HANDBOOK OF REPORTS. for the. of the SHENANDOAH PRESBYTERY. November 12, Place: Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church Grottoes, VA

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1 HANDBOOK OF REPORTS for the 160 th STATED MEETING of the SHENANDOAH PRESBYTERY November 12, 2013 Place: Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church Grottoes, VA Shenandoah Presbytery is a covenant body where: ~congregations are empowered to be centers for mission, ~people of God are equipped to be Disciples of Christ in a challenging world, ~church professionals are nurtured and strengthened for service, ~open communication and information are used constructively and creatively to keep us connected.

2 MEMO TO: Pastors and Commissioners to Presbytery FROM: David Witt, Stated Clerk DATE: October 28, 2013 RE: November 12 MEETING OF PRESBYTERY The Presbytery of Shenandoah will meet in stated session at the Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Church in Grottoes, Virginia, on Tuesday, November 12, A nursery will be provided for babies and small children. For childcare, please contact the church at no later than November 6, so that proper arrangements can be made. LUNCH tickets can be purchased before the convening hour of 9:30 a.m. IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS, PLEASE PHONE THE CHURCH AT NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 6 HANDBOOK The Handbook of Reports will be available on Presbytery s web site The Handbook contains essential information for advanced study to enable Presbytery to make informed and prompt decisions. Please be sure all voting members of Presbytery receive a copy. They include all pastors and elected commissioners. DIRECTIONS For folks using GPS, the address is 4517 Rockfish Rd, Grottoes, VA From I-81 - traveling north or south, take exit 235 onto 256 towards Weyers Cave. Go straight through the light at Weyers Cave and travel toward Grottoes for approximately 3.0 miles, turn right onto route 865. Travel 1 mile and you will come to a Y in the road. STAY LEFT and travel approximately another mile and the church is on the left. From Waynesboro take 340 north toward Crimora and Grottoes. When you enter Crimora, turn left at Sammy's Exxon Station onto the Crimora/New Hope Road. Continue on until you come to the intersection of Rockfish Road and turn right onto Rockfish 865. Continue on this road until you come to Mt. Horeb, which will be on your right. From Elkton take 340 south to Grottoes. Go through the caution light and turn right onto 256/Third St. Go 2.2 miles and take a left onto 865. Travel 1 mile and you will come to a Y in the road. STAY LEFT and travel approximately another mile and the church is on the left. From New Hope, go north on 608, turn right on route 778 and then east 3 miles, turn left on route 865 and go 2 miles. The church is on the right. i

3 INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MEETINGS OF PRESBYTERY Number of Meetings Our Book of Order (G ) requires presbytery to hold stated meetings at least twice each year. There will be four STATED meetings for 2013: February 9, May 14, August 24, and November 12. (See Manual, 7.1.1) Kind of Meetings Besides stated meetings there are adjourned meetings and special meetings. Adjourned Meetings Held to conclude unfinished business of preceding stated meeting. New Business may be placed on docket. Special Meetings The moderator shall call a special meeting at the request of, or with the concurrence of, two ministers and two elders being of different churches. Should the moderator be unable to act, the stated clerk shall, under the same conditions, issue the call. If both moderator and stated clerk are unable to act, any three ministers and three elders, the elders being of different churches, may call a special meeting. The Synod may direct the Presbytery to convene a special meeting for the transaction of designated business. Notice of a special meeting shall be sent not less than ten (10) days in advance to each minister and to the session of every church. The notice shall set out the purpose of the meeting and no other business than that listed in the notice shall be transacted. (Manual, 7.1.4) Who Determines Type of Meetings? The presbytery itself. If the business at a stated meeting is not completed in the time allowed on the docket, then the presbytery votes to extend the time on that day or votes to schedule an adjourned meeting later. Special meetings may be called in conformity with presbytery s policy, expressed in its manual (7.1.4). Docket Preparation The Presbytery Meeting Planning Committee composes the docket. Time periods for committee reports are arranged in consultation with chairs and others responsible for reports. Docket Problems The times listed for the presentation of reports are only general orders, and not orders of the day, unless specifically noted (see Procedural Rule A). Frequently, debate bogs down over procedural matters, and controversial issues create considerable discussion. Presbytery can always limit debate. Candidates and transferring ministers of necessity may require special considerations for their examinations because of such things as travel schedules and seminary schedules. The docket may be amended at any time during the meeting. Commissioners should be aware of possible extension of time needed for such amendments and the possible delay in adjournment. ii

