26 Mar Church Survey: Vision & Mission

Posted at 06:00h in Pastoral Notes by

Dear Westwood Community,

Last month, our Church Council started a process aimed at helping clarify and articulate the vision and mission of our church; this will be a significant part of the work of the Council this year. Already after our first conversation, some common themes resonated with many of our leaders: values like radical welcome, inclusivity, and diversity. We are proud of the ways these qualities are embodied in how we live, and evident throughout our shared life. They’re common to our children’s ministry and Grapple, in the Loft and in the Sanctuary congregations.

As we continue our conversation, listening across the diversities of our church community, we’d love to ask for your input in the process, too. We wrote this short survey, and encourage you to respond to its questions. It would be helpful to hear from YOU, and to know that voices from throughout the congregation have been heard. I am grateful to our Council Chair, Scott Weatherford, for steering this process, and for coordinating ways like this to involve more people in the effort.
Our congregation is just four years shy of our 100th birthday; I’m moved by stories and evidence in our archives that allows us to trace some common values back through this past century. And, in this moment, I look forward to clarifying ways that we can make our commitments clear–so that others might see and be inspired to join in the life of our community as we live out our faith in Christ now. As much as any time, our values and relationships are needed in a world where compassion, mercy, and justice are too frequently under threat by fear, hatred, and individualism.
All of which is to say: I am grateful to share in the life of this church with you. I hope you will contribute your voice to this important conversation!
grace and peace,
Pastor Molly