2024 District Conference Wrap Up 

Thank you to all who gathered at South Waterloo Church of the Brethren on August 2-4.  We had 43 delegates for the Worshipful Work business session on Saturday, plus an additional 49 persons who registered, plus others who were present for times of worship and meals.

WORKSHOPS/EQUIPPING SESSIONS:

• On Friday afternoon, Ministers and District Board members joined in a pre-conference workshop with three denominational leaders: 2025 Annual Conference Moderator Dava Hensley, General Secretary David Steele and Ministry Office Director Nancy Sollenberger Heishman.  The panel members shared about their personal history and formation as a church leader then turned to several current emphases in our denomination including: Jesus in the Neighborhood, Shared Ministry and Standing with People of Color.

• On Saturday morning, District Executive Tim Button-Harrison led a session, facilitated by Gordon Hoffert, in which he reflected on the past 18 years he has served as District Executive.   In preparing for the session, he reviewed all his District Conference and District Board reports from 2006.  He distributed this handout which consists of selected passages from those reports which highlight significant periods in the recent life of the district.  

• On Saturday afternoon, Annual Conference Moderator Dava Hensley led an equipping session titled “Faith Working Through Love: Jesus in the Neighborhood.”  And on Sunday morning she led Bible study on 1 Corinthians 13.

WORSHIP:

• Moderator Laura Leighton-Harris preached at the opening worship on Friday evening with Panther Creek Pastor Rebecca Dali as worship leader.  Laura’s sermon was based on the conference theme “God’s Grace is Sufficient for You” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).   

• Prairie City Pastor Tim Peter preached on Saturday evening with 2025 District Moderator Gordon Hoffert as worship leader.  Tim’s sermon was titled “By Grace” and was based on Ephesians 2:1-10.  The service included sharing from FaithX participants Sabrina Inyani, Josh Kerkove, Kaleigh Risser, Larissa Schneider, Jamie Risser and Dave Kerkove.  

• Cedar Rapids Pastor Patrick Jackson preached on Sunday morning, with South Waterloo Pastor Dave Kerkove as worship leader.  Patrick’s sermon was titled “Worthy of It All” and was based on Psalm.  

• Thank you to our worship accompanists Diane Sittig and Donna Emmert, musicians Alina Douglas, Abby Butler & Merlin Grady, song-leader Yolanda Butler, choir director Raechel Sittig-Esser and all who joined her in the choir, children’s time leaders Heidi Risser, Paula Kirschenheiter and Dave Kerkove, plus Josh Kerkove, Cael Schneider and Raechel Sittig-Esser for running the projection and sound system.  

• Thank you to those who contributed during the worship offerings.  Friday: $641, Saturday $1,158, Sunday $451.

MILESTONES IN MINISTRY AND CONGREGATIONAL LIFE:  On Friday evening before worship, these ordained ministers and congregations were recognized for their 5 year milestones.  

• Ordained Ministers: Brian Gumm (10 years), Sharon Heien (10 years), Dave Kerkove (25 years), Marlene Neher (30 years), Lucinda Douglas (35 years)

• Churches: Common Spirit Fellowship (15 years), Open Circle Church (30 years), Peace Church of the Brethren (60 years since merger of Omaha-Council Bluffs), Prairie City Church of the Brethren (130 years), Panther Creek Church of the Brethren (155 years), Monroe County Church of the Brethren (170 years), Libertyville Church of the Brethren (180 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 Laura led our Worshipful Work business sessions.  Minutes can be read here.  Official actions taken by the 2024 Northern Plains District Conference:

• Approved the 2025 District Budget of $130,187.36 (a 3.4% decrease from 2024)

• Called these persons to District Leadership:

  • Moderator-Elect: Tim Peter

  • District Board of Administration: Rhonda Bingman, Samuel Dali, Sandra Marshall, Laverna Sincox, *Jamie Risser, *Christine Sheller, *Kim Hill Smith (*denotes 2nd term), plus youth Aiden Kuecker and Josh Kerkove

  • Program Planning Committee: Diane Sittig

  • Leadership Call Team: Linda Smith (At Large) and Thomas McMullin (Area 4)

• Confirmed these future dates and locations for District Conference:

  • August 1-3, 2025, The Church on Northland, Cedar Rapids

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

FELLOWSHIP AND OTHER ACTIVITIES:

• Following the Friday evening service, the youth hosted an ice cream social and raised $285.00 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 $1,570.00 for the district. 

• Thank you to all who provided leadership for children’s and youth activities.

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

• Dava Hensley -- 2025 Annual Conference Moderator

• David Steele – General Secretary

• Nancy Sollenberger Heishman -- Office of Ministry, Part-time Pastor, Full-time Church

• Shannon McNeil Smith--- Church of the Brethren Advocate for Mission Advancement

• Billy Jamison – McPherson College

• Douglas Marcias-- Bethany Seminary

• Brethren Disaster Ministries

• Northern Plains District Board

• Church Development and Renewal Committee

• Camp Pine Lake

• Church World Service – CROP

• Iowa Peace Network

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 fill it out online or 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 fill it out online or print/complete/mail in.  

Finally, thank you to South Waterloo Church of the Brethren for hosting District Conference and for the South Waterloo folks who helped to prepare and serve meals and provide hospitality in countless ways.  And thank you to the 2024 Program Planning Committee: Moderator Laura Leighton-Harris, Moderator Elect Gordon Hoffert, Barb Miller, Alice Draper, Penny James, Daniel Butler, District Executive Tim Button Harrison and District Communications Director Hannah Button-Harrison.  

Recordings of our worship services, equipping sessions, and worshipful work are on the district Facebook page.