SESSION MINUTES

SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2007

 

 

A Special Meeting of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church, Texarkana, Arkansas was held on Thursday, October 18, 2007, at 5:45 p.m. in the Library/Session Room.

 

Elders present were Pat Davitt, Charles Morgan, Richard Sexton, Billie Ford, Carla Lacy, Sheila Moore, Lynn Jackson, and Dr. David Williams. Also present were Moderator Reverend Joe Hill, Executive Presbyter; Jane Portis, Youth/Education Director; Patricia Thomas, Administrative Assistant; and Stacy Cogbill, Clerk. Elders absent were Dr. Larry Davis, Martha Nell Richards, Fran Keasler, and Don Johnson.

 

Reverend Hill called the meeting to order, declared a quorum present, and opened with prayer. He said the purpose of the meeting was to give the Session information concerning activities while the church is without a minister, the process of hiring an interim minister (if the Session elects to do so), and the steps in forming a Pastor Nominating Committee.

 

Reverend Hill discussed and gave the Session the following:

 

  1. The Presbytery Office’s need for a copy of the minutes from the Congregational Meeting dissolving Dianne E. Brown’s pastoral relationship with our church.
  2. An Exit Interview with the Session and the Executive Presbyter concerning Reverend Brown’s resignation. (The Exit Interview was later set for Thursday, October 25, 2007).
  3. Information on “When a Pastor Leaves,” “Separation Ethics,”  and “Board of Pensions -

Vacancy Dues.”

  1. Information on “Calling a Pastor,” “Constituting a Pastor Nominating Committee,” and

a blank copy of the “Church Information Form.”

 

Reverend Hill told the Session that we would soon be given a contact person from the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry and in the interim, we should write a Mission Statement (Study) and a job description for an interim minister. He asked that the Clerk write an email letter requesting that the Committee on Ministry allow our Session to form a Pastor Nominating Committee as soon as reasonable.

 

INTERIM MINISTER

 

With regard to calling an interim minister, the following motion was made:

 

            MOTION -     was made by Pat Davitt and seconded by Charles Morgan to call an interim

                                    minister for our church to serve during the period the church is without a regular

minister. The motion passed. Furthermore, it was the consensus of the Session that

the Personnel Committee would interview the interim candidates, select one, and

make their recommendation to the Session for approval.

 

PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE

 

The Session discussed the number of members for the Pastor Nominating Committee and the following motion was made:

 

            MOTION -     was made by Lynn Jackson and seconded by Pat Davitt to have a total of five

                                    members on the Pastor Nominating Committee. The motion passed.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Reverend Hill lead the Session in a closing prayer.

 

 

                                                                                                Reverend Joe Hill, Moderator

 

 

                                                                                               

                                                                                                Stacy Cogbill, Clerk of Session

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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