The Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota



Click here to view this Newsletter as Webpage.

Welcome to our email Newsletter!

A few highlights from this issue:

• Video Message from Bishop Brian
• WoDakota Annual Appeal 2024
• St. Gabriel's Camp
• Williston's Farewell Service
• Notes from the April Diocesan Council Meeting

Read on for other announcements and the calendar!

Did you miss a copy of the Prairie? The past four editions of the bi-monthly Prairie are now online! Click the button below to be taken to the webpage!

Message from Bishop Brian

WoDakota Annual Appeal

Upon a successful completion of our WoDakota Annual Appeal in 2023, we will once again be launching an Appeal, this year on Pentecost. Watch your email and mailboxes for upcoming information for our WoDakota Annual Appeal!

Annual B+E+S+T Conference

Every year the B+E+S+T members (Bishop's Executives Secretaries Together) gather together at their annual conference for some renewed fellowship and learning. Our Diocesan Administrator, Jess, is part of this network. She will be out of the office attending the conference May 6-10. Jess will return to the office on May 13th.

St. Gabriel's Camp

Over the past few months the campus of St. Gabriel’s has become a four season facility. Star Lodge, built in replacement of Red Hail Lodge, has been upgraded with two full bathrooms with showers and the kitchen is ready to prepare and serve meals for camp participants. A North Dakota Episcopal Foundation Grant has also made it possible to replace the mattresses in the five cabins throughout the camp. Fairfield Lodge has also been upgraded to a full bathroom with two showers. It also has a studio sized kitchen appliance. This lodge will be available for rent to hunters that come on Standing Rock in the fall.

This summer there are three camps scheduled:

June 11 – 13

July 9 – 11

July 30 – August 1

These camps are open to rising 6^th grade through Senior High students throughout the Diocese of North Dakota. Registration forms are available by contacting jffloberg@gmail.com or on the Diocesan Website. Adults 18 and over are welcome to apply to volunteer as Camp Staff and can come in up to 2 days early to help prepare for the Camp Session. These adults will need to provide certification of Safe Church Training.

What do we do at St. Gabriel’s? What does the typical day look like?

On the first morning we are gathering in the teens for the Camp Session and starting at Lunch Time at the Camp. On the other two mornings we are getting up to have the coffee shop being open then off to chapel, breakfast, group activity and a thing that we call Club. That will include a talk that is given on the theme of that Camp Session. Then lunch.

After lunch there may be some organized activity, but much of the afternoon is given over to free time with lots to choose from: Water activities with tubing, kayaking, etc, swimming pool, arts and crafts, playing pool, shooting hoops, playing some form of volleyball or off on a hike. Then supper.

After supper we will gather again for Club which will include some group activities and another talk based on the theme of that Camp. There will be some less organized free time, campfire (weather permitting) and chapel. Sometimes there is a movie that is projected onto a big screen. No one goes to bed hungry. Peanut butter sandwiches are available near the end of the day so everyone can go to bed satisfied.

We cover the cost of the Camp Sessions through the Diocesan Budget, Donations and YoungLife funds. The Canteen is open during Camp for the purchase of an assortment of drinks and candy. 

St. Gabriel’s Camp is prepared to host 60 teen campers and the staff. Beside the theme selected for the Camp, there is time and place for relationships to be grown with God, between teens and also among the adults. The Christian faith is fundamentally based in relationships. Relationships formed at St. Gabriel’s can be life-giving and healing. 

White Shield Elder-led Class

Photo caption: Fr. Duane Fox listens as Mrs. Bonnie Fox recounts stories about the Missouri River, which the Arikara call The Great Mystery.

On Wednesday night, April 24th, an elder-led class was held at the Arikara Cultural Center on the significance of the Missouri River to the Arikara. Robert Fox opened the presentation, which is part of a series of classes for St. Paul's, White Shield's UTO grant in creation care/environmental reparations. 

Notes from Diocesan Council’s April Meeting

As part of the goal to continue to build relationships across the diocese, we opened the meeting with short introductions from each in attendance. The diocesan Land Acknowledgement was recited and we were reminded that General Convention encourages all congregations to publicly display their own Land Acknowledgement that best describes their area.

