Special Congregational Meeting to Call John Swanson
About John Swanson:
John Swanson was born and raised in Maplewood, Minnesota and was very involved at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church. He attended North St. Paul Senior High and studied Music and Accounting at Bemidji State University. His previous professional career included experience as the Chief Finance Officer and then Executive Services Director at the City of Saint Paul Fire Department, and the Chief Operating Officer at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and Mt. Olivet in Plymouth.
Having taken classes on and off at Luther Seminary and loving them, he felt a strong pull from the Holy Spirit to actually apply after he heard about a new and intense program called the MDivX. He graduated in 2021 with a Master’s of Divinity degree.
When he’s not at church, you will most likely find him spending time with family and friends, playing fingerstyle guitar, mountain biking, fishing, canoeing in the BWCA or heading West to backpack.
The St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Council, pursuant to Chapters 10 and 12 of the St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Constitution, is calling a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 11:30 am in the Sanctuary immediately following the 10:30 am worship service.
The purpose of the meeting is to vote on calling John Swanson as our part-time Pastor of Care and Visitation. The pastoral care needs of our community continue to grow and we’re excited to extend a call to John. We have been hard at work reconfiguring staff to fill the needs and gaps within our pastoral staff.
This is an important time in the life of St. Andrew’s and we hope to see you at our Special Congregational Meeting!
Bill Hibbard, President, St. Andrew’s Church Council
A Video Message From Pastor Mike Carlson
Comments from John: “It was while awaiting my first call that Pastor Mike approached me to see if I could help out in the meantime. For the past few months, I have been blessed to serve the community of St. Andrew’s as the Interim Minister of Pastoral Care and Visitation. In this position I have been providing pastoral care to congregational members, residents of St. Andrew’s Village, homebound parishioners, and those in care facilities and hospitals. In addition, I’ve also been able to assist in preaching, leading worship and weekly Bible studies at St. Andrew’s Village. What a joy this has been and what an incredible team God has called to serve here. I’m excited to join with you in sharing the hope and love of Christ with others. I am finding such joy and gratefulness in following the Spirit’s leading. Together we will help connect people to God and to one another and bring them the healing power of the Gospel.”
