Presbytery Council - Minutes - May 16, 2008  

The meeting was opened with prayer at 10:04 by Tom Koger

Members present were:  Tom Koger, Cheryl Homsher, Mary Breden, Steve Schorr, Peggy Tharp, Helen Glass, Mark Morgan, Lloyd Morgan, Flynn Long, Kay Long, Joyce Bronaugh, and Pat Hunter.  

Also present were: Jimmy Stevens (Treasurer), Patty Lane (Stated Clerk), and Jose Luis Casal (General Missioner).

Absent were:  Joyce Sherrod, Frances Carlton and Theresa Wright.

The minutes of the January 10, 2008 meeting were approved

Communications:

Ø     Presbyterian Disaster Office – appoint two representatives to attend training meeting to be held in Dallas on July 30-31.  It was MOVED, SECONDED AND CARRIED that Theresa Wright, Glenda Harbert, and one person from El Paso to be named attend the training.

 Ø     From Elizabeth Johnson Pense, Stated Clerk of Synod thanking presbytery for the attendance of all four commissioners at the April 24-25 meeting.   Received as information.

 

Old Business:

Ø     Presbytery Goals - Same 5 goals as last year (2007)

Ø     Second Harvest Campaign Committee - Met in April, met with CDC to see coordinate the efforts. Continue to visit churches. 

Ø     Session Minutes to be read – Cheryl Homsher recommended that training be held for ministers and Clerks of Session to be trained. Assigned to Training and Nurture.

Ø     Maranatha Administrative Commission - Jimmy Stevens reported that the price on the church building was reduced by the Finance Committee.

Ø     Presbytery Menu – Committee Moderators will brainstorm new ides to advertise resources of the presbytery and bring a report back to the next council meeting.  The Committee on Worship is working on creative ideas for a Presbytery Menu.

Ø     Presbytery Manual

It was MOVED, SECONDED AND CARRIED that the council approve the changes to the policy manual and present them to the presbytery. MOVED, SECONDED, AND CARRIED that council recommend to presbytery that the standing rules be suspended and that the changes be approved immediately and that the second reading and vote be taken at the fall meeting.    

Article VI Meetings
There shall be three stated meetings of the presbytery each year.  Ordinarily the three meetings shall be held in February, June and October.  The dates shall be approved by presbytery at the fall meeting for the coming calendar year.  Each meeting will ordinarily be preceded by training for new commissioners and shall include worship with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  Meeting dates, times, locations, themes, special presentations and speakers shall be determined by Presbytery Council upon recommendation from the Council Sub-Committee on Presbytery Worship and Meetings.

 Article VII
Elections and Terms of Office

Presbytery shall elect officers and new classes and vacancies to its permanent and required committees and commissions personnel at the stated fall meeting upon nominations by the permanent committee on nominations.  New committee classes shall take office upon adjournment of the fall stated meeting at which time previous terms shall end.

Each committee shall elect it s moderator at its first meeting after the fall meeting of presbytery.  The moderator of the previous committee shall serve until the new moderator is elected.  A moderator of the past committee whose term of office has expired shall serve as convener of the new committee and advisory member until a new moderator is elected.

It is suggested that each committee have its first meeting as early as feasible, but not later than six weeks after the fall presbytery meeting, utilizing the meeting for orientation, planning and caring for its normal business.

 Committee on Ministry
10.2     MEMBERSHIP  

 The committee shall consist of twelve members, divided into three equal classes.  The term of office shall be for three years.  A person completing two full terms (five years or more) shall not be eligible for reelection until one year has elapsed.    A chair, vice-chair and clerk shall be elected for the ensuing year before the fall stated meeting of presbytery.

Three consecutive absences by a member of the committee constitutes an automatic resignation. This automatic resignation will be reported to the Committee on Nominations so that the vacancy can be filled.

 Committee on Preparation for Ministry
11.2     MEMBERSHIP

 Membership of the committee shall consist of six members.  It shall be divided in three equal classes.  A person having completed two full terms (five years or more) shall not be eligible for reelection until one year has elapsed.  The committee shall elect the chairperson.  

Committee on Training and Nurture
12.2     MEMBERSHIP   

 This committee shall consist of fifteen members, divided into three equal classes. The committee may appoint members at large for special task forces as needed. The term of office shall be for three years. A person who has completed two full terms (five years or more) shall not be eligible for re-election until one year has elapsed.  The chair, vice-chair and secretary shall be elected for the ensuing year before the fall stated meeting of presbytery.

 Committee on Mission
13.2     MEMBERSHIP 

Membership of this committee shall be nine elected members. The elected members shall be divided into three annual classes of three each.  The term of office shall be three years. A person having completed two full terms (five years or more) shall not be eligible for reelection until one year has elapsed.   The chair shall be elected for the ensuing year by the committee before the fall stated meeting of presbytery.

 Committee on Church Development
14.2     MEMBERSHIP 

 The Committee on Church Development shall consist of twelve members divided into three equal classes. The term of office shall be for three years. A person having completed two full terms (five years or more) shall not be eligible for reelection until one year has elapsed. The Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk shall be elected for the ensuing year by the committee before the fall stated meeting of presbytery.

Presbytery Council
15.2     MEMBERSHIP

The council shall consist of the chairs of the following committees: Committee on Ministry, Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Committee on Mission, Committee on Church Development and Committee on Nominations Committee on Training  and Nurture, the immediate past moderator, the moderator of the presbytery, the vice-moderator of presbytery, the moderator of the Presbyterian Women  and 5 at large members, one at large member should be a person under 21 years of age and should be a member of the youth task force for a one-year-term. The Stated Clerk, the Treasurer, the General Missioner and the chairs of Personnel, Financial Services and Presbytery Worship and Meetings Sub-Committees are ex-officio members. The chairs of Personnel, Financial Services and Presbytery Worship and Meetings Sub-Committees will be advisory members. The immediate past moderator of presbytery shall chair the council.

