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July 2, 2025
EaND News and Events
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Listening Sessions: Congregations Without a Minister
Next Session:
July 21, 6:30-8:00 pm at Lakota Lutheran Church, Lakota, ND
Are you without a regular pastor in your congregation? What are your experiences and challenges in ministry without a regular minister? What are your future aspirations? How does this impact your ministry and what does synod leadership need to know about your experience? Come for a facilitated small group listening session to share your input. There is room for 15 attendees at each session. These sessions are facilitated by Janell Regimbal, formerly of Lutheran Social Services. Download Janell's bio here.
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2025 Fall Theological Conference
Save the date for the 2025 Fall Theological Conference: September 7-10, 2025 at Fair Hills Resort (Detroit Lakes, MN). Registration will be opening soon!
Gather with your colleagues for a time of renewal and fellowship at the Eastern North Dakota Synod Fall Theological Conference. All rostered ministers are expected to attend this annual event, and lay ministers are welcome to attend (Synod Lay Ministers, youth directors, and other lay ministry professionals).
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EaND Synod Receives CaSTLE Project Grant
The Eastern North Dakota Synod is honored to announce that it has been selected as a grant recipient through The CaSTLE Project: The Country and Small Town Lived Ecclesiology Project, a five-year initiative led by Wartburg Theological Seminary to support renewal in small town and rural congregations.
With this grant, the EaND Synod will receive funding to support the mentor program for Synod Lay Ministers. The project seeks to deepen baptismal identity and cultivate thriving, Spirit-led communities of faith in rural contexts.
The CaSTLE Project, funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc., is part of the Thriving Congregations Initiative and aims to renew a baptismal ecclesiology for the long-term flourishing of rural congregational life. The first cohort of grantees will gather at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA, from August 11–13, 2025, for a summer conference focused on mutual learning, community-building, and innovation.
“We are excited to walk alongside the leaders of the Eastern North Dakota Synod in this journey of renewal,” said Rev. Ramie Bakken, Director of The CaSTLE Project.
Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth expressed her gratitude for this opportunity for the EaND Synod. “This grant allows the synod to expand on the important work that is already happening and to grow it in important ways for the flourishing of ministry in EaND.”
For more information about The CaSTLE Project, visit this link.
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Holy Innovations Grant Application
Grant Application Window: May 15 - July 31, 2025
In our ever-changing world, it is critical the congregations and ministries of Eastern North Dakota Synod are inspired to think creatively about how to share God’s love and grace in the 21st century. The Holy Innovations Endowment will encourage ministry vitality and inspire congregations and ministries to think boldly and innovatively about being the church in the world today. Grants from this endowment will support innovation and experimentation in congregations and ministries. For 2025, five (5) grants up to $500 will be awarded from either the Mustard Seed or Inspire Grant categories.
Download this document or visit our website to learn more.
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Stewardship Starters: Introduction to the Generosity Project
August 12 @ 7pm (Zoom)
Join us for the next Stewardship Starters Webinar on August 12! The Generosity Project is an opportunity to engage all generations to respond to God’s generosity as a year round practice. Join us to learn more about the Generosity Project and how to build stewardship and generosity as a whole congregation.
View this event on our website.
Click here for the Zoom link.
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Stewardship Planning Days
Thursday, August 14, 10am-3pm (In-person, TBD)
Sunday, August 17, 1-4pm (ZOOM)
Click here to register.
For lay leaders and rostered ministers, of congregations of all sizes! The full day gathering will include developing a framework for talking generosity as cultivating stories that are behind our budgets. Participants will leave with the beginnings of a narrative budget. The half-day will be a condensed version of the same content! Registration information coming soon!
Suggested pre-reading:
Embracing Stewardship (Chick Lane & Grace Duddy Pomroy)
Unlacing the Heart (Henry Freeman)
Cost:
Full Day (In person) - $10
Half Day (Zoom)- $5
Thank you to the Vital Leaders Endowment Fund for helping to fund this event!
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2025 Boundaries Trainings
The Eastern North Dakota Synod is partnering with the Southeastern Minnesota Synod to offer boundaries trainings in 2025. We have one more training scheduled for September. Click on the link below to register.
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Call Process
Please pray for congregations and rostered ministers in the call process. You can find a list of congregations currently in the call process on our website.
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New Regional Job Openings:
Oak Grove Campus Pastor (Fargo, ND)
Oak Grove Lutheran School in Fargo is seeking to hire a campus pastor for the 2025-2026 school year. Click here to download the job description. You can also view this posting on our website.
Lutheran Campus Ministry & Fusion Youth Ministry Director
(Morris, MN)
Lutheran Campus Ministry of Morris, Minnesota and Fusion Youth Ministry of Stevens County, Minnesota are searching for a full time ministry professional. These two ministries are excited to be partnering to minister to young people in our area. Click here to download the job description. You can also view this posting on our website.
