The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:05 p.m. on 18 February 2007 in room 105 of the Holderness Mission Center.  The Moderator, J.Walchenbach, was present and called the meeting to order and it was opened with a devotional and a prayer by K.Bunch.

Associate Pastor B.Berghaus was present. Associate Pastor P.Ransford was absent and excused.

Elders F.Anton, K.Bunch, A.Denson, J.Graham, J.Jones, M.T.Peters. S.Ruffing and D.Wellemeyer were present. Elders S.Landis and S.Pottenger were absent and excused, but were present for latter portion of the meeting. Elders B.Cunningham and N.Gaddis were absent and excused.

WPC staff members B.Fletcher and N.Rozak were present.

Clerk of Session D.Derr and Assistant to Clerk of Session Tracy Fletcher were present.

Elder Howard Pedersen and Members of the current Inquirers’ Class hereinafter identified were also present.

The Moderator declared a quorum present.

MINUTES:

Clerk D.Derr reported that the minutes of the Retreat and Stated Session Meeting on January 19-21, 2007; the Called Session Meeting on January 28, 2007 and the Congregational Meeting on February 18, 2007 were not ready yet.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Dismissal: 

Motion:  A motion dismissing Lore Wilkinson to University Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, NC was made, seconded and approved.

Cub Scout Pack 451 Request to Hold Yard Sale

The Session received a request from John Chase, Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 451, for permission for the pack to hold a Spring yard sale in the WPC Fellowship Hall to benefit the elementary school it has partnered with in San Ramon, Nicaragua.

Motion:  A motion authorizing Cub Scout Pack 451 to hold a Spring yard sale in the WPC Fellowship Hall to benefit the elementary school it has partnered with in San Ramon, Nicaragua on a suitable date was made, seconded and approved.

The Gideons International

J. Walchenbach received a request from the Gideons asking to speak at the March 4, 2007 worship service. M.T.Peters said that the Women’s Retreat is speaking during Minute for Mission on that same date. 

Motion:  A motion authorizing The Gideons International local camp to speak at a worship service on a suitable date other than March 4, 2007 made, seconded and approved.

OLD BUSINESS:     

Annual Review of Rolls of WPC

D.Derr will email the prospective letter to possible inactive members drafted by B.Berghaus for review and comment.

February 24, 2007 Presbytery Meeting

F.Anton stated that everything is in good shape.   She will be getting the final number of attendees at the Committee Meeting on Monday, February 19.  Although it is relying on help from the College of Elders, the Fellowship Committee, the Worship Commission, the Youth and the Choir, it is continuing to seek volunteers to help with the Presbytery Meeting.  Money from the offering during the Presbytery Meeting will go towards IHN. 

Church Audit

Ways and Means (J.Graham) The minutes of the Ways and Means Commission meeting on January 17, 2007 and Financial Statements for January 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. Regarding the technical (computer -hardware/software) section of the audit, J.Graham has spoken with Dorene Palermo and she has agreed to join the Ways & Means Committee for a period of one year to assist in finding the right person(s) to manage the technical aspects of the church, while also looking for someone to relieve her of her technical duties. 

Motion:  A motion appointing Dorene Palermo to Ways and Means Commission was made, seconded and approved.

J.Graham reported on discussion that had occurred at Ways and Means Commission meeting this past week about the Personnel Committee and the direction it should go. D.Wellemeyer said that the Session needs to become committed to making a decision on what the Session expects from the Personnel Committee. He also said that the Audit findings showed an indication of things we should be looking at to prepare for the future and to prepare for WPC’s growth.  There was a suggestion to review guidelines that assist churches with setting up committees. The sense of the Session is to move towards forming the Personnel Committee.  Don Heagren has asked to speak at the staff retreat this month. J.Walchenbach offered to talk with the staff at the staff retreat regarding findings of the audit.

Motion: A motion that J.Walchenbach speak with the staff at the staff retreat this month; to allow D. Heagren to speak with the staff at the staff retreat and for D.Wellemeyer to construct a proposal for restructuring the role of the Personnel Committee Chair and Committee and then for the Session to decide how to proceed was made, seconded and approved.

COMMISSION AND OTHER REPORTS:

Worship: (K.Bunch) Communion will be celebrated on March 4, 2007 with Elder responsibilities as follows: (8:30) D.Wellemeyer; (11:00) S.Ruffing.

Transition: (D.Wellemeyer) He is forming the Transition Committee.  He has a goal of twelve members, but is starting with the following eight members:  Elena Cleary,

B.Cunningham, B.Nicoll, M.Pickard, S.Ruffing, D.Wellemeyer, D.Derr and

S.Landis.

Education/Kindergarten:  (M.T.Peters) The minutes of the Christian Education Commission meeting on January 23, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

Diaconate:  (B. Berghaus) The minutes of the Diaconate on January 28, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

Youth Council: (S. Landis) The minutes of the Youth Council meetings on January 14 and on February 11, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

NEW BUSINESS:

Scheduling Congregational meetings for nominations and election of Elders and Deacons

Motion: A motion that Congregational Meetings for the purpose of nominating new church officers, Elders and Deacons and for receiving nominations from the floor,  be held on Sunday, April 15, 2007 and for further nominations from the floor and electing new church officers, Elders and Deacons, be held on Sunday, April 29, 2007 was made, seconded and approved

EXAMINATION AND RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS:

Members of the Session were paired with specific participants from the current Inquirer’s Class, who expressed an interest in joining the Congregation.  After meeting with the Inquirer(s) the Elder(s) then introduced him/her.

Motion:  A motion receiving the following Inquirer’s as members of WPC by the pertinent procedures prescribed in the Book of Order was made, seconded and approved:

New Member                         Church                                     Introducer                  

Amy Bunch                         Letter of Transfer                                J. Jones

Dede and Phil                     Letter of Transfer                                 H. Pederson

    Clover                        Westside Presbyterian

                                            Ridgewood, NJ

Gayle and Paul                 Reaffirmation of Faith                              S.Landis

    Etter

Jennifer and Henry                     Reaffirmation of Faith          J. Graham

    Nicholson

Julie Ransford                             Letter of Transfer                       K. Bunch

                                                 University Presbyterian    

                                                      Chapel Hill, NC

Pat Walchenbach                          Letter of Transfer                      M.T. Peters

                                                 First Presbyterian Church

                                                 Fort Walton Beach, FL

Baptisms:

Motion: A motion authorizing the Baptisms of Jennifer Nicholson and of Mollie    Nicholson and of Claire Nicholson, daughters of Jennifer and Henry Nicholson,

on a suitable date was made, seconded and approved.

The Session's current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with a prayer by B.Berghaus at 7:44 p.m.

Dailey J. Derr                                                                                             Jack Walchenbach       

Clerk of Session                                                                                                     Moderator

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