GO TO: Home | Publications | Minutes | Staff | Beliefs | Missions | Music | Education | Fellowship | Officers | Links |

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.), LAS CRUCES, NM

STATED SESSION MEETING

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

 The Moderator convened the meeting at 7:00 PM. Wayne Maley of the Music and Worship Committee provided the opening prayer and meditation.

 Elders present: Bill Brady, Gena Breck, Alex Burr, Carl Connor, Larry Felhauer, Susan Grandle, Donna Mathis, Wayne Maley, Jacque Parks, Bob Paul, Joan Rawson, Greg Temple, Marsha Topley, and Charlie Yaryan.

 Elders absent: Blaine Goss, Florence Hamilton.

 Elders excused: Carissa Brealey-Rood, Mary Kammann.

 Guests: Rusty Smith, Deacon’s Moderator; Simplice Tchama Kouna and his wife, Irene with their children, Josefa and Nathan, new member applicants.

 Establish Quorum: The Clerk established that a quorum was present. 

 Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved as submitted.

 Reception of New Member: Mr. Simplice Tchama Kouna (#4731) and his wife, Irene (#4732) verified their request to join the Church. The elders introduced themselves and described what the Church has meant to them personally. Then Mr. Kouna shared their personal experiences and said they would be joining by affirmation of faith. The elders voted to receive the Kouna’s into the Church’s membership and they will be presented to the congregation on November 8, 2009. Since Mrs. Kouna is still learning English, their reception will both be in English and French. They will both be receiving the sacrament of baptism prior to the reception.

 Pastor’s Report: Rev. Story expressed concern about the dwindling attendance and asked that the elders keep in touch with their “sheep”.

 Clerk’s Report:  The Clerk reminded the session about several items of business that needed to be done in the upcoming months. These include:

1.      Report to session on annual audit.

2.      Review of Pastor’s Terms of Call.

3.      Preparation of annual budget for adoption by the session prior to presentation to the congregation.

4.      Determine time and when the next congregational meeting will be scheduled to receive the nominating committees report and vote on the Terms of Call.

This created discussions about the annual congregational meeting to consider the pastor’s compensation and the annual gathering to receive the annual report.

 Communion was served to 240 worshipers on October 4, 2009. 

 Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the Stated Session Meeting on September 15, 2009 were approved as submitted.

 Correspondence:

c.       September 21, 2009 – Letter from Presbytery of Sierra Blanca search committee – Session.

d.      October 13, 2009 – Letter from Mrs. Joanne Kersting thanking the nominating committee for being asked to serve as an elder and explaining why she couldn’t accept. – Nominating committee.

 Deacons Report: Written with a request to the session that the deacon’s receive permission to create a task force to consider the option of purchasing a wheelchair accessible van. It was moved, seconded, and passed to do so.

 Committee Reports:

Administration: Written with no action items. Mary Kammann will be submitting her resignation due to her relocation. The credit card application has been denied until requested changes are made. Proposed changes to the Church By-Laws will be presented to the session at the November meeting.

Buildings and Grounds: Written with no action items.

Christian Education: Written with two requests for the session: a. A Lock-In for high school students at Mark Hellman’s residence on October 31 to November 1, 2009, and b. Youth transportation to and from, and attendance to the PYC Youth Retreat on November 13 – 15, 2009. These were both approved as submitted.

Congregational Life and Outreach: Verbal with no action items.

Missions: Written with no action items. Alex Burr presented the “Top Ten Memento” award given by the PCUSA to Sierra Blanca Presbytery for being one of the top ten presbyteries in the nation for per capita giving for special offerings. He mentioned the Taize Adult Mission trip which is a Protestant spiritual retreat in a French monastery. He’s preparing an article on this for the Lantern. He also suggested the possibility of arranging a discussion of the origin of the “holy” books of the three major religions; The Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Koran.

Music and Worship: Written with no action items but minutes were corrected to reflect Inglesias del Pueblo in the paragraph on communion.

Nominating Committee: Susan Grandle presented the committee’s report:

            Deacons Class of 2010

            Doris Silva (Filling an Unexpired term)

            Sam Bartholomew (Youth position)

            Deacon’s Class of 2012

            Theresa Armendariz

            Debbie Austin

            Bea Connor

            David Medina

            Mel Parish

            Rusty Smith

            Elders Class of 2012

            Gene Christensen – Administration

            Jerry Grandle – Buildings and grounds

            Martha Mitchell – Christian Education

            Karen Kirschenmann – Congregational life

            _________________ - Missions

            Jim Parks – Music and Worship

A Congregational meeting will be called for November 15, 2009 to receive this report.

Financial Report for September 1 – September 31, 2009

                                                Budget for 2009 - $560,790.00

Sept (Actual)     Sept (Budgeted)          YTD (Actual)         YTD (Budgeted)

Income               $30,842.79          $26,283.06               $321,839.35            $236,547.46

Expense $39,588.51           $45,783.52              $348,582.96           $432,628.94

Phase One Principal $85,000.00

 NOTES:

1. There were 5 Sundays in August
2. Workman’s comp insurance was paid in September
3. In September we purchased enough music for the choir to be legal, as well as music for next year.

Omnibus Motion to receive all Committee Reports and accept Financial Report: Approved by consent.

 Old Business:

Wayne Maley mentioned the applause issue and volunteered to write an article for the Lantern providing opposing views but not without the permission of the authors. His recommendation was approved.

 New Business:

Larry Felhauer and Rev. Story expressed their concerns about the H1N1 virus and what precautions could or would be taken to prevent its spread among the congregation. The Buildings and Grounds committee will take the responsibility for placement of hand sanitizers and making announcements on what’s being done about this problem.

            The next Stated Session Meeting will be Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM. The Administration` committee will be responsible for opening prayer, meditation, coffee and snacks.

 Adjournment: Rev. Story adjourned the meeting with prayer at 8:27 PM.

___________________________      __________________________     _____________      

Stephen F. Hardin                               Rev. Norm Story                             Date Approved

Clerk of Session                                  Moderator

Return to home page

Send comments, suggestions, and requests to Alex. F. Burr or send e-mail to aburr @ aburr.com.
Technical assistance and net access provided by zianet.com .
Last update 2010-03-20 16:01:26