The Congregation of Westminster Presbyterian Church ("WPC") convened for a called meeting at 12:15 p.m. on 22 January 2006 in the WPC Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 Worship Service. After those present had enjoyed lunch together, Moderator H.Holderness called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, appointed D.Derr to serve as clerk and it was opened with a prayer by B.Berghaus.
The Moderator said that the meeting had been called by the Session in order that the Congregation might hear reports of the Session, the Diaconate, the Ways and Means Committee and the WPC 2005 Nominating Committee.
Report of Session
D.Derr, Clerk of the Session, reported that 2005 was a very good year for WPC. More members are now serving on committees and sub-committees and involved in other ways. The ninety page report of the responses of approximately three hundred members to the Congregational Questionnaire was the agenda for the 2006 Session Retreat. Each area covered in the Congregational Questionnaire was considered in a very careful, thoughtful, and prayerful examination of the affirmations and concerns expressed by the members. Applicable information and guidance is already being shared with committees and other work groups as is pertinent to them, so enhancement of activities and programs may begin. WPC has begun the transition in pastoral leadership and the largely positive and affirming results of the Congregational Questionnaire are indicative that WPC is very strong with a solid base and is in the best condition it ever has been.
Report of Diaconate
Elena Cleary, Moderator of the Diaconate, reported that the Diaconate has had a very
busy and productive year building a sense of team among leaders of WPC and organizing its
work and missions for taking on new responsibilities including assimilation, fellowship and
global missions. The Diaconate responsibilities are divided into five committee-based categories:
Assimilation, Fellowship, Congregational Care, Local Missions and Global Missions. A focus
has to encourage and enhance opportunities for more congregational involvement and to identify
how that involvement can be encouraged and then recruited. Deacon Mission Days have been
very successful and meaningful for the participants. The keys to a successful Mission Day are
Report of Ways and Means Committee
D.Wellemeyer, Chair of the WPC Ways and Means Committee, summarized the results of the Stewardship Campaign and the approved 2006 Operating Budget. He also reported on the changes in terms of call for the WPC Pastors distributed prior to the beginning of the meeting approved by the Ways and Means Commission and the Session and recommends that the Congregation approve them.
Action: The attached changes in terms of call for the WPC Pastors were approved unanimously by the Congregation.
Report of WPC 2005 Nominating Committee
The Moderator then explained that the report of the 2005 Nominating Committee presents the names of individuals who have been nominated (and have consented) to serve on the 2006 Nominating Committee along with Elder D.Elvers, Chair of the WPC 2006 Nominating Committee, Elder A.Denson and Deacon Michael Reich elected by the Diaconate. They are to nominate officers to be elected as Elders and as Deacons by the Congregation later this spring. B.Derr, Chair of the WPC 2005 Nominating Committee, reported that the nominations for the four-at large members are Elizabeth Aldridge, Bill Bartholomay, Mitch Dozier and Sue McCaughan and recommended that they be elected. The Moderator then asked if there were any additional nominations to be offered from the floor and no additional nominations were made.
Action: Elizabeth Aldridge, Bill Bartholomay, Mitch Dozier and Sue McCaughan were elected by acclamation as the four at-large members of the WPC 2006 Nominating Committee.
The business for which the called meeting had been called having been completed, the Moderator adjourned the meeting, and it was closed with a prayer by P.Ransford at 1:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Dailey J. Derr Haywood D. Holderness, Jr.
Clerk Moderator