Called Congregational Meeting — July 26

Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, July 26, immediately following worship, to take a step in Whitworth’s transition to a solo-pastor model.

This step follows from Whitworth’s already-discerned transition to a solo-pastor model and the congregation’s election of a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) to search for that position. Because current giving levels cannot support more than one pastor, the action before the congregation would keep Pastor Jamie’s position unchanged through September 2026, reduce it to 20 hours per week from October through December 2026, and dissolve the Associate Pastor position effective December 31, 2026.

The plan also includes severance to help care for Pastor Jamie during this transition. Pastor Jamie has been part of this process and concurs with the action before the congregation. Following this step, concurrence from presbytery must also be sought.

We know this is a tender matter, and we want to move through it with honesty, care, and trust. We also trust that God is at work both in Pastor Jamie’s discernment and in Whitworth’s search process, and we do not need to force or rush either one.
This action is separate from the PNC’s search. Pastor Jamie may or may not feel called to pursue the solo pastor position, and the Book of Order says an associate pastor is “ordinarily not eligible” to be the next installed pastor of the same congregation, except through a presbytery process.

Because of that, please do not ask PNC members or Pastor Jamie questions in ways that may place pressure on them. There will be time for questions about this congregational action at the meeting. Please hold the whole church in prayer during this important season of discernment.