MARCH 2026
A NOTE FROM PASTOR GARET
Dear Saint Matthew family,
I want to share that Julie McDonnell has concluded her service on our staff. We give thanks to God for her many years among us and for the ways her work has blessed our congregation.
Out of respect for confidentiality, communication did not happen immediately. I waited to speak publicly because this kind of transition deserves careful and truthful communication. I regret that some learned of this through rumor rather than directly from leadership, and I apologize for the confusion that created.
I also want to name the emotions many are feeling—sadness, confusion, even anger. Grief is appropriate. Thankfulness for Julie is appropriate. Prayer for Julie is appreciated. At the same time, any anger we feel must be anchored in truth, not in assumptions or secondhand stories.
Because this is a personnel matter, I’m asking all of us to practice Christian restraint in how we speak. Restraint is not secrecy; it is love that protects people from harm.
I need to be clear about something we’re already seeing: claims like “come to me if you want the real story.” That is not how we care for one another in Christ’s church. Grief expressed through rumors, lies, or slander is not acceptable. It harms people and it harms the body.
A brief clarification may help:
Rumor is an unverified report—often from a friend‑of‑a‑friend.
Gossip is sharing someone else’s situation without need, consent, or benefit to the person or the body.
Truth is what can be spoken without violating love or damaging a neighbor, and is shared through the right channels with necessary restraint. Truth is also patient when speaking now would cause harm.
Scripture teaches that the church is one body with many parts; no single part sees the whole. That means no individual voice—including mine—possesses the whole story. In Christ’s body, humble restraint and orderly process—not self‑appointed truth‑brokering—are the way we discern and care for one another.
This decision was made through prayerful leadership discernment, and I carry responsibility for it. The decision is final. We will not relitigate it in public, and we will not discuss personnel details.
Unity does not mean we all feel the same way. Unity means we are faithful in how we speak and act toward one another—prayer instead of speculation, service instead of debate, and guarding each other’s reputations.
So here is the boundary and the call:
Please refrain from seeking or spreading unverified stories.
And let’s stay centered on our mission: to share God’s love in Jesus Christ as we serve all people. Ministry does not pause, and the church is not derailed.
Join me in thanking God for Julie’s years of service, and in praying for her, for our staff, and for our congregation as we continue forward with hope.
In Christ,
Pastor Garet Ellis
A NOTE FROM THE BOARD OF MINISTRY
The Board of Saint Matthew Lutheran Church wishes to share a brief word in light of the recent staff transition.
First, we want to express our gratitude for Julie McDonnell’s many years of service to this congregation. Her work has blessed countless people, and we continue to hold her in prayer.
Second, we want the congregation to know that this staff transition was conducted through proper leadership channels, with prayer, discernment, and appropriate consultation. As the governing board, we support Pastor Garet in the responsibility entrusted to him to make staff decisions for the wellbeing of the congregation and its mission.
Third, we recognize that this is a difficult moment for many. We ask the congregation to respond in a spirit of love, restraint, and unity, avoiding speculation or the spread of unverified information. This protects not only the individuals involved but the whole body of Christ.
Finally, we invite the congregation to join us in prayer for Julie, for our staff, and for our church as we continue our shared mission: to share God’s love in Jesus Christ as we serve all people.
— Chris Sayers, President; Steve Burdette, Vice President; and Steven Segletes, Elder of the Board of Ministry at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church