Purpose creates meaning, offers a sense of direction and helps in guiding a path through existence. The purpose of something is its reason for existing.

What is WES’s purpose?

  The WES Constitution stipulates that its Statement of Purpose (SoP) is reviewed every five years. Next spring, it will once again be time to review our Statement of Purpose and ensure that it reflects our aspirations as a community. There will be a vote on whether we want to revise the SoP at the Spring Membership Meeting. Over the months leading to that vote, we will create opportunities for members to voice their ideas and opinions through, but not limited to, community meetings. As always, your thoughts and opinions are welcome and highly encouraged.

  When thinking of a statement of purpose it is good to start by asking, “What is the organization’s prime objective?” This will vary among people, but there ideally should be an underlying thread that connects those variances. Along that connection is found the organization’s prime objective. That is not to say that three or four things cannot move together simultaneously in the same direction, of course they can. By definition, however, multiple things can’t all be a prime objective. There are always secondary things that feed a prime objective, and at times they also could be mentioned in a Statement of Purpose. Just as focus is important, peripheral vision is important as well. As we think about a possible revision of the SoP, let us ask ourselves, where and on what should our focus be? What is WES’s prime objective and what secondary things contribute to that purpose?

  This time of transition with an Interim Senior Leader is ideal to review and consider whether we want to revise the Statement of Purpose. Transition lends itself to deeper thinking and self evaluation. Transition can bring forth thoughts, both about what was, and about what can be. It brings new thoughts that can spark the imagination and even old thoughts that can transition into new ideas.

  You may ask, “Why should revising the Statement of Purpose be considered at all?” 

 Most congregational SoP’s are written in order to form a more perfect union. The union between the congregation’s goals and the objectives they are striving for and the “statement” about those goals and objectives they speak into the world.  

  It is best practice to reconsider a congregation’s statement of purpose regularly, as the very process of review (and revision, if called for) binds members more deeply to their shared purpose.  

  What should a Statement of Purpose do? 

  A Statement of Purpose should inspire and attract people. A Statement of Purpose should provide meaning and motivation for the work of the congregation. Also, the purpose statement should answer the “Why” question for people.

   Does WES’s  Statement of Purpose answer the why question? Does it continue to accurately state WES’s purpose? If it does, that’s great. If not, now is the time to consider forming a more perfect union.

2020-2021 Board of Trustees: 

Josh Blinder, Abi Daken, Trang Duong, Kate Lang, Lauren Strange, Vincent Tyler, Rajesh Vidyasagar