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The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (“WPC”) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 P.M. on 15 July 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 and Assistant to Clerk of Session T. Fletcher were present.

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

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 member B. Fletcher was present.

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

The Moderator declared a quorum present.

MINUTES

The minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Session on 17 June 2007 and the Called Meeting of the Congregation on 8 July 2007 distributed via the Session Packet mailing were read.

Motion: A motion to approve the minutes as read was made, seconded and approved.

COMMUNICATIONS

Wedding Request

D. Derr reported that he received a letter from a Ms. Roberta Carpenter requesting permission to use WPC’s sanctuary for a wedding on 22 December 2007. Ms. Carpenter is not a church member. B. Berghaus is apparently familiar with the request. There was discussion about church policy, which permits the sanctuary to be used for weddings by church members and other persons closely associated with the church.

Motion: A motion for S. Landis to follow-up on the request with B. Berghaus subject to the wedding policy, and to either notify Ms. Carpenter that her request is denied or return to the Session seeking approval for the request 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 and/or their attempts to contact these members.

Motion: A motion to dismiss John Deupree was made, seconded and approved.

Motion: A motion to move the following individuals to the Inactive roll was made, seconded and approved:

Laura Agnew

Lisa Agnew

Lynn Agnew

Kelly Atkins

Caroline Atwater

Charlie Atwater

Sarah Atwater

Chuck Bartlett

Mike Brannon

Teddie & Tony Brown

Andy Crawford

Matt Crawford

Virginia Crumpler

Kevin Cullen

Jim & Laura Danku

Jenny Davis

Will Denton

Emilie Diehl

Stacie Diehl

Mark Graham & Laneta Dorflinger

Sarah Eagen

Tara Edmondson

Holly Edwards

Lisa Edwards

John Frank

Lawrence Frank

Lara Frank Heimann

Miles Frank

Melinda Fritz

Ann Hagerty

Chase Harris Shelton

Brian Heagren

Bryan Holmes

Drew Johnson

David Jones

Nathan & Sherri Kredich

Will Lambe

Wes Lambe

Parker Lutz

Simone Macklin

Laurin Council Mancour

Staff will determine at their next staff meeting whether the following individuals should be dismissed or receive a letter from J. Walchenbach or B. Berghaus:

There was lengthy and productive discussion about the need for emphasis on congregational inreach efforts by leadership and membership alike. It was noted that WPC prides itself on the strength of its outreach programs, and that perhaps more of the same energy and enthusiasm are needed in the simple service of members to members. It was also noted that in the recent self-study survey responses and discussions, WPC’s inreach was characterized more than once as a weakness.

The sense of the Session is that: 1) members who might not have attended church recently and have not been seen in a while have a need to be contacted by fellow church members, and the failure to do so could promote an unhealthy sense of disconnectedness and neglect; 2) such congregational care is of special concern during the current period of leadership transition; 3) the challenge for leadership is not only to be engaged in such personal contacts, but to encourage others to do so, and that further discussion of this leadership challenge should be included on the agenda for the Joint Session/Diaconate meeting this fall; and 4) J. Walchenbach should charge the Congregation from the pulpit and otherwise to take time to get in touch with other members they have not seen in a while.

Church Audit:

J. Graham reported that the Building Committee is on schedule to review security system proposals for the WPC campus and the committee’s recommendations with church staff at their August staff retreat.

F. Anton reported that she sent Elder John Knight a copy of the nomination write-up. John plans to attend the recognition at the Presbytery meeting in Greenville with members of his family.

J. Walchenbach reported that the officer training is going great, that he and B. Berghaus make a good team, and that they are enjoying their work with great officer additions. There has been good discussion in training sessions, particularly during an excellent Theology session led by Elder Dr. Richard Draffin. All will be well prepared for their examinations on 16 September 2007. Ordination and installation of new officers is scheduled for 30 September 2007.

D. Derr reported that everything appears to be on schedule for next week’s congregational meeting to elect the PNC.

S. Pottenger handed out a written bulletin summarizing the plans. Session members were asked to help prepare food in the church kitchen beginning at 4:45 P.M. on Tuesday, August 28. In addition, 8-10 people will be needed to deliver and serve dinner at the shelter. Spouses and children are welcome to help. The plan is to leave church together at 6:00 P.M. Dinner service should be finished by 7:45 P.M. A $30.00 donation is suggested from each Session member to cover the cost of food.

