THIS WEEK

AC 2023: Registration open
    Registration is now open for the 30th annual Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church session. The three-day event will occur at the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Convention Center. The Dakotas Conference Sessions Committee invites you to experience powerful worship, rich learning opportunities in workshops and plenary sessions, and fellowship with United Methodists across North and South Dakota. Drawing on Luke 24:13-35, the theme of this year's gathering is "Encounter. Transform. Respond: The Emmaus Experience." Access more details.

Education Debt Reduction Workshop | April 18
    Explore the latest on Education Debt Reduction in a virtual workshop on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. CDT. Anyone with educational debt is invited. LSS Financial Counseling and the Dakotas-Minnesota Area UMC are providing ongoing support and workshops on federal student loans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This workshop will provide information, explore your options in repayment, and help guide your next steps. There is no charge for this informative workshop. Here is the Zoom link for the workshop registration. Get more information.

Scripture Circles | Starting April 18
    A scripture circle is a sacred time to stop, turn aside, to marinate in the original language and context. This space allows pastors to savor the Spirit without critique or agenda. Pastors’ busy schedules demand so much! The Dakotas annual conference wants to pour back into you. So we are offering a facilitated, zoom discussion based on the needs and thoughts of each clergy in the group. We have set them up as cohorts for depth of relationships and discussion. Get the details here.

Out of the Ashes | A Service of Lament in a Season of Disaffiliation
    Join Discipleship Ministries, Thursday, April 20 at 11 a.m. CDT for an online worship experience intended to help us speak into the pain of the moment. This worship experience is the beginning of a series of opportunities to gather and share and look forward to a renewed expression of our faith and our church.

Dakotas Walk to Emmaus | Men's Walk #65 April 20-23
    The Men's Walk #65 is April 20th - 23rd, 2023. The Women's Walk #66 is April 27th - 30th, 2023. Both are to be held at Lake Poinsett Camp. Registration for pilgrims and fourth day assistants is still open. Start registering Pilgrims now!  Click here for new forms!

COMING UP 

Incubator Training | April 26-28
    Join this online training, April 26-28, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., central time, for an onboarding discovery process to prepare new church planters or those exploring restart church projects. Learn the skills and tools of a church planter. You will make a plan that can be put into action.

Lay Ministry Academy | Preaching & Leading Worship—April 28-30
    Are you a Certified Lay Minister (CLM) or a lay person who would like to learn more about preaching and leading worship? The upcoming Lay Academy will help strengthen your understanding and skills for preaching and leading the spoken parts of worship. Questions? Please call or text Pastor Michele Slott at Open Heart UMC, Rapid City. 605-390-8757. Click HERE to see a sample of a previous agenda for this training.

Register for camp | April 30 early bird deadline
    Summer 2023 is just around the corner! Experience Christ, creation, and community at our three camp locations. Register before April 30 and receive a $25 camp store credit. Save even more by bringing a friend with you to camp.

Clergy women's retreat | April 30-May 2 
    Come and enjoy the serene surroundings, worship, conversation and company of other United Methodist clergywomen at this year’s retreat. Located outside Marvin, SD, the Abbey of the Hills. Bible women: Their stories of art will be the theme, April 30 to May 2, 2023. Get the details and register here.

Call for nominations | 2024 North Central Jurisdiction reserve lay delegates
    At the 30th session of the Dakotas Annual Conference, to be held June 6-8, 2019 in Bismarck, North Dakota, elections will be held for reserve lay delegates and one reserve clergy delegate to the North Central Jurisdiction Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, July 10-13, 2024. If you would like to nominate a lay person, or if you are a lay person who is willing to serve in this capacity, please complete the form by Monday, May 1, 2022. Information submitted by that date will be included in the Conference Workbook.

Codependent No More | Begins May 1
    The date has changed for Codependent No More: Group Coaching for Clergy to Mondays, May 1-Aug. 14 (except May 29, June 12, and 19), noon-1 p.m., online. Clergy, take this time for your own health. For 12 sessions, join this small group and gain tools to end codependence.

2023-24 Practical Church Leadership Program | Apply by May 1
    Applications for this graduate certificate program through Dakota Wesleyan University are now being accepted; 85 percent of the $7,500 tuition cost is funded. Apply by May 1.

Licensing school | May 1 registration deadline
    Please note that the registration deadline for the 2023 Dakotas Licensing school is fast approaching on May 1, 2023. It is happening June 28-21, 2023, at Abbey of the Hills by Marvin, South Dakota. If you are a candidate to become a licensed local pastor or certified lay minister register here.

