This time of year is a season routinely marked by transitions, and there are a couple of wonderful, providential transitions on our church staff that we are eager to share with you. At the end of May, Don Gillespie retired from his role as Director of Pastoral Care at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Don’s ministry among us was deeply significant, and he left behind a strong team of volunteers and a lasting legacy of servant-hearted care.

Since Don’s departure, Pastor Jonathan Taylor has provided oversight in pastoral care alongside Ruling Elder Mike Russo. We implemented a rotating on-call and hospital visitation system that has greatly broadened our ministry staff’s engagement in congregational care.

Over the past several weeks, Jonathan Taylor has discovered a genuine passion and gifting for this work that he had not fully realized before. With this insight, and with Pastor Jonathan Garrett returning from sabbatical, we see a natural and timely opportunity for a shift in roles on our staff.

Jonathan Taylor will now serve as Pastor of Congregational Care and Missions, overseeing all aspects of shepherding and pastoral care, while continuing his leadership in missions. Jonathan Garrett will now serve as Pastor of Discipleship, expanding his focus from young adults to include oversight for adult discipleship.

These shifts allow us to align our team’s gifts and passions more fully with their responsibilities while stewarding our resources wisely. In the coming weeks, we will make adjustments to our support structures to foster meaningful synergy across our teams so that our ministries may continue to thrive under new leadership.

Jonathan Taylor, Jonathan Garrett, and our entire pastoral staff are encouraged and energized by this change. Both men have already embraced their new responsibilities with enthusiasm. We are deeply grateful for how faithfully they have served our church, and how they will continue to do so in these new capacities.

Please join us in praying for both Jonathan Taylor and Jonathan Garrett. Even good changes require time and energy to adjust. May they be strengthened, encouraged, and supported as they pour themselves into the life and care of our church family.