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

STATED SESSION MEETING

TUESDAY, May 18, 2010

 The Moderator convened the meeting at 7:00 PM. Carl Connor of the Administration Committee provided the opening prayer and meditation.

 Elders present: Carissa Rood, Gena Breck, Alex Burr, Gene Christensen, Carl Connor, Larry Felhauer, Blaine Goss, Jerry Grandle, Wayne Maley, Martha Mitchell, Jim Parks, Richard Paul, Joan Rawson, Greg Temple and Charlie Yaryan.

 Elder excused: Florence Hamilton.

 Elder absent: Bill Brady.

 Guest: Rusty Smith, Deacon’s Moderator.

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

 Approval of Agenda: With the addition of a report from the Foundation committee the agenda was approved as submitted.

 Reception of New Members/ Training: Rev. Story handed out a copy of Section W-5.000 of Chapter V in The Book of Order, Worship and Personal Discipleship. After having this section read aloud by several elders, a discussion on what this section meant to them was conducted.

 Pastor’s Report: Rev. Story started his report by expressing his concern on the decline in attendance and stated we have to do better in bringing in new members.

 He again suggested that it would be beneficial to attend another Church and experience how it feels to be a visitor in another congregation. Gena Breck and her family had recently done just that and she described the experience.

 Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be June 14 through June 18 and all were encouraged to come and spend some time seeing what goes on at VBS.

 Rev. Story will be away in July and the Session voted not to have a Session meeting in July.

 Starting next month (June) he suggested that all committee moderators meet a half an hour before the scheduled time of the Session’s meeting to coordinate and keep on top of the various ongoing activities.

 Clerk’s Report:  The Church staff continues the mailing of letters to Church members eligible to be placed on the in-active roll or removed from the roll.

 The clerk requested and received permission to issue letters of transfer of membership to Sonoma Springs Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM for Ms. Courtney Prahl (#4560), Mr. Barry Prahl (#4436) and Mrs. Tammy Prahl (#44400; and a letter of transfer of membership for Mrs. Eleanor Cox (#4388) to the First Presbyterian Church of Manhattan, Kansas. He requested and received permission to remove Ms. Marianne Day (#2851) from the Church roll as per her request by e-mail on April 28, 2010.

 He reported on the results of the Presbytery Sessions Records Review Team for our Church and we had no exceptions. It was commented that our minutes didn’t reflect a vote of Session to schedule celebration of the Sacraments and reports to the Session by Presbytery Commissioner were not found for all Presbytery meetings.

 A thank you card from the Kairos Ministry for our support was mentioned.

Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the Stated Session Meeting on May 18, 2010 were amended to reflect that the written minutes of the Christian Education committee were available prior to the Session meeting and with this correction were approved.

 Correspondence:

1.      April 2010 – Thank you card from Kairos Ministry – Clerk of Session.

2.      April 21, 2010 – Letter requesting Letter of Transfer for Mrs. Eleanor Cox to First Presbyterian Church, 801 Leavenworth St., Manhattan Kansas, 66502 – Clerk of Session.

3.      April 28, 2010 – E-mail from Marianne Day requesting removal from Church membership since she’s attending another Church – Clerk of Session.

4.      May 5, 2010 – Letter from Presbytery of Sierra Blanca reporting the results of Session Records Review Team – Clerk of Session.

5.      May 12, 2010 – Letter requesting Letter of Transfer for Ms. Courtney Prahl to Sonoma Springs Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM. - Clerk of Session.

6.      May 12, 2010 – Letter requesting Letters of Transfer for Mr. Barry Prahl and Mrs. Tammy Prahl to Sonoma Springs Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM. – Clerk of Session.

 Deacon’s Report: Written with no action items.

 Committee Reports:

Administration: Written with no action items but a discussion on funding requests from the Session to the Foundation ensued with a procedural explanation offered. The Foundation president and the Administrative committee moderator will work closely together.

Buildings and Grounds: Written with a recommendation that Session approve an expenditure of up to seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00) for a garage, to be called the Deacon’s garage, to house the Church’s new wheelchair lift van. It was approved as recommended.

Christian Education: Written with no action items.

Congregational Life and Outreach: Written with no action items.

Missions: Written with no action items.

Music and Worship: Written with no action items.

Nominating Committee: Verbal and work is in progress on filling the two vacancies.

Foundation Committee: Verbal requesting approval of their proposed officers and terms which was approved by the Session. They authorize expenditures up to $1500.00 for the purchase of comport hardware.

 Financial Report for April 1- April 30, 2010

                                                Budget for 2010 - $ 456,208.91

Apr (Actual)     Apr (Budgeted)           YTD (Actual)      YTD (Budgeted)

Income               $44,444.58          $29,731.00               $162,047.81           $118,924.00

Expense $35,746.93           $37,546.56               $143,191.90           $151,173.74

Phase One Principal $85,000.00

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

 Old Business: Alex Burr gave a brief update on the columbarium project and work is underway.

 New Business: None

            The next Stated Session Meeting will be Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 7:00 PM. The Buildings and Grounds committee will be responsible for opening prayer, meditation, coffee and snacks.

 Adjournment: Rev. Story adjourned the meeting with prayer at 8:12 PM.

___________________________      __________________________     _____________      

Stephen F. Hardin                               Rev. Norm Story                             Date Approved

Clerk of Session                                  Moderator

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Last update 2010-06-11 21:53:33