March 21, 2016 Stated Session Meeting
Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church
Stated Session Meeting, March 21, 2016
Attending: Ruling Elders Heather Bogan, Monty Brekke, Lynne Hoerter, Kristin Lavergne, Archie (Butch) Smith, Vicky Raymond, Al Schalk, Barbara Strange, Jerry Wehmueller (Treasurer), Marcia Ladd (Clerk), and Teaching Elder Rev. Mindy Douglas (Moderator of Session)
Excused Absence: Fred Royal
Guest: Rev. John Johnson (First Responder), Mitzi Lesher-Thomas (Parish Associate), Katie Murchison-Ross (Intern), Stan Campbell (Chair Capital Campaign)
The session meeting was called to order by Mindy Douglas at 7:00PM and opened with prayer.
Mindy introduced Rev. John Johnson, pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church. She asked John to address the session as the First Responder for CITP appointed by the eastern neighborhood Commission on Ministry for Salem Presbytery. John briefly described his role and the process of moving toward a new installed pastor. He entertained questions.
Stan Campbell gave a brief overview of the concepts, shared in the pre-session packet, developed by his subcommittee to maximize revenues in the upcoming campaign. He focused on the pillar naming aspect, indicating the price of a pillar would be $10,000 and would have written on it in memory or in honor of with the possibility of the inclusion of the donor’s name. There is a potential for 32 pillars.
Mindy led the opening devotion, ending with prayer. Concerns and celebrations were shared.
Approval of agenda and consent agenda
The consent agenda was unanimously approved, as follows:
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Approval of minutes -Stated session 2/15/16, email vote 3/7/16, called session 3/20/16
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Committee minutes – Building and Grounds 2/4/16, 2/18/16; Finance 2/21/16; Transition team 2/21/16, 3/7/16, 3/12/16, 3/20/16; Capital Campaign 2/31/16; Stewardship 2/28/16; Web Site Re-Design Task Force; Communication and Technology March report
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Congregational Meeting 3/13/16
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Deacon’s Meeting 3/14/16
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Correspondence – Thank you from CEDEPCA, Thank you from Take and Eat Food Pantry, Thank you from Karla Koll, Thank you from XDS, IT Update
It was moved and seconded that the agenda be approved as revised, it was unanimously approved.
Pastor’s report. Mindy shared this will be her last week in the office.
Committee reports
Finance
Jerry presented an overview of the February, 2016 numbers.
Heather introduced the gift policy motion from finance:
To approve the gift policy in the pre-session packet
The motion passed unanimously.
Heather introduced the motion from the Capital Campaign Subcommittee:
To approve the fellowship hall pillars project to enhance its efforts to maximize contributions from all sources as described in the pre-session packet
The motion passed unanimously.
Personnel
Butch introduced the following motion from Personnel:
To engage the services of Mitzi Lesher-Thomas to fulfill the needs of the congregation and staff of CITP from April 4, 2016 until an interim pastor is employed. This is a contractual agreement for the sum an annualized rate of $42,000.
The motion passed unanimously. Jerry asked Personnel to consider increasing Nana’s hours, at least temporarily. Butch will take the recommendation to the committee.
Communication and Technology
Al gave a brief overview of the update contained in the pre-session packet about the IT contractor.
Transition Team
Lynne presented the following motion from the Transition Team:
To recommend to session passage of the job description for the Interim Pastor
The motion passed unanimously.
Lynne introduced a second motion from the team:
To recommend to session $62,000 as the minimum annual effective salary for the interim pastor. CITP will cover all Board of Pension expenses and other job related expenses will be negotiated.
The motion passed unanimously.
Worship
Vicky introduced a motion from worship about the April and May preaching schedule:
to approve the following preaching schedule
- PCM leading worship on April 17
- Katie Ricks preaching on May 1
- Bryan McFarland preaching on May 22
The motion passed unanimously.
The next stated session meeting will be April 18 at the 7PM. Mitzi will serve as Moderator and have the devotion.
As the business of the meeting was concluded, Mindy led a closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned at 8:30PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Ladd, Clerk
Approved by Session April 18,2016
Reminders:
Remember to pray for our church each day at noon.
Next stated session meeting April 18 7 PM Mitzi Lesher-Thomas has the devotion
Next Presbytery Meeting April 30, Elkin