about us


the synod at a glance


  • Staff

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  • leadership

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About Eastern North Dakota Synod

Our Mission:
"Jesus Christ calls us to live in love as we serve, equip, and challenge God's people."


The Eastern North Dakota Synod is a part of Region 3 of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.


The word "synod" comes from the Greek words: syn meaning together, and hodos meaning the way. A synod is a group of people on the way together.


The Eastern North Dakota Synod is comprised of over 200 rostered leaders and 101,602 baptized members. The synod covers approximately the eastern third of the state of North Dakota and is divided into eight conferences:


Spirit Lake, Fargo, Grafton, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Mayville, Prairie Rose, and Wahpeton


synod committees & Teams

Advocacy and Action Team

Chair: Vicki Schmidt

We acknowledge that the Spirit is the life of the church today - nudging, prodding, challenging, and nurturing us to practice our faith every day in caring for our neighbors and all of God’s creation.  Our baptismal privilege is one of service, and in serving all people, we serve Jesus.  In refusing, we refuse Jesus within them (Matthew 25:40,45). The Spirit’s call is both invitation and command.  This team seeks to give voice for how the Spirit is leading us on behalf of the Eastern North Dakota Synod. Advocacy and Action is our response.

Staff Liaison: Deacon Erin Power


Candidacy

Chair: Rev Joe Johnson

Candidacy is the name of a process that raises up, prepares, certifies, and places public leaders in the ELCA. The Candidacy Committee builds a relationship with each individual who enters the candidacy process to honestly evaluate their progress towards successful completion of the candidacy requirements. Learn more about candidacy here.

Staff Liaison: Deacon Laura Carson


Coaching Network

Coaching is an intentional relationship of accompaniment between a trained coach and the individual, group, or team focused on growth and transformation. The coaching process utilizes powerful questioning, strategic listening, active reflection and goal setting to move you forward in ministry. Interested in learning more or connecting with a coach? Interested in being trained as a coach/ joining the synod’s coaching network? Please contact the EaND Coaching Network at coaching@eandsynod.org or fill out the coaching interest form, here.


Compensation Guidelines Committee

Description coming soon. 

Staff Liaison: Pr. Brad Skogen


Constitution Review Committee

Description coming soon. 

Staff Liaison: Pr. Brad Skogen


Global Mission

Chair: 

The Global Mission committee manages communication with our sister synod, CAR, and promotes global mission and ministry engagement around the world.

Staff Liaison: Deacon Erin Power


Nominating Committee

Chair: Rev. Rachel Puttbrese

Description coming soon. 

Staff Liaison: Pr. Brad Skogen

companion synod

Companion synod relationships of the ELCA connect Lutheran churches throughout the world with ELCA synods and congregations. These relationships are concrete expressions of the communion and fellowship with the more then 140 Lutheran member churches of The Lutheran World Federation. Each of the 65 synods has at least one international church companion and many have additional relationships, resulting in more than 120 companion synod relationships.


Eastern North Dakota Synod's Companion synod:

Central African Republic (CAR)

Eastern ND's missionary to CAR - Willie Langdji


Click to visit the Companion Synod page.