The Episcopal Diocese of

North Dakota



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Welcome to our email Newsletter!

A few highlights from this issue:

• WoDakota Annual Appeal Sunday
• 2024 Diocesan Convention
• Province VI Grant Opportunities

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!

This Sunday, June 2nd, is WoDakota Appeal Sunday!

Established by Diocesan Convention in 2022, the first Annual Appeal in 2023 successfully raised over $50,000 to support the ministries of the Diocese.

On the successful completion of the Annual Appeal, Diocesan Convention renewed this commitment for 2024.

Named WoDakota: Beloved Community by the Diocesan Council, the word WoDakota calls us to harmony and balance with ourselves and the world around us.

This year we claim the spirit of Pentecost to inspire our giving.

Your WoDakota Generosity Will Support the New Season of Ministry Goals

• Initiatives Toward Reconciliation Among & Between Us
• Local Parish Youth Ministries & Search for a Diocesan Youth Missioner
• Local & Regional Efforts to Advance Creation Care
• Continue Our Development of Congregational Vitality
• Diocesan Council Work to Refresh and Renew our Diocesan Structure
• Preparations for Election of a Bishop

Journeying Together:

Embracing Change, Preserving Identity

When: October 25-26, 2024

Where: Jamestown, ND

What: Annual Diocesan Convention

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT....:

WHO ARE YOU? Congregational Identity

Information gathered for The New Season of Ministry Report (adopted at last October’s diocesan convention) revealed that we deeply value our identity as the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota. Congregations, too, value their identities as Episcopal congregations within their communities. That identity may most often be associated with its name but can be demonstrated in many other ways.

For this year’s diocesan convention (October 25-26 in Jamestown), the convention planning group invites each congregation to explore more broadly what identifies it as a congregation and to bring something that represents that identity to the convention for display. We encourage congregations to be creative – think beyond banners and building photos - and explore unique ways that identify you: a special hanging, an artistic portrayal, or a unique or stylized picture.

We hope this invitation will prompt local discussions in various settings (coffee after worship, fellowship gatherings, vestry meetings, etc.) about congregational identity and what symbolizes or represents your congregation’s identity.

Left to right: Bishop Brian Thom, Betty Swain, The Rev. Kim Fox, Senior Warden Mary Ann Henry, Robert Fox

During his May visitation to the Diocese, Bishop Thom was able to make an impromptu visit to St. Sylvan's in Dunseith, escorted by Priest-in-Charge The Rev. Kim Fox and her spouse, Robert. Bishop Brian met with Senior Warden Mary Ann Henry and parishioners Betty Swain and her brother, Raphael DeCoteau. They were also given a tour of the parish cemetery. Bishop Brian's official Visitation to St. Sylvan's will be August 17-18th.

Bishop's Visitation to Standing Rock

Province VI Grant Opportunities

Province VI provides grants for projects or scholarships that support God’s people in mission throughout Province VI (the dioceses of Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming).

There are two categories of grants available: 

• Project/program – this could include seed money to start a new project across several dioceses, building a network around a particular topic/issue, providing a training program that benefits more than one diocese, a workshop sponsored by several dioceses or a program available to multiple congregations across the province.
• Scholarship – typically offered to an individual who will participate in a wider church event, an individual who will strengthen skills in certain areas to be of service to dioceses. This could include attending trainings/workshops or expenses for serving as a delegate to a wider church gathering when such expenses are not reimbursed by the sponsoring diocese.

Grants are limited to $2500 for a one-year period. The grant request may be resubmitted for an additional year for a total of 2 years.

Details and the application form and instructions are available at https://www.ndepiscopal.org/finance/. Applications are due to the Synod coordinator by August 15.

Please inform the diocesan office (office@ndepiscopal.org) of your intention to apply for a grant by July 15, so that we can coordinate any multiple applications. For more information contact Steve Godfrey at 515-450-9858 or Jess Krzewina at 701-235-6688.