2023 Clergy Packet

Clergy Session

Dakotas Conference

The United Methodist Church

Part One: June 7, 2023

Part Two: June 8, 2023

Convene

2023 Clergy Session

Clergy Session Agenda

Wednesday, June 8, 2023 - 6:30-8:00 pm

Introduction and Opening Prayer

*Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision” (see other side)

Who may be present at clergy session (voice/vote)?

Bishop Lanette

Brandon Vetter

Brandon Vetter

Brandon Vetter

Paragraphs 33, 368.1, 602, 605 (2016 BOD): Clergy membership consists of deacons and elders in full connection, provisional members, associate members, affiliate members, and local pastors under full-time and part-time appointment to a pastoral charge—all of whom have voice. (Exception: those clergy members who have been placed in involuntary retirement) Only the ordained clergy in full connection and the members of the Board of Ordained Ministry may vote on matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy. Provisional Members, associate members, affiliate members, and local pastors may not vote on matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy unless they are a member of the Conference BOM.

Explanation and Process for voting on Candidates

Brandon Vetter

Candidates will come before the Clergy Session individually. They will introduce themselves and will briefly answer two questions relevant to their particular membership and ordination track. After responding to their questions, they will leave the room; an advocate from BOM will pray then we will vote

Election for Provisional Membership on Elder and Deacon Track—Par. 324.4a, b (Q24, Q25d) (v)

Elder Track

Don Dinger

Krista Ducker

Deacon Track

Amber Laffey

From Other Denomination

Andrea Johnson

Election as Elder in Full Connection (Q32b) (v 2/3)

Matt Morrison

Approve for Ordination as Elder (Q34a, b) (v 2/3) After provisional membership—Par. 335:

Matt Morrison

Character of Clergy – Par. 604.4, 605.7 (Q13)

Dakotas Clergy Ethics Statement

Acknowledgment of Withdrawals

Items from the Bishop

Closing Prayer

Kris Mutzenberger

Brandon Vetter

Bishop Lanette

Bishop Lanette

Bishop Lanette

Clergy Session Agenda

Thursday, June 9, 2023 - 4:30-5:30 pm

Convene

Opening Prayer

*Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition

Bishop Lanette

Brandon Vetter

Brandon Vetter

Acknowledgement of Retirees & Prayer Howard Grinager

Acknowledgement of Retiring Licensed Local Pastors & Prayer Rick Craig

Acknowledgement of Memorialized & Prayer Howard Grinager

Approval of Appointments as FTLP & PTLP—Par. 318.1, 318.2 (Q17a, 17b) (v. within BAC) Rick Craig

Approval of ODs to Serve Appointments in DAC—Par. 331.8, 346 (Q21) (v. within BAC) Brandon Vetter

Conference Relations Issues (All votes within BAC) Gary Ball-Kilbourne

• Approval of Medical Leave—Par. 356 (Q48)

• Approval of Retirements—Par. 357 (Q49 a & c)

• Approval for LTFT Service for AM, PE, FE—Par. 338.2, 342.2, 1506 (Q67a)

• Approval of Extension Ministry outside connectional structure (Q71c)

Corrections & Updates to BAC and Questions for BOM about BAC

Final Approval of BAC Items Relating to Ordination & Clergy Membership

*Hymn: “And Are We Yet Alive”

Closing Prayer – Oldest clergy present

Brandon Vetter

Brandon Vetter

(vs. 1) Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart! naught be all else to me save that thou art Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

(vs. 2) Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord. Thou and thou only, first in my heart, great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

(vs. 3) Great God of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, sLll be my vision, O Ruler of all.

A COVENANT PRAYER IN THE WESLEYAN TRADITION

I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low by thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and hearLly yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be raLfied in heaven. Amen.

“And Are We Yet Alive”

(vs. 1) And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!

(vs. 2) Preserved by power divine to full salvaLon here, again in Jesus’ praise we join, and in his sight appear.

(vs. 3) What troubles have we seen, what mighty conflicts past, fighLngs without, and fears within, since we assembled last!

(vs. 4) Yet out of all the Lord hath brought us by his love; and sLll he doth his help afford, and hides our life above.

(vs. 5) Then let us make our boast of his redeeming power, which saves us to the uZermost, Lll we can sin no more.

(vs. 6) Let us take up the cross Lll we the crown obtain, and gladly reckon all things loss so we may Jesus gain.

Dakotas Clergy Ethics Statement

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same funcOon, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” - Romans 12.4-5

In the maZer of clergy ethics, we must seek to begin in the basic ChrisLan ethic of integrity and discipleship. As United Methodist Clergy, we covenant to live within the doctrines, disciplines and ethics of our denominaLon. We do this through our commitment to the Triune God through the three General Rules of our Church. (¶104).

• To do no harm.

• To do good.

• And to aZend upon the ordinances of God.

It is the first rule that we, as ChrisLans, oben falter. Clergy are, however, called to a specific standard connected to the authority of the role. In seeking to ‘do no harm’ we affirm our covenant to: (¶340, ¶341 and ¶2702)

• Speak, write, post and share with integrity, speaking the truth and seeking to verify before speaking.

• Set clear boundaries between relaLonships - both within and beyond the church, avoiding the use of manipulaLon, inLmidaLon, guilt or using the office of clergy for personal gain - whether through relaLonships, poliLcal power, financial gain or influence.

• Honor our connecLon to fellow clergy through respecLng the integrity of each other’s ministry. (i.e. refraining from returning to previous churches or communiLes, refraining from spreading rumors, etc.)

• As clergy, we represent and proclaim the Good News to the world. We cannot do so through pathways that harm. We, as clergy in the Dakotas Annual Conference seek to live as examples of Christ. In our speech, our acLons, our lives and especially in our ministry.

In memory Clergy

Theodore Dockter 1932-2022

The Rev. Theodore Dockter, Jr., 90, passed away Thursday, August 4, 2022, at Edgewood Vista in Fargo, North Dakota. A celebration of life service was held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Fargo on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Burial was at Sunset Memorial Garden in Fargo.

Theodore Fred Dockter, Jr. was born on June 26, 1932, at Wishek, North Dakota, to Theodore Sr. and Martha (Schultis) Dockter. Ted lived in Oregon until age 10, when his family moved to Jamestown, North Dakota. He graduated from Jamestown High School.

On August 4, 1951, Ted married Alice Fuehrer at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Jamestown. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, and his Master of Divinity degree at Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

Ted was licensed in 1953 and ordained elder in 1958 by the Dakota Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. He and Alice served the EUB churches at Stickney, South Dakota (1958-1964) and Bismarck First, North Dakota (1967-1969). They then served United Methodist churches in North Dakota at Hebron-Taylor UCC (19691977), Mott-Newburg UCC (1977-1981), McCluskyGoodrich (1981-October 1988), Edgeley (October 19881992), and Page-Hope-Finley (1992-1996).

Valentine Rush 1949-2022

The Rev. Val Rush, 73, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at his home. Funeral services were held Friday, November 11, 2022, at the United Methodist Church in Egan, South Dakota. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery at Egan.

Valentine Charles Rush was born on July 8, 1949, in Flandreau, South Dakota, to John J. and Evelyn M. (Valentine) Rush. In 1967, Val graduated from St.

Ted and Alice also had a heart for missions, and they often hosted missionaries who visited their local churches. Ted went on mission trips to Ecuador and Lithuania. He served at a camp at Lake Metigoshe in the Turtle Mountains, where he helped with carpentry, a skill he had learned from his dad. He also went to Switzerland to help with a child evangelism camp. He also directed the junior camp for 4th- to 6th-grade students at Lehr Bible Camp.

Ted retired in 1996, and he and Alice moved to Fargo. His retirement was filled with teaching Sunday School, leading the Silver and Gold Group at Fargo Calvary, and preaching for a year at a local church that was in need. In 2003, he was honored as Jubilee Clergy for 50 years in ministry.

He enjoyed bowling and playing pool with friends. He joined the Silver and Gold Coffee Group, which met weekly to share and laugh together, and he led devotionals and prayed with them until COVID stopped them from meeting.

Ted is survived by four sons: Dwight (Judy) of Portland, North Dakota, Ronald (Joni) of Weippe, Idaho, Douglas (Cheryl) of Dickinson,North Dakota, and Timothy (Debbie) of Fargo, North Dakota; one daughter, Deb (Trace) Gunsch of Titusville, Florida; 13 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three step-greatgrandchildren; and a brother, Vernon (Lindalin) Dockter of Delta, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, on December 26, 2008; his parents; and brother Melvin.

Mary High School in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and then Dakota State College in Madison, South Dakota, in 1972. He farmed and worked in insurance sales.

On September 10, 1977, Val married Teresa (Hessaa) Molskness. His call to ministry started while attending the Egan United Methodist Church at the age of 43. Several Egan church ladies asked Val to teach their adult Sunday School class. He loved and continued teaching God’s word, revealed through the Bible. Later the members of the Egan church encouraged Val to attend seminary and become a pastor.

It was not an easy decision, but in 1992, he enrolled at North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls and graduated with his Master of Divinity degree in 1995. He received his local pastor’s license in 1993, was ordained deacon and probationary member of the Dakotas Conference in 1996, and elder and full member in 1998.

Val and Teresa served United Methodist churches in the Dakotas Conference at Garretson (1993-1996), GarretsonJasper, Minnesota, Salem-Pipestone, Minnesota (1996-1999), Bowman (1999-2011), and Winner (2011-2016). He retired in 2016, and they moved to a farm near Canton, South Dakota, and then to Sioux Falls. In retirement, Val served at Viborg and was a volunteer hospice chaplain and part-time

Lyla Siebrecht 1932-2023

The Rev. Lyla Siebrecht, 90, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Callaway Good Life Center in Callaway, Nebraska. A memorial service was held Monday, June 5, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Redfield, South Dakota, with Pastor Melissa Rowenhorst officiating. Inurnment followed at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.

Lyla Elaine Melloon was born on October 21, 1932, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Charles Burdette Melloon and Orpha Sabina (Lindgren) Melloon. She grew up in the Sioux Falls area and graduated from Washington High School in 1950. She attended Sioux Falls College from 1950 to 1952 and graduated from Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1954.

In 1956, Lyla earned her Master of Religious Education degree from Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, Illinois. She was director of Christian education at Grace Methodist Church in Blue Island, Illinois, from 1956 to 1958.

On June 23, 1957, Lyla married the Rev. Orland Sloat. Together they served Methodist and United Methodist churches in South Dakota at Northville-Mellette (19581961), Gregory-Fairmont-Iona (1961-1963), BrittonLangford (1963-1965), Dell Rapids-Garretson (19651968), Selby-Herreid (1968-1970), Selby (November 15, 1970-1972), Selby-Lowry UCC (1971-1972), Beresford First-Beresford Zion (1972-1976), Highmore-Harrold (1976-1981), Highmore (January 1-June 30, 1982), and Bruce-Volga PC (1984-1988). They divorced in 1989.

chaplain at the Avera Heart Hospital.

Val is survived by his wife, Teresa; three children: Aaron (Liz) Rush of Avon, South Dakota, Sarah Rush of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jonathan (Heather Rieger) Rush of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; eight grandchildren; and five siblings: James (Ann) Rush of Omaha, Nebraska, Margaret Rush of Sioux Falls, Jack (Gayle) Rush of Philip, South Dakota, Mary Jane (Brad) Hover of Kansas City, Missouri, and Richard “Dick” Rush of Omaha, Nebrasksa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother David Rush.

In 1978, Lyla felt the call to become a pastor and began serving the Community Church of Ree Heights, South Dakota, on a part-time basis. She was licensed to preach in 1979 and earned her Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1984. She was ordained deacon and probationary member by the South Dakota Conference in 1985 and elder and full member in 1987.

Lyla served churches in the South Dakota Conference at Ree Heights (1981-1982), Hazel-Henry-Kellerton (19821985), Todd-Mellette Larger Parish (1985-1987), De SmetCarpenter-Esmond-Iroquois (1987-1989), Wall-Wasta-Quinn (1989-1991), Wall-Wasta (1991-1992), Custer-Fall River Larger Parish (1992-1995), and Britton-Pierpont Community (1995-1998). She retired in 1998 but continued serving the Pierpont Community Church of Pierpont until 2003.

Lyla married Harlan Siebrecht of Redfield on June 22, 1991, at Wall. He died September 30, 2016.

Lyla had boundless energy. When her children were young, she taught Sunday school and was a Girl Scout leader and den mother. She was active in the Women’s Society of Christian Service, United Methodist Women, and South Dakota General Federation of Women’s Clubs, serving as president from 1994 to 1996. Her hobbies included reading, embroidery, history, family antiques, houseplants, and quilting.

