The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 p.m. on 16 July 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 A.Denson.

 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, M.T.Peters and D.Wellemeyer were present. 

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

 Clerk of Session D.Derr was present.

 Elders Elect Bruce Cunningham and Katherine Bunch were also present.

 The Moderator declared a quorum present.

 INTRODUCTIONS:

The Moderator is a minister at large in New Hope Presbytery. He retired in 1998 after twenty-five years as Senior Pastor of Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. His wife is Charlene Fields and they will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary next month. They have three grown children. He is serving as the Moderator of the WPC Session as a representative of New Hope Presbytery to help WPC during its transition while it searches for an Interim Pastor.

 The Elders and staff identified themselves and their Session or other responsibilities and  responded to the following questions, What is happening in my life? and What is my best wish for WPC in the months ahead?

 MINUTES:

The minutes of the called meeting of the Session on June 8, 2006; the stated meeting of the Session on June 18, 2006 and the meeting of a Commission of Session to receive Scott and Claire Forrest on June 25, 2006 were distributed, read and adopted as reviewed.

 COMMUNICATIONS:

 Dismissal

 Motion:  A motion dismissing Betsy Ray to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church in Black Mountain, NC was made, seconded and approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

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

Ways and Means will consider this and report its action to the Session at the stated August Session meeting.

COMMISSION AND OTHER REPORTS:

 Ways and Means: (J.Graham/D.Wellemeyer) The minutes of the Ways and Means Committee meeting on June 14, 2006 and Financial Statements for June, 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points in them were summarized.  The Interim Pastor Position Compensation Subcommittee continues compiling information.

Fellowship: (C.Haynes) The Pig Pickin’ on Rally Day, September 10, 2006 is being coordinated by Bill McAvoy and Walt Beckwith. Walt will chair the Fellowship Committee next year.

 Global Missions: (F.Anton/P.Ransford) The minutes of the Global Missions Committee  meeting on June 21, 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and the minutes of the Global Missions Committee meeting on July 12, 2006 were distributed at this meeting and key points in them were summarized. The WPC Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund has been reimbursed $27,000 for the shower trailers by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  

 Education/Kindergarten:  (M.T.Peters/N.Rozak) The Christian Education Committee did not meet in June. It will meet on July 18. A group of seven WPC members participated in a great Music and Worship Conference at Montreat.

 Sanctuary Guild: (J.Jones) Several members have volunteered to provide flowers as a result of the Holderness retirement celebrations.

 Youth Council:  (S.Landis) The minutes of the Youth Council meeting on May 21, 2006 were distributed and key points in them were summarized.  The Youth are very busy and active. 

 Assimilation: (B.Derr). The minutes of the Assimilation Committee meeting on June 14, 2006 were distributed and key points in them were summarized. Everyone needs to support and promote the meet and greet coffees after the Sunday morning worship services. The committee is aware that WPC is not adequately serving its single members. The committee will meet again on August 30. B.Berghaus and N.Rozak will be invited to the August meeting to discuss any staff initiatives underway or planned to keep and engage the WPC multi-aged singles.

 Seminarians: (C.Haynes) At the New Hope Presbytery Stated meeting on July 11, 2006 Tully Fletcher was received as an Inquirer for preparation for ministry and Esther Acolatse was received as a Candidate for preparation for ministry.  Esther asked if the Session provides money for her examination fees. This was referred to Ways and Means for consideration and a recommendation or other response.  Marian Draffin has decided there are some classes to be taught next spring she wants to take, so she will complete her courses at Fuller Theological Seminary then. In the meantime she will be doing her internships and will be available to preach in September.

 Inquirers’ Class: (C.Haynes) A new Inquirers’ Class will start on September 10, 2006, which will be lead by Elder Sue McCaughan.

 Worship: (D.Elvers) Communion will be celebrated on August 6, 2006 with Elder responsibility as follows: B.Derr (8:30) and B.Nicoll (11:00). 

 Motion: A motion authorizing Esther Acolatse to preach the Word at the 8:30 and the 11:00 worship services on August 13, 2006 was made, seconded and approved.

 Motion: A motion permitting Cub Scout Pack 451 to have an insert promoting Cub Pack 451 included in WPC bulletins during the Sunday worship services a week or two before Cub Pack 451’s Join Scouting Night, to take place in August or September, was made, seconded and approved.

