Rev. Brandon Vetter. Photo courtesy of Legacy UMC.

"I felt called to ministry at Exploration '98 in a Los Angeles ballroom. I was 17 years old—a senior in high school. During the commitment worship service, it's like God slapped me upside down. I didn't see it coming. It was the Holy Spirit saying, 'You need to go forward to be anointed with oil and do this.' Then I started exploring this thing [my call]," said Rev. Brandon Vetter, senior pastor at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Reverend Brandon Vetter will begin a new appointment as the Southeast District Superintendent on July 1, 2024. He received his undergraduate degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, and his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

People saw Pastor Brandon's call to ministry even before he recognized it. When he shared the story of being called at Exploration, others responded, "Of course, you got the skills, and you have to do this."

"It's interesting to see how God put those signposts and breadcrumbs along the way to say, that's the way [serving as a pastor] I should go," Pastor Brandon said.

In 2006, Pastor Brandon accepted his first appointment as campus pastor at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota.

"There were incredible times of worship, groups, and mission projects that came as a result of that appointment," said Pastor Brandon." We developed Fusion out of that."

Fusion, a United Methodist congregation, was launched in 2012. Fusion started as a partnership with Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell and Mitchell First UMC. The congregation is a blend of the DWU campus and the Mitchell community.

In 2014, Brandon was appointed as the full-time pastor at Fusion. More than 160 people were attending weekly worship in the Sherman Center on the DWU campus. The congregation held small groups, monthly mission projects, and outreach events.

His next appointment was as Associate Pastor at Legacy United Methodist Church in Bismarck, North Dakota. In 2016, he was appointed as Senior Pastor at Legacy UMC.

Rev. Brandon Vetter, chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry, invites people to participate in the offering during the Celebration of Life in Ministry Service. Photo by jlynn studios.

"I have had very different kinds of jobs," explains Pastor Brandon. "Campus pastor was a different rhythm than a new church pastor. The lead pastor's role is yet another different rhythm. Now, the district superintendent is another new one. I have never been bored in the place that God has called me."

As he moves into his role as Southeast District Superintendent, he hopes to inspire people to try new things.

"I have always been attracted to newness: where God is on the cutting edge, doing new things, and expanding what we've been doing before," shares Pastor Brandon. "One of the things that excites me about the Southeast District is the many ways people are doing things to reach people for Jesus. I look forward to walking alongside them and keeping things moving forward. A while back, I took a gifts assessment. This one plugged you into one of the following areas:  apostolic, prophetic evangelist, shepherd, or teacher. My result was apostolic teacher. It's kind of like the entrepreneurial skill sets in business terms. I like to do things that invite people to Jesus; then, you see what's over the next hill. What excites me about being a DS is working with people where they are, seeing what's next over the hill with them, and trying to help them get there."

The challenges of polarization, inflation, and disunity are realities of today's world. Pastor Brandon knows that churches and leaders of The United Methodist Church live with these difficulties daily.

"The challenges that people are facing– inflation,  a sense of unity coming out of disaffiliation and acknowledging that grief. The polarized world that we live in affects everything. People so often see everything through a political lens," said Pastor Brandon. "I am looking forward to seeing what God will do next. I want to help reach folks for Jesus. How do you find unity around the essentials that Jesus is Lord? How can we model a different way to move in the world without polarization? How can churches all over the conference model a different and healthier way to live?"

Brandon is married to Vicky, who currently serves as the Student Ministry Director at Legacy UMC.

"When we announced we were leaving Legacy, we were telling people that we have built relationships and connections to for over nine years, that not one of the leaders at Legacy, but two leaders, were leaving," Pastor Brandon said. "It will be tough to say goodbye to them at a certain level. But thanks to Methodist connectionalism, we'll be able to celebrate God moving amoung them, even from a distance."

They have two children: Miranda, a high school student, and Eli, a middle school student. They are planning on moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

When considering the move, Brandon shares, "The kids and Vicky have been fantastic. They are up for a new adventure. It was not an easy discernment. My family and extended family's first response was congratulations! We are so proud of you! It makes me think that the Holy Spirit is in this with us."