Festival of Homeletics | May 15-19
    “Preaching Hope for a Weary World” is the festival’s response to the hardships and heaviness that have been our reality the last few years. Members of the Dakotas Cabinet invite you to join them in Minneapolis, May 15-19 to hear from outstanding preachers from diverse backgrounds, traditions, and ministry settings. For those who might be interested in coming a day early, you are invited to join Bishop Lanette and some of the cabinet at the Minnesota Twins / Chicago Cubs game on Sunday, May 14 (Mother's Day). Get the details here.

Youth 2023 |July 22-29
    Middle and high school students are invited to travel with other Dakotas Conference youth to Daytona Beach, FloridaJuly 22-29, 2023. Join thousands of other youth and their leaders at Youth 2023 being held at the Daytona Ocean Center and lodging at the Hilton Ocean Front Resort. Check out the cost and other details here.

2023 Mission u
    Don’t miss Mission u 2023! United Women in Faith have a commitment to life-long learning. Mission u is a perfect example of how that commitment is put into action—and not just for ourselves, but to better reflect God’s love to others. This summer, do yourself a favor and attend this three-day learning adventure.Participate in one of three sessions: Southern Site: July 14-16, 2023, Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD, access details; Northern Site: July 20-22, 2023, University of Jamestown, Jamestown, ND, access details; Virtual: August 10-12, 2023, on Zoom, access details.

Called special session | Aug. 15
    After consultation with the Dakotas Appointive Cabinet, Bishop Lanette Plambeck is calling a special session of the Dakotas Annual Conference for August 15, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m. central time and 6:00 p.m. mountain time. The session will be entirely virtual. This will be the final called conference for disaffiliation in 2023.

RESOURCES

Fireside Chat series one | Our Wesleyan Way: Three Simple Rules, Do Good 
    In this episode of the Fireside Chat series, Our Wesleyan Way, DWU student Anna Mutzenberger asks Bishop Lanette Plambeck questions about the meaning of the second of the "Three Simple Rules, Do Good." What does that look like, and how does that fit into our practice of United Methodism? This is the first episode of a series Our Wesleyan Way, (Series1: Episode1). View the entire series.

Native American Ministries pastor and leader kit
    Explore these resources to learn how and why United Methodists celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday. Invite your faith community to give generously, knowing that half of the gifts remain in the conference to support local Native American ministries; create programs and resources; and educate and support seminary scholarships for United Methodist Native Americans. Core resources are available in multiple languages.

National Day of Volunteer Training | September 23, 2023
    Fargo First UMC is once again hosting National Day of Volunteer Training through Download Youth Ministry. The date for this year's training is September 23 beginning at 9a.m. Bring your team to this training. Current pricing is $99.00 for everyone in your team. Prices will go up on May 1. The training will be finished by noon. Fargo First UMC will be providing lunch for all attendees after the training. Mark your calendars, register and join us. 

Grants

Breakthrough Ministry Grants | Apply by April 30
    Breakthrough Ministry Grants: 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 as seed money to launch new ministries or expand an existing ministry. Learn more about Breakthrough Ministry Grants here.

Investing In Leaders Resource Grant (Student Debt Reduction) | 2023 application is now open
    The 2023 application is now open for the Investing in Leaders Resource Grant, formerly known as Student Debt Reduction Grant. First time applicants are considered first. Demonstration of completing personal financial education and working with a financial loan repayment counselor (at least one session) are both required. If you need more information about connecting with a student loan repayment counselor, please contact Area Director of Clergy Well-Being Diane Owen at diane.owen@dkmnareaumc.org. Grant awards up to $5000 are available. Applications are due Aug. 1. Notification of grant awards will occur by Sept. 15. Access application for first time applicants. Access renewal application if you have applied before.

Clergy Well-Being Grants | Apply now
    The 2023 Clergy Well-Being Resource Grant committee is now accepting applications! The Dakotas-Minnesota Area offers our clergy this grant of up to $1,000 for first time applicants and up to $500 for those who received a grant in 2022. Funds could be used for a health coach, spiritual director, gym membership, hiking boots, a creative arts experience, a course on resilience or trauma, and more.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS | View all Ads

Facilities Manager | Storm Mountain Center
    Storm Mountain Center seeks a Facilities Manager to provide oversight to the maintenance and the development of the camp. A full job description can be found here. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Tanner Clark at smc@dakcamps.org or phone: 605-343-4391. Applications accepted through April 30, 2023.

Dakota Wesleyan University | Campus Pastor
    Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota (a university affiliated with the United Methodist Church) invites applications for the full-time position of Campus Pastor. Start date is negotiable, but a June or July 2023 start date is highly desirable. See the job description and application here.