The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:08 p.m. on 19 March 2006 in room 105 of the WPC Mission Center.  The Acting Moderator, P.Ransford, was present and called the meeting to order and it was opened with a devotional and a prayer by N.Gaddis.

Pastor H.Holderness and Associate Pastor B.Berghaus were absent and excused.

Elders F.Anton, B.Derr, A.Denson, D.Elvers, N.Gaddis, J.Graham, B.Nicoll, M.T.Peters and D.Wellemeyer were present. Elders C.Haynes, J.Jones and S.Landis were absent and excused.

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

Clerk of Session D.Derr was present.

 The Acting Moderator declared a quorum present.

 OLD BUSINESS:

 Presbyterian Campus Ministry at UNC-CH

 Motion: A motion approving the Covenant Agreement Of The Presbyterian Campus Ministry Board of Chapel Hill, Inc. among it and the five sponsoring Presbyterian Churches, including WPC revised and approved August 16, 2005 was made, seconded and approved.

 Commemoration of the Moderator’s Pastorate and Service

A.Denson, B.Derr, J.Graham, D.Wellemeyer and B.Fletcher reported on the planning for the commemoration of the Moderator’s Pastorate and Service that includes an all-church luncheon after the 11:00 worship service on June 18, 2006, a semi-formal reception in the WPC sanctuary on the evening of June 24, 2006, and a cookies and lemonade gathering after the 11:00 worship service on June 25, 2006.  The Ways and Means Commission has created a line item in the WPC 2006 Operating Budget for tracking contributions made to the commemoration.

 Recommends: That the Session authorize the sending of a letter to the congregation about the commemoration events and the opportunity to contribute financially to the commemoration.

 Action: Approved.

 NEW BUSINESS:

 Election of Treasurer

 Motion: A motion electing B.Fletcher as treasurer of WPC for the term of one year was made, seconded and approved.

 MINUTES:

The minutes of the called meeting of the session on January 15, 2006, the called meeting on the session on February 5, 2006, the called meeting on the session on March 5, 2006, the called meeting on the session on March 12, 2006 were distributed. 

 COMMISSION REPORTS:

 Ways and Means: (D.Wellemeyer) The minutes of the Ways and Means Committee meeting on February 8, 2006 and Financial Statements for February 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points in them were summarized. J.Graham met with John Atkins and talked about the $51,000 surplus in 2005 and that $5,000 of that is being directed to the Diaconate for an item cut in the WPC 2006 Operating Budget.  The remaining $46,000 will be in a reserve status pending a decision on what to do with it.  J.Graham will be the Chair of Ways and Means next year and he is working on budget related issues and dealing with Presbytery, particularly about the big unknown for next year of compensation for an interim pastor.  D.Wellemeyer will remain on Ways and Means as an at-large member next year.  

 Fellowship: (D.Derr) According to an email from C.Haynes, Bill McAvoy is coordinating the Lenten lunch hosted by WPC for April 5. 

 Inquirers-Candidates:  (D.Derr) According to an email from C.Haynes, Esther Acolatse and Tully Fletcher were welcomed as Candidates for ordained ministry at the March 2, 2006, meeting of the Presbytery Committee on Preparation for Ministry.  B.Fletcher corrected as to Tully that he was welcomed as an Inquirer rather than as a Candidate. 

Global Missions: (F.Anton) They are very excited about the good turn-out for Bread for the World – Offering of Letters Sunday on February 26. 

 Education/Kindergarten:  (M.T.Peters) The minutes of the Christian Education Committee meetings on January 17, 2006 were distributed at the meeting. They will be meeting Tuesday evening.  The theme for vacation church school, which is scheduled for June 19-23, 2006, is “Wilderness Bound” and four other churches will be participating with WPC.  P.Berghaus and N.Rozak are teaching a six-week Lenten Bible study.  There are eighteen Confirmands who are meeting with their mentors in preparation for their meeting with the Session in a called meeting on April 30, 2006, at 4 p.m.

 Worship: (D.Elvers) The minutes of the Worship Committee meetings on March 5, 2006 were distributed at the meeting.  Communion will be celebrated on April 2, 2006 with Elder responsibilities as follows: C.Haynes (8:30), S.Landis (11:00) and on April 13, 2006 in the Maundy Thursday service D.Elvers is the responsible Elder. 

The tentative preaching for the Sundays beginning with July 2 – September 3, 2006 has P.Berghaus and P.Ransford with four Sundays each and a supply pastor for two Sundays.  There may be a need for Elders to serve as liturgists during the time before an Interim Pastor is on board at WPC.  Elders requested that they be provided training on how to prepare and serve as liturgists and P.Ransford said he would be glad to lead a gathering of possible liturgists. 

There was discussion about how the Session should proceed regarding the selection of an Interim Pastor.  The options include a number of Elders, the entire Session, members of the congregation appointed by the Session or a committee of Elders and members of the congregation.  There was a suggestion that there be a called session meeting in a retreat format to deal more extensively with defining and addressing the issues and preparing for the search for an Interim Pastor. 

 Although nothing official can occur before H.Holderness has retired, the process of assembling names, calling Presbytery leaders, pastors and other networking contacts can be started now so that a list of persons can be assembled.  D.Elvers was asked if he would be willing to at least initially lead the efforts in this regard.  D.Wellemeyer suggested that we should confirm with Lori Pistor to get her suggestions, directions, etc. 

 The typical ways of selecting a Pastor Nominating Committee would be for the Session to put together a slate or for the existing Nominating Committee to put together a slate. 

 The sense of the Session was that it needs to be thinking about and addressing the gathering of names and the ways of making known the need for an Interim Pastor after June 30, 2006 and putting together compensation packages and other administrative tasks, but that the process should not be hurried. 

 D.Elvers is willing to go ahead during the next three weeks to contact churches and individuals who have recently been involved in the selection and calling of an Interim Pastor and ask about the pros and cons of the experiences involved in this, including the size and nature of committees and any other information that might be helpful in moving forward.

 Youth Liaison:  (P.Ransford) The minutes of the Youth Council meeting on February 19, 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and for the meeting on March 12, 2006 as an attachment to an email from S.Landis dated March 14, 2006.  Tremendous turn-out for the Crop Walk today by WPC and especially by its youth. 

 Assimilation: (B.Derr) There will not be an Alive Fair this year.  The coffee – orange juice gathering in the parlor after the worship services on Sunday needs to be better promoted and attended. 

 Nominations: (D.Elvers) The committee is continuing with its search for candidates for its slate of Elders and Deacons to be elected.

 OTHER MATTERS:

 People Needing Session Attention

 People to Contact

 Neal Bramson and Nancy Thomas

Robert Crumpler

Harriett Henderson

Linda Hylander

Helen Monson

Chris Paul and Danielle Hudson

Dan and Bonna Robbins

Howard Ross

Jim and Susan Thompson

Tom and Terri Tolley

Nancy Walden

Karen Wells

Geoffrey and Christie Zawtocki

 

Elders Making Calls

 M.T.Peters

N.Gaddis

F.Anton

A.Denson

B.Derr

F.Anton

D.Wellemeyer

N.Gaddis

J.Graham

M.T.Peters

J.Graham

D.Wellemeyer

M.T.Peters