 Interim Search Committee: (D.Elvers) D.Elvers made statements during the announcements portions of both worship services this morning to squelch rumors that an Interim Pastor has been selected and explained the process involved in selecting an Interim Pastor. He will work with Sam Bryan to create and maintain an Interim Search Committee link on the WPC web site. The search process is ongoing, The committee continues to receive names and to review new candidates as information about them is received. Everyone was cautioned to keep reports about the work of the committee within this group. When the committee is ready to propose a candidate to be selected as the Interim Pastor at WPC or otherwise needs to have a called meeting of the Session, D.Elvers is to notify the Moderator of this and the Moderator will then direct D.Derr to arrange to have a called Session meeting.

Diaconate: (B.Berghaus) The minutes of the Diaconate meeting on May 21, 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing. The Diaconate will meet next week and will review requests for WPC 2007 Operating Budget. The new Moderator of the Diaconate is Michael Reich and Sally Keener will continue as the Clerk of the Diaconate.

Presbytery Meeting: (WPC Commissioners C.Haynes and N.Rozak) WPC was well represented at the  68^th  Stated Meeting of The Presbytery of New Hope on July 11, 2006 at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary, North Carolina with B.Berghaus, C.Haynes, N.Rozak, Esther Acolatse and David Edwards all in attendance. WPC’s Sessional records for 2002-2005 were reported as approved with minor exceptions. The Committee on Ministry report included the announcement of H.Haywood being an Honorably Retired Minister Member of the Presbytery.

 A lengthy but somewhat vague report on the recent General Assembly meeting included these highlights: Joan Gray, a polity scholar, was chosen the new Moderator, and embraces the challenge of continuing to deal with issues from the Peace Unity Purity report; a relatively divided assembly voted 57 to 43% to adopt an authoritative interpretation of the Constitution, which will maintain ordination standards as is, including G 6.0106b on chastity and fidelity, but will also allow a provision from 1729 under which a candidate can declare a “scruple” and challenge a doctrine – and then the local ordaining body decides fitness for ordination; the divestment decision of 2004 was reframed as a more positive statement directing investments in Israel toward “peaceful pursuits” rather than precluding investment in companies that in any way support war; the Presbyterian Historical Society in Montreat will be closed due to budgetary constraints, and a program for the study of Presbyterian History will be established at Columbia Seminary; and in another close vote, the General Assembly deferred and commended for study a report recommending the expansion of language used in referring to the concept of the Trinity, but it was decided that the traditional “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” must still be used during Baptisms.

Holderness Retirement Celebrations: (A.Denson) Everything went great. The celebrations were good and appropriate things to do. Many people were involved in the planning and preparing as well participating in and attending the various events. Haywood and Mary were truly touched and overwhelmed by all of this and they were very appreciative of everything done for them.

NEW BUSINESS:

 August Community Shelter meal - August 29, 2006

 C.Haynes will plan, organize and coordinate the preparing and serving of the August 29, 2006 Session Shelter Meal. Deacon Rick Overholt has confirmed this is the date.

Organization of Session for 2006/2007

 Elders are to let D.Derr know by emails to him or otherwise their preferences for 2006-2007 Elder responsibilities.

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.

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.

 Monthly Session Report to Congregation

 The Session needs to think about how to make monthly reports to the Congregation about significant matters and events in the life and activities of WPC. Possible subjects suggested are reports about the functions or plans of commissions or committees and that WPC is hosting the New Hope Presbytery meeting on February 24, 2007.  Guidelines for what and when to make reports during the Sunday worship services and/or in the WPC Newsletter need to be developed.

STAFF REPORTS:  

 B.Fletcher: No report. A.Denson complemented her on the great work she did for the

Holderness Retirement Celebrations.

 B.Berghaus: The Mom’s Bible group participants are very supportive of each other.

 N.Rozak: She is working on fall programs and recruiting Sunday School teachers.

 P.Ransford: No additional report.

THE MODERATOR:

 The Moderator distributed and commented on each of three papers entitled as follows: “Developmental Tasks of A Church in Transition”, “Process Tasks of An Interim Pastor” and The Alban Institute report, “Imaging Congregational Identity” for the Session to use during WPC’s transition of leadership.

 CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS:

 Concerns over the medical conditions of Debby Kredich, Heidi Kivel, Kitty Currie, Alex Miller, Dave Edwards, Carol Elvers, Chick Palermo, Adam Holmes, Doug Brown’s stepfather Whit Whittington, Lori Osowski’s father Bob Eggleston, and Barbara Yurkutat were expressed.  Sympathy to Walt Beckwith over the accidental death of his good friend James Kolb was expressed.

 The Session's current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with a prayer by N.Gaddis at 6:50 p.m.

Dailey J. Derr                                                                                                     Robert Fields

Clerk of Session                                                                                                     Moderator          

S071606 Stated