​Meet the Ministry Leaders 
of Bethany Lutheran Church

Daphne Urban
Pastor

Hello!  My name is Pastor Daphne Urban and I am so excited to journey with you all this year at Bethany Lutheran Church!

I have been working towards becoming an ordained pastor for the past six years in the distributed learning program at Luther Seminary.  This means that I took two thirds of my classes online and one third of my classes as week long in person intensive classes on campus in St. Paul, at Luther Seminary.

I chose this type of education because I live in Bemidji with my husband Mike, and our three children (Linnea – 12, Jonathan- 10, and Evan- 8).  

I completed all of my seminary requirements in December and am now patiently waiting (with Jesus’ help!!) till June 5th when I will walk in graduation and receive my diploma.  
My diploma will show that I’ve completed a Master of Divinity degree in word and sacrament, and have a concentration in Congregational Mission and Leadership.  

On January 8 I was ordained as a word and sacrament pastor in the ELCA.  This has all led me here, to walk with the people of Bethany Lutheran Church during a time of transition, as you grieve what used to be (Pastor Graff and his retirement) and as you discern joyfully what will be, the choosing of a future, full-time, permanent pastor!

Let us rejoice together as God brings us together in this new union.  God’s blessings are abounding!
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~Pastor Daphne

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. 
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    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.