2024 MIRACLE OFFERING

We are so grateful for each person and congregation contributing to the 2024 Annual Conference Miracle Offering. The total received was $41,863. This year, in the spirit of the theme—Jesus: Redeemer—the offering was given to organizations and ministries working to redeem painful situations and bring about hope and new life. The offering has been divided among these four recipients:

31:8 Project based in Bismarck, North Dakota. The mission of 31:8 is to equip and challenge society to address issues regarding human trafficking proactively. 

Abbott House's Bridges Therapeutic Foster Care. With locations in Mitchell, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Abbott House serves girls and boys coming out of volatile and harmful living situations, providing a home away from home and the care and support they need to heal and grow.

Recovery Ministry in the Dakotas. Through recovery ministries in our United Methodist Churches, people build their relationship with Christ and shape a path to healthy living with those around them. 

Clergy Sustentation (Care) Fund. This fund provides financial support for clergy and their families in times of extreme need, typically due to medical needs.

SPECIAL SESSION ANNOUNCED

Bishop Lanette Plameck has called for a Special Session of the Annual Conference on Saturday, November 23, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. Central and 9 a.m. Mountain. The agenda will include one business item: consideration of the resolution ratifying the closure of Embrace Church/Embrace United Methodist Church per the provisions of ¶2549. 

The session will be held virtually through ZOOM. Clergy members and lay members who were elected to represent their churches/charges at the 2024 Annual Conference are asked to register to attend this special session so that we might distribute needed information and instructions accordingly. Further details regarding the session and its business, including the legal and financial matters related to this discontinuance, will be sent to members of the Annual Conference in the coming weeks. There will be a pre-conference webinar on Monday, November 18, 2024, beginning at 7:30 p.m. central, 6:30 p.m. mountain time.

Read the full letter here.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025

The 32nd session of the Dakotas Annual Conference will be held on June 5-8, 2025, in Mitchell, South Dakota. Pre-conference meetings and the first part of the clergy session will be held on Thursday, June 5.

The plenary sessions, as well as workshops, lunch-n-learns, and other gatherings, will be held at Dakota Wesleyan University on Friday and Saturday, June 6-7.

"Dakota Wesleyan University is a vital connectional partner," said Bishop Lanette Plambeck. "The campus will be a wonderful setting for learning, worship, and connection as we look to the future of the Dakotas Conference with purpose and hope. Their commitment to providing a transformative learning experience that cultivates enduring intellectual growth, ethically grounded leadership, intentional faith exploration, and meaningful service resonates deeply with our mission and vision."

The Celebration of Life in Ministry service with commissioning, ordination, retiree, and memorial recognitions will be held at Downtown First United Methodist Church in Mitchell on Sunday, June 8, at 10 a.m. central time. This service will be livestreamed, providing the opportunity for churches across the conference to simulcast it in their settings and join in this shared celebration of ministry. Information about hotel lodging in Mitchell and dorm options at DWU will be coming soon.