The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a called meeting at 9:45 a.m. on 15 January 2006 in room 105 of the WPC Mission Center. The Moderator, H. Holderness, was present and called the meeting to order and it was opened with a prayer by N.Gaddis.
Associate Pastors P. Ransford and B. Berghaus were present.
Elders F.Anton, A.Denson, B.Derr, D.Elvers, N.Gaddis, J.Graham, C.Haynes, B.Nicoll and D.Wellemeyer were present. Elders J.Jones and M.T. Peters were absent and excused. Elder S.Landis was absent.
WPC staff member N. Rozak was present.
Clerk of Session D. Derr was present.
WPC Members Ester Acolatse and C. V. Conner were also present.
The Moderator declared a quorum present.
INTERVIEW OF ESTHER ACOLATSE AS APPLICANT FOR ENROLLMENT AS A CANDIDATE FOR ORDAINED MINISTRY
The Moderator reviewed with the Session the process of considering an applicant to enroll as Candidate for ordained ministry and presented Esther Acolatse to the Session. Esther shared with the Session her faith journey and desire to enroll as a Candidate for ordained ministry. She is currently a student at Duke University Divinity School pursuing a doctorate degree in pastoral theology.
Motion: A motion endorsing Esther Acolatse to be enrolled by New Hope Presbytery as a Candidate for ordained ministry was made, seconded and approved.
WPC Elder C.Haynes will continue to act as Liaison for Esther.
REQUEST FROM PRESBYTERY FOR WPC TO BE THE SITE FOR AND TO HOST PRESBYTERY MEETING ON FEBRUARY 7, 2007
D.Wellemeyer explained that he had asked C. V. Conner, Chair of the Property Management Committee of Ways and Means, to attend this meeting to address any issues and concerns about and the feasibility of using the WPC grounds for the February 7, 2007 Presbytery meeting. C. V. said WPC‘s grounds can accommodate the hosting of the meeting.
Motion: A motion that WPC provide its grounds as the site for and to host the meeting of New Hope Presbytery scheduled for February 7, 2007 was made, seconded and approved.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RETIREMENT DATE BY THE MODERATOR
The Moderator reported that he has decided to announce the actual date of his retirement, which will be around the end of June of this year, as soon as it becomes clear to him.
FORMATION OF COMMITTEE TO ORGANIZE TO COMEMORATE THE MODERATOR’S PASTORATE AND SERVICE
A.Denson asked the Moderator to excuse himself from the meeting. The Moderator then directed P.Ransford to moderate the meeting and excused himself.
A.Denson said that after the Moderator announced his retirement at the Session Retreat he had talked with most of the Elders that weekend about forming a committee to prepare for the celebration of Haywood’s retirement. After that weekend P.Ransford and D.Derr asked him to form such a committee and he then met with WPC Elders John Atkins and Sue McCaughan to begin this process. They propose having separate sections of financial to be chaired by John and event planning to be chaired by Sue. They have developed a list of names as potential committee members based on a diverse cross-section representation of the congregation. They have tentatively scheduled a first meeting for February 13, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.
Motion: A motion authorizing A.Denson to proceed with forming a committee for the Moderator’s retirement celebration divided into separate sections of financial to be chaired by John Atkins and event planning to be chaired by Sue McCaughan with each section having members based on a diverse cross-section representation of the congregation was made, seconded and approved.
CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION
Communion will be celebrated on February 5, 2006 with Elder responsibilities as follows: N.Gaddis (8:30) and A.Denson (11:00).
The Session’s current business, having been completed, the Acting Moderator, P.Ransford, declared the meeting adjourned and closed it with an adjourning prayer at 10:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dailey J. Derr Haywood D. Holderness, Jr.
Clerk of the Session Moderator
S011506 Called