Saint Peter's / Sion Merger: Announcement of Positive Vote

Dear faithful people of Saint Peter’s Church:

With joy and thanksgiving, it is my privilege to announce that the Congregation of Saint Peter’s Church has voted today to invite Sion Iglesia Luterana to bring its members, staff, programs, assets and liabilities to Saint Peter’s Church, forming a new merged congregation called Saint Peter’s Church.

Reporting to the members of Saint Peter’s Executive Committee, the professional, election-managing firm Honest Ballot reported the following results of members voting after each of today’s liturgies:

Members present and voting, total: 95
Minimum 2/3 needed for adoption: 64
YES: 86
NO: 9

The resolution is adopted.

It is also my great privilege to announce that the Congregation of Sion Iglesia Luterana also voted today to accept the invitation of Saint Peter’s Church to bring its members, staff, programs, assets and liabilities to Saint Peter’s Church to form a new merged congregation called Saint Peter’s Church.

Reporting to the members of Sion’s Executive Committee, Honest Ballot reported the following results of today’s voting:

Members present and voting, total: 110
Minimum 2/3 needed for adoption: 73
YES: 107
NO: 2
ABSTAIN: 1

The resolution is adopted.

Each resolution empowers our Parish Councils to immediately begin work on the merger details so that, in June, the new Saint Peter’s Church can elect a new Parish Council and adopt a two-year budget, each to take effect on September 1, 2020.

Please join me in giving thanks to God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit which has brought us to this new day:

We thank you, Lord God, for brave and believing people who planted your Word at this intersection.

We praise you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, who worked in them and continues to work in us to gather and sustain this community.

We bless you for our Lord Jesus Christ whose love draws all people to you, gathering them into the household of faith. 
 
Help us to share your joy by embracing one another as siblings in Christ who bear your creative and redeeming Word to all the world.  Draw us more closely together in your Spirit, in the breaking of bread and the prayers, and in service to others, creating shaping life in the city and following the example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

All praise and glory be to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

Amandus J. Derr
Senior Pastor