According to the calendar, Mission u 2021 is officially completed, but the impact of the study, listening and discussion that transpired during two Mission u sessions this summer will hopefully last a lifetime.

Participants joined from all over the Dakotas Conference and beyond. This montage only catches a few of the 76 persons who attended the August 13th session, led by Rev. Nancy Ellis.

In the Dakotas Conference’s first-ever virtual Mission u, participants from five states, three time zones, and even from a hospital bed, joined together—many in groups at various churches—to expand their concepts of mission in our ever-changing world. Not even a COVID-19 pandemic could stop the desire and commitment of United Methodist Women in the Dakotas and beyond to hone their Zoom computer skills in order to grow their knowledge of issues and actions that can make a positive difference to women, children and youth.

The first study, held July 15-17, focused on the book Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom; Living into the Church’s Moral Witness through Radical Discipleship by Darryl W. Stephens. Taught by Michelle Brennan, pastor at First UMC in Jamestown, North Dakota, the study urged everyone to participate in God’s response to suffering and injustice in light of what we believe about God and God’s intention to reconcile all creation.

Rev. Nancy Ellis, left, and Dena Aulizia, led the study on the book Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools.

On August 12-14, Nancy Ellis, pastor at Faith UMC, St. Anthony, Minnesota, led, with the assistance of Dena Aulizia, a study based on the book Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique Morris. Looking at individual stories of young Black girls, the study discussed the need to challenge policies, practices and cultural illiteracy that pushes countless students out of school and into unhealthy, unstable, and often unsafe futures.

During the July session, 86 people participated, including groups of two to 12 people in 12 different church groups. During the August session, 76 people participated, including groups of 3 to 12 people in 6 different church groups.

The Mission u Dean Team, consisting of deans Cindy Yeager and Emma McKirdy-Wilsey, and assistant deans Bonnie Ostenson and Connie Smith, thank all of those who participated as learners. A big thank you to Pastors Michelle and Nancy and assistant Dena for their dedication in training, planning, and teaching the classes this year, and to Fern Bailey, registrar for this year’s Mission u event.

Plans are already underway for an in-person Mission u 2022 to be held July 14-17 at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, and July 21-24 at the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, North Dakota.