4 PROCEDURAL RULES A. A report of any agency of presbytery requiring more than 10 minutes of presbytery time shall be made an Order of the Day with an allotted time period. Any committee requiring more than the allotted time shall conclude its report following new business. B. Reports having been provided in advance, the committee chair will not read the report except to make reference to a few highlights of the report and to recommendations by numbers, moving their adoption. Any report not so circulated shall not be received by the presbytery except by permission of two-thirds present and voting. If a group wishes to submit such a report, a person shall summarize its content and purpose before the vote is taken. C. On matters where there may be deep concern, possible controversy or lack of information, the division or committee making the report shall provide critical background information, so that the presbytery may expeditiously make wise and considered decisions. D. Debate shall be free and open, with equal time being given to proponents and opponents insofar as possible. E. Any member of the presbytery desiring to speak must stand, identify themselves by name and church, be recognized by the moderator, and go to a microphone, if available. F. A member of the presbytery may speak twice on any particular motion, and not for more than a total of five minutes, but the second time may only be granted after all who have not yet spoken have had an opportunity to do so. The maker of the motion is entitled to speak first, if desired. G. Lengthy motions must be written out and presented to the Stated Clerk. H. References to the following procedures from Robert s Rules of Order may prove useful: 1. A division or committee recommendation does not require a second to be on the floor. (Section 7, p. 69) 2. Other motions require a second prior to discussion or action. (Section 4, p ) When there is no apparent disagreement or objection to a motion, the moderator may declare it is adopted by common or general consent. I. No flash photography will be allowed during the worship service at meetings of presbytery. J. When presbytery meets in a location where seating is limited, priority shall be given to voting members for seating within the meeting area. If it is necessary to use other rooms for overflow seating, visitors and other non-voting members shall use these areas. QUORUM: A quorum of the Presbytery shall be any ten teaching elders and ten ruling elders from at least ten different churches and three mission communities. (Manual, ) iii

5 Seeking to be Faithful Together: Give them a hearing... listen before we answer John 7:51 and Proverbs 18:13 Speak the truth in love Ephesians 4:15 Maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Ephesians 4:3 Guidelines for Presbyterians During Times of Disagreement In a spirit of trust and love, we promise we will... 1 Treat each other respectfully so as to build trust, believing that we all desire to be faithful to Jesus the Christ; we will keep our conversations and communications open for candid and forthright exchange, we will not ask questions or make statements in a way which will intimidate or judge others. 2 Learn about various positions on the topic of disagreement. 3 State what we think we heard and ask for clarification before responding, in an effort to be sure we understand each other. 4 Share our concerns directly with individuals or groups with whom we have disagreements in a spirit of love and respect in keeping with Jesus teaching. 5 Focus on ideas and suggestions instead of questioning people s motives, intelligence or integrity; we will not engage in name-calling or labeling of others prior to, during, or following the discussion. 6 Share our personal experiences about the subject of disagreement so that others may more fully understand our concerns. 7 Indicate where we agree with those of other viewpoints as well as where we disagree. 8 Seek to stay in community with each other though the discussion may be vigorous and full of tension; we will be ready to forgive and be forgiven. 9 Follow these additional Guidelines when we meet in decision-making bodies: urge persons of various points of view to speak and promise to listen to these positions seriously; seek conclusions informed by our points of agreement; be sensitive to the feelings and concerns of those who do not agree with the majority and respect their rights of conscience; abide by the decision of the majority, and if we disagree with it and wish to change it, work for that change in ways which are consistent with the Guidelines. 10 Include our disagreements in our prayers, not praying for the triumph of our viewpoints, but seeking God s grace to listen attentively, to speak clearly, and to remain open to the vision God holds for us all. iv

