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The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (“WPC”) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 P.M. on 17 June 2007 in room 105 of the Holderness Mission Center. Moderator J. Walchenbach was present and called the meeting to order. Clerk of Session D. Derr was present.

Elders F. Anton, K. Bunch, B. Cunningham, A. Denson, N. Gaddis, J. Jones, S. Landis, M. T. Peters, S. Pottenger[2], S. Ruffing and D. Wellemeyer were present. Elder J. Graham was absent and excused.

The meeting was opened with a reading in unison of the WPC Mission Statement, followed by a devotional and a prayer by S. Landis.

The minutes of the Called Meeting of the Congregation on 18 February 2007, the Stated Meeting of the Session on 18 February 2007, the Called Meeting of the Congregation on 15 April 2007, the Stated Meeting of the Session on 15 April 2007, the Called Meeting of the Session on 22 April 2007 and the Called Meeting of the Congregation on 29 April 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

The minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Session on 18 March 2007 and the Stated Meeting of the Session on 20 May 2007 were distributed via email by D. Derr on 15 June 2007.

The minutes of the Called Meeting of the Session on 28 January 2007 were distributed just prior to the beginning of this meeting.

Motion: A motion to approve the minutes as distributed, subject to any technical changes, corrections, additions or deletions communicated to D. Derr via email or otherwise, was made, seconded and approved.

D. Derr reported that the minutes of the Retreat and Stated Meeting of the Session on 19-21 January 2007 are close to being complete.

Motion: A motion dismissing Forrest Johnson to University Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, NC, and Eric and Melissa Enberg to First Presbyterian Church, Sylva, NC, was made, seconded and approved.

Session members responsible for contacting members reported on telephone conversations they had with their assigned members and/or their attempts to contact these members.

Church Audit:

N.Gaddis reported that security system proposals for the WPC campus have been requested from three providers. The proposals and the Building Committee’s recommendations will be reviewed with church staff at their August staff retreat.

Older Adult Ministries’ Outstanding Older Adult Award – John Knight:

F. Anton has submitted the nomination of Elder John Knight to Presbytery. There was discussion about the timing of a report to the congregation on the nomination. The sense of the Session is that such a report should be made prior to the 17 July 2007 Presbytery meeting, and that WPC members should be encouraged to attend the meeting.

The new officer training schedule for summer 2007 was distributed via the Session Packet mailing. B.Berghaus reported that the first two training sessions have been completed, including a thorough review of Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers. The Moderator reported that he is excited about the plans for officer training, and that he found the sharing of faith journeys by new officers to be a particularly rich experience.

The examination for new officers is scheduled during the Stated meeting of the Session on 16 September 2007. By common consent of the Session, the ordination and installation of the new officers is rescheduled for 30 September 2007 during worship services. D. Derr reminded the Session that new officers are ordained and installed at a meeting of the Session that has traditionally been called during the 8:30 A.M. worship service and recessed and reconvened during the 11:00 A.M. worship service.

The Moderator reported that, on further consideration and advice from Diaconate Moderator Michael Reich and others, the Joint meeting of the Session and Diaconate previously called for 15 July 2007 at WPC is called for a date to be determined later in the fall at New Hope Camp and Conference Center, tentatively scheduled for the morning of Saturday 13 October 2007, pending confirmation that space is available at New Hope Camp and Conference Center.

A. Denson reported that the Nominating Committee is making good progress toward preparing a slate of candidates for the Pastor Nominating Committee. A written announcement describing the proposed nomination and election process has been prepared and submitted to Gail Reynolds to be included in the newsletter later this week. Congregational meetings on 8 July 2007 and 22 July 2007 are contemplated.

Motion: A motion calling a Congregational Meeting on Sunday 8 July 2007 at the beginning of the 11:00 worship service for the purpose of nominating candidates for election to the PNC, and calling a second Congregational Meeting on Sunday 22 July 2007 at the beginning of the 11:00 worship service for the purpose of electing the PNC, both in lieu of the called Congregational Meeting on Sunday 15 July 2007 previously approved, was made, seconded and approved.

S. Pottenger is going to chair the planning and organizing of the Session’s preparing and serving of the Community Shelter Meal on 28 August 2007.

Ways and Means: (S.Ruffing) The Ways and Means Commission’s 9 May 2007 meeting minutes and 13 June 2007 meeting agenda, and WPC Financial Statements for May 2007, were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

Endowment Committee Chair Scotti Harwood has arranged for Rev. John Pilutti of the Presbyterian Foundation to preach at WPC on Sunday 24 June 2007. S. Ruffing will deliver a minute for mission message describing WPC’s endowment funds.

The final arrangements for WPC to serve as an off-site gathering place in support of Durham Academy’s Crisis Management plan are being coordinated. Ways & Means will also contact WPC preschool leadership to make them aware of the plan, and invite them to consider whether a reciprocal arrangement would be of any value.

