Page 9 - 2016 Annual Report with Financials - Booklet

Moderator

Peggy Alfonso, 2016 Moderator

2016 was a year of growth and evolution for the Westmoreland leadership community as Governance
Council began to explore what it means to lead the church, shifting out of ‘doing church’ toward being
more vulnerable and authentic with each other, pushing spiritual boundaries and becoming more Christ like
in the world. Specifically, your Governance Council:

 Laid the framework for, and began the movement toward, A Wider Circle of Love—a vision, shifts and
specific actions that provide the foundation for Westmoreland’s change Journey
 Formed a community of leaders able to ‘be’, and be vulnerable, with each other who, together, have
begun exploring what it means to be more Christ like in the world and moving us toward that;
 Challenged themselves to grow spiritually—pursuing prayer as one example
 Began to measure success in terms of minutes that make us smile and people that need hugs and ideas
we have for the future
 Provided the backbone for members of the congregation to stand for social justice matters in the work
environment
 Led a successful annual meeting including even conversation on some very tough topics, inviting prayer
and thanksgiving throughout, and making decisions with differing opinions but without animosity

On a more practical note, Governance Council also……
 Finalized the Personnel Manual
 Launched a successful capital campaign
 Readied the plans for a major building upgrade to improve accessibility
 Hung a Black Lives Matter (BLM) banner, launched conversations and knowledge building around social
justice and committed to meaningfully pursue this issue as a church in 2017

Above all, we adopted ‘the slow work of God’ as our mantra in pursuing this change journey.

As Governance Council, and in the spirit of The Slow Work of God, we are ready next to:
 Extend our vision for ‘A Wider Circle of Love’ to Boards, Committees and the full congregation
 Pursue social justice and BLM issues as an integrated, unified all church effort
 Engage with one another to learn our personal and faith journeys that we might stand closer together
in ‘being the church’
 Stand for the values we hold dear in the face of a challenging external climate

Respectfully submitted, in thanksgiving for the opportunity to have served as your Moderator, and ever
seeking the courage to be with peace.

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