MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA -- Rev. Doug Diehl and Rev. Steve Trefz will provide services for Dakotas Conference as Jodi Cataldo, Director of Leadership Development transitions to a new position with the General Board of Discipleship.

Rev. Doug Diehl is beginning an interim role in the Dakotas Conference as Coordinator of Clergy Services.  According to Rev. Greg Kroger, Dakotas Conference Director of Ministries, “Doug is being employed to provide primary staff support to the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM).  His main office for this 30 hours/week position will be located in Rapid City, SD.”  Kroger further explained, ”through the Conference’s tools of digital communication, along with trips to the Conference Office in Mitchell and other meeting sites, Doug will keep connected with our systems for developing missional leaders.”

Another important transition involves assistance for lay ministries.  Rev. Steve Trefz will move from a volunteer role as Conference Equipper of Lay Servant Ministries to a paid, contractual position with the same title.  Kroger went on to explain, “this shift involves increased responsibility for Steve to provide overall consultation and support for ongoing development of the Conference’s Lay Servant and Certified Lay Ministries.  Steve’s contract is based on an estimate of 10 hours/week to cover the anticipated workload.”

Both these changes are effective now as a brief overlap is created to facilitate the transfer of responsibilities from Jodi Cataldo, Dakotas Conference Director of Leadership Development.   Cataldo will be starting full-time with the General Board of Discipleship in December.  Another key area of her portfolio has involved care for the Conference’s Safe and Sacred Spaces initiative.  Responsibility for this work will be placed with Becky Holten, Conference Director of Camping and Youth Ministries.  “Becky has been involved with this area from early in its formation,” Kroger added, “and she is well situated to offer the needed leadership at this time.” 

Prior to the next session of Annual Conference a longer-term staffing plan will be formulated.  “In the interim, essential ministries and functions will be well cared for,” stated Kroger.  “Transitions are never simple but they do provide a window through which the Holy Spirit might enter.  This is a time to be attentive to what God wants to do in and through us next.”