2026 Annual Meeting, January 25

Hope Lutheran Church’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 25, at 10:00 am. This year we will again gather in a hybrid setting, held both in-person (for those who choose to) and online via ZOOM. This will allow members near and far to join us in doing the good and salutary work appointed us by God through Hope’s 2026 mission plan. In anticipation of our Annual Meeting, please feel free to contact Pastor Matt or Church leadership to discuss any questions, joys, or concerns you have ahead of time.

Our Agenda will include one special item of note this year, in addition to constitutionally mandated items including elections and approving the 2026 Mission Plan. Congregations in the ELCA are to occasionally review their constitution, making required updates per ELCA Churchwide Model Constitution for congregations. In addition to these required changes, Hope’s leadership has made a few proposed changes to the constitution that we might more efficiently organize ourselves for ministry. These proposed changes will effectively remove the requirement of church council members to also serve as board chairpersons, remove defunct ministry boards from the constitution, and provide new language concerning our nominating committee. Language for these proposed changes is available in the church office.

Besides these items and a few remarks from Pastor Matt and Congregational President Barb Sherman, staff and ministry board reports will only be communicated through the written 2026 Annual Report, though leadership will be available to engage in dialog as needed. As we’ve learned the last few years, hybrid annual meetings run a little slower, but we’re committed to patience to make sure everyone can participate.

Congregational Leadership Matters

Hope Lutheran Church has been blessed with outstanding volunteer leaders over the years! While congregational leadership often works quietly through monthly meetings, their planning, discernment, conversations, and decisions guide our mission and ministry more than many know.

    Hope’s Church Council is made up of four elected at-large members who also serve as Ministry Board chairpersons and four officers (who make up our Executive Committee) who meet monthly with pastors to review mission planning, discuss highlights of ministry, provide support to staff & programs, and more.  

In the past year, this group’s discernment has   contributed to church mission and ministry, especially as we live into our strategic initiatives and Renewing Hope’s Promise Capital Appeal. Our Board Chairpersons currently also lead their respective ministry boards, assisting a wider team of volunteers in spearheading church ministry in the areas of Outreach, Property, Fellowship, and Worship.

Hoping the constitution changes pass muster and vote, future at-large members will no longer be required to serve as a designated board chairperson, though they may continue to do so. This will allow board chairpersons more time to invest in their area of ministry without the responsibility of attending a monthly church council meeting. It will also invite members with gifts in congregational leadership to consider serving on Hope’s Church Council, without the added responsibility of leading a ministry board.

We are grateful for all who have served on council in the past, who continue to serve, and for all whom God has prepared to serve moving forward. We do have space on our ballot for the 2026 Annual Meeting for vacant positions on Hope’s Church Council beginning in 2026. If you have any interest in serving in leadership, please contact Pastor Matt or Barb Sherman.

Thank you to Hope’s 2025 Church Council, listed below.

Barb Sherman (President)

Maggie Melby (VP)

Martha Vetter (Secretary)

Dean Deck (Treasurer)

Brian Bruns (Property)

Emily Turney (Worship)

Joe Sherman (Fellowship)

Barb Sellevold (Outreach)

VACANT (Education)

Pastor Matt