MN North District E-News

Please Update Your Records

Our mailing address has changed. We are in the process of transitioning from our PO Box to our street address. Please use the mailing address below:

Minnesota North District - LCMS

7264 Fairview Rd

Baxter, MN 56425

Communion Statements

You recently received a letter from President Finnern requesting that you share your congregation Communion Statement and Policy with the District Office in accordance with 2025 Convention Resolution 1-02. You can forward them to Diana at: diana.ruopp@mnnlcms.org

“I Believe”

We are excited to invite all youth to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar for our 2026 District Youth Gathering, “I Believe,” on April 10-12. Our goal is to equip our youth with the riches of God’s Word so they can confidently know what they believe and why they believe it.

The weekend will be filled with worship, in-depth Bible studies, engaging speakers who address current topics from a faithful Christian worldview, and plenty of fun games and activities.

We are especially blessed to have Mrs. Katie Coblentz as one of our speakers. She is an LCMS Lutheran who underwent gender transition during her teenage years. Today, she shares her powerful testimony of returning to live in the truth of God’s design under the cross of Christ, offering hope and guidance to others facing similar struggles.

The cost of the weekend is $70 per person (This includes meals Friday night, 3 meals Saturday, lunch on Sunday after service, snacks, and other swag).

Registration is open until February 22. For questions and help with registration contact Anna Barber: abarber@redeemerwillmar.org

We look forward to a transformative weekend of growing in Christ.

In Christ (I Timothy 4:16)

Rev. Brady Finnern

DOWNLOAD GATHERING REGISTRATION INFORMATION

More from the Minnesota North District

Rev. Ryan Pumphrey Installation

January 11, 2026 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Frazee

Pictured here are back row: Rev. Dr. Mark Buchhop, Rev. Bruce Noennig, Rev. Del Meyer, Rev. Justin Whitmore, Rev. Dr. Karl Weber, Rev. Matthew Meyer, Rev. Dan Abrahams, and front row: Rev. Del Stohs, Rev. Steve Frank, Rev. Ryan Pumphrey, Rev. Brady Finnern and Rev. Gary Rehborg

Rev. Caleb Weight Installtion

January 11, 2026 at Peace In Christ, Hermantown

Pastor Weight was installed as Senior Pastor having previously served at Peace in Christ as Associate Pastor. Pictured are Rev. Caleb Weight, Rev. Marty Mably, Rev. John Bonk, Rev. Robert Franck, Rev. Scott Missling, Rev. Troy Peperkorn, Rev. Stafford Thompson, Rev. David Schoessow, Rev. Thomas Von Hagel and Rev. Matthew Kohl.

Allen 120 Organ Available! Contact Zion Lutheran Church in Crosby: 218-546-6910 or Gail at 218-232-1632

Happening in Minnesota

Concordia University, St. Paul is strengthening its commitment to the church through an expanded Church Work Tuition Guarantee, offering $0 tuition for all students preparing for full-time church work vocations.

AND... Concordia has announced a new Direct Admission Program guaranteeing admission to all graduates of Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) high schools into any of CSP’s undergraduate programs, both on campus and online, effective immediately for Fall 2026 enrollment.

Information from Around the LCMS

Synod President Voter Registration

CLOSES MARCH 8, 2026.

2026 is a Synod Convention year. In preparing for the synod convention, congregations should register their voters for the online Synod President Election. Refer to your constitution regarding the selection of voters. Each parish will register one lay voter and one pastoral voter.

Congregations that do not have their president voter registration letter, mailed in mid-October, should contact the LCMS Office of the Secretary at lcmspresidentvote@lcms.org or (314)996-1417.

Conference Information

Update your congregation and lay leader information by Feb. 28

It is time to submit your congregation’s end-of-year statistics and update your current list of lay leaders at the following website: lc.lcms.org.

Up-to-date statistical information is essential for the Synod as it plans current and future ministry efforts. Such information is also critical for determining proper voting representation at conventions. Online reporting is intended to help congregations honor their commitment as members of the Synod, as confirmed by the 2016 LCMS convention in Bylaw 1.3.4.3:

Congregations of the Synod, to enable the Synod to plan current and future ministry efforts and to lend accuracy and integrity to the Synod’s delegate representation and voting processes, agree to provide annual membership and statistical information to the Synod.

The lay leader list is used to send copies of Reporter, the official newspaper of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and other LCMS ministry-related mailings to congregation leaders.

Thank you for providing your information. It assists a wide variety of ministry efforts at both the national and district level.

MINNESOTA NORTH DISTRICT | mnnlcms.org