The Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) convened for a stated meeting at 5:00 p.m. on 15 October 2006 in room 105 of the Holderness Mission Center. The Rev. Robert (Bob) Fields was present and called the meeting to order and it was opened with a devotional and a prayer by K.Bunch.
Associate Pastor B.Berghaus was present. Associate Pastor P.Ransford was absent and excused.
Elders K.Bunch, B.Cunningham, A.Denson, N.Gaddis, J.Graham, M.T.Peters and D.Wellemeyer were present. Elders F.Anton, J.Jones, S.Landis, S.Pottenger and S.Ruffing were absent and excused.
WPC staff members B.Fletcher and N.Rozak were present.
Clerk of Session D.Derr was present.
Members of the current Inquirers’ Class hereinafter identified were also present.
Elder Ralph Coonrad was also present.
The Moderator declared a quorum present.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Elder Ralph Coonrad, on behalf of the Stewardship Committee, explained how the Elders are being asked to follow up with WPC members who do not return their pledge cards. The pledge cards are to be mailed by November 1 and are to be returned on or before November 12. A week after November 12, B.Fletcher will give to the Clerk of the Session a list of the names and phone numbers of WPC members who did not turn in their pledge cards and this list is to be divided among the Elders to contact the members as a reminder that the pledge cards need to be returned.
The Moderator inquired as to the planning and preparing of the welcoming of Jack and Pat Walchenbach. D.Wellemeyer as the Elder representative on the Fellowship Committee and K.Brunch as the Chair of the Worship Commission will coordinate welcoming activities with Holly Schmidt and Bill Scott of the Interim Pastor Search Committee who have been working on the welcoming since Jack was called as the Interim Pastor.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the stated meeting of the Session on August 20, 2006 and the stated meeting of the Session on September 17, 2006 were distributed, read and adopted as reviewed.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Baptisms:
Motion: A motion authorizing the Baptism of Walton Ernst Reuning, son of John and Sarah Reuning, on November 19, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. worship service was made, seconded and approved.
Motion: A motion authorizing the Baptism of Shiloh Gabriel Tasgal, son of Ruth Tasgal and Bob Kennedy, on November 12, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. worship service was made, seconded and approved.
Dismissal:
Motion: A motion dismissing Geoffrey and Christie Zawtocki to Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC was made, seconded and approved.
Letter from Presbyterian Campus Ministry, Duke University
A letter from Reverend Cheryl Barton-Henry to Clerk of Session dated October 11, 2006 reporting on activities and status of the Presbyterian Campus Ministry at Duke University and requesting spiritual and financial support of this ministry. The request for financial support was referred to the Diaconate.
OLD BUSINESS:
August Community Shelter meal - August 22, 2006
The Clerk reminded the Elders that the suggested contribution from each Elder is $35.00.
Involvement of College of Elders
The Clerk said discussion on this can be deferred until there are more definite plans for hosting the February 24, 2007 Presbytery meeting and decisions about how else to involve the College of Elders in the activities of WPC.
Follow-up to Implementation of Session Action on Best Practices, Officers and Board’s Evaluation-2005-2006 Committee Structures
D.Wellemeyer is meeting with the Chairs of various primary Committees to go over what the Committee’s charge is and to review how that charge has been and is being accomplished. He said we need to expand the Personnel Committee and the Finance Committee of the Ways and Means Commission to actually have members on each of those committees. One of the things he mentioned for discussion in the future is do we need a sitting Elder on each subcommittee and committee or only when having a sitting Elder is appropriate. He recommends considering having an Elder from the Session to attend Diaconate meetings and to have the Moderator of the Diaconate attend Session meetings. He is hoping to convene a meeting of himself and the Clerk and B.Cunningham and Elena Cleary and Mitch Dozier before the next stated Session meeting.
October 21, 2006 Presbytery Meeting
A.Denson and D.Wellemeyer are the WPC Commissioners to the New Hope Presbytery Meeting at First Presbyterian Church, Wilson, NC on October 21, 2006.
February 24, 2007 Presbytery Meeting
President Laura Mendenhall of Columbia Theological Seminary will preach during the worship service.
Annual Review of Rolls of WPC
B.Berghaus will draft a letter saying the Session is reviewing the activities of WPC members and wants to know since you have not been actively involved in WPC activities of your continuing interest to remain on the Active Roll of WPC. This letter is also to include a brief explanation of what it means to be on the Inactive Roll of WPC and, once finalized, is to be sent to WPC members who are being considered as possible transfers from the Active Roll to the Inactive Roll.
