| Bethany Lutheran Church Red Lake Falls MN |
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Meet the Ministry Leaders
of Bethany Lutheran Church
Allen Bertilrud
Synodically Authorized Minister (SAM)
About 5 years ago I started going to classes within the NW Synod and the NE Synod of North Dakota to learn more about the ministry and Bible. I attended approximately 10 Saturday classes throughout that time. In addition, I took a week of classes on the Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul on Biblical text and lay ministry.
At the NW Synod Assembly in 2020 in Moorhead, the Synod gave me the certificate for the lay ministry completion. When Pastor Graff retired, I thought that I could help with the transition to a new Pastor for our congregation. After discussion with SAM Kathy Levenhagen, I was approached about being a SAM. I had all of the qualifications for being a SAM.
A SAM, with an acronym for Synodically Authorized Minister, is specific to only the congregation at which they serve. I interviewed with Bishop Tesch in Moorhead and I will continue to have classes in the coming two years totaling approximately 64 hours in addition to two additional retreats during that time. A SAM basically has the same service responsibilities as an ordained Pastor, but is not ordained due to not being a graduate of a seminary. I can only serve Bethany unless called by another congregation and this would have to be authorized by the Synod Bishop.
In the year ahead, I will be meeting with Pastor Dodson from Plummer on a monthly basis and I will be working with Pastor Daphne on a part time basis filling in where needed in her absence.
At the NW Synod Assembly in 2020 in Moorhead, the Synod gave me the certificate for the lay ministry completion. When Pastor Graff retired, I thought that I could help with the transition to a new Pastor for our congregation. After discussion with SAM Kathy Levenhagen, I was approached about being a SAM. I had all of the qualifications for being a SAM.
A SAM, with an acronym for Synodically Authorized Minister, is specific to only the congregation at which they serve. I interviewed with Bishop Tesch in Moorhead and I will continue to have classes in the coming two years totaling approximately 64 hours in addition to two additional retreats during that time. A SAM basically has the same service responsibilities as an ordained Pastor, but is not ordained due to not being a graduate of a seminary. I can only serve Bethany unless called by another congregation and this would have to be authorized by the Synod Bishop.
In the year ahead, I will be meeting with Pastor Dodson from Plummer on a monthly basis and I will be working with Pastor Daphne on a part time basis filling in where needed in her absence.
