Dear Brothers and Sisters of Bethany Presbyterian Church,
A long process of prayerful and thoughtful consultation is coming to a conclusion at the beginning of 2025.
For two years, the work of the first Administrative Commission for Bethany Presbyterian Church was to partner with the congregation in studying the challenges to Bethany's ministry, consulting on issues of mission vision, and encouraging forward movement toward a sustainable ministry.
At the end of 2023, the Bethany elders, along with presbytery partners, determined that the decline of church resources and energy warranted further discernment to decide the course for the future—including the possibility that Bethany members would choose to close the church.
In early 2024, the second Administrative Commission was chartered with the purpose of [1] leading discussions about the condition of the ministry, [2] entering into processes of discernment—especially regarding the possible closure of the church, [3] expediting the solutions to pending church-life challenges, and [4] recommending the changes that Bethany could make to address issues of decline and empower possible future ministry.
After ten months of consultation, partnering with Bethany's serving elders and addressing the challenges that the church is facing, the Administrative Commission has completed its contribution to the process of discernment.
Our findings are being shared with congregation members and with the Presbytery of North Central California. And now an inflection point has been reached, in which the church can indicate its preferences for next steps into the future.
As we have shared, it is our assessment that Bethany does not need to close, and that life-giving ministry can continue, providing worship, study, prayer, fellowship, and member care.
In order to make all of that possible, some forward-looking steps must be taken and some constructive changes must be embraced.
It is now time for the members to indicate their preference for a pathway to pursue—knowing that brothers and sisters in the presbytery stand with you in whatever choice is made.
As we have described in our December 15th presentation, and published in the summary document that you have seen, there are three pathways to choose from.
These are:
Pathway #1 - The Small Church Model, as described in our report, with the ability to address the findings of three years of study, and the AC recommendations for church renewal — until the SCM provides for gradual growth and development, or someday again faces closure through the loss of members due to advancing age and circumstances.
Pathway #2 - Gracious closure leaving a legacy of church history and the investment of remaining church resources in ministry and mission throughout the Presbytery, with remnant members transferred to the care and fellowship of other churches.
Pathway #3 - Deciding to remain in the current church life conditions, without significant church system changes, making use of current resources, and depending on the existing leadership to address identified ministry challenges, with the opportunity to seek specific presbytery assistance (or another AC) in the future.
The Administrative Commission urges your prayerful consideration of these pathways. While some may wish to add a variety of other choices, we have noted that every concern raised by members and elders is provided for in one of these three pathways.
Thus, with the months of conversations and discernment to draw on, in our capacity as the Bethany Session we have called a congregational meeting for Sunday, January 12th, to meet in the sanctuary immediately following worship, for the purpose of determining the preference of Bethany members for one of the available pathways forward.
This notice is to let you know about the congregational meeting. The formal announcement will be made in worship on Sundays December 29th, January 5th, and January 12th. And it will be sent out in more detail on January 2nd.
We stand with you in our prayers as you consider your preference for the future of this beloved church.
In Christ,
The Administrative Commission
