May 14, 2009 – Stated Session Meeting
Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church
Stated Session Meeting, May 14, 2009–Home of Chuck and Jan Rickard
Attending: Stan Campbell, Lynne Hoerter, Marcia Ladd, Wes McGraw, Stephanie Miller, Michelle Morehouse, Ed Park, Chuck Rickard, John Walkup, Vicky Raymond, Mary Donna Pond (Clerk), and Mindy Douglas Adams (moderator). Excused: Jack Zollinger (Treasurer)
Mindy Douglas Adams called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. John Walkup led the Session in prayer and an opening devotion.
Leadership Development. Mindy led a discussion of chapter 2 of E. Stanley Ott’s Twelve Dynamic Shifts for Transforming Your Church.
Concerns and Celebrations; Correspondence; Agenda Approval. Several people shared celebrations and concerns. A letter from CEDEPCA was printed in The Mustard Seed. The agenda was approved.
Approval of Minutes. The minutes of the April 6 Stated Session meeting and April 12 and April 26 Called Session meetings were approved.
Pastor’s Report. Mindy welcomed Vicky Raymond who will be ordained and installed as Elder on Pentecost. She also thanked John for his tireless work on the leadership team, the Six-Year Planning committee, and on the Session and told him we will miss him at meetings. Mindy reported that a group of eight local clergy has been meeting regularly and is involved in the process of creating an InterFaith Council for Chatham County. Mindy is serving as vice chair of this effort.
Treasurer’s Report. Mindy reported that no financial reports are available due to the transition in staff but that work is getting caught up and overall we are in good shape financially.
QUADRANT REPORTS
Community. A written report was distributed. A proposal from the Outreach Committee to use the local portion of the Pentecost offering to support the Teen Court program of Deep River Mediation passed on a voice vote. Michelle (Outreach) reported on the success of the drive to meet the Feinstein Challenge Grant, with $3,128 raised by Chapel in the Pines ($1,710 of which from the 8 dinners that were held); a total of $5,836 was raised by the three churches that participated. Lynne (Membership) reported that a draft of the church directory is being circulated for final corrections. Mary Donna reported that the new post card mailing will be sent next week. Stephanie (Communication) explained the geographic and demographic selection for this mailing which targets newcomers to the area.
Education. A written report was distributed. Wes reported on an ecumenical educator gathering in Winston-Salem that shared available resources. He also shared that classes for the summer will be described at a churchwide brunch on May 24 during the Sunday school hour.
Fiduciary. A written report was distributed.
Lynne (Building/Planning) reminded everyone of the Blessing of the Land on Sunday, May 17, at 2:00 p.m. (rain date May 24). She thanked John Walkup for his work in preparing the site for access. Lynne posted an invitation at Briar Chapel with the hope that some residents might attend. A nice article appeared in the Chapel Hill News about the event. On another note, she reminded the session that the two congregational visioning meetings will be held May 31 (following worship, box lunches provided) and June 14 ( 3pm at the Briar Chapel clubhouse). Briar Chapel is again allowing us to use the clubhouse at no cost. Lynne has assured them we will not request such use too frequently.
Stan reported for the Finance, Administration and Budget Committee that 1) ACS OnDemand has been installed and is operating (This will allow remote access to the church data for staff and various others). 2) The LCD projector has not yet been purchased, but is in the works. 3) A group looking into alternate sites for worship is also exploring options for erecting a temporary structure on our land that could be used in the event we can no longer use space at the school.
Marcia (Personnel) reported that the new bookkeeper, Janet Askew, has begun work; she thanked the search committee for their work.
Stan concluded his report by explaining that due to increased responsibilities and demands on his time at work, he must resign from the Session and as Fiduciary Quadrant Chair following the June 2009 meeting. Mindy expressed to Stan, on behalf of the entire Session, heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful and vital work he has done over the years to bring the church into being and make it financially viable. Stan has agreed to serve as Stewardship Chair for the 2010 campaign.
Worship. John reported that we are close to the time when Jeremy Nabors will go away for his study leave. Because of complications with the school’s procedures, no replacement has yet been secured. Marcia asked if we should be starting to look for a temporary replacement and John said "not yet." Ed asked if plans are in place to receive a love offering for Jeremy; Marcia said that as soon as Jeremy has publicly announced his departure, such an offering will be requested. Ed recommended that we consider sending him a portion of the offering each month as a way to let him know we are with him in spirit. Nothing formal was decided about this recommendation.
John Walkup (on behalf of the Sunday Setup Spoke) moved that the question about the coffee hour, tabled at the last meeting, be withdrawn. The motion to do so passed on a voice vote.
Mindy asked for approval of a visiting preacher for September 20, The Reverend Byron Wade. Rev. Wade is currently serving as Vice Moderator of the General Assembly. Approval was given by common consent. On another note, Mindy shared that Samara Joy Nielsen will return on September 27.
OLD BUSINESS
Elder and Deacon in the Narthex: Because Sunday school and choir often prevent currently installed officers from serving as Narthex greeters, Mindy asked that the list be expanded to include Elders and Deacons who are ordained but not currently installed. The suggestion was approved by common consent.
NEW BUSINESS
Devotion and Clerk for June Stated Session Meeting: Clerk of Session, Mary Donna, must miss the June meeting. She was to give the devotion. Stephanie agreed to give the devotion for June. Lynne will serve as Acting Clerk.
Presbytery Meeting Report: Stephanie reported on the April meeting of Salem Presbytery at which there were ten proposed constitutional amendments to consider and four ecumenical statements. Stephanie reported that the debate on the issue of Amendment 08b was civilized and balanced. In the end, the amendment did pass. Since that time, however, the national vote did not receive enough votes to sustain adoption of the amendment. John was asked if the Inclusion Committee has any plans for moving forward. There are none at this time.
Next Meeting. The next Stated Session meeting will be Thursday, June 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Bob and Lynne Hoerter.
Lynne moved that the meeting be adjourned and the motion passed on a voice vote.
Mindy reminded the Session of our daily noon prayer time. Following a time or prayer the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
[Following adjournment, John distributed copies of the latest version of the Six-Year Plan for review.]
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Donna Pond, Clerk Mindy Douglas Adams, Moderator
Approved by Session June 11, 2009