Leadership & Committees

Presbyterian churches have a lot of committees because of our representative polity.
This is where you can learn which groups exist, what they do, and who is on them.

 

Session

  • Session is the council, the ruling body of a Presbyterian congregation. Members of the congregation are nominated and elected by the congregation to ordained service as ruling elders. Ordination is lifelong, terms are three years long, and a person may actively sit on session for up to two consecutive terms before taking a break. The pastor moderates this voting body, which at WPC consists of six to seven ruling elders at a time and meets monthly. Responsibilities of session include:

    • ensuring that the church has a place to gather for worship, regular preaching, ministries of discipleship and social healing, and opportunities for ecumenism

    • authorizing and providing for the celebration of the sacraments

    • nurturing the congregation by providing programs; training, supporting, and overseeing leaders; tending the church’s building, land, and finances; and employing staff.

    More information about the responsibilities of session can be found in the PC(USA) Book of Order section G-3.02.

    Minutes are recorded each meeting and available by request.

  • Current session members:

    • Daniel Escher

    • Michael Friedline

    • Sonja Gustafson

    • Kari Kelly

    • Laura McMillan

    • Julie Young

    Moderator: Rev. Emily Mitchell

    Clerk: Ben Sanders

Worship Committee

  • This group, established by session, exists to support Emily (our temporary pastor) and to think big-picture about our community’s worship life on Sunday mornings.

    • Nicole Busacca

    • Daniel Escher

    • Rev. Emily Mitchell

    • Charlie Morriss

    • Allen Ries

    • Julie Young

Nominating Committee

  • Nominating Committee — or “Nom Com” — is a group of church members who identify and nominate qualified candidates for session. Folks are elected to one-year terms on Nom Com.

    • Joel Balzar

    • Buckley Eckert

    • Sonja Gustafson

    • Rev. Emily Mitchell (non-voting)

Finance Team

  • This team tends the church’s financial health via bookkeeping, budgeting, tracking investments, paying staff, and maintaining our 501(c)(3) status.

    • Kari Kelley

    • Kurt Swihart

    • Julie Young

Facilities Team

  • The facilities team takes care of our building personally and by arranging contractors for larger projects. Through regular maintenance, repairs, and occasional upgrades, this team ensures that we have a beautiful, comfortable, functional, and safe space to gather.

    The team’s chair is also the point of contact who coordinates with the various groups that rent space in the building.

    • Michael Friedline (chair)

    • Dale Brandenstein

    • Ben Sanders