Fellowship: (D. Wellemeyer) Committee Chair Bill McAvoy has arranged for Ashley Everly and a team of WPC members to cook and serve our dinner on Rally Day, 9 September 2007.

Global Missions: (F. Anton) The Global Missions Committee’s 13 June 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via email by F. Anton on 14 June 2007.

A substantial increase in financial support for Mexico missionary Don Wehmeyer likely will be needed in 2008, due to expected reductions in PCUSA funding support. Additional information is being gathered in preparation for the 2008 budget cycle.

Christian Education/School: (M. T. Peters) The Christian Education Committee’s 15 May 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

Vacation Bible School begins tomorrow, 18 June 2007, at New Hope Camp and Conference Center, with seventy youth volunteers and forty adult volunteers on hand. Leadership will be provided by Sarah Wolf, Tully Fletcher and Mary Todd Peters.

Youth Council: (S. Landis) The Youth Council’s 10 June 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

A strong contingent of twenty-five youth and four adults from WPC will be going to Montreat the week after the Mexico Mission team returns.

Worship: (K. Bunch) The Worship Committee’s 3 June 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

Tammy Dozier will be the Acolyte coordinator for the coming church year. A new Usher coordinator for 11:00 worship services is still needed.

Communion on 1 July 2007 will be coordinated by F. Anton for the 8:30 A.M. service and A. Denson for the 11:00 A.M. service.

Transition: (D. Wellemeyer) The final draft of a written report entitled “Report of the Session: 2007 WPC Self-Study” was distributed via email by D. Wellemeyer on 10 June 2007.

Recommendation: The Transition Committee moves that the Session adopt the “Report of the Session: 2007 WPC Self-Study” as submitted.

The Session was advised that the Transition Committee has developed plans for regular congregational communications about the pastoral transition process. S. Ruffing will be leading this initiative.

Diaconate: (B. Berghaus) The Diaconate’s 10 June 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

The Diaconate has elected Walt Beckwith as Moderator, Bill Hatch as Co-moderator and Anne Vann as Clerk for the coming church year.

Nominating: (A. Denson) No further report beyond the earlier discussion. The Nominating Committee will be working diligently to prepare for the 8 July 2007 Congregational Meeting.

Personnel: (B. Cunningham) The Personnel Committee has met, and is preparing recommendations for two new staff positions. The recommendation for a new child care supervisor will be presented at the July Session meeting. A written recommendation for a new part -time office assistant was distributed for review and discussion.

Recommendation: Personnel moves that the recommendation for a new part-time office assistant be approved as submitted, and referred to the Ways and Means Commission for funding.

There was discussion regarding the possible additional need for clerical support for the PNC. The sense of the Session is that the PNC will need to determine its own needs as it organizes itself, and that all appropriate actions to meet those needs will be taken at that time.

There was also discussion about the need to establish additional office support in preparation for a new senior pastor. The sense of the Session is that there is a good chance that a new senior pastor will desire a greater level of day-to-day administrative support than did H. Holderness.

Motion: A motion that S. Landis and D. Wellemeyer be the WPC Commissioners to the Stated Presbytery Meeting on 17 July 2007, and that F. Anton be an alternate, was made, seconded and approved.

The Moderator requested that Session members advise him in the near future about their intentions and preferences for continuing and new committee responsibilities. He intends to coordinate committee assignments for the 2007-2008 church year as soon as possible, but not later than the end of September.

Marian Draffin is available for call, and is considering both East Coast and West Coast assignments. Tully Fletcher needs to hear leadership feedback to support his growth and development.

WPC’s support of Youth Mission has enabled virtually 100% of upcoming trip expenses to be covered. All members of Mexico Mission Team are entering into a covenant regarding their conduct while in Mexico. A dinner meeting of adult team members will be hosted at the Ransford residence next Friday.

Concerns about the medical conditions of Jonathan Burig, Mary Beck Sutton’s mother Mary Lillian White, Alex Barnes and his son Hall Barnes, and M. T. Peters’ aunt Frances Lucas were expressed.

Celebrations: George Edwards and Rebecca Bruton were married, M. T. Peters will teach at Montreat, and the Habitat funding goal of $10,000 was surpassed earlier today.

The Moderator announced that Clerk of Session D. Derr and Clerk of Session-elect D. Wellemeyer have developed a plan for the transition of the Clerk’s duties. D. Wellemeyer reported that D. Derr will continue to serve throughout the remainder of the current church year, that both will be working cooperatively to prepare meeting minutes during this time, and that the transition will occur coincident with the beginning of the new church year.

The Session’s current business having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned.

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[1] Was excused, but arrived toward the end of the meeting.

[2] Was excused, but arrived mid-way during the meeting.