SESSION MINUTES

STATED MEETING OCTOBER 11, 2007

 

 

 

 

The Session of the First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, Arkansas met in a Stated Meeting on Thursday, October 11, 2007, at 5:00 P.M. in the Library/Session Room.

 

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

 

Reverend Brown called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, and opened the meeting with prayer and a devotional.

 

MINUTES

 

The Session reviewed minutes from the Stated Meeting of September 20, 2007, and the Congregational Meeting of October 7, 2007.

 

            MOTION -     was made by Charles Morgan and seconded by Billie Ford to approve the minutes.

                                    The motion passed.

 

DIACONATE REPORT – Kevin Thompson

 

Mr. Thompson reported the following Diaconate activities:

 

  1. The Master Calendar will be reviewed for any changes needed for 2008.
  2. A more active roll will be taken in making shut-in and hospital visits.
  3. There will be more Diaconate items for the newsletter.
  4. The Deacons will help promote and support the new Card Ministry.
  5. Monthly Mission work continues.

 

NEW MEMBER

 

Reverend Brown announced that Anna Emerson and her mother Nancy Emerson had come to the Session meeting asking that Anna be baptized on Sunday, October 14, 2007. Reverend Brown asked Anna several questions concerning her faith and belief in Jesus Christ. With all questions answer appropriately, Reverend Brown asked for approval from the Session for Anna to be baptized.

 

            MOTION -     was made by Charles Morgan and seconded by Pat Davitt to approve Anna

                                    Emerson’s baptism for Sunday, October 14, 2007, during the morning Worship

                                    Service. The motion passed.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT – Lary Walker

 

Financial reports through the period ending September 30, 2007, were reviewed. The various accounts showed the following balances:

 

Operating Account                   $37,324.00                 Money Market Account           $234,383.00

Music Fund                              $  7,616.00                 Total of All Accounts                $279,323.00

                                                                                    Profit & Loss Statement         +$24,489.72

 

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

 

In the absence of Dr. Larry Davis, Stewardship Committee Moderator, Lary Walker, the Treasurer, made the report for the Stewardship Committee. After considerable discussion and several revisions in the 2008 Church Budget, the following motion was made:

 

MOTION -     was made by Charles Morgan and seconded by Lynn Jackson to approve the

                        revised 2008 Church Budget at a total figure of approximately $500,000.00.

                        The exact total figure will be determined by Treasurer Lary Walker after the

                        changes and revisions are made. The motion passed.

 

CORRESPONDENCE TO THE CLERK – Stacy Cogbill

 

With the resignation of Reverend Brown, Mr. Cogbill made note that Reverend Phil McLarty, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Hope, Arkansas, had been appointed by the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry to be the moderator of our Session.

 

The Clerk asked for approval of the following items:

 

  1. Request for the baptism of Andrew Randall Holland, son of Justin and Courtney Cogbill Holland and grandson of Gene and Gail Cogbill, in our church on Christmas Eve, 2007.
  2. Request by Sally Sarrett to use our church for her wedding and rehearsal on January 2 and 3, 2009.
  3. Request from the AA Clean-Air Members to use a room in our church for their weekly meeting place.

 

MOTION -     was made by Lynn Jackson and seconded by Charles Morgan to approve the three

                        requests. The motioned passed.

 

Mr. Cogbill said that after the elevator maintenance contract had been deferred for further consideration, action was still needed on that contract.

 

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

                                    payment of the monthly maintenance contract for the elevator. The motion passed.

 

Since the cost to pave the alley between the church and the Annex had come in considerably higher than the estimate, it was decided that Charles Jackson would be asked to discuss the invoice for the work with the City.  

 

Mr. Cogbill presented a request from Merilynn Johnson seeking Session approval for the Decorating Team (Ms. Johnson and Mr. Brent Stewart) to proceed with improvements to the interior of the Annex. She also asked about converting the space that is currently being used for artificial flowers and accessory storage into a larger space to accommodate the next music director.

 

            MOTION -     was made by Lynn Jackson and seconded by Billie Ford to approve Ms. Johnson’s

                                    request for improvements in the Annex with these two qualifications:

1.      That June Owen be a part of the Decorating Team, and

2.      That no changes be made in the flower storage room to accommodate the next Music Director until that person is hired and on the job.

 

PASTOR’S REPORT – Reverend Dianne Brown

 

Reverend Brown reported the following:

 

  1. Committee moderators should up-date their duties and responsibilities.
  2. Newsletter items/articles should be in the office before printing deadlines.
  3. Reverend Phil McLarty will be contacted to conduct elder training for new officers.
  4. Reverend Ralph Burns will be asked to install the new officers.
  5. An Annual Meeting (with committee moderators reporting) will need to be scheduled for sometime early next year.
  6. Committee job descriptions should be up-dated before the end of the year.
  7. The quilted banners, celebrating women’s ordination, are scheduled to be at our church January 9 through 18, 2008.

 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson

 

Ms. Jackson said that her committee was beginning to consider various members for the pastor search committee soon to be formed. 

 

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE – Lynn Jackson

 

Ms. Jackson reported that there were 110 members and guests at luncheon during the Evangelism and Open House Sunday. She concluded that the day was a success.

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE – Sheila Moore

 

Ms. Moore reviewed these items with the Session:

 

  1. A letter was sent to nine children regarding the new Wednesday night program.
  2. Cynthia Walker has agreed to teach the Junior High Youth Group Bible Study on Sunday nights.
  3. Dr. John Calhoun has agreed to teach the Brown Bag Bible Study on Thursdays.
  4. The Youth Group has scheduled its first Mexico mission trip for June 15-21, 2008.
  5. There are now 12 children enrolled in the Baby Steps Program.
  6. The Christian Education Committee will be coordinating the Wednesday night programs

until a new pastor is in place.

 

PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Don Johnson

 

No activities to report. 

 

WORSHIP COMMITTEE – Billie Ford

 

Ms. Ford reported for moderator Dr. David Williams. She told the Session that the following persons had been scheduled to fill the pulpit on these dates:

 

Ralph Burns -               October 21                  Marshall & Sheila Moore – November 18

Danny Gray -               October 28                  Marshall & Sheila Moore – November  25

Charles Morgan -         November 4

 

The pulpit supply has not yet been scheduled for November 11.

 

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – Charles Morgan

 

No activities to report. 

 

ACCEPTANCE OF REPORTS

 

            MOTION -     was made by Carla Lacy and seconded by Martha Nell Richards to receive and

                                    accept all reports. The motion passed.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

The Session considered the request from the Music Director Search Committee in regard to qualifications for the person to fill that position. It was decided that there would be more work done on this and that the figures for the salary package would be left the same in the 2008 budget as they were in the 2007 budget.

 

Lynn Jackson asked the Session to consider a Special Committee Listening Session. She gave the group a written example of the program. The information was from another church.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Ms. Jackson presented a proposal from Ruth Davis asking that certain forms be available for church members to use to communicate concerns and issues to the Session. The Session gave their consent for Ms. Davis to proceed to prepare the forms.

 

Reverend Brown reminded the Session that a commissioner needed to be elected for the November 16 and 17, 2007, meeting of Presbytery in Warren, Arkansas.

 

            MOTION –    was made by Lynn Jackson and seconded by Charles Morgan to elect Lary Walker

                                    to be the commissioner to the Presbytery meeting. The motion passed. The Clerk

                                    was instructed to contact Mr. Walker to see if he could attend.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Reverend Brown closed the meeting with prayer.

 

 

                                                                                                Reverend Dianne Brown, Moderator

 

 

 

                                                                                                Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session

 

 

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                           

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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