By Maureen Wright

As the Presbyter focuses this year on the implementation of the Strategic Plan, I have noticed a recurring theme – change. On Wednesday, I joined others engaged in mid council leadership for a time of conversation with Ruling Elder Kerry Rice, Deputy Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He shared an update with us on the denomination’s progress on the work to unify the former Presbyterian Mission Agency and Office of the General Assembly. Our denomination is in a time of change. On Thursday, I listened to one of our pastoral leaders as they reflected on their interim pastoral work and the challenges facing the church as they address the work of discerning their future path. Moving from what was to what will be requires change.

Presbyterians, as those who claim the reformed way of expressing their faith in Jesus Christ, are the children of the motto of the Reformation, Ecclesia Reformata Semper Reformanda, meaning the church reformed and always reforming. This foundational principle of the reformed tradition continues to challenge us to listen and discover what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do in this time and this place. (“The Church Reformed and Always Reforming” by Fred Heuser, Presbyterian Historical Society blog, October 9, 2011.) We are called to listen, discern, and act or change to follow the will of God.

This is another way of describing the Presbytery’s time of transition, our journey from known to unknown, our discernment of who God is calling us to be and what is God calling us to do now. We have worked together to create spaces and times to listen for the Holy Spirit – at Presbytery meetings, in our work with Holy Cow! Consulting and Emily Swanson, at meetings of the Leadership Team. The November 21 Presbytery meeting marked the shift from discovery to implementation. 2025 is a year of change for the Presbytery of West Virginia.

This year of change comes with both good news and bad news.

The bad news is that most of us do not like change; in fact, we resist it. Think of the old sweater or jacket or pair of shoes in your closet, your favorite comfort clothes. Just slipping into these comfort clothes relaxes you, makes you comfy. While your family may describe these as ratty, you cannot bring yourself to throw them away. Throwing them away requires change.

The good news is that change offers us new opportunities and prompts us to grow and develop new skills. For the Presbytery, change creates space for us to explore, to be more nimble. Change allows us to develop our resilience and creativity. Change gives us permission to let go of ministries to which God is no longer calling us. Change inspires us to move toward new ministries and missions.

The Good News is that God is with us in our change. The Bible is filled with stories of God inviting people to change, remember the call of Abraham, remember Jesus’ calling the disciples. Again and again, God calls out, asking people to follow, to change. On this change journey, God provides us with prayer, Bible study, and worship to sustain us. Thanks be to God.