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THE BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Minutes of the DAKOTAS Annual Conference - Held in SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

From June 8, 2023, through June 10, 2023 - Bishop LANETTE PLAMBECK Presiding

Organized January 1, 1994 - Number of This Session: THIRTY

PART I ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Who are elected for the quadrennium (¶¶603.7, 619)

Secretary Amber Laffey - Mailing Address: 1331 University Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301 Phone: 605-996-6552

Email: conference.secretary@dakotasumc.org

Statistician JoAnn Schlimgen - Mailing Address: 1331 University Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301 Phone: 605-996-6552

Email: JoAnn.Schlimgen@dakotasumc.org

Treasurer Jim Ducker - Mailing Address: 1331 University Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301 Phone: 605-996-6552

Email: Jim.Ducker@dakotasumc.org

2. Is the Annual Conference incorporated (¶603.1) YES

3. Bonding and auditing:

What officers handling funds of the conference have been bonded, and in what amounts (¶¶618, 2511)

Employee dishonest coverage in the amount of $100,000 plus $1,000,000 for any natural person whether compensated or not who is an annual conference treasurer or trustee or a member of their staff who reports and is accountable to a conference treasurer or trustee and who receives or disperses, or handles funds which are the responsibility of the conference treasurer or trustee and any natural person, whether compensated or not, who is an annual conference president or chairperson of a conference council on finance and administration. Have the books of said officers or persons been audited (¶¶617, 2511) YES (See report of Journal.)

4. What agencies have been appointed or elected

a) Who have been elected chairpersons for the mandated structures listed Structure Chairperson Mailing Address Phone Number Email

Conference Council on Finance & Admin. (¶611)

Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (¶635)

Conference Board of Pensions (¶639)

Board of Trustees (¶640, ¶2512)

Conference Committee on Episcopacy (¶637)

Conference Admin. Review Committee (¶636)

United Women in Faith (United Methodist Women) (¶647)

General Commission on United Methodist Men (¶648)

Conference Commission on Archives and History (¶641)

Ray Baker 2007 10th St N Fargo, ND 58102

Brandon Vetter 4600 Durango Dr Bismarck, ND 58503

Anne Osborne 1396 119U Ave SE Sibley, ND 58429

Kathy Chesney PO Box 727 Philip, SD 57567

Jennifer Larsen 404 N Linwood Ct Sioux Falls, SD 57103

Stephen Perry 2200 2nd Ave #106 Anoka, MN 55303

Coleen McKirdy 845 N 5th St Spearfish, SD 57783

Robert Schultz 48109 283rd St Canton, SD 57013

Duane Coates 455 2nd Ave NE Valley City, ND 58072

701-232-6844 ray@fargofaithumc.org

701-223-4401 brandon@legacyumc.org

701-435-2927 osborne@daktel.com

605-859-2310 chez@gwtc.net

605-359-6682 jlarsen@hwalaw.com

763-427-6080 historian@centurylink.net

605-269-1054 captkeys@speartown.com

605-987-2569 bomar67@q.com

605-695-5561 dcoates70@yahoo.com

b) Indicate the name of the agency (or agencies) and the chairperson(s) in your annual conference which is (are) responsible for the functions related to each of the following general church agencies (¶610.1):

701-952-3718

701-255-1160

701-952-3718

701-255-1160

701-255-1160

c) Indicate the conference agencies/organizations and chairperson(s) or equivalent which have responsibilities for the following functions:

d) Have persons been elected for the following district boards and committees Answer yes or no.

(1) District Boards of Church Location & Building (¶2518.2) Yes

(2) Committees on District Superintendency (¶669) Yes

(3) District Committees on Ordained Ministry (¶666) Yes

e) What other councils, boards, commissions, or committees have been appointed or elected in the annual conference Structure Chairperson Mailing Address Phone Number Email

Common Table Jeanne Sortland PO Box 25 Wimbledon, ND 58492

Human Resources Nancy Bohlen 418 Elm Ave Brookings, SD 57006

C: 701-320-1477 pastorjeannes@ gmail.com

C:

C:

O: 612-230-6152 bishopsoffice@ dkmnareaumc.org

Camping and Retreat Ministry Tyrel Schlecht 1018 5th Ave SW Jamestown, ND 58401

Records, Rules and Procedures Rebecca Trefz PO Box 460 Mitchell, SD 57301

Disaster Response To be filled Sessions Kay Braun 607 Hackberry Dr. S, Fargo, ND 58104

Journal Editorial Rebecca Trefz PO Box 460 Mitchell, SD 57301

Resolutions and General Conference Petitions Rebecca Trefz PO Box 460 Mitchell, SD 57301

C: 605-237-6786 tymannd@hotmail.com

O: 605-996-6552 rebecca.trefz@ dakotasumc. org

C: 701-232-1915 kkbndak@gmail.com

O: 605-996-6552 rebecca.trefz@ dakotasumc. org

O: 605-996-6552 rebecca.trefz@ dakotasumc. org

5. Have the secretaries, treasurers, and statisticians kept and reported their respective data in accordance with the prescribed formats (¶606.8) ? In consultation with GCFA, we have provided complete forms to all churches as well as an abbreviated form that requests priority statistics.

6. What is the schedule of minimum base compensation for clergy for the ensuing year (¶¶342, 625.3)?

Full Connection: $ 48,906 Less Than: $46,609

7. What amount has been apportioned to the pastoral charges within the conference to be raised for the support of the district superintendents for the ensuing year (¶614.1a) $658,772 (to be approved by CFA & AC)

8. a) What amount has been apportioned to the pastoral charges within the conference to be raised for the support of the pension and benefit programs of the conference for the ensuing year (¶¶614.1d, 1507) $0

b) What are the apportionments to this conference for the ensuing year

(1) For the World Service Fund

(2) For the Ministerial Education Fund

(3) For the Black College Fund

(4) For the Africa University Fund

(5) For the Episcopal Fund

(6) For the General Administration Fund

(7) For the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund

9. Conference and district lay leaders (¶¶603.9, 660):

a) Conference Co-lay leader: Karl Rockeman, PO Box 3132, Dickinson, ND 58602 Conference Co-lay leader: John Srstka, 5604 W Cir Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57106 Associate conference lay leaders: n/a

b) District and associate district lay leaders:

Northeast: Elizabeth Ewing-Lee

Northwest: Lisa Rhodes

Southeast: Nancy Hallenbeck, Val Melmer

Southwest: Richard Wahlstrom, JoAnn Hipple

10. List local churches which have been:

a) Organized or continued as New Church Starts (¶259,1-4 continue to list congregations here until listed in questions 14. c, d, e, or f)

b) Organized or continued as Mission Congregations (¶259,1-4 continue to list congregations here until listed in questions 14.c, d, e, or f)

c) Organized or continued Satellite Congregations (¶247.22 continue to list here until listed in questions 14.a, d, e, or f)

d) Organized as Chartered (¶259.5-10)

e) Merged (¶¶2546, 2547)

United Methodist with United Methodist

(2) Other mergers (indicate denomination)

f) Discontinued or abandoned (¶¶229, 341.2, 2549) Include reason for each church listed.

(1) New Church Start (¶259.2,3, ¶2553)

(2) Mission Congregation (¶259.1a, ¶2553)

(3) Satellite Congregation (¶247.22)

(4) Chartered Local Church (¶259.5, ¶2553)

g) Relocated and to what address

h) Changed name of church (Example: "First" to "Trinity")

i) Transferred this year into this conference from other United Methodist conference(s) and with what membership (¶¶41, 260)

j) What cooperative parishes in structured forms have been established (¶206)

k) What other changes have taken place in the list of churches? N/A

11. Are there Ecumenical Shared Ministries in the conference (¶207, 208)

a) Federated church

c)

548000 Alpena United, Wessington Springs

545267 Lake Preston UMC/UCC, Lake Preston UCC

548443 Camp Crook UMC, Buffalo UCC

542275 Elgin UMC, Ebenezer UCC

548682 Faith UMC, Marcus PC- USA

999498 Grafton Federated, Minto Knox PC- USA

542696 Holmes UMC, Sharon Trinity ELCA, Beaver Creek ELCA

541908 Lansford UMC, Lansford ELCA, Glenburn ELCA

540824 Larimore UMC, Arvilla PC- USA, Emerado PC- USA

546147 Leola UMC, Frederick UMC, Barnard UCC

999487 Park River Federated, Fordville PC- USA

549004 Philip Federated, Interior PC- USA

549243 Timber Lake Federated, Isabell UCC

UCC

UCC

UCC

PC-USA

ELCA

PC-USA

UCC

PC-USA

PC-USA

ELCA, UCC, AB

12. What changes have been made in district and charge lines Please list the GCFA Number beside church name.

- Edgely Wesley (542845) / Jud (543064) are one charge now.

- Henry (545963) is now a separate charge by itself (Kellerton disaffiliated).

- Ellendale United (542867) UMC/PCUSA is now a separate charge (Ashley Emmanuel (545234) disaffiliated).

- Steele (543383) is now a separate charge by itself (Tuttle (543350) disaffiliated).

- Gettysburg/ Onida are now a two point charge (Agar (545223) closed).

- Parker (547621)/ Hurley (547448) are one charge now.

- Marion (542630)/ Dickey (543521) are one charge now.

PART II PERTAINING TO ORDAINED AND LICENSED CLERGY

Note: A (v ) notation following a question in this section signifies that the action or election requires a majority vote of the clergy session of the annual conference. If an action requires more than a simple majority, the notation (v 2/3 ) or (v 3/4 ) signifies that a two-thirds or three-fourths majority vote is required. Indicate credential of persons in Part II: FD, FE, PD, PE, and AM when requested.

13. Are all the clergy members of the conference blameless in their life and official administration (¶¶604.4, 605.7)?

None of us is blameless before God, all stand in need of the continual grace of God. We give thanks for the faithful ministries of the clergy members of the annual conference. The character and conference relations of all clergy members have been reviewed by the Cabinet and the Board of Ordained Ministry, and those clergy found to be in good standing are approved for annual appointment. All grievances and charges are resolved or are under supervisory care.

14. Who constitute:

a) The Administrative Review Committee (¶636) (v)

Stephen Perry/chair, Gary Rae; Alternates: Jeff Adel

b) The Conference Relations Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry (¶635.1d)

Gary Ball-Kilbourne/chair, Jen Tyler/ vice chair, Tom Dravland, Sara McManus, Marilyn Spurrell

c) The Committee on Investigation (¶2703)

Clergy: Douglas Diehl, Jenene Earl, Penny Eberhart Lay: Kim Callies, Joanne Ottmar, Terry Prendergast

15. Who are the certified candidates (¶¶ 310, 313, 314) (NOTE: Everyone who wants to become an LP, PE, or PD must first become a certified candidate.)

a) Who are currently certified as candidates for ordained or licensed ministry Name District

Rick Andrus

Tara Bush

Rita Ennen

Rebecca Hafner

Southeast 2017

Southeast 2023

Northwest 2023

Northwest 2023

Date Certified

Cindy Heidelberger

Tyler Kopp

Manuel Loaeza

Southeast 2022

Southeast 2000

Andrea Plueddeman Northeast 2022

Rydel Samuelson Northwest 2023

Diane Stangohr Southeast 2022

Janson Stefan Northeast 2019

b) Who have had their candidacy for ordained or licensed ministry accepted by a District Committee on Ordained Ministry in another annual conference (Include name of accepting conference.)

Taylor Johnson Minnesota 2015

c) Who have been discontinued as certified candidates for licensed or ordained ministry

(Note: Once a candidate is appointed as FL or PL, they are no longer listed as a certified candidate (except the first year they are appointed when they would need to be listed in 15 and in 16 or 17). Students appointed as Local Pastors (¶318.3) are the only people who are allowed to be listed as a candidate in one conference while being listed as an LP in a different conference. Par.318.3 stipulates that students appointed as local pastors can serve in either a full or part-time capacity.)

16. Who have completed the studies for the license as a local pastor, are approved, but are not now appointed (¶315) - Indicate for each person the year the license was approved: (3/4v)

17. Who are approved and appointed as: (Indicate for each person the first year the license was awarded. Indicate what progress each has made within the course of study or the name of the seminary in which they are enrolled. Indicate with an asterisk those that who have completed the five-year course of study or the M.Div. (¶319.4) PLEASE NOTE: Persons on this list must receive an episcopal appointment. (3/4 v) a) Full-time local pastors (¶318.1)

* Charlie Moore 2015 (2017 PL to FL)

2023 Cheryl Nymann 2016

Rydel Samuelson 2023

b) Part-time local pastors (¶318.2) (fraction of full-time in one-quarter increments)

c) Students from other annual conferences or denominations serving as local pastors and enrolled in a school of theology listed by the University Senate (¶318.3,4)

d) Students who have been certified as candidates in your annual conference and are serving as local pastors in another annual conference while enrolled in a school of theology listed by the University Senate (¶318.3)

e) Persons serving as local pastors while seeking readmission to conference membership (¶¶365.4, 367, 368.3) (If not in this conference indicate name of conference where serving.)