Motion: A motion to transfer Susan Pope from the Active Member’s Roll to the Inactive Members Roll was made, seconded and approved.
COMMISSION AND OTHER REPORTS:
Ways and Means: (J.Graham) J.Jones reported that the church audit is going well. N.Gaddis reported on work to date by his committee on sanctuary renovations. Phase One will cost about $28,000.00, which has been approved to be funded by the remaining funds in the Call to Action Capital Campaign. Phase Two would be more extensive and could cost as much $100,000.00 and that amount might need to be borrowed or raised in a capital campaign.
Motion: A motion to reconsider acceptance of the offer of Jon Dancy to donate video
Equipment and software for WPC to use to record its history on video was made, seconded and approved.
Motion: A motion to accept the offer of Jon Dancy to donate video equipment and software for WPC to use to record its history on video, with this program to be housed currently in the Transition Committee and to be staffed by P.Ransford was made, seconded and approved.
Ways and Means has approved the creation of a nursery supervisor to oversee the eight paid child care workers who currently work at the church for various functions. Ways and Means approved spending no more than $500.00 a month through the remainder of the year for this position.
Motion: A motion to authorize the creation of the position of nursery supervisor to oversee the eight paid child care workers who currently work at the church for various functions at a spending amount of no more than $500.00 a month through the remainder of 2006 was made, seconded and approved.
Financial Statements for September 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points in them were summarized.
Fellowship: (D.Wellemeyer) No report.
Global Missions: (F.Anton) Deacon Walt Beckwith is the Chair and Deacon Holly Borden is also on this committee. There will be a covered dish dinner Saturday night for the Wehmeyers. Minutes of the Global Missions meeting on October 11, 2006 were distributed and key points in them were summarized.
Education/Kindergarten: (M.T.Peters/N.Rozak) Minutes of the Christian Education meeting on August 15, 2006 were distributed via the Session Packet mailing and key points in them were summarized. The committee will meet Tuesday.
Worship: (D.Elvers) Communion will be celebrated on November 5, 2006 with Elder responsibility as follows: (8:30) K.Bunch; (11:00) A.Denson.
Diaconate: (B.Berghaus) A list of Diaconate responsibilities was distributed. The Diaconate will meet next week.
STAFF REPORT:
N.Rozak: The spiritual enrichment weekend was very successful. Richard Draffin and Bonnie Derr are to be congratulated on their leadership for this.
THE MODERATOR:
The Clerk thanked the Moderator for his service and leadership, inspiration and guidance and the Session responded with grateful applause.
CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS:
Concerns over the medical conditions of Bob Fields, Jack Walchenbach, John Shuler and George Eaves were expressed. Sympathy to Ben Brooks and his family on the death of his mother was expressed.
Joy over the birth of Ava Claire Nichols, daughter of Monica and Neal Nichols, and Henry Luke McLaughlin, son of Chris McLaughlin and Lynn Leubuscher, was celebrated.
EXAMINATION AND RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS:
Members of the Session were paired with specific participants from the current Inquirers’ Class who expressed an interest in joining the congregation. After meeting with the Inquirer the Elder then introduced him/her.
Motion: A motion receiving the following Inquirer’s as members of WPC by the pertinent procedures prescribed in the Book of Order was made, seconded and approved:
New Member Church Introducer
Dorothy Ariail First Presbyterian Church M.T.Peters
Rockingham, NC
Carl Boxberger Community Reformed Church (Dutch) B.Cunningham
Youngsville, NY
Adella Boxberger Community Reformed Church (Dutch) A.Denson
Youngsville, NY
Madge McRae Affirmation of Faith N.Gaddis
Brian Samuels Affirmation of Faith J.Graham
Leah Samuels Affirmation of Faith K.Bunch
Judd Staples St. Stephens Episcopal D.Wellemeyer
Durham, NC
Betty Staples St. Stephens Episcopal D.Wellemeyer
Durham, NC
Baptisms:
Motion: A motion authorizing the Baptism of Christina Rose Boxberger, daughter of Carl and Adella Boxberger, on October 29, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. worship service was made, seconded and approved.
Motion: A motion authorizing the Baptism of Brian Samuels and Leah Samuels on October 22, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. worship service was made, seconded and approved.
The Session's current business, having been completed, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned and it was closed with a prayer by D.Wellemeyer at 7:25.
Respectfully submitted,
Dailey J. Derr Robert Fields
Clerk of Session Moderator
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