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FEATURED NEWS & EVENTS 
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2016 Mission Support Year End Contributions
The Synod's fiscal year ends January 31. We ask that all congregational mission support (or benevolence) gifts be postmarked by January 25 to ensure they arrive in time to be included in the year end reports. If you have questions, please contact Monroe at monroe@wndsynod.org or call 701-223-5312. |
Rostered Ministers' Annual Report to the Synodical Bishop Each year ELCA pastors and deacons are expected to submit an annual report to their synodical bishop. The report forms are now available on the Office of the Secretary's website on the "Synod" tab. Instructions for submitting the form as well as links to the forms are also available on the Synod's website at http://wndsynod.org/governance/rostered-ministers. Please note that in keeping with recent changes to the ELCA constitution, forms for pastors are now listed as Reports for Ministers of Word and Sacrament and forms for deacons are listed as Reports for Ministers of Word and Service.
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Deadline for Submitting Synod Assembly Resolutions:
March 31
If you or your members of your congregation are interested in submitting and item for consideration by the 2017 Synod Assembly please note that resolutions for consideration must be submitted to the Reference and Counsel Committee by March 31 and sent through one of the following channels in order to be considered:
- Congregational meetings or congregational councils
- Conference Assemblies
- Synod Teams
- Synod Council
- Individual voting members (resolutions must be accompanied by the signatures of five (5) voting members.)
Download the Resolution Form and Worksheet for guidelines on submitting a resolution.
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 2016 Annual Report Covers Available The 2016 Annual Report Cover has been posted and can be downloaded from the ELCA website. Printed copies can be ordered from www.elca.org/resources/stewardship. And starting on January 3, up to 100 copies can be ordered directly by phone at 800-638-3522, and shipped directly to a congregation within a few days. |
Bishop's Report to Synod Assembly available for inclusion in Annual Reports
We have had several congregations request a copy of the 2016 Bishop's Report to Synod Assembly for inclusion in their Annual Report. You may Download the Bishop's Report Here if you would like to include it in your congregations Annual Report.
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2017 IRS Mileage Rates
Standard Mileage Rates: Beginning on Jan. 1, 2017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a vehicle will be 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, down from 54 cents for 2016, the Internal Revenue Service announced last month. The IRS also lowered to 17 cents the standard rate per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down from 19 cents last year. The volunteer mileage rate for miles driven in service to charitable nonprofits remains unchanged at 14 cents per mile because the rate is fixed in federal statute.
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Don't Forget to Update your Congregation's Articles of Incorporation
Each congregation in the synod is a nonprofit corporation incorporated in the State of North Dakota. Each corporation was established when the congregation filed its Articles of Incorporation with the North Dakota Secretary of State and the corporation will continue indefinitely IF the corporation files a required report with the Secretary of State by February 1 each year. For guidance in the process visit http://wndsynod.org/governance/congregations/
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| More Events and Notices
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New Years' Congregational Housekeeping
As we begin 2017, congregation councils and pastor may want to review their records retention program. The Records Retention Schedule for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America can be downloaded at http://www.elca.org/Resources/Office-of-the-Secretary. Look on the Congregations tab.
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 Updating Synod and Congregational Constitutions
In August, the Churchwide Assembly voted to update the Model Constitutions for Synods and Congregations of the ELCA.
Synod Constitution:
Last year the Synod Council also initiated the process of updating the Synod Constitution. The changes required by the ELCA and proposed by Synod Council will be discussed and voted upon at Synod Assembly June 2-3, 2017 at the Grand Hotel in Minot.Congregational Constitutions:
The 2016 Model Constitution for Congregations is now posted on the ELCA website at http://www.elca.org/Resources/Office-of-the-Secretary ("Congregations" tab). Each congregation should now plan to update its constitution to comply with required provisions in the 2016 Model Constitution for Congregations. At the same time, each congregation council should review the constitution to determine whether the council is fully complying with it.
