The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (“WPC”) convened for a stated meeting at 5:05 P.M. on 16 September 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.

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

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

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

Elders-elect Claudia Draffin, Holly Schmidt and Eric Wolf and Deacons-elect Sarah High, Carol Kelly, Neal Nichols, Gary Lehew, Marty Warburton and Rob Wilgus also were present, to be interviewed and examined on their training for ordination.

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

The Moderator declared a quorum present.

EXAMINATION OF NEW OFFICERS TO BE ORDAINED AND/OR INSTALLED

The Moderator reported in detail on the curriculum studied by officer candidates during their training, and invited remarks from the staff and from the candidates.

The Moderator then divided those Elders currently serving on the Session into three groups, designated one of them in each group as Convenor for that group (F. Anton, A. Denson and D. Wellemeyer), and assigned three or four of the Officers-elect to each group.  The groups then retired to designated areas where the Officers-elect were interviewed and examined for a prescribed time period.

When the examinations had been completed, the serving Elders and the Officers-Elect returned to the meeting room, where the Convenors for each of the groups reported on the results of the interviews and examinations of the Officers-elect.

Motion: A motion to approve the examinations of the Elders-elect and Deacons-elect, all of whom were found to have satisfactorily completed the training as applicable, and to be acceptable for ordination and installation as applicable, to serve in the offices of Elder or Deacon to which they have been called was made, seconded and approved.

The Moderator reminded the entire assembly that the service of ordination and installation of new officers was previously scheduled for 30 September 2007.  The Moderator reported that all of the Officers-elect have indicated their wish to be ordained and installed, as applicable, during the 11:00 A.M. worship service.

MINUTES

The minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Session on 19 August 2007, which had been distributed at the beginning of the meeting, were read.

Motion:  A motion to approve the minutes as read, subject to any technical corrections communicated to D. Derr during the coming week, was made, seconded and approved.

D. Derr reported that the posting of approved Session meeting minutes on the WPC website is now up to date.

COMMUNICATIONS

Dismissal:

Motion:  A motion dismissing Ed and Susie Park to Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, NC was made, seconded and approved.

OLD BUSINESS

Annual Review of Rolls of WPC:

The Moderator reported that 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:

Harriet Henderson                                                     (last date attended 4/10/2005)

Catharine & John Hennessy                                      (last date attended 3/27/2005)

Rachel & Jamie Chang                                              (Non-residents)

Maggie Barry (daughter of Shirley Rufty)                (Non-resident)

John Cowan                                                               (last date attended 12/25/2005)

Chris & Elena Crenshaw                                           (last date attended 9/5/2004)

Sandy McNutt                                                            (Non-resident)

Organization of Session for 2007/2008:

The Moderator requested a report on the Session assignments for the coming church year, and D. Wellemeyer reported that all assignments have been finalized as follows:

A handout was provided to members in attendance containing the assignment information for reference, and including the following additional notes:

·         The Personnel Committee is presently moderated by Elder Don Heagren, with at least one sitting Elder and the Senior Pastor as committee members.

·         The Sanctuary Guild, a Session committee during the past year, will report through the Worship Commission beginning in 2007-2008.

·         Residual audit liaison responsibilities, if any, will be assumed by the Transition Committee in 2007-2008.

A sign-up sheet was circulated during the meeting for opening devotional and closing prayer assignments for all 2007-2008 Session meetings.

PNC:

J. Graham and D. Wellemeyer reported that the first meeting of the PNC was held on Friday 7 September as planned, and the PNC met again on Tuesday 11 September.  Stated meetings on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of each month have been scheduled.  The PNC will meet for a retreat on Tuesday 25 September at the home of Eileen McAvoy.

Church Audit:

There was nothing new to report.

Session Community Shelter Meal:

S. Pottenger reported that the shelter meal served by Session members on 28 August 2007 was very well received, and she thanked all who participated.

Joint Meeting of Session and Diaconate:

Arrangements have been finalized for the annual Called 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.  The Moderator appointed D. Derr as the Convenor for an organizing committee to include W. Beckwith, B. Berghaus, J. Walchenbach and D. Wellemeyer, and asked that Clerk-elect D. Wellemeyer send a reminder notice of the meeting schedule to members of the Session and to Deacons.

Annual Stated Session Retreat:

The annual Stated Session Retreat is scheduled for the weekend of 18-20 January 2008 at the Trinity Center in Salter Path, NC.  The Moderator appointed B. Cunningham as the Convenor for an organizing committee to include S. Ruffing and K. Bunch in addition to the Staff, and asked that Clerk-elect D. Wellemeyer send a reminder notice of the retreat schedule to members of the Session.

Annual Session Reception and Dinner:

Decades ago, Mary and Haywood Holderness initiated the practice that an early meeting of the new Session would include dinner together at their home.  This year, Mary and Alex Denson want to continue that tradition for the Session.  Following the prayer service on the evening of Sunday 28 October, the current Session and retiring Elders are invited to gather for dinner together at the home of the Densons.

REPORTS

Worship: (K. Bunch) The next meeting of the Worship Committee is scheduled for 7 October 2007.  The celebration of Holy Communion on 7 October 2007 will be coordinated by K. Bunch for the 8:30 A.M. service and by J. Jones for the 11:00 A.M. service.

