Westminster celebrates four decades

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers SIGN OF THE TIMES—Celeste Gosnell of Westlake Village and Yolande Brizendine of Agoura Hills lead the band in a groovy song during the Westminster Presbyterian Church's 40th anniversary celebration last Saturday evening. The church was formed in the 1960s, so members celebrated with live '60s music, a car show, costumes and a memory wall. The members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westlake Village had plenty to celebrate last weekend as they marked the 40th anniversary since the congregation formed with about 160 charter members. Today they number 1,200.

Members commemorated the 1968 founding of the church by hosting a 1960s-themed party dubbed "Celebrating Our Roots in the '60s." Participants wore period clothing, danced to the music of the era and enjoyed a vintage car show. A memory wall featured photos and news articles about the church. About 700 people attended the party and commemorative services on Sun. Nov. 16.

Roger Ellis, who joined Westminster in 1969, credited founding pastor Dr. Robert Bos with establishing and building the church. In 1968 Bos walked through Westlake Village, knocking on doors to invite residents to join his new congregation. About 160 charter members initially met at White Oak Elementary School before the purchase of the 2.5-acre property where the church now stands at 32111 Watergate Road.

"Bob Bos is a very effective guy. The Bos family is what made it all go, and we all circulated around and worked with them as they built the church," Ellis said. "The ministers, that's what churches are built around, what makes them grow."

Bos and his wife, Carol, a former Conejo Valley Unified School District teacher, live in a pastor retirement village in Pasadena.

Current pastor, the Rev. Richard Thompson who succeeded Bos about 13 years ago, is described by Westminster member Bob Michaud as "dynamic." Michaud credits Thompson with the church's many missions in Mexico, Haiti, Kenya and other countries.

"Westminster is a very exciting place to be because of Richard Thompson," Michaud said.

The church is known for several ongoing activities, including feeding and housing the homeless in the Conejo Valley; the annual Bethlehem Experience, a recreation of the night of Jesus Christ's birth, and summer youth missions to help less fortunate communities. It is also renowned for its award-winning preschool, Michaud said.

"Everybody who has kids in Westlake Village has sent their kids to that preschool," Michaud said. "At one time the preschool was the second largest in the state. It has received all kinds of awards."

Janet Robertson, her husband, Scott, and son Jeff joined Westminster after moving to Oak Park from West Los Angeles 13 years ago. The family especially appreciated and enjoyed the family activities, Janet Robertson said. Jeff was in kindergarten at the time and loved going to church.

"We went once and fell in love with the openness, the welcoming atmosphere and the children's programs," said Robertson, who served for three years as an elder and for three years as a deacon. "I think our kids' programs are what draw the majority of people to Westminster. When your children ask to go to church, that's what every parent wants."

Though Jeff is now in college, Robertson is still involved in family oriented activities at the church. On a recent Saturday, eight mothers gathered in the church kitchen and baked 43 dozen cookies to send to 43 Westminster college students.

"It was so much fun," Robertson said. "The church really works at fostering the family feeling."

Ellis was on the development committee that oversaw construction of the church in the early 1970s. When the building was completed and ready to host services, Ellis went to city hall to obtain an occupancy permit.

"The city said, 'Your contractor has not paid subcontractors, so you don't get your occupancy permit.' Somehow I talked them into it," Ellis said.

The church has undergone several remodels and additions over the years. A master plan was created in the late 1990s that divided construction into three phases. The first phase included the demolition of the one-story adult education building and the fellowship hall. The buildings were rebuilt as twostory structures providing about 18,000 square feet. A 3,000square-foot youth center was also built as a meeting place for junior and senior high school students.

The two other phases, which have not yet begun, include building a new, two-story preschool building in place of the existing one-story facility and adding a balcony, bell tower and two-story administrative offices to the sanctuary building.

"The whole thing that we will have created is a courtyard-style facility with a large courtyard wrapping around the perimeter in a Mediterranean style," said Michaud, who is on the remodeling committee and has been a church member for 14 years.

The church will continue to offer a variety of programming designed for all ages, said Julie Sexton, director of congregational life.

"Westminster really brings people together," Sexton said. "It's a wonderful place."