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The Intersection of Addiction and Faith with Timothy McMahan King

Join WND Synod Lay and Ordained leaders at Christ Lutheran Church of Minot, Saturday, March 8th from 10am - 4pm for our latest Synod Enrichment and GIFTS event. 

Arranged by the Western North Dakota Synod and hosted by Christ Lutheran Church of Minot, guest speaker Timothy McMahan King will lead us on an engaging journey to where addiction intersects with faith.

Registration for the Saturday event is required.  CLICK HERE to sign up now.

Timothy McMahan King is a writer, senior fellow for Clergy for a New Drug Policy, and the owner of Vagabond Strategies. He is the former chief strategy officer for Sojourners and has served as a consultant for national non-profits, advocacy campaigns, and political candidates. The author of Addiction Nation: What the Opioid Crisis Reveals About Us (Herald Press, 2019), he is an active advocate for those in recovery and to reform United States drug policy. His second book, What Are Drugs For? is forthcoming with Fortress Press. He has written widely for national publications, including the Wall Street Journal and CNN.

McMahan King has spoken and lectured across the country from Georgetown University to the Chautauqua Institution. His writing is required reading for classrooms and graduate programs across the country for his unique perspective at the intersection of faith, science, drugs, and addiction while calling for an end to a culture of punishment.

A graduate of North Park University with degrees in theology and philosophy, McMahan King has a deep interest in what healing looks like for the individual and our culture. Growing up on a farm in New Hampshire, he has a keen awareness of the ways in which our communities and the natural environment can call us into greater wholeness.

McMahan King lives with his wife, Hannah; their daughter, Ruth; and their dog, Hank, in North Carolina.

A public forum with McMahan King will be held Friday, March 7th at 7PM at Christ Lutheran Church of Minot. Registration for this public forum is not required, all are welcome!



To help satisfy a growing need, DEM Tera Kossow has arranged for pastors of the WND Synod to provide one video sermon and manuscript to share each month.

The next sermon in this series will be for February 27th, provided by Pastor Michon Weingartner of Bethlehem Lutheran in Bowbells, Christ Lutheran in Lignite, and Trinity Lutheran in Columbus. Please go to the Congregations page of the WND Synod website to see the list of sermon videos and sermon manuscripts that are available. When the video and manuscript have been produced, the links will be activated and can be downloaded for use.

The list of available sermons will be updated on this page as they become available. Check back often.

WATCH THIS

In a message to the church, ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton says that “despite misinformation and baseless doubt cast today on funding that supports Lutheran organizations across our country, the ELCA remains steadfast in our commitment and work with our many Lutheran partners and expressions of our church.”

SAVE THE DATES

2025 SYNOD ASSEMBLY: Rooted and Grounded in Love

When: May 30th - June 1st, 2025

Where: Minot Grand Oasis (formerly the Grand International)

Make Reservations by Calling: (701) 852-3161

Room Block: "Western ND Synod Assembly"

Theme Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21

More information will be provided when Bishop Craig returns from sabbatical in early 2025.

2025 BISHOP'S CONVOCATION

(formerly Rostered Leaders Gathering)

When: September 14th, 15th & 16th, 2025

Where: Metigoshe Ministries, Bottineau, ND

Accommodation Options:

On-site through Metigoshe Ministries - (701) 263-4788

Lake Metigoshe Quilt Inn - (701) 263-6500

Cobblestone Inn in Bottineau, ND (701) 534-2121

More information will be provided when Bishop Craig returns from sabbatical in early 2025.

Supporting Families Living with Dementia in Spiritual Communities - Virtual ALZ Learn

Feb 25, 2025 01:00 PM CST

Are you concerned that a member of your spiritual community is experiencing memory loss? While there are

several reasons why this can happen, Alzheimer’s and dementia are possibilities. During this presentation you will

learn “10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s.” We will also explore tips to support community members navigating the

dementia journey and discuss ways to connect their families with resources from the Alzheimer’s Association.

CLICK HERE to register for this event

Nominate Young Musicians

for Lutheran Summer Music

Enrollment is filling fast for the LSM 2025! Students come together in an immersive musical community that connects the pursuit of musical growth with the joy of Lutheran church music traditions.

