Institutions are changing.  Budgets are changing.  Cultural norms are changing.  And yet, you are empowered to be a follower of Jesus in your everyday life, right where God has placed you.  And you are not alone.  You have other Christians, also empowered by the Holy Spirit, to walk with you along this faith journey.

A booklet has been compiled with some tools that can help you and other leaders at your congregation learn more about the options that lie in front of you.  It lists many different paths you may discern are the right path for your congregation at this time. This booklet is meant to be an early tool on the journey, but we encourage you to walk closely with the synod staff during this time.  You do have options, and the Western North Dakota Synod staff is here to walk with you as you follow the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Openings for Rostered Ministers (Pastors and Deacons):

• Beach Lutheran Parish-Beach, Sentinel Butte & Wibaux (served by a TEEM candidate)
• Bethany, Minot (senior pastor, full-time)
• Calvary Lutheran, Lemmon, SD (pastor, part-time, served by a SAM)
• Disciple Lutheran Parish-Knife River, Stanley; Faith Lutheran, Palermo; Bethlehem Lutheran, Ross (full-time pastor, served by SAMs)
• English, Tuttle/Bethany, Robinson (pastor, part-time; served by a Vice Pastor)
• First Lutheran, Granville; Norwich Lutheran, Norwich (pastor, part-time, served by a Vice Pastor)
• First Lutheran, Watford City (pastor, full-time; served by a TEEM candidate)
• Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Williston (associate pastor, full-time)
• Hope, Surrey (pastor, part-time; served by a SAM)
• Lutheran Church of the Cross, Bismarck (associate pastor, full-time)
• Napoleon/Kintyre Trinity Lutheran Parish, Napoleon & Kintyre (pastor, part-time; served by an interim pastor)
• Nazareth Lutheran, Kenmare (pastor, part-time; served by a SAM)
• Banks Lutheran, Watford City (served by a TEEM candidate)
• Prairie Hope Ministries-English, Maxbass; Trinity, Westhope; Dovre, Newburg (pastor, full-time; served by a SAM)
• Saron, Minot (pastor, part-time)
• St. Paul Lutheran, Butte & Hope Lutheran, Sawyer (pastor; served by a SAM)
• Scranton Lutheran Parish-Peace, Scranton; St. John's, Haley; Pierce Congregational Church, Scranton (solo pastor, full-time; served by a SAM)
• Sunne Lutheran, Wilton (served by a TEEM candidate)
• Tri-Parish of New Hope, Upham; Zion, Towner; First, Willow City (pastor, full-time; served by SAMs)
• Hettinger Lutheran, Hettinger (pastor; served by a SAM)
• First Lutheran, Williston (senior pastor & associate pastor; served by an interim pastor)
• First Lutheran, Rugby; Leeds Lutheran, Leeds (Associate Pastor)
• Dakota Prairie Lutheran Parish: Bowman Lutheran; Bethany & First Lutheran, Rhame; Lebanon Lutheran, Amidon (pastor, full-time; served by a SAM and a Vice Pastor)
• First Lutheran Church, Harvey (Pastor)
• Belfield Lutheran Parish-Belfield Lutheran; Medora Lutheran; Daglum Lutheran (Pastor; served by a SAM and Vice Pastor)
• First Lutheran Church, White Earth; Zion Lutheran Church, McGregor (served by a SAM)
• Trinity Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake (pastor, full-time)
• Northwest United Lutheran Parish: Concordia, Crosby; Ambrose Lutheran, Ambrose; Calvary, Alamo; Grace, Wildrose (served by interim pastor and SAMs)

Calls Accepted

• Pr. Katie Rodriguez, St. John's Lutheran, Killdeer; Normanna Lutheran, Dunn Center
• Pr. Russ Lambert, Northwest United Lutheran Parish, Crosby, Interim Pastor
• Deacon Cheryl Lantz, CHI St. Alexius Health, Dickinson, Deacon Chaplain
• Pr. Natasha Woitzel-Kolles, Good Shepherd, Bismarck, Pastor of Congregational Life
• Pr. Adam Barden, First Lutheran, Mandan, Associate Pastor
• Pr. Peder Stenslie, Keene First Lutheran and Clear Creek Lutheran, Keene
• Pr. Giselle Loucks, Augustana Lutheran and Birka Lutheran, Underwood
• Pr. Sam Trottier, St. Olaf Lutheran, Turtle Lake and Our Savior's Lutheran, Mercer

Ordinations

• Cheryl Lantz, St. John Lutheran Church, Dickinson, June 25th
• Adam Barden, Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck, August 9th
• Peder Stenslie, Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck, August 23rd
• Giselle Loucks, Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck, August 23rd
• Sam Trottier, Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck, August 23rd

Installations

• Deacon Cheryl Lantz, June 25th, St. John Lutheran, Dickinson
• Pr. Natasha Woitzel-Kolles, August 21st, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Bismarck

Retirements

    • None to report at this time

Resignations

• Pr. Chris Lenning, First Lutheran and Shell Creek Lutheran, Plaza
• Pr. Natasha Woitzel-Kolles, Zion Lutheran, Minot

Transfers

• Pr. Paul Balaban to the Eastern ND Synod
• Dn. Anna Dykeman to the Rocky Mountain Synod
• Pr. Chris Lenning to the South Dakota Synod

All Word and Sacrament Ministry positions listed above are for a solo pastor position unless otherwise indicated. To learn more about any of the above openings, search for their ministry site summary using the Ministry Opportunities Database or contact Synod Staff for more information.

For a listing of staff positions open to lay applicants, such as positions in church administration, youth ministry, worship and music, etc., please view our job postings.