Dear Swedlanda Members,
At 10:45 a.m. today, September 15, over fifty voting
members of Swedlanda gathered after worship to vote on entering into a Multiple
Area Parish relationship with three other congregations, First Lutheran,
Hector, St. Paul’s Lutheran, Hector, and St. Paul’s Lutheran, Stewart. Votes
were tallied in the four congregations and sent in to Randy Pederson of
Stewart, who then forwarded the outcome to members of the MAP committee and
pastors. The results of the vote are as follows:
First Lutheran in Hector: Resolution Failed
St. Paul's Lutheran in Hector: Resolution Passed
St. Paul's Lutheran in Stewart: Resolution Failed
Swedlanda Lutheran of Hector: Resolution Passed
The resolution required that all congregations be in
agreement, so the resolution failed.
I would like to express my appreciation to the MAP
committee members who have been working over the past few years on forming a
Multiple Area Parish. I recognize that some of our members will feel
disappointment about the outcome and some will feel relief. My hope and prayer
is that Swedlanda will continue forward under God’s guidance with a deepened
appreciation of the mission that God has entrusted to us. There may be other
opportunities ahead of which we are not aware, but we know that in all things,
God is faithful. I encourage you to keep considering the answer to the
question, What would God have us do?
Thank you for your faithfulness and prayerful
concern. I am happy to be Swedlanda Lutheran’s pastor and look forward to our
continuing ministry together as partners in the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Stewart
