as long as possible after worship to make those connections."

Building those relationships has laid the groundwork for providing pastoral care in times of deep need in these circuit congregations.

"My brother-in-law passed away this year in Indiana," shared Deanna. "My sister chose to have a plot in Frankfort, and Pastor Rob came and did the interment. It was really nice for me, my brother, and my sister-in-law."

When a member of the Henry congregation passed away this past year, the family chose to have the funeral service at Clark, a larger sanctuary, with Pastor Rob officiating. Members from Frankfort and Henry have also traveled into Clark to join that congregation for special services during Lent or on Christmas Eve.

Finding creative ways to adapt to potential scheduling challenges, including the four times a year when there are five Sundays in the month, has created unique connection opportunities.

"On the 5th Sunday, we have a hymn fest," shared Wally. "We invited some of the older members of our church who have moved to Watertown and are attending First United Methodist Church. Five of them joined us, and we had a little soup and sandwich after the service."

Due to busy summer schedules, the Henry congregation also switches to Wednesday worship from June through September.

Adapting is the name of the game for these congregations who are committed to being a church family, gathering together each week, and keeping their doors open for whomever God might bring their way.

"We try to keep the doors open because there's always the hope that someone might see us open and, at some point, maybe join us," added Deanna.