INTERIM SACRED SETTLEMENT: PRINCE OF PEACE
In July, 2022, the Roseville Police Department asked us if we would host Valerie and the old school bus she was living in on our property. We said, “yes.” Slowly we began building a relationship with Valerie and the others who care about her. As these relationships grew, we learned about one powerful model for coming alongside those who have been shaped by chronic homelessness. We don’t know yet where all this will lead in the future but we’re trusting God to help us each time we say, “yes.”
Just before Christmas and with the help of our new ministry partners at Settled., we upgraded Valerie’s RV to a tiny home, and brought in a second home for the Beary family who volunteered to become Valerie’s “intentional neighbors.” We’re building a community of support around Valerie, and in the process, we’re being transformed.
In early 2023, we were notified by the City of Roseville that our tiny house community did not comply with City codes. We worked closely with the City to find a pathway forward. Fortunately, legislation to allow for churches like ours to host sacred settlements was signed into law and the City granted us an interim-use permit, good until the new law becomes effective on Jan. 1, 2024. Now, we’re setting our sights on the future, and how our whole campus might be transformed to become as place that creates homes for those who struggle to find them.
The Most Recent News & Important Links
Community Dinner
You’re invited to our Sacred Settlement’s first monthly Community Dinner. Sunday, September 17, 5:30-7pm We’ll spend the third Sunday night of each month together, at the table, to share a meal, to laugh, to swap stories, to encourage one another, and to hear about opportunities to be involved.
Community Conversation: Opening our Campus to Create Community
Sundays September 17 & 24; 9:40am The Campus Planning Task Force has been thoughtfully working through a variety of proposals and possibilities that have surfaced in recent years. In particular, the congregation will be asked to make a formal decision about a...
Settlement Stewardship Committee
- Michael Stetzler, Congregation President
- Kristin Bloxham, Office Administrator
- Peter, Christ, Lead Pastor
- Gabrielle Clowdus, Settled Visionary
- Steve Schroeder, Property Manager
Settlement Care Team
- Anne Christ, Team Lead
- Barb Burkhardt
- Gus Haugan
- Eric Wettleland
Settlement Legal & Legislative Response Team
- Michael Stetzler, Congregation President
- Arjun Sethi, Congregation Treasurer
- Deb Cordes, Congregation Secretary
- Peter Christ, Lead Pastor
- Evan Berquist, Lawyer – Cozen O’Connor
- Meredith Campbell, Settled & Mosaic
- Fred Ogimachi, Settled
If you have questions about the memorandum of understanding or the lease agreements that our neighbors have signed please contact Kristin in the office.
Past information shared about our Interim Sacred Settlement:
August 29 Campus Planning Task Force Update
At the CPTF meeting on Monday, August 28, the Task Force reviewed this letter for the congregation. Watch for it in the mail. August 29, 2023 Dear Members of Prince of Peace: On October 1 there will be an important congregational meeting. Please mark this date...
Interim Settlement News
Summer is here. Things are heating up! Quite literally and figuratively. We’re making improvements to our homes and we’re anticipating an Interim-Use permit from the City of Roseville. But we still need you help!
Thank you – PoP-Up Carnival
Thank you to everyone who attended and planned the PoP-Up Carnival last Sunday, May 21! It was a wonderful celebration of community and learning about PoP's Interim Sacred Settlement.
PoP-Up Carnival
Sunday, May 21; 5:00 - 7:00pm Let's have a carnival! That's the way a "PoP-Up" team decided to invest for good. Join us on Sunday, May 21 at 5:00pm for food, fun, information and fellowship. Activities for all ages will include face-painting,...
April 27, 2023 Campus Planning Task Force Update
On Monday, April 24, the Roseville City Council met. One item for their agenda was to “consider an extension to the May 5, 2023 compliance date for the removal of ‘micro-units’” at Prince of Peace. The Council heard from city administrator Pat Trudgeon who had been...
April 17 Campus Planning Task Force Meeting Overview
The Campus Planning Task Force (CPTF) met on Monday, April 17 to begin its work. The CPTF was established by the Congregation Council at their March meeting to examine the following questions: Phase One What needs to be done with our current interim tiny...
