The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 p.m. on 20 august 2006 in room 105 of the Holderness Mission Center.  The Moderator, Rev. Robert (Bob) Fields, was present and called the meeting to order and it was opened with a devotional and a prayer by S.Landis.

Associate Pastors B.Berghaus and P.Ransford were present.  

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

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

Clerk of Session D.Derr was present.

Elders Elect Bruce Cunningham, Katherine Bunch and Sara Pottenger were also present.

The Moderator declared a quorum present.

MINUTES:

The minutes of the stated meeting of the Session on July 16, 2006 were distributed, read and adopted as reviewed.

COMMUNICATIONS:

Baptism:

Motion: A motion authorizing the Baptism of Charles William Morris, son of  Michael and Alexandra Morris, on October 22, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. Worship Service was made, seconded and approved.

WPC Rolls:

Letter from A. Bruce and Margie Burns:

Their letter says that because of their ages and medical conditions they are not able to attend church and do not want to receive mailings from WPC to save WPC postage and other costs. This is a Pastoral matter. B.Berghaus has talked with them about their request and will talk with again.

Request from Jeremie Vuillquez:

He has returned to France and has asked to be removed from WPC mail and email list.

Motion: A motion to move Jeremie Vuillquez from the Active Member’s Roll to the Inactive Member’s Roll was made, seconded and approved.

Invitation:

Boy Scout Troop 451 Invitation to Eagle Celebration Dinner:

Boy Scout Troop 451 has invited the WPC Session to a dinner on September 30, 2006 celebrating this troop having 100 Eagle Scout Awards. By common consent S.Landis is the official representative from the WPC Session to this celebration.

OLD BUSINESS:

Request from Chapel in the Pines for financial assistance referred to Ways and Means at May stated Session meeting

J.Graham reported for Ways and Means that WPC has previously contributed $2,500.00 to the Chapel in the Pines and that Ways and Means has referred this request to the Diaconate for its consideration and response to the Chapel in the Pines. The sense of the Session is that this is an appropriate disposition of the request.

August Community Shelter meal - August 22, 2006

C.Haynes has planned, organized and coordinated the preparing and serving of the August 22, 2006 Session Shelter meal. A crew of five will meet at WPC tomorrow and cook the food and six people will help serve the meals Tuesday evening.

Organization of Session for 2006/2007

D.Derr distributed a Draft 2006-2007 Elder Responsibilities sheet and discussion followed about where Elders might need to be assigned and also about where Elders probably do not need to be assigned. The sense of the Session was to leave this open for further consideration and discussion in conjunction with other discussions about responsibilities and organizational structure.

Called Session meeting to examine Elders-Elect and Deacons-Elect

The called Session meeting to examine Elders-Elect and Deacons-Elect is September 5, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. and will be moderated by P.Ransford.

Ordination and Installation of Elders-Elect and Deacons-Elect

The called Session meeting to ordain and install Elders-Elect and Deacons-Elect is September 10, 2006 during both worship services, if some of them choose to do this at the 8:30 a.m. worship service. In that event the meeting will be called to order by the Acting Moderator during the 8:30 a.m. worship service and then will be recessed and   reconvened during the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Otherwise, the meeting will be during the latter worship service only. P.Ransford will moderate this meeting.

Monthly Session Report to Congregation

The Session will continue to think about how to make monthly reports to the Congregation about significant matters and events in the life and activities of WPC.  The sense of the Session currently is that the most significant thing to report to the Congregation is pertinent aspects of the efforts of the Interim Pastor Search Committee.

COMMISSION AND OTHER REPORTS:

Ways and Means: (J.Graham/D.Wellemeyer) The minutes of the Ways and Means Committee meeting on July 12, 2006 and Financial Statements for July, 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points in them were summarized.  Total revenues are 9% under budget and total expenses are 3% below budget. Also distributed via the Session Packet were the proposed Westminster Presbyterian Church Durham, North Carolina Personnel Policies and Procedures manual for review and approval;  A video archive proposal by John Dancy for review and approval; and the Agreement to Proceed with Internal Review.

Recommendation: Ways and Means moves that the Session approve the proposed Westminster Presbyterian Church of Durham, North Carolina Personnel Policies and Procedures manual.

There was discussion about who the staff works for and is accountable to and about the need for actual committees for such things as personnel.  The sense of the Session is that these are very important issues and that this transition period is an excellent time to address them and that a sitting Elder should serve on the Personnel Committee.

Motion:  A substitute motion to the motion made by Ways and Means to refer the proposed Westminster Presbyterian Church of Durham, North Carolina Personnel Policies and Procedures manual to the Transition Committee for review was made, seconded and approved.

Motion:  A motion to refer the proposed Westminster Presbyterian Church of Durham, North Carolina Personnel Policies and Procedures manual to the Transition Committee for review was made, seconded and approved.

