SESSION MINUTES
STATED MEETING APRIL 20, 2006
The Session of the First Presbyterian Church,
Elders
present were Richard Sexton, Fran Keasler, Billie Ford, Carla Lacy, Sheila
Moore, Don Johnson, Lynn Jackson, David Williams, Dean Ransdell, Cordell Klein,
Clerk Stacy Cogbill, and Moderator Reverend Dianne Brown. Elder Lil McClerkin
had an excused absence.
Also
present were Church Treasurer Lary Walker, Music Director Bryan Bierbaum,
Youth/Education Director Jane Thompson, and Office Manager Patricia Thomas.
OPENING
Reverend Brown called the meeting to order and declared a quorum present. She gave the opening prayer and a short devotional.
Since John McDowell, Diaconate Moderator, was absent, the clerk gave the Session a printed copy of Mr. McDowell’s report. The report included these items:
*The
Dinners for Eight program has been started.
*The
date for the annual Four Church Ice Cream Social will be June 25, 2006.
*The
Easter Egg Hunt was a great success. The clerk was asked to send a “thank you”
letter to Lisa and
Charles Norton for their
outstanding work on the Easter Egg Hunt.
*There
will be no small gifts (flowers or candy) given to members on Mother’s and
Father’s Day. The
Diaconate decided to save the money that
would be spent on those items and let families honor their
own mothers and
fathers.
MINUTES
The
Session reviewed minutes from the Stated Meeting of March 16, 2006, and the
Special Meeting of March 19, 2006.
MOTION
- was made by David Williams and
seconded by Dean Ransdell to approve the
minutes as presented. The motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Lary
The
Session reviewed financial reports for the period ending March 31, 2006. These
included an Analysis of Bank Accounts and a Profit and Loss Comparison. The
various accounts showed the following balances: Operating Account - $9,997.00;
Money Market Account - $189,018.00; Music Account - $7,145.00. The Profit and
Loss report showed a net loss of $9,569.00.
Mr.
Walker commented that the Money Market Account balance included funds from the
Capital Campaign.
CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CLERK
– Stacy
Cogbill
The
clerk presented the following items to the Session:
*A
wedding application (request for use of the facilities) was received from
Natalie Lindholm.
Bierbaum said he would like to check with Ms.
Lindholm to get some more information before the
Session was asked top approve the request.
*The
baptism of John Bennett Solomon, son of Matthew and Valerie Solomon, took place
in our church
on March 26, 2006.
*The
death of member Marie Merrell on March 24, 2006, will be recorded in the Church
Register.
*Communication
had been received from Vicki Deskin that
be able to accept
our antique blackboards. The Texarkana Museum Systems will be contacted to
see if they have
other ideas for the blackboards.
PASTOR’S REPORT – Reverend Dianne Brown
Reverend
Brown reported the following:
*The
elders were reminded to let the choir members pass the communion among
themselves and not
to try to hold it
for each choir member.
*It
was decided that, during communion, the elders would remain standing at the
communion table to
receive the elements
from the pastor.
*There
will be a Special Meeting of the Session on Sunday, March 23, 2006, at 10:30
a.m. The purpose
of the meeting will
be to receive new members.
*The
church was unable to work out arrangements for the Experience Works Program to
use office space
in our annex
building.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – Dean Ransdell
Ms.
Ransdell said her committee would meet on May 9, 2006, to review the staff
evaluations and interview the minister.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Lil McClerkin
No
Report
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE – Dr. Cordell Klein
No
Report
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson
Ms. Jackson said that her committee would meet on Wednesday, April 26, 2006. She reported that one item of business will be to up-date the administration pamphlet for the church.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Sheila Moore
Ms.
Moore reported the following:
*A
new, young adult class has been formed and is being facilitated by Bob Veon.
*The
current inJoy semester ends May 3, 2006. A planning meeting for the next term
has been set for
May 10, 2006.
*The
Youth Band, “Grace Nation,” has been asked to play at the Women’s Birthday
Dinner on May 3,
2006.
*Eleven
youth have signed up for the “Fun in the Son” trip this summer.
*The
*Senior
Recognition and Youth Sunday is scheduled for May 21, 2006. The Diaconate will
host a
breakfast in honor
of the high school seniors that day.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Don Johnson
The
following items were reported to the Session:
*The
icemaker is being repaired.
*Since
January, 2006, the roof on the
given to budget
(plan for) a complete replacement of that roof.
*Clarification
is needed on which committee will be responsible for the actual construction on
the new
parking lot.
MOTION
- was made by Don Johnson and seconded
by Billie Ford to let the Building
Committee handle construction of the new parking lot. The motion passed.
*Also, in reference to the parking lot construction, a letter had been received from the city regarding
removal of trees on the city’s right-of-way. The letter will be referred to the Building Committee.
WORSHIP COMMITTEE – Billie Ford
Plans are being made and work is being done for arrangements for the Presbytery to meet at our church on May 19 and 20, 2006.
The clerk was directed to write a letter of “thanks” to Brent Stewart for his help with flowers for the sanctuary each Sunday. Also, the clerk is to write a letter of “thanks” to Pat and Jane Davitt for their allowing the church to use a paper-folding machine.
MISCELLANEOUS
Reverend Brown gave each elder a copy of the “Forty Day
Prayer Vigil”.
ADJOURNMENT
Dr. Cordell Klein closed the meeting with prayer.
Reverend Dianne Brown, Moderator
Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session