Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Assembly has begun!

2026 WND Synod Assembly

May 29 -May 31, 2026 | Watford City, ND

CLICK TO REGISTER NOW!

About the THEME of the 2026 Synod Assembly.

“Jesus said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Luke 10:2)

Grounded in Jesus’ sending of the seventy in Luke 10:1–9, the 2026 Western North Dakota Synod Assembly gathers under the theme Walking Together. The word “synod” literally means “walking together”. As people of faith who call the congregations of this synod their faith home, we are called into relationship and sent into the world two by two. At this year’s synod assembly, we will gather for worship, holy conversation, and faithful decision-making. As we listen for the Spirit’s guidance, we will be invited to deepen our connections, strengthen our common life, and recommit ourselves to God’s mission of healing, hope, and peace in our congregations, communities, and across western North Dakota.

Why Synod Assembly?

The Synod Assembly is the annual gathering of ALL congregations of the Western North Dakota Synod of the ELCA. We gather together for worship, education, celebration, and to do the business of this synod. The 2026 Synod Assembly will be held in Watford City, ND. Event location details will be shared as they become available.

Who attends Synod Assembly?

Each congregation elects lay voting members based on their baptized membership numbers (see Voting Member Information for ratio). Rostered ministers (pastors and ELCA deacons) who hold a letter of call from a congregation or synod council, as well as retired ministers also have voice and vote in the assembly plenary sessions. Attendance at the assembly is expected of all rostered ministers under call. Anyone is welcome to attend the Synod Assembly by registering as a visitor and paying the visitor fee. Visitors do not have voice or vote at the Assembly.

WND Synod Bishop Position Description

Ecclesiastical Ballot Process

One of the important tasks of this year’s voting membership will be the election of a new bishop to serve among us in mission and ministry.

The synod bishop serves as the chief pastor and primary ecclesiastical leader of the synod, entrusted with oversight of the synod’s ministry and mission across all three expressions of this church – congregations, synods, and churchwide. The bishop is also responsible for ordination, installation, and the ongoing accompaniment of pastors, deacons, synod-authorized ministers, and congregations as they participate in God’s mission in the world.

The election of a synod bishop is conducted through an ecclesiastical ballot, a prayerful and deliberative process grounded in our shared understanding of the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the church. Unlike a traditional nominating process, there is no slate of candidates; instead, voting members of the synod assembly may name any eligible minister of word and sacrament in the ELCA. Through successive ballots, the synod discerns where the Spirit is leading toward a bishop who will serve the church with faithfulness, wisdom, and pastoral care.

This process is not only procedural but spiritual, inviting the whole synod into attentiveness, prayer, and trust. We encourage all rostered ministers, synod-authorized ministers, and congregations to hold the assembly and the election in prayer, asking for clarity, unity, and openness to God’s leading for the sake of the gospel and the mission we share.

2026 WND Synod Assembly Agenda

TENTATIVE AGENDA subject to changed based upon bishop election process.

ALL EVENTS TAKE PLACE AT THE ROUGH RIDER CENTER IN WATFORD CITY

FRIDAY, MAY 29

12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Registration Check-in

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Pre-Assembly Workshop – Equipping Storytellers: Practical Tools for Storytelling in Your Church

4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Dinner on your own

6:30 pm

Opening Worship

SATURDAY, MAY 30

7:00 am

Assembly Registration Check-in

8:00 am

Gathering Music & Coffee

8:30 am Plenary #1

Itinerary listed on Assembly Agenda page

10:30 am

Coffee Break

10:45 am Plenary #2

Itinerary listed on Assembly Agenda page

12:15 pm

Lunch Break

1:15 Plenary #3

Itinerary listed on Assembly Agenda page

5:30 pm

Adjourn for the Day

SUNDAY, May 31

7:30 am

Assembly Registration Check-in

8:00 am

Gathering Music & Coffee

8:30 Plenary #4

Itinerary listed on Assembly Agenda page

10:45 am Plenary #5

Itinerary listed on Assembly Agenda page

1:00 pm

Adjourn & Lunch to Go

Lodging Information

We are blessed to have a variety of hotels partnering with us for the 2026 WND Synod Assembly! Reservations must be made by APRIL 29, 2026 to receive the special rate. Request the Western North Dakota Synod Assembly block of rooms.

