News from Session

Session met on Thursday, September 10th, and we write to share an update about what Session has been working on during these summer months. As you may remember seeing in previous email updates, Session approved three task teams in June with the mandates of preparing a plan for the potential reopening of the church and a plan for future operations at WPC. We encouraged congregants to join these teams, and these teams worked thoughtfully and diligently over the summer months to fulfill their mandates. We give thanks for their hard work and faithfulness.

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented time for everyone, including churches. We are finding ways to navigate this unknown, using resources, expertise, and insights from both within our congregation and externally to help guide our decisions.

In June, Session sent out a congregational survey asking people about their experience of our online worship, the future of the church, and what regathering might look like. Task Team #2 calculated and evaluated these survey results. Our congregation expressed strong support to continue online services during COVID-19, as well as following COVID-19. As a result, Session explored our current technology situation and how best to continue online services. It became apparent that our current technology situation is not sustainable, and technology advancement is a priority.

Session has also been planning the potential reopening of the church. Many people in our congregation are in vulnerable cohorts and many people may not feel comfortable returning to in-person worship for a while. There are also people in our congregation who are looking forward to returning safely to in-person worship. Session has worked to find sustainable solutions that support both of these worship preferences.

Technology advancements would allow WPC to record in-person worship services for congregants to watch remotely. This would allow one worship service to result in two worship experiences – the in-person for those who attend, and the recorded version for those who watch online. Session has approved steps to be taken to procure technology that can meet these needs.

Task Team #1 and Session continue with the planning work for reopening the church and are taking the steps necessary to ensure that our building can be a safe, healthy place to worship.

Finally, Task Team #3 reviewed all the information gathered from Task Teams #1 and #2, researched the larger context of church changes, and has considered proactive strategies to keep WPC sustainable and moving forward – not just during COVID-19, but beyond. We will share next steps as they unfold in “News from Session” updates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Elder, Clerk of Session Jill Barker, or Rev. Jeffrey Crawford.

Rev. Jeffrey Crawford: minister.westmount@gmail.com