Letter from Bishop Lanette Plambeck
Regarding recent reporting inaccuracies in the Dakotas Conference
Dear Beloved of the Dakotas Conference:
We greet each of you in the name of our Triune God.
As we journey through this Lenten season of prayer, self-reflection, and examination, we find ourselves in a challenging moment in the life of the church. While there are many reasons to celebrate across the Dakotas: testimonies of increased engagement in worship and small group participation, United Methodists witnessing to their faith through creating new places for new people and answering God’s call into ministry, and so much more – it is in the spirit of Matthew 18:15-17a, we write you regretting the need even to do so.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church.” Matthew 18:15-17a, CEB
Recently, you may have received via e-mail, video, blog, or live presentation incorrect information regarding the Dakotas Annual Conference, Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions, Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, and the Dakotas | Minnesota Methodist Foundations. While we are seeking to address these inaccuracies directly in churches where we are aware disinformation has been shared, it is also necessary to raise this to the awareness of all our clergy and churches.
One falsehood is in regard to the former chair of the Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. It is claimed that because of the former chair’s belief in traditional marriage, they were warned that if they didn’t step down from their position on the board, they would be forced to resign. The record shows that, in the spring of 2022, the former board chair became a part of the leadership of the newly forming Global Methodist Church. Some clergy colleagues of the former chair believed that the role in leadership in a different denomination was a conflict of interest with the position, authority, and responsibility granted the chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry in The United Methodist Church. Not only did the colleagues share these concerns directly with the former chair, they also indicated their intent to bring these concerns to the clergy session. The former chair chose to step down.
A second false claim relates to the Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions. It was stated: “The retirees, widows, and their spouses received a letter that said if they considered leaving and joining the Global Methodist Church, they would cut off their health benefits.” The Dakotas Conference provides an HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) stipend to retired clergy and their spouses if they have served more than 20 years in the Dakotas Conference as long as they continue to be members of the Dakotas Conference. If the pastor’s membership with the conference is ended (to join another United Methodist Conference or other denomination), they lose this benefit. This is not related to where they attend church in retirement—it is related to clergy membership in the Dakotas Conference. The policy is not new, nor is it related to the formation of the Global Methodist Church. On November 1, 2022, a letter related to spouses of deceased clergy containing confusing verbiage regarding their benefits was sent. Upon discovering this issue, a clarification letter was sent out on December 1, 2022, ensuring these persons knew their benefits were not affected.
A third false claim emerged amid multiple defamatory statements made about the Dakotas | Minnesota Methodist Foundations by the former treasurer of the Dakotas Annual Conference. They claimed the Foundation was robbing churches of endowed funds. Even going so far as to say that the Foundation was going to rob the church they were speaking at. That allegation of a crime, as well as other false statements regarding the Foundation and its operations, are patently false. By law, the Foundation must abide by specific legal and fiduciary requirements and are doing so diligently and thoroughly as stewards of the Foundation. Endowments and other contributions to the Foundation have been and will continue to be held and distributed in accordance with donor intent and applicable law.
Finally, there are additional false allegations regarding the transparency in the Dakotas Conference regarding the disaffiliation process. The false claim is that district superintendents have been hiding the disaffiliation process from congregations since it was presented in January of 2020. This is both untrue and a misrepresentation. As a result of the adopted legislation known as ¶ 2553, that passed at General Conference 2019, the Dakotas Conference put in place a disaffiliation process for churches for whom human sexuality is a church-dividing issue. Information about the process was shared through conference communications starting back in 2020. The process was utilized in a very public and painful way in 2021, which included debate on the floor of the Dakotas Annual Conference. For the past three years at church/charge conferences, updates about our denominational divide have been shared, including information regarding disaffiliation.
In closing, and in the spirit of Matthew 18, when false claims are being made, which instill fear and mistrust, and those making these claims choose not to correct their disinformation, we must speak up in order to maintain the integrity of the disaffiliation process. We do this as Christ-followers in the Wesleyan Way, upholding the three simple rules of doing no harm, doing good, and attending to the ordinances of God. Harm is being done by the spread of disinformation, as noted above. The request that we have made to discontinue the spread of disinformation has gone unheeded. Therefore, we bring these false claims to the attention of the church. In the spirit and heart of Christ, let us hold to integrity even as we navigate this difficult season.
If you have questions or need clarification, please contact your district superintendent.
To quote John Wesley, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite….”
May the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit sustain you.
Bishop Lanette Plambeck
Dakotas Conference Cabinet
Dakotas | Minnesota Foundations
Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions
Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry
We greet each of you in the name of our Triune God.