18. Who have been discontinued as local pastors (¶320.1)

19. Who have been reinstated as local pastors (¶320.4) (v)

N/A

20. What ordained ministers or provisional members from other Annual Conferences or Methodist denominations are approved for appointment in the Annual Conference while retaining their conference or denominational membership (¶¶331.8, 346.1) List alphabetically; indicate Annual Conference or denomination where membership is held. Indicate credential.

a) Annual Conferences

Name Clergy Status

N/A

b) Other Methodist Denominations

Name

21. What clergy in good standing in other Christian denominations have been approved to serve appointments or ecumenical ministries within the bounds of the Annual Conference while retaining their denominational affiliation (¶¶331.8, 346.2) (v) Designate with an asterisk those who have been accorded voting rights within the annual conference. Indicate credential.

Name Clergy Status

Tim Bauer

Chuck Belzer

David Cook

UCC (United Church of Christ)

UCC (United Church of Christ)

PC USA (Presbyterian Church)

Robin Dill OF PC USA (Presbyterian Church)

Allen Finger OF North American Baptist Church

Ben Ingebretson OF RCA (Reformed Church in America)

*Daren Junker OF AB (American Baptist)

Rick Loewen OF CCCC (Conservative Congregational Christian Conference)

John Madvig OF EC (Evangelical Covenant)

Paul Rowenhorst OF Mennonite Brethren

*Ron Snethen OF NAZ (Nazarene)

*John Werth OF EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church)

22. Who are affiliate members: List alphabetically; indicate annual conference or denomination where membership is held.

a) With vote (¶586.4b) (v)

Name Member Conference/Denomination First Year of Affiliation

N/A

b) Without vote (¶¶334.5, 344.4) (v 2/3)

Name Member Conference/Denomination First Year of Affiliation

N/A

NOTE: If your conference has admitted or ordained persons as a courtesy to another conference, list these persons in Question 36 only. If persons have been admitted or ordained by another annual conference as a courtesy to your conference, list these persons in Questions 23-35, whichever are appropriate, giving the date and name of the accommodating conference.

23. Who are elected as associate members ¶322 (3/4v) List alphabetically-see note preceding Question 23:

Name Member Conference/Denomination First Year of Affiliation

N/A

24. Who are elected as provisional members and what seminary are they attending, if in school (under ¶¶322.4, 324, 325)

a) Provisional Deacons under the provisions of ¶¶ 324.4a, c or ¶324.5(3/4v)

Name Seminary Amber Laffey MDiv completed

b) Provisional Elders under the provisions of ¶¶ 324.4a, b or ¶324.6 (3/4v); ¶ 322.4 (v 3/4)

Name Seminary

Don Dinger MDiv completed

Krista Ducker MDiv completed

25. Who are continued as provisional members, in what year were they admitted to provisional membership, and what seminary are they attending, if in school (¶326, ¶ 327 v)

a) In preparation for ordination as a deacon or elder (¶326)

b) Provisional deacons who became provisional elders (v)

c) Provisional elders who became provisional deacons (v) (Indicate year)

Original Year of Membership

d) Provisional members who transferred from other conferences or denominations (¶347.1) (v)

26. What ordained clergy have been received from other Christian denominations (¶347.3): List alphabetically-see note preceding Question 23:

a) As provisional members (¶347.3c) (v)

Name Clergy Status Date Received

N/A

b) As local pastors (¶347.3) (v)

Name Clergy Status

N/A

27. What ordained clergy, coming from other Christian denominations, have had their orders recognized (¶348)

Name Clergy Status

N/A

28. Who are elected as members in full connection (List alphabetically-see note preceding Question 23. Anyone appearing on this question must also be listed somewhere in questions 29-30 or 32, unless the clergy’s orders from another denomination were recognized on question 27 in a previous year.) (v 3/4):

a) Deacons

N/A

b) Elders

Name

Name Matthew Morrison

29. Who are ordained as deacons and what seminary awarded their degree. If their master’s degree is not from a seminary, at what seminary did they complete the basic graduate theological studies: List alphabetically-see note preceding Question 23

a) After provisional membership (¶330) (v 3/4)

Name Seminary

N/A

b) Transfer from elder (¶309) (v 3/4)

Name Seminary

N/A

30. Who are ordained as elders and what seminary awarded their degree

a) After provisional membership (¶335) (v 3/4)

Name Seminary

Matthew Morrison Sioux Falls Seminary

b) Transfer from deacon (¶309) (v 3/4)

Name Seminary

N/A

31. What provisional members, previously discontinued, are readmitted (¶364) (v)

Name Clergy Status

N/A

32. Who are readmitted (¶¶365-367 [v], ¶368 [v 2/3]):

Name Clergy Status

N/A

33. Who are returned to the effective relationship after voluntary retirement (¶357.7): (v)

N/A

Name Clergy Status

34. Who have been received by transfer from other annual conferences of The United Methodist Church (¶¶347.1, 416.5, 635.2n) List alphabetically. Indicate credential. See note preceding Question 27.: (v)

Name Clergy Status Previous Conference Date of Transfer

N/A

35. Who are transferred in from other Methodist denominations (¶347.2) List alphabetically. Indicate credential.

Name Clergy Status Previous Methodist Denomination Date of Transfer

N/A

36. Who have been ordained as a courtesy to other conferences, after election by the other conference. See note preceding Question 23. Such courtesy elections or ordinations do not require transfer of conference membership.

a) Deacons

N/A

b) Elders

N/A

Name Member Conference

Name Member Conference

37. Who have been transferred out to other annual conferences of The United Methodist Church (¶416.5) List alphabetically. Indicate credential. See note preceding Question 23.

N/A

Name Clergy Status New Conference Date of Transfer

38. Who are discontinued as provisional members (¶327) (v).

a) By expiration of eight-year time limit (¶ 327)

N/A

Name Clergy Status

b) By voluntary discontinuance (¶ 327.6) (v)

N/A

Name Clergy Status

c) By involuntary discontinuance (¶ 327.6) (v)

Name Clergy Status

N/A

d) By reaching Mandatory Retirement Age (¶ 327.7)

Name Clergy Status

N/A

39. Who are on location

a) Who has been granted honorable location (¶358.1)

(1) This year (v)

Name Clergy Status Charge Conference Membership Date Effective

N/A

(2) Previously Name Year Originally Granted Charge Conference Membership Year of Most Recent Report

Amy Atkins 2022

Travis Krogman 2022

Russell Whaley -FE 2014

b) Who on honorable location are appointed ad interim as local pastors (¶358.2) Indicate date and appointment.

N/A

Name Appointment Year Originally Granted Location

c) Who has been placed on administrative location (¶359)

(1) This year (v)

N/A

(2) Ad Interim Administrative Location (v)

N/A

Date Effective Charge Conference Membership

Date Effective Charge Conference Membership

(3) Previously Name Year Originally Placed Charge Conference Membership Year of Most Recent Report

N/A

40. Who have been granted the status of honorable location–retired (¶358.3):

a) This year (v)

Name Clergy Status Year Honorable Location Originally Granted Charge Conference Membership

N/A

b) Previously Name Clergy Status Year Hon. Loc. originally granted Charge Conference Membership

Elmer Brinkman RE 1977 Watertown First

Anne Geschwinder RE 1986 N/A

Stanley Haidle RE 2002 Mitchell Downtown First

John Jarman RE 1992 Fargo Faith

Perry Kimble FE 1996 Bismarck Legacy

Linda Renaud RE 2010

Daniel Rice RE 1977

Joel Rickenbach RE 1974 Prairie View

41. Who have had their status as honorably located and their orders terminated (¶358.2) (v)

42. Who have had their conference membership terminated

a) By withdrawal to unite with another denomination (¶360.1, .4)

b) By withdrawal from the ordained ministerial office (¶360.2, .4) (v)

c) By withdrawal under complaints or charges (¶¶360.3, .4; 2719.2)

d) By termination of orders under recommendation of the Board of Ordained Ministry (¶¶ 358.2, 359.3) (v)

e) By trial (¶2713)

43. Who have been suspended under the provisions of ¶362.1d, ¶2704.2c or ¶2711.3 - Give effective dates. Indicate credential.

44. Deceased (List alphabetically)

a) What associate members have died during the year Active:

b) What provisional members have died during the year -Indicate credential.

c) What elders have died during the year Active:

d) What deacons have died during the year Active:

e) What local pastors have died during the year Active:

45. What provisional or ordained members (elders and deacons) have received appointments in other Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church while retaining their membership in this Annual Conference (¶¶331.8, 346.1)

46. Who are the provisional, ordained members or associate members on leave of absence and for what number of years consecutively has each held this relation (¶353) Indicate credential. Record Charge Conference where membership is held.

a) Voluntary

(1) Personal, 5 years or less (¶353.2a 3) (v)

N/A

(2) Personal, more than 5 years (¶353.2a 3) (v 2/3) Name Clergy Status

(3) Family, 5 years or less (¶353.2b 3) (v)

(4) Family, more than 5 years (¶353.2b 3) (v 2/3)

N/A

Name Clergy Status Date Effective Charge Conference

(5) Transitional (¶353.2c)

Sandee Prouty-Cole PD

b) Involuntary

(1) Involuntary Leave (¶ 354) (v 2/3) Name Clergy Status

(2) Ad Interim Involuntary Leave (JCD 1355) (v)

47. Who are granted sabbatical leave (¶351) (v)

48. Who have been granted medical leave due to medical or disabling conditions (¶356) (v)

49. What members in full connection have been retired (¶357): List alphabetically - If retiring in the interim between conference sessions (¶357.2d), indicate the effective date of retirement. (Under ¶357.1, no vote required; under ¶357.2, v; under ¶357.3, v 2/3)

Deacons

a) This year

b)

d)

50. What associate members have been retired (¶357): (List alphabetically. If retiring in the interim between

conference sessions (¶357.2d), indicate the effective date of retirement.) (Under ¶357.1, no vote required; under ¶357.2, v; under ¶357.3, v 2/3)

a) This year

b)

51. Who have been recognized as retired local pastors (¶320.5):

a) This year

Marlin

b)

52. What is the number of clergy members of the Annual Conference:

a) By appointment category and conference relationship NOTES:

(1) Where applicable, the question numbers on this report form corresponding to each category have been placed in parenthesis following the category title. Where these question numbers appear, the number reported in that category should agree with the number of names listed in the corresponding questions.

(2) For the three categories of Appointments to Extension Ministries, report as follows:

¶344.1a, c): the number of clergy members appointed within United Methodist connectional structures, including district superintendents, or to an ecumenical agency.

¶344.1b): the number of clergy members appointed to extension ministries, under endorsement by the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

¶344.1d): the number of clergy members appointed to other valid ministries, confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Annual Conference.

Note: Report those in extension ministry in one category only.

See the Discipline paragraphs indicated for more detailed description of these appointment categories. Note: Those approved to serve as a local pastor, but not currently under appointment, are not counted as clergy members of the conference

Full time Local Pastors

Associate Members & Affiliate Members with Vote

Female

Male

Non - Binary

Provisional Elders

Clergy Demographics Elders in Full Connection

By gender and racial/ethnic identification NOTE: See the instruction for item 57 for guidelines to assist in the racial/ethnic identificati on count. Deacons in Full Connection

Provisional Deacons

Female

Male

Non - Binary

Female

Male

Non - Binary

Female

Male

Non - Binary

Female

Male

Non - Binary

Female

Male

Part –time Local Pastors Male

Non - Binary

Female

0

0

0

Female

Male

1

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

Non - Binary Asian

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0 Black

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0 Hispanic

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0 Native American

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0 Pacific Islander

16

9

14

2

2

6

4

2

0

61

156

3

0

0 White

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

15 Multi - Racial

15

16

0

14

9

0

2

2

0

0 30 1

8

5

0

2

0

0

61

164

3

0

0 Grand Total, All Conference Clergy Members*

PART III CERTIFICATION IN SPECIALIZED MINISTRY

Note: Indicate credential of persons in Part III: FD, FE, PD, PE, AM, FL, PL, and LM.