Personnel Sub-Committee
16.I.2   MEMBERSHIP

The Council shall appoint a Sub-Committee on Personnel, which shall be composed of six members, in three annual classes of two members serving three years terms, representative of the regional groups of the presbytery. The term of office shall be three years. A person having completed two full terms (five years or more) shall not be eligible for reelection until one year has elapsed. The chair of this sub-committee will be advisory ex-officio member of the council

Financial Services Sub-Committee
16.II.2 MEMBERSHIP

 The sub-committee shall be composed of nine members, in three equal classes. The term of office shall be three years. A person having completed two full terms (five years or more) shall not be eligible for reelection until one year has elapsed. Members shall be elected by the presbytery council which shall annually designate the chair, who shall be an advisory ex-officio member of the council. The council shall inform the presbytery of this election. The General Missioner and the Treasurer will be advisory member of this sub-committee.

 Worship and Meetings Sub-Committee
16.III.2            MEMBERSHIP

 The Council shall appoint a sub-committee on Presbytery Worship and Meetings which shall be composed of six members including the General Missioner, the Moderator and the Vice-Moderator. The chair of this sub-committee will be appointed by the council and will be ex-officio member of the Council.  

Reports of Committees:                                                                            

Ø     Committee on Worship MOVED, SECONDED, AND CARRIED that the packet for Ordination/Installation services be approved and sent to the presbytery.      

Ø     Personnel Committee - MOVED, SECONDED, AND CARRIED that Bill Proctor be approved to serve on Personnel to replace Nora Fitch who has resigned. Tom Koger will ask Bill Proctor to serve.  Evaluation letters will be sent out.

General Missioner Report – will highlight parts of his report with a written report given once a year. Theresa Wright volunteered to be the editor of the Presbytery Newsletter. The presbytery will purchase the program and Theresa will be taking classes at Midland College for a semester to learn the program. Helen Glass encouraged the council members to be sensitive to the fact that Theresa Wright will be out of the office to take the class. A person is needed to request articles for the newsletter. Jose Luis Casal will be taking a day for each pastor in the presbytery to help build relationships and better communication. It was suggested that volunteers be found to answer the phone when Jose Luis Casal or Theresa Wright are away. It was stated that Theresa Wright and Jose Luis Casal have been responsible in returning phone calls or e-mail very promptly.

 Committee on Mission – report received. MOVED, SECONDED, AND CARRIED that recommendation A be approved and sent to the presbytery. MOVED, SECONDED, AND CARRIED that the Mission Networking Policy (see B in report) be approved and sent to the Presbytery.

 Ø     Committee on Preparation for Ministry – Jose Luis Casal asked the council members be in prayers for Frances Carlton who had knee replacement surgery.

Ø     Training and Nurture – report received.

Ø     Committee on Ministry – report received. No. 3 Board of Pensions Sabbatical Assistance Grant awarded to Patty Lane Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church El Paso.

Broke for lunch at noon. Cheryl Homsher led the Council in prayer.   Resumed at 1:00 p.m.

 Ø     Church Development Committee – verbal report given. Working on three of the five goals. FYI worked with St. Andrews in El Paso for a GA grant. Working on hiring a consultant to work with the churches once they collect all their information. Consultant will work with CDC and local churches. Working hard on preparing a strategy (This is what we are doing) to present at the June meeting. Will finalize it for the Presbytery meeting.  

 Ø     Nominating Committee – request to send in names to nominating committee. Sending a letter to committee moderators for input from committees of names and also sending letters to those who finished their terms and for new members. 

 Ø     Presbyterian Women – report handed out. Joyce Bronaugh suggested that churches send newsletters to her so she can keep up with what the women of the churches are doing. Her E-mail address: bertjoyce@suddenlink.net  Cecilia Casal’s E-Mail address: shiccasal@sbcglobal.net

 Ø     Financial Services – no vote necessary on A report

MOTION, MADE, AND, SECONDED that B (if Highland PC El Paso agrees on the terms of  loan for $12,000 at 4% for 5 years) and E be approved. (see report)

MOTION, MADE, AND, SECONDED (D) that Council recommend that the letter from St. Andrews PC in El Paso and request dealing with property of said church be dealt with in the Financial Services.  

 Ø     Treasurer’s Report received.

 Ø     Receiving Site Report - Churches behind in contributions will be contacted to see if some payment can be made.

 New Business:

Ø     Docket for Presbytery Meeting Agenda attached

Ø     New Commissioner Packet – Where is the Moderator’s Cross?  (check with Juanice) It needs to be replaced, it was suggested that one be purchased in Costa Rica . Cheryl Homsher shared a new up date for new Presbytery Commissioners “Now that I’m a commissioner to presbytery. . . what am I supposed to do? Please share this letter with new commissioners and encourage them to attend the New Commissioners Orientation. MOTION, MADE, AND SECONDED that the docket and the new commissioners letters be approved.

What is included in the Omnibus Motion?  Only written reports should be included. Any new reports that are handed out at a presbytery meeting must be explained and voted upon and not placed in the Omnibus Motion.

Cheryl Homsher suggested that the Moderator and Vice-moderator do the Orientation together.

 Other – The Presbytery of Columbia sent a letter of gratitude to Tres Rios, which will be presented at the June Presbytery meeting in EP.

 Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 2:30 with a prayer by Lloyd Morgan.