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About Westminster> Transition Team
Transition News
Update from the Transition Team
March 2008 -- The Session has appointed a Transition Team to help guide Westminster through the coming months.
The duties of this team include:
- Working with Presbytery to assure compliance with the stated process for transition
- Hiring an interim pastor who will serve until a permanent senior pastor is called
- Making provision for regular worship services by securing guest speakers as needed
- Working closely with the interim pastor and staff to assure continuity of operations and church life, and
- Communicating with the congregation to provide regular updates on the transition team process.
Everyone on the team is excited to serve in this important role and honored to have been selected for the tasks. Please pray that we might gain wisdom and discernment as we help lead the church during this transition. Also, please feel free to ask any of us questions about the transition at any time. Thank your for the opportunity to serve.
-- Steve Bright, Transition team chairman
Our Next Steps
The departure of a Pastor/Head of Staff brings numerous questions to mind: What is involved in calling/electing a new Pastor/Head of Staff? How much time will it take until a permanent Pastor/Head of Staff is in place? In the meantime, who will preach? Manage the staff? Perform the duties of the Head of Staff? Following are several answers to these questions. These are not exhaustive. Additional detailed information will be forthcoming in the weeks and months to come. The following steps occur when a pastor desires to leave their position in the church:
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A congregational meeting is called to vote to concur with the pastor's request to dissolve the pastoral relationship This meeting was held February 24-25, 2008 following all worship services.
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A transition team is formed to provide guidance during the time of change. A portion of their charge will be to serve as communicators, providing a supportive presence to the congregation and staff during the period of transition. In addition, as soon as possible, and Interim Pastor is sought and identified by this team. The chosen Interim will assume the Head of Staff responsibilities and will preach regularly in worship. The transition team will remain in place for the duration on the Interim Pastor's service and serve as a support and resource for the Interim.
The Session appointed the Transition Team. Members of the team are: Carolyn Plumb, Wayne Young, Ann Comfort, Ann Jones, Tony Collins, Brian Stark, and Steve Bright, who will serve as the team chairman.
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As each individual church is a member of a larger governing body called a presbytery, it is accountable to that presbytery. Westminster is a member of Salem Presbytery. In consultation with and approval by Salem Presbytery's Committee on Ministry, a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) is elected by the congregation to conduct a search for a new Pastor/Head of Staff.
The PNC will undertake numerous tasks which will be explained in detail in future communications. |
What happens prior to an Interim joining the staff?
Every effort will be made to minimize the time following the departure of Rev. Bob Henderson on February 17, 2008, and the arrival of the Interim Pastor/Head of Staff.
During that time, both the personnel and worship committees of Session, along with our business manager Marilyn Fish, associate pastors Mark Brainerd and Cindy Higgins, and program staff, will ensure that all worship services, pastoral care needs, and ministry programs are maintained at the level of excellence to which Westminster always strives.
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