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Hickson Lutheran: Church Items to Give Away or Sell
The Hickson Lutheran Church in Hickson, ND (10 miles south of Fargo on I-29) has years of contents to give away or sell to another congregation prior to our final sale. This includes the alter, rail, baptismal font, Christmas trees & decorations (including a large and small manger scene) pews, hymnals, tons of sheet music, kitchen items, tables and chairs, etc. Think of what is in a Church and we have it! Please email Laura, Hickson Lutheran Church council member, at laura.oster-aaland@ndsu.edu for more information.
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Together we respond to God’s provision by sharing of our financial gifts, both as an act of worship and in support of our mission and ministry as Christ’s Church. Our shared gifts support ministry of our congregations, in our community, across the Eastern North Dakota Synod, throughout the ELCA, and around the globe. Today we recognize:
Together, our financial support provides lay leadership training and congregational retreats for congregations across the synod, led by synod staff.
Share "Offering Connections" in your worship bulletin or congregational newsletters! Download the Offering Connections Document: PDF or Word
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This training will teach you the basic skills used by executive and life coaches. A coaching grant from the Vital Leaders Endowment Fund will cover half the cost of the Coaching for Everyday Life training for EaND rostered ministers. Contact Deacon Erin if you are interested!
Click here to go to the main event page. Click here to register.
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Feast of Abundance Grant Opportunity
The Stewardship of Life Institute is giving away $100,000 in $1000 grants for ELCA congregations to throw a Feast of Abundance for their church neighborhoods!
Any congregation can do the following:
- Enter a drawing to win a $1000 grant OR Donate $1000 to increase number of grants (if your congregation is able) AND/OR
- Announce plans to self-fund a Feast of Abundance neighborhood gathering
- Drawing will take place live on YouTube (link will be sent) August 18, 2 pm EDT
Download the flyer or visit this website for more information.
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Grocery Assistance Program at Luther Seminary
We’ve recently learned that Luther Seminary needs to reduce their budget and is removing a line that has supported grocery assistance for students. This supplement allows students to access $25 of basic groceries for themselves or their families each week. Currently, 28 students have requested this assistance. The annual cost of the program is about $34,000. While any enrolled student may participate, most of those served by this program are international students.
The nine synods in our region (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota) are working together to see if, together, we can raise the needed funds to restore this program. If you or your congregation can help, you can make an online donation or mail a check (Grocery Assistance for Students in the memo, and send to Luther Seminary, Business Office, 2481 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108).
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Peace of the Prairie: Second Annual Retreat for Church Musicians
September 11-13, 2025
You are invited to experience the peace of the prairie at Shalom Hill Farm in rural Windom, MN. This retreat is designed to offer a time of renewal for church musicians as a new year of programming begins. The retreat will include worship, discussion, resource sharing and fellowship, as well as opportunities to enjoy the walking prayer trails, prayer labyrinth, and the peace of the prairie landscape of Shalom Hill Farm. We pray this retreat will provide inspiration and encouragement to all who attend.
Musicians will be introduced to Shalom Hill Farm’s newly commissioned liturgical resources including Peace of the Prairie: A Liturgy for Here and Now and Shalom Daily Prayers: Morning, Midday, Evening.
Download this flyer to learn more.
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Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy
Registration for the Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy is now open, and you are invited to join other rostered leaders, musicians, and scholars Aug. 13-15 in Minneapolis. The first Seminar will welcome Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson (Notre Dame), Lizette Larson-Miller (University of Huron), Ed Foley (Catholic Theological Union), Audrey West (LSTC/Yale), and a host of other workshop leaders under the theme “Let it Be With Me According to Your Word: From Praying to Knowing to Doing.” Intended to foster conversation about the liturgical formation of pastors, deacons, and musicians in the ELCA, the Seminar will also welcome a host of musicians and ensembles, including MN Boychoir, the Summer Singers, Daniel Schwandt, Chad Fothergill, Andrew Schaeffer, and Kevin Vaughn. You can register at www.seminarliturgy.org.
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Recent Communications from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
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Get Ready for LSM 2025!
Join us at Valparaiso University from June 22 to July 20 for our 43rd season, featuring over 30 free concerts, recitals, and worship services. Can’t make it in person? Watch online via Live from LSM! Highlights include the beloved Bach Cantata Eucharist,
Festival of Hymns, and the debut Faculty Organ Recital. Don’t miss Festival Week with powerful performances from the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir.
Visitor details and online access: LSMacademy.org/2025
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Phone: 701.232.3381
Physical Address: 1555 43rd St S, Suite 100, Fargo, ND 58103
Mailing Address: PO Box 2019 Fargo, ND 58107
Office Hours:
Monday: by appointment
Tuesday: 9am-4pm
Wednesday: 9am-4pm
Thursday: by appointment
Friday: 9am-4pm
The physical office is only open by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays; however, the phone will be answered between 1pm-4pm.
We are a Reconciling in Christ Synod.
We, as the Eastern North Dakota Synod ELCA, welcome all into the fullness of God's boundless love, without exception. This welcome is inclusive of people of every race, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental ability, sex, or station in life. United in Christ, we pledge to use and celebrate our differences as gifts for our work together in all things, including racial equity, intentional invitations, and radical hospitality. Inspired by Christ, we commit to advocate for justice, working for dignity, equity, and wholeness for all people.
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