April 18, 2016 Stated Session Meeting

Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church
Stated Session Meeting, April 18, 2016 Narthex

Attending:  Ruling Elders Monty Brekke, Lynne Hoerter, Kristin Lavergne, Vicky Raymond, Fred Royal, Archie (Butch) Smith, Barbara Strange, Jerry Wehmueller (Treasurer) Marcia Ladd (Clerk), and Teaching Elder Rev. Mitzi Lesher-Thomas

Absent: Heather Bogan, Al Schalk

Guests: Karen Atkins, Elizabeth dePrater, Gail King, Maggie Reif, Terry Rudolph, Garrett Southerland

 

The meeting was called to order by Mitzi Lesher-Thomas at 7:00 PM. A quorum was declared. She led the opening devotion, ending with prayer. Mitzi introduced our guests. Concerns and celebrations were shared.

Leadership development: Mitzi discussed adaptive change based on the article shared in the pre-session packet. The group focused on the story they wanted most to be remembered about CITP and what fears might people have centering around the ongoing changes.

Approval of agenda and consent agenda

It was moved and seconded that the agenda be approved, the motion was carried by common consent.  The consent agenda was also moved, seconded and carried by common consent, as follows:

1. Approval of minutes – Stated session 3/21/16, Email vote April 12, 2016

2. Committee minutes – Building and Grounds 3/3/16, 3/24/16; Transition Team 4/10/16

3. Correspondence – BEEWorld

4. New devotion schedule

5. New elder in the narthex schedule

Pastor’s report.  Mitzi provided an update on the search for an interim pastor. She conveyed Stan’s request that all the officers make a pledge prior to the kickoff of the Capital Campaign this Sunday. She also told session that Maggie would take over Mission and Service, Terry Worship and Karen Building and Grounds. The other committee assignments will remain the same.

Examination of new elders Karen, Elizabeth, Gail, Maggie, Terry and Garrett each briefly shared their faith journeys with session. Monty moved

that their examination for readiness be sustained as complete.

The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Committee reports

Finance

Jerry went over the March financial reports, including revenues and expenses, balance sheet and restricted accounts, all are trending in positive directions.

In Heather’s absence, Jerry presented an update on the Capital Campaign.  

Worship

Vicky presented the following motion from Worship

That Mitzi Lesher-Thomas be approved to celebrate communion as part of worship with the deacons at the beginning of their bi-monthly meetings.

There was minimal discussion; the motion carried by common consent.

Building and Grounds

Fred presented a brief update on the status of increasing the parking lot by 40 spaces in the area across from the classroom wing on top of the hill near the road. There are some county and land swap issues to be resolved before we can move forward. Newland will donate a 100 foot strip that is currently designated as a buffer, there will be some regulatory hurdles with this, but Fred believes it is doable. The legal costs for this will be approximately $2000, the survey $1000. The total cost will be slightly less than $15,000, those monies are already designated funds for the building so will not come out of the operating fund. Fred and Jerry requested that session keep this information confidential until it is further along. Lynne moved

That session empowers Building and Grounds to move ahead with the exploration of the project including expenditure of funds for the survey and legal work.

The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Mission and Service

Monty offered the following motion from Mission and Service

To participate in Chatham Community Church’s "Chatham Serves" work day to include a modified worship on Sunday, June 12 at the church.

There was discussion about whether or not to hold a worship service at CITP that day. Leigh Denny’s last Sunday is June 12, and there was discussion on the implications of that for our participation. Monty withdrew the motion pending a conversation with Chatham Community Church about what type of flexibility they might have around our participation.

Monty offered the additional motion

to designate  Communities in Schools of Chatham County as the recipient of the local portion of the 2016 Pentecost offering

There was minimal discussion and the motion passed unanimously.

Finally, Monty offered the following motion

 to designate Casa Materna Ana Sayre in Guatemala as the recipient of the global portion of the Mission and Service component of the 2013 capital campaign

There was minimal discussion and the motion passed unanimously.

Personnel

Butch introduced the following motion from Personnel

To approve the positon description for pianist included in the pre-session packet and to begin the search for that position immediately with a salary range of $10,500 to $12,500 annually.

There was some discussion around the market value for the position and the current salary. The proposal is consistent with both and it passed unanimously. The Committee would also like Jeremy and Mitzi to appoint the search committee for this position.

Butch introduced the second motion

To approve the collection of a love offering for Leigh Denny to be given to her on her final Sunday in worship.   

There was discussion about whether we were collecting too many love offerings, the sense of the session was that we should have this offering. The motion passed unanimously.

Ongoing Business

Mitzi asked if there were any volunteers to go to the Presbytery meeting on April 30 in Elkin. There was no elder able to go.

New Business

Mitzi indicated that she, Mindy and Monty had several conversations about whether Chapel in the Pines should issue a statement on House Bill 2. There was discussion about whether to do this and some members’ needs to understand the bill better. Monty will share a link to the bill and ask that we return to the discussion at the next meeting.

Mitzi indicated Bryan McFarland and John Johnson from the Commission on Ministry will be at the next session meeting to conduct an exit interview.

Lord’s Supper, Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals

Since the previous stated meeting March 21, 2016 the Lord’s Supper was celebrated three times on March 24th  and 27th  and April 3rd. There were no new members, baptisms, weddings or funerals.

The next stated session meeting will be May 16th at the 7pm. Jerry Wehmueller will lead the devotion.

As the business of the meeting was concluded, Lynne moved the meeting be adjourned, the motion passed unanimously. Mitzi led a closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned at 8:45PM.

Respectfully submitted, 

Marcia Ladd, Clerk

Approved by session 5/16/16

 

Reminders:  

 

• Remember to pray for our church each day at noon.
• April 30 Presbytery Meeting in Elkin
• May 2 anniversary of 2008 CITP Charter
• Next stated session meeting May 16 , Jerry Wehmueller has the devotion