2025 District Conference Wrap-up

Thank you to all who gathered at The Church on Northland (Baptist/Brethren) in Cedar Rapids on August 1-3.  We had 39 delegates for the Worshipful Work business session on Saturday, plus others who were present for times of worship and meals.

WORKSHOPS/EQUIPPING SESSIONS

• How the Ugandans "do church" (pre-conference, April 8). Description: The Church of the Brethren in Uganda is now 7 years old. Bwambale Sedrack, leader of the Uganda Brethren, joined us to talk about how they have sustained their dynamic growth over the years.  Facilitator: Gordon Hoffert. 
  VIEW RECORDING HERE

• Where Do We Go From Here: Reimagining Church (pre-conference, May 8). Description: The face of “church” is changing. With fewer and fewer faith communities able to sustain full-time pastorates and church buildings, new models of church are springing forth. Join the Church Development and Renewal Committee (CDRC) to hear firsthand of some of the creative ways people are doing and being church within the Northern Plains District.  Facilitators: Kim Hill Smith and Doyle Harper.
  VIEW RECORDING HERE

• On the Other Hand: Seeing Both Sides of Divisive Issues (August 1).  Leadership Workshop led by Annual Conference Moderator Don Fitzkee.  Description: Speaking out of his own faith journey and encounters with differing perspectives within the church, Annual Conference Moderator Don Fitzkee will reflect on some of the issues that divide us and offer thoughts on how people who read the same Bible arrive at different conclusions. Are changing perspectives evidence of corrupted faith or new light springing forth from the Word? He’s heard it both ways.  

• Interviewing David Steele, Church of the Brethren General Secretary (August 1).  Interviewers: Gordon Hoffert and Kim Hill Smith.  

• How in the world did I land in this position? On being chair of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board (August 3).  Presenter: Kathy Mack.
  VIEW RECORDING HERE

• Letters from Franklin: A relationship formed by the Death Row Support Group (August 3). Presenter: Jess Hoffert
  VIEW RECORDINGS HERE

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU -- Following Worship Work on Saturday, a time to recognize and thank Tim Button-Harrison for his 19 years of service as Northern Plains District Executive was held in the sanctuary. Rhonda Pittman Gingrich hosted the event. Speakers included David Steele, Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, Tim Peter, Raechel Sittig-Esser and Kathy Mack. Moderator Gordon Hoffert presented Tim with an as-yet-empty Memory Book. Pages for personal messages, photos, etc. can be downloaded here. Once filled out, they can be sent to Tim at his home address: 1211 Clark Avenue, Ames IA 50010. Rhonda closed the event with a beautiful prayer and laying-on-of-hands service.

WORSHIP:

• On Friday evening, Moderator Gordon Hoffert preached at the opening worship with Moderator-Elect Tim Peter as worship leader.  Gordon’s sermon was based on the conference theme “The Mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5).  

• On Saturday evening, Annual Conference Moderator Don Fitzkee preached with Betsy Kuecker, Camp Director and Pastor of Ivester COB as worship leader.  Don’s sermon was titled “Full of Grace, then Truth” and was based on John 1:14-18 and Ephesians 4:1-6, 14-16.              .  

• On Sunday morning, our preacher was Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, Director of the Church of the Brethren Ministry Office. Nancy’s sermon was titled “Heavenly minded for Earthly good” and was based on Philippians 3:17-4:1. Patrick Jackson, Pastor of the Cedar Rapids Baptist and Brethren congregation, and Reverend Yvette Jackson served as worship leaders.  

• Thank you to the many others who contributed to worship. Accompanists were Andrew Sun (Friday), Paula Kirschenheiter (Saturday) and Mary Lee Malmberg and John Moore (organist) on Sunday. Song-leader was Yolanda Butler, choir director was Raechel Sittig-Esser and choir accompanist was Diane Sittig. Special music featured a Men's Chorus, the Conference Choir, Alina Douglas on violin, soloist Sandra Marshall singing “Do they see Jesus in me?” and Merlin Grady playing “Just a little talk with Jesus” on the trombone. Children’s time was led by Hannah Button-Harrison, Dave Kerkove and Uli and Gordon Hoffert with puppets Marcel the Cat and Orville the Dog. Hannah Button-Harrison, Todd Cage and Steve Brunk helped with the projection and sound system. Joyce and Roger Peckover were the on-site coordinators, handling announcements and many behind-the-scenes details.

• Thanks as well to Lucinda Douglas for serving as our chaplain, to all those who pitched in and helped in the kitchen, and to the many hands that made quick work of the set-up and take-down in the gym, especially Billy Jamison, McPherson College representative.

