December 21, 2015 Stated Session Meeting
Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church
Stated Session Meeting, December 21, 2015
Attending: Ruling Elders Heather Bogan, Monty Brekke, Vicky Raymond, Fred Royal, Al Schalk, Archie (Butch) Smith, Barbara Strange, Marcia Ladd (Clerk), and
Teaching Elder Rev. Mindy Douglas (Moderator of Session)
Excused Absence: Lynne Hoerter, Kristin Lavergne, Jerry Wehmueller
Guest: Stan Campbell, Chair 2016 Capital Campaign
The meeting was called to order by Mindy Douglas at 7:00PM. Heather led the opening devotion, ending with prayer. Concerns and celebrations were shared.
Leadership development: Mindy led a discussion on the several statements included in the pre-meeting materials about current world circumstances and urging people of faith to model inclusiveness and love rather than anger and fear. She wondered if session would like to draft a document to share publically.
Barbara moved
we approve the statement from Falls Church, removing the last sentence in the first paragraph and the first two scripture verses with an intention of sending it as a letter to the editor of local papers.
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Mindy and Marcia will draft the appeal and send it back to session for approval.
Approval of agenda and consent agenda
It was moved and seconded that the agenda be approved. The consent agenda was unanimously approved, as follows:
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Approval of minutes -Stated session 11/16/15, called session 11/22/15
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Committee minutes – Building and Grounds 11/3 and 11/15: Strategic Planning Task Force 12/7/15; Children and Youth 12/13/15; Stewardship Subcommittee 11/22/15
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Deacon Minutes 11/16/15
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Clerk’s Questionnaire FYI
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Correspondence – Email from Todd Adams, Email from Theological Education Fund, Salem Presbytery letter re Take and Eat, Chatham Literacy letter, Apostle Build letter, Beverly Rudolph update
Pastor’s report. Mindy shared her appreciation of all that is transpiring in the advent season.
Committee reports
Finance
Stan presented an overview of the Capital Campaign Subcommittee plans for the 2016 campaign with a goal of approximately $800,000, $400,000 of which is currently secured in the form of matching pledges. Any expenses incurred during the campaign (banners, fellowship meals, etc), up to $10,000, will be covered by monies raised in the campaign, including cost of the previously approved model of the fellowship hall. Stan specified several committees from which he would like a representative to serve on the Logistical Subcommittee for the campaign. He asked the effected committee chairs to identify an individual for that subcommittee. The campaign will kick off in January, March will be the promotional awareness month, and Dedication Sunday will be May 15.
Heather presented an overview of the October and November financials, based on the Treasurer’s report included in the pre-meeting materials.
Heather reviewed the 2016 expense requests from each of the committees. She indicated we will probably need to cut some of these requests and asked that members come to the January session with thoughts on cutting their requests. The Finance Committee will come with overall suggestions for the 2016 budget.
Personnel
Butch presented the following motion from the committee for consideration:
to give a one percent raise, or a minimum of ten dollars per pay period, on the salary of staff members for the fiscal year 2016, Mindy’s compensation will be contingent upon congregational approval.
Heather moved to table this motion until the full budget decision in January, it was seconded and passed unanimously.
ONGOING BUSINESS
Mindy reviewed the schedule for the submission of the Annual Report by the committee chairs. Nana will email samples of the report to each chair in early January and ask for completed reports by the end of January.
NEW BUSINESS
TEF – Request for inclusion on their web site
Mindy briefly described the Theological Education Fund and their desire to have information on the fund on the CITP website. This was agreed to by common consent.
February Presbytery Meeting – Mindy asked for a volunteer to attend the February meeting. Fred moved to approve Heather as the delegate with Barbara as alternate
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Email from Todd Adams
Mindy asked for input on the email request from Todd shared in the pre-meeting materials. She indicated Lynne had asked for the discussion on this request to be tabled until she could be present. The sense of the session was to include the angels in a rotation and not leave them up all the time. Heather moved
that we table the decision until January.
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Approval of MLK Offering – Butch made a motion
to approve the MLK offering and its donation to scholarships.
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Strobilus request – Mindy drew session’s attention to the Strobilus request for a spring dance performance using aerial performers and long silks. The performers are working with Dreaming Creek, the company who built the rafters for the church, to determine what the church structure will hold. The session is in favor of Strobilus Arts proceeding with this plan as long as they deliberately ensure that the church is covered and compliant from an insurance, architectural and fire laws standpoint.
The next stated session meeting will be January 18 at the 7 pm. Butch Smith will have the devotion.
As the business of the meeting was concluded, Mindy led a closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Ladd, Clerk
Approved by session 1/18/16
Reminders:
Remember to pray for our church each day at noon.
Next stated session meeting January 18, 7 PM Butch Smith has the devotion
February 9, Presbytery Meeting First Presbyterian in Greensboro