MOUNTAIN LAKE, MN
JUNE 25-28, 2026
A NOTE FROM EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE MINISTER, NATHAN LUITJENS:
A truly reconciled community is the greatest witness the church can have for the polarized world in which we find ourselves today.
I don’t know where I heard this quote and I’m sure my retelling is more of a paraphrase than a quote, but I believe the sentiment is true. As one of my pastors noted this past Sunday, what often passes for unity in the church today is actually uniformity, where it is expected that all who are part of that community will think alike. But this is not what is meant by unity nor is it what is meant when we think of a reconciled community.
At this year’s annual meeting I am excited that Betty Pries will be joining us as our keynote speaker and as someone who will be leading two of our delegate sessions where she will engage us in immersive experiences around reconciliation. Betty is the CEO of Credence & Co. and is highly regarded as a Conflict, Change, and Leadership Specialist. As CEO, Betty spends her time working with clients, as well as writing and speaking about organizational health, teamwork, and leadership. Betty has a PhD from the Free University Amsterdam on the topic of conflict transformation. She is a Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada and a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario.
Betty has written a book called, The Space Between Us, in which she explores many of these concepts, turning particularly toward the theme of conflict. This quote from the Credence and Co. website helps us to understand more clearly the work Betty will do while she is with us at our annual meeting. “Conflict is inevitable. But rather than approaching conflicts as threats or problems to be solved, what if we could see our disagreements as opportunities for personal growth? Could our differences push us toward developing healthier relationships and communities? In the book, facilitator and mediator Betty Pries gently guides readers toward seeing discord as an opportunity for positive change and a way to build resilience. Rooted in the conviction that conflict can strengthen our relationships and deepen our self-knowledge, Pries offers practical skills for engaging conflict and casts a vision for a more joy-filled future.
To get here, Pries plumbs the depth of both conflict theory and contemplative spirituality, proposing a vision for engaging conflict in new and life-giving ways. Rooted in Christian practices of mindfulness, connecting with our most authentic selves, and deep listening to uncover new possibilities, this book offers new ways forward in the face of interpersonal and organizational conflicts.”
I am firmly convinced that the opportunity for the church to be the church, to bear witness to God’s reconciling power at work in our congregations and communities is greater now than it has been over the last several decades. Join us as we open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, making a way forward as we engage deeply with one another.
-Nathan
A truly reconciled community is the greatest witness the church can have for the polarized world in which we find ourselves today.
I don’t know where I heard this quote and I’m sure my retelling is more of a paraphrase than a quote, but I believe the sentiment is true. As one of my pastors noted this past Sunday, what often passes for unity in the church today is actually uniformity, where it is expected that all who are part of that community will think alike. But this is not what is meant by unity nor is it what is meant when we think of a reconciled community.
At this year’s annual meeting I am excited that Betty Pries will be joining us as our keynote speaker and as someone who will be leading two of our delegate sessions where she will engage us in immersive experiences around reconciliation. Betty is the CEO of Credence & Co. and is highly regarded as a Conflict, Change, and Leadership Specialist. As CEO, Betty spends her time working with clients, as well as writing and speaking about organizational health, teamwork, and leadership. Betty has a PhD from the Free University Amsterdam on the topic of conflict transformation. She is a Chartered Mediator with the ADR Institute of Canada and a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario.
Betty has written a book called, The Space Between Us, in which she explores many of these concepts, turning particularly toward the theme of conflict. This quote from the Credence and Co. website helps us to understand more clearly the work Betty will do while she is with us at our annual meeting. “Conflict is inevitable. But rather than approaching conflicts as threats or problems to be solved, what if we could see our disagreements as opportunities for personal growth? Could our differences push us toward developing healthier relationships and communities? In the book, facilitator and mediator Betty Pries gently guides readers toward seeing discord as an opportunity for positive change and a way to build resilience. Rooted in the conviction that conflict can strengthen our relationships and deepen our self-knowledge, Pries offers practical skills for engaging conflict and casts a vision for a more joy-filled future.
To get here, Pries plumbs the depth of both conflict theory and contemplative spirituality, proposing a vision for engaging conflict in new and life-giving ways. Rooted in Christian practices of mindfulness, connecting with our most authentic selves, and deep listening to uncover new possibilities, this book offers new ways forward in the face of interpersonal and organizational conflicts.”
I am firmly convinced that the opportunity for the church to be the church, to bear witness to God’s reconciling power at work in our congregations and communities is greater now than it has been over the last several decades. Join us as we open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, making a way forward as we engage deeply with one another.
-Nathan
|
ALSO AT ANNUAL MEETING: Clergy Code of Conduct Orientation
The delegate body of MC USA affirmed the Prevention & Accountability resource in July 2025. A part of the resource is a new Clergy Code of Conduct, for which all credentialed leaders are accountable. On Thursday, June 25, Michael Danner, Denominational Minister for Church Safety, will provide an orientation to that code of conduct, walk you through the expectations, and answer any questions you may have as you consider ministry in that context. The Code of Conduct is intended to provide a healthy context for ministry that protects both you, as a credentialed leader, and those in our communities. The orientation session is set for 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on June 25 in the sanctuary at Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, MN prior to the opening of Central Plains Annual Meeting. All pastors and other credentialed leaders are encouraged to attend. This orientation (in person or online) is mandatory for all who hold credentials and strongly recommended for lay ministers. |