SESSION MINUTES

STATED MEETING OCTOBER 5, 2006

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

Elders present were Fran Keasler, Billie Ford, Sheila Moore, Don Johnson, Lynn Jackson, David Williams, Dean Ransdell, Lil McClerkin, Cordell Klein, Clerk Stacy Cogbill, and Moderator Reverend Dianne Brown. Also present were Treasurer Lary Walker, Youth/Education Director Jane Portis, Office Manager Patricia Thomas, and Mother’s Day Out Director Nancy Emerson. Elders with excused absences were Richard Sexton and Carla Lacy.

OPENING

Reverend Brown called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, and asked Sheila Moore to give the opening prayer. Reverend Brown then had a short devotional.

MINUTES

Minutes from the Stated Meeting of August 17, 2006, were reviewed.

MOTION - was made by Dean Ransdell and seconded by Sheila Moore to approve the minutes.

The motion passed.

MOTHER’S DAY OUT REPORT

Nancy Emerson, Mother’s Day Out Director, gave the Session a report on the enrollment and financial position of the program. She reported enrollment at 10 full time students and 1 part time. The financial report showed that the program had lost $1,645.82 year-to-date through September. Further discussion and decisions about the finances for the Mother’s Day Out Program were handled in the Stewardship Committee report shown below.

DIACONATE REPORT

Diaconate Moderator John McDowell was unable to be at the meeting. The Clerk read the Diaconate report:

*The Deacons decided not to take part in the Stephens Ministry Program.

*The church picnic was October 8, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. on the campus of St. James Day School.

*The Deacons have advised the Nominating Committee that the position held by Dr. Robert Street

is now vacant and needs to be filled. The term remaining for that position is two years and three

months.

TREASURER’S REPORT – Lary Walker

Mr. Walker reviewed financial reports through the period ending August 31, 2006. The various cash accounts showed the following balances: Operating Account - $54,016.00; Money Market Account - $154,953.00; Music Account - $7,274.00. Total of all accounts was $216,243.00. The profit and loss

statement showed a net loss of $19,026.60. Through the same period last year there was a net loss of

$10,323.31.

CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CLERK – Stacy Cogbill

The Clerk asked for approval of two items:

The Presbyterian Women have requested approval of their Birthday Dinner on May 2, 2007.

MOTION - was made by Stacy Cogbill and seconded by Lil McClerkin to approve the request.

The motion passed.

Louis and Dian Acruman have requested that their membership be transferred from the First Presbyterian Church, Mena, Arkansas to the First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, Arkansas.

MOTION - was made by Dr. Cordell Klein and seconded by Sheila Moore to approve the

request. The motion passed.

PASTOR’S REPORT – Reverend Dianne Brown

Reverend Brown reported the following items:

*Elder Training will be Sunday, October 22, 2006, following the morning worship service. Reverend Joe

Hill, Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of the Pines, will lead the training.

*Committee moderators were reminded to review their job descriptions with their committee members.

*A commissioner for the Presbytery Meeting on November 17 and 18, 2006, in Jonesville, Louisiana

needs to be elected. This will be done after the elders check their schedules.

*The newly elected elders will meet with the Session at the November 16, 2006, meeting and the

ordination and installation of the new officers will be Sunday, December 10, 2006.

*Reverend Brown and Youth/Education Director, Jane Portis, will be participating in a continuing

education program at the Riverside Church in New York City the week of October 23-27, 2006.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Lil McClerkin

Ms. McClerkin reported that Diaconate candidate Marge Wilhelm has withdrawn her nomination and that Deacon Dr. Robert Street had resigned.

MOTION - was made by Lil McClerkin to nominate Margo Strickland to serve a full term as

Deacon and nominate Cecil Pavey to serve as a Deacon for the unexpired term

of Robert Street. The motion passed.

The slate of officers will be presented to the congregation (for election) on Sunday, October 15, 2006.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE – Dr. Cordell Klein

Treasurer Lary Walker presented the proposed 2007 budget to the Session. Mr. Walker discussed the budget in detail and answered questions accordingly. The increase over the 2006 budget was $24,516.00 resulting in the total proposed budget for 2007 of $484,400.00.

Mr. Walker said that the job description and duties of the Office Manager had been expanded and that the position was now to be designated as Administrative Assistant in lieu of Office Manager. There was also a salary increase proposed for the new position.

The Session discussed the Mother’s Day Out Program in detail with the following motion being made.

MOTION - was made by Don Johnson and seconded by Dr. Cordell Klein to leave the

$10,000.00 allocated to the Mother’s Day Out Program in the proposed 2007

budget. The motion passed.

After further discussion of the proposed 2007 budget, the following motion was made.

MOTION - was made by Stacy Cogbill and seconded by Don Johnson to accept the proposed

2007 budget. The motion passed.

Mr. Walker also discussed the need to execute a loan of not more than $200,000.00 for the construction project. He told the Session that there were adequate pledges to fund the project, however, money would be needed in the short term until the pledges were received.

MOTION - was made by Dr. Cordell Klein and seconded by Dean Ransdell to approve

borrowing up to $200,000.00 from Regions Bank for the renovation/construction

project. The motion passed.

EVANGELSIM COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson

Ms. Jackson reported the following:

*The Visitor Sunday (September 24, 2006) went well with several newcomers attending.

*The committee is working on a new source for obtaining a list of families and individuals moving

into the community.

*The committee will meet in October to finalize plans for the remainder of the year.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Sheila Moore

Ms. Moore gave the Session a report from the committee meetings of September 6 and October 4,

2006:

*The Bring your Bible promotion is in progress and will run through December 3, 2006.

*With Jeannie Sexton resigning as director of the Nursery, Kristi Bierbaum and Stephanie Jackson have

agreed to be co-directors beginning January 1, 2007.

*The Youth are participating in a study of Spiritual Disciplines.

*Jane Portis is teaching a class for parents entitled “What Is Your Child Doing on the Internet?”

*The Praise Band will resume practice on October 22^nd with Joe Shafer returning as director.

*Collections for the Thanksgiving Baskets are underway. The luncheon for donations will be November

12, 2006.

*Sandra Holmes, Edna Upchurch, and Aileen Williams have asked to reorganize the church library. The

CE committee approved this.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Don Johnson

No Report

WORSHIP COMMITTEE – Billie Ford

Ms. Ford said that there were two additional hearing devices being purchased.

At the request of the Wednesday Music Club, Ms. Ford made the following motion:

MOTION - was made by Billie Ford to allow the Wednesday Music Club to hold their

April 11, 2007, meeting in the Fellowship Hall from 10:00 a.m. until noon.

The motion passed.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – Dean Ransdell

Ms. Ransdell discussed the new position of Administrative Assistant (previously Office Manager) and the expanded job description. She recommended approval of the change.

MOTION - was made by Dean Ransdell to approve the new position and job description of

Administrative Assistant. The motion passed.

ACCEPTANCE OF REPORTS

MOTION - was made by Dr. Cordell Klein and seconded by Lil McClerkin to accept all

Reports. The motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Reverend Brown closed the meeting with prayer

Reverend Dianne Brown, Moderator

Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session