Leadership Team

The Leadership Team is the elected guiding group for district vision, mission and program.  Its membership consists of the chair of each of the ministry teams in addition to its own chair, secretary, and several ex-officio members (see links to the right).

Since 2008 the Western Plains District has gone through a series of experiments, at times suspending operating procedures in favor of trying new approaches to expedite work of the district and its volunteer leadership and staff. This process culminated with the 2017 District Conference approval of a new Constitution and Bylaws. Under the modified structure formalized in those documents, the Leadership Team is designated as “trustees” of the district, the ones legally responsible for its mission and actions.

Through this period of experimentation and invention, the guiding principle has been to focus on how we can be a transformational and transforming community of believers and servers, to help us live out our vision and to utilize our spiritual gifts and human resources more effectively. The new structure does not change the role of District Conference as the primary governing body of the Church of the Brethren in Western Plains.

 

Documents for Understanding the District Structure
The Constitution is relatively short and self-explanatory and sets the basic legal framework for the district.  The Bylaws are more detailed.  Below the link to the Bylaws is a guide to help reach specific sessions directly:

  • Constitution
  • WPD Bylaws
    District Conference structure, officers, and their duties (pp 1-5)
    Leadership Team (pp 5-8)
    Ministry Teams (pp 8-13)
    Other Teams and Committees (pp 14-15)
    District Personnel (pg 15)
    General corporate and legal stuff (pp 15-16)
    Relationships with partner organizations (pp 16-17)

 

Recent Policies Adopted by Leadership Team

 

Guidelines for Churches choosing to withdraw from the Church of the Brethren
0-Congregational Withdrawal – Best Practices

0-Denominational Leadership Response to the CBC

0-Responding to a Congregation Considering Withdrawal

 

 

Please see the expense voucher for Leadership & Ministry Team members below.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the District Office at office@wpcob.org or 620-241-4240. 

 

 

EXPENSE-VOUCHER-1Download
Leadership Team

Reflections from the Leadership Team

Looking Back, Looking Forward . . . Ah, yes. Early December. We’re in that annual in-between time. Thanksgiving is behind us, a time when we’ve paused with gratitude for what we have been given, and now we are entering Advent when we look ahead to things new. Transitional times are both challenging and an opportunity … read on →

District Executive Minister

Jesus In The Neighborhood

We are a New Testament people. That means that Jesus is the center.

Congregational Resourcing

Peace Corner

This ‘Way,’ the mission of what it means to be a group of people following Jesus, our mission, is what the church must consider as we reimagine what it means to be church in our world today.

Leadership Team

What’s the point of a focus group?

You may have been hearing about focus group meetings being held around the district. Three have been completed, three are yet to go. If your congregation has already been represented at one of these meetings, thank you for participating. If you’ve not yet been involved, look for an opportunity at Holmesville (May 21) Olathe (May … read on →

Leadership Team

District Focus Groups

Western Plains District Church of the Brethren Opportunities to participate . . . to be part of our planning Focus group conversations about the future of our district Through May and early June, we are holding conversations in churches around the district led by members of a team we’ve called the “DnA Team.” That somewhat … read on →

Leadership Team

Reflections from the Leadership Team

Whose View . . . Toward What Horizon? The last three weeks I’ve been trying what I hope will become a periodic pattern for the year – traveling to churches other than my own for a Sunday gathering and worship experience. Whenever I do that, I almost always learn something, and it’s usually good. Moderator … read on →

Leadership Team

Reflections from the Leadership Team

We’re probably all familiar with the Sesame Street game “how are these things alike, how are they different?” What does that have to do with your Western Plains Leadership Team, you ask? With the exception of only three members (including ex-officio), the LT is the exact same people as it was last year, many of … read on →

Training

Pastor-Leader Training

SAVE THE DATE: February 10-11, 2023 Please join us for the Western Plains District’s Leadership Training for pastors AND lay church leaders!

Leadership Team

Covid-19 District Response

Due to an unprecedented pandemic with covid-19, our district leadership, in conjunction with other district and ecumenical entities, and along with current CDC recommendations, have made the difficult decision to either cancel or go online for all district events for the remainder of 2020.

Congregational Resourcing

District Men’s Retreat

Western Plains District Men’s Retreat will be held March 27-28, 2020 at the Heartland Center for Spirituality in Great Bend, Kan. The theme is 2020 Vision for Mission and will be hosted by the men of the McPherson Church of the Brethren Where there is no vision, the people perish. . . ~Proverbs 29:18   Cost is $70/person … read on →

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