Recommendation:  Ways and Means moves that the Session approve the video archive proposal by John Dancy.

There was discussion about where to store equipment and supplies, on-going operational expenses, where responsibility for training and using the equipment and staffing the archive function would reside.  Concern was expressed that more structure would be needed before acting to accept the gift and implementing the program. 

Action:  Not approved.

The sense of the Session is that, while it is very appreciative of the offer of equipment from John Dancy, it is not prepared to accept it until basic support is in place.

Recommendation:   Ways and Means moves that the Session appoint members to participate in the Internal Review as listed and identified by function areas in the Agreement to Proceed with Internal Review as follows:

Committee Chair                                  Dorene Palermo

Finance and Accounting                     Sally Cook and Dorene Palermo

Governance and legal                            Bill Hatch

Facilities                                               Chick Palermo

Management and Leadership                Dorene Palermo

Personnel and Documentation               Julie Beckwith

Computers and Equipment                    Helen Harrison

General Advice and Consultation       Howard Pedersen           

There was discussion about how this Internal Review has evolved and how the recommended members of the Internal Review Committee were recruited and selected. 

Action:  Approved.

By common consent, J.Jones is the Session Liaison to the Internal Review Committee.

The Website Subcommittee is engaging ChurchSquare.com to handle reformatting of the WPC web page to be overseen by Sam Bryan. 

Fellowship: (C.Haynes) The Pig Picking is being catered by Bill & Sharon Gilmer, the same people who did the Pig picking for Haywood’s retirement.

Global Missions: (F.Anton) WPC is busily completing construction of the Volunteer Villages for disaster relief.  The Congo Choir Tour was very successful and WPC assisted with the lunch for the Choir at First Presbyterian Church.

Education/Kindergarten:  (M.T.Peters/N.Rozak) The minutes of the Christian Education Committee on August 15, 2006 were distributed and key points in them were summarized, including:  Rally Day is scheduled for September 10; there are three new members on the Christian Education Committee; and there is a teacher’s workshop on September 9 in Room 105 of the Holderness Mission Center.

Recommendation:  The Christian Education Committee moves that the teaching teams consisting of 38 teachers and 3 superintendents identified in the minutes for the August 15 meeting be approved.

Action:  Approved.

Sanctuary Guild: (J.Jones) No report.

Youth Council:  (S.Landis) Minutes of the Youth Council meeting on July 30, 2006, were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points were summarized. Fall kick-off is next Saturday.  There is a full schedule of activities for the coming year.  The first Youth Group meeting will be on September 17.   Immediately after Vacation Bible School  next summer, the WPC youth will go on an International Mission Trip, and then on a trip to Montreat.  There is discussion about having a seminary study intern next summer to help out with Youth activities.  S.Landis believes all youth trips should be approved by Session.

The Session, by common consent, approves participation of the youth in an international mission trip for next summer.

Assimilation: (B.Derr). The Assimilation Committee will meet next Wednesday. B.Berghaus and N.Rozak will attend this meeting to bring suggestions about how to coordinate CE opportunities with member assimilation.

Inquirers/Candidates: (C.Haynes)  Esther Acolatse is recovering well from her surgery.  She needs to make a formal request for reimbursement for expenses she incurred seeking approval as a candidate.

Worship: (D.Elvers) Communion will be celebrated on September 3, 2006 with Elder responsibility as follows: (11:00) M.T. Peters.

Motion: A motion ratifying the substitution of  Rev. Sam Migliarese to preach the Word at both worship services on August 13, 2006 was made, seconded and approved.

Interim Search Committee: (D.Elvers) A statement and updating report will appear in the next newsletter.  The Committee has been working diligently and the process is ongoing.

Diaconate: (B.Berghaus) The Diaconate met on July 23, 2006 to consider the 2007 operating budget request.

NEW BUSINESS:

Involvement of College of Elders: 

The sense of the Session is that the College of Elders should be heavily involved in the planning and hosting of the February 2007 Presbytery Meeting at WPC.

STAFF REPORTS:  

N.Rozak:  Thankful for the many people who put in hours to put the disaster relief village together. 

P.Ransford:  Thanks to Session and Staff for support as interim Head of Staff.  The staff will be on retreat for the next three days.

Moderator:

Following the Stated Session Meeting in September, Doug and Kay Wellemeyer, following in the tradition of Haywood and Mary Holderness, will host the annual dinner for the outgoing and incoming Session Members at their home.

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS:

Concerns over the medical conditions of Heidi Kivel, Dailey’s brother Ed Derr, and Carol Elvers were expressed.

The Session's current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with a prayer by B.Nicoll at 7:45 p.m.

Dailey J. Derr                                                                                                     Robert Fields

Clerk of Session                                                                                                     Moderator          

S082006 Stated