Life & Ministryin the

Northeastern Minnesota Synod

1105 East Superior Street, Upper Suite ~ Duluth, MN 55811218-724-4424 www.nemnsynod.org Fax: 218-724-4393

2

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

This PDF document contains hyperlinks (underlined phrases) that will take you to web sites with additional information. When using Adobe Acrobat to view the document, your device must have an Internet connection to access those sites.

Save a tree: this document can be printed on both sides of paper. To print from Adobe Acrobat, select “Print on both sides of paper” and then “Flip on long edge.” Select “Print in grayscale” to conserve colored ink.

2020 BISHOP ELECTION COMMITTEE

This Ministry Site Profile for the 2020 Bishop Election in the Northeastern Minnesota Synod was prepared by the Bishop Election Committee. Members of the committee were appointed by the Synod Council and represent all conferences of the synod. Additional resources are available on the BEC Web page.

Ms. Rachel Berry (Synod Vice President), Littlefork, Littlefork. Laurentian Conference. Mr. Dave Erdman, Synodically Authorized Minister, SALT Parish, Culver, Canyon, Saginaw,

Meadowlands. Lake Superior Conference Rev. Erika Foss, Trinity, Cook. Laurentian Conference Ms. Emelia Hinrichs (Youth), First, Brainerd. Heartland Conference Ms. Susanne Hinrichs (BEC Co-secretary), First, Brainerd. Heartland Conference. Mr. Mark Hollabaugh (BEC Chair), Trinity, Hovland. Lake Superior Conference Ms. Paula Jackson, Our Saviors, Hibbing. Laurentian Conference Mr. Tim Johnson, First, Hinckley. Kettle River Conference Mr. Brady Johnson (LYO), First, Hinckley. Kettle River Conference Rev. Matt McWaters, Hope, Walker. Living Waters Conference Ms. Amy Loken, Church of the Good Shepherd, Duluth. Lake Superior Conference Rev. James Muske, Bethesda (Malmo), Isle. Heartland Conference. Rev. Joyce Piper, Grace, Hermantown. Lake Superior Conference Ms. Jennifer Svatos, Zion, Grand Rapids. Living Waters Conference Deacon Brenda Tibbetts (Synod Staff Liaison), Trinity, Cook. Laurentian Conference Deacon Susan Williams (BEC Co-secretary), Calvary, Mora. Kettle River Conference

O God, you have called your servants to ventures which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ELW p. 304)

Augsburg Fortress License #12335-S

3

INTRODUCTION “Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding” (Proverbs 3:13). Understanding who we are as the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America can help us to discern the next bishop we need as our synod’s chief pastor. The purpose of this Ministry Site Profile is to assist congregations, voting members, and potential candidates for bishop to understand who we are and where we are headed.

THE BIG PICTURE We are one of the 65 synods in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and one of six ELCA synods in Minnesota. A map of our synod reveals we are one of the larger ELCA synods in terms of geographical area. The ELCA is divided into regions in order to better coordinate mission and ministry. We are a part of Region 3 which includes the other five Minnesota synods, the two North Dakota synods, and the South Dakota Synod. The Northeastern Minnesota Synod is designated “3E” and you will see this designation in many ELCA documents and in the following discussion of our mission and ministry.

“WE’RE 3E!”Our purpose is to nurture a Christ-centered climate to work together as the Northeastern Minnesota Synod to support vital congregations and leadership. We are committed to serving with

Excellence in leadership, Exploring creative ministries, and Equipping congregations to live out their baptismal callings.

Comprised of 131 congregations organized into five conferences, “3E” covers 13 counties of northeastern Minnesota. Heritage museums, local festivals, art galleries, theater, Native American communities and traditions, craft breweries, orchestra concerts along with jazz, country and bluegrass festivals are just some of the ways we delve into the multi-ethnic heritage tapestry that has made northeastern Minnesota what it is—an adventure surrounded by the fresh waters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, Chippewa and Superior National Forests, more than two dozen Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas, the Mississippi River

4

headwaters, and Lake Superior. We have a lot to offer to those interested in camping, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, fine arts opportunities, and a full range of winter activities along with plenty of solitude to renew your spirit.

