The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 p.m.
on 20 May 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 B.Cunningham.
Associate Pastors B.Berghaus and P.Ransford were present.
Elders F.Anton, K.Bunch, B.Cunningham, A.Denson, N.Gaddis, J.Graham, S.Landis, J.Jones, S.Pottenger, and S.Ruffing were present. Elders M.T.Peters and D.Wellemeyer were absent and excused.
WPC staff member B.Fletcher was present.
Clerk of Session D.Derr and Assistant to Clerk of Session T.Fletcher were present.
The Moderator declared a quorum present.
MINUTES:
D.Derr reported that the minutes of the Retreat and Stated Session Meeting on January 19-21, 2007, Called Session Meeting on January 28, 2007, Congregational Meeting on February 18, 2007, Stated Session Meeting on February 18, 2007, Stated Session Meeting on March 18, 2007, Stated Session Meeting on April 15, 2007, Congregational Meeting on April 15, 2007 and Congregational Meeting on April 29, 2007 were almost complete. It is the goal to have all minutes completed and approved at the June session meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Baptisms:
Motion: A motion authorizing the baptism of Ryan Nathaniel Wilgus, the son of Rob and Becky Wilgus, on May 27, 2007 and Quinn Taylor Dickson, the son of Glenn and Amy Dickson, on June 10, 2007 was made, seconded and approved.
OLD BUSINESS
Annual Review of Rolls of WPC
Session members responsible for contacting members reported on telephone conversations they had with their assigned members to call or of their attempts to contact these members.
J.Walchenbach, B.Berghaus and B.Fletcher will decide among themselves which letters or portions of letters drafted by B.Berghaus and by J.Walchenbach will be sent to the following members: Bob Chapman and Vicky Patton, Larry Crocker, Mike and Jodi Hughes and Scott MacLeod and Rebecca Lula MacLeod.
The Session reviewed the list of names of Members to move to Inactive Roll.
Motion: A motion to move: Elizabeth Boon, Middleton Boon, Read Boon, Eleanor Copeland, Trisha Cragg, Shannon Cunningham, Ian Curran and Clarissa Weber-Curran, Michael Flow, Amanda Harris, Kim and Mark Lavender, Robert E. Lee, Edward McAllister, Susan McKee-King, David and Sarah Mumm, Tommy and Ashley Nason, Jeffrey and Joanna Post, Trudy Prosser, Shirley Roche, Cathyann Rosemond, Elena Rosemond, Tom Shepard, Cathie and Buddy Smith and Cammie Walston to the Inactive Role was made, seconded and approved.
N.Gaddis will meet with Matrix and is continuing to get proposals for security system for entire WPC campus.
F.Anton has done a marvelous job gathering and writing the reasons in support of the Session’s nomination of John Knight for the Presbytery of New Hope Older Adult Ministries’ Outstanding Older Adult Award and she and D.Derr will complete necessary forms for this nomination.
Officers Training:
The Officer Training schedule for Summer, 2007was distributed via the Session Packet mailing. J.Walchenbach reported that everything is ready for officer training and he is excited. The examination for New Officers is tentatively scheduled for September 16, 2007, The New Officers Ordination and Installation will be held during the 11:00 worship service on September 23, 2007.
REPORTS
Ways and Means: (J. Graham) The minutes of the Ways and Means Commission meetings on May 9, 2007 and Financial Statements for April 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. WPC member Vanessa Barnett-Loro spoke to Ways & Means Commission to discuss how WPC could become a “green church” (saving electricity by replacing old appliances with energy efficient models, recycling, etc.) Vanessa’s intent is that this would become a theme at WPC and that members would take this concept and practice it at home – therefore becoming good stewards of the earth. To begin this process, it was the sense of the Session that WPC would, when applicable, replace old appliances with energy efficient models; form a committee in the fall when a new Sunday School class has begun focusing on this same topic; and ask Vanessa to write an article for the newsletter explaining the “green church” concept.
Durham Academy has created a crises management plan and has asked that in the case of an emergency WPC agree to be an off-site meeting place for parents to pick up their children. S.Ruffing agreed to talk to officials at Durham Academy to obtain exact details on Durham Academy’s plan for organizing this crises management plan: traffic control, organization of 400+ students, etc. It was mentioned that WPC’s preschool should be made aware of this agreement with Durham Academy.
Motion: A motion to allow Durham Academy, in the event of an emergency, to use the WPC campus as an off-site meeting place for parents to pick up their children, provided Durham Academy provides appropriate adult supervision, agrees to and signs an indemnification and hold-harmless agreement and provides a traffic director and WPC School for Young People is consulted and is comfortable with this arrangement was made, seconded and approved.
H.Holderness’ request for a contribution to the Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education (“Union/PSCE”) Capital Campaign was discussed.
Motion: A motion to educate the congregation of Union/PSCE ‘s importance to the future of WPC and to include the request for a contribution from WPC to the Union/PSCE Capital Campaign into the 2008 budget subject to funds availability as to actual contribution and the amount thereof was made, seconded and approved.
