The Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota



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Welcome to our email Newsletter!

A few highlights from this issue:

• WoDakota Annual Appeal
• All Saint's, Minot Prayer Service
• Grace Church Shrove Tuesday Donation
• Diocesan Council April Update
• Episcopal News Service article on UTO White Shield Environmental Reparations
• Youth and Youth Adult Minister Search - Deadline is May 15th

Read on for other announcements and the calendar!

Did you miss a copy of the Prairie? The past four editions of the bi-monthly Prairie are now online! Click the button below to be taken to the webpage!

 WoDakota Appeal -

off to an amazing start!

As of May 3, 2023, 32 people have made pledges or donations to the WoDakota Appeal for a total of $43,755. That total includes $18,800 toward the $20,000 challenge match (also included in the total) that is underway through the Day of Pentecost (May 28). And, we have only just begun the congregational phase of the appeal.

This Sunday, May 7^th is WoDakota Sunday, and we are asking all members of the Diocese of North Dakota to consider making a gift in whatever amount you are able to contribute. Tri-fold brochures and bulletin inserts have been sent to all congregations describing the WoDakota appeal. Council members and other diocesan leaders have been asked to speak a word in support of this effort. There is also a video available on our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il3pjCr1qMs

As a reminder, the Diocesan Convention adopted a budget for 2023 that included a bold initiative to raise $50,000 in support of three important ministry areas in our common life and budget:

• Youth and Young Adult Ministry
• Native American Ministry
• Congregational Development

WoDakota is about being in harmony and balance with yourself and the world around you. The Diocesan Council chose this name for the Annual Appeal because we believe that Jesus calls us to do all we can toward becoming that Beloved Community. 

Please consider joining me in contributing to this appeal. You can donate on the diocesan website https://www.ndepiscopal.org/ by clicking on the Donate button and choosing WoDakota from the drop-down menu. Or you can send a check to the Diocesan Office: 3600 25th Street South • Fargo, ND 58103-6861

The amount of your contribution will be confidential, although we hope you will allow us to share your name as a contributor.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and a blessed Easter Season to you.

Faithfully,

On April 19, 2023, All Saint's Episcopal, Minot hosted an LGBTQ+ affirming prayer service with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Minot State University. It was a special and beautiful evening!

At the recent Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, Grace Church raised $1275.00 for James Valley Youth For Christ. Fr. Bob and Heidi are presenting a check to Troy Gunderson of YFC.

Diocesan Council Update: April 22, 2023

Submitted by: Leslie Ross

Much to the dismay of the Council, we ended up having a one day Zoom meeting on Saturday because of the 12th month of Winter weather we have been experiencing. I was so looking forward to spending time at All Saints in Minot. We kicked off our meeting with John Anderson, as our meeting chaplain reciting Psalm 62. We all shared one joy of the Easter Season and then got down to work on our very extensive agenda.

We reported on the current status of the WoDakota annual appeal and the participation of the entire Council in the effort to raise $50,000 in support of three key ministry areas: Youth/Young Adult; Native American; Congregational Development. There is a $20,000 match underway for all donations received by the Day of Pentecost.

Our discussion turned to the herculean efforts of the New Season of Ministry Task Force and our ongoing mission to address the needs/concerns of every congregation. Thrust upon us is the eminent ending of our contractual relationship with our Provisional Bishop at years end. Questions were framed and asked about what the various options and models are available, such as ½ time Bishop shared, full time, another Provisional Bishop with a new mission or a regional relationship etc.…. The conversations revealed that further discernment is needed however; a time limit is fast approaching.

After the financial reports were discussed, we are happy to report we are right on track with our budget and many thanks to Charlotte Peterson for her work over the years on this important mission. We proceeded on to the many reports provided by our Diocesan Ministry Support Team and from all the ministries, all told 21 reports. Noticeable issues raised were our compliance with Safe Church Policies and the rules surrounding the use of the Bakken Ministry Fund. More to come on those as we move forward.

Published Works

Rev. Kim Becker, ND Northwest Regional Coordinator, has an essay in the newly-released anthology on Native identity: Unpapered: Writers Consider Native American Identity and Cultural Belonging.

This anthology is edited by Diane Glancy and Linda Rodriguez.

North Dakota church plans prayer path, traditional garden as environmental reparations for Native Americans displaced 70 years ago by river dam project

Article from the Episcopal News Service:

Later this spring, after the snow melts and it’s warm enough to plant, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, White Shield, North Dakota, will begin construction of a prayer path to commemorate six Indigenous communities lost to the creation of Lake Sakakawea in 1953. The Missouri River, which runs through the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in western North Dakota, was dammed in a project that ultimately displaced over 1,700 Indigenous people – 80% of those who lived on the reservation – and the loss of the rich farmland they and their ancestors had cultivated for centuries. ...

Sunlight streaming in at All Saint's Episcopal, Minot

Youth and Young Adults

Ministry Developer

Applications due May 15

(part-time)

The Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota seeks an innovative, inclusive, resourceful person of faith to teach, guide, and support clergy and lay leaders in creating ministry that develops middle-school and high-school youth and young adult spirituality and community within congregations and in wider communities, including college campuses, throughout North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota. Gifts and skills needed include strong communication skills; social media; blogging; podcasts; emerging media; high motivation; and a “try-on” personality. Must be able to work with and nurture different age groups in various cultural contexts, including Native American and New American, and to offer adult and youth leaders support, encouragement, and resources. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required. This position is for an initial term through December 31, 2025, with longer-term potential. Location of residence is flexible; frequent travel throughout the diocese is expected. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected] by May 15.

New Season of Ministry Survey

Greetings from the members of the New Season of Ministry Task Force! After recommendations from the Diocesan Discernment Task Force, our diocese has made some changes in the last few years including increasing cohesive communication, rebuilding relationships, addressing racial healing and reconciliation, youth and young adult ministries, diocesan leadership and administration, and looking to new models of congregational leadership and ministry. As we are now discerning options for our long-term future, the New Season of Ministry Task Force (NSMTF) wants to hear from you about how things are currently going in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota. Please share your thoughts on the following questions. Members of the Task Force will be visiting congregations in the Diocese to follow up on this survey. To find the survey, please click here.

If you have any questions please email the Task Force co-chairs, John Baird and Carmine Goodhouse.