November 22, 2023

EaND News and Events

Exploring Acts: Synod-wide Book Study

Join your siblings in Christ from all around the Eastern ND Synod in a synod-wide Scripture read! Together, we will dwell in the words and stories of the book of Acts throughout January & February 2024. Each day, you are encouraged to read one chapter of Acts, and every Sunday afternoon we will gather via Zoom for conversation with Dr. Eric Barreto, Professor of New Testament at Princeton Seminary. This event kicks off with an introductory Zoom session on January 7, and our reading schedule begins January 8. We hope you'll consider joining us! 

Click here for more information, including a printable reading schedule and bulletin inserts.

Mission Support & Annual Report Resources 

Recently, a mailing was sent to each congregation with an update on your mission support giving for 2023 and resources for your annual meeting. Thank you for your partnership in ministry so far this year! We hope that your continued generosity in this last quarter will allow us to finish the year strong and continue our support of mission and ministry across the synod. 

As you finalize your congregational spending plans for 2024, we ask you to give prayerful consideration to your congregation’s mission support for 2024, knowing that your generosity not only funds our work as a synod but contributes to the impact made by our vast churchwide ministries. Please share your 2024 mission support intent using this form to help us plan for mission & ministry in 2024

A number of resources are available to tell about the impact of your partnership and generosity. We hope you include these in your annual reports or as part of your annual meeting, and share the story of our life together!



Where Does My Offering Go? (8.5x11)

Where Does My Offering Go? (poster)

Mission & Ministry in Eastern North Dakota Synod (video)

Together In Ministry: Mission Support at Work (8.5x11)

January Boundaries Training

The December boundaries training has reached capacity, and registration is now closed. However, this training will be offered again in January!

Power & Boundaries Workshop

January 23, 2024

9am-12:00pm, Zoom

Join us for a Boundaries Training on January 23 from 9am-12pm via Zoom. Bishop Tessa will be present at this training to share information specific to our synod.

Click here to register.

Synod Assembly Information

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Synod Assembly on June 1-2 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo! As your congregation prepares to meet for their annual meeting, remember to elect voting members from your congregation to attend. Download this document to determine voting member numbers for your congregation.

More information will be posted to the Synod Assembly webpage as it becomes available.

Lent in a Box with Church Anew

The Eastern North Dakota Synod is partnering with Church Anew to offer Lent in a Box at a discounted rate to all ministries in the synod. You will be invited to an Equipping Day in January (in-person in Fargo or online) and provided with many resources that can be used for Wednesdays and/or Sundays in Lent for your ministry. Watch for more information to come soon!

Strategic Planning Update

In our Strategic Planning process, we listened to the Holy Spirit speaking through the people of the synod. Over 500 people took a survey. Two groups of leaders gathered for deeper conversation.

The Strategic Planning Team reflected on all that listening and developed a first draft of the mission of the EaND and identified five core values that undergird the synod's work.

Rostered Ministers and Synod Lay Ministers are invited to participate in one of our feedback sessions, Dec. 5^th at 3pm or Dec. 7^th at 11am.

Zoom Link (same for both dates)

Church Council Presidents' Network

Next Meeting: December 17

Council Presidents are invited to join Bishop Tessa for a listening and sharing session each month on the third Sunday at 7:00pm on Zoom.

Follow this Zoom Link to join.

Dacotah Oyate Christmas Project

Dear EaND Synod,

All of the tags for the Dacotah O'yate Kids Christmas Project have been taken. Please have your items sent to St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake by Friday, December 1st. If you have questions or need help, please contact Kelly Longden at 701-662-4911 or [email protected] and he can assist you.

Thank you for your work and support of this ministry.

Your friends in Christ,

Spirit Lake Conference

Synod Devotional Resource

We are excited to share with you a free, synod-wide devotional series! "And You Shall Be My Witnesses: Holy Wisdom and the Church Today" is a resource created specifically with Eastern ND church councils and ministry teams in mind. We invite you to gather as community, read Scripture and the corresponding reflections, and spend time asking yourselves and each other what these sacred texts might have to say to the church today. There is a form available on the synod website to share your reflections with us.

Download the devotional booklet here!

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.

Other News and Events

Empower: Women in Ministry Gathering

with special speaker Rozella Haydee White

Date: August 6-8, 2024

Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Sioux Falls, SD

Registration Cost: Free!

Download this flyer for more information! Registration opens in January.

ELCA Truth & Healing Movement News

Upcoming Events:

Day of Mourning

November 23

Presentation: Settler Narrative

November 28, 2023

7-8pm CST

Class: Indigenous Thought & Theology

November 30

7-9pm CST

No pre-registration is required for these events. Visit the ELCA Truth & Healing webpage for course descriptions and to join classes. Be sure to check out the recordings of some of the previous events on the Truth & Healing Commission's YouTube playlist.

Festival of Homiletics

Early Bird Registration is now open for the 2024 Festival of Homiletics. This year's Festival will take place May13-16 in Pittsburgh. Learn more here.

Feedback Requested: ELCA Social Statement on Gun-Related Violence and Trauma

The ELCA is currently working on a social message about gun-related violence and trauma. A draft of this message is now available for public feedback. Visit this link to download the message draft and to share your affirmations, concerns, and suggestions. Feedback is due by January 31, 2024, and the draft will be reviews by the Church Council in March 2024.

Contact Us

• Deacon Laura Carson, Associate with the Bishop for Formation and Administration
• Pastor Brad Skogen, Associate with the Bishop for Congregational Leadership and Transitions
• Deacon Erin Power, Director for Evangelical Mission
• Sharla Laugisch, Administrative Assistant
• Alex Benson-Tuff, Connections Coordinator
• Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth

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 - Thursday, 9:00am - 4:00pm

Friday, 9:00am - 1:00pm

Please note: The Synod Office will be closed November 23-24 for Thanksgiving.