synod assembly resources


Synod Assembly 2026

June 5-7, 2026 + Holiday Inn, Fargo


Click here to register!  


The Eastern North Dakota Synod will gather in Assembly on June 5-7, 2026 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND under the theme of “Water of Promises, Water of Life.” There will be a bishop election and other important business for our life together as the Eastern North Dakota Synod. Our bible study leader will be Bishop Regina Hassanally from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Imran Siddiqui, ELCA Vice President, will oversee the bishop election and serve as our churchwide representative. 


The EaND Synod Assembly will begin at approximately 4:30pm on Friday and end after lunch on Sunday (approximately 1:00pm). A draft agenda will be made available in April. 


This year’s Synod Assembly offering will be for the Holy Innovations Endowment Fund. This fund provides grants to congregations, as they live out their baptism in their local communities. 


REGISTRATION:  Register by May 19th 

All registration must be completed online. Click here to register.


Voting Members: $255 (rostered ministers and lay voting members) 

Visitors: $155 
Payment can be made with credit card or check.  

Late registration (May 20-26) will include a $25 fee per registration 

No registrations will be accepted after May 26th.  


Information you will be asked to provide for EACH Voting Member and Visitor: 

  • First and Last name 

  • Email Address (preferred to have each individual’s email address, if a voting member does not have an email address, please use your church’s email address and share all information sent.)

  • Childcare, Dietary, and Accessibility Needs

  • Congregation: Name and City

  • Conference

Voting Member Packets will be available on May 22nd and sent by email to all registrants.


WHO CAN BE A VOTING MEMBER AT SYNOD ASSEMBLY (document)

This document includes information on who is eligible to serve as a voting member, including the number of lay voting members for congregations and how rostered ministers who are not under call can serve as voting members. 


HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS:  Deadline to reserve rooms is May 5th 

  1. Online Reservations:
    Use the following link to access the custom reservation page: Eastern Nd Synod-ELCA
    C    lick the "View Prices" button at the top of the screen. Then select your desired dates of stay. 
  1. Phone Reservations: 
    You may call the hotel directly at 701-282-2700 (Option 0). Ask for the Eastern Nd Synod-ELCA Room Block to secure your reservation.

Please note the cutoff date for reservations is May 5. Any unreserved rooms remaining after this date will be released from the block.


CHILDREN AT ASSEMBLY:  


Little Lutherans are welcome at assembly!  

  • Activity Area: There will be a designated activity area for children ages 5 and under. Parents are responsible for supervision in this area.  

  • Childcare: There will be an option for childcare during Synod Assembly. There will be options for preschool and elementary aged children (3 years and potty-trained through 6th grade). Registration must be made by May 19th. A suggested donation of $30 will help offset the cost and can be added to registration. 

  • Nursing / Pumping Station: A private space for parents to nurse or pump will be available throughout the weekend.  


DISPLAY TABLES:  due by May 15th  
If your organization is interested in having a display table at Synod Assembly, please register online.
Click here to register.


If your organization is a ministry partner, included in the EaND Synod mission plan, there is no cost for a table. If this applies to you, please email Alex Benson-Tuff (alex@eandsynod.org) to receive a discount code before you register. 


RESOLUTIONS:  due by May 5th  
All resolutions must be submitted via email to deaconlaura@eandsynod.org 

Helpful Guidelines for Writing Resolutions – ADD LINK 


WORKSHOPS:  due by May 5th  
All individuals or organizations that are interested in leading a workshop at Synod Assembly must submit a Workshop Proposal. Priority will be given to workshops that align with the synod’s mission, strategic plan, and this year’s Synod Assembly theme. 

Other Resources & Documents: 



Click here for Bishop Election Resources. 


synod assembly 2025

June 7-8, 2025 + Holiday Inn, Fargo


Summary of the 2025 Synod Assembly

On June 7-8, 2025, the Eastern North Dakota Synod, ELCA gathered together at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND for the thirty-eighth annual Synod Assembly under the theme of “Grace upon Grace.” There were a total of 263 people in attendance (177 Lay Voting Members; 70 Rostered Minister Voting Members; 16 Visitors). The business items included hearing reports from officers, adopting the Synod Mission Plan (budget), elections for Synod Secretary, Synod Treasurer, Synod Council and Synod Committees, and adopting the 2026 Compensation and Benefit Guidelines. Participants also heard a State of the Synod from Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth and State of the ELCA from our churchwide representative, Rev. Tim Brown. Two keynote presentations were shared by Rev. Tim Brown, ELCA Director of Congregational Stewardship. There were nine workshops offered for participants on a variety of topics. Rostered Ministers and Congregations celebrating significant anniversaries were acknowledged. The 2026 Synod Assembly will be held on June 5-7, 2026.


Documents: 

Voting Member Packet

Reports to the Synod Assembly


Videos from Synod Assembly: 

Opening Worship

Closing Worship

State of the Synod - Bp. Tessa Moon Leiseth

State of the ELCA - Rev. Tim Brown

Keynote #1: Rev. Tim Brown

Keynote #2: Rev. Tim Brown


Sunday, June 8 (Pentecost) Worship Resource

Sermon from Bishop Tessa (Video) 

Sermon from Bishop Tessa (Manuscript)


synod assembly 2024

june 1-2 + Holiday Inn, Fargo

Summary of the 2024 Synod Assembly:

On June 1-2, 2024, the Eastern North Dakota Synod, ELCA gathered together at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND for the thirty-seventh annual Synod Assembly under the theme of “Challenge: Learn, Discern, Respond.” There were a total of 296 people in attendance (183 Lay Voting Members; 80 Rostered Minister Voting Members; 33 Visitors). Business items included hearing reports from officers, adopting the 2025 Synod Mission Plan (budget), elections for Synod Council, Committees, and Voting Members to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, and adopting two resolutions (Compensation & Benefit Guidelines, Reconciling in Christ Welcome Statement.) Participants also heard a State of the Synod from Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth and State of the ELCA from our churchwide representative, Kristen Opalinski. The Strategic Plan for the Synod was launched thanks to a year-long process of listening and discerning across the synod. A reception was held to celebrate five new Endowment Funds that have been created. 


Documents: