Eastern North Dakota Synod

Annual Synod Events

Synod Assembly

General Information | Registration | Housing | Milestones in Ministry | Global Mission Breakfast

God’s work. Our hands.

25th Annual Synod Assembly

April 21-22, 2012
Holiday Inn - Fargo, ND

“See what love the Father has given us,
that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
1 John 3:1

2012 Synod Assembly Information

The synod assembly is the annual gathering of pastors, associates in ministry, lay voting members and visitors who represent the congregations that make up the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Attendance at the assembly is expected of all pastors and associates in ministry under call. We look forward to being with you at the assembly!

General Information Packet (download pdf file)

*updated 4/11*
This .pdf packet is available for voting members and visitors to review prior to assembly. Included in the packet: general information, proposed agenda, Break Out Sessions, Saturday evening options, and a hotel floor plan.

What to Bring:

Voting Member Materials
Your Bible
Sweater or light jacket
Your congregation's worship offering
Offering will only be taken at the Sunday worship. This year’s offering will be designated as follows:
- The first $5,000 will be given to the Heart River Ministry
- The balance will be divided equally between Red Willow Bible Camp, Park River Bible Camp, and Central African Republic Education projects.
A spirit of openness and celebration!

Highlights

Keynote Speaker

Rev. Dr. Nathan Frambach
Associate Professor of Youth, Culture, and Missions
Wartburg Seminary

ELCA Guest

Christina Jackson-Skelton
Executive Director of Mission Advancement
ELCA

Saturday Break Out Sessions:

On Saturday afternoon two Break Out Sessions will be offered, one at 4:00 p.m. and the other at 5:00 p.m. All but one session will be held on-site at the Holiday Inn; the off-site workshop will be held at the University Lutheran Center, NDSU. See the General Information Packet for more information.

Saturday Evening Options:

The LineBenders Saturday evening activities and dinner are open for you this year. We will provide you with restaurant options (external link) as you make plans to meet with colleagues, new/old friends, or family for a relaxed evening meal. The Synod Assembly Planning Team has organized the following options for those of you who are interested in discussion and/or fellowship:

Theology Brews
Meet at 7:30 pm / Conversation at 8:00 pm
Ever wonder if the broader community even notices the 500+ Lutherans in town for Synod Assembly? Ever thought about taking our faith outside the conference space to see what God is doing elsewhere? Well, now's your chance! We all know our beliefs call us beyond Sunday mornings, but it's sometimes difficult to know where else to talk about God. Theology Brews, will give assembly participants the opportunity to discuss God, theology, the Bible, and our world in settings that remind us that God works beyond our church walls. No pressure; just fun conversation. We'll gather at 7:30 p.m. at various restaurants and coffee shops around town to have topic-based conversations about God and God's world. Some call it, "public theology;" we call it, "a great time!"
The LineBenders (external link)
8:30 pm / Harvest Hall, Holiday Inn
An improvisational comedy team will be performing Saturday night.

Synod Assembly Materials

When you check in at assembly, you will receive a large envelope/folder for the materials you have printed and brought with you. In addition, you will receive your nametag, voting cards, a sample ballot, and anything else you may need for assembly.

We ask every voting member to have a personal copy of the Required Materials Packet, available as a .pdf file below.

Voting Member Required Materials Packet (download .pdf file)*updated 4/17*
All voting members are responsible for downloading and printing the required materials for assembly. Please bring them with you on April 21 as most of them require action from you as a voting member.
Included in this packet:
- Proposed agenda
- Rules of Procedure
- 2011 Synod Assembly Minutes (read online)
- Election nominees
- Resolutions
- 2013 Proposed Compensation & Benefits
- Break-out Sessions
Other Useful Materials:
The following are available for you to review prior to assembly: Welcome letters from Bishop Hanson, Bishop Rindy, and Vice President Shar Gumke; annual reports from synod committees and partners in ministry; and additional synod financial reports. These are not required to print.
- Annual Reports (download .pdf file)
  Various reports from affiliated agencies and schools
- Financial Report (download .pdf file)
  Report of Congregational Statements of Intent for Mission Support
- Welcome Letters (download .pdf file)
  Letters from ELCA Bishop Hanson, EaND Bishop Rindy, and Vice President Shar Gumke
- EaND Synod Constitution (download .pdf file)
- "Child of God" Sermon: .pdf (download. pdf file) | read online
  A sermon for congregational use on Sunday, April 21, 2011 by Bishop Rindy based on 1 John 3:1-3
- Map of Fargo-Moorhead (download .pdf file)
General Information Packet (download pdf file) *updated 4/11*
This general information packet is available for voting members and visitors to review prior to assembly. It is optional to print. Included in the packet:
- General information
- Proposed agenda
- Break-out sessions
- Saturday evening activities
- Hotel floor plan

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Registration

Registration for visitors and voting members is now closed. Please contact the Synod Office for assistance.

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Housing

Blocks of rooms will be reserved at certain motels/hotels. To take advantage of our special pricing, please refer to the room as Eastern North Dakota, ELCA Synod Assembly.

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Milestones in Ministry

Pastors celebrating a 25th anniversary of ordination, newly assigned seminarians, and congregations marking special anniversaries will be acknowledged during the Saturday plenary sessions.

Pastors celebrating 50, 55 & 60th anniversaries of ordination will be remembered during Sunday morning worship (8:45 am) and acknowledged during the initial Sunday plenary session (10:15 am).

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Global Mission Breakfast

Sunday, April 22, 2012
7:00 am
Lutheran Church of the Cross - West Fargo, ND

Guest Speaker:

Jacob Mayen, Synodically Authorized Minister of the Sudanese Ministry in Fargo

You may indicate your attendance intent on either the Voting Member or Visitor registration forms; meal fees may be mailed to the synod office. Indicate “Global Mission Breakfast” in the check memo line.
Tickets are $12/person and may be picked up at the Global Mission display table at assembly.

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Questions?

Call our office at (701) 232-3381 or (877) 895-4598

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Synod Assembly Quick Links

General Information Packet (download pdf file)
*updated 4/11*
Voting Member Materials *updated 4/17*

2012 Sunday Sermon

Children of God
read online | download .pdf (download. pdf file)
A sermon for congregational use on Sunday, April 21, 2011
by Bishop Rindy based on 1 John 3:1-3