MEMORANDUM
| TO: | FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH |
| FROM: | SARA LISHERNESS, INTERIM DIRECTOR, WORLD MISSION |
| SUBJECT: | A MESSAGE ABOUT RICHARD & DEBBIE WELCH |
| DATE: | SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 |
| CC: | TEACHING AND RULING ELDERS, THE SESSION, THE MISSION COMMITTEE AND CONGREGATION-AT-LARGE |
Please forward this message from Sara Lisherness, Interim Director, World Mission, to Teaching and Ruling Elders, the Session, the Mission Committee and Congregation-At-Large as appropriate. Thank you.
Greetings from Presbyterian World Mission!
Thank you for your prayers and your gifts in support of Presbyterian World Mission and our mission co-workers. Daily we are reminded how the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our lives and the lives of people and communities around the world. The Presbyterian Church and its congregations along with our global partners, have felt the impacts of this deadly virus – the loss of loved ones, the anxiety of an uncertain future along with economic challenges.
The Presbyterian Mission Agency, Office of the General Assembly and our supporting Administrative Services Group, seeking to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us, have launched several cost-saving measures. As a part of these measures, we have offered voluntary separation packages to members of staff having reached certain age and length-of-service benchmarks. This generous offer has likewise been extended to mission co-workers who meet these benchmarks. Richard & Debbie Welch whom you have been supporting, has found it in their best interest to accept the package and will be leaving service in mid-September. This program is completely voluntary, none of our mission personnel are being asked to conclude their service.
We are extremely grateful for Richard & Debbie’s many years of service as a mission co-worker. Their witness to the life-giving power of the gospel has been transformative in so many ways. We will miss all that they bring to this role. Our commitment to journey in partnership with the global partners with whom Richard & Debbie served does not end with the conclusion their service. Together we will find new ways of continuing our journey together.
Your support of Richard & Debbie’s and the ministry they have engaged in on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) has enabled your church to journey with our global partners in accordance with the apostolic call to be ‘witnesses to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). We invite your continuing support of the global witness of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.), and our ongoing journey with our global partners.
On behalf of all of World Mission, I invite you to pray for our colleagues, who are choosing to conclude their service, our church and our global partners, as we continue to share the Love of Christ in this constantly changing and unpredictable time.
As we all move forward, may we discover the truth of the gospel promise that new life awaits us all.
In the hope of the gospel,
Sara Lisherness
Interim Director,
Presbyterian World Mission
Bellow please find an invitation for a virtual farewell gathering for Richard & Debbie Welch hosted by Mr. Sy Hughes of the Mission Engagement and Support team. Please join all of us in wishing Richard & Debbie every blessing for the future.
When: Sep 22, 2020 09:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIsduurpzgiHt0p36V7kFcrnV_kK8vQjx8n
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
In Christ,
Sy