Dear WES community,

We want to thank so many of you who were able to be at the Fall Membership Meeting on Sunday, as well as those of you who engaged outside the meeting with questions and conversation. Being together in this way–talking about what matters to us most, sharing food together, and yes, navigating conflict together–is a core part of what it means to be a community.

And wow, some of that is a lot more fun than other parts. We want to acknowledge and hold the pain of members of our community experiencing conflict, and to note the special pain that the whole community feels when the conflict includes the leadership and clergy. It is *hard* to be in community at times like that, and especially so when, as was expressed at the meeting Sunday, there is care for all parties and a desire to see reconciliation and reconnection.

We want to notice that care, to notice how–even though some of the topics at the meeting were very conflictual–members came to the meeting with their hearts and their values. We heard members speaking respectfully, seeking to understand further, seeking to use tools that avoided further division, and expressing their pain over the conflict. Of course each person involved brought their own hopes for an outcome. But looking beyond those outcomes, we are grateful to have seen so many at the meeting model genuine caring for both individuals and for the health of the community.

Meetings with votes can feel final–and there are certainly decisions that were made at the membership meeting. And, we know that any conflict is part of a larger, still unfolding relationship. We, as clergy and Board members, have a relationship not just with individual members but with the congregation as a whole and a responsibility to the system you have called and elected us to uphold, expand and sustain. We will be continuing to think about and learn from how our systems of working with conflict served WES well, and ways in which they might be improved. And we want you to know that we all welcome your engagement: come to Board meetings as a visitor, write to us, talk with us.

Moving with and through conflict is difficult…and that’s where we are right now. Not past the conflict, although past some stages of it. We invite all of you, during this time, to stay connected with each other and with us. Remember that conflict happens in communities (at least when there are people involved!) and also that we are much more than any conflict. Be part of the fullness of our community life, our celebrations together and our work together and our learning together. Thank you for continuing to be the community we are honored to serve.

Your 2018-2019 Board and Sr. Leader
Kate Lang, Kristin Hunter, Lauren Strange, Margaret Conway, Rachel Alexander, Sheila Waters, Trang Duong and Amanda Poppei