Two Moody County churches that welcomed new female pastors just over two years ago are preparing for change once again, as both pastors are moving into new chapters of their lives and ministries.
At Flandreau United Methodist, Pastor Janice Thompson will be stepping away from pastoral ministry at the end of June. Thompson and her family plan to relocate to Sioux Falls, where she will take a leave of absence from active ministry to focus on family and personal renewal.
Thompson, who has served as a pastor since 2015, first served a congregation in Howard, followed by Beresford, before making Flandreau her home. She says her time here has been deeply meaningful.
Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church has already said farewell to Pastor Ramona Hayes. Hayes has accepted a new call as the Rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brookings. Her last day with OSLC was March 30.
“I loved my time in Flandreau. It’s a great community with wonderful people. I especially loved being a part of our community VBS,” Hayes said.
“It was a difficult decision to leave. I love the congregation of OSLC. I’ll especially miss working with the confirmation students.”

Thompson shares similar feelings about leaving.
“I’ll miss all of the families I’ve grown so close to in the community, but I know God is with me on this next stage of my life and career,” Thompson said.
“It’s heartbreaking, but after our church voted (LGBTQIA+inclusion) and so many people left, I realized I needed a minute and it hit me last spring that I needed a minute to breathe to gather my thoughts and gather myself and gather my faith back. I need to refill my bucket.”
Globally, the United Methodist churches were given the option last spring to disaffiliate based on their beliefs around human sexuality, particularly regarding the ordination and marriage of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Flandreau United Methodist voted to remain with the UMC, a vote that saw close to half of the church’s population leave for other places of worship.
Transitions like these are never easy, especially in smaller, more rural communities where churches are more than just places of worship. Generations have gathered in these churches and gone through countless life experiences together.
“I hope helping ground someone in their faith means that no matter what happens, no matter what they go through, they are never alone. I think sometimes we all want Jesus to come in and work His miracle…sometimes I think we forget that Jesus is with us,” Thompson said.
Both Thompson and Hayes have expressed how grateful they are for their time in Flandreau and how much they cherish the relationships built within the community.
“As a pastor, I always hope that I am able to show by my words and actions God’s steadfast love and grace for all people. I hope that I have helped people grow in their faith,” Thompson said.
Flandreau United Methodist will welcome a familiar face this summer. Reverend David Jennys — pronounced Jenn-iss — who is currently serving as the interim pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran here. He will step into the pastoral role at FUMC in July.