A Nice Surprise
During our Easter Sunday celebrations yesterday, I had the joy of sharing some really exciting news on behalf of our partners in ministry with Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and the St. Paul Area Synod. Each year, LSS of MN recognizes one congregation in each of the six Minnesota synods for its leadership in social ministry and social justice in their community. To honor each congregation’s work, they are presented the “Servant of Christ Award” at the synod’s annual assembly. This year, they have announced that Prince of Peace has been selected to receive this award.
Campus Planning Update
March 30, 2023 Campus Planning Task Force Created At its regular March meeting, the Congregation Council passed a motion to create a Campus Planning Task Force (CPTF) to work on three questions: 1. Phase One What needs...
Campus Planning Task Force
As you know, our tiny home settlement has been cited by the City of Roseville for noncompliance. We have only a few weeks to address this challenge. To help us respond in the short term, and develop longer range plans, the congregation council is creating a...
Prayers at the Door
This past Monday evening, over 50 members of our church, pastors and members from other Roseville area congregations and partner ministries, plus supporters of Settled and the Mosaic Sacred Settlement all arrived at City Hall to be a visible witness to the City Council as they heard our appeal of the staff ruling regarding our efforts to care for the homeless. Before we entered the council chambers, we gathered outside the front entry of City Hall to pray.
Interim Sacred Settlement – What’s Next?
Last Monday, March 6th, the Roseville City Council heard our appeal of the city’s determination that our tiny homes do not comply with applicable building codes and must be vacated. While they could have ordered us to vacate the homes within ten days, the City Council also seemed willing to work with us and voted to stay enforcement of the order for sixty days.
Settled Community Dinner
Monday, March 6; 6:00pm You’re invited to Sacred Settlement Mosaic & Prince of Peace’s monthly Potluck Community Dinner!We will be spending the first Monday each month together, at the table, to share a meal, to laugh, to swap stories, to encourage one another,...
Community Update
Join members of our Affordable Housing and Sacred Settlement Teams on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:30pm, as we provide an update on the state of our Interim Sacred Settlement and efforts to take on the challenges of affordable housing in our neighborhood.
Just the Beginning
For almost 25 years, Prince of Peace has owned the lot next door to the church — but what to do with the space? The congregation explored several ideas, long-time member Gus Haugan said, including creating an outdoor worship area overlooking the pond, creating...
Blessing a Home
Yesterday, our community of faith made space in the busy-ness of our lives to stop for a moment and mark something important. Together with our new partners in ministry and an extended collection of supporters, we took time to claim God’s blessings upon our newly occupied Interim Sacred Settlement.
Becoming Innkeepers
The sun was streaming through the windows as we sat around the table in the newly renovated “common house.” We talked through the terms, policies, and many details of the housing agreements to be signed. And then it happened. Signatures were added to the documents and, boom, we created a new expression of community, in partnership with this collection of folks and all whom they represent.
Welcome Home
Blessing of Our Interim Sacred Settlement Sunday, January 15, 2023 This day will be full of celebration as we formally welcome Valerie Roy and the Bearys - Misha, James, Avia (and Bella), to their new homes. A variety of activities will take place throughout the...
Tiny Homes Arrive at our Interim Sacred Settlement
The tiny homes project, officially called an “interim sacred settlement,*” is nearly ready for occupancy. The homes, or “micro-units” arrived this week. Preparation of the common area inside our building is nearing completion, and an agreement between PoP and...
Progress on a Temporary Home for Valerie
At the urging of many in the congregation and under the direction of the Council, the work in preparation for temporary homes for Valerie Roy and her resource neighbors is proceeding. We are blessed to be working closely with our new ministry partners at Settled. Here are the latest developments:
Settled
Since late July, we have been sharing our church campus with Valerie. Valerie doesn’t have a stable home but instead lives in an old school bus converted into a camper. The Homeless Liaison with the Roseville Police Department reached out as they were trying to help Valerie find a more appropriate and safer place to park her camper. In getting to know Valerie, hearing more of her story, and as she describes her longings for her future, one word keeps coming up: settled.