Annual Meeting Photos
Stan Harder took a lot of great photos!   Thanks, Stan!

The Sower for July 2010
our e-newsletter for leaders

Annual Meeting

Hermeneutics Seminar

New Structure Proposal

Conference Minister Search

Conference Council

WDC Resource Library

Congregational Resources

Outreach & Service Committee

Pastoral Leadership Committee

Ecuador Partnership

Staff

P.O. Box 101
Freeman, SD 57029

officecentralplainsmc.org
605-925-4463
605-925-7293 fax

Central Plains Mennonite Conference leads congregations as they proclaim and become a sign of God's reconciling work in the world.

What's New

Over 150 people have registered for Youth Escape 2010!
Please be in prayer this week for the final preparations for Youth Escape 2010, the Central Plains youth retreat.  We expect 155 youth, sponsors and staff from 19 churches July 30 through August 1 at Twin Lakes Christian Center near Manson, Iowa.  Pray for the planning committee, speaker Shane Claiborne, The Ransom Project band, break-out leaders and the Twin Lakes staff as they prepare a weekend of worship, play, equipping and fellowship for our youth.

It happens at camp!
Check out what's been going on at our camps this summer!  Visit the web sites for Crooked Creek, Swan Lake and Wilderness Wind.  

Staff Transitions
Ed Kauffman concludes his work with Central Plains at the end of this month.  Tim Detweiler is working full-time as conference minister for ministerial leadership as of July 1; Sharon Kennel continues as conference minister through August 31.  Churches formerly served by Ed Kauffman may direct their inquiries related to pastoral ministry to Tim.  Inquiries related to youth ministry, congregational resources or conference communications may be directed to Shana Peachey Boshart. All other inquiries may be directed to Monica Clem for the time being.  

Fundraiser for Cash Reserve Fund
The Stewardship Task Group has initiated a fund-raising campaign to raise $50,000 for a cash reserve fund.  Bills and salaries need to be paid with regularity, but income from contributions can be quite irregular.  The Stewardship Task Group, with the tremendous work of David Quiring, has already raised $24,500 of the $50,000.

The Stewardship Task Group now presents the challenge to individuals and groups within Central Plains to raise the remaining $25,500.  Please prayerfully consider contributing to this fund.  Contributions may be mailed to the conference office at P.O.  Box 101, Freeman, SD 57029 and designated “cash flow reserve fund.” 

Tools for Your Report from Annual Meeting
1.  Activities of the past year
Delegates may use the PowerPoint presented by Ed Kauffman and Shana Boshart on Friday morning.  To make it easier to download, here it is in four sections: Introduction and Conference Council, Outreach & Service Committee, Pastoral Leadership Committee, and Congregational Ministries Committee.   

2.  Photos of Annual Meeting
...are linked at left.

3.  Unity Recommendation
In response to requests by delegates, Moderator Diane Zaerr Brenneman has prepared an explanation of what happened with the Unity Recommendation at Annual Meeting.  The Unity Recommendation and its cover letter from Conference Council are still available on the Annual Meeting page.

4.  "Mission at the Center of Our Story" PowerPoints
Dave Boshart's presentations at Annual Meeting are available as a downloadable PowerPoint document on the Annual Meeting page.   The case studies are also available there as PDF documents. 

Box of Books from WDC Resource Library: It’s a wonder!
Wonder how you can expand the collection of your church library? Wish you could include more books for children or adults, but don't have the bucks?  Planning a special celebration, study or sermon series?  The Box of Books program from the Western District Conference Resource Library is offered to all congregations, including yours! 

Marlene or Pat will pack up a box of books, custom-filled and based on what you request.  These 25 books can be used by all in your congregation for a period of 2 months. Designate a person to promote, monitor and then exchange this box for a new one at the end of two months.  Your congregation pays postage both ways, but meanwhile, you get to use resources worth hundreds of dollars.  Email Marlene or Pat at or call them at 316-283-6300.

