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

STATED SESSION MEETING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2014

 

Moderator Reverend Dr. Norm Story convened the meeting at 7:00 PM and Kate Puckett of the Missions Ministry Team opened it with a meditation and prayer.

 

Elders present:  Lyn Ames, Lon Anderson, Corina Armendariz, Brad Class, Blaine Goss, Susan Grandle, Jacqui Jones, Roger Sellers, Stephen Taylor, and Dennis Thomas.

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Elders Excused Absence:  Nancy Johnson, Bill Kuyper, Winnie Quinzi (LOA), and Greg Sherman.

 

Guests:  Deacon Don Behnke, Rev. Carrol Blevins, New Member applicant Karen Candusso, and James Baylor.

 

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: Karen Candusso was introduced as a new member applicant joining by affirmation of faith.  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.  Karen introduced herself as a Chicago transplant who recently moved to Las Cruces to be near her husband’s family.  She discovered our church when she and a friend attended our Trunk-or-Treat event on Halloween night. Someone mentioned our Wednesday Salt & Light program and invited her to bring her kids to it.  They started coming, and found their new church home.  The Session voted to welcome Karen Candusso into the membership of our church family.  She will be presented to the congregation on Sunday, February 9, 2013 and her children Caitlin and Dominic will be baptized during the same service.

 

Pastor’s Report:  Pastor Dr. Story introduced James Baylor and briefly discussed his sense of call to the ministry.  He will be working with Rev. Hawkins and Rev. Blevins as he learns about their ministries over the next 6 or 7 months.  James has been accepted at Princeton’s theological school and will be enrolling there in August.  Pastor Dr. Story asked for a motion to extend the privilege of the floor to James Baylor whenever he attends Session meetings.  The motion was made, seconded, and approved by acclamation.

 

Pastor Dr. Story asked for a motion to set the date for the annual congregational Meeting for Sunday, February 23, 2014.  The motion was made, seconded, and approved by acclamation.  He asked for a motion to schedule the Elders Retreat for Saturday, March 1, 2014.  The motion was made, seconded, and approved by acclamation.  He asked the Session for 2 volunteers to serve on the 2014 Nominating Committee and emphasized the need for the voices of some women to be represented on the committee.  The Nominating Committee will be tasked with finding 6 Deacons, 6 Elders, and the majority of the members for the 2015 Nominating Committee.  After a brief discussion failed to produce any volunteers, action on this matter was deferred to the February 18^th Session meeting.

 

Pastor Dr. Story announced that it was very important that we elect our 2014 Commissioners to Presbytery in advance of the Annual Presbytery of Sierra Blanca meeting scheduled for January 24-25^th 2014 at the Hobbs First Presbyterian Church in Hobbs, NM.  He advised the Session that we had been allocated a 4^th Commissioner and that our 2013 Commissioners; Steve Loman, Janet Loman, and Lloyd Kirschenmann; along with our Alternate Commissioners Jerry Grandle and Greg Sherman had volunteered to serve again this year.  After some discussion about the duties & responsibilities of our Commissioners, there was no volunteer for the new 4^th Commissioner, so Pastor Dr. Story asked for a motion to elect our 2013 Commissioners and Alternates to serve in their same capacities for 2014.  The motion was made, seconded and approved by acclamation.  Election of our 4^th Commissioner was deferred to the regular February meeting of the Session.  

 

He advised the Session that when the Bridge College Ministry closed down, there were approximately $2,000 in Presbytery of Sierra Blanca funds allocated to that college ministry program which were returned to Presbytery control.  He requested Session approval for the Clerk to send a letter to the Presbytery requesting the transfer of those funds to our existing College Ministry programs as they are serving the same college population as the Bridge Ministry programs had served.  A motion was made & seconded to request the funds returned from the Bridge College Ministry be transferred in total to our College Ministry programs.  The motion was approved by acclamation.