The rich, cultural heritage continues throughout the area with the world port city of Duluth, lush rural farmlands, open-pit mining sites, and towns along the U.S./Canada border. Several congregations are a stone’s throw from the north shore of Lake Superior and our southern border is within an hour’s drive of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Although many of us live in cities or small towns, we all are appreciative of and involved in the natural beauty and bounty of our area of Minnesota.

EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod offers multiple, vibrant opportunities which support and equip rostered and lay leaders for faith formation in a changing culture. Relevant continuing education and faith formation occurs through a variety of ways, i.e. Lutheran Youth Organization, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Fall Theological Conferences, first call theological and candidacy retreats, synod assembly learning days, Lay Leader Network, lay preacher training courses and annual bishop’s convocations.

The five conferences of the synod, Lake Superior, Laurentian, Living Waters, Heartland, and Kettle River, hold regular gatherings in their areas from September through May for text studies, theological conversations and other types of presentations for rostered and lay leaders. The five conferences meet on a monthly basis. The Deans meet quarterly with the Bishop and serve as an extension of the bishop’s synod ministries.

In addition, the synod supports and nurtures our first-call rostered leaders through colleague groups and retreats as well as providing resources for seminary scholarships and seminary debt reduction. There is also a strong emphasis on the need for rostered ministers and directors of youth and family ministries to continue in life-long learning through continuing education and collegiality.

The Candidacy Committee has been intentional in raising up leaders for rostered ministry. Four of our current candidacy

O Christ, create new hearts in us That beat in time with yours, That, joined by faith with your great

heart, Become Love’s open doors. We are your body, risen Christ; Our hearts, our hands, we yield That through our life and ministry Your love may be revealed. ELW, #722, v.3

5

students have received the ELCA’s Fund for Leaders Scholarship. There is an ongoing collaborative relationship between the synod and the camping ministries at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry (Camp Hiawatha and Camp Vermilion), Camp Onomia, Luther Crest, and Wilderness Canoe Base. These relationships have played a strong role in raising up future leaders as has participation in the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program. Recently, three new TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) candidates for Word and Sacrament ministry have been added to the Candidacy Committee’s oversight and join an ever-growing list of seminary students.

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod Women of the ELCA were key in funding the PV for Phebe project (PV, photovoltaic) which was adopted by the churchwide Women of the ELCA. This project raised funding for solar panels and maintenance training for Phebe Hospital in Liberia. They are now in the process of raising additional funding for another Liberian hospital, Current for Curran.

EXPLORING CREATIVE MINISTRIES

Committed to innovation and holy experiments, the synod has begun several initiatives, igniting the faith of congregations throughout the synod. Leaders and congregations are encouraged to work with our Director of Evangelical Mission to imagine and dream about new ways God is calling all of us to engage in ministry outside of our buildings. We are a synod that encourages intentional mission planning. Several clusters of congregations are exploring collaborative strategies and creative partnerships as they seek rostered leadership and to live out their baptismal callings in their context.

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod is one of the few synods which has a full-time staff member focused on faith formation and leadership development for all ages. Programs include Middle School Gatherings, Cardia Deo high school retreat, the NE MN Synod Journey to the 2021 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, Confirmation Summit and bishop’s visits, Youth Ministry Network, Plan-It, and monthly collegial gathering for support and encouragement. A new initiative added in 2018-2019 was the Mental Health Initiative which has received high acclaim for its timely assistance and resources.

6

Missional/ministry engagement is happening on a local basis through the synod’s ongoing relationship with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. The Center for Changing Lives in Duluth directly addresses homelessness, hunger, and poverty.

Two of our newest initiatives are steadily gaining support. The Together Here team was formed in response to the 2017 Synod Assembly vote to Repudiate the Doctrine of Christian Discovery. This ongoing series of educational events is offered throughout the synod both inside and outside of the church along with trained Blanket Exercise facilitators who present the Native American narrative in a participatory experience. These opportunities continue to open pathways for weaving better relationships with our Native American neighbors who live both on and off the five federally recognized Minnesota Chippewa Tribe reservations (Fond du Lac, Leech Lake, Bois Forte, Mille Lacs, and Grand Portage) that lie within the footprint of the synod.

