Adult Education Reunion 2026: PBMC & LHMC
When: May 26-29, 2026 (Registration is from 3-5PM on Tuesday, May 26th. Depart at 11AM on May 29th.)
Where: Guthrie Grove Retreat Center
Who: All members/friends from Prairie Bluffs and Lamoni Heartland Mission Centers (This is a Reunion specifically designed for adults – there is no childrens’/youth program provided)
Guest Ministry: Seth Bryant (Community of Christ Historic Sites Manager and Field Historian), Sally Roth (Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation Board Member) & David Ettinger (Former PBMC President/Financial Officer)
Activities: Classes, Storytelling, Worship, Fellowship, and Fun!
SETH BRYANT lives in Kirtland, Ohio, and serves as historic sites property manager for Community of Christ. He is a former director of the Kirtland Temple, and also served as pastor of the Salt Lake Community of Christ. Before that, Seth was chaplain for a Marine Corps infantry battalion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan and Twentynine Palms, California. He holds graduate degrees in religion focusing on American religious history.
SALLY ROTH was born and raised in Kansas. She is a life-long member of Community of Christ, a High Priest and serves as Past President of the Board for the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation. Widowed in 2010, Jim and Sally were blessed with a daughter, son-in-law, and four grandchildren, and a son and daughter-in-law, who now all live in the Kansas City area. Recently Sally married Larry Meeker and divides her time between travel and her homes in Wichita and Overland Park, Kansas. Her hobby is RIDES, and she loves to share the adventures which range from helicopters to camels. This snapshot was taken at Niagara Falls on a Historic Sites Bus Tour. Join the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation on the next tour this September as we explore church history in Australia!
DAVID ETTINGER served as a full-time minister for Community of Christ over a 42 year career. Assignments included Youth Minister/Executive Minister for Omaha-Council Bluffs Stake (1980 – 1986), Michiana District President/Michigan Region Young Adult Ministries (1987 – 1990), Director of Community of Christ Historic Sites/Executive Director of Restoration Trail Foundation (1991 – 1994), Congregational Consulting/Cell Group Ministries for Blue Valley/Center/Kansas City/Santa Fe Stakes (1995 – 1996), Missionary Ministries/Liahona College-Age Ministries for Central Missouri Stake (1997 – 1998), Omaha-Council Bluffs Stake President (1998 – 2003), Prairie Bluffs Mission Center President (2004 – 2014), Prairie Bluffs Mission Center President/Financial Officer (2015 – 2022). David also served over his 42 year career as a Pastor at four different congregations, President and Financial Officer for two Campground Associations, President and Financial Officer for two community Ministerial Associations, and President and Financial Officer for the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation.
Prior to working full-time for Community of Christ, David taught Math at Maple Park Jr. High (1977 – 1978, Kansas City, MO), and served as Director of Student Affairs at Park College (1979 – 1980, Parkville, MO). He has a BA in Math Education (Graceland College, 1977), a MA in Higher Education Administration (University of Missouri – Kansas City, 1979), and a MA in Religion (Park University, 1987).
David was born in Des Moines, IA, but spent the majority of his elementary/jr. high/sr. high years in Independence, MO (he graduated from William Chrisman High School in Independence, MO in 1973). Because of his father’s (Cecil Ettinger) full-time employment career with the RLDS/Community of Christ Church, David and his parents/brother and sister spent three years living in Birmingham, England during David’s 2nd – 4th grade years. This full-time ministerial assignment for David’s father also allowed the family to travel extensively all across the British Isles and Continental Europe.
David is married to the former Carolyn Banks (David and Carolyn celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary in December, 2025). They have two children, Joshua and Jennifer, one son-in-law Andy, and three grandchildren – Toby, Eli, and Lucy. David’s hobbies include travel with Carolyn, children, and grandchildren, playing a 12 string guitar that was generously gifted to him at his retirement by the Prairie Bluffs Mission Center, participating in Praise Bands, studying Scripture, swimming for exercise, and cheering for Kansas University Basketball/Kansas City Royals/Kansas City Chiefs!
Cost: $200.00 per person for cabin/duplex/RV. $225.00 per person for the lodge. Fee includes housing, food, guest ministry, and all other administrative costs.
Day Guest Fee: $50 per person per day (no overnight)
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact one of the directors: Janelle Anders (641) 414-6334 or Noel Sherer (712) 592-1456.