The Central Rocky Mountain Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) equips, enables, and edifies the ministry of 311,000 square miles of Disciples, consisting of 47 congregations and 175 ministers in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Southeast Idaho, and Northwest New Mexico.
Dear Good People of the CRMR Region:
Change has abounded this fall. Here is an update on the changes to the CRMR Board and with the Regional Minister position.
Regional Board news:
Rev. Melissa St. Clair has resigned her position on the regional Board effective, September 30. She served as the CRMR Regional Moderator of the board for the last 4 ½ years. We offer gratitude for all the wisdom, leadership, and vision she provided to this region and board. We are thankful for all her gifts and ministry skills she continues to offer the region as the Senior Pastor at Heart of The Rockies in Ft. Collins.
Chris Straka, and Cheryl Breiner have also tendered their resignations as regional board members after many years of faithful service. We give thanks to them both.
We welcome Brandon Proffitt (Metro District Leader) and Ann Munstermann (Metro District at Large), to the CRMR Board as they have both accepted invitations to serve on the regional board.
Since the Moderator position is normally affirmed at the regional assembly and they begin their term following the assembly, the Executive Committee has asked the current Moderator-elect, Rev. Dr. Barb Wilkins-Crowder, and the immediate past Moderator, Rev. Vinnetta Golphin-Wilkerson to jointly serve as interim co-moderators until the regional assembly in the fall of 2024. The Regional Board met and voted to accept the recommendation of the Executive Committee. If you have questions or comments for the regional board, please email them jointly at: barb.wilkins.crowder@gmail.com and pastorvinnetta@gmail.com.
Executive Regional Minister Position update:
Plans are proceeding for the celebration of Rev. Joan Bell-Haynes’ ministry with us. Please join us on Saturday, November 4th at Heart of the Rockies Christian Church. The celebration starts at 2pm MST and there will be an online option for those that cannot make it in person.
Rev. Pam Holt, Regional Minister of Oklahoma serves as the Chair of the Calling, Advisory, & Orientation Sub-Committee on behalf of the College of Regional Ministers (CRM). Her role is to help the Executive Committee of the Region to identify an Interim Regional Minister and to assign a Regional Minister Search Partner to guide the search committee through the Executive Search process.
The Executive Search process outlines the steps for establishing the Executive Regional Minister Search Committee and the steps forward including “Regional Listening Sessions”, identifying and evaluating potential candidates, and recommending a candidate for the position to the Regional Board.
The Executive Committee of the CRMR Board met with an outstanding candidate, Rev. Dale Matherly, for an interview to serve as our Interim Executive Regional Minister. The Executive Committee agreed that Rev. Matherly would be a good fit for the Central Rocky Mountain Region and voted to make a recommendation to the board. After recommending to the board that we issue a call for Rev. Dale Matherly as our new Interim Regional Minister, the CRMR Board met and voted to accept the recommendation of the Executive Committee and to extend the call. He said YES!
Without further delay, we would like to officially introduce our new Central Rocky Mountain Region Interim Executive Regional Minister, Rev. Dale Matherly! He will start his journey with us as of Nov. 27th, 2023. Please see his information below.
Rev. Dale Matherly, over three decades, has successfully led faith communities, of all sizes, and not-for-profits in building community, clarifying purpose, retiring debt, reorganizing governance structures, and developing leaders who transform their communities. He is committed to helping organizations and individuals thrive as they work to achieve their purpose and fulfill their dreams.
Known as a leader, coach, mentor, and facilitator, Dale is frequently invited to help others realize their aspirations through speaking, teaching, and coaching.
Dale earned a M.A. in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity from the University of Notre Dame, a M.Div. from Emory University, and a B.A. in history from Centre College, certificates as a Leadership Coach and Teach Leadership from Kansas Leadership Center, certification as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator from the Center for Appreciative Inquiry and ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Dale believes that in tending to his relationships with other human beings, he is tending to his relationship with the Divine. Tending to relationships is not always easily accomplished; and at the same time, remains essential to walking the path following Jesus.
Dale’s partner is the Rev. Traci Turner Matherly. Traci currently works in her first career as a speech language pathologist and serves in a Topeka, KS, area school system. Traci and Dale have two adult children, Haley and William. They enjoy hiking and camping along with their rescue pup, Fleur, a Siberian husky.
Dale writes about his call as the Interim Executive Regional Minister in the Central Rocky Mountain Region, “I look forward to serving the CRMR so the region continues to thrive and accomplish it’s mission as the Body of Christ. I believe this work happens most effectively through the strengthening of relationships with clergy and congregations, nurturing clergy and lay leaders in their faith journeys, and discovering ways to expand the welcome table. I am excited about this opportunity, especially as it’s beginning parallels the coming Advent season when we celebrate the new thing God is doing.”
Events & Groups
2023 Camp & Conference Information
Children are our future in every aspect of Life. They are the treasures that God has gifted us to take care of and nurture. Church camp is sometimes the only encounter that these children will have the chance to build life long friendships and most importantly, a chance to encounter God.
Church camp is a chance to have a safe journey to explore that relationship and also discover things they did not know about themselves. We are privileged that parents entrust their children to us and in that we stay in prayer for the staff and the children.
Mark 10:14 NASB
“Permit the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Church camp is a chance to have a safe journey to explore that relationship and also discover things they did not know about themselves. We are privileged that parents entrust their children to us and in that we stay in prayer for the staff and the children.
Mark 10:14 NASB
“Permit the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