As we journey through this Lenten season of prayer, self-reflection, and examination, we find ourselves in a challenging moment in the life of the church. While there are many reasons to celebrate across the Dakotas: testimonies of increased engagement in worship and small group participation, United Methodists witnessing to their faith through creating new places for new people and answering God’s call into ministry, and so much more – it is in the spirit of Matthew 18:15-17a, we write you regretting the need even to do so.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and correct them when you are alone together. If they listen to you, then you’ve won over your brother or sister. But if they won’t listen, take with you one or two others so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. But if they still won’t pay attention, report it to the church.” Matthew 18:15-17a, CEB
Recently, you may have received via e-mail, video, blog, or live presentation incorrect information regarding the Dakotas Annual Conference, Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions, Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, and the Dakotas | Minnesota Methodist Foundations. While we are seeking to address these inaccuracies directly in churches where we are aware disinformation has been shared, it is also necessary to raise this to the awareness of all our clergy and churches.
One falsehood is in regard to the former chair of the Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. It is claimed that because of the former chair’s belief in traditional marriage, they were warned that if they didn’t step down from their position on the board, they would be forced to resign. The record shows that, in the spring of 2022, the former board chair became a part of the leadership of the newly forming Global Methodist Church. Some clergy colleagues of the former chair believed that the role in leadership in a different denomination was a conflict of interest with the position, authority, and responsibility granted the chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry in The United Methodist Church. Not only did the colleagues share these concerns directly with the former chair, they also indicated their intent to bring these concerns to the clergy session. The former chair chose to step down.
A second false claim relates to the Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions. It was stated: “The retirees, widows, and their spouses received a letter that said if they considered leaving and joining the Global Methodist Church, they would cut off their health benefits.” The Dakotas Conference provides an HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) stipend to retired clergy and their spouses if they have served more than 20 years in the Dakotas Conference as long as they continue to be members of the Dakotas Conference. If the pastor’s membership with the conference is ended (to join another United Methodist Conference or other denomination), they lose this benefit. This is not related to where they attend church in retirement—it is related to clergy membership in the Dakotas Conference. The policy is not new, nor is it related to the formation of the Global Methodist Church. On November 1, 2022, a letter related to spouses of deceased clergy containing confusing verbiage regarding their benefits was sent. Upon discovering this issue, a clarification letter was sent out on December 1, 2022, ensuring these persons knew their benefits were not affected.
A third false claim emerged amid multiple defamatory statements made about the Dakotas | Minnesota Methodist Foundations by the former treasurer of the Dakotas Annual Conference. They claimed the Foundation was robbing churches of endowed funds. Even going so far as to say that the Foundation was going to rob the church they were speaking at. That allegation of a crime, as well as other false statements regarding the Foundation and its operations, are patently false. By law, the Foundation must abide by specific legal and fiduciary requirements and are doing so diligently and thoroughly as stewards of the Foundation. Endowments and other contributions to the Foundation have been and will continue to be held and distributed in accordance with donor intent and applicable law.
Finally, there are additional false allegations regarding the transparency in the Dakotas Conference regarding the disaffiliation process. The false claim is that district superintendents have been hiding the disaffiliation process from congregations since it was presented in January of 2020. This is both untrue and a misrepresentation. As a result of the adopted legislation known as ¶ 2553, that passed at General Conference 2019, the Dakotas Conference put in place a disaffiliation process for churches for whom human sexuality is a church-dividing issue. Information about the process was shared through conference communications starting back in 2020. The process was utilized in a very public and painful way in 2021, which included debate on the floor of the Dakotas Annual Conference. For the past three years at church/charge conferences, updates about our denominational divide have been shared, including information regarding disaffiliation.
In closing, and in the spirit of Matthew 18, when false claims are being made, which instill fear and mistrust, and those making these claims choose not to correct their disinformation, we must speak up in order to maintain the integrity of the disaffiliation process. We do this as Christ-followers in the Wesleyan Way, upholding the three simple rules of doing no harm, doing good, and attending to the ordinances of God. Harm is being done by the spread of disinformation, as noted above. The request that we have made to discontinue the spread of disinformation has gone unheeded. Therefore, we bring these false claims to the attention of the church. In the spirit and heart of Christ, let us hold to integrity even as we navigate this difficult season.
If you have questions or need clarification, please contact your district superintendent.
To quote John Wesley, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite….”
May the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit sustain you.
Bishop Lanette Plambeck
Dakotas Conference Cabinet
Dakotas | Minnesota Foundations
Dakotas Conference Board of Pensions
Dakotas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry