Vision for our future

A few years ago there were conversations between West Point Grey Presbyterian Church  and Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church regarding the possibility of amalgamation. Recently, we have spent several months imagining what a renewed vision for ministry might look like if we join forces. This included an understanding that an amalgamation of our two congregations would take place within a larger vision that incorporated the strategies and goals of the Presbytery of Westminster.

We organized our work around several conversations. We structured our conversations through examination of five “vitalities”, or ways of being strong and active: spiritually, relationally, organizationally, missionally, and financially.

The conversations identified priorities that can be summarized in the following statement:

An amalgamated congregation of Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church and West Point Grey, in partnership with the presbytery, seeks to be a community of faith for those looking for a place to belong, be accepted, and be engaged in an authentic life of faith in Christ for the larger vision of God’s compassion and action in the world. 

How is our amalgamated congregation going to do this? Primarily by creating an atmosphere in which our people are encouraged to match their deep concerns with critical needs and are set free to engage in ministries that address those needs. We will begin by committing to the following ministries which are grouped under three general focus areas:

We will be intentionally missional

We will be a congregation that reaches out to the community in ways such as these:

• Around the Well: a new church at UBC and other new worshipping communities
• Ministry to youth, including partnerships with Christian groups that do youth ministry well
• Refugee sponsorship
• Ensuring that support for existing ministries that have been a long-term commitment from WPG will continue (Hummingbird Ministries, Camp Douglas, intercultural ministries, affordable housing, new witnessing/worshipping communities)
• Social justice issues such as ministering to seniors and affordable housing
• Collaborating with and supporting the work of our presbytery for the flourishing of all congregations and ministries within its bounds

We will be a congregation that is strongly relational

We will be a community where relationships matter and people are values in ways such as these: 

• Small groups: study groups, discussion groups, various relational groups, social and informal congregational gatherings
• Caring for online attendees
• Partnerships with The Vancouver Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, Tenth Church Westside, the theological schools, and the Presbytery of Westminster
• Ministries that build relationships within our multicultural neighborhood

We will be imperfectly spiritual

We will be an imperfectly spiritual congregation, focused on progress in the Christian life and not on perfection. We will be a community where people can ask questions, express doubts, find forgiveness, and live authentic lives. We connect this with the following practices:

• Developing music in worship and as a ministry tool
• Utilizing existing gifts of all ages throughout our various ministries
• Providing a space for people to question, grow, find grace and forgiveness as we continue to grow and mature as followers of Jesus

In summary, the newly amalgamated congregation will begin with the above ministry focus areas. How the amalgamated congregation will live out our three key areas may change over time, but our missional, relational, and spiritual commitment to them will be the compass that provides our direction into the future, including our commitment to the broader work of the presbytery.