WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013
APPROVED Minutes Stated Meeting of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church
WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 CALL TO ORDER: Pastor Lee Kinney called the meeting to order. THE SESSION IN WORSHIP The Session and guests participated in a brief time of worship, through prayer, both in word and in song. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM A quorum was present. In the absence of the Clerk, Archie Jennings was appointed Acting Clerk. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The amended agenda was accepted, with four items being added by elder Stewart Rumley to new business. ATTENDANCE: Elders Present: John Fowle, Steve Brodie, Stewart Rumley, Tommy Swanner, Archie Jennings, Adra Kennedy, Jim Ellis, Bob Fish, Jeff Rumley, Chuck Bracken, and Lee Kinney (Moderator) Absent: Will Mayo, Others Present: (Elder Nominees) Al Hodge, Faith Baker, David McLawhorn, Mike Rowe, Bill Walker, John Rebholz, Zoph Potts, Ted Lewis (Deacon Nominees) Dava Jarman, Franye Fowle, Dan Wagner, Virginia Jenks and Terri Ann McLawhorn. EXAMINATION OF NEW OFFICERS: Newly elected and trained officers were examined in three groups. A motion was made (S. Rumley), seconded (A. Kennedy) and approved unanimously to sustain the examinations of the newly elected elders and deacons. After congratulations to all, the newly approved officers were dismissed. CLERK’S REPORT: In the absence of the Clerk, no minutes were available. Correspondence: None Membership Rolls: New Members: John Haywood (pending baptism) & Michelle Renee Edwards. Births: None Transfers: Terry Sawyer Deaths: Dallas Congleton, November 11, 2013 Information:
Weddings: None Baptisms: None Worship Attendance (November – 4 Sundays) 10:30 am – 699 (175 average) Sunday School Attendance (4 Sundays) Children – 79 (20 Average) Adult – 222 (56 Average) Action Items: At the request of member Jeff Inman, who now attends the local Catholic church, a motion was made (S. Rumley), seconded (S. Brodie) and approved to remove Jeff Inman from the church rolls. OLD BUSINESS: Tommy Swanner moved on behalf of Stewardship Commission the approval of a provisional budget for posting purposes, pending a final budget presentation at the January 21, 2014 Stated Meeting of Session. The motion included the provision of the approval of a 1.5% increase to all non-clergy staff with the exception of the newly hired director children, youth and family ministry. Since the motion came from the Stewardship Commission, it needed no second. After discussion, the motion was approved unanimously. SESSION COMMISSION REPORTS: STEWARDSHIP: The Session moved to a discussion of the Frames of Faith project, with Tommy Swanner sharing that the mortgage with First Citizen’s Bank will likely be less than was originally expected, at approximately $750,000 as the remaining balance. Currently, all receipts from pledges toward the Frames of Faith project are ahead of schedule. It was anticipated that continuing the campaign an additional year, at current rates of commitment, would likely complete the project. A more detailed summary will be prepared after the first of the year and presented to the session and then to the congregation for information. NEW BUSINESS: OFFICER MEETING ATTENDANCE Elder Stewart Rumley addressed the importance of consistency and dedication in elder attendance at meetings, as well as in the proper preparation for meetings. He pointed out that some had been less than consistent in their regular participation. It was agreed by all that dedication to the task of being an elder was of utmost importance and would be encouraged in the next iteration of the Session. VOLUNTEER STAFF POSITION IN PASTORAL CARE Elder Stewart Rumley requested information regarding new volunteer staff position in pastoral care, recently announced to the congregation. Pastor Kinney responded by explaining that there were actually two volunteers who have stepped forward to augment Pastor Kinney’s ongoing pastoral care of the congregation. He further explained that the two individuals, Susan Stewart and Stuart Thomson, are trained Stephen’s Ministers who will enable extra care of persons in the congregation who are experiencing chronic pastoral situations. SIZE OF FUTURE SESSIONS Elder Stewart Rumley talked about the future size of the Session. The Session was reminded that expansion of Session membership occurred many years before because of the elimination of the Board of Deacons. Having reconstituted the Deaconate, Elder Rumley pointed out that it is becoming difficult to find enough individuals who feel a call
to a three year commitment to serve on the Session. A discussion ensued and it was suggested that the 2014 Session develop a plan to bring to the congregation for approval to reduce the size of the Session from 18 elders to 12 elders. A motion was made by Bob Fish to include the item on the agenda of the 2014 Session as soon as possible. Without objection, it was agreed that it would be listed as an agenda item in early 2014. OPERATIONS MANUAL Elder Stewart Rumley talked about the importance of updating the FPC Manual of Operations early in 2014. The Moderator assured the Session that a task force would be established in January of 2014 to review and overhaul the Session’s Manual of Operations by the end of the first quarter. OTHER BUISINESS: By common consent, the Session adopted a resolution of thanks to the Elders and Deacons of the Class of 2013 for their faithfulness, diligence and dedicated service to the life and ministry of the First Presbyterian Church, Washington, NC. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pastor Kinney invited each of the retiring elders to comment upon their time of service. All expressed their gratefulness to God and the members of the church for the time spent and the work accomplished. The retiring elders were thanked by Pastor Kinney and the remaining session members for their service. Next Stated Session Meeting will be January 21, 2014. ADJOURNMENT: The moderator asked for a motion to adjourn. Stewart Rumley so moved. The meeting was adjourned and closed in prayer by the moderator.