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME ELDER, BE SURE AND PICK UP YOUR SPECIAL BADGE AT THE NAME TAG TABLE VOTING MEMBERS OF SHENANDOAH PRESBYTERY All ministers enrolled in Shenandoah Presbytery Ruling elders commissioned to churches Ruling elders from each church session members = 1 ruling elder members = 2 ruling elders members = 3 ruling elders = 4 ruling elders Ruling Elders who serve in the following capacities shall be enrolled as members of Presbytery for the term of their service: moderator or vice moderator of presbytery chair or vice chair of council member of council chairperson or moderator of a committee or commission exempt employees of the Presbytery (on at least a half-time basis) Commissioned Ruling Elders providing particular pastoral services, as authorized by presbytery Certified Christian Educators who are serving in an educational ministry under the jurisdiction of the presbytery Such service does not count towards the number of ruling elders a congregation is entitled to send. v

7 DOCKET (Members of Presbytery are urged to be registered and seated by 9:30a.m. If not yet registered, please do so right after worship) 8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION BEGINS 9:30 a.m. Opening Prayer and Call to Order 9:45 a.m. Recognition of the Rev. Dr. Randy Webb See page 37 for Randy s written report 9:55 a.m. Determining a Quorum Welcome and Introduction of Guests First time commissioners Seating corresponding members Appointments by the Moderator Correction and Approval of Minutes New Business Adoption of the Docket Communications and Report of the Stated Clerk page 2 Omnibus motion page 3-6 Presbytery Staff Reports Representative of host church Rev. Sally Robinson 10:20 a.m. Committee on Ministry Ruling Elder Jim Johnston, pages :00 a.m. Presbyterian Campus Ministry Rev. Kerry Foster, page 13 11:15 a.m. Spring Hill Administrative Commission Rev. Rob Sherrard, pages :00 p.m. Presbytery Leadership Team Ruling Elder Mike Robison, pages Budget & Finance Larry Holsinger, Treasurer 12:30 p.m. Rev. Tariku Tolessa, President, Illubabor Bethel Synod, EECMY 12:40 p.m. ORDER OF THE DAY Lunch 1:30 p.m. Shenandoah Presbytery Corporation Don Myers, President, pages :50 p.m. ORDER OF THE DAY Worship Installation of the Rev. Dr. Roy Martin 2:50 p.m. Nominations Committee Rev. Christina Tutterow, pages :00 p.m. Church Development Rev. Keith Cornfield, see supplemental reports 3:10 p.m. Small Church Task Force Rev. John Haney 3:15 p.m. Moffett for Mission Ruling Elder Mary Lou Cox 3:25 p.m. Office and Personnel Rev. Melissa Harmon, page 33 3:30 p.m. Anticipated Adjournment Please note that there are small pieces of notepaper on the handout table. You are invited to list your prayer concerns on this paper and to leave them at the Stated Clerk s table before lunch. 1

8 REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK FOR INFORMATION: A. Forty-seven (47) people attended the Incorporation Workshop led by Fred Holbrook and David Witt at presbytery s Big Event on Saturday, September 14. B. Today the Administrative Commission for the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro will submit a written report, outlining that the Administrative Commission has relinquished original jurisdiction and that a new session has been installed at the church. C. Today the Administrative Commission for the Spring Hills Presbyterian Church will submit a written and oral report for approval, including recommendations regarding dismissal and a negotiated settlement package. D. Refer the Body to FOR INFORMATION ONLY reports from World Wide Ministries and Nurture and Outreach, found on pages E. Shenandoah Presbytery still needs a host for the November 11, 2014 meeting. 2

9 OMNIBUS MOTION FROM STATED CLERK: A. That Presbytery excuse from attendance of all or part of this stated meeting those ministers who submit such a request. B. That Presbytery receive the minutes of the commission to install the Rev. Jon Heeringa as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Harrisonburg, as found on page 4. C. That Presbytery Treasurer Larry Holsinger be given the privilege of the floor at today s meeting. D. That Presbytery receive the financial summary for year-end December 31, 2012, as printed on pages

