Higher Ground retreat participants walk the labyrinth at Terra Sancta Retreat Center.

In 2018, leadership from the Dakotas Conference responded to the Lilly Endowment's call for proposals for the Thriving in Ministry grant program. The initial proposal set out the vision for the Higher Ground Initiative. The proposal stated, “We are committed to making key decisions in the designing of programs and the allocation of resources that will infuse our clergy leadership with the vision and skills to be disciples and who make disciples through healthy systems and organizations. We also seek to equip them to impact their communities by embodying that spirit of thriving through their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. We do this amidst the challenge to overcome geographical limitations.... We would accomplish this by working with clergy at key junctures in their careers to help them re-assess their calling and gifts, re-engage their passion and effectiveness, and experience times of retreat, renewal, and refocus.”

Over the past 7.5 years, the Higher Ground Initiative has had a significant impact on clergy and congregations alike.

“Clergy – pastoral leaders and those appointed to ministry outside of the local church – have experienced an increased clarity around changes needed in life and ministry,” reflected Diane Owen, Dakotas-Minnesota Area director of clergy well-being. “These changes often included a renewed sense of calling as a clergy leader, which helps improve one’s leadership effectiveness in the local church and the ministry to which they are appointed.”

“Congregations and clergy have often experienced a renewed sense of energy, focus, and purpose after Higher Ground,” she added.

Owen, who has led the Higher Ground Initiative since 2022, transitioned to part-time status beginning January 1, 2026. She will continue to serve as the DK-MN Area director of clergy well-being, as well as care for the annual coaching portion of the Higher Ground Initiative, working with clergy and conference leadership to identify individual and group needs for wholistic leadership development.

With this transition, Rev. Michele Slott has been appointed to serve as the Higher Ground program coordinator beginning January 1. In this ¼-time role, Slott will assume leadership of the Recharge-Refocus portion of the Initiative, also referred to as the “Retreat Track.” Slott will continue to serve as the pastor of Open Heart United Methodist Church in Rapid City, South Dakota, with her appointment shifting to ¾-time.

Rev. Michele Slott, Higher Ground program coordinator.

“Michele brings quiet wisdom informed by life and ministry experiences, joys and challenges,” said Owen. “She is a thoughtful and insightful leader well-positioned to explore and design a Higher Ground experience formative for clergy leaders in a time such as this.”

Slott was ordained an elder in the Dakotas Conference in 2024. After a career in graphic design, marketing, and project management, she answered the call to pastoral ministry and was appointed as the associate pastor at Rapid City First United Methodist Church in 2018. She has served at Open Heart UMC since 2020.

Over the past several years, Pastor Michele has led the Lay Academy which provided training, education, and mentoring for laity called to ministries of preaching, worship leading, and congregational care. She brings this diversity of experience and passion to this new role.
“Creating makes me feel close to God, whether it’s writing a sermon, drawing a still-life, or pulling together a leadership retreat,” shared Pastor Michele. “I have also had a strong pull to wholistic wellness since I was a kid. With this new role I'm particularly excited to create something new to benefit the well-being of my clergy colleagues and laity in ministry.”

Slott will pick up the mantle of leading the redesign, development, and implementation of this portion of the initiative, which is meant to offer clergy a guided, intentional time apart for discernment, growth, encouragement, and connection at regular junctures in their ministry. She will be supported in this work by strategic partners who have been instrumental in the Higher Ground work and development.

“I am aware of a number of people who stopped being part of the church because they just got tired. Burned out. They didn’t know how to establish healthy boundaries, and they just gave until they couldn’t anymore. And then they gave up,” shared Pastor Michele. “Even though we are following a call from God, and at times it is a really rewarding journey, being in ministry is incredibly difficult for so many reasons. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially– it can be draining.”

Higher Ground focuses on the six dimensions of well-being.

“And we are more than our ministry. We are beloved children of God,” she continued. “For pastors and other ministry leaders to be able to look forward to a regular, focused time of replenishment is critical for our own healthy discipleship and personhood.”

The importance of connectional care and support and in taking time out from ministry are values that Pastor Michele has experienced first-hand.

“I am incredibly thankful for the love and grace poured out for me and my family after my son went through his motorcycle accident in 2024,” shared Pastor Michele. “The time I was given to step out of ministry to just be part of his journey showed me the importance of being able to disconnect from ministry to stay connected to God and better love others.”

With this personal experience, love for her clergy colleagues, and understanding of the importance of wholistic, integrated leadership for healthy congregations, Pastor Michele is ready to begin the ongoing work of Higher Ground.

“Shifting gears downward also gives an opportunity to shift perspective. With renewed perspective can come renewed purpose,” said Slott. “From what I have seen, congregations that are willing to shift with their pastors and other ministry leaders as they continue to pursue healthy ministries will also find renewed love of God, commitment to Christ, and seasons of fruitfulness.”