Ideas for Adult Electives and Small Group Study
The summer, 2010 issue of Check It Out from the WDC Resource Library is now available at http://www.mennowdc.org/2010-06-CIO.pdf  In it you will find mighty good resources and ideas for study and discussion for adult classes and small groups. " If I were planning Christian formation opportunities for young adults and adults, I would check these out!"  Marlene Bogard, Resource Library Director.

Executive Committee announces next Executive Conference Minister
It is with gratitude to God and enthusiasm that we announce the hiring of David Boshart as the new executive conference minister for Central Plains Mennonite Conference. David is well acquainted with the issues facing Central Plains, having pastored within the conference for over 20 years, most recently at West Union Mennonite Church in Parnell, Iowa. David is an articulate, visionary leader; a theologian firmly committed to Mennonite Anabaptist faith; and a profound missional thinker. David is also the scheduled keynote speaker for Central Plains Annual Meeting June 24-27 in Mt. Lake, Minnesota. He is married to Conference Youth Minister Shana Peachey Boshart; they have three grown sons and one granddaughter. Plans are for David to begin with conference September 1. We expect to retain the office in Freeman, South Dakota, as well as the services of Monica Clem, office manager, at this time.  Find more information on the Conference Minister Search page.

Might you be the answer to prayer?
The Ashland Christian Fellowship at Ashland, Montana, is looking to buy a used van.  Pastor Doug Bishop and his wife, Lori, would like to take kids to camp, youth to Youth Escape, and adults to conference gatherings.  Their goal is to get youth and adults to one or two conference events per year to build relationships with others in conference.  Call Doug at 406-784-2815 if you have a van to sell or donate.

Ideas for Christian Nurture in the Summertime
Ready to mix it up a bit?  Hoping to find ways of connecting young and old?  Then try one of the options suggested in the April 2010 Check It Out:  Dig Into the Bible, Traveling Peace Trunk, Close to Home Series, Book Club, Sing Through the Hymnal, Praying in Many Ways, The Thoughtful Christian, and Nooma.  Need more ideas?  Email Marlene at .

News for Delegates to Annual Meeting: New Structure Proposal
At Central Plains Annual Meeting in June, the delegates will be asked to approve a three-year trial period for a new conference structure.  Delegates are encouraged to visit the Structure page and read the document that describes the new structure so they can come to annual meeting informed.  Delegates are also invited to fill out a form to give their feedback about the proposal to Moderator Diane Zaerr Brenneman.  Between now and Annual Meeting, feedback will be collected and incorporated into new drafts of the proposal. 

Youth Escape 2010 to feature speaker Shane Claiborne
Youth Escape 2010, the conference-wide youth retreat for Central Plains, will feature three sermons by popular speaker and author, Shane Claiborne.  Claiborne spoke last summer at Mennonite Church USA Convention in Columbus, Ohio, in both youth and adult worship.  He is the author of The Irresistible Revolution, Jesus for President, and the recently released Follow Me To Freedom.  Youth Escape 2010 will take place Friday through Sunday, July 30 to August 1, at Twin Lakes Christian Center near Manson, Iowa.  See the Youth Escape page for more details.

Papers Posted from Congregational Leaders Seminar
The papers presented by Kent McDougal, Mathew Swora and Cynthia Lapp are now posted on the Congregational Leaders Seminar page under the Events tab above.

Help for Church Librarians
The Western District Conference Resource Library web site has a number of helpful documents posted for church librarians.  They give advice on planning a church library, weeding the library, selection policies and promoting the library. 

Ecuador Partnership Needs Workers
Two new volunteers are needed to work with the ministries of the Quito Mennonite Church.  One is needed to lead peace education workshops with neighborhood children and one is needed to work with refugee resettlement.  Workers are needed for a minimum of 10 months and will need to do their work in Spanish.  There are job descriptions on the Ecuador Partnership page.