LSM welcomes musicians of all kinds: brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, harp, guitar, handbells, and more.

Know a young person (grades 8-12) who would benefit from this life-giving and joyful musical community? Nominate them for LSM today LSM 2025 takes place at Valparaiso University from June 22-July 20 (Half Session through July 6). Standard Enrollment is open now through March 1. 

NORTH DAKOTA SYNOD GUIDELINES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS BY THE ANNUAL SYNOD ASSEMBLY

The 2025 Western North Dakota Synod Assembly will be held May 30 – June 1, 2025, at the Grand Hotel, Minot.

All resolutions of substance must be submitted to the Synod office no later than April 1, 2025. All resolutions submitted to the annual Western North Dakota Synod Assembly for action will be first reviewed by a Reference and Counsel Committee appointed by the WND Synod Council. See the Guidelines for Writing Resolutions 2025 for more information.

RESOLUTIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED DIGITALLY IN MICROSOFT WORD FORMAT AND EMAILED AS FILE ATTACHMENTS TO:

The WND Synod Office – Lesley@wndsynod.org

Contact Murray Sagsveen, Synod Attorney murray@wndsynod.org with any questions, comments, or assistance requests.

Please note: To the extent time permits, the Reference and Counsel Committee may present to the Assembly for consideration any written proposal or resolution signed by twenty-five voting members of the Assembly, which is germane to any items on the agenda or of significant concern to the Western North Dakota Synod, if electronically submitted (e.g., email or flash drive) to the Chairperson by 3:00 p.m. on the first day of the Assembly.

Go to wndsynod.org to download the Resolution Worksheet Word document and to download a copy of the synod guidelines.

Ministry Endowment

Supporting Leaders in Ministry

To maintain healthy congregations, we need pastors and other leaders willing to serve. Some seminarians may need scholarships, help with debt, or growth as they are in ministry. Grant funds are specifically for those serving or intending to serve in the WND Synod.

• WND Rostered Leaders may apply for debt reduction support. Go to the synod website to download the Student Loan Grant Application.

You are invited to join a virtual informational session where you can meet with Reverend Pete Reuss,

the Stewardship for All Seasons facilitator and learn more about the process. Please join us online on

Tuesday, February 20th

at 11:00AM CST

CLICK HERE to request the link for the virtual informational session.



You are invited to join a virtual informational session where you can meet with Reverend Pete Reuss,

the Stewardship for All Seasons facilitator and learn more about the process. Please join us online on

Tuesday, February 20th

at 11:00AM CST

CLICK HERE to request the link for the virtual informational session.

Are you wondering if seminary might be right for you? Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary is hosting Signs Along the Way April 4-6^th for anyone who is discerning a call to seminary and is interested in online education. Connect with others in discernment, get to know PLTS faculty, and explore what it’s like to be an online student in the MDiv, MA in Spirituality and Social Change, or Lutheran Year programs. PLTS is transitioning to only offer online study with in-person intensives, so this weekend is designed for those interested in online learning. PLTS covers lodging and meals during the event and can offer some travel assistance for those who need it. Visit plts.edu/signs to learn more.



Metigoshe Ministries in Bottineau, ND is honored to host the 2025 National Faith + Climate Forum on March 27, from 10:30 AM to 4:45 PM. This year’s theme, "Seven Acts of Faith for Building Thriving Congregations," invites people of faith to explore meaningful ways to integrate creation care into their faith communities. The event will feature inspiring speakers, engaging workshops, and practical tools for action.

A free lunch and refreshments will be provided. Registration closes on March 20.

To Register:

Visit https://nationalfaithandclimateforum.org

Fill out the required registration fields

Select “Attend in person at a designated host location” as your ticket type

Choose “Metigoshe Ministries” as your location

Submit your registration and check your email for confirmation!

Let’s come together to learn, inspire, and act!

Get Ready for Tax Season

Since congregations and clergy have unique reporting requirements, Portico offers complimentary access to two important resources:

1. The Clergy Tax Return Preparation Guide by Richard R. Hammar focuses on tax-related topics most relevant to ministers.
2. Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches helps congregations understand their federal tax-reporting requirements.

Both tax guides are available on myPortico and the Tax Filing Information tab on EmployerLink.