Photo Album:
| Photos from the Synod Assembly – Sunday, April 6, 2008. Includes pictures from the plenary session #2, final two bishop candidates, the results of the bishop election, and closing session. View the Album... |
| Photos from the Synod Assembly – Sunday, April 6, 2008. Includes pictures from the plenary session #2, final two bishop candidates, the results of the bishop election, and closing session. View the Album... |
| Photos from the Synod Assembly – Saturday, April 5, 2008. Includes photographs of Milestones in Ministry, the bishop election voting, plenary session #1, and candids. View the Album... |
by Julie K. Aageson
Voting members representing the 100,000 plus Lutherans in the Eastern North Dakota Synod have elected a new bishop. The Rev. William (Bill) Rindy was elected on the fourth ballot over another Fargo pastor, the Rev. Jeff Sandgren. Rindy currently serves as executive pastor of First Lutheran Church in Fargo. Sandgren is senior pastor at Olivet Lutheran, Fargo. Of 549 ballots cast, 275 were needed for a majority decision. Rindy received 372 votes over Sandgren’s 177.
Rindy is a 1992 graduate of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Previous parishes include Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisbon, ND and Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore, MN Rindy succeeds Bishop Richard Foss who has served the synod since 1992 (Foss was ineligible for another term).
Resolutions included a request that the ELCA Rural Desk work with other organizations in America (such as Continue reading…

Bishop Elect of the Eastern North Dakota Synod
Final Ballot Results:
Bill Rindy: 372
Jeff Sandgren: 177
Watch the Eastern North Dakota Synod website for highlights and photos from the 2008 Synod Assembly.
Results of ballot #3 are as follows:
Bill Rindy: 272
Jeff Sandgren: 179
Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl: 107
Jeff Sandgren and Bill Rindy will be on the next ballot, scheduled today at 2:15 p.m.
Watch the Eastern North Dakota Synod website for more news from the 2008 Synod Assembly.
Results of ballot #2 are as follows:
Jeff Sandgren: 164
Bill Rindy: 124
Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl: 78
Bruce Vold: 60
Naomi Garber: 51
H. Chris Hallanger: 46
Steve Wold: 44
The top 3 nominees will be on the next ballot. Ballot #3 is scheduled for Sunday, April 6 at 12:00 p.m.
Watch the Eastern North Dakota Synod website for more news from the 2008 Synod Assembly.
Results of ballot #1 are as follows:
Number of legal votes cast: 583
Number of legal voted needed for election on this ballot (75%): 438
Jeff Sandgren: 119
Bill Rindy: 93
Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl: 83
Bruce Vold: 82
Naomi Garber: 71
H. Chris Hallanger: 52
Steve Wold: 46
Philip Larson: 37
The top 7 nominees will participate at a bishop nominee forum at 4:15 p.m. at the Fargo Civic Center.
Ballot #2 is scheduled for today at 7:00 p.m. Watch the Eastern North Dakota Synod website for more news from the 2008 Synod Assembly.
EaND Synod Office
1201 13th Ave N
Fargo, ND 58102
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Phone: 701-232-3381
Toll Free: 877-895-4598
Fax: 701-232-3180
Office Hours
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Fridays: 8 am - 3 pm
Sat-Sun: closed
We are a synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 223 congregations and a variety of ministries.
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