Each year, ALL OF US come together to celebrate our shared ministry and conduct necessary governing business at Synod Assembly. This year we will gather June 6-7, 2020 in Fargo and ALL OF OUR participation is especially important as our business includes the election of a new synodical bishop. 

BISHOP'S ELECTION TIMELINE

Below we will highlight a few tasks/dates/deadlines that are especially important to pay attention to: 

CONFIRM YOUR CONFERENCE

The early work of the Bishop election process is done at the conference level. The synod is divided into eight geographical regions called conferences.  

VIEW CONFERENCE MAP

If you wish to be re-assigned to another conference, please submit your request to the synod council by February 3, 2020.  Requests can be sent to jakelle@eandsynod.org. Please make sure “Conference Assignment Request” is in the subject line.   

SUBMIT NAMES FOR BISHOP

Your congregation can nominate up to three Ministers of Word and Sacrament for the role of synodical bishop. We encourage you to engage your congregation in this process at your upcoming annual meeting. Any Minister of Word and Sacrament on the ELCA Roster is eligible to be nominated, they do not need to be currently serving in Eastern North Dakota Synod.

You will submit your congregation’s nominees to your conference secretary (contact information below) by February 27. Your nomination should include the Rostered Minister’s name and current call (including city/state). Please make sure your email subject line contains “EaND Synod Bishop Nomination.”

Conference Secretary's:

Prairie Rose - Theresa Fiebiger - trinitybinford@mlgc.com

Spirit Lake - Stella Papachek - psmrasmu@gondtc.com

Fargo Conference - Nathan VanWechel – nvanwechel@gmail.com

Grafton Conference – Brian Mayfield - mr.and.mrs.mayfield@gmail.com

Grand Forks Conference – Sarah Raymond pastorsarahraymond@gmail.com

Jamestown Conference - Sharon Holweg - dsholweg@drtel.net

Mayville Conference - Judy Stensland - judystens@yahoo.com

Wahpeton Conference - Kris Beck - kristinru@hotmail.com

SELECT VOTING MEMBERS FOR ASSEMBLY

Each congregation is to send voting members to the annual synod assembly. The number of members each congregation sends is determined by baptized membership. Many congregations appoint their voting members at their annual meetings. Use the table below to determine the number of representatives your congregation should send, being mindful that your voting membership is diverse when it comes to age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation. 

ATTEND YOUR CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY

Per constitutional guidelines, in a bishop election year, each conference gathers sixty-five days in advance of Synod Assembly to vote on a maximum of seven names for office of bishop. The conference ballot is generated from the names raised by the congregations in their conference, plus an option for write-in’s.

• Jamestown – Sunday, March 29 at St. John’s, Jamestown – 4pm  

• Spirit Lake – Sunday, March 22 at Our Savior’s, Devils Lake – 3pm

• Grand Forks - Sunday, March 22 at Calvary, Grand Forks -  2pm

• Fargo – Thursday, March 19 at Zion Lutheran, Harwood – 7pm

• Mayville – Sunday, March 15 at Bruflat Lutheran Church, Portland – 3pm

• Wahpeton – Sunday, March 15 at Gustaf Adolf Lutheran Church, Gwinner – 3pm

• Grafton  - Sunday, March 29 at Park River Bible Camp - 2pm

• Prairie Rose – Sunday, March 22 at American Lutheran, Tolna – 3pm

REGISTER FOR SYNOD ASSEMBLY

Register online at: https://2020synodassembly.eventbrite.com

Register by June 1^st to take to avoid a late charge!

A block of hotel rooms is available at the Fargo Holiday Inn 701.282.2700

Rate is $130.

Given the additional business of a bishop election, we anticipate that this year’s schedule will be extended into Sunday afternoon.