The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 p.m. on 20 November 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 a prayer by B.Derr.

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

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

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

Clerk of Session D.Derr was present. 

Also, WPC member John Dancy was present. 

The Moderator declared a quorum present. 

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

Global Missions (F.Anton) – Bread for the World – Offerings of Letters

John Dancy, a member of the Global Missions Committee, spoke about his involvement with Bread for the World for some time, provided information and statistics on poverty and hunger in the United States and explained that Bread for the World is an umbrella organization for 45 denominations and other agencies advocating for legislation to help end hunger. One of the activities of its members is to conduct Offerings of Letters on designated legislation which is an offering via letters to Congress supporting a position on proposed or pending legislation.  The 2006 Offering of Letters, named One Spirit. One Will. Zero Poverty., will push for a further increase in poverty-focused development assistance.

Recommendation:  The Session authorize the Global Missions Committee to designate a Sunday in February 2006 as a Bread for the World - Offering of Letters Sunday and to undertake and coordinate activities to inform the Congregation about the Offering of Letters program and opportunities for people, on a personal and voluntary basis, to offer their own letters, if and as they choose to do so.

 Action:  Approved.

MINUTES:

The minutes of the stated meeting of the Session on 16 October 2005 and of the called meeting of the Session on 23 October 2005 were read, approved, and adopted as distributed with the following correction for the called meeting of the Session on 23 October 2005:  In the first sentence of the third paragraph on the first page after “J.Jones” insert “S.Landis“ and in the second sentence of the third paragraph on the first page delete “S.Landis.” 

COMMUNICATIONS: 

WPC Rolls: 

Motion: A motion to place David Oehler on the Active Member’s Roll was made, seconded and approved. 

Dismissal: A motion dismissing David Oehler to First Baptist Church, Wilmington, NC was made, seconded and approved. 

Motion: A motion dismissing Amy Nathan to Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH was made, seconded and approved. 

Dismissal:  Motion:  A motion dismissing Robert and Honey Royer to Derry Presbyterian Church, Hershey, PA 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 

S.Landis                                                           Jill Denton

M.T.Peters                                                       Rhonda Butler

M.T.Peters                                                       Michelle and Brian Westrom

B.Derr                                                              Walt and Jane Davis

J.Jones                                                             Bill and Martha Kearns 

WPC Assessment/Congregational Strategic Plan

B.Nicoll, Chair of the WPC Assessment/Congregational Strategic Plan Committee, reported that between 225 to 275 questionnaires have been answered and returned, which is a very good response. J.Graham is assisting with statistical applications of the responses.  The holy conversations are postponed until February 2006. The Moderator announced that the focus of the Session Retreat will be studying and analyzing these

Responses and directed that the responses be assembled into a report to be completed by December 27, 2005 so they may be distributed and read prior to and in preparation for the Session Retreat. 

COMMISSION REPORTS: 

Ways and Means: (D.Wellemeyer) The minutes of the Ways and Means Committee meeting on October 19, 2005 and Financial Statements for October 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points in them were summarized. The proposed 2006 Budget is $1,013.900 that includes $7,500 for a newly designed WPC web site, but the web site may actually be funded with CTA funds. Doreene Palermo has done some initial work on an audit, but will not do actual audit as a Deacon until after an operations manual is completed. D.Elvers will be the Session liaison for the audit.  The Ways and Means Committee is looking at re-organizing itself.  D.Wellemeyer presented some of the proposed changes and there was discussion about these. He will report on the committee’ recommendations at the next stated Session meeting. 

Fellowship: (C.Haynes) The Christmas Sing Along pot-luck dinner will be on December 11, 2005.  Walt Beckwith is coordinating the Christmas dinner. 

Inquirers:  (C.Haynes) The next Inquirers’ Class will start on January 22, 2006. 

Candidates:  (C.Haynes) Marian Draffin passed three of her ordination exams. There will be a called Session meeting in January for Ester Acolatse to meet with the Session. 

Global Missions: (F.Anton) The minutes of the Global Missions Committee meeting on October 12, 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. The One World Market off site sale grossed receipts of $2,300.00. 

Worship: (D.Elvers) Communion will be celebrated on December 4, 2005 with Elder responsibilities as follows: C.Haynes (8:30) and N.Gaddis (11:00).  Ester Acolatse will preach on January 8, 2006 and be assisted by Elder David Anderson. Suggested bread for communion is “Toutayan Whole Wheat Pita Bread”.

Sanctuary Guild:  (J.Jones) The Sanctuary will be decorated for Christmas the first of December. 

Youth Liaison:  (S.Landis) The minutes of the Youth Council meeting on October 9, 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. 

Assimilation: (B.Derr) In the process of reorganization under Diaconate. 

Education/Kindergarten:  (M.T.Peters) The minutes of the Christmas Education Committee meetings on October 18, 2005 were distributed at the meeting. 

Diaconate: (B.Berghaus) The minutes of the Diaconate meeting on July 24, 2005 and Retreat and Business Meeting on September 24, 2005 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing.

OTHER MATTERS: 

Stewardship Calls 

The Moderator distributed a list of the WPC College of Elders with Session Elders listed with approximately six College of Elders be asked to make calls or to visit members who have not returned their pledges after Thanksgiving. 

Annual Meeting of Congregation 

Motion: A motion setting the called Annual Meeting of the Congregation beginning at 12:00 noon with a lunch organized by the Fellowship Committee on Sunday, January 22, 2006 for the purposes of reviewing the terms of call of the WPC Pastors and to elect four at-large members of the 2006 Nominating Committee and to receive summary reports from the WPC Assessment/Congregational Strategic Plan Committee, the Diaconate and the Session was made, seconded and approved. 

STAFF REPORTS: 

N.Rozak: We have a great Confirmation Class. 

B.Fletcher: No report. 

B.Berghaus: Everything is good. 

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS: 

Concerns for the medical conditions of Jane Wilkerson and John Penick were expressed. 

The Session's current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with a prayer by D.Elvers at 6:52 p.m. 

Dailey J. Derr                                                                            Haywood D. Holderness, Jr.

Clerk of Session                                                                                                      Moderator                 

S112005 Stated