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The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (“WPC”) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 P.M. on 19 August 2007 in room 105 of the Holderness Mission Center. Acting Moderator Associate Pastor B. Berghaus was present and called the meeting to order. Clerk of Session D. Derr was present.

Moderator J. Walchenbach was excused, but joined the meeting to participate in discussion of certain Worship Commission matters. Associate Pastor P. Ransford was absent and excused.

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

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

The meeting was opened with a reading in unison of the WPC Mission Statement, followed by a devotional by F. Anton.

The Moderator declared a quorum present.

MINUTES

The minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Session on 15 July 2007 and the Called Meeting of the Congregation on 22 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

Baptism:

Motion: A motion to authorize the baptism of Riley Renee Keadey, son of Kelly and Adam Keadey, on 23 September 2007 was made, seconded and approved.

OLD BUSINESS

Annual Review of Rolls of WPC:

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

David Mangum

Whit Mangum

John Giragos, Jr.

Jumana Giragos

Paul Giragos

Charlotte Haynes

Renee Lanier McKown

Erica Fritz Ott

Teresa Penny

Jill Powell

Carey Reinhardt

John Sharpe

Charlie Smith

Kerri Smith

Nate Swenberg

Britt Swenberg

Drew Tatum

Jay Tatum

Kent Tatum

Brooke Walker

David Walker

Motion: A motion to dismiss the following individuals as members of WPC was made, seconded and approved:

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

Church Audit:

The Moderator reported that the 2007 officer training has been successfully completed. All new officers are ready for examination on 16 September 2007. Ordination and installation of new officers is scheduled for 30 September 2007.

M. T. Peters and D. Wellemeyer reported that the first meeting of the PNC is scheduled for Friday 7 September at 7:00 P.M. Ms. Barbara Campbell Davis, Executive Presbyter of our New Hope Presbytery, will be in attendance to conduct the orientation.

A written reminder of the schedule and solicitation for additional volunteers was distributed by email 14 August 2007. Session members were asked to help prepare food in the church kitchen beginning at 4:30 P.M. on Tuesday, August 28 and/or to help deliver food at 6:00 P.M. and serve dinner at the shelter. Dinner service should be finished by 7:45 P.M. A $30.00 donation is requested from each Session member to cover the cost of food.

The Moderator has received feedback from some of the Elders regarding committee assignments for the 2007-2008 church year. D. Derr and D. Wellemeyer will solicit additional input as needed, and prepare a proposed schedule of Session assignments for review at the stated meeting of the Session in September.

Arrangements have been finalized for the annual joint meeting of the Session and the Diaconate on Saturday 13 October 2007 from 9:00 A.M. until 12:00 Noon at the Oak Lodge at New Hope Camp and Conference Center.

Ways and Means: (J. Graham) The Ways and Means Commission’s 15 July 2007 meeting minutes, 8 August 2007 meeting agenda and minutes, WPC Financial Statements for July 2007, and a report from D. Palermo regarding progress on certain 2006 audit findings regarding computers and equipment were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. There was no further report.

Christian Education/School: (M. T. Peters) The Christian Education Committee’s 17 July 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

We all celebrate the return of N. Rozak from her recent sabbatical. The Christian Education Committee will meet on Tuesday 21 August. Plans for Rally Day are in full swing and everything appears to be in order including preparations for the musical. For the coming church year, a number of daytime Bible study classes and one or two evening sessions are being offered.

Youth Council: (S. Landis) The Youth Council’s 5 August 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. It was noted that S. Landis and P. Ransford are at Camp New Hope for this evening’s 2007-2008 youth program kickoff. There was no further report.

Assimilation: (S. Pottenger) The Assimilation Committee’s 19 July 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

The Assimilation Committee did not meet in August. A dinner gathering for the current Inquirers’ Class is planned for Friday 24 August at the home of Marty and Woody Warburton.

Worship: (K. Bunch) The Worship Committee’s 5 August 2007 meeting minutes were distributed at the beginning of the meeting. A memo from the Moderator. Walchenbach dated August 2007 regarding order of worship was distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

The celebration of Holy Communion on 2 September 2007 will be coordinated by D. Wellemeyer for the 11:00 A.M. service.

Recommendation: The Worship Commission moves the approval of changes in the order of worship in accordance with the memo from the Moderator dated August 2007.

The Moderator and K. Bunch led discussion about proposed changes in the order of worship. As noted in the memo from the Moderator, the sense of the proposed changes is move toward the order of worship recommended in the Book of Common Worship. The Moderator also recommended that changes in the order of worship be preceded by a series of explanatory communications that he intends to deliver to the congregation.

There was discussion about facilitating the dismissal of children following the Children’s Message, and there was agreement that it would be preferable in this regard to move the Anthem, Psalm or Hymn at the end of “Gathering Around the Word” to follow the Children’s Message.

Notwithstanding the presence of a quorum, concerns were expressed about a minority of the elected Elders approving the recommendation. The concerns were resolved when it was noted that the recommendation has been deliberated over by Staff, and is now proposed by a Session Commission.

Action: Approved with one minor modification of moving the Anthem, Psalm or Hymn at the end of “Gathering Around the Word” to follow the Children’s Message.

Recommendation: The Worship Commission moves the approval of a prayer service at WPC to be held the fourth Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary or other convenient and available venues of WPC.

Diaconate: (B. Berghaus) The Diaconate’s 15 July 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. There was no further report.

Inquirers’ Class: (S. Pottenger) A written reminder of this evening’s reception for the twelve adult members of the Inquirers’ Class and solicitation for additional volunteers to bring food and drink was distributed by email 14 August 2007.

Personnel: (B. Cunningham) A written report of the Personnel Committee dated 19 August 2007 was distributed via the Session Packet mailing. There was no further report.

Remembrance and sympathy: David Anderson’s mother, Louise, died on 18 August in Nashville, TN.

Concerns about the medical conditions of Dave Edwards, Bud Cowdery, Heidi Kivel and Heidi’s grandmother, Hazel Gaddis, and Jane Rawlings were expressed.

Celebrations: Mary Todd Peters’ dad was remarried in Morganton, NC this past Wednesday.

Members of the current Inquirers’ Class hereinafter identified joined the meeting at 6:20 P.M. for dinner and fellowship. Each member of the current Inquirers’ Class who expressed an interest in joining the congregation was paired with a member of the Session. After meeting in pairs, the Elders introduced the Inquirers to the assembly.

Motion: A motion to receive the following Inquirers as members of WPC according to the pertinent procedures as prescribed in the Book of Order was made, seconded and approved:

Motion: A motion to authorize the adult baptism of Eric Alan Bourn and baptisms of William Alan Bourn, son of Eric and Kristen Bourn, Skyler Edward Hoffman and Alex Thomas Hoffman, sons of David and Elizabeth Hoffman, and Tobin Smith, son of Matthew and Allison Smith, at dates and times to be coordinated with the pastoral staff was made, seconded and approved.

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

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