Fellowship: (D.Wellemeyer) No report.
Global Missions: (F.Anton) The draft minutes of the Global Missions Committee meetings on April 18 and May 9, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. No report.
Education/Kindergarten: (M.T.Peters) The minutes of the Christian Education Commission meeting on April 24, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. No report.
Sanctuary Guild: (J.Jones) Lots of people involved, everything is going well. Jerry Breitman provided the flowers today and Bonnie Derr provided and arranged the flowers on Mother’s Day.
Youth: (S.Landis) The minutes of the Youth Council meetings on April 15 and May 13, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. The kids are busy, the Baccalaureate community worship service for high school graduates was held today (May 20, 2007) at Epworth and it was a good service; the kids will be busy this summer with Mexico Mission Trip, Montreat and Vacation Church School.
Assimilation: (S.Pottenger) The minutes of the Assimilation Committee meeting on April 19, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. No report.
Seminarians: (B.Cunningham) Ester Acolatse and Tully Fletcher appeared before the Presbytery of New hope Committee on Preparation for Ministry on May 3, 2007. Tully Fletcher was approved as a candidate for the ministry. Ester Acolatse’s sermon section was approved and she will continue with her endeavors for the other sections.
Worship: (K.Bunch) Communion will be celebrated on June 3, 2007 with Elder responsibilities as follows: (8:30) F.Anton (11:00) B.Cunningham. Next meeting is June 3. S.Landis had a question about communion. She said the Book of Order says ordained officers may serve communion. She asked why only Elders serve at WPC and not Deacons. During Youth Sunday she was looking for parents of the youth to help serve communion and there were more parents that were Deacons than Elders that she could have used if WPC used both.
By common consent, the suggestion of including Deacons at WPC in the serving of communion is referred to the Worship Commission to consider and make a recommendation to the Session.
Transition: (S.Ruffing) From conversations on May 6 event, congregation would like to see someone in 35-50 age range, 10 year commitment and someone to focus on in-reach rather than outreach; more preaching from scripture. Next step after transition committee meeting is to organize and provide raw data to deliver to the PNC once it is elected and to congregation from this self-study. It is important that nothing is lost in the translation of the forms and conversations. The Congregation needs to be informed that during search, it will look like there is no activity, but the PNC will actually be very busy.
Diaconate: (B.Berghaus) The minutes of the Diaconate meetings on April 1 and May 6, 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. The Diaconate meets in June to elect new officers. The Minute for Mission on June 3, 2007 will focus on Habitat for Humanity House fundraiser.
Congregational Care: (F.Anton) No report.
Local Missions: (A.Denson) No report.
Nominating: (A.Denson) A.Denson discussed how the 2007 Nominating Committee will distribute the PNC nominee form to the Congregation. The form will be included in newsletters, sent via bulk e-mail and will be available on the WPC website, as well as inserted in May 27 and June 3 bulletins. The form will give requirements for nominees, stressing the large time commitment involved. The completed forms are to be returned to the 2007 Nominating Committee by June 10, 2207.
Inquirers’ Class: (S.Pottenger) There is a possibility of starting a new class in late June.
Personnel Committee: (B.Cunningham) The Personnel Committee is looking at the possibility of hiring a supervisor of childcare.
NEW BUSINESS:
Joint Meeting of Session and Diaconate
The Moderator called a Joint meeting of the Session and the Diaconate on July 15, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. at WPC. Newly elected Officers will be invited and the topic for discussion will be the Transition. The Session will have its stated meeting after the joint meeting. Dinner will be provided and attendees will be asked to bring salads/desserts.
Session Retreats for 2008 and 2009
Session Retreats have been scheduled for January 18, 19, and 20, 2008 at The Trinity Center and January 16, 17, and 18, 2009 also at The Trinity Center. This information needs to be provided to the newly elected Elders.
Called Congregational Meeting to Elect Pastor Nomination Committee
Motion: A motion calling a Congregational Meeting for the purpose of nominating and electing members of the Pastor Nominating Committee on Sunday, July 15, 2007 at the beginning of the 11:00 worship service was made, seconded and approved.
Session Community Shelter Meal
T.Fletcher will check with Deacon Rick Overholt to find out when the Session is scheduled to prepare and serve the Community Shelter Meal.
STAFF REPORTS:
P.Ransford reported that this is a busy time of year for the Youth Ministries especially with all of the graduations. The Mexico Mission trip and the family camping trip are coming together.
CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS:
Celebrations: Kelly and Adam’s baby, Riley Keadey, was born on May 15, 2007; Phil and Patricia Blizzard’s baby was born on April 22, 2007 and Jon Enberg is returning from Iraq soon. Concerns: Bruce Cunningham’s mother fell and broke hip; Anne Lehew’s brother has lymphoma. Rememberance and sympathy: Ken Diehl’s uncle died.
The Session’s current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with a prayer by S.Landis at 7:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dailey J. Derr Jack Walchenbach
Clerk of Session Moderator
S052007 Stated