 

Clerk’s Report:  The Clerk’s Report was as written in the meeting agenda. 

a. Rev. Norm Story ordained and installed new Elders Susan Grandle, Blain Goss, and Nancy Johnson as well as new Deacons Scott Burns, Bea Connor, Pat Felhauer, Steve Johnson, and Barbara Sauter during the regular Sunday church service on December 29, 2013.  He installed new Youth Deacon Ernie Armendariz at the Faith & Fellowship service on Saturday, January 11, 2014.

b. Rev. Norm Story baptized Malachi Obadiah Moreno on 01/12/2014, Stephen Jack Loman and Michael Sutherin on 01/19/2014.  Rev. Wayne Hawkins baptized Edgar Valerio on 01/19/2014.  The Clerk requested permission to record these baptisms in our Children Baptism Records and a motion was made, seconded and approved to record them in our Baptism Records.

c. The Clerk reported that Rev. Story and Rev. Hawking presented 21 new members to the congregation on Sunday, January 19, 2014.  All 21 of the new members had successfully completed the young communicant’s classes they taught late last year and their names are listed in the minutes of the Called Session meeting on January 5, 2014.

d. The Clerk advised the Session of the death of Rose Lang (#3715) on 10-15-13 and Nancy Davis (#4280) died on 12-28-13.  The Clerk requested the approval of the Session to remove Rose Lang (#3715) and Nancy Davis (#4280) from our church rolls.  A motion was made, seconded, and approved to authorize the Clerk to remove Rose Lang (#3715) and Nancy Davis (#4280) from our church rolls.

e. The Clerk requested that our minutes acknowledge the death of Rev. Perkins Patton in Farmington, NM on 09/05/2013.  Perkins was a retired Presbyterian Minister, who was also the leader of our Boy Scouts of America Troop 64 for many years.  Although he was not a member of our church, he and his wife Patricia were very active and supportive of all of our church activities.  They were sorely missed when his declining health forced them to move to Farmington to be with family members.  A motion was made, seconded and approved to do so.

 

Approval of Minutes:   A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the Stated Session Meeting of December 17, 2013 and the Called Session Meeting of January 5, 2014 as written.  The minutes were approved by acclamation.

 

Deacon’s Report:  In the absence of a report from the Deacon’s Moderator, Deacon Don Behnke reported that the demand for distributions from our Mattress & Bedding ministry was down thru Christmas but started increasing in early January.  We distributed 100 twin sheets & blankets to families connected to Conlee Elementary School and another 100 sheets & blankets to social workers connected to the Las Cruces Public Schools.  Rev. Hawkins had reported that someone was talking to him about our Mattress & Blanket ministry at a Roadrunner Food Pantry distribution event.  They said that they had asked a Catholic church for some used bedding & blankets, but were told they would have to pay the church to receive what they needed.  They said that our program is a true blessing because their needs are met without any questions or requests for payment.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Administration:  Written with no action items.

 

Buildings and Grounds:  Written with no action items.

 

Christian Education:  Written with three action items.  The requests for approval of the youth Enchilada luncheon on Sunday, February 23^rd in conjunction with the Annual Congregational meeting and for the youth to hold monthly fund raising car washes as the way is clear were approved by acclamation.  The request for approval for Vacation Bible School to run from June 9^th thru June 13^th was approved by acclamation.

 

Congregational Life and Outreach: Written with no action items.

 

Missions: Written with no action items.

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Music and Worship: Written with no action items.

 

Foundation:  No meeting, therefore no report.

 

Columbarium:  No meeting, therefore no report.

 

Financial Report for Dec 1 - Dec 31, 2013

 

                   Dec (Actual)    Nov (Budgeted)       YTD (Actual)      YTD (Budgeted)

Income       $52,524.89                                  $417,168.89

Expense     $42,138.41                                  $426,018.41

 

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

 

Old Business:  There was No Old Business for the Session to discuss.

 

New Business:  Treasurer Lyn Ames & Clerk of Session Carl Connor agreed to continue serving in those offices for 2014.  A motion to elect them as Treasurer and Clerk of Session respectively was made & seconded.  The motion was approved by acclamation.

 

The next Stated Session Meeting will be Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 7:00 PM. The Administration Team will be responsible for opening prayer and meditation.

 

Adjournment: Reverend Story adjourned the meeting with prayer at 8:08 PM.

 

 

 

 

______________________                        ______________________                           _____________       

Carlton Connor                          Rev. Dr. Norm Story                                   Date Approved

          Clerk of Session                                  Moderator