As the new year continues to unfold, it is an exciting and encouraging time in the life of Westminster. In January, we welcomed eight new members, who bring their creativity and experiences to the Westminster flock. We celebrated a baptism that recalled God’s grace to each of families of the church. The church has ended 2011 with a budget surplus, due to the generous giving of the congregation over the past year. This will help to meet needs at the church in the year to come.
And this week, the Session has voted to take the first steps in our asking a new part-time Associate Pastor to join the church staff. This is in response to the church’s long-range planning that has been done in recent years, calling for additional emphasis on building up our work with children and families. When we asked members of the congregation this fall to write out your hopes and dreams for the church, many of you mentioned the continuing hope of further developing our care of children and families, to pass along the faith to a new generation.
For those who are new to the church, a bit of background on the part-time associate pastor position may help to fill in the picture. From about the fourth year of John Pierce’s pastorate, Westminster had a full-time associate pastor, Jen Butler. Jen’s duties were primarily in leadership of middle and high school youth, with occasional preaching and worship leadership. At the time of John’s retirement and Jen’s resignation, it was decided not to fill the associate role until a new senior pastor was found. In the interim years, with the economic recession, the budget was curtailed, delaying the ability to call an associate. Rebekah Hanson joined the staff as our gifted director of youth ministries, presently a half-time role.
Last year, a generous gift of $30,000 was given towards funding an ordained associate pastor, with an additional gift of $1000 received recently toward the position. Given recent changes in the PC(USA) Book of Order, the Session has decided to call the associate as a “temporary supply” pastor. This kind of position is reviewed annually, and could be concluded or altered if staffing needs change. A temporary supply pastor is not installed, so the process of calling is streamlined. The church’s Personnel Committee has prepared a position description, which has been approved by Session. This will be forwarded to the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. They will then suggest the names of several suitable candidates for the associate role. An interview committee from Session will interview the candidates and make a recommendation to Session. As pastor, I would not be on the interview team, but would have a chance to talk with the final candidates to be sure we would minister well together.
The Session has asked Elders from the various areas of the church’s life with which the new Associate would be working to form the interview committee. From Personnel, this would include Laurie Kidd and Steve Halberg, Marion Little from Worship, Doug Schaaf from Fellowship, Karen Keady from Christian Education, and a representative from the youth ministry support group (called the “Family Ministry Fellowship”).
The Associate role will include general pastoral duties, focusing on:
- developing Westminster’s work with children and families, coordinating the work of Rebekah Hanson with youth and Leslie Broome with children and young families to help develop this side of the church’s life
- preaching monthly and being part of the worship team regularly
- assisting in Worship On Wednesday leadership
- partnering with Audrey, Rebecca Hazen, and John Pierce for pastoral care
While the processes of the wider church in calling pastors always seem to unfold slowly, our hope is to have someone on board by late spring. Session is eager to make use of the funding gift that has been given, and to respond to the hopes of the congregation for enhancing our ministry with children and families. It is my hope that this position will strengthen Westminster as we continue our mission to extend the love of Christ to coming generations. Please keep the interview team in your prayers, that they would find someone with the gifts and graces to enhance the church’s ministry!