The Synod celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Endowment Fund on June 25th. Past members of the Endowment Fund Committee and guests gathered in the Haugo Room of the Synod office for a celebratory noon luncheon. The endowment fund was created in 1994 and the first endowment distribution was $75 designated for continued education for pastors of rural congregations. Since that time, 23 endowment funds have been funded and invested with earnings designated for a variety of purposes including seminary scholarships, mission partners, missionaries, and seminary debt. The total assets of the Synod Endowments now total over $5,000,000 and $1,391,105.04 has been distributed during the 20 years of the endowment fund. Thanks be to God!
Those attending the luncheon were: past development director Rev. Franklin Pudas and Marit; past bishops and spouses Rev. Norm Eitrheim and Clarice and Rev. Andrea DeGroot Nesdahl and Gary Nesdahl; past and present endowment committee members Erik Gilbertson, Darice Huber, Rev. Greg Johnson, Richard Moe, Howard Paulson, Rev. Olaf Roynesdal and Marcia; Lutheran Planned Giving directors Jim Schade and Kurt Osborne; Bishop Dave Zellmer; Lois Borchardt, Cheryl McGuire, and Linda Beckman. Other past and present endowment committee members are: Rev. Jim Thvedt, Kermit Black, Louise Tastad, Lowell Larson, Fred Thurman, Ty Inglis, Diane Hovda, Heidi Schulz and Rev. Nick Collins.