The Moderator reported that he is continuing his work to coordinate committee assignments for the 2007-2008 church year, particularly with the new officers. Continuing Session members are reminded to advise him about their intentions and preferences for continuing and new committee responsibilities.

Ways and Means: (J. Graham) The Ways and Means Commission’s 13 June 2007 meeting minutes and 15 July 2007 meeting agenda, WPC Financial Statements for June 2007, and a report from N. Gaddis regarding progress on certain 2006 audit findings regarding security were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

As reported earlier, the campus safety proposal is on its way. Dorene Palermo has joined the Ways and Means Commission representing the Technology Committee, and is in the process of installing a new server for the church.

Funding for the addition of two new employees, as recommended by the Personnel Committee, was considered earlier today by Ways & Means. The Nursery Coordinator position was included in the 2007 budget, so everything is okay with this position financially. Regarding the new 25-hour-per-week secretarial position, Ways and Means suggests funding this unbudgeted position for the balance of the current year from cash. No action by the Session is required. The Session was reminded that the continuing payroll obligation for this position will take its place among a number of other big ticket items in the 2008 budget process.

A draft “state of the church” letter was circulated for review and discussion. Ways and Means is charged with the duty periodically to communicate with the Congregation about the financial condition of the church. The letter will be sent to member households during the coming week.

Global Missions: (F. Anton) P. Ransford has had discussions with D. Wehmeyer regarding planned 2008 changes in PC-USA funding for international missionaries. Increased support from WPC will be needed in 2008, and a request for $10,000 in support for D. Wehmeyer will be included in the 2008 budget proposal. One important benefit of such increased support will be closer ties and enhanced partnership relationships with our international missionary personnel.

F. Anton reported that the Presbytery of New Hope will be receiving the Boyd missionary family, and WPC will be hosting them in a pot luck supper where the Boyds will make a presentation about their work on Sunday 5 August 2007 in Fellowship Hall.

Christian Education/School: (M. T. Peters) No report. The Christian Education Committee will meet next week.

Sanctuary Guild: (J. Jones) Lots of people are involved, and everything is going very well.

Youth Council: (S. Landis) The next Youth Council meeting is scheduled in August. There is no meeting scheduled in July.

S. Landis accompanied an outstanding group of WPC youth during their week at Montreat, and was delighted to have the opportunity to better connect with a number of them over the course of the week. David Wehmeyer, who accompanied the youth as an interpreter during their mission trip to Mexico, joined the group for their week at Montreat.

The fall kick-off for youth and their families is scheduled for 19 August at New Hope Camp and Conference Center. For the new church year, the youth group will consist of 7^th-12^th graders, rather than the usual 6^th-12^th graders. A letter will be sent to 6^th graders explaining the change, and inviting them to participate at their option.

Assimilation: (S. Pottenger) The Assimilation Committee’s 21 June 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. No further report.

Worship: (K. Bunch) The Worship Committee’s next meeting will be on Sunday, August 5.

The celebration of Holy Communion on 5 August 2007 will be coordinated by K. Bunch for the 8:30 A.M. service and by S. Ruffing for the 11:00 A.M. service.

Nominating: (A. Denson) The Nominating Committee’s slate of nominations for the PNC was entered at the 8 July 2007 congregational meeting. There were no additional nominations from the floor. The congregational meeting to elect the PNC is scheduled for 22 July 2007. Volunteers will be on hand to serve as vote counters in the event that additional nominations are received from the floor.

Inquirers’ Class: (S. Pottenger) The next Inquirers’ Class will begin on 22 July 2007, and will meet for five Sundays during the Sunday School hour. Session members are asked to attend one of the meetings. The final meeting will be on 19 August 2007, and new members will then meet and have dinner with the Session at the August Stated Session meeting.

The next two annual Session retreats have been scheduled with the Trinity Center 18-20 January 2008 and 16-18 January 2009. D. Derr suggested that Session members begin thinking about possible agenda items for the upcoming 2008 retreat. S. Ruffing volunteered to help with this.

B. Fletcher reported that she attended a 2½-day ACS Network Administrator workshop in Florence, South Carolina.

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

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