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July 16, 2025
EaND News and Events
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2025 Fall Theological Conference: Registration Now Open!
Registration is now open for the 2025 Fall Theological Conference on September 7-10, 2025 at Fair Hills Resort!
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). We hope to see you at the lake!
You can learn more at this link.
Registration deadline: August 22, 2025
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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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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
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Thursday, August 14, 10am-3pm
(Trinity Lutheran, Cooperstown)
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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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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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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:
Our shared gifts support the development of social statements and social messages, documents that guide our engagement as a public church.
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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Update: Spirit Lake Drinking Water
Great news: safe drinking water has been restored to the Spirit Lake community! A huge thank you to all those who generously donated bottled water this summer. Donations can be paused at this time. Download the press release here.
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As ever and with your support, our church stands ready to walk with our neighbors in the Texas Hill Country as the floodwaters recede and rebuilding begins. Lutheran Disaster Response is coordinating with the Southwestern Texas Synod and will work with them and other partners to respond to urgent needs, provide emotional and spiritual care, and support cleanup and long-term recovery.
Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response ensure that our neighbors are not alone on the long road to recovery after disasters like the floods in Texas. Give now at ELCA.org/flooding/donate.
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Creating Supportive Spaces for Neurodiverse Youth & Adults
The Gospel is good news for everyone—but too often, our churches struggle to reflect the full diversity of God’s people, especially when it comes to neurodiverse youth and adults. That’s why the ELCA Evangelism Network invites you to our next monthly gathering: “Creative Connections and Supportive Spaces for Neurodiverse Youth and Adults,” led by Rev. Carla Christopher, on Monday, July 28 at 2 PM CST.
This conversation will explore how congregations can move beyond accommodation into celebration—creating environments where neurodiverse individuals aren’t just welcomed but seen, heard, and empowered to lead. Whether you’re a ministry leader, educator, parent, or ally, this session will equip you with:
- Insight into neurodiverse experiences within church settings
- Practical tools for creating inclusive worship, education, and fellowship
- Creative ideas for engagement that go beyond traditional models
Zoom Details: Click on this Zoom link, for inspiration, encouragement, time for connecting and prayer! (Meeting ID: 818 8446 7818 Passcode: 331005)
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Youth & Children Ministry Conference
Are you a leader in youth or children's ministry? Join us for the upcoming YCM Conference at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bismarck on September 27! This special event is all about connection, inspiration, and equipping. You'll have the opportunity to meet with others who share your passion for ministry, exchange ideas, and discover new resources to help you grow in your role and strengthen your impact.
Download this PDF to learn more.
Register here!
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LEAD: Love Our Neighbors Online Cohort
As our neighborhoods, world, and connections to one another continue to change each day, it becomes vital for our congregations to strengthen their roots in the neighborhoods where they are planted. We don’t have to do this work alone but we can do this together in community! You are invited to join our FIRST Love Our Neighbors Online Cohort that will launch this fall.
What will we do together?
- Dig into scripture and learning that prepares us for holy listening.
- Practice holy listening with the neighbors around our church buildings.
- Get curious about what the Holy Spirit is calling us into as a faith community.
- Experiment with what we have learned.
NOTE: You are highly encouraged to bring a team of current leaders or a new team of curious leaders who want to dig into this faithful and holy work.
Meeting Dates/Times: September 4th, 18th, October 2nd, 30th and November 13th from 7:00-8:30 pm CT.
Cost: $300 per congregation
Deadline: August 15
Learn more and register here
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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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ELCA Churchwide Assembly
Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will gather for the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, July 28–Aug. 2 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Meeting under the theme “For the Life of the World,” the assembly will participate in plenary discussions to make decisions about the work of this church. They will also spend time in worship and engage in various ways of theological reflection.
The triennial gathering — the highest legislative body of the denomination — is composed of an allocated 845 voting members, serving on behalf of the 2.7 million members of the ELCA. The ELCA’s 65 synods elect voting members to serve at churchwide assemblies. Read more at this link.
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Recent Communications from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
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Experience Live from LSM this July!
Join Lutheran Summer Music for our 43rd season at Valparaiso University, June 22–July 20! Can’t attend in person? Experience over 30 inspiring concerts, recitals, and worship services online through Live from LSM.
Highlights include the beloved Bach Cantata Eucharist, the Festival of Hymns, the debut Faculty Organ Recital, and Festival Week performances by the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir.
Explore the full schedule and tune in at LSMacademy.org/2025. All events are free and available to stream live or on demand. Don’t miss this transformative celebration of music, faith, and community!
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Handbell Master Class and Concert: July 19
There will be a master class for those interested in learning about handbells beginning at 4 pm at First Congregational UCC of Moorhead. This will be taught by Nikki Evans. She is a solo handbell ringer and does work with 4-in-hand and 6-in-hand as well as bell tree techniques. There will be a solo/duet handbell concert following at 6 pm. Everyone interested in handbells is invited to the master class. Both events are free to the public.
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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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