53. Who are the candidates in process for certification in specialized ministry

Name Clergy/Lay Status

Specialized Ministry

Marilyn Spurrell RE Spiritual Formation

54. Who is certified in specialized ministry - List the areas of specialized ministry.

Name Clergy/Lay Status Specialized Ministry

Quaya Ackerman PE Spiritual Formation Certificate

Michelle Brennan FD Associate in Christian Education

Debra Ball-Kilbourne RE Minister in Christian Education

Duane Ewers RE Minister in Christian Education

Carolyn Knight Lay Associate in Christian Education

Sandee Prouty Cole PD Spiritual Formation Certificate

Pat Unkenholz DR Associate in Music

55. Who are transferred in as a certified person in specialized ministry

Name Clergy/Lay Status Specialized Ministry Sending Conference N/A

56. Who are transferred out as a certified person in specialized ministry

Name Clergy/Lay Status Specialized Ministry Receiving Conference N/A

57. Who have been removed as a certified person in specialized ministry

Name Clergy/Lay Status

Specialized Ministry N/A

PART IV CERTIFIED LAY MINISTRY

58. Who are certified as lay ministers (¶ 268, and 666.10) (List alphabetically, by district)

Name District

Joanne Singery Johnson Northeast

Sharon DuVal Northwest

Anne Osborne Northwest

Pam Karlen Southeast

Jerry Bottger Southwest

Beata Ferris Southwest

George Keehner Southwest

Janet Madsen Southwest

Justin Trent Southwest

Richard Wahlstrom Southwest

PART V DIACONAL MINISTERS

(Paragraph numbers in questions 64 -71 refer to the 1992 Book of Discipline )

59. Who are transferred in as diaconal ministers (¶312)

Name Previous Annual Conference

60. Who are transferred out as diaconal ministers (¶312)

Name Previous Annual Conference

61. Who have had their conference relationship as diaconal ministers terminated by Annual Conference action (¶313.3) (Under ¶313.3a, no vote; under ¶313.3b, v 2/3)

Name Date Effective N/A

62. What diaconal ministers have died during the year

a) Effective:

b) Retired:

63. What diaconal ministers have been granted leaves of absence under ¶313.1a, c, d) (disability, study/sabbatical, or personal leave): (v)

64. What diaconal ministers have been granted an extended leave (¶313.1e):

65. Who have returned to active status from extended leave (¶313.1e) (v)

66. Who have taken the retired relationship to the Annual Conference as diaconal ministers (¶313.2): (Under ¶313.2b, v 2/3)

a) This year

b) Previously Name Date Effective Pat Unkenholz 7/1/1993

PART VI APPOINTMENTS AND CONCLUDING BUSINESS

67. Who are approved for less than full-time service

a) What associate members and elders (full and provisional) are approved for appointment to less than full-time service, what is the total number of years for which such approval has been granted to each, and for what fraction of full-time of service (in one-quarter, one-half, or three-quarter increments) is approval granted (¶¶338.2, 342.2, 1506) (v 2/3, after 8 years v 3/4):

Name Appointment Fraction of Full-Time Service

Jan Gross Dell Rapids ¾ time, 2nd year

Ron Olson Hurley ¾ -time, 5th year

Jeanne Sortland Wimbledon/ Kensal ½ -time, 6th year

Dayne Zachrison Devils Lake First ¾-time, 1st year

b) What deacons in full connection and provisional deacons are approved for appointment to less than full-time service (¶331.7)

Name Appointment Fraction of Full-Time Service

Amber Laffey Alexandria ½ time, 1st year

68. Who have been appointed as interim pastors under the provisions of ¶338.3 since the last session of the annual conference, and for what period?

69. What elders, deacons (full connection and provisional), associate members, local and supply pastors are appointed to ministry to the local church and where are they appointed for the ensuing year (Attach a list.) See Ministry Appointments in the Journal.

70. What changes have been made in appointments since the last annual conference session (Attach list. Include and identify Appointments Beyond the Local Church (Deacons) and Appointments to Extension Ministries (Elders). Give effective dates of all changes.)

71. What elders (full connection and provisional), associate members, and local pastors are appointed to extension ministries for the ensuing year (Attach a list) - *report received a) Within the connectional structures of United Methodism (¶344.1a, c)

c) To other valid ministries under the provisions of ¶344.1d ( v 2/3)

*Mark Johnsen FE 7/1/2021 United Church of Christ, Brookings SD

*Teri Johnson FE 7/1/2020 SDSU Brookings, SD RC Knollwood Heights

*Jeanine KerseyRussell FE 2018 ND State Penitentiary Bismarck McCabe

Paul Kimball FL 7/1/2019 Platte Student Ministries

*Shelly Matthews FE 8/1/2011 Brite Divinity School, Fort Worth TX Fargo Faith

Leisa Richards FE 2005 Leisa Richards Law PC Albuquerque NM Aberdeen North Highland

*Matthew Richards FE 2/15/2020 Avera@Home/ Chaplain and Mitchell Congregational UCC Mitchell Downtown First

*Carlisha Steffes PL 2018 Avera Heart Hospital, Sioux Falls SD Sioux Falls First

*Craig Vondergeest FE 2005 Presbyterian College, Clinton SC Jamestown St. Paul’s

*Gary Walters FE 2019 Kirk Funeral Home, Rapid City SD RC Rapid Valley

72. Who are appointed as deacons (full connection and provisional) for the ensuing year (Attach a list.)

a) Through non-United Methodist agencies and settings beyond the local church (¶331.1a)

Name Clergy Status Date Effective Extension Ministry Assignment Charge Conference

Melissa Gall FD 4/5/2023 Primary-Milbank School District, Secondary- Watertown First UMC Watertown First

*Laura Walters FD 7/1/2019 New Underwood School District Rapid City Rapid Valley

b) Through United Methodist Church-related agencies or schools within the connectional structures of The United Methodist Church (¶331.1b)

Name Clergy Status Date Effective Extension Ministry Assignment Charge Conference

N/A

73. Who are appointed to attend school (¶416.6) (List alphabetically all those whose prime appointment is to attend school.)

Name Clergy Status School

N/A

74. Where are the diaconal ministers appointed for the ensuing year (¶310) [1992 Discipline] (Attach list) N/A

75. What other personal notations should be made (Include such matters as changes in pension credit (¶1506.5), corrections or additions to matters reported in the "Business of the Annual Conference" form in previous years, and legal name changes of clergy members and diaconal ministers.)

- Correction to BAC 2022: Rey Colon should have been included in Q15a among the certified candidates as the instructions say that in the first year of their commissioning, we list candidates here and in Q17 or Q24)

- Correction to BAC 2022: Jeanne Sortland should have been included in Q67a since 2018 as she is appointed to ½ time service in her 6th year.

- Nicole Clade’s legal name is Nicole Anderson.

76. Where and when shall the next Conference Session be held (¶603.2, 3)? Bismarck, ND, June 6-8, 2024

Recognition of Orders

Andrea Johnson

Andrea Johnson has found a home in The United Methodist Church. She completed her ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church and is transferring her orders.

Andrea grew up in Minnesota. As a freshman in high school, she attended youth group and knew there was something different about kids involved in the church who were connected to God. It was there that she realized God’s love for her. Andrea felt God might be calling her into ministry.

She attended Minnesota State University in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she studied speech and theater education. In college, she got involved in Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU), worked at a mission ministry in Yellowstone National Park, and met her husband, Sam.

Later Andrea earned an undergraduate degree in management at the University of Sioux Falls. She completed her Master of Divinity at Sioux Falls Seminary in 2012.

While in seminary, Andrea served as the worship coordinator and assistant pastor at Living Springs Church in Brandon. She serves as the Next Generation pastor at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. She will serve North Highland United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Andrea and her husband Sam have one son, Isaac. She enjoys watching and supporting her son’s many activities and is looking forward to continuing to cheer him on as he plays football and sings in the choir at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Candidates for Provisionl Membership

Donald Dinger

Don Dinger spent 22 years in the North Dakota Army National Guard as a Religious Affairs Specialist (chaplain’s assistant). Born and raised in Minnesota, his faith is part of his identity. He is being commissioned as an elder.

When he was 16 years old, he accepted Christ in his life. Don knew he was called to be a pastor after attending Bible camp during his senior year of high school. He ran from God’s call on his life while he got a college education and started a family. Finally, after two deployments in the Army National Guard and some life struggles, Don surrendered to God’s call.

He attended North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, and received an associate degree in architectural drafting. Don obtained an undergraduate degree in Bible studies and youth ministry at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, North Dakota. In 2022, he completed his Master of Divinity from Kairos University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Don served as the administrative pastor at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota. He currently serves at the United Methodist Churches in Steele and Tuttle, North Dakota.

He is married to Stessa, and they are currently raising a daughter and a son. Together they have four adult children and four granddaughters. He relaxes by doing woodworking and restoring old furniture.

Krista Ducker

Krista grew up in Ohio attending church and in the children’s choir, adult choir, and youth group. She distinctly remembers asking Jesus into her heart at a young age. Her dad worked as a Christian radio host, which fostered her faith and love for music. Her mom, an avid singer with a deep curiosity and love of learning, grew in Krista a similar desire to learn, grow and mentor others. Krista is being commissioned as an elder.

She traveled to England in her twenties and began to discern a call to vocational ministry. Unfortunately, life events and the tragic loss of family members paused her discernment. However, over time her call to vocational ministry

materialized. Krista found that her gifts in leadership as a worship director and pastor flourished in the opportunity to serve The United Methodist Church.

She received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in theology at Durham University in the United Kingdom. Krista graduated with her Master of Divinity from Kairos University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She has served as the pastor at Southern Hills United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, and as the associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Brookings, South Dakota. Krista currently serves Ben Clare United Methodist Church in Valley Springs, South Dakota, and as a chaplain at Avera McKennen Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Krista is married to Jim and has one son, Lucas. She enjoys music, reading, puttering in the kitchen and long walks in the woods.

Amber Laffey

Amber has always gone to church and loved Jesus. Throughout her life, she has been actively engaged in worship, music, youth activities, Bible studies, and attending church camp. Her parents, siblings and extended family are committed followers of Christ and showed her how to do the same. Her brother is an ordained clergy member in the ELCA. Amber is being commissioned as a deacon.

Her call started as a youth when she attended a church conference where she felt God’s call, perhaps to be a youth pastor. After marrying and starting a family, Amber served in many volunteer roles at the churches she attended. During that time, it became clear that raising her children to have an active faith life was essential. Amber landed at Fusion United Methodist Church in Mitchell, South Dakota, serving in many areas of ministry; and her family engaged in mission

projects. God nudged her in her calling to become a staff member at the Dakotas Conference office. While working at Annual Conference, she answered God’s call to professional ministry during the Celebration of Life in Ministry Service. Amber attended Midland and Bellevue University in Nebraska and earned an undergraduate degree in marketing management. She graduated with her Masters of Divinity from Kairos University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Amber has served as the pastor at Stickney United Methodist Church and Flandreau United Methodist Church in South Dakota. She currently serves the United Methodist Church in Alexandria, South Dakota.

She is married to Tyler. They have four children, three girlas and one boy, ranging in age from 5 to 15 years. She enjoys traveling, volunteering in the community and supporting her children’s activities.

Candidate for Full Membership

Matthew Morrison

Matt grew up in Iowa and The United Methodist Church. His family has always had an active part in the life of the churches where they attended.

When he was confirmed, Matt recalls praying a prayer of surrender, asking Jesus to take over his life. He is being ordained as an elder.

His call to ministry became apparent while pursuing a career in music education. Matt had completed his master’s degree and was applying for teaching jobs. Sunday at worship he heard the question during the message, “God may be calling. Are you listening?” He pursued a call in Indiana, serving as a worship arts director. He moved to Sioux Falls, closer to home, expanded his ministry roles, and knew God was presenting him with new opportunities.

He attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, earning a bachelor’s degree in music education. He later earned a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Northern Colorado. He graduated with his Master of Divinity from Kairos University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Matt has served at Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Fusion Church in Mitchell, South Dakota. He serves as the associate pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls.

Matt is married to Amy. They have two children, Xander and Maia. His hobbies include cycling, bike repair, acting, and all things music.

Retiring Elders and Deacons

Mary Ann Bernard

“I love the United Methodist Church. My greatest gifts, as well as the greatest trauma in my life, came from it. God is good. I have been in ministry inside and outside the church, and my life in God continues and reaches far beyond my life in the church.”

These are the words of Rev. Mary Ann Bernard, who will retire after being in ministry for more than 43 years. God guided her ministry journey to serve beyond the local church in ways many of us have not experienced.

Mary Ann grew up in the church, attended Wesley Acres Camp, was on the CCYM, and attended Annual Conference as a youth. Also, at that same time, she was raped by her local pastor, one of many he abused. While experiencing a clear call to ministry in the United Methodist Church, supported and guided by many others—Rev.

Bill Bates, Bishop Jim Armstrong, and Rev. Duane Ewers, the struggle always was how to serve an organization that gave rise to the best experiences in her life and the deep traumatic wound of rape. It was a bumpy ride.

She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of North Dakota and a Master of Divinity at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She was Ordained in 1980 as a deacon and in 1984 as an elder. “The church, even this beloved conference, was a toxic and unsafe place for me. Yet, I followed God’s call,” said Bernard.

Pastor Mary Ann’s first appointment was to a threepoint charge—Elgin, Zoar, and Ebenezer UCC in North Dakota. She was then appointed to Vincent United Methodist Church in Minot, North Dakota, as associate pastor. Rev. Wayne and Char Brown were a great support, but she was restless being in this conference, which was still a very unhealthy place for her and others to be.

Bernard transferred to the Iowa Conference. Bishop Rueben Job was there, knew her, and was a person she trusted and cherished. After two appointments there, “it became clear that I needed to deal with the abuse

issue. I took a leave of absence and went to Maine.”

In Portland, Maine, she directed the YWCA women’s residence. Bernard also worked with a multi-traditional spiritual group on a campus for a non-profit promoting relationship between Native and non-native people and worked for the post office. “It looks like I drifted in and out of the ministry. That is not true. I always was in ministry even when I wasn’t serving through a church,” said Bernard. She returned to North Dakota to again serve at Ellendale, North Dakota. During that time, the Cabinet was pursuing charges against the pastor who had raped her and abused others. The process did not ultimately hold him responsible. “I could see both the desire of people like Rev. Dwight Meier to bring justice, but the system failed again to do that.”

