5462 West Nicholson Hill Road

Hubbard Lake, Michigan 49747

October 25, 2011

Dear Hope Member,

After nearly two years of study and discussion the Hope Congregation voted on September 11^th to disaffiliate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This decision followed more than a decade long church wide discussion related to official ELCA church policies that began to diverge from the Bible centered perspective held by most of Hope’s members.

At the same time your council understands and appreciates that every member of Hope does not have precisely the same understanding and expression of faith and our mission will continue to welcome and minister to each and every “child of God” as we all share the directive in Matthew to “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations”.

Hope also chose to become a member of the newly established North American Lutheran Church. The NALC is a new Lutheran denomination formed to meet the organizational needs of hundreds of congregations who are also leaving the ELCA. We believe the NALC more closely reflects our members’ expression of faith.

This discussion and time of change gives each of us an opportunity to re-invigorate our faith and acknowledge that, “God’s work must truly be our own”. If you have any questions about this transition, you are encouraged to visit with Pastor Kitzman or any Hope council member.

Respectfully submitted,

Hope Lutheran Church Council