May 15, 2017 Stated Session Meeting
Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church
Stated Session Meeting May 15, 2017
Attending: Ruling Elders Karen Atkins, Terry Rudolph, Archie (Butch) Smith, Al Schalk, Barbara Strange, Teaching Elder Rev. Lynn Stall (moderator), Marcia Ladd (clerk)
Absent: Heather Bogan, Maggie Reif, Kristin Lavergne, Jerry Wehmueller (treasurer)
Guests: Madeline Schalk, Susie Smith. Vince Walker (incoming deacons); Stan Campbell, Paul Isom, John McDowell (incoming elders); Nana Morelli (Office Manager); Mary Donna Pond (web mistress)
The meeting was called to order by Lynn Stall at 7 PM. Marcia delivered the devotion, ending with a prayer. Pastoral concerns and celebrations were shared.
Lynn turned session attention to the first order of the day. Nana presented the different aspects of session interfacing with her office, finding and relaying information to her, the committee folders in the office, scheduling meetings by letting Nana know, deadlines for information for the newsletter (noon Monday) and the bulletin (noon Wednesday). There was discussion to let all session members see, view only, the church calendar. Mary Donna and Nana will make that happen and get word back to session about it. If there is a separate letter to go out to the congregation, Nana needs it a day in advance. She also explained where disbursement forms are available on the web site.
Lynn turned session’s attention to the second order of the day, an overview of the web site by Mary Donna. She showed session how to navigate the calendar. She pointed out the tabs across the top and on the right side of the home page. She pointed out the tabs on the left and how to access various items relevant to session, Operations Manual, members’ contact information, Realm, etc. She fielded questions from the group.
Lynn thanks them both for their time and their work.
Lynn thanked the outgoing session members and acknowledged out going deacons.
Examination of incoming officers
Lynn asked each of the incoming officers to share something important about their faith journey and something they learned in their session training. Upon completion of the sharing
Al moved
that their examination for readiness be sustained as complete.
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Lynn thanked the incoming officers for their time and indicated they were free to go or welcome to stay for the remainder of the meeting. She offered a prayer of thanks.
Approval of agenda and consent agenda
The agenda and consent agendas were approved by common consent. The consent agenda contains the following items:
Consent Agenda
a. Approval of session minutes – Stated meeting 4/17/17, Called meeting 5/7/17
b. Approval of committee minutes – Building and Grounds 4/18/17, Mission and Service 5/7/17
c. Correspondence – May Presbytery meeting Necrology, Briar Chapel Public Hearing, Casa Materna Letter, Letter supporting buffer reduction request to Chatham Commissioners, CORA Newsletter, David Bohner roles removal request, Lou Brock transfer, Habitat letter, Faith Connections on Mental Illness thank you
Pastor’s Report
Lynn talked a little about our summer intern, Denise Noble who begins on May 28. We have a date for the Rise against Hunger event, July 8, Saturday morning. Vacation Bible School will be the second week in June with 3 other churches – Mt. Zion, Haw River and Evergreen. There will be a June 11 called meeting to receive new members. The next stated meeting will address education and staffing. She also asked that the elders sign up for communion prep and elder in the narthex, two sheets that were circulated during the meeting
Committee reports
Finance
Lynn asked if there were any questions about the April numbers, and if everyone had seen Jerry’s report. Al indicated that he thought session had approved using half the money from the recent capital campaign to pay off the debt on the building and he just found out that the money is being used to pay the mortgage payments. Session will discuss this again once there is clarity on the original motion session approved.
Membership
Barbara offered the following motion
At his request remove David Bohner from the roles of Chapel in the Pines
The motion carried by common consent.
Mission and Service
Lynn reported that the church’s portion (40%) of the Pentecost offering will go to Communities in Schools of Chatham County. She also offered the following motion from the committee in Maggie’s absence
To designate the tiny house project at The Farm at Penny Lane to receive the local portion (50%) of the 2016 capital campaign
The motion carried by common consent.
Communication and Technology
Al drew people’s attention to the Statement of Work and Terms and Conditions for the new web site. Jerry has indicated the terms and conditions are very standard. The Statement of Work is comprehensive. Al indicated the committee is dedicated to work with the contractor at every step of the way to make sure the web site most accurately reflects the work and mission of CitP. He brought the following motion
that session give the web task force the authority to sign a contract with Page Progressive for $5000 using the Terms and Conditions and Statement of Work included in the packet.
The motion passed unanimously.
Ongoing Business
Fellowship Hall Update
Lynn indicated the building is going at a good pace. The session had approved an additional $20,000 for the construction, but they may need additional monies, $5,000, to complete the construction.
Lynne indicated the task force for the interior design of the Fellowship Hall, chaired by Joan Zollinger would like to offer the following motion for session’s approval
Allocate $1000 from undesignated memorial gifts for kitchen supplies such as dishes, glasses, etc.
There were several questions, session voted 5 to 1 to approve the motion, Karen voted against it.
Lynne tuned session’s attention to the building usage schedule and asked that the Worship Committee look at it at their upcoming meeting. There was discussion about saving the Fellowship Hall from 5-7 on Sunday night. The Building Use Guidelines will be considered by Worship and Building and Grounds.
PNC Update
Lynn indicated the COM is scheduled to meet Thursday the 25th to review the Mission Study developed by the PNC and approved by session. The PNC took Mother’s Day off, but will meet on the 21st to lay out plans for how they will sort through the Pastor Information Forms (PIF) they will receive. The team members are Monty Brekke, Amanda Briggs, Pat Chappell (chair), Paul Harrell, Lynne Hoerter and Marcia Ladd.
May Presbytery Meeting
Lynn indicated that Maggie is staying in Atlanta after her Dad’s recent death so nobody from CitP would be attending the presbytery meeting the next day.
Lord’s Supper, Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
Since the previous stated meeting April 17, no new members were received The Lord’s Supper was celebrated once on May 7th. There were no baptisms, weddings or funerals.
As the business of the meeting was concluded, Lynn closed with prayer at 9 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Ladd, Clerk
Approved by session June 19, 2017
Reminders:
Remember to pray for our church each day at noon.
Next stated session meeting will be June 19, 2017, Jerry Wehmueller has the devotion
Next Presbytery meeting is May 16th at First Presbyterian Church in Salisbury
Ordination/Installation on new officers May 21, 2017
Called meeting to receive new members June 11, 2017