WEPC PASTORAL TRANSITION UPDATES

From the Assessment & Care Team

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Members of the Assessment and Care team: Michael Oberle, Roger Johnson, Joyce Minor, Stacy Shore, and Sonya Smith. This team began meeting in March 2026.
• The team's objectives/deliverables: To ask for feedback from all of the congregation, to use that feedback to create a candidate profile to pass on to the Pastor Search Committee, and to care for Steve, Marti, and the congregation during this transition process.
• This team is not the Pastor Search Committee. The congregation will be voting (later in the process) for who will be on the Pastor Search Committee. 

CARE FOR THE SHELBYS:
If you’re interested in helping with meals or other household tasks/projects for Steve & Marti, please contact Joyce Minor.

UPDATES:

8/5/26

• Thank you again to everyone who participated in the congregational survey. With an exceptional response of 417 completed surveys, we are grateful for the time, thought, and prayer that so many of you invested in this important process. Because of the tremendous participation, compiling and carefully analyzing the responses will take some time. It will likely be several weeks before we receive the completed report and are able to share the results with the congregation. We appreciate your patience and will keep you informed as we move forward.
• Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in participating in the Discovery Weekend. We were encouraged by the overwhelming response and grateful for the willingness of so many to serve in this important process. Earlier today, everyone who submitted an expression of interest should have received an email from   with an update regarding participation. If you submitted your name but did not receive an email, please check your spam or junk folder. If you still do not see it, please contact the Assessment & Care Team at the email address above so we can make sure you receive the information.  As we prepare for the Discovery Weekend, we invite the entire congregation to pray for all who will participate. Please pray that God would grant wisdom, unity, honest conversation, and clear discernment as we seek His direction for the future of WEPC.
• Beginning this Sunday, August 9, our church will begin accepting recommendations for the Pastor Search Committee. Please refer to the update from 7/31 (below) for the full timeline and some helpful guidelines regarding the Pastor Search Committee process.

7/31/26

August 9-23: The Session will receive recommendations for members of the congregation from other members of the congregation. Please make sure you speak with the person you are recommending, reminding them of the commitment involved (see the guidelines) and then make your recommendation by completing an online form (form will become active on August 9th). 

Sunday, August 16: Matt Bouknight and some elders will take the Sunday School hour (9 AM / Fellowship Hall) to discuss the process and answer questions and pray.

Thursday, August 27: Prayer Meeting here at WEPC at 7pm (room TBD)

August 24-30:  Elders will connect with recommended members to pray with them and to make sure they understand the nature of this commitment.

August 31: Elders will arrive at a slate and present that slate to the congregation by email on September 2 for a vote on September 20 congregational meeting.

September 20: Congregational Meeting after the 10:30 Service to vote on slate of recommendations.

7/29/26

• The response to the congregational survey far exceeded our expectations, with 417 completed surveys submitted. According to our church’s consultant, McGowan, this is an outstanding response and provides a rich foundation for understanding our church as we seek God's direction for the future of WEPC. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate thoughtfully and prayerfully.
• We are also thrilled by the enthusiastic response to the Discovery Weekend. We received expressions of interest from many more people than we have available spaces, and we are currently prayerfully reviewing those responses to form a group that reflects a broad cross-section of our church family. Those selected to participate will be notified by an email from by August 5.
• Please continue to pray for this process—for wisdom, discernment, and unity for our team and the Session, for those who will participate in the Discovery Weekend, for Steve & Marti, for our next senior pastor, and for our entire congregation as together we seek God's guidance for the future of WEPC. We are deeply thankful for the engagement, encouragement, and prayers of our church family.

7/22/26

• We are very grateful for the 260 members who have completed the WEPC Congregational Survey. Thank you for supporting this important assessment process as we prepare for our pastoral transition.
• LAST CALL! If you have not yet completed the survey, instructions are included in the introductory letter that appears when you click the survey link. Your feedback is invaluable as we look ahead to the future of our church. We warmly invite and encourage every member of your household—including youth—to complete the survey by this Sunday night, July 26. 
• Thank you to the several adult members who have expressed interest in participating in the Discovery Weekend. The weekend will be held on August 21 (5:30-8:30 pm) & 22 (8:30am-3:00 pm) and is a series of focus group discussions facilitated by our church’s consultant in this transition process, Ed Norton. The weekend is intended to gather congregational input and think through a long-term aspirational future for WEPC.
• We hope the Discovery Weekend will include participants who represent a broad cross-section of our church body. In particular, we would love to see more younger adults (under 50) express interest so that the weekend reflects the diversity of our congregation across generations. Please prayerfully consider whether God may be calling you to participate. If there is another member you believe would be a good fit for the weekend—especially a younger adult—please encourage them to submit an interest form as well. If childcare is a barrier to you expressing interest, please reach out to the A&C Team at . We would be glad to explore ways to help make it possible for you to participate in the Discovery Weekend.
• When you open the Discovery Weekend link you will find complete information about the weekend and directions to complete the form. The Discovery Weekend Interest form will close on July 26. Those invited to participate will be notified via email by August 5.

7/15/26

• We are very grateful for the many members and regular attenders who have completed the WEPC congregational survey.  If you have not yet completed the survey, instructions are included in the introductory letter that appears when you click the survey link. Your feedback is incredibly important as we look ahead to the future of our church, so we warmly invite and encourage everyone in your household—including youth—to complete the survey individually by July 26. Thank you for your prayerful participation as we seek God's guidance for the future of WEPC.
• Thank you to the several adult members who have expressed interest in participating in the Discovery Weekend, a series of focus group discussions facilitated by our church’s consultant in this transition process, Ed Norton.
• We have a hope that the Discovery Weekend will have participants that represent a broad cross-section of our church body. Please consider praying about whether God may be calling you to participate in the weekend. We also invite you to consider other members who may be a good fit for the weekend and encourage them submit an interest form as well.  When you open the Discovery Weekend link you will find complete information about the weekend and directions to complete the form.  The Discovery Weekend Interest form will close on July 26 and those invited to participate will be notified via email by August 5.