The Welcome LGBTQIA+ team has been trained by Proclaim/ELM (Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) members and are available to facilitate a variety of conversations with congregations who may be in the call process and are open to calling a LGBTQIA+ rostered minister. They are also available to congregations not in the call process but who wish to have assistance with respectful conversations and advancing understanding.

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod reaches out to our three companion synods that circle the globe and are as varied as our topography and people. Our ministry with the Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras (Lutheran Christian Church of Honduras) has been built up by many years of shared relationships, shared dreams, and shared trust. Through our many conversations, they have expressed to us, first and foremost, the desire for us to share with them in faith formation and leadership training for their lay leaders. The ICLH is a small church body with only eight ordained pastors, four men and four women. The congregations also have very active and involved lay leaders. A key component in our ministry with the ICLH is our yearly Worship & Learning Workshop for lay leaders. Each year a different theme is the focus of this workshop. As members of the Northeastern

Come! live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the

Lord! We are called to be light for the

kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God! We are called to act with justice. We are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another, to

walk humbly with God. (ELW #720, v.1)

7

Minnesota team participate alongside Honduran leaders, all are strengthened to be leaders in their individual congregations through small group discussions, sharing, presentations, worship, and fellowship.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR) was decimated under communism, half the members liquidated, many of the remainder sent to Siberia or elsewhere. The good news is that it is now rebuilding, from 10 congregations in 1993 to almost 100 today, with a small seminary and educational center near St. Petersburg. Today ministry is focused on strengthening the faith of existing congregations through emphasis on stewardship, discipleship and servant-leadership. But there is a reality behind this encouraging picture. Much of the funding to date has been supported by churches and organizations outside of Russia. The reason is that the income of most Russian members is simply not yet enough to provide the needed support. For example, teachers earn about $400 per month, yet the cost of living is similar to ours. There is hope and expectation for an improved economy and the ELCIR is emphasizing stewardship and financial self-support, but this will take time, likely a generation.

In 2017 with a generous gift from Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa, an India Seminary Scholarship fund was started for students from South Andhra Lutheran Church of India attending Lutheran seminaries in India. Seven seminary students received scholarships in 2017. The relationship continued to grow during a January 2019 synod-sponsored trip to India. The ten-person delegation from Northeastern Minnesota, including Bishop Tom Aitken, visited congregations and ministry sites, learned about Dalit theology, met with SALC leaders, toured Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, and was received with warm and enthusiastic hospitality—including singing, dancing, and amazing worship. The two bishops also signed an official companion synod agreement as a step in the continued growth of the partnership.

EQUIPPING CONGREGATIONS The Northeastern Minnesota Synod is committed to equipping congregations for living out the good news of Jesus Christ through its educational and outreach programs. Mission

8

interpreters assist in telling the “3E Story” of our collaborative partnering with congregations to support the Twin Ports Ministry to Seafarers and Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, which touch the lives of people of all ages from around the world.

The EcoFaith Network is very active in promoting healthy ecologies and raising awareness of the effects of climate change. Multiple workshops and retreats are offered throughout the year as well as helpful tips, along with a speaker’s bureau—a list of pastors and lay leaders willing to serve as workshop facilitators for congregational forums and who are also available for pulpit supply.

The Lay Leader Network offers opportunities for biblical, theological and practical studies through a series of four intensive Saturdays held during the course of the school year. Morning sessions focus on biblical and theological understandings following the lectionary. Afternoon sessions are geared to missional and ministry praxis. This network is open to rostered and lay.

In some congregations, due to very rural locations and financial difficulties, it has been necessary for the bishop to appoint a Synod Authorized Minister (SAM) to serve God’s people. Each SAM must complete a six-session, three-year course for Lay Preacher Training. SAMs meet regularly with the bishop and are also required to turn in a yearly report.

Ten of our congregations are participating in the Cultivating Generous Congregations program from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. These series of workshops have been very beneficial.

