5.3 Drew University Theological School

from 2022 Conference Workbook

4.9.7 Disaffiliation Process

Dakotas Annual Conference funding of $75,500 was provided, along with Dakota Wesleyan’s ongoing, significant financial commitment to United Methodist higher education. $210,000 in scholarships were exclusively dedicated to supporting United Methodist student leaders. $98,000 supported a full-time United Methodist faculty member in religion. This individual introduces all students to concepts in Wesleyan theology through the general education program. $150,000 was provided to campus ministry. This commitment includes one full-time and one part-time campus pastor, as well as programming. Programming includes bringing national speakers to campus, supporting internship opportunities for students in ministry, and providing supplies for our justice ministries, Bible studies, small groups, and mission trips. $25,000 of in-kind support was directed to the Fusion United Methodist Church. $4,000 funded the Elisha Project. These interns serve as key leaders in student ministry and have involvement with Fusion UMC and Mitchell FUMC to learn about vocational ministry. Campus Ministry at DWU was able to carry out the important work of serving the entire campus community, in person, with many of their traditional activities. Weekly chapel services returned to the Sherman Center each Thursday where students were given the opportunity to deliver the sermon, lead the service or participate in the music ministry. Other activities include the weekly Worship Under the Stars, Freshmen Ministry and Upperclassmen Ministry. Another successful program is DWU’s Practical Church Leadership (PCL) program, formerly called Nonprofit Church Leadership. In just five years it has graduated over one hundred ministry professionals from across the United States, spreading a relevant and practical methodology for leading today’s church. The PCL program is created for church leaders from any denomination to include financial resource development, personnel and volunteer management, strategy, communications, and community outreach. Participants are matched with a qualified, experienced coach for the duration of the one-year program to offer guidance, expertise, and support. “When we were approached by our friends of the United Methodist Church, there was a realization that a lot of the pastors and clergy persons really lacked administrative skills and support. Church leaders have a lot of capacity for theology, teaching, preaching and discipleship making, but in today’s world, pastors also have to be able to run the church as a business: managing budgets, raising funds, dealing with human resource issues, connecting with strategy, and program evaluation as well,” said Dr. Alisha Vincent, associate provost for program development and associate professor of nonprofit administration. “The design of the program is meant to be ecumenical, so it is not steeped in theology, and we really built it intentionally so that it will be applicable no matter what denomination participants come from. There is a lot of richness to this cross pollination of what is happening in different dominations and different regions. We are now in seven states, and it is fantastic to be a part of that growth,” said Vincent. DWU is also working with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of the United Methodist Church on a new partnership that will allow licensed local pastors to earn college credits for their Course of Study (COS) training program. The Course of Study is a 20-course program that educates licensed local pastors in The United Methodist Church. It provides an alternative training option for those who wish to serve as pastors but do not find the traditional seminary route to be a good fit. This new partnership is similar to one being developed with United Theological Seminary. In the area of new programs, Dakota Wesleyan had a very successful first year for our Learn & Earn program, a unique educational model offered on site in Pierre. Eight students are currently enrolled and will finish the program in August with their associate degrees. These students are dividing their days between the classroom and their paid internship sites, engaged in a variety of professional entry-level positions including the SD Department of Labor and Regulation; the SD Bureau of Telecommunications; real estate; retail; insurance and others. The community of Pierre through its economic development organization, has stepped up to provide $500 scholarships once again for a dozen students to help develop a new professional class of workers to support businesses and organizations in the Pierre area. Coming in the fall of 2022, DWU will be debuting a new continuous learning program that will help individuals upskill, finish degrees, pursue advanced degrees or just take a class or two. Working with business partners, this program promises to be a game changer for the 60% of workers nationwide who do not have their Bachelor’s degree. Yes, 2021-2022 will be a year remembered as one of change at Dakota Wesleyan. But many of these changes helped to take our entire campus community in some new directions, enhance new ways of thinking, make new friends and to make bold, innovative moves to ensure the continued health of this dynamic institution. Blessed with gifted leadership at critical points in its history, Dakota Wesleyan University stands today as the pride of the prairie. As in the early years, today’s students, faculty, and staff live, learn, and work an environment where minds are challenged, souls are nourished, friendships are forged, and lives are transformed. Submitted by Jan Larson, director of marketing and communications, Dakota Wesleyan University