The 2015 budget was approved at the twenty-first session of the Dakotas Annual Conference in Rapid City, South Dakota June 5-7, 2014.  The 2015 budget amount was approved at a slight decrease of, $50,000 compared to the 2014 budget total. 

Photo:  Rev. Bob Duemig, chair of the conference council on finance and administraion, explains the process for developing the 2015 budget proposal.  Photo by Charity Kerr.

Jeff Pospisil, Conference treasurer notes some of the key features of the 2015 budget.

• Missional Church Initiative (MCI) Gains Momentum – In 2014, we kicked off the MCI program. Initially we committed $55,000 to this program with the expectation that we will see churches breakthrough into a new era of vitality and growth. In 2015, we would like to commit $97,000 to this program. Much of the increase will be that we need a consultant to guide us.

• Capital Campaign for New Congregations – $25,000 is being allocated for a feasibility study for a capital campaign to support the work of planting new congregations. We’ve had a boom of activity that has consumed a large portion of what we had laid aside for this work plus we hadn’t been budgeting nearly enough to keep up with the need. The feasibility study will let us know whether or not to go forward with a capital campaign.

• Bakken Zone Coordinator – Beginning with the miracle offering last Annual Conference, we have seen a lot of resources and effort poured into the Bakken. The scope of the work has grown from primarily Watford City and Williston, to include Dickinson, Kenmare, Tioga, and Stanley. We believe we need a designated person to coordinate this effort. The approximate cost is $25,000.

• Culture of Call – In developing missional leaders, one of our primary concerns is creating a culture of call. $24,000 is being allocated to develop the Leadership Incubator, which will focus on youth in grades 6-12. Camping has contracted with a consultant to help them align their ministry with focus of creating a culture of call and developing missional leaders. In the Board of Ordained Ministry budget, there is an expansion of the internship and recruitment efforts. Under College-Age Ministries, there is a $25,000 increase in the Campus Ministry Grants, which have been awarded to primarily churches to aid them in reaching out to this population.

• Budget Freeze – With the change in apportionment method, the Council on Finance and Administration voted for a 0% increase in the 2015 apportioned budget. After 2014, we will have a much better idea of how much will be received through the new apportionment method.

• 0% Premium Increase in HealthFlex – Great market returns and, on average, low claims have resulted in a 0% increase in HealthFlex premiums.