By Maureen Wright
In my first newsletter articles as Transitional General Presbyter, I reflected on discernment and this time of transition. I shared that our journey for the next 14 to 23 months will be the Presbytery of West Virginia moving from where it has been and what we know to the unknown. This will be a journey of leaving behind our old ways of doing and being the church, a time to reflect on the deeper questions of our identity, purpose, and future as a Presbytery – in other words, who is God calling us to be and what is God calling us to do now.
As I reflect on our identity as a Presbytery, I understand that it is grounded in the formation of the Presbytery of West Virginia. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) formed in 1983 as a result of the reunion between the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (PCUS) and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA). (History of the Church, Presbyterian Historical Society – The National Archives of the PC (USA), https://www.history.pcusa.org/.) The first meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), noted as the 195th General Assembly, took place June 10, 1983, in Atlanta, Georgia. Following reunion, the Presbyteries and Synods throughout the denomination were formed, merging the Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (PCUS) and the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA). The merger of the Presbytery of Greenbrier (PCUS), Grafton Presbytery (UPCUSA), and Parkersburg Presbytery (UPCUSA) formed the Presbytery of West Virginia. This action was taken at a meeting on June 19-20, 1987, at Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, West Virginia.
The minutes of the June 19-20 meeting describe the formation of the Presbytery of West Virginia in this way. “The convening meeting of the Presbytery of West Virginia, Synod of the Trinity, was called to order at 4:30 p.m., by the Moderators of the three merging presbyteries: Judy Keller, Presbytery of Greenbrier; James Mohrman, Grafton Presbytery; and Joseph Perry, Parkersburg Presbytery, who conjointly declared the formation of the Presbytery of West Virginia in this statement: The Presbytery of West Virginia is hereby constituted as part of the Synod of the Trinity, of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, pursuant to the action of the 199th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”
Some in the Presbytery remember this historic event, remember these Presbytery Moderators, remember the work as the Presbytery of West Virginia was forged and formed. I am in awe of the faithfulness, vision, and boldness as the merging presbyteries moved from where they had been and what they knew to the unknown, the Presbytery of West Virginia. Throughout its 36-year history, the Presbytery of West Virginia has had seasons of transition. Transition is an invitation from God to reflect on our identity, purpose, and future as a Presbytery – who is God calling us to be and what is God calling us to do now.
The Leadership Team has spent much of the past year thinking about this. The Spirit has been present in their meetings, prompting the team to conclude that the Presbytery needs to think about who God is calling us to be and what God is calling us to do now, not 36, 16, or even six years ago. This conviction led to the call for A Season of Discernment and the hiring of Emily Swanson of Holy Cow! Consulting. The Presbytery met Ms. Swanson at its meeting on August 17 where she introduced us to the work of Holy Cow and our process for discernment.
A paper letter was sent in late August to all pastors, pastoral leaders, and Clerks of Session introducing the Presbytery to A Season of Discernment. The first step of this season invites the Presbytery of West Virginia to participate in a Landscape Survey. The survey can be completed online using a link or a QR code. For those who have limited internet access or are unable to complete an online survey, paper copies of the survey may be downloaded from the website or requested by calling the Presbytery. The survey is a way for all those who are part of the Presbytery of West Virginia community to speak – members of churches, pastors and pastoral leaders, presbytery leaders and staff, and those who worship regularly in our churches. The survey will be available through October 2. For those submitting paper copies, the completed survey needs to be postmarked by September 25. The survey link and the QR code can be found on the Presbytery website.
In October, A Season of Discernment will move to in-person and Zoom tabletop discussions that will spring from the data collected in the survey process. Dates and details will be shared by the Leadership Team before the end of September.
I encourage everyone who considers themselves to be a part of the Presbytery of West Virginia community to participate in both the survey and the October discussions. This is your opportunity to offer your input on what you see God calling the Presbytery to be and do. Please speak up!
PWV has changed a lot since I first became a member in 1994. Much of that change occurred while I was in Maryland. I realize that finances dictated the major changes prior to my return in 2012. The loss of Quadrant Presbyters is what bothers me most. Also, prior to you becoming Stated Clerk, there seemed to be little continuity in that office. I pray that, whatever happens, you stay on as Stated Clerk. The restoration of some form of quadrant presbyter-like positions is also on my wish list.
Reading David’s comments I will chime in and agree with what he has offered. I felt it was a loss to the PWV (although finances were involved) when the Jeremiah study moved us from quadrant ministers to cluster shepherds. I think we lost some of our connectedness with that move. I am also in agreement that the Stated Clerk position seemed to be in flux quite often prior to your taking on that role. I am looking forward to what this season of discernment might mean and bring to the PWV, and I am in hopes that our small church community folks participate in this time.