SESSION MINUTES
STATED MEETING
AUGUST 16, 2007
The Session of the First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, Arkansas met in a Stated Meeting on Thursday, August 16, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. in the Library/Session Room.
Elders
present were Pat Davitt, Martha Nell Richards, Billie Ford, Carla Lacy, Sheila
Moore, Don Johnson, Lynn Jackson, and Moderator Reverend Dianne Brown. Also
present were Diaconate Moderator Kevin Thompson, Youth/Education Director Jane
Portis, Adminis
Reverend
Brown called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, and asked Billie
Ford to give the opening prayer. Reverend Brown then led the Session in a
devotional, which included Scripture and prayer.
The Session reviewed minutes from the Stated Meeting of July 19, 2007, and the Special Meeting of July 29, 2007.
MOTION
- was made by Don Johnson and seconded
by Billie Ford to approve the minutes.
The motion
passed.
DIACONATE REPORT – Kevin Thompson
Mr.
Thompson reported the following:
1. The August fan drive has
collected and delivered over 20 fans.
2. Fifty backpacks have been
received and are ready for delivery to the Vera Lloyd girls.
3. The September and October
Missions will include a blood drive and a collection of hats, coats,
and gloves for local needy children.
4. The annual Church Family
Picnic is scheduled for September 9, 2007, at St. James Day School.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Lary Walker
The
Session reviewed financial reports for the period ending July 31, 2007. The
various accounts showed the following balances:
Operating
Account $38,602.00 Money Market Account $244,692.00
Music
Fund $ 7,569.00 Total
of All Accounts $290,863.00
Profit
& Loss Statement +$ 18,622.39
CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CLERK - Stacy Cogbill
The
Clerk noted the death of member Blanche Scott. Ms. Scott died on August 7,
2007, and Reverend Brown officiated at her funeral service in Nashville,
Arkansas on August 10, 2007.
For the record, the Clerk verified that communion had been served during the morning worship service on the first Sunday of every month from January 2007 through August 2007.
Mr.
Cogbill read a letter from Elder Fran Keasler stating that she would be absent
from Session meetings this fall because she was taking master level college
classes on Thursday evenings.
The
Clerk read a letter of resignation from Bryan Bierbaum, Director of Music. In
the letter Mr. Bierbaum reported he has accepted a position as Director of Music/Organist
at the
MOTION
- was made by Lynn Jackson and
seconded by Don Johnson to accept Mr.
Bierbaum’s resignation with regret. The motion passed.
Reverend Brown informed the Session that Fran Keasler had resigned as Moderator of the Nominating Committee and that a new moderator needed to be elected. After some discussion, Lynn Jackson and Billie Ford agreed to be co-moderators of the Nominating Committee.
MOTION - was made by Don Johnson and seconded by Carla Lacy to elect Ms. Jackson and
Ms. Ford as co-moderators of the Nominating Committee. The motion passed.
PASTOR’S REPORT – Reverend Dianne Brown
Reverend Brown reported the following:
1. Reminded the Session that 2008 Budget requests are due by August 20, 2007.
2. The church’s web site needs to be up-dated.
3. A general workday is scheduled at the church on September 8, 2007, and that the various committees will be responsible for certain areas.
4. The
Triennial Visit went well and Reverend Barry Chance, moderator for the meeting,
wrote a very complimentary report about our church and mentioned its many minis
NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
No business to report.
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE – Dr. Larry Davis
Reverend Brown said that the Stewardship Committee would meet on August 22, 2007, to begin work on the 2008 Budget.
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson
Ms. Jackson told the Session that there would be an “Open House/Friendship Sunday” on September 30, 2007. She said that following the morning worship service that day there would be a luncheon and tours of the newly renovated sections of the church and the Annex.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Sheila Moore
Ms. Moore reported the following:
1. The average Sunday School attendance for the past year was 52.
2. All Sunday School teachers (except one) for the 2007-2008 year are in place. Also all curriculum and student rosters are set for the new year.
3. Margie Rhoads and her class will begin a new study entitled “A Study of Contemporary Christian
Issues.”
4. Youth/Education
Director Jane Portis will take the junior high age youth to a re
Mississippi on August 31 and return September 2, 2007.
5. Melanie Gloster is preparing a Youth Newsletter that will be sent to all the youth of the church.
6. Rally Day will be August 26, 2007.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Don Johnson
Mr. Johnson said that the
Mr. Johnson discussed two proposed changes to the Annex. One was to remove the “plus” room divider in the center of the Annex in order to open up a large meeting room. The other proposal was to remodel the existing kitchen in the northeast corner of the Annex. He said that Greg Brown would do most of the work and an anonymous donor would pay the cost.
MOTION - was made by Don Johnson to proceed with the proposals outlined above. The
motion passed.
Mr. Johnson said that in the future the church needs to consider remodeling the rest rooms in the Annex to comply with handicap guidelines.
WORSHIP COMMITTEE – Report by Billie Ford
Ms. Ford made the following report:
1. Reverend Brown has contacted Austin Seminary to request a speaker to commemorate Theological Education Sunday on September 16, 2007.
2. Gideon, Don Lee, has asked to speak at a Sunday morning worship service. Reverend Brown will
contact Mr. Lee to set a date.
3. The Children’s Choir Festival is set for October 26 and 27, 2007, although plans could change with
Mr. Bierbaum’s move.
4. The Henderson State University Choir has asked to perform a concert on Sunday, October 21, 2007,
at our church. Mr. Bierbaum will contact the choir concerning the details.
5. The Handbells have been cleaned and are back at the church. The final cost of $3,175.83 was
paid from the Special Music Fund.
6. The Advent programs have been scheduled as follows:
December 6 – Benjamin Kolodziej, organist from Perkins Chapel at Southern Methodist University;
December 13 – Texarkana Women’s Chorus; and,
December 20 – Sherry Waters, soprano from
Ms. Ford said that after lengthy consideration, the following motion (as recommended by the Worship Committee) would be made concerning scheduling of Communion.
MOTION - was made by Billie Ford to continue to serve Communion the first Sunday of every
month and that the church embark on informing the congregation concerning
emphasis on the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion. Furthermore, that the
Worship Committee plan more special services in which Communion would be
included. The motion passed. Elder Lynn Jackson voted “no”.
ACCEPTANCE OF
REPORTS
MOTION - was made by Don Johnson and seconded by Sheila Moore to accept all committee
reports. The motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS
Reverend Brown said she had visited with the minister (Reverend Ken Bangs) that is scheduled to conduct the wedding of Nicole Ann Robbins and that she would now recommend his conducting the wedding, as well as the use of the church facilities for that purpose. The Session approved the wedding application for Ms. Robbins by common consent.
Reverend Brown gave the Session a status report on the Ashdown Presbyterian Church property. She said that the City of Ashdown was going through some legal work in order to take over operation of the building and the day care. She said if all goes well, the City should take over all operations on September 8, 2007.
NEW BUSINESS
Elder Doke Douglas was approved, by common consent, as our
Commissioner to the Presbytery Meeting to be held at the Alabama Presbyterian
Church in
ADJOURNMENT
Reverend Brown closed the meeting with prayer.
Reverend Dianne Brown, Moderator
Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session