She married and moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, again taking a leave of absence from the UMC, working as an interim in a Presbyterian church, and also being a surrogate mom: giving birth to a child for her friends who were unable to conceive. She wrote a book about that experience titled The Gift of a Child.

The couple then headed to Hawaii, where Mary Ann worked in a program similar to Head Start. She found herself single again, and moved to Horsehead, New York, to work first as the director of a Head Start Program, then as a chaplain at Bethany Village. She built a ministry for 14 years with aging people, some dealing with severe dementia.

She sums up her ministry outside the local church this way. “Outside the structures of the church and the organization of the UMC, I found God moving in clear and vibrant ways. Scripture was clearer to me there. My call was as valid. I might never have ventured outside the denomination, but I was forced to by the unhealed trauma in me and in the church. Once outside, I discovered my faith being refined and strengthened. My relationship with God and my call to ministry were ever-present. I developed ‘outside the church’ ways to live out my call to ministry.”

She is the pastor at Evergreen United Methodist Church in Wahpeton, North Dakota. She will retire in Hawaii.

Neil Blair

“Being a clergy member of the Dakotas Conference feels like coming home,” said Blair. His connection to farming and the church, as well as the grace of the people, are reasons that Blair feels at home in the Dakotas.

Neil Blair grew up on a farm near Dayton, Iowa. His family was active in the United Methodist Church and in his community. His call to ministry came when he was young.

His call was nurtured as he furthered his education at United Methodist universities. He received an undergraduate degree from Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. Neil obtained a Master of Divinity from St. Paul’s School of Theology in Kansas City.

He was commissioned as a deacon in the Iowa Conference. He served eight years in a Disciples of Christ Church in Missouri and received full ordination in that denomination.

Blair served 19 years as Vice President for Development at Saint Paul’s School of Theology from 1988 to 2003.

In 2009, he became a full elder of the Dakotas Conference. While serving as the Vice President for Institutional

Mark Elllingson

Rev. Mark Ellingson recalls his fifth-grade Sunday school teacher telling him to enter the ministry.

“I remember one of my Sunday School teachers, Mrs. Johnson, told me I should be a pastor because I had a good voice. I have always had opportunities placed in my life to be a leader at church, in youth group, and at school. I even preached in the pulpit of my local church,” says Rev. Ellingson. “My call did not come at one point and time. It was something that just happened through God’s guidance.”

Ellingson will retire after 41 years of ministry this year. His call to ministry was something that became obvious over time.

Growing up Presbyterian, on a farm near Breckenridge, Minnesota, Ellingson spent a lot of time in various leadership roles. “I started to notice I never could miss the leadership positions,” Ellingson said. “You end up being the president of the youth group, the president of Inter-Varsity Christian

Advancement at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, he transferred his orders to The United Methodist Church.

While serving at Dakota Wesleyan University, he lived with the late Senator George McGovern.

He was President of The Foundation for Evangelism of the UMC in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, from 2011-2016.

Rev. Neil Blair began his leadership as President of Saint Paul School of Theology, with campuses in Kansas and Missouri, on July 1, 2016, where he currently serves.

“I had the honor of staying at George McGovern’s home for a few months and we spent many enjoyable hours singing United Methodist hymns. He loved them, knew most of them by heart and had a wonderful singing voice. He also talked about the power of the United Methodist Church in serving the poor and that he was proud to be counted among their members,” said Blair.

Neil is the father of two sons, David and family live in Texas, and Ben and family live in Chicago.

Fellowship at Moorhead State University, and similar opportunities.”

God’s call became clearer while seeking his degree in journalism from Moorhead State University. “It was really in college that I realized that’s probably the direction I was going. I was working on a journalism degree at the time, a great undergraduate degree for anybody going into ministry— to learn about asking questions, writing, and communicating. I just knew that this was what God would have me do. So, I headed off to Asbury Seminary in Kentucky,” said Ellingson. He says that being a very shy person, he was amazed God would call him to be a preacher.

He married Betty during his last year at Moorhead State University, and the couple moved to Kentucky for seminary. Pastor Mark was exposed to different types of ministries at seminary, including working in a chaplaincy setting for people dealing with disabilities at a hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. “It was an extraordinary experience to figure out how one communicates,” he said.

After seminary, his first appointment was a four-point charge at Bowbells, Coteau, Donnybrook, and Kenmare in North Dakota. “I spent two years in my first appointment. I was there with Pastor Ed Werner, who was retired,” said Ellingson. “I loved the people and the setting. I liked serving small, rural churches.”

In 1984, Ellingson was appointed to Holmes and Thompson in North Dakota. For the next 27 years, Pastor Mark served Holmes, Thompson and later Lutheran congregations in the same area. The church and the parsonage were in the country.

“I remember Cecil Miller called the people of Holmes ‘the salt of the earth.’ Even though there were a lot of changes throughout the years, their faith was firm and consistent,” said Ellingson. “It was a wonderful place to raise our five kids out in the country. I have always been attracted to rural ministry.”

In 2007, a tornado hit the nearby community of Northwood. Ellingson ran across a Lutheran disaster response team and began working with them. “I spent my time ministering to people and working with people who were not my parishioners. That’s kind of the definition of chaplaincy— you’re working with someone in a special situation who are not your parishioners. I found that I liked it and that I had some gifts for doing that.”

He began completing 400 hours of training to become a certified chaplain. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training is about preparing for ministry with people who are not your parishioners for a specific length of time and a particular purpose.

Leading a local congregation was rewarding for Ellingson, but chaplaincy work has become his passion. While completing CPE, Ellingson became a chaplain for Hospice of the Red River Valley. After a few years, he moved to Altru Health

Mark Gronseth

I went to seminary in my fifties. It was really God’s timing. It was perfect,” said Rev. Mark Gronseth, who will retire after 36 years of full-time ministry. He served as a full-time church musician for 22 years and as the pastor of a congregation for 14 years.

System as the manager of the chaplain program.

“One of the holiest times for me is at the end of life. It is a time when someone is at a place where their house and what they own doesn’t matter anymore. The thing that matters is God and their family. I’ve more than once been singing a hymn to somebody, and they died while I was holding their hand,” shares Pastor Mark. “While there’s a tremendous sadness with death. I’ve seen this as a holy, special, set-apart time.”

In 2020, Ellingson was suddenly laid off from his job as Chaplain Manager at Altru Health System along with dozens of others. LifeSource was not looking for a chaplain specifically, but the position of Clinical Hospital Coordinator for western North Dakota was open. Ellingson went to work with 32 hospitals across the western two-thirds of North Dakota to support staff and help families. In the last year he has become the Liaison at Altru in Grand Forks (where he was a chaplain for several years) and 26 other hospitals in North Dakota.

For 17 years of his ministry, Ellingson served as the Dakotas Conference Secretary. “I ended up becoming the journal editor and then the conference secretary. I got to have connections with a lot of different people in a lot of different ways. I had fun with the role at the annual conference. When I started doing the journal, I would ‘cut and paste’ pieces of paper and paste them with rubber cement. Today it is all digital. Cutting and pasting changed its definition for me over the course of time,” recalls Ellingson.

In retirement, Pastor Mark plans to continue living in Grand Forks and working in his current position with LifeSource. He will also continue providing pulpit supply at Holmes UMC and surrounding churches.

He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and no teaching credentials.

“When I first started college, I thought I was going to be a

band director, and that just kind of went sour,” said Pastor Mark.

After college, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. With no teaching degree, he instead began working at a number of places in Fargo-Moorhead. He married his wife, CoCo, in 1979, and eventually landed a full-time job at the FargoMoorhead Community Theater (as their casino auditor) and was also organist on Sundays at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

“I would head to the church on Sunday. On Monday, I would count casino money,” said Gronseth. “At one point, my wife and I had, between the two of us, five part-time jobs. My music career wasn’t really coming together until 1986 when I began to really listen to God’s call. Then God helped get

things organized. He always had a plan. Unfortunately, for too many years, I wasn’t listening to His voice.”

Gronseth’s journey toward ordained ministry began with music. For years, he served as a church musician at churches in Michigan, Kansas, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was a vulnerable, full-time position that often fell prey to budget cuts.

“It took me almost ten years to realize that God was calling me into a church music ministry,” said Gronseth. “The first music job was at a United Methodist Church in Livonia, Michigan. Finances got tight, so they cut the musician. I spent a year looking for another church music job and ended up in southwest Kansas. After nine years in that position, the same thing happened–money. So I ended up moving to Sioux Falls to take a position at First Presbyterian Church.”

He was consecrated as a diaconal minister of music. The United Methodist Church used to have a lay office called Diaconal Minister; some are still in active ministry. The UMC no longer consecrates new lay diaconal ministers.

His job at First Presbyterian was cut due to a lack of funding. That was the third occurrence. Pastor Mark knew that God was up to something.

“I had lunch with Greg Kroger. He was the district superintendent in the Sioux Falls area. We talked about pastoral ministry because I had been kind of feeling a little more of a tug toward that area. Greg said, ‘Well, we have this situation in DeSmet, South Dakota,’” said Pastor Mark. “It was a combined assignment for someone to serve at the UCC and United Methodist churches. Greg said, ‘We don’t have anybody in place. So, how about if you give that a try?’”

Three days each week, Gronseth headed to DeSmet. He stayed in the parsonage and served the two churches. The role

Sarah Herman

“I accepted Jesus Christ when I was five years old; when I was 16, I came to understand what it meant to not only be saved but to live a life completely surrendered to Jesus Christ. During this time I felt called into ministry,” said Rev. Sarah Herman, who is retiring after 24 years of service in the Dakotas Conference.

Growing up in Kankakee, Illinois, she served at her home church throughout high school, teaching Bible studies and leading Bible school.

lasted until the end of the year, and he found himself back in Sioux Falls again, where he served at Wildflower Presbyterian Church.

“They needed a pastor. I needed a job. I served there January through May and got some more hands-on experience,” said Gronseth. “Then I went to licensing school in the summer at Dubuque, Iowa, and headed to Sioux Falls Seminary in the fall.”

While in seminary, Mark and CoCo served the United Methodist congregations at Wakonda, Irene, and Viborg. Pastor Mark was ordained an elder in the Dakotas Conference in 2013. He was then appointed to serve at Breckenridge, Minnesota, and Fairmount, North Dakota.

He is one of the few individuals consecrated as a diaconal minister, ordained a deacon, licensed as a local pastor, and ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church. His wife CoCo has been a ministry partner throughout the years. As a vocal and piano teacher, she would give lessons and lead music at the congregations and communities they served. “I would usually come home and take care of the boys. Then she would head to work and teach lessons,” said Pastor Mark. “Throughout the years, we would play together. She would play at the church I served or another church in the community. She still plays for the church here. We still minister together.”

In retirement, the couple hopes to find a home in Wahpeton, North Dakota, or Breckenridge, Minnesota. They will spend time with their two sons, daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Sarah’s faith and call to ministry grew as she entered North American Baptist College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Sarah shared that after her first year in college, she was privileged to travel with a gospel team called “God’s Volunteers,” for a year, sharing her faith in Jesus Christ, along with 14 other team members. “We traveled all over the USA and Canada. This was an outstanding experience.”

After receiving her undergraduate degree, she married Elmo Herman. The couple had two children. Ike, who is married to Rebecca, and Nate, who is married to Stephanie. They have two grandchildren, Aidan and Emily, who are both in high school.

“I accepted Jesus Christ when I was five years old; when I was 16, I came to understand what it meant to not only be saved but to live a life completely surrendered to Jesus Christ. During this time I felt called into ministry,” said Rev. Sarah Herman, who is retiring after 24 years of service in the Dakotas Conference.

Growing up in Kankakee, Illinois, she served at her home church throughout high school, teaching Bible studies and leading Bible school.

Sarah’s faith and call to ministry grew as she entered North American Baptist College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Sarah shared that after her first year in college, she was privileged to travel with a gospel team called “God’s Volunteers,” for a year, sharing her faith in Jesus Christ, along with 14 other team members. “We traveled all over the USA and Canada. This was an outstanding experience.”

After receiving her undergraduate degree, she married Elmo Herman. The couple had two children. Ike, who is married to

Juwle Nagbe

Rev. Juwle Nagbe, will enter a retirement relationship with the Dakotas Conference this year. His journey in ministry spans 40 years and reaches from West Africa to North Dakota.

“I have gone through a lot of trials many times,” said Pastor Juwle. “I was arrested by the rebels many times. They tried to kill me. But God, for some reason, protected me. They never killed me,” he said.

Born in Liberia, Nagbe became a teacher and principal. He felt an urge to do something more. Juwle made his way to Duke University in the United States and earned a Master of Divinity. He started his quest for ordination in 1987, while he was in Liberia as a United Methodist minister. Liberia is his faith home. On Christmas Day 1989, civil war broke out. The war claimed more than 200,000 Liberians in a nation of 2.1 million people and displaced millions of other citizens. One of those displaced citizens was Juwle Nagbe. The ordination process halted.

