The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 4:00 p.m. on 16 October 2005 in room 105 of the WPC Mission Center.  The Moderator, H. Holderness, was present and called the meeting to order and it was opened with a reading in unison of the WPC Mission Statement and a devotional and prayer by C. Haynes.   

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

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

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

 Clerk of Session D. Derr was absent and excused and Assistant Clerk A. Denson served as Clerk.

 Rev. Mindy Douglas Adams, Associate Pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was also present. Members of the current Inquirer’s Class hereinafter identified were also present.

 The Moderator declared a quorum present.

 MINUTES:

 The minutes of the stated meeting of the Session on 18 September 2005 and the called meeting of the Session on 9 October 2005 were approved as distributed.

 COMMUNICATIONS:

 Dismissal:

 Motion:  A motion dismissing Robert and Carol Shephard to Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church, Durham, North Carolina was made, seconded and approved. 

WPC Assessment/Congregational Strategic Plan Expenses:

B. Fletcher, WPC Business Administrator, stated that the Congregational Assessment had incurred an expense of $900.  Since this had not been included in the budget, there is an issue of how this expense will be paid.  Also, it is expected that there will be an expense in 2006 for publishing and distributing the report of the Assessment.  

Motion: A motion referring the matter of unallocated expenses for the WPC Assessment/Congregational Strategic Plan to the Ways and Means Committee to find funds to pay the $900 expense and to include estimated future expenses in the 2006 budget was made, seconded and approved.

 OLD BUSINESS: 

Report on Phone Calls for Annual Review of Rolls of WPC

Elders reported on their phone calls and contacts with WPC Members as indicated: 

Elders                                                               Members

A. Denson                                                        Susan Pope

F. Anton                                                           John and Laurie Christensen

F. Anton                                                           Scott and Rebecca Lula MacLeod

J. Graham                                                         Michael and Angela Young

C. Haynes                                                        Bob Chapman and Vicki Patton

C. Haynes                                                        Susan Hewitt

All of the WPC Members contacted want to remain on the WPC Roll for the present.

 COMMISSION REPORTS:

 Fellowship:  (C.Haynes) The committee has prepared a covered dish supper for those  candidates for membership from the current Inquirers Class who were present. 

Education:  (M.T. Peters) The minutes of the Christian Education Committee meeting on September 27, 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.   A Children’s Pew Bibles has been placed in each pew.   

Inquirers:  (C.Haynes) The Inquirers Class has been successfully completed and will result in the admission of 20 new members at WPC. 

 Candidates:  (C.Haynes) Esther Acolatse is hoping to be given an internship at First Presbyterian Church in Durham.  Her academics at Duke University are satisfactory.   

Motion: A motion that WPC endorse Charles Jones’ candidacy to the Presbytery was made, seconded, and approved. 

Global Missions:  (F.Anton) The minutes of the Global Missions Committee meeting on September 14, 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. The new committee had its first transitional meeting on Wednesday.  Deacon Bruce Capehart will be the new chair of the committee. 

 Worship:  (D.Elvers) The minutes of the Worship Committee meeting on September 25, 2005 were distributed.  Arrangements need to be made for a pulpit supply on January 8, 2006 since all of staff will be at the Session Retreat on that date. The committee will contact Esther Acolatse to determine her availability.  A new person to oversee weddings is needed and everyone is encouraged to search for possible candidates.  There was discussion about gluten-free bread or wafers for communion, because some WPC Members cannot consume products containing gluten.  The Worship Committee will find out what to buy and where to find it.  Communion will be celebrated on November 6, 2005 with Elder responsibilities as follows: J.Graham (8:30) and D.Elvers (11:00).

Sanctuary Guild:  (J.Jones) No report.

Youth: (S.Landis) The minutes of the Youth Council meeting on September 11, 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. 

Assimilation:  (B.Derr) The Assimilation Committee will have its first meeting shortly and there is nothing yet to report. 

Ways and Means:  (D.Wellemeyer) The minutes of the Ways and Means Committee meeting on September 14, 2005 and Financial Statements for September, 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points in them were summarized by B.Fletcher.

 OTHER MATTERS

 Presbytery Meeting:  The Moderator reported on the Presbytery meeting in New Bern on October 15, 2005 which he and P.Ransford attended.  The most meaningful vote was on whether to table a motion to overture the General Assembly to rescind Amendment B.  The vote to table the motion was approved 93 – 89. 

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

 Triennial Visit from Presbytery:  Rev Mindy Douglas Adams represented the New Hope Presbytery in its triennial visit to WPC.  Inquiry was made into what the Session felt were strengths of our church and whether we needed the Presbytery’s help in any area.  Various Elders offered the opinion that we were strong in:  the quality of sermons, music, youth programs, outreach, Christian education, inreach, community involvement, officer training, and inquirers classes and, generally, in all areas.  No one suggested any area of deficiency or need for help from the Presbytery.  It was noted, however, that we are in the process of completing an assessment by the congregation.  Rev. Adams stated that we seem to be a healthy church.

 Formation of a New Presbyterian Church in North Chatham County: Rev Mindy Douglas Adams reported on formative events of a new church being formed in North Chatham County in Salem Presbytery. Both Salem Presbytery and New Hope Presbytery are working together with University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill to form this new church. It is hoped that the initial worship service of the new church will be in October 2006.

 DINNER/FELLOWSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF THE INQUIRER’S CLASS AND EXAMINATION AND RECEPTION OF THEM AS NEW MEMBERS:

 Members of the WPC Session and Staff were paired with the following specific participants from the current Inquirer’s Class who expressed an interest in joining the congregation.  After a blessing by B.Berghaus, a covered dish supper preceded introductions of each Inquirer by his/her assigned Elder or staff member. 

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

 The Session’s current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with an adjourning prayer by B.Derr at 6:00 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,

Alex Denson                                                                               Haywood D. Holderness, Jr.

Assistant Clerk of the Session                                                                               Moderator

 S101605 Stated