By Maureen Wright
In August 2023, the Presbytery of West Virginia began its transition, and throughout the past 14 and a half months we have talked often about what transition means. I have shared my belief that this transition is an invitation from God to reflect on our identity, purpose, and future as a Presbytery – who God is calling us to be and what God is calling us to do now. For more than a year we have been on a journey of leaving behind our old ways of doing and being the church and listening for the Spirit to guide us to the way to be the church as we move forward.
The Leadership Team partnered with Holy Cow! Consultant Emily Swanson to enter A Season of Discernment, to listen to what you, the Presbytery, had to say about the needs of churches and church leaders. Like the advertising campaign, what can brown do for you, the Leadership Team, sought to hear your answers to what can Presbytery do for you? This was done through the Landscape Survey and a series of both in-person and Zoom listening sessions.
The Leadership Team began 2024 working with Ms. Swanson on the outline of a strategic plan that incorporated what you said into strategic targets, goals, and milestones undergirded by a committee structure and staffing model to support the work of the plan. The Leadership Team has met throughout the summer and fall (often more than twice a month) to refine and develop the outline into a plan that reflects who the Presbytery of West Virginia is and can be.
The Strategic Plan and its summary were shared on Monday in the packet for the Presbytery meeting on November 21. This is a big moment for the Presbytery. I am reminded of the youth energizer from my Montreat Youth Conference days that uses the song “Ants Marching” by the Dave Matthews Band. This energizer was often used on the first night of youth conferences because part of the energizer recounts a car trip and the joy of finally arriving at the destination with the words, “We’re here, we’re here, we’re here, we’re here, we’re here, whew!” Presbytery of West Virginia, we are here!
I invite you to explore the plan. The full plan is a detailed summary of the process – a summary of what was heard, with a snapshot of the Presbytery’s strengths and areas for growth – and a roadmap for the season ahead. If 28 pages is not for you, I encourage you to read the Strategic Plan summary.
The plan focuses on relationships (not a surprise), resources, and leadership development with the goal of supporting our churches to engage more deeply in life-giving mission and ministry – God’s kingdom work. It calls for our Presbytery to focus our resources – our committees, our staff, our finances – on these three areas in order that the Presbytery of West Virginia will be known as a community of Presbyterian churches where the people of God are welcomed, loved, encouraged, and transformed.
The Presbytery meeting is an invitation to come and hear, in their own words, how the Leadership Team is asking you to affirm and join in the work of the Presbytery. Come to hear who they believe God is calling us (the Presbytery) to be and what is God calling us (the Presbytery) to do now. There will be time to listen and to discuss the plan. There will be time to pray. There will be a time to vote. Even if you cannot attend the meeting, I encourage you to read the plan, ask your questions (through email or phone call to members of the Leadership Team or me), and share your views.
We’re here. God is calling us. What do you say?