Grandparents, kids, and everyone in-between can enjoy the great facilities and natural areas at our Dakotas Camp and Retreat Centers. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference Communications.

Thanks to a gift from the Board of Pensions Dakotas Conference clergy can head to camp for two weeks at one of the three Dakotas Camp and Retreat sites Lake Poinsett, Storm Mountain, or Wesley Acres.

“Your Conference Camp and Retreat Ministry is beyond grateful for the extravagant generosity of the Board of Pensions,” said Keith Shew. He serves as the director for Dakotas-Minnesota Camp and Retreat Ministries. 

Each year the Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions reviews the funding portfolio. It has a process to return earnings to various programs in the Conference that impact clergy, lay staff, and their families. The Board distributes what is known as overfondness as tithes or gifts. 

Elaine Roberts serves as chairperson of the Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions. Photo by JLynn Studio.

Overfunding happens when funds in Board’s portfolio exceed a certain threshold that the Board of Pensions sets. This may be due to good and sometimes excellent market returns and favorable experiences with low medical claims. The Board has a funding plan with a minimum funding level set necessary to assure that we can provide benefits for active clergy and retirees now and into the future when the funding raises above the threshold that is determined to be overfundedness. 

The returns for this year are providing two gifts to the Dakotas Conference Camp and Retreat Ministry. The first funding gift will cover the health care and pension costs for all the camping staff. The second gift provides for clergy families to have a camping experience at no charge.  
 

Leana Stunes, Conference benefits officer. Photo by JLynn Studio.

“This frees up dollars in the camping budget for other items. The second gift provides for clergy families to have a camping experience at no cost,” said Elaine Roberts, who serves as the chair for the Board of Pensions. “Through the Board’s Dakota Wholeness initiative, we are working to improve clergy health and well-being. Providing clergy time away at one of our camps can provide rest and renewal, promoting wellness.”

Leana Stunes, the Chief Benefits Officer for the Dakotas Conference, explains that the gift to Camp and Retreat Ministries from the Board of Pensions will cover the employer portion of health insurance and the employer contribution for pension for all of the camping staff for 2021.

Stunes said, “Also, the Board of Pension is providing a time away for up to two weeks at one of our Dakotas Camps for clergy and family at no cost to the clergy. The Board of Pensions will cover the costs for these rest and renewal times for clergy in 2021.”

Campers enjoy lunchtime activities at Lake Poinsett Camp and Retreat Center. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference Communications.

Shew points out that there was a great deal of financial uncertainty when camping leaders made the necessary decision to suspend the summer camping program due to COVID-19 safety concerns. “This wonderful gift greatly reduces the budget strain on Camp and Retreat Ministries as we continue to recover from 2020’s suspension of summer camps and return cautiously to offering programs for children and youth and full capacity retreats. Thank you, Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions.”

Keith Shew, area director of Camp and Retreat Ministries. Photo by JLynn Studio.

Financial assistance from the Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions helps ensure our camps will continue to thrive into the future and remain sacred places for God to meet with all people.  “An experience at a camp has been significant part of the faith stories of generations of Dakotans, including our clergy and leaders,” said Shew. 

Clergy are encouraged to book their time away on one of the Dakotas Conference camps as soon as possible.

“We know this has been an extremely difficult season for our clergy and conference leadership and the need for respite, renewal, and relaxation is desperately needed.  With heartfelt appreciation for their hard work and a deep understanding of the significance of times of retreat, our camp staff is eager to roll out the red carpet and host our Dakotas clergy and their families.  We’re ready to do whatever we can to provide hospitality and care for our clergy families,” said Shew.