SESSION MINUTES
STATED MEETING AUGUST 17, 2006
The Session of the First Presbyterian Church met in a Stated Meeting on Thursday, August 17, 2006, at 5:00 p.m. in the Library/Session Room.
Elders
present were Fran Keasler, Billie Ford, Carla Lacy, Sheila Moore, Don Johnson,
Lil McClerkin, Cordell Klein, Clerk Stacy Cogbill, and Moderator Reverend
Dianne Brown. Also present were Treasurer Lary Walker, Diaconate Moderator John
McDowell, Music Director Bryan Bierbaum, Youth/Education Director Jane Thompson,
and Office Manager Patricia Thomas. Elders with excused absences were Richard
Sexton, Lynn Jackson, David Williams, and Dean Ransdell.
Reverend Brown called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, and asked Carla Lacy to give the opening prayer. Reverend Brown gave a short devotional.
Minutes from the Stated Meeting of June 22, 2006, were reviewed.
MOTION
- was made by Don Johnson and seconded
by Billie Ford to approve the minutes as
presented.
The motion passed.
Mr. McDowell gave the Session an up-date on the following items:
*The
program to take Sanctuary Flowers to the shut-ins would be opened to all
members of the
congregation.
*Reverend
Brown and Andrew Gloster will look for locations to hold the annual church
picnic at a
city park in the area. The picnic will be
held on Sunday, October 8, 2006.
*Family Camp in 2007 will be June 29 through July 1 at Jan-Kay Ranch.
*Don
Keasler made a presentation about the Stephens Ministry to the Diaconate. A
final decision on
undertaking the program for our church will
be made next month.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Lary Walker
Financial
reports for the period ending July 31, 2006, were given to the Session. The
various cash accounts showed the following balances: Operating Account -
$60,727.00; Money Market Account - $162,710.00; Music Account - $7,247.00.
Total of all accounts was $230,684.00. The profit and loss statement showed a
net loss of $5,939.00. Through the same period last year there was a net profit
of $5,030.73.
CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CLERK - Stacy Cogbill
Mr.
Cogbill noted that Reverend Brown baptized Brandon Joseph Douglas in our church
on July 15, 2006.
MOTION - was made by Cordell Klein and seconded by Sheila Moore to
acknowledge and
approve the
baptism of Brandon Joseph Douglas on July 15, 2006. The motion
passed.
The
clerk read a letter from Georgette Peckham requesting approval for the use of
the Fellowship Hall and kitchen for a meeting of the May Dale Garden Club on
March 16, 2007.
MOTION
- was made by Stacy Cogbill and
seconded by Lil McClerkin to approve the request
from the May Dale Garden Club. The motion passed.
Mr.
Cogbill read a letter from Lyn Whaley, Chief Executive Officer of the Vera Lloyd
Presbyterian Home, thanking our church for allowing him and his wife, Virginia,
to be at the Family Night Supper on July 26th to present the story of the home.
In the letter he also thanked our congregation for the many useful items given
to the youth of the Vera Lloyd Home.
The
Session was also informed of a $1,495.00 contribution to the Youth Group Fund
from Golden Acres Genetics. Church member Kevin Thompson and Miller-Bowie
Supply made this possible with their business relationship with Golden Acres
Genetics.
PASTOR’S REPORT – Reverend Dianne Brown
It
was agreed that Lary Walker, an inactive Elder, would be our designated
commissioner to the Presbytery meeting at Camp Alabama on September 8, 2006. It
was understood that Mr. Walker would also be attending the meeting on other
Presbytery business.
Reverend
Brown asked the Session’s approval for Dr. Ted Wardlaw, President of Austin
Seminary, to come to our church on March 3 and 4, 2007, as a speaker to be
sponsored by the Malcolm Lecture Series.
MOTION
- was made by Lil McClerkin and
seconded by Stacy Cogbill to approve the request
for Dr.
Wardlaw and the Malcolm Lecture Series. The motion passed.
Reverend
Brown said she would be on vacation from August 27, 2006, until September 3,
2006. She said Music Director Bryan Bierbaum is scheduled to preach on Sunday,
August 27th, and Reverend Joe Sheeler is to preach on Sunday,
September 3rd.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Lil McClerkin
Ms.
McClerkin announced the following slate of officers for 2007 through 2009 and MOVED that they be approved:
FOR
ELDER FOR
DEACON FOR
TRUSTEE
Charles
Morgan Shirley
Cline
Sandra
Holmes Marge
Wilhelm
Larry
Davis Doke
Douglas
The motion passed.
Ms. McClerkin said the other members of the Nominating Committee were Lynn Jackson, Gail Abrahamson, Becky Thompson, Dan Boyles, Andrew Gloster, and Richard Hall. She also said that this slate would be presented to the congregation in October.
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE – Dr. Cordell Klein
Dr. Klein reported the following:
*Counters (married couples) are being scheduled for counting the offering on Sunday mornings.
*Budget requests for the 2007 financial year are being solicited from the various expenditure areas.
*Sunday, November 8, 2006, will be Stewardship Sunday.
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson
Lil McClerkin spoke for the Evangelism Committee and reminded the Session that “Bring a Friend Sunday” would be September 24, 2006, and that she hoped everyone would participate.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Sheila Moore
Ms. Moore reported that Rally Day would be August 20, 2006.
She also reported that the inJoy program will be continued with several changes. The new starting time will be 4:30 p.m. and the emphasis will be on the Bible story and children’s choir. Also, the name will be changed to “W.O.W.!” (“The Word on Wednesday!”) with the theme being “Miracles of the Bible”.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Don Johnson
Mr. Johnson said that four of the church’s air conditioners stopped operating on Wednesday, August 17, 2006, and that Gary Whitehead, owner of AireOne was called to repair them. All the units were repaired that afternoon and the total cost was approximately $500.00.
Mr. Johnson said the committee recommended that the current air conditioner annual service contract not be renewed and that AireOne be called, as needed, for any repairs or service.
MOTION - was made by Don Johnson to accept the recommendation of the Property
Committee regarding the change in the service for the heating and air systems.
The motion passed.
Mr. Johnson said that utility costs were going to be approximately $3,000.00 over the budgeted amounts. The unusually hot weather and the fact that the Fellowship Hall would be under extensive renovation later in the fall and winter caused this. He said that the utility budget would be increased by $4,600.00 for next year.
WORSHIP COMMITTEE – Billie Ford
Ms. Ford said that the Worship Committee had reviewed the Wedding Policy and were making recommendations for several changes.
MOTION - was made by Billie Ford to amend the Wedding Policy as per the revisions
presented. The motion passed. These changes and revisions can be found in
the Wedding Policy Guidelines booklet.
Ms. Ford presented the following music programs and activities for approval:
*An “Organ Crawl” by the Shreveport Chapter of the American Guild of Organists at our church on
Saturday, March 10, 2007, with use of the Fellowship Hall for a luncheon.
*A concert by the Lyon College Choir on Friday, March 16, 2007.
*A “Musical Coffee House” on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, in the Fellowship Hall. This would be
volunteer presentations from children, youth, and adults.
*A “Children’s Choir Festival” on Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20, 2007. Other churches would
be invited and the cost (from the Special Music Fund) would be less than $1,500.00.
*The “Lessons and Carols” worship service for Sunday, December 3, 2006.
MOTION - was made by Billie Ford to approve the programs listed above. The motion
passed.
ACCEPTANCE OF
REPORTS
MOTION - was made by Cordell Klein and seconded by Sheila Moore to accept all reports.
The motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Reverend Brown closed the meeting with prayer.
Reverend Dianne Brown, Moderator
Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session