• Also thank you to those who contributed during the worship offerings:  Friday 413.00, Saturday 1603.00, Sunday 566.05.

MILESTONES IN MINISTRY AND CONGREGATIONAL LIFE:  On Friday evening before worship, Tim Button-Harrison and Jamie Risser recognized these ordained ministers and congregations for their 5-year milestones.  

• Ordained Ministers: Mark Godfrey (20 years), Jamie Risser (20 years), Tim Button-Harrison (35 years), Samuel Dali (35 years), Gordon Hoffert (35 years), Gordon Oliver (35 years), Jay Steele (40 years)

• Churches: Living Peace (20 years), Ottumwa (125 years), Fredericksburg (145 years), English River (170 years).  

• Read the short bios and histories of these recognized ministers and congregations here.  You can also find the Northern Plains District histories online.  For the 1844-1977 history book go here.  For the 1977-2002 history book go here.

WORSHIPFUL WORK / BUSINESS SESSION:  On Saturday, Moderator Gordon led our Worshipful Work business sessions.  Minutes can be read here.  Official actions taken by the 2025 Northern Plains District Conference:

• Approved the 2026 District Budget of $132, 785.00 (a 2% increase from 2025)

• Called these people to District Leadership:

  • Moderator-Elect: Rebecca Dali

  • District Board of Administration: Jess Hoffert, Tom Grove, Katelyn Kane, Natlie Bellis, Payton Johnson

  • Program Planning Committee: Karen Harper

  •  Call Team: Alice Brinegar, Alta Gahm

• Confirmed these future dates and locations for District Conference:

  • July 31-August 2, 2026, The Church on Northland, Cedar Rapids

  • August 6-8, 2027, location has not yet been officially secured

FELLOWSHIP, AGE GROUP AND OTHER ACTIVITIES:

• Following the Saturday evening service, the youth hosted an ice cream social and raised $403  for district youth programming.  Thank you to Eder Financial for covering the cost of ice cream and toppings.

• The District Stewards Commission invited people to bring items for a silent auction Farmers Market.  Thank you to everyone who brought items and to those who purchased items raising $1641 for the district.

• Thanks to Thomas McMullin for leading the junior and senior youth activities, Uli Schorn Hoffert for arranging activities for the younger school-age children, and Megan Waterman, director of Caring Corner, the church’s daycare and preschool, for help in securing members of her staff for nursery care.

SPECIAL GUESTS AND GROUPS PROVIDING TABLE DISPLAYS: We are grateful for all our special guests and for those who set up table displays:

• Billy Jamison--McPherson College,

• Nancy Sollenberger Heishman – COB Office of Ministry,

• Don Fitzkee- 2026 Conference Moderator,

• David Steele - Church of the Brethren,

• Douglas Marcias - Bethany Seminary,

• Mark Watson - Eder Financial.

• Church Development and Renewal Committee

• Iowa Peace Network

• Center for Caring, Empowerment and Peace Initiatives (CCEPI)

PLEASE FILL OUT CONFERENCE EVALUATION AND LEADERSHIP DISCERNMENT FORMS

• The Evaluation helps to guide the decisions of the Planning Committee regarding future conferences.  If you did not fill out an evaluation, you can find it HERE.  Please print/complete/mail in.  

• The Leadership Discernment form helps the Gifts Discernment Team fulfill its responsibility of calling individuals to serve in district leadership roles.  If you did not complete this form at the conference, you can find it HERE.  Again, please print/complete/mail in.  

Finally, thank you to The Church on Northland for hosting District Conference, especially Pastor Patrick Jackson, Administrative Assistant Dina Brake, Jerry Juett, whose sound and projection system tutorials were invaluable, and Megan Waterman, Director of Caring Corner, the church’s daycare and preschool, for providing space and nursery staff. And thank you to the 2025 Program & Planning Committee: Moderator Gordon Hoffert, Moderator Elect Tim Peter, Diane Sittig, Alice Draper, Daniel Butler, District Executive Tim Button Harrison and District Communications Director Hannah Button-Harrison.  

Please look at the District Conference page on the District website for information, photos and videos from the conference.   And mark your calendar for our 2026 District Conference held July 31-August 2 at The Church on Northland (Cedar Rapids Baptist/Brethren) with Tim Peter as our Moderator.  The conference theme for this coming year is “The Gospel of the Mulberry Tree and Screen Doors”

with guiding scriptures from Matthew 16:18 and Hebrews 11:8-9.