June 24-27, 2010 Mt. Lake, Minnesota leading congregations as they proclaim and become a sign of God's reconciling work in the world Welcome to Central Plains Mennonite Conference

In June 2000, Northern District Conference and Iowa Nebraska Conference voted to join together as Central Plains Mennonite Conference. They were joined by four Central District Conference churches. We are 56 churches, fellowships and church plants in nine states. Central Plains Mennonite Conference

Each group brought symbols Iowa-Nebraska towel and basin Central District pitcher Northern District Cheyenne peace pipe

Our connections to Mennonite Church USA One of 21 area conferences Constituency Leaders Council (CLC) Assembly – Pittsburgh, 2011 The Corinthian Plan

Our Connections to the Ecumenical Community Minnesota Council of Churches Association of Christian Churches, SD Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska

Our Governance Structure

Delegate Body Meets annually The Delegate Body = representatives from member congregations. Each congregation may send one delegate for every 50 members or fraction thereof, plus one ordained/licensed minister, plus one youth between the age of 16 and 22. For example: Bethel (MN) has 342 members, so they may send a total of 9 delegates: seven delegates, one minister and one youth.

Conference Council Runs conference affairs between annual delegate meetings. Implements, coordinates and supervises the goals of Central Plains. Meets four times a year in different communities. Appoints persons to task groups and related organizations.

Conference Council members Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Secretary and Treasurer (Executive Committee) Chairs of Pastoral Leadership, Outreach & Service, and Congregational Ministries Committees Four at-large members Staff attend meetings but do not vote. Leaders of Mennonite Women and Mennonite Men are invited to attend.

Conference Council tasks

Executive Committee Tends to the business of conference between Conference Council meetings. Oversees personnel matters, finances, property, insurance. Actions are presented to Conference Council for approval.

Executive Committee Moderator Diane Zaerr Brenneman Wellman, Iowa Interim Minister, Washington Mennonite Church

Executive Committee Assistant Moderator Blaine Friesen Bethesda Mennonite Church Henderson, Nebraska

Executive Committee Secretary Margie Waltner Salem Mennonite Freeman, South Dakota

Executive Committee Treasurer David Quiring Bethesda Mennonite Church Henderson, Nebraska

Executive Committee staff Office Manager Monica Clem Hutterthal Mennonite Freeman, South Dakota

Executive Committee contract staff Financial Officer Ted Widmer Mt. Pleasant, Iowa Pleasant View Mennonite Church

Task Groups Structure Task Group Search Committee for Executive Conference Minister Unity Task Group

Scattered Seeds Executive Committee - Communications

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 The Sower a newsletter for Central Plains Mennonite Conference leaders and pastors May 12, 2010 Please forward this newsletter to (or print it for) these congregational leaders: Pastors, Elders/Deacons, Treasurer, Delegates to Central Plains Annual Meeting, Peace/Mission, Christian Education, SS Superintendents, Artists. Please Pray For: The search process for new executive conference minister in Central Plains. That our time together at Annual Meeting will honor the center of our church, Jesus Christ; that our discernment and prayer and study together will enhance our unity and increase our capacity to witness to the gospel in the world. 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 every year to build relationships with others in conference. Contact Doug at or if you have a van to sell or Updates Financial Wrap-Up We completed another fiscal year on April 30. For the month of April, income totaled $67, Expenses were much less for April at $44, This much-appreciated surplus of $23, provided a good push toward breaking even for the fiscal year. Total income for the year was $435, (90% of our anticipated budget of $480,326). Expenses totaled $438, (91% of our anticipated budget). As a result, the year closed with a deficit of $3,

Executive Committee - Communications

Central Plains Committee Structure Conference Council Outreach & Service Pastoral Leadership Congregational Ministries

Net Income Income & Expenses