Home - Central Plains Mennonite Conference

New ministry staff is in place
David Boshart is on the job as half-time Executive Conference Minister and half-time Conference Minister for Witness and Partnerships. As we move into the new structure, he will work with stewardship, Annual Meeting, discernment, Ecuador Partnership, church planting and peace & justice. Tim Detweiler has a new title, conference minister for ministerial leadership. He will oversee leadership development and the credentialing and evaluation of pastors. Shana Peachey Boshart also has a new title, conference minister for Christian formation. Her areas of responsibility are youth ministry, congregational resources and conference communications. Monica Clem continues as office manager in Freeman, South Dakota.

Listen to messages from Annual Meeting
The four messages that David Boshart preached at Annual Meeting are now available on the Annual Meeting page.

Register Now for Mennonite Women Retreat "Giving and Receiving"
Central Plains Mennonite Women will host a women's retreat September 18 & 19, 2010 at Swan Lake Christian Camp, Viborg, South Dakota. The Saturday speaker is Ruth Entz Buller. Ruth has served six years in voluntary service and the last two years has had an ongoing battle with cancer. She is the wife of Pastor Eric Buller and the mother of two sons. The Sunday speaker is Lynn Duerksen Stoneking. She will share what God has done in her life through the experience of a premature baby and the traveling music ministry she has with her husband, Thomas.

Please pre-register by September 6 to Donna Lepp, 30 Highland Ave., Butterfield, MN 56120, phone - (507) 956-3625, E-mail - . Cost (pay at retreat) for the entire weekend is $55.00, Saturday only is $35.00, and Sunday only is $20.00. Interest sessions will include Creative Card making, comforter tying, nature walks and assembling School or Health Kits. Bring supplies for complete kits (bags provided).

Visits to Congregations
David Boshart, Tim Detweiler and Shana Boshart intend to visit every Central Plains congregation to introduce the new staff members and get acquainted with people. They hope to make all the visits by the end of November, following a format similar to the ministry staff visits of 2007. Be watching for communication about when they will come to your area.

Youth Escape 2010 went very well, thanks be to God!
Ninety-two youth, 32 youth sponsors and 28 volunteer staff had a wonderful time together July 30 through August 1. All responded favorably to speaker Shane Claiborne’s challenge to deeper discipleship to Jesus Christ. An offering of $373 was given for Edu-Paz, the neighborhood peace education ministry of Quito Mennonite Church. On Saturday night, the group played the game “Persecution” which teaches the stories of the early Anabaptists in a fun, active way. Sunday worship wrapped up the weekend with an invitation to express a deeper commitment to the Way of Jesus. See photos of Youth Escape 2010 here.

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.

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.

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.

Youth Escape 2010 went very well, thanks be to God! Ninety-two youth, 32 youth sponsors and 28 volunteer staff had a wonderful time together July 30 through August 1. All responded favorably to speaker Shane Claiborne’s challenge to deeper discipleship to Jesus Christ. An offering of $373 was given for Edu-Paz, the neighborhood peace education ministry of Quito Mennonite Church. On Saturday night, the group played the game “Persecution” which teaches the stories of the early Anabaptists in a fun, active way. Sunday worship wrapped up the weekend with an invitation to express a deeper commitment to the Way of Jesus. Thank you for your prayers for Youth Escape!