Practical Guideance for Homes and Congregations
With Guest Speaker: Nathan Dungan
October 26, 2013
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Knutson Center, Concordia College – Moorhead, MN
Author, founder, and President of Share, Save, Spend, Nathan Dungan is an industry thought-leader on helping youth and adults link their money decisions to their values. Continue reading…

Congregational Leadership Academy (CLA) continues into the new year with an additional focus. The Worship Focus launched November 17 with 12 participants from the EaND and NW MN Synods. Four more Saturdays (Jan-Apr) are scheduled to continue to equip lay leaders with best practices for using their God given gifts in service to their congregation.
Beginning February 2, 2013, the Evangelism Focus and Stewardship Focus will again be offered. Continue reading…
Abundant Joy, Overflowing Generosity
September 6, 2012
7:00 – 8:30 pm
St. John Lutheran Church – Fargo, ND
Trinity Lutheran Church – Jamestown, ND*
St. Olaf Lutheran Church – Devils Lake, ND
September 13, 2012
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Calvary Lutheran Church – Grand Forks, ND
Are you behind on your stewardship planning? Do you need some good, quick, and usable ideas? Then we have the 90 minute solution for you! Based on 2 Corinthians 8:1-7, Abundant Joy, Overflowing Generosity is a stewardship resource which will help you with a fall stewardship focus. Continue reading…
September 22, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Calvary Lutheran – Grand Forks, ND

September 25, 2011
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Our Savior’s Lutheran – Valley City, ND
September 27, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Milnor Lutheran – Milnor, ND
October 6, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Pontoppidan Lutheran – Fargo, ND
Bring a group of folks from your congregation (stewardship leaders, church council, finance leaders) to attend the event which is most convenient for you. Continue reading…
Should Your Congregation Establish a Special Endowment Fund to Enable Donors to Reap Unprecedented Tax Benefits?
by Craig M. Johnson, CPA, Fargo
The 2007 and 2011 North Dakota Legislatures have passed legislation which allows a significant income tax credit for certain gifts to “permanent, irrevocable” endowment funds of qualified North Dakota charitable organizations (including religious organizations). This legislation pertains to certain “business” gifts made in a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2006 and also to certain gifts made by individuals and “businesses” made in taxable years beginning after 2010. Qualified donors will likely find that well over 50% of their gifts will be “subsidized” through State and Federal tax incentives! Continue reading…
from Bishop Rindy
Abundance… if there is one thing Americans are used to it is abundance. This year, it is an abundance of fresh river water and rain. The past two years we experienced some of the most abundant crops and prices Midwestern farmers have ever experienced. We are used to abundance. The funny thing about abundance is that it can be good or bad depending on how it is shared or distributed. Continue reading…

A Response to the Proposed ELCA Statement on Genetics
Submitted by Sarah E. H. Lovas, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church – Hillsboro, ND
» Download: Humans as Stewards Letter (download .pdf file)
I am writing this letter in response to the ELCA Proposed Social Statement on Genetics (external link) which was released on Friday, February, 25th.
I first became invested in this issue last summer when this social statement was still in draft form. At the time, I was working as an agronomist and genetic technologies were a part of my recommendations for management of crops. I also farm with my husband near Hillsboro, ND, and we raise 100% GMO crops on our farm. Currently, I am a student at NDSU pursuing a Master of Science in Soil Science.
My response to the draft was to read it and create a letter of response to the ELCA Task Force on Genetics. My response letter outlined 7 specific items that I appreciated, and it also outlined 2 items that I thought the ELCA needed to work on. Continue reading…
from Bishop Bill Rindy
It was mentioned during last spring’s synod assembly that the State of the Synod would be determined by how we lived into God’s future. Many within our synod have taken the challenge to go the “Extra Mile for Mission.” Last December you were made aware of the lower level of our financial support for our shared ministries. I shared with you how painful it was to inform those ministries to prepare for a short-fall from our support.
This past week we were able to close out fiscal year 2010. Instead of the anticipated $160,000 shortfall, through the power of the Holy Spirit, your generous support, and your belief in our shared ministries, we ended the year about $10,000 short. Continue reading…