The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 p.m. on 18 March 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 reading in unison of the WPC Mission Statement and a devotional and prayer by A.Denson.

Associate Pastors B.Berghaus and P.Ransford were present.

Elders F.Anton, K.Bunch, B.Cunningham, A.Denson, N.Gaddis, J.Graham, J.Jones, S.Landis, M.T. Peters, S.Pottenger, S.Ruffing and D.Wellemeyer were present. 

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

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

WPC member Tully Fletcher was present.

The Moderator declared a quorum present.

MEETING WITH TULLY FLETCHER:

Tully Fletcher, a senior at Columbia Theological Seminary, is beginning the process of becoming a candidate for ordination and the first step is to be endorsed by the Session.  Tully plans to meet with the Committee on Preparation for Ministry May 3, 2007.  He will be presented at Presbytery July 17, 2007 to seek officially to become a candidate at that time. Tully will also preach at WPC on June 10, 2007.

Motion:  A motion to endorse Tully Fletcher as a candidate in the ordination process was made, seconded and approved.

MINUTES:

D.Derr reported that minutes from the Retreat and Stated Session Meeting on January 19-21, 2007, the Called Session Meeting on January 28, 2007, the Congregational Meeting on February 18, 2007, and the Stated Session Meeting on February 18, 2007 were not complete.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Renewal of Charters for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts

D.Derr stated that he has not received any documents as of yet; discussion as to t WPC’s desire to continue this relationship.

Motion:  A motion approving the Renewal of Charters for WPC Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts was made, seconded and approved.

Baptisms:

Motion:  A motion authorizing the baptism of Caroline Joy Yurkutat and Anna Grace Yurkutat, daughters of Bobby and Barbara Yurkutat, on May 20, 2007 was made, seconded and approved.

Dismissal:

Motion:  A motion dismissing Robin and Doug Brown to First Presbyterian Church, Dalton, GA was made, seconded and approved.

Early C.E. and Worship Center at Union/PSCE

B. Berghaus spoke about a campaign underway for the Early C.E. and Worship Center at Union/PSCE.  She stated that the seminary is redoing the library and that a speaker from Union/PSCE would like to talk with the Session about this project/campaign.  It was noted that the speaker would be invited to Session’s Stated Meeting on April 15, 2007.

Older Adult Ministries’ Outstanding Older Adult Awards

J.Walchenbach suggested that the Session review the packet from Presbytery of New Hope and come up with names of members from our congregation that could be honored with this award.  Suggestion was made to e-mail names to D.Derr so the names would be available in next Session packet for discussion.

OLD BUSINESS

Annual Review of Rolls of WPC

A draft letter from J.Walchenbach was distributed to the Session.  This letter would be mailed to people on a list which consists of young families raised in this church and have gone elsewhere.  Letter states….. “we are preparing for a new pastor…updating our membership rolls…….what would you like your membership status to be?”

Motion:  A motion approving J.Walchenbach’s letter with minor edits was made, seconded and approved.

February 24, 2007 Presbytery Meeting

F. Anton stated that meeting was a success and everything went well.  D.Wellemeyer attended the meeting and he commented on two issues from the meeting: “there were some amendments to the Book of Order”; and “there were petitions and overtures from various churches regarding the Presbytery’s stand regarding homosexuals….the Presbytery agreed that all requests would be set aside for later discussion.”

Church Audit:

S.Landis said she is still waiting to talk to Rosenmarkles about audit offering issues. F.Anton is working on issues regarding Friday Night Teen policies. A.Denson is discussing liability waiver for church activities with Ralph McCaughan. N.Gaddis discussed security needs.  He and C. V. Connor visited First Presbyterian Church to discuss their security system.  N.Gaddis and C. V. Connor will put together a security model of all three buildings for the staff to review.  N.Gaddis and C. V. Connor will continue to work on the hardware portion of the security system.  J.Jones said security system needs to be “user-friendly” so that staff will want to use it. With the numerous discussions of audit issues, J. Graham suggested that a “chart” of audit issues be created so that the Session can keep track of what is complete and what is still pending.

REPORTS

Ways and Means:  (J. Graham) The draft minutes of the Ways and Means Commission meeting on March 14, 2007 and Financial Statements for February 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.  Dorene Palermo will attend next Ways and Means meeting.  Regarding personnel issues, J.Graham stated that Don Heagren thinks most items on audit are taken care of; J. Graham thinks new Personnel Committee will want to take care of some items themselves on the audit.  There are two upcoming situations in which money may be needed: J.Walchenbach may need secretarial help in the future; and there may be a need for a dedicated position in charge of babysitting activities.  Regarding the preschool – “everything okay”. The cabin is being finished. 

Fellowship:  (D.Wellemeyer) Lenten lunch went well.  No other report.

Global Missions:  (F.Anton) The draft minutes of the Global Missions Committee meeting on February 14, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.  The Global Missions Committee has agreed to give $600 to Dot Borden to support Stop Hunger Now in Tanzania.  Sometime in the future, Global Missions would like to speak to the Session about financial support of missionaries.  It was mentioned that Westminster is one of the largest contributors to our missionary, Don Wehmeyer.

Education/Kindergarten: (M.T. Peters) The minutes of the Christian Education Commission meeting on February 20, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. No report. Meets next Tuesday.

