We could not be more excited to invite you to the Northwest Conference Ministry Celebration and Annual Meeting, held May 1-3, 2025, at Roseville Covenant Church and Minnehaha Academy.
This annual event remains a highlight of our ministry together as we gather to celebrate what God is doing through our churches and affiliated ministries. We hope representatives from each church can participate, as this will be an important time to remember God’s steadfast faithfulness to his Church, and to look forward in the hope that we have in Christ.
Reflecting on 140 years of ministry that began in 1884 with the formation of the Northwestern Missionary Association, we remember that our God is a good and faithful God. At a time when institutional loyalty in our culture is at an all-time low, we do believe we are better together, and as a Conference, we remain committed to serving churches and uniting churches together in service.
You’ll notice that we’ve re-branded this event as our Annual Ministry Celebration, or Celebration for short, which better represents what happens when we gather together. We invite all Northwest Conference ministries to come and experience the joy of ministry and lend your voice to help shape the future of our movement.
This year, we are excited to offer an all-day leadership event for pastors and lay leaders with Dr Tod Bolsinger—accomplished author, consultant, coach—who will lead us through a workshop on practicing change management in our churches. We’re also honored to welcome both President of the ECC, Tammy Swanson-Draheim and Executive Minister of Serve Locally, Paul Robinson, as honored guests.
We believe strongly in the value of shared learning and ministry, and Celebration is a great opportunity for clergy and lay leaders to learn and lead together. We hope to see you there.
With joy!
Kara Stromberg, Superintendent
Coming Soon!
Led by Tod Bolsinger, AE Sloan Leadership
Saturday, May 3, 2025
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (lunch provided)
Minnehaha Academy, North Campus
3100 W River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55406
The Church has been described as being in a time of permanent whitewater, where upheaval and continual disruption is now the norm. As a result, many leaders are growing frustrated and losing heart.
Our Saturday leadership development event is designed to help pastors and lay leaders thrive in seasons of change, so that as thriving leaders, we can lead the church forward in faithfulness and mission, and be the catalyst for meaningful change.
Dr. Bolsinger will be focusing on four areas of leadership:
This event is offered as part of our Northwest Conference Annual Ministry Celebration and is available to all who are serving in leadership with Northwest Conference churches and ministries. As the content will be interactive, this event will be available to in-person attendees only. We encourage you to bring your teams for shared learning and fellowship.
Registration is required for anyone not registered for the NWC Annual Meeting Celebration.
Tod Bolsinger, MDiv, PhD, the Co-Founder and Principal of AE Sloan Leadership, Inc., an executive coaching and consulting firm that works with church, non-profit, university and marketplace leaders in leading change. He is also the Executive Director of the De Pree Center Church Leadership Institute, a Senior Fellow of the De Pree Center for Leadership, Associate Professor of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, was the founder of the Fuller Leadership Platform, and served as a Vice President of Fuller Seminary for six years. Prior to his educational career, he served as a pastor for 27 years.
Tod is the author of nine books, including the Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year in pastoral leadership, Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, the Christian Book Award Finalist, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change, and the Practicing Change Series.
The Annual Meeting is the highest constituted authority in the Northwest Conference (NWC), made up of delegates from member Covenant churches throughout the Conference. Delegates gather together for worship and fellowship, and to elect leaders, review finances, adopt a budget, and address the business of the Conference.
Delegates are appointed representatives from member Covenant churches. Delegates vote on the policies and procedures presented to the Annual Meeting. Delegates receive a packet of information that includes reports, statistics, ballot information, etc. They are also given the privilege of speaking during the meeting and voicing their opinion.
YES.
Advisors: Church plants that are not yet member churches may send 2 advisors. And members in good standing of the Ministerial Association that are not delegates may also be advisors. Advisors may address the body, answer questions, and make suggestions or comments, but an advisor cannot make motions or vote.
Registered Attendees may attend the Annual Meeting without officially representing a member church or a church plant that is not yet a member church. They are not allowed to voice their opinions, ask questions or vote.
Advisors and Registered Attendees should register as a Attender.
The number of delegates each church can send is based on membership as of Dec. 31, 2024.
0-49 members = 2 delegates
50-249 members = 3 delegates
250-499 members = 4 delegates
500+ members = 5 delegates
A meeting guide outlining basic meeting organizational structure and protocols will be available at the meeting.
Registration can be done online or by mail.
3:00 PM Registration (Ministerial Association)
3:30 PM Opening and Worship
3:45 PM Ministerial Association Business Session 1
5:15 PM Dinner
6:30 PM Worship and Communion
7:45 PM Dessert and Fellowship
9:00 AM Worship and Prayer
9:30 AM Superintendent Report
9:40 AM Ordination/Commissioning Candidate Testimonies
10:35 AM Break
10:45 AM Listening Well – City, Suburban, Rural Dialogue
NOON Lunch (Opportunity to Visit Ministry Partner Displays)
1:00 PM Q&A with ECC President Tammy Swanson-Draheim
NOON Lunch (Opportunity to Visit Ministry Partner Displays)
1:00 PM Q&A with ECC President Tammy Swanson-Draheim
2:00 PM Northwest Conference Business Session
4:00 PM Workshops
5:30 PM Dinner
6:45 PM Worship Celebration
9:00 PM Fellowship
9:00 AM Leadership Development with Tod Bolsinger (includes lunch)
3:00 PM Closing