10 MINUTES OF COMMISSION TO INSTALL THE REV. JON E. HEERINGA as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Harrisonburg, Virginia. In accordance with the appointment of the Presbytery of Shenandoah, the commission convened at the First Presbyterian Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Saturday, October 5, 10:30 a.m. Commission members present: Teaching Elders: Olivia Haney, Kyle Key, John Leggett, and Randy Webb Ruling Elders: Lila Gardner Harrisonburg First, Bill von Seldeneck Covenant, and Mike Robison Finley Memorial. Teaching Elder Kirk Sexton of Grand Canyon Presbytery, Teaching Elder Louis Nyiri of Carlisle Presbytery, and Commissioned Ruling Elder Carol Miller (Buffalo Gap Church) were invited by the Presbytery to sit with the commission. A quorum was present. Rev. Olivia Haney, Convener, called the commission to order and led in prayer. The commission elected Olivia Haney as moderator and Carol Miler as clerk. The congregation was called to worship. Rev. Kirk Sexton preached the sermon on the subject "Jesus, the Missional Pastor from Matthew 9:35-38; 28: Rev. Olivia Haney asked the questions of the teaching elder. Ruling Elder Marshall Price asked the questions of the congregation. These being answered in the affirmative, and with prayer led by Ruling Elder Lila Gardner, the commission installed him as pastor of the Harrisonburg First Presbyterian Church. The members of the presbytery and others welcomed the newly installed pastor into their fellowship in the ministry. Rev. Louis Nyiri delivered the charge to the congregation, and Rev. Kyle Key delivered the charge to the pastor. At the conclusion of the service the newly installed minister made a brief statement and pronounced the benediction. After the installation service the officers and members of the church came forward to their pastor and gave him an appropriate expression of cordial reception and affectionate regard. The commission then read and approved their minutes. The commission adjourned with prayer led by Rev. John Leggett. Olivia Haney, Moderator Carol Miller, Clerk 4

11 Presbytery of Shenandoah Revenue and Expenses Year to Date vs Annual Budget Actual Twelve Months Ending December 31, Twelve Month Budget Remaining Budgeted Funds Resources Provided by: Undesignated Mission & Ministry from Congregations 597, , ,461 Undesignated (Prior Year Payment) 4,236 (4,236) Interest Income 13,184 12,800 (384) Grants from GA & Synod 6,000 3,600 (2,400) Corporation Income from Blue Funds 5,000 5,000 - Other Income 2,435 (2,435) Total 628, , ,006 Resources Used for: Payments to Governing Bodies GA - Per Capita 109, ,919 - Synod - Per Capita 13,263 13,263 - GA - Shared Mission Support 46,466 46,466 - Synod - Shared Mission Support 1,800 1,800 - Total 171, ,448 - Administration Occupancy 45,014 47,384 2,370 Office Expense - (Including Postage, Telephone, Supplies, Equipment, Audit) 44,722 44, Personnel Expenses - Salaries, Benefits, Travel & Cont Ed 304, ,747 43,016 Pres. Meeting Expense 543 2,100 1,557 Total 395, ,181 47,171 Committee Expense: Committee on Ministry 6,903 17,895 10,992 Prep for Ministry 1,519 5,970 4,451 Nominations (705) Permanent Judicial Representation Presbytery Council 10,847 6,250 (4,597) Moffett Grant Fund Funds Administration (50) Church Development 43,264 59,000 15,736 Communications 4,275 4,200 (75) WW Ministries 920 1, Partnership 18,421 18, Total 87, ,415 27,100 5

12 Actual Twelve Months Ending December 31, Twelve Month Budget Remaining Budgeted Funds Mission Communities: Eastern Panhandle 3,798 4, Mountain Valley 3,180 3,180 - Central Valley 2,400 3,760 1,360 Highland-Augusta 1,404 3,180 1,776 Maury River 5,100 5,100 - Total 15,882 20,000 4,118 Support Payments: Presbyterian Campus Ministry 10,750 10,750 - Massanetta Springs 3,000 3,000 - Chaplains Service of Virginia 3,000 3,000 - Total 16,750 16,750 - Other Payments: Youth Council 7,000 7,000 - Montreat/Triennium Conference 6,000 6,000 - Camp Paddy Run 14,062 13,841 (221) Resource Center 1,564 4,000 2,436 Big Event 1,409 3,000 1,591 Total 30,035 20,841 3,806 TOTAL PAYMENTS 716, ,635 82,195 DIFFERENCE - (88,046) (27,235) 60,811 TO OR (FROM) RESERVES 6

