Celebrate the ministry of Scott Jensen at Storm Mountain Center Sept. 10

Scott Jensen, director at Storm Mountain Center, is retiring this fall, after 17 years of service to the camp and retreat ministries.  Please join us at Storm Mountain Center for a time of fellowship, sharing, worship and celebrating Scott’s ministry and leadership in the Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.  All are welcome!  Overnight accommodations available – please contact the site directly at 605-343-4391.

Sunday, September 10
4:00PM – 5:00PM – gather and fellowship
5:00PM – Program
Dinner to follow

Storm Mountain Center, 23740 Storm Mt. Road, Rapid City, SD 57702

Online auction for hunger needed by September 15

In 2016, we had the first online quilt auction.  We plan to have another online auction with quilts, gift packages (like weekend getaways), woodworking items, handcrafted items, October 1-8, 2017.

Please consider donating an item like a quilt, woodworking or gift package.  All items must be at the Dakotas Conference office by September 15, 2017. Fill out this form so we have information about your item for the auction.

If you have questions, contact JoAnn Schlimgen via e-mail here, or call (605) 990-7787.
Proceeds from the auction will support Dakotas Conference, UMCOR and global hunger projects.

2017 Journal Online

The 2017 Official Journal Volume I and II is available online at the conference website.

Click on the photos to view the 2017Journal Vol. I or Vol. II on your mobile device.

Print versions of the 2017 Journal will be mailed from the printer by September 18, 2017.   Click here for more details

UMCOR kit collection

Moving vans will be available at several locations (listed below) to accept your boxes of UMCOR kits.

UMCOR Kits can also be brought to the Conference Office in Mitchell by Sept. 29 and also to the Prairie Hills West Mission Event at Wall UMC on Oct. 1 and the Mission Fair at Southeast Pierre UMC on Sept. 16.

If you have questions, contact JoAnn Schlimgen via e-mail HERE, or call (605) 990-7787.

Lead Expectantly—Sept. 22-23

Join us for the Lead Expectantly—the fall leadership event.  Come learn about “out of the box’’ innovations to lead in your church and community.  Please register by clicking here.

The event will be held at Pierre First UMC, 117 N Central, Pierre SD 57501, beginning with opening worship on Friday, September 22 at 1:30 p.m. and will conclude with closing worship at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 23.  Click here for more details.

Fall mission events

The 2017 mission season kicks off on Saturday, September 16th at Southeast Pierre UMC with the Mission Fair, continues on Sept. 30th at Southern Hills UMC (Sioux Falls) with the Mission Cafe and Bakery, and wraps up on October 1 with Southwest District at Sturgis UMC.

Sign up for Exploration 2017

Do you know a young adult who is considering a call to ministry?  EXPLORATION is a three-day event for young adults age 18-26 to hear, discern, and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry and to explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church.  It will be held November 3-5, 2017 in Portland, Oregon.  The Dakotas Conference will be sponsoring a group of young adults. 

If you know of someone that would be a good fit let the Office of Leadership Development by e-mail or calling 605-990-7796.   Click here for more information.

Finance and stewardship workshops

The Dakotas Council of Finance & Administration, Dakotas United Methodist Foundation, and Sioux Falls First United Methodist Church invite you to attend a training at Winner UMC, September 16: Fargo First, September 30; Rapid City South Maple, October 19; Dakotas Conference Office in Mitchell, November 2. The training begins at 9 am and concludes by 1 pm. Lunch will be provided.  Topics included are: raising up generous givers, cultivating major donors and church finances in a digital age. This workshop is open to church treasurers and finance committee members as well as anyone interested in giving and stewardship. Lunch is provided.

Please register by emailing the Foundation office or calling 605-990-7790 so we know how many to plan for lunch.  

Bishop Ough invites you to conversations on A Way Forward

This fall (September – November), I will be hosting 15 regional conversations across the Dakotas-Minnesota Area regarding the Commission’s work. I am eager to keep you informed about their deliberations and progress and, more significantly, to gather your thoughts about a way forward. I am interested, among other things, to engage in dialogue about how you see The United Methodist Church remaining united in the presence of significant cultural, regional and theological differences.  Click here for details