Session Update — December 2024
Dear Westminster Presbyterian Church Family,
Please read on for an update from the Session’s December meeting.
PHILOSOPHY OF WORSHIP
Over the last several months, teams of our staff, worship volunteers from both services, and members of the Session have been drafting a Philosophy of Worship. This document clarifies the vision for worship at Westminster by describing how we currently worship as well as outlining our hopes for the future. In their December meeting, the Session took their first look at the document. It will continue to be tweaked over the next few months and be shared with the congregation when it is finalized.
SHEPHERDING
Our elders have a deep conviction about their role in shepherding our congregation. Last year, we implemented a new shepherding model in which all members of Westminster were assigned to an elder’s “flock” to better provide for their spiritual needs. The elders discussed ways to better engage with and care for their flocks, including periodical contacts and an annual flock gathering. It is our hope that all members of the church feel like they have someone they can reach out to in a time of need.
WESTMINSTER TOWERS
We are blessed with the ministry next door that is Westminster Towers. The Towers has long held to their vision of serving as a Christian retirement and health care center for members of Westminster and our community. Towers Board Chair and Ruling Elder, Richard Heckard, updated the Session on the many goings on at the Towers, particularly the construction of the “Cottages” – duplexes for independent living along McDow Drive. We are excited for this addition to the ministry of the Towers as it will be another way they can serve the Rock Hill community. For more information about the Cottages, visit westminstertowers.org/cottages.
SESSION LEADERSHIP TEAM
Each year, six elders serve on our Session Leadership Team, a commission of the Westminster Session tasked with handling much of the governance and business of the church so that the larger Session can focus on shepherding. Three elders were nominated to serve on the Session Leadership Team beginning in 2025 – Nathan Gaulden, Charlie Kelly, and Jim Petty. We are thankful for these men and their willingness to serve and look forward to the wisdom that they will bring to the business of our church.
2025 BUDGET
As we near the end of the year, the Session must approve the annual budget for the following year. In the December meeting, the Session approved a budget of $3,780,000 for 2025. When the budget is finalized, we will publish it on wpcgo.com/give. We pray for God’s generous provisions in helping us to meet this goal in order to carry out the ministries of WPC.
Please stay tuned each month for continued updates from the Westminster Session. If you have questions about any of the items mentioned in this monthly update or want more details, please email wpcsession@wpcgo.com.
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