Inn at Hunter's Run

3617 6th Ave NE

(701) 444-1100

$99.00 + tax and fees

(Breakfast included in room price)

Roosevelt Inn and Suites

600 2nd Ave SW

(701) 842-3686

$99.95 + tax and fees

(Buffet breakfast available for a fee)

Little Missouri Inn & Suites

109 9th Ave SE

(701) 842-6262

$99.00 + tax and fees

(Breakfast included in room price)

Teddy's Residential Suites

113 9th Ave SE

(701) 842-6480

$109+ taxes and fees

(Breakfast can be purchased next door at Little Missouri Inn)

Who Can Serve as a Voting Member?

Rostered Ministers:

All ELCA Rostered Ministers (pastors and deacons) under call by a congregation of the Western North Dakota Synod or Western North Dakota Synod Council who register and attend.

All retired ELCA Rostered Ministers (pastors and deacons) who are on the retired roster of the Western North Dakota Synod who register and attend.

Further guidance for Rostered Ministers serving as voting members of the Synod Assembly is found in the WND Synod Constitution and related Synod Council Continuing Resolutions.

S14.15. Each minister of Word and Sacrament on the roster of this synod shall submit a report of ministry to the bishop of the synod at least 90 days prior to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
S14.15.A23. A minister of Word and Sacrament on the roster of this synod may have voice but not vote at a Synod Assembly if the minister has not complied with S14.15.
S14.34. Each minister of Word and Service on the roster of this synod shall submit a report of ministry to the bishop of the synod at least 90 days prior to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
S14.34.A23. A minister of Word and Service on the roster of this synod may have voice but not vote at a Synod Assembly if the minister has not complied with S14.34.

Lay Voting Members:

The number of lay voting members allotted per congregation is based on the congregations’ baptized membership. Refer to the chart at the right to determine the number of lay voting members your congregation may bring.

Furthermore, the WND Synod Constitution guides voting membership of a Synod Assembly.

†S7.21. The membership of the Synod Assembly, of which at least 60 percent of the voting membership shall be composed of laypersons, shall be constituted as follows:
All rostered ministers under call on the roster of this synod shall be voting members of the Synod Assembly.
A minimum of one lay member elected by each congregation with fewer than 175 baptized members and a minimum of two lay members elected by each congregation with 175 or more baptized members related to this synod, typically one of whom shall be a man and one of whom shall be a woman, shall be voting members. The Synod Council shall establish a formula to provide additional lay representation from congregations on the basis of the number of baptized members in the congregation. The Synod Council shall seek to ensure that, as nearly as possible, at least 45 percent of the lay members of the assembly shall be women and, as nearly as possible, at least 45 percent shall be men.
Voting membership shall include the officers of this synod.
S7.21.01. Voting members shall begin serving with the opening of a regular Synod Assembly and shall continue serving until voting members are seated at the next regular Synod Assembly.
†7.21.02. If a special Synod Assembly is called and voting members at the previous assembly are unable to serve as voting members, where permitted by state law, the congregation through the Congregation Council may elect new members who shall continue to serve until the next regular Synod Assembly.
S7.22. This synod may establish processes that permit retired rostered ministers, or those designated as disabled, or on leave from call, on the roster of the synod to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly, provided that such processes not result in fewer than 60% of the voting members of the Synod Assembly being laypersons in contravention of †S7.21.c. If the synod does not establish processes to permit the rostered ministers specified above to serve as voting members, they shall have voice but not vote in the meetings of the Synod Assembly.
S7.22.A20. The following individuals shall have voice and vote at a Synod Assembly:
Retired rostered ministers.
Interim ministers of Word and Sacrament serving a synod congregation.
Representatives of a synod authorized worshiping community (SAWC).
A minister of Word and Sacrament from a full communion church body serving in a synod congregation.

Baptized Membership = Lay Voting Members

2 - 500 = 2

501 - 1000 = 3

1001 - 1500 = 4

1501 - 2000 = 5

2001 - 2500 = 6

2501 - 3000 = 7

3001 - 3500 = 8

3501 - 4000 = 9

4001 - 4500 = 10

4501 - 5000 = 11

Go To Voting Member Info Page

Featured Assembly Speakers

Keynote Speaker -

Assembly Chaplain -

ELCA Churchwide Representative -

Descriptions of Assembly Workshops

PRE-ASSEMBLY WORKSHOP 1:30-4:30PM, FRIDAY, MAY 29th

Equipping Storytellers: Practical Tools for Storytelling in Your Church

Presenter: Nathan Mugaas - ELCA pastor, speaker, humorist, and award-winning storyteller.

Location: RRC - Arena

Description: Stories shape faith, strengthen relationships, and help the gospel come alive in everyday life. And along the way, they often remind us to laugh and recognize God’s grace in ordinary moments. This practical and engaging workshop is designed to help church leaders discover, shape, and share meaningful stories in congregational life.

