SESSION MINUTES

STATED MEETING JULY 19, 2007

 

 

The Session of the First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, Arkansas met in a Stated Meeting on Thursday, July 19, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. in the Library/Session Room.

 

Elders present were Dr. Larry Davis, Pat Davitt, Martha Nell Richards, Charles Morgan, Richard Sexton, Fran Keasler, Billie Ford, Carla Lacy, Sheila Moore, Lynn Jackson, Dr. David Williams, and Moderator Reverend Dianne Brown. Also present were Diaconate Moderator Kevin Thompson, Music Director Bryan Bierbaum, Youth/Education Director Jane Portis, Administrative Assistant Patricia Thomas, and Clerk Stacy Cogbill. Elder Don Johnson was absent.

 

Reverend Barry Chance from Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Mr. Cliff Knowles from the First Presbyterian Church, Hope, Arkansas, were present as members of the Presbytery’s Triennial Visitation Team.

 

Reverend Brown called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, and asked Stacy Cogbill to give the opening prayer. Reverend Brown then read a selected scripture and led the Session in a Communion Service. Reverend Chance assisted with the serving of Communion. 

 

MINUTES

 

The Session reviewed minutes from the Stated Meeting of June 21, 2007.

 

            MOTION -     was made by Dr. Larry Davis and seconded by Richard Sexton to approve the

                                    minutes. The motion passed.

 

DIACONATE REPORT – Kevin Thompson

 

Mr. Thompson reported the following:

 

1.      The June Monthly Mission to collect school supplies for the Goodland Academy has been completed.

2.      The fan drive is going well and will extend into August.

3.      The Deacons ordered 50 duffel bags for the Vera Lloyd School girls. This is the August Monthly

Mission.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT – Lary Walker

 

The Session reviewed financial reports for the period ending June 30, 2007. The various accounts showed the following balances:

 

Operating Account                   $43,675.00                              Money Market Account           $206,157.00

Music Fund                              $  7,516.00                              Total of All Accounts                $257,348.00

                                                                                          Profit & Loss Statement        +$20, 052.67

 

Mr. Walker was out of town. However, the Session agreed to receive the reports as information.

 

CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CLERK

 

Mr. Cogbill presented an Application from Nicole Ann Robbins for a wedding date approval. After a review, the Session concluded that more information was needed. The Application will be reconsidered at the August meeting.

 

Also, Mr. Cogbill presented a request from property owner Ronnie Rogers to remove the old fence on the south side of the church’s vacant lot located at 420 Pecan Street (south and across the street from the main church premises).

 

            MOTION -     was made by Martha Nell Richards and seconded by Charles Morgan to approve

                                    the request to remove the fence. The motion passed.

 

PASTOR’S REPORT – Reverend Dianne Brown

 

Reverend Brown reported the following:

 

1.      There will be a Special Session Meeting to receive new members on Sunday, July 29, 2007, at 10:30

a.m. in the Library. The new members joining will be Will and Rachel Scott. The Scott’s daughter, Margaret Claire Scott, will also be baptized on that day during the morning worship service.

 

2.      A general church “Work Day” will be held Saturday, September 8, 2007, at 9:00 a.m.

 

3.      She will be in Malvern, Arkansas on Sunday, August 19, 2007, for the celebration of the 125th

Anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church of Malvern. Reverend Ralph Burns will preach at our church that Sunday.

 

4.      She presented the idea of having a Fundraiser for member Buddy Williams. Mr. Williams is in need of extensive medical treatment and has no health insurance to cover the costs. Reverend Brown said that Mark and Martha Nell Richards had offered to cook hamburgers for the entire church at noon on a Sunday in order to help with the project. 

 

      MOTION -     was made by Charles Morgan and seconded by Richard Sexton to approve the

                              Fundraiser for Mr. Williams with the date being set for Sunday, August 5, 2007,

                              following the morning worship service. The motion passed.

 

5.      She reported that the First Presbyterian Church of Ashdown, Arkansas had depleted all its funds and that some utility bills needed to be paid for July and August. The total of the bills will be approximately $500.00 each month. The City of Ashdown is to take possession of the church building and premises in September. Also, our church has been given any and all contents of the Ashdown church that we might want. This includes chairs, tables, desks, and other items. The Session concurred with the utilities being paid by our church for the Ashdown church.

 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Fran Keasler

 

No activities to report.

 

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE – Dr. Larry Davis

 

No activities to report.

 

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson

 

No activities to report other than to let the Session know that The Yellow Page advertisement for the church will continue.

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Sheila Moore

 

Ms. Moore reported on the Youth Group trip to Myrtle Beech, South Carolina for the “Fun in the Son” Presbyterian Youth Retreat. She said that all went well and that all attending had an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Adults on the trip with the Youth were Marshall and Sheila Moore and Youth Director Jane Portis.

 

She said that Rally Day will be Sunday, August 26, 2007. 

 

PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Don Johnson

 

Reverend Brown told the Session that the new sound system had been installed in the Fellowship Hall and everyone had noticed a great improvement in the quality and volume of sound in that room. The cost of the system was donated anonymously by a member of the church.

 

WORSHIP COMMITTEE – Dr. David Williams

 

Dr. Williams said the committee was still working on the proposal to serve communion every Sunday and that there would be a recommendation on this at the August Stated Meeting.

 

He also said the new and revised “Visitor’s Cards” are now in the pews.

 

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – Charles Morgan

 

Mr. Morgan said the committee had discussed the need for an additional nursery worker on Wednesday evenings for the Family Night Supper. More help is needed in the nursery at that time because of an increase in the number of children.

 

            MOTION -     was made by Charles Morgan to add an additional nursery worker for Wednesday

                                    evenings. This would increase the numbers of workers from two to three on that

                                    night. The motion passed.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Reverend Brown closed the meeting with prayer.

 

TRIENNIAL VISIT

 

Following adjournment, the Session conducted its Triennial Visitation Program with representatives from Presbytery of the Pines. Reverend Barry Chance from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Mr. Cliff Knowles, layman from the First Presbyterian Church, Hope, Arkansas, were present for the program and represented the Presbytery.  Reverend Chance moderated the meeting.

 

The Session and Visitation Team discussed various aspects of church life and activities. Included in topics discussed were:

 

Sharing the Good News of Christ’s Gift;

Equipping Ourselves to be Christ’s Gift;

Demonstrating Christ’s Gift to our City; and

Expanding Christ’s Gift in the World.

 

Reverend Chance closed the Triennial Visit with prayer.

 

 

                                                                                                Reverend Dianne Brown, Moderator

 

 

 

                                                                                                Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session