“I was in the Nimba County when rebel rule took over and divided the country into two sections, the North-Eastern ruled by the rebels and the West ruled by Samuel Doe’s government.” said Rev. Nagbe. “Some of my family escaped to Sierra Leone, but I had no idea where they were. I went to Cote d’Ivoire as a refugee; and while I was there, I began

Rebecca, and Nate, who is married to Stephanie. They have two grandchildren, Aidan and Emily, who are both in high school.

“I served alongside Elmo while we raised our children,” Sarah said. “It was such a joy for me to be able to raise our children and be part of Elmo’s ministry. When our son Nate was a junior in high school, the Lord began to open doors for me in full-time church ministry.”

Sarah went to licensing school during her time in the UCC. She moved to Alpena, South Dakota, to serve the United Parish of Alpena part-time. This was a joint parish–both UCC and United Methodist and was her first experience serving Methodists.

Sarah enjoyed working with the Alpena Church. During her last two years at Alpena, she entered seminary, a long-time dream. “I spent six wonderful years serving at Alpena. Then Elmo and I joined the Dakotas Conference, and we began our ministry with the Dakotas in North Dakota, where I served

to search for my family. Not knowing where some of them were, I was able to leave to go to school in the United States at Emory University.”

Juwle completed his studies at Duke School of Theology in 2000. He continued in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Candler School of Theology, located on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He contacted the North Georgia Conference to seek ordination as an elder in The United Methodist Church. Because Juwle entered the U.S. on a student visa, the conference could not process his ordination. He needed to become employed in the U.S. or become a United States citizen.

While going through all that, Juwle was still searching through UNHCR’s records for the Liberians who were being resettled from Africa to the United States to see if he could find his sister’s name. Then it happened. Juwle learned that his sister was resettled from the hottest spot in Africa (Ghana), to the coolest spot in the United States at Fargo, North Dakota. Upon connection by phone, his sister, Maude Thomas, decided to go to find Juwle in Georgia first.

After the visit Pastor Juwle said, “I told my sister, ‘I will come to you.’ So, I traveled from Atlanta for a visit,” he said. “I was planning to go back to Atlanta. But she said, ‘Brother, think about the years we were separated. We have lost our mother and father. Do you really want to be separated again?’ We prayed that God would open doors for us.”

By June of the same year, he was employed as a chaplain with Sandford Health, which was the beginning of Juwle’s stay in North Dakota.

Pastor Juwle, who attended Flame of Faith UMC in West Fargo, noticed that several Liberian refugees had no place to worship. So, with the support of the congregation and Rev. Mina Hall, he started a worshipping community for those that made their way from West Africa to North Dakota.

“I knew that God must have brought me to North Dakota for a reason. Mina Hall and the people at Flame of Faith were so open. She encouraged me to start the ordination process here,” said Pastor Juwle. “But the ordination process did not move along because I was not a citizen of the United States.”

In 2012, Bishop Bruce Ough became the resident bishop for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church. At the Northeast District welcoming and installation service, held at First UMC in Fargo, Pastor Nagbe was asked to read scripture (John 21:15-19) in his dialect at the request of Bishop Ough. Why Bishop Ough would ask someone to read that passage in his dialect, and why it was Juwle Nagbe to be called upon to read that in his dialect is still a mystery to Pastor Juwle. But that was the beginning of his connection with the Dakotas Conference.

A few months later, there was a need of a pastor at Lisbon/ Enderlin charge. According to Rev. Marilyn Spurrell, the Northeast District Superintendent, Bishop Ough asked,

Randy Phillips

“I am thankful for the privilege to have been in ministry at Mayo Clinic-Rochester,” says Rev. Randy Phillips, a Dakotas Conference elder. “I constantly remind myself that whatever is going on, God is present. God is at work.”

Rev. Randy Phillips is retiring after 27 of ministry as a pastor in a local church and as a staff chaplain at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

At Mayo, he worked with a team of 24-27 chaplains to provide care on the Mayo Clinic-Rochester, St. Mary’s and Methodist campuses to show the love of Jesus to persons at the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

“My primary workplace was the Mayo Clinic HospitaRochester, St. Mary’s campus,” says Rev. Randy Phillips. “The COVID-19 pandemic altered and increased my workload significantly, visiting patients and their families throughout the hospital in times of need.”

“Who was that man who read that scripture?” Pastor Juwle shared, “I do not know if he understood what I read in my dialect, but he remembered the man who read the Scripture. Only God could work those things out.”

Rev. Spurrell approached Pastor Juwle to serve three churches—two United Methodist congregations and one Presbyterian congregation—at Lisbon and Enderlin, North Dakota. “I said, ‘Sure if they can understand me,’” said Pastor Juwle.

“In 2013, I was appointed. The thing I loved about serving there was the openness, the love of the people, their readiness,” said Pastor Juwle. “We just got connected—our hearts, our spirits—just got connected, and that was just by the grace of God. We all grew so much together.”

In 2014, Rev. Nagbe was commissioned as an elder in the Dakotas Conference. He was ordained as a full member in 2019. Juwle’s wife of 37 years—Martha, his two sons, daughter, and three grandchildren attended the ordination service. His sister, who currently works as a nurse and lives in Bismarck, attended with her daughter and granddaughter.

In 2020, Rev. Nagbe was appointed to serve at Streeter and Napoleon in North Dakota. He will be living in Streeter and continue serving the congregations in retirement.

He grew up in rural Nebraska, attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating with a master’s degree in counseling. Phillips began his career as a counselor in a Nebraska state prison. During that time, he experienced his mother’s death from ovarian cancer, a life-changing faith experience.

“My faith has always been important to me. I wrestled a lot with God during the time of my mother’s illness and death,” he says. “I found my faith increased. I spent a lot of time at the hospital, and I saw and experienced God. So, I headed to seminary.”

Graduating from seminary, he desired to be a chaplain, but the process for chaplaincy did not fall into place at the time. Phillips found himself serving the Church of God in Grand Forks, North Dakota. There he met Rev. Harry Williams, a Dakotas Conference elder, who invited him to explore his call in the Dakotas Conference with The United Methodist Church.

He accepted the call to serve the Dakotas Conference at McLaughlin, South Dakota, and at Cando and Minot Faith in North Dakota.

“I rediscovered the possibility of chaplaincy and headed to Mayo in Rochester for a year of training. From there, I went to Erie, Pennsylvania, and served as a hospital chaplain for two years,” says Rev. Phillips. “I came back to Mayo when there was an opening, and I have been here ever since.”  Chaplains have the opportunity to come alongside patients and families, to listen and learn of the situation and the sometimes-insurmountable challenges before them. Chaplains reach out to all people regardless of their faith, religion and/ or beliefs, meeting them where they are in their life and situation, honoring their faith or belief system, helping as they are able. The chaplaincy team at Mayo works together to see as many patients as possible and provide them some comfort in isolation. That may look like sitting in silence

Ross Reinhiller

“The conference has always given me that opportunity to not only share but also to live out my call. I started preaching at Camp Crook and Buffalo, South Dakota, when I was in college. When I was 20, Dick Fisher asked me to serve there in the summers. He trusted me. God has been good,” said Rev. Ross Reinhiller, who has served the Dakotas Conference for more than 40 years and has entered a retirement relationship with the conference.

Ross Reinhiller grew up in southwest North Dakota and northwest South Dakota. His parents were teachers and moved to different communities in his early years. “I was blessed having a mom and dad that took their faith seriously,” said Rev. Reinhiller.

His call to ministry came in those formative years when he was in kindergarten. The Reinhiller family lived in Lemmon, South Dakota, and attended the Methodist Church. The pastor at that church was Rev. DeVern Schwenn.

“My kindergarten year was my traumatic year. I was 21 days in a row late for kindergarten because I didn’t know that you had to go at a certain time. My freedom was gone. Pastor DeVern preached something that year that spoke to me. He asked if I wanted Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I remember going into my bedroom and just praying. That was the beginning of my journey. By spring of kindergarten, I had my call,” describes Pastor Ross.

Pastor Ross experienced a variety of pastors that encouraged and listened to his call. Revs. Art Scanson and Warren Wenzel invested in him. In addition, Ross served on the youth council at his church and for the conference.

with someone, connecting them to family members using technology, or praying with or for them.

“Chaplains have the opportunity to honor the situation and to invite a broader reality that may give them hope or strength,” Phillips says. “This may invite remembering and naming meaningful resources and hope, for the moment and eternity. Patients may affirm their faith in God, support from their family and loved ones. Reminders of a broader reality often change how they feel—realizing hope and a calm that is bigger than this situation, this world, even this life.”

He said, “I lived a long way from any camp. I grew up with the things that people grew up with—ministry on the radio, Bible class, and things available in the seventies. Then Art Scanson and Warren Wenzel, those United Methodist pastors, invested in me.”

After high school, Pastor Ross attended Dickinson State University, graduating with a degree in education. After earning his undergraduate degree, he attended Asbury Seminary in Kentucky.

“I attended seminary when I was 21 years old—quite young. I thought I was going to be a church history professor. My master’s degree is in church history and historical theology, kind of an academic and professional degree,” he said.

After seminary, Rev. Reinhiller held a couple of teaching positions. He felt he needed some experience as a pastor at a local church.

“I thought I needed to know what my students were going through to teach effectively. I was appointed to Ashley and Forbes in the North Dakota Conference. Rev. Norm Neumann was the Eastern District Superintendent in North Dakota at the time. He told the churches, ‘You’re getting a young fellow right out of school. He will be very enthusiastic and think this is the best thing in the world. You’re either going to make or break his ministry. If you break his ministry, he won’t have the good sense to quit, but he will struggle all the rest of his ministry.’ So those two little churches decided they were going to make my ministry, and they really did,” said Pastor Ross.

Rev. Reinhiller returned to teaching at the Biblical seminary in Medellín, Colombia. “When I returned to Colombia, I

While serving at Union Church in Bogota, he realized he had fallen in love and eventually married Rev. Val Reinhiller, who was back from seminary and was serving at First United Methodist Church in Bismarck. Ross was serving at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Mandan. Ross and Val got to know each other but never dated. However, they remained friends in conversation across the miles when Ross headed to South America.

“I went to South America. God got ahold of me and reminded me that there’s somebody that I really do love back home. So, I came back to the annual conference in Fargo and proposed. She said, ‘Yes.’ I went back to South America and came back in September, two days before the wedding. We got married, and we’ve been together ever since. We never kissed until after we were engaged. So, I tell my youth group, don’t kiss until you’re engaged. It worked for us.”

The couple headed back to Bogota, Columbia, in service together. “She married into that. It was the first time we were in ministry together as a couple. We served on staff in South America,” said Pastor Ross.

They returned to the United States and served a three-point charge at Faith UMC in Williston, North Dakota, Grenora UMC in North Dakota, and Bainville UMC in Montana. During that time, two daughters were born into the family.

“I got a fellowship for pastors’ training at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky,” said Pastor Ross.

Dean Trapp

Rev. Dean Trapp was called to ministry when he was a junior in high school. He will retire this year after serving 34 years in ministry.

Growing up, Rev. Dean Trapp had Sunday school teachers and his great aunts tell him, “I think someday you are going to be a pastor.”

When he was in confirmation at Central United Methodist Church in Milbank, South Dakota, Rev. Sam Graf asked Dean what he wanted to be after high school and college. Dean told him, “I think I want to be an attorney.” Graf said, “It would be good to have an attorney who is a Christian. But I think God is calling you

Returning from school, the bishop appointed the couple to serve at Winner, South Dakota. “That was just a great place. You know, the church went from 170 to 400 in worship,” said Rev. Reinhiller. “We were the right people at the right time.”

From there, Rev. Reinhiller went to Bismarck, North Dakota. He served as the superintendent of Shiloh Christian School. “We went to Shiloh to focus on their plan, mission, and finances.”

He was then appointed to Southern Hills UMC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Pastor Val served at Sunnycrest UMC in Sioux Falls at the same time. First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota, was the next appointment where they served together as a couple. Today they serve at Faith in Williston, North Dakota.

“I don’t know that we would have picked any of the churches we served, but we couldn’t have served better churches,” said Pastor Ross. “We’ve had the opportunity in every church to do just basically two things. One is to call people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and the other is to grow them deep at every church we’ve served. That’s been exciting because Valerie and I have dedicated ourselves to helping people find and fulfill their calls.”

In retirement, Revs. Ross and Val Reinhiller will continue serving and living in Williston, North Dakota. “I am retiring and serving alongside Val. So, we are kind of switching our roles,” said Ross.

into ministry.”

Rev. Trapp remembers the exact moment that he knew that God was calling him into pastoral ministry. “I was in my bedroom doing my devotions. I was reading a passage about the differences between Adam and Christ. I felt God say at that moment, ‘Dean, I want you to preach this.’ I knew I was called,” said Pastor Dean.

Throughout his years at Central UMC as a youth and young adult, he sang in the choir and was involved with the youth group. Rev. Dave and Mary Motta led the youth group.

