SESSION MINUTES

STATED MEETING JUNE 22, 2006

 

The Session of the First Presbyterian Church met in a Stated Meeting on Thursday, June 22, 2006, at 5:00 p.m. in the Library/Session Room.

 

Elders present were Fran Keasler, Billie Ford, Carla Lacy, Sheila Moore, Don Johnson, Lynn Jackson, Clerk Stacy Cogbill, and Moderator Reverend Dianne Brown. Also present were Diaconate Moderator John McDowell, Treasurer Lary Walker, Office Manager Patricia Thomas, and Presbyterian School Director Nancy Emerson. Elders Richard Sexton, Dr. David Williams, Dean Ransdell, Lil McClerkin, and Dr. Cordell Klein had excused absences. 

 

OPENING

 

Reverend Brown called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, and asked Lynn Jackson to give the opening prayer. Reverend Brown gave a short devotional.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Presbyterian School Director Nancy Emerson gave the Session a report on the status of the school’s staff, enrollment, and finances. It was noted that the enrollment was increasing and the financial statement showed slightly more income than expense.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Ms. Emerson presented an Eagle Scout Project proposing to construct a fall zone under the swings on the playground. The project would be in compliance with the licensing requirements for the Presbyterian School and would be developed and constructed by member Anthony Emerson. The estimated cost would be $971.76.

 

            MOTION -     was made by Don Johnson and seconded by Stacy Cogbill to approve an

                                    expenditure of up to $971.76 for the construction of a fall zone under

                                    the playground swings. It was understood that the cost would be reduced by any

                                    donations made for the project. The motion passed.

 

MINUTES

                       

Minutes from the Stated Meeting of May 18, 2006, and a Congregational Meeting of June 18, 2006, were reviewed by the Session.

 

            MOTION -     was made by Don Johnson and seconded by Sheila Moore to approve the minutes

                                    as presented. The motion passed.         

 

DIACONATE REPORT – John McDowell

 

Mr. McDowell reminded the Session of the following programs and events on the church calendar:

 

*Four Church Ice Cream Social – June 25, 2006.

*Family Camp – July 28-30, 2006.

*Annual Church Picnic – October 8, 2006.

 

 

Mr. McDowell also said that help with visiting the shut-ins would be handled by the Mission and Service Committee.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT – Lary Walker

 

The Session was presented financial reports for the period ending May 31, 2006. The various cash accounts showed the following balances: Operating Account $58,350.00; Money Market Account - $167,344.00; Music Account - $7,194.00. The total of all accounts was $232,888.00. The profit and loss statement showed a net loss of $11,150.99. Through the same period last year the net loss was $6,930.50.

 

CORRESPONDANCE TO THE CLERK - Stacy Cogbill

 

Mr. Cogbill presented the following to the Session:

 

*A request from the Presbyterian Women to use up to $1,000.00 of the Malcolm Lecture Fund to bring a

   speaker to the church in the fall.

*A request from Treasurer Lary Walker to appoint Gene Cogbill as Assistant Treasurer for the church.

  This would be done to facilitate communication with the Internal Revenue Service in regard to payroll

   reports.

*A request from the Personnel Committee to hire Eva Parker as a nursery worker.

*A request from Gail Abrahamson, Vice President of the Friends of the Library, to use the Fellowship

  Hall for a meeting of the Library group on October 16, 2006.

 

            MOTION –    was made by Stacy Cogbill and seconded by Sheila Moore to approve the requests

                                    listed above. The motion passed.

 

The clerk informed the Session of two other items of information. One concerned a contribution of services from a church member for help with the newly acquired lot south of the church. The other item was the City’s Resolution Number 5314 which allowed the 500 block of Pecan Street to be closed to traffic during the annual Four Church Ice Cream Social.

 

PASTOR’S REPORT – Reverend Dianne Brown

 

Reverend Brown discussed the following items:

 

*There will be a Special Session Meeting on July 2, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. for the purpose of receiving

  a new member.

*She will be on vacation from July 20 to July 29, 2006, and that church member Charles Morgan will     

  fill the pulpit on Sunday, July 23, 2006.

*The July Session Meeting will be on Wednesday, July 19, 2006.

*Gave the Session written copies of the Elder Training Assessment showing items that were done well

  (21) and also those that were not done well (5).

 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Lil McClerkin

 

No Report

 

 

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE – Dr. Cordell Klein

 

No Report

 

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson

 

Ms. Jackson reported that the Evangelism Committee was using the Chamber of Commerce newcomer list to contact those people who had requested information about Texarkana. This information will be used for the purpose of contacting these newcomers and inviting them to visit or join our church. If this outreach mission proves productive, the committee will consider having the church join the Chamber of Commerce.

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Sheila Moore

 

Ms. Moore reported the following:

 

*The Sunday School class formerly taught by Dr. Bob Street is now being taught on a rotating basis by

  Richard Hall, Ruth Davis, Frank McClain, and Dr. Rodney LeBoeuf.

*Debra Degrate resigned as a nursery worker and Eva Parker has been working in that position. The

  Personnel Committee will recommend that Ms. Parker be hired as a permanent nursery worker.

*Youth Work and Activities:

            *The youth who worked in Vacation Bible School were taken to Six Flags on June 17.

            *Eleven youth are scheduled to leave July 9th for the “Fun in the Son” in Myrtle Beech, South

              Carolina. They are to return on July 15th.

            *The youth will host a Movie Night on June 28th and will have a scavenger hunt on June 30th.

*Rally Day is scheduled for August 20, 2006.

 

PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Don Johnson

 

Mr. Johnson reported that an additional telephone had been installed in the Mother’s Day Out area of the Educational Building and that work on repair of the over-head lights is in progress in the Fellowship Hall.

 

WORSHIP COMMITTEE – Billie Ford

 

Ms. Ford served as our lay commissioner to the Presbytery Meeting at our church on May 20, 2006. She gave the Session a written report highlighting the most important items from that meeting.

 

Ms. Ford said the Worship Committee recommended the following programs for The Advent Series, 2006:

 

December 7th – Organist E. Ray Peebles from the First United Methodist Church, Shreveport, Louisiana –

                          Cost - $150.00.

December 14th – Texarkana Women’s Chorus, Remica Gray Director – Cost $100.00.

December 21st – Christmas Music, Bonnie Montgomery Soloist and Bryan Bierbaum Organist –

                            Cost $100.00.

 

MOTION -     was made by Billie Ford to approve The Advent Series as shown above. The motion passed.

             

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

 

Music Director Bryan Bierbaum is considering moving his office to one of the unused Sunday School rooms in order to have more room. He will write a letter of request to the Session.

 

Reverend Brown reported that work on the Building Project has been delayed since architect Wayne Trull had been ill. Mr. Trull is better and she expects work and plans on the project to proceed.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Reverend Brown closed the meeting with prayer.

 

 

                                                                                                Reverend Dianne Brown, Moderator

 

 

                                                                                                Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session