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FEATURED NEWS & EVENTS 
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Invitation to a Season of Listening . . .
"A Season of Listening. . ." conversation will be held Friday, Feb. 10 prior to the Synod Council Meeting at Christ Lutheran Church in Minot, beginning at 7 p.m. This conversation is open to anyone interested in participating in a time of intentional conversation about engaging racial diversity across the synod and how we strengthen bonds within our communities. The invitation grows out of conversations at the 2016 Synod Assembly, Fall Rostered Leader Conference and September's Synod Council meeting.
What to expect? A time of honest, caring and safe conversation around issues of race. The hope is that through listening to a variety of voices, a vision might arise around how to better engage race relations in our synod. We know that everything that needs to be said can't be said in these meetings, but they are a start. The conversations will hold to 60-90 minutes. We invite you to participate. We also invite you to extend the invitation to those you know within your congregations who care deeply about enhancing race relations in the church, those who may be willing to share their experiences and those willing to listen to the experiences of others. We hope these conversations will be a first step in bringing those with diverse experiences and stories together so that we might more fully become church together.
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Synod Council Meeting Feb. 10-11
 The Western North Dakota Synod Council will meet Feb. 10-11 at Christ Lutheran Church in Minot. You are always welcome to stop in and listen to the business before the council. If there is an item of business that you would like brought before council, please let synod staff or your conference representative know.
At this meeting the council will approve a 2018 Synod Budget to be brought to our synod assembly in June as well as adjust the 2017 budget. We will also talk about the need for leaders across our synod, stewardship, governance issues and what is happening in congregations across the synod.
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Updates from ND Legislative Session
Throughout the 2017 session of the ND Legislature, our synod attorney Murray Sagsveen, will be sharing updates on bills coming before the legislature and upcoming hearings that may be of interest to rostered ministers and members of our synod congregations. View current updates at http://wndsynod.org/2017-nd-legislative-updates/ |
"Freedom in Christ as a Call to Serve", March 4
Join Dr. Martin Lohrmann of Wartburg Theological Seminary for a day of engaging theological conversation as we explore the themes of Spirit and service in the Lutheran Confessions. This event, like all GIFTS events, is open to anyone interested in participating in ongoing adult faith formation. Come for Bible study, fellowship and the opportunity to Grow In Faith To Serve. The event will begin at 9 am at First Lutheran Church in Minot. This presentation is the second in a year-long focus on Martin Luther: Teacher for Today, commemorating 500 years since the Lutheran Reformation.
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 stewardCast 2017, March 4 Where are the "bright spots" for stewardship ministry in your congregation? Recognizing the bright spots reminds us where God's abundance is present. Across the ELCA there are many bright spots, and we want to share some of them with you through stewardCast 2017. You are invited to join us for this special online event on: Saturday March 4, 2017 from 10:30am to 12 noon CST.
This online event is intended to thank, inform, teach, inspire and connect current and new steward leaders with fresh perspectives, practices and skills that address the challenges and issues faced in growing stewards in our households, congregations and communities. It will feature brief presentations from speakers and stewardship leaders across the ELCA including WND Synod's own Rev. Taryn Montgomery who serves Bread of Life Lutheran Church in Minot.
No need to pre-register! Just go to elca.org/stewardship the morning of the event and join the conversation. |
Houston, Here we Come!
The 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering will be June 27-July 1 in Houston, TX with the theme of "This Changes Everything." Gracia Johnson will be serving as our synod's coordinator. Contact her at gjohnson@trinitybismarck.com or 701.223.3560 with any questions and watch for more information. But, in the meantime, who's excited?!?!
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Looking for High School Youth to Serve on ELCA Youth Core Leadership Team (YCLT)
The ELCA is currently seeking applications for the ELCA Youth Core Leadership Team. Current 9th or 10th graders are invited to apply by March 1st. Team members serve a two-year term. The YCLT provides intentional leadership development and faith formation for young leaders with a passion for Jesus Christ and the ELCA. Each year team members have the opportunity to visit the ELCA Churchwide offices in Chicago to learn more about our ministries together as the ELCA and help lead the ELCA Youth Leadership Summit in the fall. To learn more, visit https://elcaymnet.org/YouthSummit#YCLT.