Sanctuary Guild: (J.Jones) A date will be scheduled to clean the sanctuary.

Youth Council:  (S.Landis) The minutes of the Youth Council meeting on February 11, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. Youth have been busy.  There has been a ski trip and a shelter meal served.  The youth cleaned up after the Presbytery meeting and the babysitting fundraiser night was held, with good results.  The youth continue to raise money for the Mexico Mission Trip.  The Valentine’s Dance raised $700.00.  The silent auction fundraiser will be held on April 22, and is a Mexican theme.

Assimilation:  (S.Pottenger) An email of assimilation news was distributed via the Session Packet mailing. No report. Met Thursday night.

Seminarians:  (B.Cunningham) Ester Acolatse is moving toward eventual ordination. 

Worship:  (K.Bunch) The minutes of the Worship Commission meeting on February 25, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. Communion will be celebrated on April 1, 2007 and during Maundy Thursday Service with Elder responsibilities as follows: (8:30) S. Pottenger; (11:00) M.T.Peters on April 1 and S.Ruffing on Maundy Thursday.  The wedding committee chair has stepped down and committee is in the process of looking for and then training new wedding chair.  The guidelines for communion have been rewritten (6^th person available to replenish bread).   J.Walchenbach stated that for this year’s Easter service, it was decided at the staff retreat to change the service and there will be no black-outed windows.

Transition Committee: (D.Wellemeyer) The Transition Committee’s 22 February 2007 meeting minutes and 8 March 2007 meeting agenda, including a list of matters referred to date by the Session, were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points were summarized.  The committee has now begun work on all matters referred to date by the Session.  The committee is scheduled to meet again on Sunday 25 March 2007 at 6:00 PM to finalize plans for WPC Self-Study events.

Also distributed via the Session Packet were a written charter and proposed staffing plan for the Transition Committee dated 4 March 2007; a written report entitled “Recommendations Regarding WPC Personnel Committee Organization” and dated 5 March 2007, including a written charter for the Personnel Committee dated 12 March 2007; and a written report entitled “Recommended Plan for WPC Self-Study” and dated 12 March 2007.

Transition Committee:

The written charter and proposed staffing plan for the Transition Committee was corrected to reflect the addition of Mitch Dozier as an At-large member.  A copy of the corrected document was delivered to the Clerk.

Recommendation: The Transition Committee moves that the Session approve the written charter and proposed staffing plan for the Transition Committee dated 4 March 2007, as corrected.

Action:  Approved.

Personnel:

Recommendation:  The Transition Committee moves that the Session adopt the “Recommendations Regarding WPC Personnel Committee Organization”, including a written charter for the Personnel Committee, as submitted.

Motion:  A motion to amend the motion to adopt the recommendation, including the written charter with the following changes: reduce number of committee members to three-five including ex-officio and to delete term limits was made, seconded and approved.

Motion:  A motion to adopt the recommendation as amended was made, seconded and approved.

Motion:  A motion to move Personnel Committee from the Ways and Means Commission to the as a committee of the Session Committee was made, seconded and approved.

Motion:  A motion that B.Cunningham be the Elder Representative on the Personnel Committee was made, seconded and approved.

Self-Study: 

Recommendation:  The Transition Committee moves that the Session adopt the “Recommended Plan for WPC Self-Study” dated 12 March 2007, and charge the Transition Committee to carry out the plan, including events proposed for May 6, 2007.

Action:  Approved.

K.Bunch and J.Graham have a proposed draft of outline of new pastor selection process to present to Sunday School classes beginning on April 1, 2007. S.Landis agreed to do the presentation for the youth group.  The presentation will give a timeline of the selection process and the flow of events, etc.  There will be church-wide events to provide updates during the selection process. 

Clerk of Session Replacement:

The Session was reminded that the matter of replacing the Clerk of Session at the end of the current church year, as previously requested by the Clerk, was referred to the Transition Committee for action at the Session’s stated meeting in January 2007.  S. Ruffing has begun the process of identifying Elders who would serve if called and who also possess the basic skills required.

Diaconate:  (B.Berghaus) The minutes of the Diaconate meeting on February 11, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. Easter offering will go to the Durham Crisis Response Center’s program. 

Recommendation:  The Diaconate moves that the Session authorize a fundraiser with a goal of $10,000 to assist in building a Habitat for Humanity Home with Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Action:  Approved.

Congregational Care:  (F.Anton) No report

Local Missions:  (A.Denson) No report.

Nominating:  (A.Denson) The 2007 Nominating Committee does have a slate for the Session, but has not completed a slate for the Diaconate.

Inquirer’s Class:  (S.Pottenger) No report.

Other Business:  F.Anton stated that Session is responsible for the Community Shelter meal on the fourth Tuesday (August 8) in August, 2007.

NEW BUSINESS:  Deferred until April, 2007 Stated meeting.

STAFF REPORTS:  Deferred until April, 2007 Stated meeting.

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS:

Remembrance and sympathy: Judy Everly’s father died; Ralph Shore died and Richard Draffin’s brother died.

Concern: Carl Humphries continues treatment.

The Session’s current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with a prayer by N. Gaddis at 8:15 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted,

Dailey J. Derr                                                                                                         Jack Walchenbach

Clerk of Session                                                                                                     Moderator

S031807 Stated