Tim Button-Harrison to retire from leadership of Northern Plains District

Tim Button-Harrison has announced his retirement from leadership of the Church of the Brethren’s Northern Plains District. At the Feb. 7-8 meeting of the district board, it was announced that he will retire on Dec. 31, 2025, after having served the district for more than 19 years. He began in the role first on an interim basis in November 2006. In July 2008, he began as district executive minister, a role he has continued since then.

Button-Harrison has served multiple roles in the Council of District Executives including vice chair, secretary, district executive representative on the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee and the On Earth Peace board, among others. From the start of his district executive ministry, he has stayed active regionally with the West-of-the-Mississippi District Executives, hosting their annual retreat several times, and ecumenically with Iowa’s middle judicatory leaders and on the board of directors of the Minnesota Council of Churches.

Previously he served Northern Plains Disrict as Training in Ministry coordinator, district moderator, and Standing Committee representative for two terms. In 2004, he was extended the privilege of preaching at Annual Conference.

His spouse, Mary Jane, also retires at the end of this year after serving for 20 years as senior pastor of Ames First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and he will also conclude his part-time work with that congregation where he has served as minister of Worship and Discipleship since 2011. Before their current ministries, the couple pastored Ankeny Church of the Brethren and Ivester Church of the Brethren. They both are graduates of Bethany Theological Seminary.

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