Pastor Dave and Mary took Dean on a tour of Westmar College. Then, he headed to Westmar for a bachelor’s degree in religion and sociology.

Rev. Dean Trapp was called to ministry when he was a junior in high school. He will retire this year after serving 34 years in ministry.

Growing up, Rev. Dean Trapp had Sunday school teachers and his great aunts tell him, “I think someday you are going to be a pastor.”

When he was in confirmation at Central United Methodist Church in Milbank, South Dakota, Rev. Sam Graf asked Dean what he wanted to be after high school and college. Dean told him, “I think I want to be an attorney.” Graf said, “It would be good to have an attorney who is a Christian. But I think God is calling you into ministry.”

Rev. Trapp remembers the exact moment that he knew that God was calling him into pastoral ministry. “I was in my bedroom doing my devotions. I was reading a passage about the differences between Adam and Christ. I felt God say at that moment, ‘Dean, I want you to preach this.’ I knew I was called,” said Pastor Dean.

Throughout his years at Central UMC as a youth and young adult, he sang in the choir and was involved with the youth group. Rev. Dave and Mary Motta led the youth group. After graduation from Westmar, Pastor Dean attended St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. “I was challenged by the liberal theology being taught at St. Paul’s. At times I felt very uncomfortable. But I was not the only evangelical student there. I became friends with some of the other evangelical students. We met together for prayer and Bible study and mutual support. And that helped me make it through my studies. Being at St. Paul’s and having the experience I did only made me stronger in my faith and helped me realize I was on the right path,” he said.

Upon graduation from seminary, Rev. Trapp entered his first appointment at Conde and Andover, South Dakota. “When Susie and I went to visit the church and parsonage, we couldn’t get into the parsonage. At the time, they had no pastor so there was no one living in the parsonage. It was February. It had just snowed 10-12 inches on top of what they already had earlier in the winter. The snow had not been removed all winter. So, they just told us what the parsonage looked like,” said Rev. Trapp. “It was a great place to start. We still have some friends that we keep in contact within those

communities.”

In 1990, Dean and Susie moved 21 miles north to serve a two-point appointment at the United Methodist Church in Groton and the United Church of Christ in Columbia, South Dakota.

After five years, there was a realignment. Rev. Trapp served the United Methodist Churches in Groton and Conde. “It was great to serve the people of Conde again. It was like we never left,” he said.

In 1996, he was appointed to serve the United Methodist congregations in Yankton and Gayville-Volin. In about 2005, Gayville-Volin was realigned to be served by the pastor at Vermillion. But Dean and his family served the Yankton Church for a total of 14 years. “It became known as home to our three children. They spent most of their school years there,” said Pastor Dean. “It was a wonderful time for our family and ministry.”

The next stop in Trapp’s ministry journey was Sunnycrest United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before moving to Huron to serve at Riverview and Virgil United Methodist Churches.

“Every place we have been in ministry, we have been blessed. I give thanks for that,” said Pastor Dean.

“We tried to inspire the campers by reliving God’s dream for Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. I played Moses, and we would climb to the top of Storm Mountain for the Sermon on the Mount and receive the Ten Commandments. It was a wonderful experience,” recalled Pastor Dean.

In retirement, Dean and Susie will continue to live in Sioux Falls, where they currently live. Dean will continue to work at Walmart as a Customer Host/Greeter. He will go from full-time to part-time, working two days a week beginning in June.

Lou Whitmer

“In life there are bad times, there can be lots of pain, but there was good work that began in me when I was baptized. I had two great-uncles who were Methodist pastors. One of them baptized me when I was six months old,” said Lou Whitmer who has been in ministry for 47 years, serving as a pastor of churches for 16 years. Whitmer retires this year.

Lou Whitmer grew up in Hettinger, North Dakota, where she attended the local Methodist Church and remembers being a part of the worship service celebrating the creation of the United Methodist Church. She was confirmed at Hettinger UMC, as were many of her family members before her. In 1907 her great-grandparents and grandfather were charter members of the little white Hettinger Methodist Church.

Her grandparents gave Lou’s family a piano that had belonged to their great-grandmother and paid for piano lessons. Then Lou became the church pianist.

“I started playing piano out of necessity at church when I was in the sixth grade. My pay was a box of stationary at Christmas,” said Whitmer. “I remember enjoying it, but I’m also very glad there are no recordings of the services,” she said.  A vital memory is that same year she attended camp.  “The first time I really understood God’s love for me was at Wesley Acres Bible Camp.”

Her church family was and continues to be a support system. “My mom died when I was 15. I remember the church being there for us.”

Family roles changed. Lou became a parent figure to her siblings and a support to her father. She recalls reading the book Motherless Daughers by Hope Edelman.

“I became what I read: I got the grocery list and the car keys. I became the cook and cared for my younger brothers. I had a lot of responsibility. My dad and grandparents were in deep grief. I ended up getting a two-year degree rather than a four-year degree. There was a lot of pressure to get done with college, move back home, and continue to be the caregiver,” said Lou.

She attended North Dakota College of Science in Wahpeton, earning an associate degree in business. Lou did not return home. She worked and lived in Fargo. Like a lot of young adults, she stepped away from the church.

“Then I went to this Bible study with a friend, and asked the pastor, ‘If God loves us, why did my mom die?’ He answered, ‘Lou, God punishes those whom he loves; what did you do?’  It was such a horrible thought that I was somehow responsible for my mother’s death,” she said. “Those words ringing in my ears began to shape my theology for the better,” said Whitmer, “and to this day I am very sensitive of how damaging scripture used flippantly as easy answers truly is for people.”

After a few years in Fargo, Lou ventured to Minot. An invitation from a beloved pastor, Rev. Jim Pomeroy, who would become her mentor, brought her back to church.

“I met Jim Pomeroy, and he got me back on track. I got involved again at Trinity United Methodist Church in Minot, where I started playing piano and taught confirmation,” said Lou. “Jim asked me to consider the ministry way back then.”

She became the organist and music coordinator at Vincent United Methodist Church in Minot for the next 31 years. Playing organ and helping with music kept Lou involved in church.

“I was really feeling a call periodically to do more. Jim had left and was a district superintendent. He would mention ministry or the gifts he saw in me every time I saw him. I got very involved with life. When the feeling crept up that there should be more, I would kind of push it down. I thought I was doing enough.”

Lou continued her work at Vincent UMC. She owned a gift shop for several years. People would come in to visit and she would listen. “It was kind of a social service agency because people came in all the time for everything but for buying gifts,” said Lou.

She started working at Minot State University, when God’s call became clear. “I still remember standing in front of the printer one day. It was in the summer. There wasn’t anybody else around. I said out loud, ‘I’m going to seminary.’ It was just this overpowering feeling. I called Deborah Ball-Kilbourne, and we had a long conversation.”

Lou thought maybe she would finish her bachelor’s degree and then head to seminary. Then she heard about another ministry path, licensed local pastor.

“I went immediately into ministry. I attended licensing school in Kansas and then was assigned to be the pastor at Kimball, South Dakota, at Kimball Protestant Parish,” said Pastor Lou. “The timing was right. My guiding scripture is, ‘I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ [Philippians 1:6].’ It was just the right time for me. Kimball was a great appointment for me.”

While in Kimball, she worked with the church, which was part of three denominations—Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Presbyterian Church (USA), and United Methodist, to streamline their governance and finance structures. They were functioning in one building, but they still were trying to keep it as three denominations.

In 2011, she was appointed to serve as the associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell, South Dakota. After Mitchell, Pastor Lou was appointed to serve at North Highland United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 2013.

In retirement, Lou plans to live in and look for ministry opportunities in Bismarck, North Dakota.

She expresses gratitude for a joyful journey. “There’s more joy to this journey than we sometimes give credit. There are so many things that can make ministry hard. When you stop and look back, you can see all the sparks of brightness. You can get really mired down in the denominational stuff and the difficult people. But when I step back, I can see so many bright spots of joy and surprise in all of that,” said Pastor Lou.

Retiring Local Pastors

Jerry Densmore

“Not many people can say that they are circuit riders, like the old guy [John Wesley]. I guess I haven’t ridden a horse but my motorcycle. I rode the circuit,” said Pastor Jerry Densmore, who will retire after serving eight years at Camp Crook United Methodist Church in northwest South Dakota.

Jerry Densmore entered pastoral ministry in 2015 after a 28-year career in the Air Force. He served at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder, South Dakota, for 12 years. While at Ellsworth, Densmore and his wife were involved with chapel programs.

“I wanted to start helping, but I didn’t like getting in front of people, believe it or not. So, I started reading scripture because you don’t have to look at the people. That helped me to get comfortable,” said Pastor Jerry.

He found himself working with the praise team, choir, and men’s group and enjoyed that. The military chapel programs gave Densmore experiences with different denominations.

“One nice thing about chapel programs is you get a lot of different inputs, everything from Baptist, Southern Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Christian Science, the different levels of Lutheran and Mormon chaplains,” said Densmore.

Densmore recalls the exact moment he surrendered to God’s call for his life. It happened in 2006 while he was serving on temporary duty at a military base in Guam.

“I was over in Guam, sitting on a bench on a bluff about 600 feet above sea level near a place they call Pati Point. I was sitting up there looking toward the Islands of Rota and Saipan which you can see on a clear day, and I knew it was time to surrender to God,” said Densmore.

He did some exploring when he got back. Densmore talked with Pastor Jim Patrick and met with the district superintendent. He had completed the Certified Lay Speaker courses and led worship and also did some pulpit supply which included filling in at Camp Crook UMC in 2011. The final step was attending licensing school in 2014 to become a licensed local pastor.

“I guess I was taught that things happen in God’s time, not our time,” he said. In 2015, he accepted the appointment

at Camp Crook UMC, Buffalo UCC, and the Harding Community church. “The opportunity came up to serve at Camp Crook. I knew the people. It was a good fit.”

Growing up in Michigan, Pastor Jerry was familiar with rural life, dairy cows, and sheep. “I could identify with the people,” he said. “We connected, and one year we had three baptisms. There hadn’t been any baptisms in a while. One was a gal—who was over 40 years old, that was baptized.” After serving eight years at Camp Crook and Buffalo, Densmore will retire. Baptisms and confirmations have been highlights of his ministry. Easter Sunday, three more youth were confirmed.

“You have to plan things around lambing, calving, branding, farming, etc.,” said Pastor Jerry. “They make a living by nature; nature dictates a lot. We planned to have confirmation on Easter, and it worked out. It fit with everyone’s schedule.”

Another highlight for Densmore is playing guitar on music Sundays with area Lutheran congregations. People gather and bring their instruments and voices to sing the old hymns. In addition, Camp Crook UMC is involved in parades and other community events.

“We are the only church in town, so people look to us and know us,” said Pastor Jerry. “We have a bazaar in October which is supported by the entire community, and we support other functions. I mean, everybody knows everybody and the way they support each other regardless of denominational belief is what I think Jesus wants us to do.”

In retirement, he will continue living in Rapid City and will work with the district to serve others as needed. The Densmores look forward to spending more time with their girls and their families in the St. Louis, Missouri area.

Mike Flowers

“I’ve never really sat down and tracked how many people have come out here, but it’s in the thousands. I never counted how many wheelchair ramps were built, roofs replaced, or houses painted. Instead, I kept track of the relationships that were built between the two cultures,” said Pastor Mike Flowers. Mike and his wife, Libby, serve as the co-directors of Spirit Lake Ministry Center. Mike and Libby retired on May 31, after serving the people of the Spirit Lake Nation for 16 years. It is all about relationships and trust.

Mike Flowers grew up as a child of an Air Force family. His family ended up in West Monroe, Louisiana. Libby Flowers lived in the same community in northeast Louisiana all her life. They met in 1976 and were married in 1978.

Mike entered the Air Force, and the couple headed to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The next stop was Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Then they headed to Yokota Air Base in Japan. After Japan, they were stationed at Minot Air Force Base in Minot, North Dakota.

In September of 1994, Mike retired from the Air Force. Both ended up working in retail. “I had a job on the base where I worked three days on and six days off. I needed something to do on my days off. So, I started working at Wal-Mart part-time, where Libby was working,” said Mike.

When Mike announced his retirement from the Air Force, Wal Mart hired him as a district manager in Fargo. It was in Fargo, at First United Methodist Church, where they found their church home.

Mike was raised United Methodist, and Libby grew up in the Catholic denomination. “I was raised United Methodist, but after we got married, we quit going to church. So, for 17 years, we didn’t go to church,” said Mike. “God called us back to the church in 1995. We were involved in almost everything at Fargo First, including substitute preaching.”

The first time they attended worship at First UMC, they heard terrific music and met many people. After that, they got hooked in a ministry called Shoebox Christmas.

“Some people from Children of the Harvest ministry came to First UMC and talked about Shoebox Christmas. For the next two years, we led the Shoebox Christmas ministry from Fargo First,” said Pastor Mike.