7/8/26

7/1/26

• The WEPC congregational survey was distributed via email on Monday (6/29) with the subject line WEPC Survey — Time Sensitive. Instructions for completing the survey are included in an introductory letter that appears when you click the survey link. Your feedback is incredibly important as we look ahead to the future of our church, so we warmly invite and encourage everyone in your household—including youth—to complete the survey individually by July 24.  Thank you for your prayerful participation in this important process. 
• Discovery Weekend is scheduled for Friday evening, August 21 (5:30 - 8:30 PM), through Saturday, August 22 (8:30 AM - 3 PM). During this time, McGowan consultant Ed Norton will facilitate a series of focus group discussions, providing further opportunities for congregational input and engagement.
• Participation in the Discovery Weekend will be limited to approximately 35–40 individuals (who are neither staff nor church officers). 
  A process will be made available for congregants to express interest in participating. Attendees will be selected from those who express interest with the goal of ensuring broad representation from across our congregation, including a variety of ages and backgrounds. More details on this process will follow within the next two weeks.

6/24/26

• The church-wide congregational survey is expected to launch early next week as part of the pastoral transition process. The survey is designed to gather feedback, insights, and perspectives from across the congregation to help inform the pastoral search process as we seek God's guidance for the future of our church. Participation is highly encouraged, and every response is valued. Please watch for a dedicated email with the subject line: "WEPC Survey — Time Sensitive"
• Discovery Weekend is scheduled for Friday evening, August 21, through Saturday, August 22. During this time, McGowan consultant Ed Norton will facilitate a series of focus group discussions, providing further opportunities for congregational input and engagement.
• Participation in the Discovery Weekend will be limited to approximately 35–40 individuals (who are neither staff nor church officers). A process will be made available for congregants to express interest in participating. Attendees will be selected from those who express interest with the goal of ensuring broad representation from across our congregation, including a variety of ages and backgrounds. More details on this process will follow within the next few weeks.

6/17/24

• The church continues to make progress in our pastoral transition process. As part of this next phase, the congregation will soon have opportunities to provide valuable input that will help inform the pastoral search process.
• A church-wide congregational survey will be available within the next few weeks. The survey is designed to gather feedback, insights, and perspectives from across the congregation as we seek God's guidance for the future of our church.
• Discovery Weekend is scheduled for Friday evening, August 22, through Saturday, August 23. During this time, McGowan consultant Ed Norton will facilitate a series of focus group discussions, providing further opportunities for congregational input and engagement.
• Participation in the Discovery Weekend will be limited to approximately 35–40 individuals (who are neither staff nor church officers).
• A process will be made available for congregants to express interest in participating.  Attendees will be selected from those who express interest with the goal of ensuring broad representation from across our congregation, including a variety of ages and backgrounds. More details on this process will follow within the next few weeks.

6/10/26

• The church has finalized the Letter of Engagement with the consulting and pastoral search firm, McGowan Global Institute. Throughout our church’s transition process, we will be working closely with McGowan consultant Ed Norton, who is an ordained PCA pastor. Find out more about McGowan and Ed.
• Later this summer, the congregation will be invited to participate in a formal survey designed to gather feedback and insights. In addition, a Discovery Weekend—focus group discussions—is planned for late August to provide further opportunities for congregational input and engagement.

5/20/26

• The Session met on Monday night and voted to engage a consultant as we proceed with our pastoral transition. The team is now in process of finalizing the consultant’s engagement and will have more information once that is complete.

5/6/26

• The team completed comprehensive reviews with the various consulting organizations that could partner with WEPC on this journey.
• The team is reviewing results of those conversations with the session next week, where we hope to make a final decision on which partner is the best fit for our needs.
• We ask for your continued support and prayers for WEPC. Specifically, for:
  • Clarity and wisdom for the team and the Session during these discussions
  • Discernment in identifying the partner who best aligns with WEPC
• The chosen partner will have an impact on when we begin to request specific feedback for everyone. Thanks for your patience as we plan.

4/29/26

• The team has completed interviews with two consulting organizations. Pray for clarity and wisdom in assessing the level of assistance and experiential wisdom they could provide WEPC in the assessment phase. 
• We hope to be in a position to request specific feedback from the congregation in late May/early Summer. Thanks for your patience as we plan. 

4/22/26

• The team completed an interview with one consulting organization and has another scheduled. Pray for clarity and wisdom in assessing the level of assistance and experiential wisdom they could provide WEPC in the assessment phase. 
• We hope to be in a position to request specific feedback from the congregation in late May/early Summer. Thanks for your patience as we plan. 

4/8/26

• The team continues to regularly meet and has scheduled interviews with consultants to understand the level of assistance they could provide WEPC in the assessment phase. These conversations will complete in April.

4/1/26

• The team is scheduling interviews with consultants to understand the level of assistance and experiential wisdom they could provide WEPC in the assessment phase. These conversations will occur over the coming weeks.
• We hope to be in a position to request specific feedback from the congregation in late May/early Summer. Thanks for your patience as we plan. 

3/18/26

• What we are asking the congregation to do:
  • Pray for our church and this process
  • Continue to pray for Steve and Marti
  • Think about what makes WEPC "WEPC"
  • Be ready to share that feedback with us once we have finalized the process for collecting feedback