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

STATED SESSION MEETING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Moderator Reverend Norm Story convened the meeting at 7:00 PM and Stephen Taylor of the Congregational Life & Outreach Ministry Team opened it with a meditation and prayer.

Elders present: Lon Anderson, Corina Armendariz, Austin Breck, Gene Christensen, Jerry Grandle, Lloyd Kirschenmann, Janet Loman, Kate Puckett, Roger Sellers, and Stephen Taylor.

Elders Excused: Jacqui Jones, Martha Mitchell, Jim Parks, Richard Paul, Greg Sherman, and Nora Yaryan.

Guests: New Member applicants Stephen L. Johnson, Valencia Owens and Rosa Taylor.

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

Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved as published.

Introduction of New Member Applicant: Stephen L. Johnson was introduced as new member applicant joining by reaffirmation of faith; Valencia Owens, a graduate of our Communicants Class, was introduced as new member applicant joining by affirmation of faith, and Rosa Taylor, a graduate of our Communicants Class, was introduced as new member applicant joining by affirmation of faith after her baptism. The Elders introduced themselves, briefly described their role as a church officer and how they all viewed this church as a significant part of their immediate family. Stephen Johnson introduced himself and described how he had been attending our church services for some time & thought that it was time for him to join our church family. Valencia introduced herself and passed out copies of her written Faith Statement to the Elders. Rosa introduced herself and read her faith statement to the Elders. The Session voted to accept Stephen L. Johnson, Valencia Owens and Rosa Taylor as members of our church family, and they will be presented to the congregation on Sunday, December 9, 2012 at the same time that Rosa and her brother Amon are baptized.

Pastor’s Report: Reverend Story advised us that member Jane Edge had passed away in Tennessee.

Pastor Story reported that the green talent sign-up sheets, recently included in the church bulletin, have generated a lot of feedback; and Ministry teams are following up by contacting individuals who had expressed interest in their areas of church ministry.

He reminded the Elders that some members of the congregation may feel isolated and uncertain about their futures during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons; so they needed to work harder to reach out to their sheep. It’s a great time to remind everyone that we are all members of God’s church family and we really need to reconnect with those we haven’t talked to or met with recently.

The Ordination and Installation of the newly elected Deacons and Elders was scheduled for Sunday, January 13, 2013.

Clerk’s Report: The Clerk’s Report was as written in the meeting agenda, and documented the special election of Elder Alex Burr as a Temporary Alternate Commissioner to the special meeting of the Presbytery of Sierra Blanca scheduled for October 24, 2012 in Ruidoso, NM. The special election was conducted by email and a quorum of Elders on Session participated in the nomination and seconding Elder Burr to be our Temporary Alternate Commissioner. He was elected by acclimation.

The Clerk’s report requested permission to remove member Ann Whelan (#3815) from our rolls due to her death. A motion was made and seconded to do so. The motion was approved by acclimation.

Approval of Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the October 16, 2012 Stated Session meeting and the October 28, 2012 Called Congregational meeting as written. The minutes of both meetings were approved by acclimation.

Committee Reports:

Administration: The Administration Team reported that as of 11/19/12 we have received pledges for 2013 totaling $280,000. However, our current expenditures through October 31^st are $362,896 and they reminded everyone to develop their 2013 budgets with a minimum reduction of at least 10% of their 2012 expenditures. A budget meeting for the 2012 and 2013 Team Moderators was scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 4^th at 6:30 PM to present and finalize the Ministry team and Church 2013 budgets.

Buildings and Grounds: Written with no action items.

Christian Education: Written with 1 action item. The team recommended the Session approve the use of church facilities for a youth movie night on December 8^th. Their recommendation was approved by acclimation

Congregational Life and Outreach: Written with no action items

Missions: Written with no action items.

Music and Worship: Written with no action items. The team reminded the Session that the In-Betweeners will help with the Advent decorating of the Sanctuary starting at 9 AM on Saturday, December 1^st. All members are invited to attend and participate. They plan to take down and store those decorations on Saturday, January 12^th.

Foundation: No report.

Financial Report for Oct. 1- Oct. 31, 2012

Oct. (Actual) Oct. (Budgeted) YTD (Actual) YTD (Budgeted)

Income $33,365.23 $364,379.85

Expense $35,642.18 $362,896.21

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

Old Business: The Session tabled the review and discussion of the Duties and Responsibilities of the Buildings and Grounds Ministry Team, but will focus on them during the December meeting. This effort is part of our on-going effort to formalize each Team’s Duties and Responsibilities in order to ensure that everyone knows what they should be doing and that no one is duplicating the efforts of others. The Session had previously approved the Christian Education Team’s list of their Duties and Responsibilities; which were provided for the record, as an Attachment to the approved minutes of the October 16^th Session meeting.

New Business: Reverend Story announced that he would recuse himself from the discussion of the new business; and turned the meeting over to the Clerk of Session. Several Elders spoke in recognitation and appreciation of the hard work that Reverend Story had done in almost singlehandedly developing and selling the reorganization of our Presbytery of Sierra Blanca into the structure that was approved at the Special Meeting in Ruidoso on October 24, 2012. This new structure reduced the Presbytery labor overhead cost to essentially one (1) part-time Stated Clerk and will enable us to keep each member church’s annual Per-Capita cost at approximately the same as what we have historically paid to the Presbytery. All of the Elders recognized the added stress and burden that organizing and leading this innovative and very critical effort has placed on Reverend Story over the past two years and that he had done it while tirelessly tending to the needs of his sheep here at First Presbyterian Church. They were unanimous in wanting to recognize Reverend Story’s 10^th Anniversary as our Pastor, and to express our appreciation for all of his hard work in developing the new organizational structure of our Presbytery of Sierra Blanca. They thought that the best way to do so would be to give him some of the rest he needs. A motion was made and seconded to award Reverend Story a paid sabbatical for the month of July 2013 that would be in additional to his regular paid vacation time. After some discussion and verification from the Administration Ministry team that the cost of this additional paid time off will not adversely impact our projected 2013 Budget, in part because of volunteers who will fill the pulpit in his absence, the motion was approved by acclimation. Reverend Story was called back to the meeting and resumed as Session Moderator.

The next Stated Session Meeting will be Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 7:00 PM. The Missions Ministry Committee will be responsible for opening prayer and meditation.

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

_____________________ ______________________ _____________

Carlton Connor Norm Story Date Approved

Clerk of Session Moderator