“I hope that we do not lose sight of sharing Jesus Christ’s love with all people. We see all have value, and all are loved,” says Pastor Barry Whipkey, who serves as a member of the Dakotas Conference Strategy Team and as lead pastor at First United Methodist Church in Rapid City, South Dakota. “We might disagree on many things, but my prayer is that we never lose sight of the core value of Jesus Christ and God’s love for us.”

What form The United Methodist Church takes next will remain unclear until the General Conference meets, after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until August 2022. Amid a time of great uncertainty, a group of Dakotas clergy and laity explore ways to adapt as a Conference and better support our local churches in accomplishing the mission. 

“One of the challenges is the unknown of what will happen at General Conference. But we can overcome that challenge by continuing the work of the Strategy Team and guiding churches to have conversations and discussions, to be strategic,” says Jane Hincks, who is a member of Legacy South UMC in Bismarck and the Dakotas Conference Co-lay Leader.

Purpose

In 2020, Bishop Bruce R. Ough, who was serving as resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area, called together a team of clergy and laity to consider how the Dakotas Conference might live into the future with new models of connection and strategy that accomplish our shared mission. Bishop Laurie Haller, serving as the interim bishop for the Dakotas Conference, calls the Strategy Team to continue their work. 

The group brings diverse contexts and theological viewpoints to the table but holds a primary focus on the mission of disciples of Jesus above all. Members have agreed to be guided by the values of Jesus first, connection, mission, organizational resiliency, and prayer. 

“It is a really good group of people. I am getting to know people I didn’t know before. Hearing other people’s ideas and dedication has been inspiring. It is encouraging,” says Tiffany Ortman, a licensed local pastor serving as chaplain at Good Samaritan Luther Manor and Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a lay member at United Church of Canistota, South Dakota.

Because of COVID, the team is meeting bi-weekly via Zoom to fulfill a three-fold purpose to:
1.   Imagine and develop a model or models for how we continue to carry forward our core values—Jesus, mission, connection— and our mission—making disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world—in a post-General Conference environment;
2.   Design specific strategies that create ways for pastors and churches to participate in shared ministry and/or support services, innovative partnerships, and collaborative Kingdom work while staying true to their convictions and callings; and
3.   Design strategies for assisting every clergyperson and every congregation to find a place where they can best fulfill their contextual mission and vision.

The group begins each meeting with a time of devotion and prayer. The agendas revolve around creating tools and resources to educate, equip, and resource local congregations.

“Each meeting starts with devotion and prayer, and I love that. We are seeking to educate, equip, and resource. Educate on things like what the conference provides. Equip churches with tools to discern their values. Resource everyone to keep Jesus Christ in the forefront of all that we do and pray,” says Hincks.

Discussion at meetings is focused. “We meet about twice a month for two hours each time. We have come together and had wonderful conversations and dialogue,” says Whipkey. “We do not talk about human sexuality as theological. We meet to covenant together on how we can help churches identify their core values when it comes to Biblical precepts.”

Photo from unsplash.com

Current progress 

Tiffany Ortman joined the 15-member Strategy Team in January 2021. She describes that the work is happening through subgroups or task groups— communications, resources, financial, critical questions. Ortman works with the communications subgroup, seeking to get the information out there for everyone throughout the Dakotas Conference.

She says, “We are imagining and developing models to continue to carry out our mission and goals—to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, in light of the conflict and potential division of the United Methodist Church. We are exploring ways for us to stay connected and support each other’s ministry. We are trying to give some light to what that looks like so everyone can find a place for where they belong.”

A survey instrument assessed the congregations understanding and desire to continue sharing resources across the Conference. The assessment tool, completed by clergy and laity, collected data that will inform what resources might continue to be shared as new expressions of Methodism are defined. Currently, the responses to the survey are being analyzed.

A values discernment tool for congregations to discern their core values is in the development stages. The tool is an opportunity for congregations to invite honest conversations about what they believe as a body and individuals.

The Strategy Team drafted a unifying covenant statement. The Dakotas Conference Common Table has affirmed and committed to a covenant statement that affirms John Wesley’s rule: “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.”

Whipkey and Hincks serve on the critical questions subgroup. Hincks says, “We have been developing questions and answers or directions to inform the conversations as churches define their values and how they would best align with those values.”

What is next?

The Strategy Team developed a Breakthrough Prayer that has guided their work. The group invites individuals and churches to pray for this team’s work and the future of The United Methodist Church. Access prayer here.

“I love the Breakthrough Prayer. It helps me stay grounded in why we are working together as a team. We are all in this for our passion for Jesus and to serve,” says Hincks.

The group is looking forward to sharing the analysis of the survey responses soon. There will also be a chance for congregations to engage in the values discernment tool.

“We are all about our love for the Lord and our neighbor,” says Jane Hincks. “I am praying for God’s guidance so that we can all come together to show the world that God comes first and let God lead.”

Resources:
Strategy Team webpage
Strategy Team members
Strategy Team Breakthrough Prayer