13 COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY I. FOR INFORMATION: A. Received quinquennial visit reports to Burlington, Slanesville, and Springfield churches. B. Received a report on the meeting with the Seneca Rocks and Circleville churches on September 22. The meeting was well attended and discussion was constructive. The churches will work to develop a plan for shared ministry that draws on their mutual strengths and will submit it to COM for review and ongoing dialogue. Appropriate roles and limits for ruling elders serving in the absence of a teaching elder were clarified. Ruling elders will not officiate at weddings or funerals or administer the sacraments without prior approval of presbytery through the COM. Randy Webb will continue to work with both churches in creating a shared ministry plan. II. ACTIONS TAKEN: A. Appointed the following: Rev. Don LaRue as moderator of the Immanuel Church Rev. Brad Langdon as moderator to Falling Waters Church Rev. Jack Wilkers as moderator to Staunton First Church Rev. George Chapman as liaison to Staunton First Church Rev. Elizabeth Lewis as liaison to Falling Waters Church B. Approved the Associate for the Parish contract between the Parish of the Valleys Council and commissioned ruling elder Dwight Rinard from September 1-December 31, C. After consulting with the consumer price index, recommend churches provide a 2% cost of living adjustment effective January 1, 2014, for all pastors and educators. D. Approved the Ministry Information Form from the Mt. Horeb pastor nominating committee, and authorized Kim Stroupe to input the data onto the Church Leadership Connection web site. E. Approved the Ministry Information Form from the Opequon associate pastor nominating committee, and authorized Kim Stroupe to input the information onto the Church Leadership Connection web site. F. Authorized ruling elder Jean Steidel to lead Communion at the Opequon Church on November 3, while Rev. David Witt is in Ethiopia. G. Approved the student intern/candidate for ministry contract between Gwen Carr and the Craigsville Session from November 4, 2013-June 1, H. Declined to concur with the following: On Amending G b. to Require Participation in the Benefits Plan of the PC(USA) From the Presbytery of Kiskiminetas. The Presbytery of Kiskiminetas overtures the 221 st General Assembly (2014) to submit to the presbyteries for their concurrence the following amendment to the Form of Government G b. by adding a third paragraph to section b. to read as follows: Any temporary pastoral relationship filled by a non-retired teaching elder serving more than half time (20 hours per week) the contract must include participation in the benefits plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), including both pension and medical coverage, or any successor plan approved by the General Assembly for the duration of the temporary pastoral relationship contract and future extensions. Rationale The terms of call for installed pastoral positions require participation in the benefits plan of the 7

14 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), including both pension and medical coverage, or any successor plan approved by the General Assembly. (G ). Only 5,584 congregations have installed pastoral positions covering 6,722 installed pastors (Comparative Statistics 2011). There are 702 fewer congregations with installed positions covering 885 fewer installed pastors than in 2006 (Comparative Statistics 2006). 2,846 congregations in 2011 have other leadership, of which are temporary supply teaching elders (710). At the Board of Pensions minimum participation basis of $40,000, the lost major medical dues is $1,252,440 for Minimum participation basis for 2014 is $42,000 and for 2015 is $44,000. I. Approved renewing the contract between the Buffalo Gap Session and Commissioned Ruling Elder Carol Miller from December 1, 2013-December 31, J. Approved renewing the contract between the Staunton Second Session and interim Harry Johns from November 1, 2013-October 31, K. Concurred with the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between the Staunton First Church and the Rev. Richard Dietrich, effective October 31, L. Approved the transfer of Dr. Glen Holman to the Presbytery of Mid-Atlantic (EPC) effective October 10, M. Authorized the election of a Pastor Nominating Committee at the Staunton Second Church. III. RECOMMENDATIONS: A. Concerning the Rev. Roy A. Martin: 1. Sustain the examination of Mr. Martin following the statement of his Christian experience and an opportunity for questions from the floor. (See pages 10-12) 2. Enroll him as a member of Presbytery (transferring from the Presbytery of St. Augustine) following the examination and the signing of the Book of Obligations. 3. Approve the following commission to install: Teaching Elders Olivia Haney Sam Hayter Charles Reed David Witt Ruling Elders Emerson Deitz, Tinkling Spring Kimberly Kline, Franklin Ken McNulty, Cooks Creek Pat Williams, Moorefield Presbytery is requested to invite Collier Harvey to sit with the commission and charge the presbyter. B. Recommend that the Rev. Richard S. Dietrich be granted the status of honorably retired effective October 31, (The celebration of ministry will take place at the February meeting of Presbytery.) C. That Gwendolyn B. Carr, an inquirer under the care of Shenandoah Presbytery and a ruling elder who has been invited by the session of the Craigsville Church to be their Student Intern / Candidate for Ministry, be authorized by the presbytery to serve as moderator of the session and to administer the Sacraments (Book of Order G ). (Gwen will be presented by the Committee 8

