Town Hall: FAQ
Q: What’s happening with the church buildings?
A: Our two congregations own incredibly valuable properties. We also both have tenants who share these buildings with us. Together with the Presbytery, we are looking at all options and possibilities regarding stewardship, maintenance, use, and ownership of these buildings. We plan to include our tenants in those conversations. Decisions on church property will also include conversations with lawyers, real estate professionals, architects, contractors, etc. All of this will take time. None of this will keep us from pursuing living into our ministry together while we figure that out.
Q: What about Miriam’s Kitchen?
A: As a ministry that began out of Western, and knowing that Western and Miriam’s have been in conversation about possibilities for expanding and repurposing the Western church building, we remain committed to Miriam’s Kitchen in all our plans going forward. Erin has met with Scott and let him know we are in this discernment process. We are committed to including Miriam’s in our long term planning.
Q: What about Pilgrims’ signed Redevelopment Deal?
A: We have had zero contact from T&H Developers in over 18 months. There has been no movement from the developer or the presbytery on this project. We’ve also been told by the city that there is no possibility of low-income housing tax credit funding for new projects in the foreseeable future.
Q: What about the Pilgrims manse?
A: At this time, we have not considered any changes with the ownership of the Pilgrims manse (located at 4324 Van Ness St NW, where Erin currently lives). If the congregations decide on a merger, the manse will stay with the merged congregation.
Q: What is the Pastoral Leadership Plan?
A: If the congregations choose to merge, or choose some other shared ministry project, the plan is for the Rev. Erin Counihan to be the pastor of that ministry. We are in discussions with the Presbytery’s COM to determine if we need to make a short term contract with Erin and Western while the congregations work out long term logistics.
Q: What about other staff?
A: If the congregations discern a new shared ministry together, they will also need to discern the staffing needs of that new ministry. For now, we are not making any changes. We are trying something new out - we are hiring a 10-15hr/week communications coordinator who will serve both Pilgrims and Western.
Q: What about Session Leadership?
A: For now, both Sessions have voted to keep their current members on Session through this transition, if the way be clear. If a merger is discerned, the new merged congregation would write new bylaws and elect a new merged session.
Q: What about 2026 Budget?
A: For now, both Sessions have voted to create continuing budgets, carrying over the 2025 budgets into the new year, and waiting to create a new budget until decisions are made with the shared ministry discernment.