Grant money is once again available for local churches to preserve and make accessible their historical papers, minutes, records and other artifacts. The Conference Commission on Archives and History has 5 matching grants available for up to $500 each. The Commission has extended the deadline until July 29.   Click here for an application form in pdf.  Click here for an application form in Microsoft Word.

“The commission hopes that in doing the work necessary to preserve history that local churches all over the Dakotas might rediscover the missionary zeal with which they were founded,” said the Rev. R. Duane Coates, chair of the conference commission. “By making that history visible, perhaps others might catch the spark for the purpose of our current church and fan the flames of authentic faith.”

Photo: Rev. R. Duane Coates, chair, Dakotas Conference Commission on Archives and History.  File photo.

Southern Hills UMC gratefully acknowledges receipt of such a grant, the Warren Kuhler Memorial Grant, in 2015. This $500 grant, matched by the congregation, aided Southern Hills in celebrating its 25-year history in Sioux Falls and in beginning to preserve and store its historical records.

Anniversary celebrations included a dinner and program on April 9th at Southern Hills and a Commemorative Worship Service followed by a reception on Sunday, April 10. The celebrations were attended by more than 200 present and former members (including charter members), a former pastor, several pastors who were mentored at Southern Hills and Ginny Tarver, widow of the founding pastor. With the help of fundraisers held during the past year and proceeds from the grant, attendees were able to attend the dinner and Sunday reception without cost. Framed photographs of the late Rev. Russ Tarver, Rev. Steve Ziebarth, Rev. Ross Reinhiller, and Rev. Duane Coates were presented during the celebration and will remain on permanent display in the church sanctuary. Photographs and videos from the anniversary celebration and videotaped remembrances prior to the celebration can be viewed on the Southern Hills website at http://sohillssumc.com.

The Kuhler Grant helped Southern Hills start the process of transferring its older photographs to acid-free storage sheets and binders and explore ways to catalog and electronically store photos going forward. As a result of receiving the grant we are planning to include a $500 line item in the 2017 budget to assure a secure, accessible way to maintain church historical information in the future.

The other grant awarded in the 2015-16 year was to Viborg (S.D.) United Methodist Church, which dates its origin to 1874 in the days of Dakota Territory. The grant helped fund a lockable fire-proof filing cabinet and archival supplies to preserve historical records of the oldest church in Turner County.

Any congregation interested in being considered for a Kuhler Memorial Grant should contact Rev. Duane Coates at dcoates70@yahoo.com or any member of the Conference Commission on Archives & History by July 29. The grants are named in memory of Warren Kuhler, a former South Dakota conference lay leader and member of the commission from Wakonda, S.D.