Multiple Grounded in Grace spiritual formation groups provide a safe place for rostered and lay leaders to support one another, discerning where God is calling them. “3E” is also home to several skilled spiritual directors, both rostered and lay.

9

STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT The ELCA provides a myriad of statistics on its web site to help synods and congregations understand their ministry context and membership. The statistics we have selected to discuss here give a brief overview of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod. Some of the comparison data comes from the US Census Bureau. (A PDF file, 3E NEMN Data Kit, with the ELCA statistics is on the BEC web page.)

WHO ARE WE? The synod’s members are 97% white. The 3% minorities are predominately multi-racial or Native American as shown in this graph. (Data is from congregational annual reports.) Some Native Americans or black Americans may be counted in the multi-racial category. Those who claimed “other” as race were omitted from this graph. The “whiteness” of our synod reflects the racial composition of our region which is 92% white, whereas the United States overall is 70% white.

In many ELCA congregations, members are “genetic Lutherans,” that is, they were born into a Lutheran family, most likely of northern European ancestry. In our region of Minnesota, the top three ancestries are German, Norwegian, and Swedish, which also is reflected in our synod’s members. This accounts for some cities in our synod having two, or more, ELCA congregations in close proximity. A hundred years ago if you were of Norwegian ancestry you belonged to the Norwegian Lutheran Church. If you were a Swedish family, you went to the Augustana Synod congregation. In many cases worship was in the language of one’s ancestors.

HOW MANY ARE WE? Membership in our congregations has slowly declined in the six years for which membership figures are available. However, weekly worship attendance has remained constant at about 23% of baptized members. (This is the ratio of average worship attendees to baptized membership. Most synod congregations count all worshipers, including children, as attendees, not just confirmed and communing members at worship.)

Black American12.28%

African 1.40%

Native American21.93%

Middle Eastern 2.63%

Pacific/Asian16.49%

Multi Racial36.84%

Latino 8.42%

Northeasten Minnesota SYNOD RACIAL MINORITIES

5000

25000

45000

65000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Northeastern Minnesota SYNOD MEMBERSHIP

Confirmed Attending Worship Baptized

10

The decline in membership and attendance parallels similar declines in the ELCA as well as most U.S. church bodies. (See Membership Trends on the ELCA web site for a graphical snapshot of this trend.) The fastest growing category for Americans who report a religious affiliation is “none,” which rose 17% since 2009 although many “nones” identify themselves as “spiritual.” (For a thorough and compelling report, see In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace from the Pew Research Center.)

Data is available for 2015 and 2016 on membership gains and losses in our synod. The following table shows new members in five categories. A very common entry of new members is through infant baptism. Affirmation of faith is usually the means by which baptized members of other Christian churches are received into membership. “Transfer” refers to members who transfer their membership from another Lutheran congregation or a denomination in fellowship with the ELCA.

BAPTIZED MEMBERS RECEIVED 2015 2016

Baptism – Children < 16 673 584 Baptism – Adults > 16 47 35

Affirmation of Faith 433 399 Transfer 671 515

Other & Stat Adjustment 183 115 TOTAL 2007 1648

Another important membership measure is the number of baptized members confirmed. This averages 650 per year and these are most likely young people being confirmed. An important and visible part of the bishop’s ministry is confirmation visits to congregations.

BAPTIZED MEMBERS CONFIRMED 2015 2016

646 654

Congregations lose members, very often by death. Members move to a new community, join another church and transfer their membership. (The available data doesn’t tell us where people move; it could be to another ELCA congregation in Minnesota.)

BAPTIZED MEMBERS REMOVED 2015 2016

Death 669 653 Transfer 521 481

Other & Stat Adjustments 1919 1859 TOTAL 3109 2993

Many congregations trim membership rolls of people who have simply stopped attending for a long time and/or request to have their names removed. These are the “Other & Statistical Adjustments” category. Clearly for 2015 and 2016, membership loses have outpaced gains.

11

Data on the ages of the churchwide membership is available from the ELCA web site. The Age of ELCA Attendees parallels other denominations where older members are more likely to attend worship on a regular basis.