15 on Preparation for Ministry to move from the inquiry phase to the candidacy phase at the February 8, 2014 meeting of presbytery.) G Service in Covenant Relationship Inquirers and candidates shall, with the permission of the presbytery of care, engage in some form of supervised service to the church. No inquirer or candidate who has not been previously ordained as a ruling elder may serve as moderator of a session, administer the Sacraments, or perform a marriage service. An inquirer or candidate previously ordained as a ruling elder may be authorized by the presbytery to preside at the Lord s Supper when invited by a session. E. That Presbytery approve the commissioning of the following ruling elders for service in the specified field and that the Moderator of the Presbytery commission them for service: Concerning William Moore: 1. Mr. Moore be re-commissioned as ruling elder of the Tabler Church through December 31, That Rev. Tom Rhyne continue to serve as mentor to Mr. Moore. 3. That Mr. Moore be authorized to perform the functions of the Book of Order G at the Tabler Church. Concerning Isca Mitchell: 1. Ms. Mitchell be re-commissioned as ruling elder of the Pines Chapel Church through December 31, That Rev. Beth McCrary continue to serve as mentor to Ms. Mitchell. 3. That Ms. Mitchell be authorized to perform the functions of the Book of Order G at the Pines Chapel Church. Concerning Judy Hensley: 1. Ms. Hensley be re-commissioned as ruling elder of the Union Church through December 31, That Rev. John Peterson continue to serve as mentor to Ms. Hensley. 3. That Ms. Hensley be authorized to perform the functions of the Book of Order G at the Union Church. Concerning Carol Miller: 1. Ms. Miller be re-commissioned as ruling elder of the Buffalo Gap Church through December 31, That Rev. Frank Wyche continue to serve as mentor to Ms. Miller. 3. That Ms. Miller be authorized to perform the functions of the Book of Order G at the Buffalo Gap Church. Concerning Dwight Rinard: 1. Mr. Rinard be commissioned as ruling elder of the Ivanhoe and Wardensville churches through December 31, (Since this is Mr. Rinard s first commissioning, it will be for one year.) 2. That Rev. Joel Thornton serve as mentor to Mr. Rinard. 3. That Mr. Rinard be authorized to perform the functions of the Book of Order G at the Ivanhoe and Wardensville churches. 9