The process to update a congregation's constitution is not difficult. Synod Attorney Murray Sagsveen has provided a guideline for the process as well as a template for updating your constitution. View these resources athttp://wndsynod.org/governance/congregation
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ELCA Region 3 World Hunger Retreat
The annual Region 3 Hunger Retreat is Feb 3rd and 4th and will focus on climate change with experts from the ELCA. Details and a registration form
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Job Openings (non-pastoral) at Congregations and Camps
- Full-time Director of Youth and Congregational Life, First Lutheran Church, Williston, ND (position open to ELCA Deacons and non-rostered applicants)
- Part-time Custodian at Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck. For more information contact Dave or Kim at 701-223-2236.
- Full Time Minister of Youth Discipleship, Faith Lutheran Church, West Fargo. Job Description
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In Mission Together
Lutheran Campus Ministry at MSU returns from Visit to the Holy Land
Students involved in Lutheran Campus Ministry at Minot State University traveled to the Holy Land earlier this month. Theses student sojourners and Pastor Christoph Schmidt have shared their learnings and experiences on a group blog. Take a few minutes to learn more about their travels at https://lcmminot.wordpress.com/
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In Our Prayers
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We will pray together through the synod's roster of congregations and rostered leaders. Please keep the ministries and ministers below in your prayers this week.
Congregations
Bowman Lutheran, Bowman
Trinity Lutheran, Bremen
Bucyrus Lutheran, Bucyrus
Trinity Lutheran, Buford
Rostered Leaders
Rev. Muriel Lippert
Deacon Jodi Lorenz
Rev. Robert Lynne
For Healing & Comfort
Rev. Jeff Giles
Sherie Heine
Our Ministry Partners
Lutheran Campus Ministry of ND
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- January 14
Synod LYO Board Retreat
(Camp of the Cross, Garrison) -
January 20-22 Spiritual Renewal Retreat for Rostered Leaders and their Families
(Metigoshe Ministries, Bottineau)
- January 23-25
First Call Theological Education Retreat(Metigoshe Ministries, Bottineau)
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| Synod Transitions |
Rostered Leaders
Calls Accepted
Rev. Lisa Ahlness, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Bismarck
Ordinations
Dominique McFall Buchholz, January 21, Trinity Lutheran Bismarck, 10 AM. Dominique has accepted a letter of call to Sharon Lutheran, Grand Forks
Retirements
Rev. Glenn Berge, First Lutheran, Bottineau - January 2017 Resignations
Rev. Ken Nelson, First Lutheran, Minot
Congregations in the
- Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck (Associate)
- Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Bismarck (Associate)
- Metigoshe Lutheran Church, Bottineau
- Dakota Prairie Parish, Bowman, Amidon and Rhame (Associate)
- English Lutheran, Hazen
- McClusky Goodrich Parish, McClusky and Goodrich
- Prairie Hope Parish, Newburg, Maxbass, Westhope
- Prairie Rose Parish, Roseglen, Ryder & Makoti
- Zion Lutheran Church, Minot (Associate)
- Bread of Life Lutheran Church, Minot (Associate)
- First Lutheran Church, Minot (Senior)
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Noonan Lutheran Parish, Noonan and rural Crosby
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Reeder Lutheran Parish, Reeder, Ralph & Bucyrus
- Prairie Lutheran Parish,
Stanley, Ross, & Palermo - Oak Valley, Velva
- Bethany Lutheran, Rugby and Wolford Lutheran, Wolford
- First Lutheran, Williston
- Gloria Dei Lutheran, Williston (Associate)
- Shepherd of the Prairie Parish, Williston
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Western ND Synod Assembly
June 2-3, 2017 @ Grand Hotel, Minot, ND
May 31-June 2, 2018 @ Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck, ND
June 6-8, 2019 @ Grand Hotel, Minot, ND
Western ND Fall Rostered Leaders Gathering - Medora, ND
September 10 - 12, 2017
September 9 - 11, 2018
September 8 - 10, 2019
Western North Dakota Women of the ELCA Gathering
June 16-17, 2017 at the Grand Hotel, Minot, ND
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