On November 11, 2007, West Plano Presbyterian Church welcomed our new Director of Christian Formation (DCF), Dr. Elizabeth (Betty) J. Weckerly!

Betty comes to us from the First Presbyterian Church of Ashtabula, Ohio, where she has been Director of Family Ministries for the past four years. Her responsibilities there included worship, Christian Education and Nurture, youth mission trips, and Vacation Bible School. During this time, she was a two-time youth triennium leader for Western Reserve Presbytery delegation. Last year, she designed and implemented a week-long mission gathering for all youth groups in Western Reserve Presbytery. Earlier this year, she participated on a planning team for a Youth Vocation event.

Betty is a retired educator and school principal, whose specialty lies in the field of special education. She has an M.A. and a Ph.D. in education from Texas Woman’s University. As a past member of West Plano Presbyterian Church, she served as an elder and was active in Grace Presbytery in the area of hunger advocacy. She has participated in a number of WPPC and Grace Presbytery youth mission trips, most recently supporting our Service in San Antonio effort this summer.

Betty believes in living her faith. She is looking forward to working with both our adults and youth as our new Director of Christian Formation. To use her words, she is truly “jazzed up” about this opportunity!

In order to support team efforts and communication with the rest of our staff, Betty is occupying the space formerly set aside for volunteers and our Parish Associate. The volunteers will now use two locations. Those working with Church Windows will be in the office next to the parlor in the narthex. Other volunteers will be in classroom 1, across from our Administrative Assistant, Jeannie Chouinard.

Betty responded to the following position background and description:

Director of Christian Formation
West Plano Presbyterian Church, Plano, Texas

Who We Are

Worship is at the very heart of the church’s life. All that the church is and does is rooted in its worship. The community of faith, gathered in response to God’s call, is formed in its worship. Worship is the principal influence that shapes our faith, and is the most visible way we express the faith. In worship, through Word and Sacrament, the church is sustained by the presence of Christ. . . . Because of the centrality of worship in the church’s life, the continuing reform of worship is of primary importance in maintaining the integrity of the people of God.         Preface – Book of Common Worship

A New Vision
As a congregation centered around the liturgy (i.e. “the work of the people”), West Plano Presbyterian Church (WPPC) is in the process of re-imaging traditional models of Christian education from the perspective of its sacramental life. Specifically, we are moving away from classroom instruction focused on standard curricula and moving toward formation of a Christian world-view identity, characterized by being part of a worshiping community and a communal way of life with ethical boundaries and obligations (i.e. a sense of “call”).

This identity is best understood as a gracious gift received in baptism that leads to life-long formation in the meaning of this gift – the life of Christ made available to all through his dying and rising. What begins in the font is nurtured by the Word of life and sustained by the holy meal of bread and wine. This sacramental center of Word, water, bread, and wine is at the heart of all formation (or “catechesis”). In this sense, Christian teaching is formation for baptismal living. Journeying along this path, Christian education draws upon and looks toward the weekly Lord’s Day liturgy.

Implications for New Staff
WPPC is looking for an individual who will nurture the formational needs of our congregation. This includes a willingness to explore new ways of envisioning and carrying out this ministry. We do not expect our new staff person to have all the answers; rather, we expect this person to journey with us as we make new discoveries, tackle new challenges, learn from mistakes, and – together – discern a way forward that is rooted in our doxological life. Desirable qualities for this position are a teachable heart, humility of spirit, lack of defensiveness, and a willingness to evolve as part of a community which seeks Christ and strives to carry out his mission to the world.

Director of Christian Formation
Position Description

Responsibilities
Role:
This is a 3/4-time role providing oversight and direction for Christian Formation at West Plano Presbyterian Church. We are a congregation that lives life centered around worship and service, that is formative for both personal and communal life. The goal for our Director of Christian Formation is to provide inspiring, creative leadership for this formation. This ministry is supported by active and willing volunteers in the Christian Nurture and Education Committee and throughout WPPC.

Specific leadership expectations include:

• Participate fully in worship
• Encourage Christian Formation across the life span (i.e., children to adults)
• Mentor children and youth
• Build relationships with the congregation
• Support families with faith development in the home
• Attend staff meetings
• Coordinate Sunday School (catechesis)
• Identify and form teachers (catechists)
• Provide Youth Group direction and facilitate activities throughout the year
• Organize and participate in summer Youth Mission Trip
• Organize and participate in summer Vacation Church School

Minimum Requirements
We seek a person with experience supporting Christian youth and adult ministries, combined with a willingness to grow personally in formational models in ministry and to approach this support in formative way. A basic familiarity with computer and word processing skills is essential. It is important that the person in this position be self-starting with good communications skills and the ability to think both creatively and strategically.

Reporting
The Director of Christian Formation reports to the Head of Staff, and works with our Administrative Assistant, as well as members of Session.

Salary
Commensurate with experience.