16 Biographical Sketch THE REV. DR. ROY A. MARTIN I was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia by loving parents who married later in life. My father was sixty-two and my mother, forty-one when I was born, two years after their marriage. My father was an active member and elder in the Disciples of Christ Church and my mother was an active member and elder in The Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg. I grew up attending worship and other functions in both churches until I was eleven years old and went through confirmation (then called Communicant s Class) and became a member of the Presbyterian Church. I always loved going to Sunday school and church as a child and was very active in church as a youth. While still in high school, I was a youth member on the church s Christian education committee and went on a presbytery youth mission trip to Mexico. The minister who led that trip apparently saw something in me which led him to recommend to the presbytery that I be a Youth Advisory Delegate to the PCUS General Assembly. That experience awakened in me a deep interest in how the Church did its work. The moderator of the Assembly asked me to serve as one of two youth members of an ad interim committee to study whether or not Synods were a needed part of our denominational structure. The adult members of that committee were a veritable who s who of Presbyterian leaders at both the presbytery and synod level including Collier Harvey who chaired the committee. What I learned from them about the functions of the various councils of the church was priceless. Simultaneous with that work as well as beginning my college years, I served for four summers as a counselor at Camp Massanetta. I had gone there as a camper and remembered being mesmerized by the Birdlife in Wington stories that Uncle Sam Hayter told at vespers every evening. Forrest Palmer, who now serves as the Interim Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of West Virginia and who was a child of Shenandoah Presbytery, was the director of the camp for most of my time as a counselor but I was thrilled when Sam came back to direct the final week of camp my last year. I went to college at what is now The University of Mary Washington and graduated from there with a BA in Religion in While there, I continued to be active in my home church and was elected and ordained a Ruling Elder. Upon graduation, I applied and was accepted to what is now Union Presbyterian Seminary and took the four-year Doctor of Ministry track. After starting seminary, I was invited to become the director of Camp Massanetta and served in that capacity for two years. During the second of those years, I was invited to preach several Sundays at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg while the pastor was away. I spent my third year as a student minister in Charlotte, North Carolina at Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church. I then returned for my fourth year at seminary and graduated in

17 My first call was to be the associate pastor of St. Mark s Presbyterian Church in Bayonet Point, Florida where I served for four and a half years. It was during this time that I met and married Mary Cuneo and, two years later, our daughter, Caroline, was born. A year later, I accepted a call to serve as pastor of Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Our son, Samuel, was born during these years and both of our children brought us great joy. But there was also sadness during this time as Mary and I were unable to keep our marriage alive. While the divorce was painful for all of us, we were blessed to have the support of our church family. We were also determined to give our children as normal a childhood as possible, sharing equally responsibility for raising them and continuing to celebrate holidays and birthdays as a family. In 1999, when the search committee from First Presbyterian Church of Lake City, Florida expressed interest in calling me to be their pastor, I indicated to them that I would not be able to move unless my former wife was also willing to move because of our commitment to our children. To their credit, they invited her to come down to see if the move would be good for her. Mary decided that it would be so, after serving in Delaware for eleven years, we all moved to Lake City, Florida where I have now served for fourteen and a half years. Our children are now grown; Caroline is married and has been a teacher in the public school system for three years. Samuel is a junior in college majoring in history and is an Eagle Scout. During my thirty years in ministry, I have had the honor of serving the Church in a variety of ways: camp ministry, campus ministry, commissioner to two Synod meetings, commissioner to two General Assembly meetings, chairing a Committee on Ministry and a Committee on Preparation for Ministry, serving on Presbytery Councils, serving on churchrelated agency boards, and a permanent judicial commission. I have been particularly grateful for the variety of service to the church I have been permitted to render over the years. As I look back on my life, I can see clearly the hand of God guiding me and I am thankful to God for the many men and women in the Church who mentored me and modeled for me what it means to be a faithful Christian in service to Christ through the Church. Through family and Church, my life has been richly blessed. 11

