June 5-7, 2026 + Holiday Inn, Fargo

The Eastern North Dakota Synod will gather in Assembly on June 5-7, 2026 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND under the theme of “Water of Promises, Water of Life.” There will be a bishop election and other important business for our life together as the Eastern North Dakota Synod. Our bible study leader will be Bishop Regina Hassanally from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Imran Siddiqui, ELCA Vice President, will oversee the bishop election and serve as our churchwide representative. 

The EaND Synod Assembly will begin at 4:30pm on Friday and end after lunch on Sunday (approximately 1:00pm).

Download the agenda here. 

This year’s Synod Assembly offering will be for the Holy Innovations Endowment Fund. This fund provides grants to congregations, as they live out their baptism in their local communities. 

Children at Assembly: 

Little Lutherans are welcome at assembly!  

• Activity Area: There will be a designated activity area for children ages 5 and under. Parents are responsible for supervision in this area.  

• Childcare: There will be an option for childcare during Synod Assembly. There will be options for preschool and elementary aged children (3 years and potty-trained through 6th grade). Registration must be made by May 19th. A suggested donation of $30 will help offset the cost and can be added to registration. 

• Nursing / Pumping Station: A private space for parents to nurse or pump will be available throughout the weekend.  
  
  

June 7 Congregational Worship Resource

Bishop Tessa has created a sermon for congregational use on June 7, 2026 during Synod Assembly weekend. Click the links below to access the sermon in either video or PDF format. 

June 7 Sermon - Video Format
June 7 Sermon Transcript - PDF Format

Summary of the 2025 Synod Assembly

On June 7-8, 2025, the Eastern North Dakota Synod, ELCA gathered together at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, ND for the thirty-eighth annual Synod Assembly under the theme of “Grace upon Grace.” There were a total of 263 people in attendance (177 Lay Voting Members; 70 Rostered Minister Voting Members; 16 Visitors). The business items included hearing reports from officers, adopting the Synod Mission Plan (budget), elections for Synod Secretary, Synod Treasurer, Synod Council and Synod Committees, and adopting the 2026 Compensation and Benefit Guidelines. Participants also heard a State of the Synod from Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth and State of the ELCA from our churchwide representative, Rev. Tim Brown. Two keynote presentations were shared by Rev. Tim Brown, ELCA Director of Congregational Stewardship. There were nine workshops offered for participants on a variety of topics. Rostered Ministers and Congregations celebrating significant anniversaries were acknowledged. The 2026 Synod Assembly will be held on June 5-7, 2026.

Documents: 

Voting Member Packet

Reports to the Synod Assembly

Videos from Synod Assembly: 

Opening Worship

Closing Worship

State of the Synod - Bp. Tessa Moon Leiseth

State of the ELCA - Rev. Tim Brown

Keynote #1: Rev. Tim Brown

Keynote #2: Rev. Tim Brown

Sunday, June 8 (Pentecost) Worship Resource

Sermon from Bishop Tessa (Video) 

Sermon from Bishop Tessa (Manuscript)