The ELCA provides interesting demographic maps of our synod which overlay congregational membership data on census data. These maps, shown on the following two pages, display congregational membership and attendance as “Growing,” “Stable,” or “Declining.” Likewise, on a ZIP Code by ZIP Code basis, the change in the general population is shown. Note that these maps may not accurately show the location of a specific congregation. Declining membership can be due to a decline in the general population of a community.

The ELCA has strong roots in rural areas, particularly in the Midwest where German, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and Danish immigrants established homesteads, schools, and churches. The shift from rural to urban living has affected the ELCA. For an interesting perspective, see The (Eventual) Resurrection of the Rural Church from Living Lutheran.

Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew. Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus; All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place. (ELW #641, v.2)

Morrison

Carlton

St. Louis

Pine

Crow W

ing

I 35 N

I 35 S

US Hwy 10

US Hwy 10

US Hwy 169US Hwy 169

US Hwy 2

US Hwy 53

US Hwy 53US Hwy 2

US Hwy 71

Cass

Cook

Itasca

Kanabec

Koochiching

Lake

Mille Lacs

Projected Change in Population from 2015 to 2020

by ZIP Code and

Change in Congregation Average Attendance from 2011 to 2014

for the Northeastern Minnesota Synod

Growing, stable or declining

congregations were determined by

(2014 avg att - 2011 avg att)/2011 avg att

growth: greater than 0.03

declining: less than -0.03

stable: at or between -0.03 and 0.03

Created by ELCA Research and Evaluation, Office of the Presiding Bishop. 4-16

Source: The Nielsen Company.

I 35 N

US Hwy 53

US Hwy 2

Duluth Area

14

HOW MUCH DO WE CONTRIBUTE? Congregations send reports on their annual revenue (general, designated, benevolence) to the synod office. Direct contributions to other non-ELCA organizations may be omitted from these figures.

Total congregational revenue has also declined slightly from 2011 through 2016, due in part to declining membership numbers. This trend also parallels most U.S. churches.

However, there is one positive sign. Giving per attending member has increased during the same six-year period. (This was calculated by dividing total reported revenue for the synod by total average attendees, which assumes they are the most likely to contribute.) The graph shows this trend for the most recent six years for which data is available.

One explanation for this increase in per member giving is the baby boomer generation. The peak in the US population is in the 45 to 49-year-old range whereas the ELCA’s attending members peak is in the 65 to 69 age range (2008 data). Older, retired baby boomers tend to be more active in church than Generation Xers or Millennials in the general population. Baby boomers also are the wealthiest generation in the US and are generous in their charitable giving. (This giving phenomena is also seen in charitable giving to other institutions such as church colleges.) Hence the generosity of those born from 1946 through 1964 may account for this increase in per member giving. However, the reality of life is that these baby boomers are also dying and in 20 to 30 years will be a declining component of our membership.

The ELCA giving also follows this trend, rising from $1950 per attending member in 2006 to $2650 in 2016. (See Eleven Year Summary of Yearbook Financial Reports for detailed information.)

$22,000,000

$23,000,000

$24,000,000

$25,000,000

$26,000,000

$27,000,000

$28,000,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

TOTAL CONGREGATIONAL REVENUE

$1,500.00 $1,600.00 $1,700.00 $1,800.00 $1,900.00 $2,000.00 $2,100.00

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

GIVING PER ATTENDING MEMBERS

15

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? In the Synod Survey, several themes addressed these membership and financial realities. Here are some summary statements from the survey that relate most closely to our demographics and finances (bold font words relate to the statistics discussed here).

Stewardship or mission planning, exploration of ministry collaboration or areapartnerships, and guidance on constitutions and compensation guidelines werementioned frequently.

Changing culture and declining demographics underlie an articulated need for synodleadership to help congregations explore new ministry partnerships and collaborationsfor congregational vitality and ministry.

Challenges in filling pastoral vacancies, gaining interim ministers in transition,affordability to call a pastor, and raising up seminarians were strong themes.Respondents expressed wishes to re-imagine and explore new ways to provide pastoralleadership to congregations.