Two young people from our synod have served on this team in recent years, including current team member Brenden Berquist of Turtle Lake. Contact Beth Anderson if you would like more information or click on the link above for further explanation and application. |
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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| More Events and Notices
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Deadline for Submitting Synod Assembly Resolutions is
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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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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 Updating Synod and Congregational Constitutions
Proposed changes to the Synod Constitution will be discussed and voted upon at Synod Assembly June 2-3, 2017 at the Grand Hotel in Minot. Resources related to the proposed changes are below:
Congregational Constitutions:
Synod Attorney Murray Sagsveen has provided a guideline for congregation updating their constitutions. The process as well as a template for updating your constitution can be found at http://wndsynod.org/governance/congregation.
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Job Openings (non-pastoral) at Congregations and Camps
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In Mission Together
W.I.S.E. Gifts Support Future Leaders - CORRECTED
Last week we printed incorrect information on the 2016 WISE Scholarship program. The correct and updated story is below:
The Western North Dakota Synodical Women's organization, the WND SWO board is pleased to give nine women from Western North Dakota who are enrolled in an ELCA seminary program at this time a monetary gift from the W.I.S.E (Women in Seminary Education) Fund. The money that builds that fund comes from ELCA women living in Western North Dakota who want to show their appreciation to these women. The total amount to be disbursed was $7,200.00.
The following women received a portion of this dollar amount:
Students at Wartburg Seminary; Gail Hagerty of Bismarck ND, Bethany Haberstroh of Leith ND, Michele Anderson of Bottineau, ND, and Kayla Hill of Washburn, ND. Luther seminary Students; Kim Gifford of Minot ND, Janie Hague of Mandan ND, Annie Langseth of Minot, ND. The W.I.S.E. fund has now been depleted for the 2016-2017 school year, but the fund's policy states that it will be built back up each year through donations from individuals, units, and clusters.
We are so proud of these ladies and encourage everyone to participate in the giving process. All contribution can be made out to Women of Western North Dakota and sent to Cheryl Lacey 4111 85th Ave NW New Town, ND 58763.
Connie Rossow
President of the Women of Western North Dakota
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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
Dawson Lutheran, Dawson
Deering Lutheran, Deering
Rose Valley Lutheran, Des Lacs
Peace Lutheran, Dickinson
Rostered Leaders
Deacon Carol Moen
Rev. Chris Montgomery
Rev. Taryn Montgomery
For Healing & Comfort
Rev. Jeff Giles
Sherie Heine
Our Ministry Partners
Community Connections, Williston
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- February 10
Season of Listening Conversation
(Christ Lutheran, MInot) - February 10 Synod Council(Christ Lutheran, Minot)
- February 11
Synod Council
(Bethany Lutheran, Minot) - Feb 26Martin and the Family Table(Concordia Lutheran, Crosby)
- March 4GIFTS Event with Martin Lohrmann,
(First Lutheran, Minot) - March 4stewardCast 2017
(online)
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| Synod Transitions |
Rostered Leaders
Calls Accepted
Sylvia Bull, Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck (Associate Pastor)
Nicole Martin, Shepherd of the Prairie Parish, Williston
Ordinations
Sylvia Bull, February 17, First English Lutheran Church, Great Falls, MT,
7 PM. Sylvia has accepted a letter of call to Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck.
Nicole Martin, February 17, Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, TX. Nicole has accepted a letter of call from the WND Synod Council to serve as Mission Redeveloper Pastor at Shepherd of the Prairie Parish, Williston
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
Congregations in the
- 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
- Bethany Lutheran, Robinson & English Lutheran, Tuttle
- Prairie Lutheran Parish,
Stanley, Ross, & Palermo - Oak Valley, Velva
- Bethany Lutheran, Rugby and Wolford Lutheran, Wolford
- First Lutheran, Williston
- Gloria Dei Lutheran, Williston (Associate)
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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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