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Westminster’s mission program is shaped by the interaction of several factors as we pursue the goals of our Mission Statement to do God’s work within our church community, in our neighborhood, and in the world beyond.

As a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Westminster supports mission efforts of the General Assembly, the Synod of the Northeast, and the Albany Presbytery through an annual budget item that comprises about half of our total mission funds.  The church also participates in the four special offerings of PCUSA.

In its budget, Westminster supports various cooperative groups at the local/regional level including FOCUS, the Capital Area Council of Churches, and ARISE, as well as agencies and ministries that address needs that are of priority to us.  Shelters for the homeless, feeding programs for the hungry, and programs that enrich the lives of children in the city are among the types of programs we support through benevolences and volunteer efforts of church members.

On a broader scope, we support agencies that operate on an international level in the Middle East, Africa, and other troubled areas bringing aid to the hurting and spreading the hope of peace.

An important part of Westminster’s responsibility in mission is to assist members in living out their own callings to serve God and to have those callings in turn influence the course of mission at Westminster.  One way this happens through a “permission-giving” approach where members are invited to organize small groups to deal with needs they feel called to address.  When a viable project is developed, the church can provide support as needed.  Another way the church has assisted individuals in their callings is by supporting personal mission trips.  Finally, to assist members in finding ways to express their faith, the church will announce appeals throughout the year asking for contributions of time or money for a number of purposes.  Perhaps there will too many appeals in the minds of some.  But these appeals are not made in the expectation that everyone will respond to every program.  Rather, they are made in the hope that each member may find something of meaning from the menu of opportunities.

Finally, one arena where the challenges of mission are discussed is the Mission Committee.  The Mission Committee is charged by the Session with disbursing benevolences from discretionary funds that are budgeted each year and to assist members in mission project development.  The meetings of the Committee, and membership in the Committee, are open to all who attend Westminster.  We meet the fourth Monday of the month at 7:00PM in the Welles Room. 

Click here to see a list of some of the organizations we annually support