Clergy and Staff

Don't hesitate to contact us! We are friendly up here in the north woods, always welcoming a hello!


Bethany Lutheran Office:

715-349-5280

Secretary Jane Scherger


Pilgrim Lutheran Office:

715-327-8012

Secretary Rae Lynn Neumann


Rev'd Emily's Pastor Phone:

715-791-4429

  • The Reverend Emily K. Stelling

    Pastor Emily grew up in Milltown, WI with her mother, Rhonda-a special education teacher at Unity Schools, and David-a supervisor at a local dairy, along with two sisters, Holly and Isabelle. They attended Milltown Lutheran Church under the pastorate of US Navy Chaplain Reverend Danny Wheeler. It was Pastor Danny who encouraged Pastor Emily to discern the ministry. On October 23, 2005 Pastor Emily was baptized and, on that day, she felt called to the ministry. Soon thereafter, Pastor Danny took her on a tour of Luther Seminary. At 12 years old, Pastor Emily became the youngest prospective student at the seminary, according to the admissions office. She enjoyed theatre, golf, band, student government, and all things high school while at Unity. She graduated in 2011. Pr. Emily was thrilled to attend St. Olaf College, a college of the Lutheran Church located in Northfield, MN. The four years of academic rigor, epiphanic experiences, personal growth, and lifelong connections cemented Pr. Emily’s theological foundation. 

    She graduated in May 2015 and by July 1st she was settled into her Stub dormitory at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Pr. Emily graduated with honors from Luther Seminary in May 2019. Throughout her time in seminary, Pr. Emily had the opportunity to study under Dr. Mary Jane Haemig in Germany as well as attend Kirchentag and the Jubilee festivities in Wittenberg in 2017. She served her vicar year in Bratislava, Slovakia. The call was to teach religion at the historic Evanjelické lýceum (a Lutheran high school, est. 1606) in tandem with serving as the vicar at Bratislava International Church. Pr. Emily completed her Clinical Pastoral Education at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, during the Minnesota nurses’ strike of 2016. She has a long-standing discipline of attending retreats and monasteries. She is a fellow with the saints at Saint Augustine’s House in Oxford, MI—a Lutheran monastery. She loves living back in the great north woods—close to family and friends, and where one can fish peacefully!

    You can contact Pastor Emily at pastorstelling@sirentel.net


  • Secretary Jane scherger

    Office Administrator of Bethany Lutheran


    Bethany secretary for 10 years.  Jane lives in Webster, sharing her home with 2 rescue dogs and 2 rescue cats.  She works with developmentally challenged adults in St.Paul on weekends.   

  • Secretary Rae Lynn Neumann

    Office Administrator of Pilgrim


  • Carissa Ditlefsen, Church Youth & Family Coordinator

    Hi! My name is Carissa Ditlefsen and I’m so excited to start this new position with Bethany and Pilgrim Lutheran Parish and Luther Point Bible Camp. I grew up going to Luther Point, participated in the BUDDIES Program the summer before my senior year of high school and worked during the summer months when I was in college. My first summer working at LPBC was in 2015, where I was a junior counselor. In 2016, I was a senior counselor. My third and fourth summers, I was the Program Assistant. I returned for a fifth summer this year, where I again filled the role as the Program Assistant. 


    My home church is Trinity Lutheran Church in Hammond, WI. Trinity has been a part of my faith formation from baptism through confirmation. I actively participated in youth events, including Christmas cookie baking fundraising, local service projects, movie nights at the church, planned and led Easter Sunrise Services and attended Middle and High School Synod Youth Gatherings and the ELCA National Youth Gatherings in New Orleans and Detroit. I was also selected to serve on the Synod Youth Board for two years.


    I graduated from UW-Eau Claire in May 2019 where I studied elementary education and minored in general science. The past two years I substitute taught in my home town's school district, St. Croix Central. The experience provided opportunities to work with children in various capacities in the school environment, including working with special education students. I primarily worked in the elementary school. During this time, I was thinking about my camp experiences and missed working with youth in a faith based community. I am so excited for the opportunity to work with the youth and families and meet the congregation at Bethany and Pilgrim Lutheran Parish. I have felt a strong calling from God that this is where I am meant to be.