Feb. 15,
2017


Synod E-News

FEATURED NEWS & EVENTS FeaturedNews
Calling All Parents and Caring Adults!
Would you like to feel more confident in your ability to help your kids, or other young people in your life, engage in conversations about faith in Christ?  We would love to have you join us in a hands on learning day called Martin and the Family Table. The cost is just $10 per family and includes childcare and a meal.  You will walk away with some new skills and several excellent resources for sharing faith in your home.  
 
Events are planned for the following dates and locations:  
Saturday, February 25, Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva
Sunday, February 26, Concordia Lutheran Church, Crosby
Saturday, March 18, First Lutheran Church, Harvey
Sunday, March 19, St. John Lutheran Church, Carson

For more information, or to schedule an event in your area contact [email protected].  
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. 

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. 
Join Lutheran Men in Mission's BOLD Gathering, July 21-23
Men from throughout the church will gather at the Minneapolis City Center Marriott Hotel July 21-23 for the 2017 Bold Men's Gathering. Lutheran Men in Mission's vision is for every man to become a bold, daring follower of Jesus Christ. Through presentations, workshops, service projects and fellowship the Gathering will send fathers and sons, committed church members and those the fringes, home with renewed passion and vigor to live the calling God has on their life.  Learn more at http://boldgathering.com/

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 [email protected] or 701.223.3560 with any questions and watch for more information. But, in the meantime, who's excited?!?!

More Events and Notices MoreNews
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:
  1. Congregational meetings or congregational councils
  2. Conference Assemblies
  3. Synod Teams
  4. Synod Council
  5. 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. 

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.
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.
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.
Job Openings (non-pastoral) at Congregations and Camps

In Mission Together 

A 'Youth Gathering' for Adults
 
Three years ago, when Stephen Zeller began his call as pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cole Camp, Mo., a member came to him interested in planning an event like the ELCA Youth Gathering-but for adults.
"Why do the children and youth get to have all the fun?" the member asked. His children and grandchildren had raved about attending Youth Gatherings and spending a week at the synod's summer camp, and although the congregation had provided plenty of opportunities for faith formation over the years for members of all ages, it was always for an hour here or there, he said. Why not a full-day event for adults with inspiration, speakers, music, food and hands-on activities?
From this question and larger conversation in the Central States Synod, an "Adult Youth Gathering" was born. In 2015, St. Paul's took action and planned the day-long event for adults from area congregations. More than 75 people came for the first Adult Youth Gathering, which featured Mark and Sarah Huber, founding pastor and musician for Sanctuary Church, Marshfield, Mass. The day even included a "Bible crawl" throughout town to visit local restaurants and wineries to talk about faith, life and God. The event was so well-received that a second gathering was in the works even before it finished.  . . . Continue Reading


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 In Our PrayersPrayers
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
St. John Evangelical Lutheran, Dickinson
Trinity Lutheran, Douglas
Trinity Lutheran, Drake
Grace Lutheran, Driscoll

Rostered Leaders
Rev. Marv Mutzenberger
Rev. Dale Nabben
Rev. Mark Narum 

For Healing & Comfort
Rev. Jeff Giles
Sherie Heine

Our Ministry Partners
Community Connections, Williston
 Upcoming Events
  • Feb 25Martin and the Family Table(Oak Valley Lutheran, Velva)
  • Feb 26Martin and the Family Table(Concordia Lutheran, Crosby)
  • March 4GIFTS Event with Martin Lohrmann,
    (First Lutheran, Minot) 
  • March 4stewardCast 2017
    (online
Synod TransitionsTransitions
  
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 11, 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 
Call Process  
  • 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)
  • Noonan Lutheran Parish, Noonan and rural Crosby
  • 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)


SAVE the DATES  
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  
 The Synod E-News is sent to rostered leaders and congregations of the Western North Dakota Synod, and subscribers each week.  If you would like to submit an item for publication in E-News or on the synod website please send to  [email protected]