This week we thank God for guidance and lean on our faith as we navigate through a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a look at the COVID resources and updates, check out the postponements, view a video presentation from the Dakotas Conference General Conference delegation, and pray with us. 

Photo by chris liu on Unsplash.

Pray with us | March 17-23
     Oh Lord, you are hope and salvation. Guide us this week as we wander through the wilderness of COVID-19, lift up all of our leaders throughout the Dakotas Conference, especially these seminary students. 

COVID-19 | Resources and updates
          We will continue to provide frequent email updates to keep you in the loop and equip you as best we can to respond to COVID-19 within your congregation and community. Clergy please note Essentia Health in North Dakota shares guidelines for spiritual care and clergy visitation.  If you have coronavirus-related questions for us, or things you'd like us to address in future updates, please email or phone the Dakotas Conference Communcition team.

Dakotas-Minnesota camps respond to COVID-19
        Keith Shew, who serves as the director of the camp and retreat ministry for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area announced that the five camping sites will close, temporarily, in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Shew says, "We’re still planning for an amazing summer camping season!" Register for camp for the 2020 season here. 

Reckless Love | 2020 Lenten study week four
     Are you looking for a way to connect with people? In this week's chapter, Openhearted Love, the author, Rev. Tom Berlin, challenges us to open our hearts and let God's love spill out. He says, "Jesus is trying to help us experience openhearted living. Closed hearts squelch our ability to love God and love our neighbor." In this discussion of chapter four of Reckless Love, Rev. Ben Ingebretson, who serves as the director of new church development for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area, and Rev. Dan Johnson, who serves as the superintendent for the Twin Cities District of the Minnesota Conference, discuss how this chapter spoke to each of them. View the week four message here. 

General Conference 2020  | Dakotas Conference delegation invites feedback
     The 2020 General Conference delegation for the Dakotas Conference recorded a video presentation. The delegation invites you to view the presentation and send them your feedback. 

Non Profit Church Leadership Certificate Program | Applications due April 15
     Applications are being accepted for the 2020-2021 cohort of this program at Dakota Wesleyan University. The application deadline is April 15, apply here.

POSTPONEMENTS

The Generosity Journey Seminar | POSTPONED
     David S. Bell, an experienced pastor, development director, and regional and national church executive, will present a seminar on how to live a life of faith and  generosity. Read more about Bell here.  
Congregational Care Seminar | POSTPONED 
          Karen Lampe, author of The Caring Congregation, will lead a seminar to help your local congregation build a team and plan for care ministry. Read about one lay leaders experience here. 

Iglesia Renuevo bi-cultural event at Plankinton | POSTPONED
        Josh Brewer, of Lifelight will perfom at a later date at the United Methodist Church in Plankinton, South Dakota. Read more about Iglesia Renuevo here.

Youthworker Academy | POSTPONES
     Youth Worker Academy will feature guest speaker Chris Hansen of Leadership Harbor and suicide prevention. Read about Chris' ministry here.

EVENTS STILL SCHEDULED

AC 2020 | June 10-13 
     Nominations are now being accepted for the following awards: Denman Award for Evangelism, Francis Asbury Award,  Streams of Justice Award, Youthworker Hall of Fame, Darrell Leach Youth Worker of the Year Award.   All proposals for petitions and resolutions for the 2020 Dakotas Annual Conference Session must be submitted electronically. Award nominiations and legislative proposals are due  March 30, 2020. 

Volunteer at General Conference 2020 | Sign up here 
     Meet United Methodists from across the globe, volunteer for General Conference 2020!  The Council of Bishops has requested that General Conference 2020 be postponed, view press release here. The Comission on General Conference will meet March 21 to consider postponement, view press release here. 

Corrections to note:

This article published on March 10 implied that the Wesley Covenant Associaiton was the sponsor. The event was coordinated and planed by Rev. Thom Bowsher, who serves at Central UMC in Milbank, South Dakota and as the Dakotas Conference organizer for the Wesley Covenant Association along with Rev. Derek Baum, who serves First UMC in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Rev. Ross Reinhiller and Rev. Val Reinhiller, who serve Faith UMC in Williston, North Dakota and Rev. Brandon Vetter, who serves as the lead pastor at Legacy UMC in Bismarck, North Dakota.

In the COVID-19 update, sent on March 13, the date of closure stated for schools in South Dakota was published as March 16-27. The date that was announced by the governor of South Dakota at that time was March 16-20. On March 17, South Dakota Kristi Noem, announced schools would remain closed through March 27.