In 2007 they responded to God’s call to serve at Spirit Lake Ministry Center. “We were both praying the same thing and didn’t realize it. We prayed that God would show us what he wanted us to do—where he needed us,” Pastor Mike said. “We both loved our jobs in retail. Then we talked to Bishop Deb [Kiesey]. We asked her how to tell the difference between a call and our want. She said there are three signs, ‘First, if you go to bed at night and wake up in the morning and that’s what you’re thinking about. Second, if other people tell you hat that’s what you should be doing without you even telling them that that’s what you’re thinking. Third, you know you can’t do it by yourself, that you can only do it with God. Then you are being called.’ So those three things that Bishop Deb told us were the three things that happened. We were called to serve at Spirit Lake.”

The Flowerses stepped into a different culture to build relationships and establish trust with the people of Spirit Lake Nation. Getting to know the families and the people has been critical and rewarding. “The people of Spirit Lake are resilient. You learn to look at their faces. Sometimes that’s all they have is the expression on their face.

People are people. There may be different cultures, but we are all God’s children,” Mike said.

The ministry reaches hundreds of families annually by meeting their basic needs through the food pantry and Community Children’s Fund. “I remember Maxine,” said Mike. “Maxine came into the food pantry and tried just to take everything there. She believed we might not be there the the next time she needed something. Finally, we built trust with Maxine. She told everybody else we would be there if people needed something. Maxine became our friend and invited us into her house to pray.”

Shoebox Christmas continued and grew to serve 6,000 children. Gifts were distributed to eight reservations in the Dakotas Conference and the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota. The gifts provide the children with the story of Jesus’ birth, warm hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, and fun toys.

Sidewalk SONday School morphed into the only faith-based summer day camp on the Spirit Lake reservation. Children come to the Summer JAM, a fast-paced Vacation Bible School experience. Monthly, families enjoy games, movies, and meals at Spirit Lake Ministry Center.

The Flowers brought the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission program to Spirit Lake. Teams come from all over the country to repair homes, build wheelchair ramps, or paint houses. The construction ministry helped build homes and relationships. “It’s important to be able to get into your house. It’s important not to have a leaky roof. But, you know, the most important thing was the relationships. We have witnessed spiritual growth and the connections in families and the teams that traveled here,” said Mike.

A worshipping community sprouted. The Journey is now a congregation that worships each week, has small group Bible studies, and does community outreach and youth and children’s ministry. Mike attended licensing school and completed the Native American Course of Study program in 2011. He is affectionally known as Pastor Mike.

After an extensive seven-month remodel, a 53-year-old Quonset hut became the new worship center and dining facility for the Spirit Lake Ministries. The new worship space, a dream of Mike and Libby Flowers, became a reality after a successful fundraising campaign. With the help of donors from all over the country, many having volunteered on the reservation, and two significant donations, the dream became a reality.

“What happened was that we were connecting with people all around Spirit Lake Nation through our work with Volunteers in Mission (VIM) teams,” says Pastor Mike Flowers, pastor of The Journey. “People started asking, ‘Do you have worship?’”

In 2021, Mike was appointed to serve at The Journey at Spirit Lake and First United Methodist Church in Devils Lake, North Dakota. It became a partnership that brought vitality to both congregations.

“The partnership has made us stronger and both congregations stronger. First UMC is supportive of the Ministry Center. It has been a great partnership,” said Pastor Mike.

In retirement, Mike and Libby will travel in their motorhome to visit with children and grandchildren and vacation. They plan to take their grandchildren on vacation to Virginia Beach. Mike and Libby will go to Destin, Florida, to assist with a ministry by Christmas. They will continue their journey by doing ministry on the road.

“I always say God had a sense of humor by making me a pastor. I’m probably the least likely person to do it because, you know me, I’m a troublemaker,” said Rev. Marlin Sapp, who will enter a retired relationship with the Dakotas Conference this year after serving 16 years as a licensed local pastor.

Many would ask Marlin Sapp throughout his life, “Why aren’t you a pastor? You should be in ministry full-time.”

Marlin Sapp grew up in Hazen, North Dakota. His mother was not a regular attendee at church, and his stepdad was Catholic. Nevertheless, Marlin was welcomed by Hazen United Methodist Church, formerly an Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church.

He recalled that Rev. Peter Ackerman encouraged Sapp and two other young people to consider entering the ministry. “He thought there were three of us that should become pastors—myself, Rick Loewen, and Steve Stanley,” Marlin recalled.

After graduating from high school, he headed to Illinois to work. Then he returned to the Hazen area, where he worked as a carpenter, painter, and in retail. Pastor Marlin met and married Carol at his grandma’s farm just outside Great Bend, North Dakota. The wedding took place on the weekend, away from their Hazen and Golden Valley hometowns.

“I called my grandma and said it’s time to call your pastor so we can get married,” said Pastor Marlin. “The UPS driver delivered a package and said to Carol, ‘You came back from being away for the weekend, and here you had a different last name.’ I am thankful my grandparents were in good standing with the church and the pastor would marry us.”

Marlin and Carol became active in the United Methodist Church, serving on committees and teaching Sunday School. He taught Sunday School for 25 years and spent much of his time at the church.

“I thought I was doing enough by teaching Sunday school for over 25 years, but then I was asked to fill in and lead worship,” recalls Sapp. “Then I took courses to become a certified lay minister. I took courses and was encouraged by Revs. Dave and Don Andrews.”

For several years, he filled in for worship at Hazen, Beulah, Golden Valley, and other places in North Dakota. Pastor Marlin filled the pulpit for congregations that were United Methodist, Lutheran, and other denominations.

He became dean at a camp with Rev. Bruce Adams. “Bruce invited me to lead a camp with him at Lehr Camp. After awhile, we moved to Storm Mountain Camp. We led camps for twenty years,” said Pastor Marlin. “It was a camp for kids in grades four through six. We called it ‘Treasure Seekers.’ We taught the kids that they needed to seek the treasure of God.

We also found a way to share treasures like the old gold mine at the camp.”

Carol and Marlin were also active Conference Council of Youth Ministries (CCYM) leaders. Some of the youth that Carol and Marlin worked with are now pastors in the Dakotas Conference and beyond—Paul Lint, Robbie Salmonson, Cody Schuler, John Telenga, Brandon Vetter, and William White, to name a few.

“Carol was great at getting youth involved. She helped with CCYM, and you will find her name on the Youth Worker Hall of Fame plaque,” shared Pastor Marlin.

Solar Oven Partners has been a part of Sapp’s ministry journey. He served on the board and traveled with teams on two mission trips to Haiti with solar ovens. “I spoke at 20 or more churches on solar ovens,” he said. “People loved to learn about the project.”

These experiences set the foundation for becoming a pastor. “I think all of this gave me a better foundation to become a pastor,” said Pastor Marlin. “My eyes were opened, and I became more empathetic.”

The turning moment was when his daughter Dawn asked him, “Dad, why don’t you go into ministry full-time? You know you like it, and then you’d like your work instead of going from here to there.”

He finally surrendered to God’s call. “It happened one night going to a PPR [Pastor Parish Relations] meeting. On the way over, I just realized I could probably do as good as a pastor as all those I had filled in for,” said Pastor Marlin. “Ray Baker was the district superintendent at the time. He encouraged me to become a licensed local pastor.”

In 2007, Sapp headed to licensing school in Fort Scott, Kansas. He was appointed to serve at Stickney UMC in Stickney, South Dakota. Later, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church was added to his charge.

“We followed people like Kermit Culver, Don Lagge, and Dave Motta at Stickney,” he said. “After three years, Mount Vernon was a new alignment.”

Each summer, Pastor Marlin headed to Garrett-Evangelical Seminary to complete his course of study as a licensed local pastor. “There was not an online option at that time. So, each summer, I would travel to Garrett to complete the coursework,” he said.

In 2014, Carol and Marlin moved to Linton, North Dakota, to serve the United Methodist congregations in Linton and Sterling. There have been several improvements made to the church and parsonage, even adding some aesthetics by making flower boxes out of the brick from the old church, which was struck by lightning.

In retirement, Carol and Marlin will continue living in Linton, North Dakota, and serving the congregations at Linton and Sterling.

Barry Whipkey

Throughout his life, Rev. Barry Whipkey has grown in his love of Christ, people, and agriculture. He spent several years working in various agricultural jobs. But God had a different plan.

“I had been in agriculture all my life, but I knew God had called me to pastoral ministry in high school. I went to college for a short time and just was drawn back to the farm. And so I married, farmed, and went into the ag business with Dekalb/Monsanto for many years,” said Whipkey.

Pastor Barry grew up on a farm outside Flandreau, South Dakota, and married his high school sweetheart. Barry attended college for a bit. Then, the couple returned to Flandreau and farmed for 13 years.

Debbie and Barry moved to Parker, South Dakota, where Barry worked for Dekalb/Monsanto in the southeast district of South Dakota. Two of their three children graduated from high school in Parker.

“We lived in Parker for ten years; two of our kids graduated from high school there. Then, the company moved me to Milbank,” said Barry. “In hindsight, it was a real God thing that we ended up there.”

Raised in a little Baptist church in Trent, South Dakota, Barry and Debbie continued attending the American Baptist Church until they moved to Milbank, South Dakota, in 1999. A friend invited them to attend Central United Methodist Church, and the congregation became their new church home.

“They put me into just about any and every position you could possibly imagine. I was on the leadership council. I taught some Sunday school. I did all the things that one would normally do as a layperson,” said Pastor Barry. “Debbie was very involved also.”

Then in 2003, his dad passed away. Rev. Mark Holland, who was serving as the pastor at Milbank Central United Methodist Church, and Rev. Deborah Ball-Kilbourne, district superintendent, invited Barry into ministry.

But, in the middle of Barry’s discernment, Holland left his appointment at Milbank Central UMC to serve a congregation in Iowa, and Rev. Dwight Meier stepped in, assisting Barry in becoming a licensed local pastor.

“Dwight led me into all of this. When I was finalizing all my stuff, Bishop Coyner asked me to get licensed before the annual conference in 2004. He said, ‘Go anywhere you can. Get that done before the annual conference.’ So I did some searching and ended up in licensing school at Duke in North Carolina,” said Barry. “I went off for three weeks to Duke, so, I can claim that I am a Duke graduate.”

Pastor Barry began serving as a licensed local pastor in 2004 at a three-point charge in Larimore, North Dakota, serving the United Methodist Church, Arvilla Presbyterian Church, and Emerado Presbyterian Church.

“It was the most wonderful appointment we could ever have imagined coming into ministry—three little churches that loved us and taught us. We loved them. It was just a phenomenal first appointment for us!” said Pastor Barry.

In 2007, Pastor Barry was appointed to Riverview UMC and Virgil UMC in Huron South Dakota, a two-point parish where he served for six years.

During the summers, Pastor Barry attended Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City to complete the classes for the licensed local pastor course of study.

“I completed that in 2010. I graduated with two great colleagues–Laurie Kidd and Sharla McCaskell,” said Barry. “It was an expensive process. Randy Cross served as a mentor and helped us with financial support, so we came out of that without any debt. That was a blessing.”

In 2013, he was appointed to serve at Madison United Methodist Church in South Dakota. Then in 2019, Barry and Debbie moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, to serve First United Methodist Church.

In retirement, the Whipkeys will move to a home in Avon, South Dakota, to live close to their daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren.

IV. MINISTRY APPOINTMENTS

*Ministry Appointments as of July 1, 2023

The following code system has been adopted to designate the status of the ministers appointed:

AF Affiliate member-Par. 334.5, 344.4, 586.4

AM Associate member-Par. 322, 369.1, 635.2h

CLM Certified Lay Minister-Par.268

DC Deaconess – Par.1913.2

DM Diaconal Minister - Par. 369.1 (2004 Discipline)

DR Retired Diaconal Minister – Par. 357 (1992 Discipline)

FD Deacon in full connection-Par. 330

FE Elder in full connection-Par. 335

FL Full time Local Pastor-Par. 318.1

LM Certified Lay Minister-Par. 268

LTFT Less than full time-Par. 331.7, 338.2b, 428.7

OA Associate Member of other Ann. Conf.-Par. 346.1

OD Deacon Member of other Ann. Conf.-Par. 331.8

OE Elder Member of other Ann. Conf. or other Methodist denomination - Par. 346.1

OF Full Member of other Denomination-Par. 346.2

OL Other Local Pastor

OP Provisional Member of other Ann. Conf.-Par. 346.1

OR Retired Member of other Ann. Conf.

PD Provisional Deacon-Par. 324, 325

PE Provisional Elder-Par. 324, 325

PL Part-time Local Pastor-Par. 318.2

RA Retired Associate Member-Par. 357

RD Retired Deacon in full connection-Par. 357

RE Retired Full Elder-Par. 357

RL Retired Local Pastor-Par. 320.5, 327.7

SP Student Local Pastor-Par. 318.3

SY Other Supplies – Used by GCFA for assigned pastors

TBS To be supplied

APPOINTMENTS TO EXTENSION MINISTRIES (¶344)

APPOINTMENTS UNDER PROVISIONS