synod lay ministry
Synod lay ministry
The Eastern North Dakota Synod values lay ministry and seeks to equip lay leaders for service within congregations, parishes, and ministries throughout the synod. Together with congregations and rostered ministers, we will lift up leaders who feel the call to serve in their local context or neighboring ministries in a variety of areas: pulpit supply (preaching), worship leadership, presiding at sacraments (additional requirements), visitation, Christian education, stewardship, and service.
- Synod Lay Ministers can serve in their local congregation in partnership with other Rostered Ministers or in the absence of a called Rostered Minister. They can also offer their gifts to a nearby ministry for pulpit supply, to lead a Bible study, or to help meet needs during a transition. Synod Lay Ministers who feel called to preach can be listed on the EaND Pulpit Supply List.
- Synod Authorized Ministry is for times when a congregation is without a Minister of Word and Sacrament (pastor) and the Bishop authorizes someone to preside at Holy Communion for a specific time and location. Individuals who wish to be authorized will need to meet additional requirements than Synod Lay Ministers, as most often they are serving under a longer-term contract with a congregation or parish.
Resources:
- Information on Synod Lay Ministry and Synod Authorized Ministry
This is helpful for anyone who may be interested in becoming a Synod Lay Minister. - Authorization Process for a Synod Lay Minister
This is helpful for congregation leaders who would like to request authorization for a lay person to preside at Holy Communion.
EVENT RECORDINGS:
"Faithful Witnesses: Models of Leadership in Lutheran Congregations, Looking Back and Looking Ahead"
Dr. Susan Wilds McArver
January 18, 2025
For a brief period in the mid-20th century, Lutheran congregations enjoyed the “one-pastor-to-one congregation” model of ministry across many rural areas of America. But in reality, this model was a brief exception in a much broader history of shared pastoral and lay leadership. This session will explore ways in which lay leaders within the church have always responded to changing contexts and realities, whether those be economic, demographic, or both. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the historical significance of lay leadership and its implications for the future of pastoral ministry in contexts like North Dakota.