About Us
History:
An excellent history of Bethel Lutheran Church was written in 1990, at the time of the congregation’s 100 year anniversary by Vernon Hektner, area historian and historian of Bethel Lutheran Church. Some of the following information is taken from that booklet. The booklet is very informative on our congregational history and can be viewed at the church office.
The original congregation had its first constitution proposed and adopted in March of 1890. The original congregational name was “The Wahpeton Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. In October, 1921, the name was changed to “Bethel Lutheran Church of Wahpeton”.
Church services were held in various places: in member’s homes, in rented quarters, and in other churches at times when they were not being used by their own members. No one pattern appears until the first church was built at Fourth Avenue and Eighth Street in 1917. The present building used by the congregation was built in 1954. Bethel Lutheran is now 135 year old as a congregation! Presently, Bethel has 1441 members and 527 households (not counting all of you!) that are a part of our ministry.
Congregational Leadership Structure:
The leadership structure of the congregation consists of a Planning Council and four boards which focus on various aspects of congregation life and ministry efforts. The Planning Council and Boards meet on a monthly basis. Leadership team members are elected for two-year terms.
The Executive Committee of the Congregation consists of four members who are members of the Planning Council. The remaining members of the Planning Council are the chairpersons of the Boards and programming and pastoral staff.
2025 Executive Committee:
Executive Director: Cyndy Kolle
Assistant Executive Directors: Diane Finnie, Programming & Ginny Buck, Administration
Congregational Secretary/Treasurer: Stephanie Hoefs
2025 Boards and Board Chairs:
Board of Christian Education: Chair – Breanna Koval. (6 members on Board)
Board of Lay Ministry: Chair – Steph Beyer (5 members on Board)
Board of Outreach & Christian Fellowship: Chair—Tracy Peterson (5 members on Board)
Board of Property & Management: Co-Chairs—Jeff Olson & Ryan Hoef (5 members on Board)