About Us

Westminster Presbyterian Church of Tiburon, California is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination. PC(USA) is governed by councils, which exist to help congregations and the church as a whole be more faithful participants in the mission of Christ. The councils of the church are the Session, the Presbytery, the Synod and the highest governing body, the General Assembly. The Session is the leadership council for our congregation and is composed of ruling elders, elected by the congregation to active service, as well as all installed pastors (also called teaching elders). The Session's main responsibilities, together with teaching elders, are to exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment and discipline and have responsibilities for the life the congregation as well as to the whole church.

 September 5, 2017 Press Releasefrom PC(USA)  "Stated Clerk condemns president's decision to end DACA program":  Link to the article at Link to the article at http://www.pcusa.org/news/2017/9/5/pcusa-stated-clerk-condemns-presidents-decision-en/ 

 The Presbytery of the Redwoods is the regional body of the Synod of the Pacific and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is comprised of 52 congregations, 5,922 congregational members, and 151 minister members. The geographical boundaries stretch along the northern California coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including the counties of Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Lake, Mendocino, and Humboldt. In the midst of diversity and differences within our Presbytery, we respect and carry out our individual ministries and support our shared mission as a presbytery. Westminster Presbyterian Church does not receive any funding from the Presbytery, the Synod, or the denomination, PC(USA).

Excerpt from letter received Oct. 19, 2017 from the Rev. Bob Conover, Stated Clerk, Presbytery of the Redwoods, www.redwoodspresbytery.org

Dear Friends,

Today I spoke with Cindy Alloway (Roses), Dale Flowers (First Santa Rosa), and Jeff Johnson (The Cove). .......to get an assessment of current needs. Where are things right now in Santa Rosa, the place most severely impacted by fires? I spoke with all of them individually and all of them told me the very same things:

1) We do not need more material donations. We are over-whelmed with generosity and have more than the donation sites can manage.

2) We do not need more volunteers. Certainly, there are those with very specific skills that are needed, but for most of us, our skills and resources can be better used in other ways--see No. 4 below.

3) We do not need more pastoral/spiritual caregivers. The broad religious/spiritual community within the area is responding in exemplary ways. They know their communities the best and will extend invitations if more help is needed. 

4) What we REALLY need is housing. Certainly, for those displaced, but also for the construction workers from outside the area who are going to be desperately needed. One idea "floating around" is creating space for motor homes on church property. Jeff Johnson is among those developing this idea. Maybe this is one place where we could collectively offer support. Maybe we could find presbytery funds to help create the necessary infrastructure to make this a reality?

5).... We REALLY need financial contributions. All funds donated through Redwoods Presbytery, or to our individual congregations, will go to those who have little or no other financial resources. We want to, and will, care for everyone. Our hearts go out to those who have plenty just as much to those who have very little. This time and place grief-filled for all. Period. We will do all we can to ensure that our contributions go to the very least among us. This is the Gospel.

.... Pam Novelly, our interim pastor for the Windsor congregation, shared the following quotation...... from Henri Nouwen and it powerfully summarizes the work we are doing in Redwoods, even before the fires. Indeed, in summarizes who we are:

To listen is very hard, because it asks of us so much interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves by speeches, arguments, statements, or declarations. True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known. They are free to receive, to welcome, to accept.Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings. The beauty of listening is that, those who are listened to start feeling accepted, start taking their words more seriously and discovering their own true selves. Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.

We have approximately 80+ church families in Redwoods Presbytery who have lost their homes. Fifty-six of those are from First Presbyterian Church, Santa Rosa. There are many others who have lost income and businesses. We are here not only for our own; we are here for all. "For God so loved the world." The world is our family. The world is God's family. We know this in Redwoods.

Last Sunday, an elder who has served Redwoods in very powerful ways and who lost absolutely everything in the fire, came to me. He put both hands on my shoulders, looked me squarely in my eyes and said, "Bob, I am going to be fine." My eyes were filled with tears. His eyes were filled with hope.

Thank you all for your faith and ministry. Thanks be to God. With love, Bob Conover