As we look ahead to 2023, Council is poised to guide our Westwood congregation through transition and change. However, we first must pause to celebrate the milestones and noteworthy accomplishments from the past year. There is so much to be proud of–the achievements of our leadership team and talented staff–as well as the ongoing support of this congregation. As a result, the strength of our Westwood organization is evident. We are thriving and continue to grow at a time when similar churches face significant challenges. During the past year, Westwood has built a solid foundation for the future based on the vision of its leaders, dedication of staff members, and prayerful planning of Council.

 

Our 2022 Westwood accomplishments include: 

• Preparation to support Pastor Tania’s decision to step down from the Senior Pastor role and continue working in a reduced capacity. 

• Creating a communication plan and establishing feedback loops for gathering congregational input via Coffee Chats and listening sessions. 

• Updating our Constitution and By-Laws to allow for Council, committee, or congregational meetings and votes to be conducted in-person or via remote technology. 

• Distributing information and gathering feedback prior to the congregational vote calling Pastor Jason as our new Senior Pastor. 

• Development of a Westwood site profile and Call Committee to begin the process of calling an additional pastor. 

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On behalf of the Council, I am honored to serve our congregation and be a part of the meaningful contributions Westwood is making in the world. We are grateful for our visionary leaders, the ongoing efforts of our exceptional staff, and the support of our beloved Westwood community. A special thank you to Pastor Tania Haber for her 19 ½ years of service as Senior Pastor at Westwood–your passion and leadership were integral in building the thriving ministries we have today.  

 

Faithfully and with good courage, 

Laura Ramsborg