Treasurer Amy Morrow reported from the Diocesan Finance Committee. It was requested the diocese consider a Line of Credit, to be in place for the purpose of timing issues when receiving Trust and Endowment disbursements. The Council approved the committee to contact Bremer Bank to determine what would be needed to obtain a line of credit for $50,000.

The budgeted funds from the unfilled position of the Missioner for Youth, Young Adult, and Congregational Ministry Development will be moved to a reserve account later in the year, so that when the position is filled we will have the funds to guarantee the three year commitment that was set forth.

The Diocesan Stewardship Share report format was discussed. We hope to show 2023 year-end with full participation from each congregation. This would be wonderful reason for celebration.

A plan is underway to move Real Estate and Property Management issues away from clergy. The goal is to identify volunteers, who have experience and skill sets to understand these issues. They would serve in an advisory capacity to the diocese and member congregations.

Communication improvement has continued around the Diocese with the electronic publication of the Prairie. There is still work to be done including increasing the number of diocesan households receiving the Prairie and the recruitment of folks to identify articles to be included. A communication committee will share this work. 

Did you know each Episcopal Church congregation must complete a yearly parochial report? These reports include average Sunday attendance, basic budget income and expenses, stewardship commitments, membership, i.e. baptisms, confirmations, deaths, etc. as well as outreach and mission work accomplished. These reports remind each congregation to keep required statistics so accurate reporting is received into the dioceses in a timely manner.

Did you know that St. Paul’s Episcopal congregation in White Shield has been meeting for the last seven years in the community center in White Shield? A building project has been started but implementation is a challenge as the project is too small to interest a commitment from contractors.

Great news about Peter Mading – he is officially a candidate for transitional deacon. It is hoped this ordination will take place at St. John’s Episcopal, Moorhead in the fall of 2024.

The Annual WoDakota Appeal will launch on Pentecost Sunday. This annual diocesan ingathering is used to support diocesan goals.

The Diocesan Missioner Position Description changes take effect on the July employment anniversary date. The main focus of this position is Program Mission work. Real Estate and Property Management issues will not fall under this position description.

Our very capable Diocesan Administrator is making a move to St. Cloud, MN. Luckily, this position has been worked remotely successfully in the past. Jess will continue to serve as Administrator and will work remotely from St. Cloud with travel to the diocesan office twice a month, or as other events dictate.

The North Dakota Council Indian Ministry (NDCIM) is gathering to reestablish their organizational structure, filling open leadership positions so their work may continue in a timely manner.

How many congregations are in the Diocese North Dakota? Go to the Diocesan Web-site and see how many and where our Episcopal Congregations are located throughout the Diocese.

The news from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Williston was shared with council. The building sale is near complete. A final service in the building for the congregation will be Sunday, April 28^th at 11 am. The small congregation will continue to worship and exist in new ways. Keep all involved in your prayers at this very emotional time in the life of St. Peter’s.

Building Farewell Service in Williston

Photo Caption: The Rev. Steve Godfrey, The Rev. Kim Fox, Louie Abdilnour (crucifer), George Abdilnour, Senior Warden

St. Peter's, Williston said farewell to their building as the last service was held on Sunday, April 28th, with The Rev. Steve Godfrey, Celebrant, The Rev. Kim Fox, Preacher, and Louie Abdilnour as Lay Eucharistic Minister. Louie also composed a special Prayers of the People for the occasion. 21 people came to say goodbye to the building and hello to new opportunities for ministry beyond those familiar walls. Members of St. Michael and All Angels, Cartwright, also attended to show their support. The service included the Renewal of Baptismal Vows. While there was sadness at saying goodbye, there was also a spirit of hope. As Louie and George reminded those gathered: this is not a death, but an opportunity for new life and resurrection. Thank you for keeping St. Peter's in your prayers during this time of transition and discernment for new ministry.

LGBTQ+ Service at MSU

On Sunday, April 28th, All Saints, Minot, Lutheran Campus Ministry, and Minot State University hosted the third annual LGBTQ+ Celebration Prayer Service, with thirty people in attendance. The Rev. Steve Godfrey and The Rev. Kim Fox attended from the diocesan Ministry Support Team.