For the month of October the board continued to work on building the foundation for our year of service. We adopted our covenant which was created during our retreat and addresses how we will work in fellowship with one another and how we will serve the congregation. To develop our document we first looked at the staff covenant and were blown away by the thought, detail,  and care that was doubtlessly put into its development.

This month we have been thinking about our goals for the year, trying to be both visionary and practical, and looking to build on the good work done by the folks who have come before us. We are paying particular attention to the need for outreach and growth in new members while also sustaining the many volunteer efforts that already enrich our community. 

We are grateful to Reverend Carter for reviewing old operational policies and suggesting updates to several items. These policies included outdated language, outdated references, and detailed processes that no longer reflect how certain procedures happen. Staff did the hard work to update the policies, and after much discussion, the board was happy to approve the updates. These updates can help newcomers (and existing members) better orient themselves to Westside. 

We are also aware that there are other older documents that need a similar review process, and we hope to get to some over the course of our time serving as your board of trustees.

One item of discussion during the October board meeting was our partner church in Transylvania, since the months of November and December are when we gather calendars and create cards for this congregation. We are deeply grateful for the work that Ginger Brewer has done over the years to maintain this connection.

The board also took a minute to celebrate the miraculously quick formation of the auction team. Stepping up to lead a team of auction veterans are Judi Finney and Shelley Webb as co-chairs. Happily, the team has already landed on a theme and a date (put a hold on your calendars for February 7, 2026!)

As always, we are grateful to all who contribute to the smooth functioning of our beloved congregation.