Engaging leaders and congregations to assist in strengthening faith formation anddeveloping vision toward adaptive ordained and lay ministry, especially in the contextof a church experiencing a declining and aging membership with limited resources.

Individual congregation trend reports are available on the ELCA web site (ELCA Directory). Registration is required to access these reports.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod is an area filled with congregations of varied sizes. Currently, there are too many church buildings for the sizes of the congregations and the availability of rostered leadership. In 2016, three congregations merged to form a new congregation while a five-point parish did the hard, faithful and creative work with the Director for Evangelical Mission to form a four-point parish. In 2017, two congregations merged to form a single congregation. The process of merging, while painful, has birthed renewed energy for ministry.

Working with the synod’s Director for Evangelical Mission, several clustered congregations are exploring what it might look like to have multi-campus and shared staff and ministries to serve God’s people in their context. The next bishop can fully expect to see more of and be a part of these opportunities and challenges.

The Northeastern Minnesota Synod enjoys a sense of collegiality and support among rostered and lay leaders alike. Sharing this unique location that is “3E” creates a wonderful atmosphere for friendship and congregational partnerships, which in turn encourage our leaders to stay in this area. We have a lot to offer through meaningful ministry, relationships, and recreation both inside and outside of a congregation, inside and beyond synod borders.

16

CURRENT SYNOD STAFFAs is the case with any new pastoral call, the election of a bishop brings change and opportunities. There will be decisions needing to be made by the next bishop in consultation with the synod council regarding future ministry directives, synod owned property, location of a main office, and staffing configuration based on need and financial sustainability. The current Northeastern Minnesota Synod staff consists of the bishop and five staff members.

BISHOP • The bishop is the chief pastor of the synod and is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament

of the ELCA. Chapters 6 and 8 of the ELCA and synod constitutions define the role and functionof the bishop and the synod in the life of a congregation. Synod assemblies and the SynodCouncil often request the bishop to take specific actions, particularly on public policy, in theregion.

• Bishop-elect compensation, salary and benefits would be negotiated with the synod vicepresident and Synod Council Personnel Committee based on years of experience, degrees,supervisory and synodical duties, moving expenses, etc. The Northeastern Minnesota Synod’s2020 Compensation Guidelines may be found on the web site.

ASSISTANTS TO THE BISHOP AND OFFICE STAFF

• One full-time assistant to the bishop, responsible for call process, background checks, sharedroster duties, First Call, Fall Theological Conference, Lay Leader Network, synod assemblyplanning, Lutheran Advocacy-Minnesota, and other duties assigned by the bishop.

• One quarter-time assistant to the bishop who also serves three quarters-time as the ELCADirector for Evangelical Mission. Synod responsibilities include candidacy, stewardship andmission support, new and renewing missions, congregational mission planning, congregationalvitality, collaboration and partnerships, conflict resolution, and other duties as assigned by thebishop.

• One full-time Coordinator of Youth Ministry/Faith Formation. Responsibilities includeleadership development/faith formation for all ages, Lutheran Youth Organization, MiddleSchool Gathering, Cardia Deo, Synod Journey to the ELCA Youth Gathering, and the MentalHealth Initiative.

• One full-time office administrator. Responsibilities include finances, synod assembly planningand synod statistics.

• One full-time executive administrative assistant. Responsibilities include web siteadministrator, communications, shared roster responsibilities, registrations.

Current staff salaries are determined by synod guidelines.

17

SYNOD OFFICE The synod office is located in a mixed-use area of Duluth that is the home to two major hospitals and many clinics. The Duluth International Airport is about a 20-minute drive from the office. The nearest synod congregation is across the street and the farthest is nearly 200 miles distant.

The two-story building, owned by the synod, is 60 years old, and the synod offices are on the second floor. Offices on the first floor are rented to other organizations. It is not handicapped accessible and needs major renovation.

The synod maintains both a website (www.nemnsynod.org) and a Facebook page.

Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA 1105 E. Superior Street, Upper Suite Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 724-4424 voice(218) 724-4393 fax

O praise the word of faith that claims us as God's own, a living temple built on Christ, our rock and cornerstone: We praise you, Christ! Your cross has made us one! (ELW #651, v.4)