Northern Plains District considers 'Tradition and Change.'

"Tradition and Change" was the theme as Northern Plains District met Aug. 6-8 for its conference at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Registered for the weekend were 211 people. Moderator Beth Cage led the conference in "worshipful work" business sessions that included time for congregations to share a tradition or change from the past year.

Delegates approved a 2005 budget totaling $116,799, received a report from the District Conference Site Committee, approved dates and location for 2005 and 2006, and approved a change in the constitution and by laws. Delegates also called new leaders: moderator-elect Diane Mason; Nominating Committee members Lyle Neher and Darius Elder; Board of Administration members Janice Ackart, Merlin Grady, Sheila Selix, Alice Draper, Betty Kingery, and Ida Van Westen; board youth representative Sam Button-Harrison; and Program Planning Committee member Carol Leland. Guests who gave reports included Jim Hardenbrook, Annual Conference moderator, and Lowell Flory, director of Institutional Advancement at Bethany Theological Seminary. General Board members Roy Unruh and Jeff Neuman-Lee gave a video presentation.

Worship on Friday evening was experienced with multiple preachers, women and men sitting separately, and traditional hymns. Greg Jones, Cara McCallister, and John Elder shared the preaching. Saturday evening brought a dramatic tour through the Bible by Mennonite duo Ted and Lee. On Sunday morning there was a blending of traditional and new hymns, preaching by moderator Beth Cage, and installation of new district leadership. Tim Peter, pastor of Prairie City (Iowa) Church of the Brethren, received the gavel as the incoming moderator. Offerings totaled $2,736.57.

Conference goers also heard about projects and ideas in the "Free Money...Strings Attached" fundraising approach initiated in 2003. Milestones in Ministry were presented to ordained ministers Richard Burger, Vernon Merkey, Lucinda Douglas, Marjorie Smalley, Marlene Neher, and Clara Glover.

Other highlights of the weekend were a Witness Commission blood drive with the American Red Cross, in which donors gave 46 units of blood. An auction organized by the Nurture Commission contributed $3,029.75 to Heifer International. The youth contributed money from an evening Ice Cream Social for a total of $3,168.65 to help stop hunger around the world.

Source: Newsline 10/01/2004
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