North Dakota Conference of Churches

"The North Dakota Conference of Churches gathers Christian faith traditions to further express our unity in Jesus Christ through prayer, dialogue and shared ministry."

President's Comments 

Dear Children of God,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Conference of Churches (NDCC) it is my joy to welcome you to our ministry. Made up of eleven historic Christian communions, the NDCC gathers Christian faith traditions, as one part of the Body of Christ, to express unity through prayer, dialogue and shared ministry. Just as pioneers were led by God to the upper Midwest over 125 years ago to explore the possibilities for life on the prairie, so, too, do I believe that the wind of God’s Spirit is blowing us, pioneers on the edge of God’s new frontier, to new possibilities for ministry in North Dakota.

As the president of the NDCC for 2008, my goal is to guide the Conference in seeking God’s will to ascertain how we can collectively and individually make a more dynamic witness for Jesus Christ in North Dakota. The field is ripe for the harvest! We must never forget that our first and primary purpose as witnesses for Jesus Christ is to proclaim the Gospel for the salvation of humankind.

A second area that I feel very strongly about is collaborative ministry among congregations, particularly in rural communities. There are wonderful opportunities for us to work more closely together across denominational lines in all areas of ministry, child care, care for the elderly, addressing basic human needs, ministering to rural families, and encouraging people to unite with a faith community regardless of the tradition. The goal is to build up the Body of Christ in all of its beautiful diversity. Also, if we are to be representative of all faith communities in North Dakota then we should be intentional about inviting brothers and sisters of evangelical traditions to be partners in ministry with us, as well as brothers and sisters of non-Christian traditions, all to the glory of God.

The opportunities for ministry through the NDCC are widespread. From our Rural Life Committee and the Faith and Order Committee, to the introduction of clergy new to North Dakota – North Dakota 101, to ministry to youth in the criminal justice system, to monitoring the work of the North Dakota state government through the lenses of faith, the NDCC strives to be a faithful witness to Jesus Christ.

I invite you to join us in this exciting ministry! As you browse through this website I believe you will find many opportunities for you to grow in your own faith walk and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ’s Service,

The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Traylor

Charles R. “Chuck” Traylor serves the Presbyterian Church (USA) as Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of the Northern Plains, overseeing 64 congregations throughout North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. A native of Texas and a long-time resident of southern climes, Chuck, his wife Sarah, daughter Maggie, and assorted horses and dogs migrated to the Northern Plains in 2004.