Following its October planning retreat, session called six CPC members (Karen Kimmel (chair), Gordon Hawthorne, Grant Mandsager, Dave Norman, Peg True and Travis Reindl (session liaison)) to recommend a ministry and personnel model best aligned with assuring CPC's continued vitality and its capacity to fulfill its mission within Arlington County, Northern Virginia, and throughout the National Capital Presbytery as a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse church that is growing and spreading the gospel.

As we begin this process, it will be important to place this discernment in the context of CPC's journey over the last few years and the versions of ministry models under which CPC has functioned with Madeline Jervis, Laura Cunningham, and now David Ensign.

Given today's reality, we will now consider other ministry and staffing models that combine both paid and volunteer staff configured to: a) support our vital mission; b) fully engage David's gifts in the work of the church yet address his aspirations to more clearly focus his ministry in a meaningful way; and c) support the ability of members to contribute in a meaningful but reasonable way without burning out. This process will be done in full transparency and dialogue with the session and congregation.

The task force began its work this month with an organizational meeting. Next month the group will meet with representatives of National Capital Presbytery to gather information about staffing models of other small congregations in the Presbytery. The group is also gathering information from other similarly situated congregations from other denominations.

The group will report its findings to session at its January meeting and make an interim report to the congregation at the January 29 congregational meeting.

The group plans to make recommendations to session in February and anticipates a called congregational meeting in March to present a final report.

This report is condensed from a longer version that will be distributed at church this Sunday, posted on the bulletin board outside the church office, and made available to anyone who requests it.

Our annual pledge drive continues through this month.

Five or so years ago session endorsed the findings of a mission discernment group that named working toward new models of ministry for the church of the third millennium as one of CPC's callings. As you see from the article above, we are preparing for some key changes that, if we make them well, will bring us closer to that goal. In other words, the staffing changes we are considering present an exciting opportunity to imagine what the Next Church might look like.

All of this work depends upon your incredible generosity.

In the few weeks of our pledge drive we have received 21 pledges totaling $56,900, toward a 2012 goal of $85,000. It's an excellent start, and we give a huge thanks to every one who has responded to the invitation to make a financial commitment to the mission and ministry at Clarendon.

We'll use this spot in the coming weeks to keep you posted on progress. In the meanwhile, please bring your pledge card to church Sunday and drop it in the offering plate or use the return mail card and send it to church. Every pledge matters greatly to our common work, and every pledge is deeply appreciated.