December 2025 Leadership Council Highlights

The Leadership Council of the Presbytery of Des Moines met on December 10. Highlights of the meeting:

• The Personnel Commission has updated job descriptions for the shared executives and the revisions have been approved by all three presbyteries.
• There was extensive discussion about the “listening sessions” in the first quarter of 2026 seeking input regarding the possible unification of the three presbyteries. The 2025 Moderators of the three Councils are recording a video to provide context for the sessions; this will be made available to churches to share at annual meetings and to start each listening session. At least two members of the 2026 Leadership Council will be in attendance at each session to listen, answer questions, take notes, and report back to the full Council. Initially, there will be two Zoom listening sessions and three in-person sessions at locations throughout the presbytery. Specific dates, times and locations will be determined and publicized as soon as possible.
• Responsibilities of members of the Leadership Council during 2026 were previewed. Representatives will be needed to serve on discernment teams addressing areas of administration, communication and mission values as the possibility of uniting the presbyteries is explored. Liaisons to committees will be working with their counterparts from the other presbyteries to consider how functions may be joined.
• Members of the three Councils will all be meeting via Zoom in January to share progress and evaluate next steps in the discernment process.
• Recognizing the need for continuity, Linda Curtis-Stolper will continue to be involved in most Leadership Council meetings after her term as Moderator of Leadership Council concludes.