SATURDAY WORKSHOPS

Risk Management - Best Practices

Presenter: Synod Attorney, Murray Sagsveen

Location: RRC - Silver Room

Description: Synod Attorney Murray Sagsveen will explain risk management best practices, including internal financial controls, volunteer management, property and liability insurance, background checks, employee management, responsibilities of the treasurer and audit committee, and implementation of risk management policies by continuing resolutions.

Suicide Stigma in the Christian Tradition:

"It's Not Biblical”

Presenter: Rev. Sylvia Bull

Location: RRC - Emerald Room

Description: This workshop will cover the treatment of suicide in Christian history, including the origins of suicide stigma in Christian belief and practice, contrasted with biblical perspectives on suicide as a part of human experience and how faith communities can meaningfully accompany those struggling with suicide thoughts. The workshop includes opportunities for participation by attendees and the chance to ask questions at the end.

THE Faith-Filled Magic of Camp

Presenter: WND Camp Staff

Location: RRC - Arena

Description: Come and spend time with staff from all four of our WND Synod outdoor ministry Bible Camp sites. We'll start with a mini-workshop exploring how the camp/congregation connection is a blessing to everyone, and how the energy of camp can sparkle in your churches all year long. We'll then transition into intentional time for participants to hear from "their own" camp staff about programs and plans that are coming up in the near future!

What We Saw: A Border Immersion Witness

Presenters: Pastor Natasha Woitzel-Kolles, and Bruce & Cindy Carlson

Location: RRC - Gold Room

Description: Join Pastor Natasha Woitzel-Kolles, Bruce and Cindy Carlson from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck as they share firsthand accounts from their recent border immersion experience, where they encountered asylum seekers and heard the deeply human stories behind their journeys. Together they reflect on the complexity of immigration, the dehumanizing conditions many face, and how the experience challenged assumptions and replaced them with faces, names, and truth.

BEST STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES, and

Are You Ready for a Capitol Campaign?

Presenter: Paul Marsh, GSB Representative

Location: RRC - Opal Room

Description: Join Paul Marsh of GSB Fundraising, one of our synod's Stewardship Specialists, for a session that focuses on several stewardship and congregational campaign case studies. Learn what is working, what is not, and how to take your church's generosity to the next level. We'll leave plenty of time for your questions and discussion.

SUNDAY WORKSHOPS

The Ins and Outs of Cemeteries

Presenter: Synod Attorney Murray Sagsveen

Location: RRC - Silver Room

Description: Synod Attorney Murray Sagsveen will address issues related to the management of rural Lutheran cemeteries by congregations and cemetery associations, including incorporating, 501(c)(13) tax-exempt status, state law requirement (e.g., registration, surveys, and plats), sexton responsibilities, questions about ownership, oil and gas production under cemeteries, liability insurance, and financial sustainability.

The Work of Being a Neighbor

Presenter: Jen Engquist - Disaster Capacity Builder

Location: RRC - Opal Room

Description: Take time to map out your congregation's role as a great neighbor and learn about opportunities to grow your capacity to walk alongside others when times get tough or disaster strikes. This workshop will help you map your assets, values, risks, and opportunities for learning, leadership, and partnership.

Christian Public Witness in an Age of Partisanship

Presenter: Rev. Sylvia Bull

Location: RRC - Emerald Room

Description: Come, learn, and reflect on how Christians can faithfully engage in public witness that promotes our values and intentionally avoids participating in the harms of our hyper-partisan political environment.

PORTICO BENEFITS: Tricks and Tips with Your Regional Representative

Presenter: Rev. Tim Schroeder

Location: RRC - Diamond Room

Details: Do you have questions about how to maximize your benefits? Have you struggled navigating "all things Portico"? Come and meet our Regional Representative, Rev. Tim Schroeder. Tim will present on how to live well and become an expert in maximizing your benefits!

What We Saw: A Border Immersion Witness

Presenters: Pastor Natasha Woitzel-Kolles, and Bruce & Cindy Carlson

Location: RRC - Gold Room

Resolutions for Assembly Consideration

RESOLUTION #1 - WND Synod Ministry Financial Plan

RESOLUTION #2 - Rostered Minister Compensation Guidelines

RESOLUTION #3 - Proposed Amendments to the WND Synod Constitution

RESOLUTION #4 - On Forgoing Churchwide Assembly Approval of Social Statements

MEMORIAL #1 - To Authorize the Presiding Bishop's Foreward to Social Statements and Social Messages

MEMORIAL #2 - Superimposed Quotas