By Maureen Wright
At the Presbytery meeting on Saturday, those present heard updates on the progress of implementing the Strategic Plan adopted by the Presbytery in November of last year. We are nine months into the implementation. Leadership Team Chair Andy Rice likened our journey of moving from where we have been to where God is calling us to be to Legos. Perhaps you played with Legos as a child. Perhaps you have a child or grandchild who played with Legos. Whether building one of the Lego sets or creating something from one’s imagination, building with Legos is messy. In the middle of building, Legos spread all over the table or floor! Piece by piece, the build comes together thanks to an instruction booklet and the creativity of the builder.
I recently spent time with my coach reflecting on the challenges of implementing the Strategic Plan. On paper, the plan is orderly. On paper, the implementation is orderly. In reality, the plan requires polishing, trial and error. In reality, the implementation is messy. The timeline, noted as aspirational when it was approved, has been adjusted.
At Saturday’s meeting, the Transitional Nominating Committee nominated committee chairs and members for the new committees. This allows the Leadership Team, new committee chairs, and staff to design and plan the launch of these new committees. The design and planning take time; the new committees will start in January. Please pray for this work.
I reflected on the new staffing structure. On paper, a new staffing structure is smooth, without twists or turns. In reality, searching for the staff that God is calling to lead us is untidy. I am amazed by the work of the search committees, but the process is slow. It reminds me of the children’s book by P.D. Eastman and edited by Dr. Suess, Are You My Mother? The story begins “when a mother bird’s egg starts to jump [and] she hurries off to make sure she has something for her little one to eat. But as soon as she’s gone, out pops the baby bird. [The baby] immediately sets off to find his mother, but not knowing what she looks like makes it a challenge.” (From the Amazon website description of the book.) The baby bird talks to a number of different animals before finding its mother. We currently have three committees asking, are you our leader… are you our leader…are you our leader? When you are disheartened and anxious and stressed by the messy, untidy, slow process – remember this book. As we ask, Are you our Lead Presbyter? Are you our Connectional Presbyter? Are you our new Treasurer/Business Administrator? remember that God promises to be with us; God has not left us alone but is with us as we identify the staff whom God is calling. We may not know what these leaders look like yet, but God does. In fact, the first position has been filled; Kristin Rhodes, Communications Coordinator, will begin work in mid-September. Please pray for this work.
The revised Presbytery Manual that supports the new structure was received by the Presbytery for a first reading. If you have questions or comments on the revision, you are invited to send those to the Leadership Team. It will be presented for a second reading and vote at the November Presbytery Meeting. Please pray for this work.
The Leadership Team and the 2026 committee chairs will gather for a retreat in early December with Corey Schlosser-Hall, Deputy Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The focus of the retreat will be on how the Presbytery of West Virginia leadership creates lasting structural change. Please pray for this work.
As we sit in the middle of all of this messy, untidy implementation, remember Legos. Think about using a “building instruction booklet,” imagination and creativity, trial and error so that something wonderful emerges. God has led us to this place; God will lead us through this place to the Presbytery God is calling us to be. Please pray for this work – to the glory of God.