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W. Lee Kinney, Moderator
Archie Jennings, Acting Clerk of Session
WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 CALL TO ORDER: Pastor Lee Kinney called the meeting to order. THE SESSION IN WORSHIP The Session and guests participated in a brief time of worship, through prayer, both in word and in song. DECLARATION OF A QUORUM A quorum was present. In the absence of the Clerk, Archie Jennings was appointed Acting Clerk. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The amended agenda was accepted, with four items being added by elder Stewart Rumley to new business. ATTENDANCE: Elders Present: John Fowle, Steve Brodie, Stewart Rumley, Tommy Swanner, Archie Jennings, Adra Kennedy, Jim Ellis, Bob Fish, Jeff Rumley, Chuck Bracken, and Lee Kinney (Moderator) Absent: Will Mayo, Others Present: (Elder Nominees) Al Hodge, Faith Baker, David McLawhorn, Mike Rowe, Bill Walker, John Rebholz, Zoph Potts, Ted Lewis (Deacon Nominees) Dava Jarman, Franye Fowle, Dan Wagner, Virginia Jenks and Terri Ann McLawhorn. EXAMINATION OF NEW OFFICERS: Newly elected and trained officers were examined in three groups. A motion was made (S. Rumley), seconded (A. Kennedy) and approved unanimously to sustain the examinations of the newly elected elders and deacons. After congratulations to all, the newly approved officers were dismissed. CLERK’S REPORT: In the absence of the Clerk, no minutes were available. Correspondence: None Membership Rolls: New Members: John Haywood (pending baptism) & Michelle Renee Edwards. Births: None Transfers: Terry Sawyer Deaths: Dallas Congleton, November 11, 2013 Information:
Weddings: None Baptisms: None Worship Attendance (November – 4 Sundays) 10:30 am – 699 (175 average) Sunday School Attendance (4 Sundays) Children – 79 (20 Average) Adult – 222 (56 Average) Action Items: At the request of member Jeff Inman, who now attends the local Catholic church, a motion was made (S. Rumley), seconded (S. Brodie) and approved to remove Jeff Inman from the church rolls. OLD BUSINESS: Tommy Swanner moved on behalf of Stewardship Commission the approval of a provisional budget for posting purposes, pending a final budget presentation at the January 21, 2014 Stated Meeting of Session. The motion included the provision of the approval of a 1.5% increase to all non-clergy staff with the exception of the newly hired director children, youth and family ministry. Since the motion came from the Stewardship Commission, it needed no second. After discussion, the motion was approved unanimously. SESSION COMMISSION REPORTS: STEWARDSHIP: The Session moved to a discussion of the Frames of Faith project, with Tommy Swanner sharing that the mortgage with First Citizen’s Bank will likely be less than was originally expected, at approximately $750,000 as the remaining balance. Currently, all receipts from pledges toward the Frames of Faith project are ahead of schedule. It was anticipated that continuing the campaign an additional year, at current rates of commitment, would likely complete the project. A more detailed summary will be prepared after the first of the year and presented to the session and then to the congregation for information. NEW BUSINESS: OFFICER MEETING ATTENDANCE Elder Stewart Rumley addressed the importance of consistency and dedication in elder attendance at meetings, as well as in the proper preparation for meetings. He pointed out that some had been less than consistent in their regular participation. It was agreed by all that dedication to the task of being an elder was of utmost importance and would be encouraged in the next iteration of the Session. VOLUNTEER STAFF POSITION IN PASTORAL CARE Elder Stewart Rumley requested information regarding new volunteer staff position in pastoral care, recently announced to the congregation. Pastor Kinney responded by explaining that there were actually two volunteers who have stepped forward to augment Pastor Kinney’s ongoing pastoral care of the congregation. He further explained that the two individuals, Susan Stewart and Stuart Thomson, are trained Stephen’s Ministers who will enable extra care of persons in the congregation who are experiencing chronic pastoral situations. SIZE OF FUTURE SESSIONS Elder Stewart Rumley talked about the future size of the Session. The Session was reminded that expansion of Session membership occurred many years before because of the elimination of the Board of Deacons. Having reconstituted the Deaconate, Elder Rumley pointed out that it is becoming difficult to find enough individuals who feel a call
to a three year commitment to serve on the Session. A discussion ensued and it was suggested that the 2014 Session develop a plan to bring to the congregation for approval to reduce the size of the Session from 18 elders to 12 elders. A motion was made by Bob Fish to include the item on the agenda of the 2014 Session as soon as possible. Without objection, it was agreed that it would be listed as an agenda item in early 2014. OPERATIONS MANUAL Elder Stewart Rumley talked about the importance of updating the FPC Manual of Operations early in 2014. The Moderator assured the Session that a task force would be established in January of 2014 to review and overhaul the Session’s Manual of Operations by the end of the first quarter. OTHER BUISINESS: By common consent, the Session adopted a resolution of thanks to the Elders and Deacons of the Class of 2013 for their faithfulness, diligence and dedicated service to the life and ministry of the First Presbyterian Church, Washington, NC. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pastor Kinney invited each of the retiring elders to comment upon their time of service. All expressed their gratefulness to God and the members of the church for the time spent and the work accomplished. The retiring elders were thanked by Pastor Kinney and the remaining session members for their service. Next Stated Session Meeting will be January 21, 2014. ADJOURNMENT: The moderator asked for a motion to adjourn. Stewart Rumley so moved. The meeting was adjourned and closed in prayer by the moderator.
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W. Lee Kinney, Moderator
Archie Jennings, Acting Clerk of Session
