Eastern North Dakota Synod

Regional and Local Ministry

Youth and Family Ministry

Youth & Family Ministry provides opportunities for the youth of the Eastern North Dakota Synod to gather and share their faith through experiences that challenge, encourage, nurture, and foster faithful leadership. Several events are scheduled throughout the calendar year. Click here to learn more about EaND's youth and family ministries...

Youth and Family Ministries:

EaND Synod Endowment

The Eastern North Dakota Synod Endowment Fund to sustain rural ministry and enhance quality pastoral leadership is intended to help sustain vital, viable ministry in Eastern North Dakota for years to come. The Synod Council authorized the establishment of the Fund, and the initial resolution was overwhelmingly passed by the Eastern North Dakota Synod Assembly on March 25, 2000.

Synod Endowment Sundays have been held the last Sunday in September each year. Click here for more information on the Synod Endowment including video and downloads to share.

Planned Giving Partnership

Lutheran Planned Giving Partnership (LPGP) was organized in 1994 as a complimentary service to congregations and individuals within the Eastern North Dakota Synod.

Led by Julie Johnson, the purpose of LPGP is to serve congregations and their members in various aspects related to charitable giving. Services include assisting the leadership with the establishing and enhancement of congregational endowment funds. Sunday temple talks along with presentations related to wills, estates and gift planning are provided. Individual assistance in charitable planning endeavors for all ELCA ministries, locally, synod-wide and church-wide is available.

Interested in hosting gift planning seminar? Download 3 Reasons to Host a "Wills, Estates, and Gift Planning Seminar" (download .pdf file) for more information.

This video is part of the Eastern North Dakota Synod "Us" DVD.

More information and ideas on how to plan your gift can be found online at the ELCA Foundation (external link).

Discipleship on the Prairie

Formerly known as GIFTS

GIFTS began in 1990 (known as the Deacon Program for the first 3 years). The mission/purpose was to help “fill empty pulpits in small congregations.” When the program became GIFTS, the mission/purpose was expanded beyond the preaching aspect to include other ministries such as youth, education, and visitation.

The Eastern North Dakota Synod Council named a task force to review the history and current situation with GIFTS and bring a proposal for updating the program. At the Synod Council meeting on September 7-8, 2007 the following were approved:

Name change to Discipleship on the Prairie: Learning and Serving in Christ
Purpose/identity statement is to deepen individual’s relationship with Jesus Christ and to discern their personal ministry to the world and the church
Staffing is half-time position to coordinate the program
Program Core Components include biblical study, pastoral care, church history, worship/preaching, contemporary “religious” readings in addition to an on-going mentor relationship
Core components taught over the course of a two year rotation with nine events annually

The recruitment of a Coordinator for Discipleship on the Prairie is on hold pending the election of a new bishop.

For more information, contact the synod office.

Leadership Program for Musicians (external link)

The Leadership Program for Musicians, or LPM, prepares capable and confident worship leaders who will enable their congregations to sing well and take their part in the liturgy of the church. It is a comprehensive and accessible course of study leading to the LPM Certificate in Church Music. LPM is a cooperative project of the ELCA (external link), the Episcopal Church (external link), PAM (Presbyterian Association of Musicians) (external link), and the United Church of Christ Musicians Association (external link).

The LPM program will be offered in Eastern North Dakota/Northwestern Minnesota beginning September 17, 2009. Generous scholarships are available for the first 10 registrants of the full program. Download a registration brochure (download .pdf file) now or request one from the synod office. For more about LPM's benefits, visit the LPM website (external link).

Jennifer Baker-Trinity
Regional Coordinator, LPM
jbakertrinity@mac.com
(218) 938-4701

The Project F-M (external link)

They might be people you know, or they might be strangers, but people of faith across the country are discovering that a growing number of mainly 20-40 year-olds are not being reached by established congregations. The Project F-M is a work in progress… a collaborative ministry in the Fargo-Moorhead area, grounded in the Gospel, connecting young adults with a life-changing God.

Do you have a heart for young adults? There are many ways to be involved in this new ministry from becoming a shareholder, prayer partner, or simply spreading the good news about The Project F-M.

This video is part of the Eastern North Dakota Synod "Us" DVD.

More information, articles, resources, and staff contact information can be found online at http://theprojectfm.org/ (external link).

Dacotah O'yate Lutheran Church - Tokio, ND

This video is part of the Eastern North Dakota Synod "Us" DVD.

Campus Ministry

This video is part of the Eastern North Dakota Synod "Us" DVD.

North Dakota Lutheran Campus Ministry - Minot, ND (external link)
Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center (external link) - University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
University Lutheran Center (external link) - North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

Oak Grove Lutheran School

Oak Grove Lutheran School (external link) located in Fargo, ND was established in 1906 and is affiliated with the ELCA. Oak Grove provides an exceptional academic experience with a strong Christian emphasis for students Pre-K through grade 12.