|
July 30, 2025
EaND News and Events
| |
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
| |
Stewardship Planning Days
-
Thursday, August 14, 10am-3pm (Trinity Lutheran, Cooperstown)
-
Sunday, August 17, 1-4pm (ZOOM)
Click here to register.
“How do we talk about money?” “Why does how we talk about money matter?” Join Deacon Erin & Pastor Lexy Steinle for either a full or half day exploring how we talk about money, connect our budgets to our stories, and begin to develop narrative budgets. Lay and rostered leaders are invited!
Cost:
Full Day (In person) - $10
Half Day (Zoom)- $5
Thank you to the Vital Leaders Endowment Fund for helping to fund this event!
| |
Staff Announcement:
Welcome, Pr. Nancy Monke!
The Eastern North Dakota Synod is excited to announce the hiring of Pastor Nancy Monke as Mentor Coach and Developer, a role funded by the 2025 CaSTLE (Country and Small Town Lived Ecclesiology) Project Grant the EaND Synod recently received through Wartburg Theological Seminary. Pastor Nancy will be working as a part of the synod staff with specific responsibilities to build up and support the mentor program for our Synod Lay Ministers and Synod Authorized Ministers. Welcome to the team, Pastor Nancy!
| |
Listening Sessions: Congregations Without a Minister
Final Session:
August 14, 12:00 - 1:30pm, online (Microsoft Teams)
Is your congregation currently without a regular pastor? Join others from across the synod for a virtual Listening Session focused on the realities, challenges, and hopes of ministry without a regular minister.
This is your opportunity to share:
- What’s working—and what’s not
- How your congregation is adapting
- What support you need most
This online session is open to all and is especially designed for those who couldn’t attend in-person gatherings held earlier this summer. All voices are welcome. Let’s shape the future together by listening well today.
📌 Save the date and this link https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTFjZDA4YzktNTgzYi00NzExLWJlZDQtZTJmY2I0MWRkNjUz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224f5e6087-a52d-4009-bed2-1af731e00049%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22d57be750-b2ab-4f84-9d63-de2f0ed1c541%22%7d to attend.
Email janell@insighttosolutions.com for assistance in attending the event. Pre-registration is NOT required but feel free to reach out ahead of time if you need more information or assistance in participating.
| |
CaSTLE Grant Survey
The Eastern North Dakota Synod has received a grant from Wartburg Theological Seminary to support renewal in small-town and rural communities through a focus on equipping people to live out their Christian faith in daily life. 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.
We invite everyone in the Eastern North Dakota Synod to take this brief 5-minute survey. Your participation will help us establish a baseline of attitudes and beliefs as we begin our work with this grant.
Thank you for being part of this important effort!
Click here to take the Survey!
| |
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.
| |
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.
| |
Christopher Lee Friese
will be ordained into the Ministry of Word & Sacrament
In GOD’s ONE, HOLY CATHOLIC, & APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 3pm
Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56560
Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth, Presiding
Rev. Jon Olson, Preaching
Rostered leaders are invited to vest.
Everyone is invited to wear red.
Reception to follow.
Christopher has ben called to serve St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Thompson, ND.
| |
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.
| |
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.
| |
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.
Chaplain, Essentia Health, Fargo (part-time)
This position provides spiritual care to patients of all ages and their families. Services include but are not limited to, individual patient/resident support related to spiritual matters, family support, and prayer. Provide support patients and families facing grief and end of life issues to include assisting with decision making and Advanced Care Planning. May assist or occasionally lead religious ceremonies of worship, rituals and other spiritual care programs as directed. Click here to learn more.
| |
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:
As the church together, we have the support of ministry partners such as Mission Investment Fund, Portico, and the ELCA Foundation. Each has staff available as resources to congregations.
Share "Offering Connections" in your worship bulletin or congregational newsletters! Download the Offering Connections Document: PDF or Word
| |
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.
| |
Working Preacher RCL Newsletter
You can now sign up to receive monthly updates related to the Revised Common Lectionary and free resources from Working Preacher. The Working Preacher RCL Newsletter Provides you with a word of inspiration from the Working Preacher team, along with access to upcoming Sermon Brainwave episodes, text commentaries, and other resources related to preaching in the coming month. It is elivered on the first Wednesday of the month. Sign up here.
| |
Faith+Lead Course: Stepping Up to Supervision
Want to improve your practical, pastoral supervision tools? Faith+Lead's course on supervision begins August 5 and provides the skills you need to lead effectively while staying rooted in your pastoral identity. Learn more at this link.
| |
Courses in Transition Ministry
offered by Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association
Fall Course: Basic Training in Transitions (Online)
October 2, 2025 - January 22, 2026 (Thursday afternoons)
Learn more at this link.
Online Discernment Events: August 14, 12pm CST & September 11, 12pm CST
Get a taste of what to expect doing Intentional Interim Ministry. Ask questions about the Basic Training course.
Registration is open. Click here to learn more.
| |
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!
| |
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
| |
LFCNA Class: Creating a Dementia-Friendly Congregation
August 21, 2025; 6-8pm CST, Zoom
Course Description: During this presentation, participants will learn strategies to create a congregation that is knowledgeable, understanding, and compassionate towards people and families affected by dementia. Going beyond the basics of dementia, faith community nurses will learn how best to support both persons with dementia and their families though evidence-based practice related to daily care, improved communication, maintaining mobility, increased accessibility and safety, and how the love of Christ can be shown in everyday life.
To learn more, download this flyer or visit this webpage.
| |
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.
| |
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).
| |
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.
| |
Recent Communications from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
| |
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.
| | | | |
