Church Information Form

Church mission statement

The mission of Westminster Presbyterian Church is:

• to proclaim and share the good news of Jesus Christ
• to be a welcoming and nurturing Christian community to all generations
• to gather to worship God with reverence, joy and beauty
• to seek a deeper relationship with God through prayer, study, education, and fellowship
• to foster justice, promote human rights, and advance peace in our neighborhood, our city and our world
• to respond to human needs, witnessing to God's love and compassion day by day
• join with others in this mission

Describe what gifts, skills and experiences your congregation possesses to fulfill its mission

We are a neighborhood congregation in an urban setting, attracting members throughout the metropolitan area. Our Gothic-style building, designated a historic landmark, is home to an energetic, generous, caring, highly educated congregation, committed to spiritual development, fellowship, and service to our local and world community. A dynamic and multi-talented lay leadership contributes to church governance and management, as well as the expansion of innovative programs. Our music program includes a chancel choir, children’s choir, bell choir, and several instrumental ensembles, which perform a wide repertoire including high church, jazz and gospel. The Westminster Cloisters Program encourages creative expression in visual and literary arts through writers’ workshops and art shows, attracting member and community participation. Our sanctuary features unique stained glass windows echoed in the needlepoint pew cushions, completed through the efforts of many hands. We reach out to neighbors, who use our building for daycare, a preschool, AA, PFLAG, and a children’s choir. Lay leaders and members are actively involved in all aspects of our current capital campaign. Although we sometimes hold different views, we truly enjoy each other. Many engage in social fellowship groups, creating bonds which last for decades. We support each other through life’s joys and sorrows in countless ways. We anticipate a vibrant future as we grow in God’s love and service to our faith.

Key theological issues of our church that are reflected in the ministry of your church 

Our calling is to worship God, and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with each other, our community and the world. Our worship service nurtures and challenges us to fulfill our purpose: to bring Christ's love and hope to all. Through worship, study and prayer, we discern God's will for us as individuals and as a congregation: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. In Christ, we find both solace and challenge. Therefore, we seek courage to move beyond our own comfort level in service to Christ. Our interpretation of the Bible leads us to support issues of justice, equality, and human rights. Our education classes focus on these issues, as we seek to understand the Bible in the context of the time in which it was written and its timeless truths for our lives now. We strive to be respectful of diverse viewpoints, and we seek new ways to make God's love accessible and relevant to all: young and old, singles and families, and persons of all backgrounds and abilities. We are a Jubilee Congregation and a Welcoming Congregation, and enjoy a relationship of love and sharing with congregations in Cuba and Colombia. We call on the Holy Spirit as we support each other in prayer, healing, and spiritual discernment. Our congregation is eager for pastoral leadership to guide us into ever more joyful commitment to Christ's teaching and to help us bring others into this community of faith.

Major responsibilities: for what specific task assigned...

Serve as Head of Staff

• Develop and nurture congregational vision, direction, identity
• Provide spiritual and administrative leadership to the staff team
• Staff to Personnel Committee

Supervise:

• Director of Music
• Organist (with Director of Music)
• Director of Youth Ministry
• Church Administrator

Provide Spiritual and Administrative Leadership

• Staff to the Worship and Music Committee

• Preach at least half of the time
• Healing and Wholeness worship service
• Weddings/Memorial Services

• Staff to the Outreach Committee

• Represent Westminster in ecumenical and community involvements
• Presbytery service

• Staff to Strategic Planning Committee

• Work with appropriate groups to implement current plan

• Teaching
• Pastoral Care
• Moderate Session

Nurture Personal and Congregational Stewardship

• Staff to the Interpretation and Stewardship Committee
• Staff to Capital Campaigns
• Staff to the Endowment Fund Trustees
• Staff to annual budgeting processes
• Staff to the Nominating Committee

Description of characteristics and qualifications needed in a person who would fulfill this position

We seek a person with a deep, abiding love of Jesus, a mature faith, and a calling to serve God through visionary pastoral leadership. S/he would have a passion to communicate joy in the love of Christ, to encourage us in Christian service, and to spiritually nurture us through dynamic, expository sermons, challenging us to reach out to each other and the community with a message of abiding hope. S/he should see the church as a whole, understanding the interrelatedness of programs, inspiring unity, and building bridges between members of diverse ages, backgrounds and views. S/he will be a respectful, collegial leader, able to draw out and affirm the leadership abilities of staff and volunteers. Effective communication and diplomacy are essential, reflecting an understanding of the needs and challenges of others. S/he would balance visionary leadership with consensus building. S/he must understand and respect how finances impact the mission and operations of the church, specifically in our current capital campaign. Our new pastor will help us increase our relevance within our community, overcoming cultural and economic barriers, and building upon our history of devotion to service and social justice. S/he will inspire us to be good stewards of our resources and to use them wisely and generously to serve God’s purposes. S/he will energize us to live joyfully and faithfully into our callings as individuals and as a congregation, bringing the love of Jesus to all.