Christian Education: (N. Rozak) The Christian Education Committee’s 21 August 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

Rally Day was a great success.  The fall adult Sunday school classes are very full.  Bible Sunday is coming up on 14 October.  On 20-21 October, Frances Taylor Gench will be the guest leader for our Spiritual Enrichment Weekend.  A Committee retreat will be held on 27 October.

The Committee is especially excited about the significant growth in Sunday school attendance.

Ways and Means: (J. Graham) The Ways and Means Commission’s 8 August 2007 meeting minutes, 12 September 2007 meeting agenda and WPC Financial Statements for August 2007 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

There was extensive discussion about the Commission's consideration of campus security system proposals, based on a handout provided at the beginning of the meeting.  A recommendation from the Commission was deferred to the next meeting because the total cost of the proposal is about $25,000, and at the time of the discussion there were only six members of the Session remaining in attendance.

Recommendation:  Ways & Means moves that the Session approve the installation of a network server and related items in the church office at a cost of $7,500 in 2007, which includes the estimated cost of required technical support for the rest of the current year.

There was discussion about the ongoing requirement for technical support beginning in 2008, which is estimated to cost approximately $7,500 per year, and about the benefits of the proposal.

Action:  Approved.

The Session was asked to be prepared to consider a proposal at its next meeting for a capital campaign in early 2008 to raise approximately $150,000 needed for phase II sanctuary repairs and the security system.  

The Session was reminded that a number of decisions approved during 2007 will put upward pressure on the budget in 2008, including for example unbudgeted staff additions, and increased support committed to Don Weymeyer’s mission.  

The Session was also advised that it will soon be asked to consider the salary range and other compensation for a new senior pastor, as that information will be needed by the PNC to complete the church information form (CIF).

Nominating: (A. Denson) No report.

Personnel: (B. Cunningham) Barbara Schmidt was hired as Receptionist, and is off to a great start and very good reviews by Staff.  The Committee is continuing its search to find a child care supervisor, and is also looking for one more paid Sunday morning child care provider.

The Committee is preparing to implement a written performance evaluation process using a self-assessment instrument.

Youth Council: (S. Landis) The Youth Council’s 9 September 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.  No further report.

Transition: (D. Wellemeyer) No report.

Diaconate: (B. Berghaus) The Diaconate is not scheduled to meet in September.  No report.

Inquirers’ Class: (S. Pottenger) No report.

Seminarians: (B. Cunningham) Marian Draffin is seeking a call, and Tully Fletcher is completing his final class work, an internship, at Columbia.  Esther Acolatse is waiting to hear about the results of her ordination exams.

Sanctuary Guild: (J. Jones) No report.

Global Missions: (F. Anton) The Global Missions Committee will be hosting coffee and hospitality between worship services in support of Music Mission Kiev on Sunday 4 October.

Local Missions: (A. Denson) No report.

Assimilation: (S. Pottenger) The Assimilation Committee’s 5 September 2007 meeting minutes were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

H. Schmidt reported on the dinner event hosted at her home in support of interest in starting or fortifying WPC supper clubs.  There were 34 people in attendance, including many of the new inquirers.  Two existing supper clubs are looking for additional members, and there appears to be sufficient interest to sustain two new supper clubs.

Congregational Care:           (B. Berghaus) The Committee has recently lost several care givers, and efforts are underway to replace them.  A new parish nursing proposal is in the works.

Fellowship: (D. Wellemeyer) No report.

Boy Scouts: (F. Anton) Things are going well and the Cub Scout program, in particular, is growing a lot.

NEW BUSINESS

Action of Westminister Presbyterian Church, Durham, North Carolina Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The Moderator recessed the stated meeting of the Session and convened the Session as the Board of Directors of Westminister Presbyterian Church, Durham, North Carolina Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a North Carolina non-profit corporation.

Motion: A motion to approve and to authorize the Officers of Westminister Presbyterian Church, Durham, North Carolina Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a North Carolina non-profit corporation to take all appropriate action to amend the Articles of Incorporation of Westminister Presbyterian Church, Durham, North Carolina Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a North Carolina non-profit corporation, to correct the misspelling of Westminster as Westminister of Westminister Presbyterian Church, Durham, North Carolina Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a North Carolina non-profit corporation, was made, seconded and approved.

The Moderator adjourned the Board of Directors meeting and reconvened the stated Session meeting.

Election of Commissioners and Alternate Commissioners to Stated Presbytery Meeting:

Motion: A motion to elect Eric Wolf as Commissioner to the Stated Presbytery Meeting on 20 October 2007 at Outer Banks Presbyterian Church was made, seconded and approved.

Guest Pastor:

Motion: A motion to authorize the Rev. Dr. Brian Stratton to preach at WPC on Sunday 2 September 2007 was made, seconded and approved.

STAFF REPORTS

There were no reports from staff members.

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS                                           

Concerns about the medical conditions of Hazel Gaddis, Heidi Kivel, Jane Rawlings, Claudia Draffin’s father Claude Rutledge, and David Snyder were expressed.

Celebrations:  Morgan Currin and Chris Hasse were married on Saturday 15 September 2007 at WPC.

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

The meeting was closed with a prayer by B. Cunningham at 8:05 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Dailey J. Derr                                                                                                           Jack Walchenbach

Clerk of Session                                                                                                        Moderator

S091607 Stated