18 Statement of Faith The Rev. Dr. Roy A. Martin, Jr. My faith is based in Jesus Christ without whom I would not know the saving grace of God. It is Christ who, by his own life, has shown me the walk of faith and trust in the Creator and Sustainer of all things; who, through parable and presentation, has taught me to offer God s love and mercy to the downtrodden and the outcast; who, through his death on a cross, has demonstrated just how far God will go to save us from our sin and separation; and who, through his resurrection, has opened the door for you and me and anyone who will accept it life abundant and eternal. Except for Christ s full divinity, I could not know God fully; except for Christ s full humanity, I could not see what God intends for my life. As central as Jesus Christ is to my faith, he is so because he points me toward God to whom I owe my very life. As one of the vows of church membership used to say in older versions of the Book of Order, I am, a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving God s displeasure and without hope except in God s sovereign mercy. And yet God chooses to be merciful and gracious towards us and invites us to be in a close and abiding relationship which recognizes and accepts God s lordship over our lives. I believe God is righteous and just, and God calls upon us to act justly toward others, to tend to the needs of others in our day as God called upon the Israelites of old to care for the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner within their midst. It is this God who, after Christ s death and resurrection and ascension, gave us the paraclete, the Holy Spirit, the helper that we might be enabled to live for God and share God s love and forgiveness with the whole world both in word and deed. The Holy Spirit empowers God s people to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and, in so doing, to demonstrate the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and the reconciling love of God. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to experience the fullness of God as we pray, study the Scriptures, and participate in the fellowship, worship, and mission of the Church. The Church, then, defined as the body of Christ, is the gathering of God s people for the purposes of spiritual growth, mutual support, and mission and ministry in the name of Christ. As affirmed in the thirteenth chapter of the Scots Confession and paraphrased in The Foundations of Presbyterian Polity in our Book of Order, the true Church is found where, the Word of God is truly preached and heard, the Sacraments are rightly administered, and ecclesiastical discipline is uprightly ministered. Finally, the Church is to be the provisional demonstration of nothing less than the Kingdom of God. As such, it is the Church where sin is forgiven, reconciliation is accomplished, and the dividing walls of hostility are torn down. As Christians, I believe we await that day when there will be a new heaven and a new earth and sin will be no more because God and the created order are united in love. But until that day comes, I believe that God has provided the scriptures as inspired testimony of God s plan and purpose for creation. I also believe that, through God s son, Jesus Christ, God gave to the Church the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion to be, in the words of Augustine, signs and seals of God s freely given grace and love. To each and every member of the community of faith, I believe God bestows special gifts empowering them to be instruments of God s love in the world. Finally, I believe that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is a part of the Church Universal. In its theology and in its polity, I believe it attempts to make a faithful witness to the love of God in Jesus Christ. 12

19 Greetings Shenandoah! Presbyterian Campus Ministry at James Madison and Beyond Fall Report, 2013 Shenandoah Presbytery Our academic year is in full swing, and our numbers are up 25% in attendance over last year! Thank you God! We continue to provide a presence of Reformed Tradition and Theology upon the campus of James Madison University, as well as developing connections with the other 26 or so identifiable faith based organizations on campus (surprisingly, JMU has roughly 27 faith based organizations on campus, covering the full spectrum of traditions!). That is one reason the support of the Presbytery and our covenant churches is so important. The Reformed Tradition provides a vital presence and understanding on campus, and you all make that possible! Thanks to you all. We are here today to also lift up the College Conference at Montreat, January 2-5, You can check the Montreat.org site for deeper details, but our message is simple: We are sponsoring a house in Montreat, and we are looking for YOUR COLLEGE STUDENTS as well as PCM s to fill it up! Imagine your college student surrounded with 1,106 other college students, there not for a sporting event, not for a concert, definitely not for a seminar on quantum physics, but for Jesus Christ. Yep, that guy! That is what you will find in Montreat in early January, 2014-young adult Christians deepening their faith and faith commitments, preparing to become the leaders of this denomination, this nation, this world. And you can make it happen. The theme of the conference is At The Well, with the statement Jesus said, Love your neighbor as yourself as the beginning point of the conference. In our very diverse world, what does that mean, who is our neighbor, and how do we talk with each other? We will gather at the well, share, examine, reflect and respond, at Montreat s well, and then, at our wells! Do go to the Montreat Website and download the information, and then, get in touch with us! Connect your students with us. Reach out to Ashley and Jake Kave, or Kerry Foster, at the presbytery meeting. Use our address to connect. They are: kfosterbpc@verizon.net; ashowe@gmail.com; jacob.kave@gmail.com. Use the phone, call Kerry: (. Just help us make the connections! The fee will be $ per student, and we will work out transportation depending on where the students are coming from. PCM has covered the extra costs of the event-food, housing, etc. in the past from our operating budget. If you haven t a college aged young adult in your congregation, but would like to help send young adults by providing monetary support, know we will gladly accept (definitely call Kerry then)! Contact any of the PCM folks to find out how you can help! And as always, pray for this ministry and the many like it-be it a simple next door to the campus relationship to a fully funded, staff on the grounds model. If there is a desire to include PCM in your churches regular mission giving, let us know. If you would like to send some folks on a Wednesday and see how we do this ministry, either to start your own or to decide how to support college ministries, give us a call or . We are a ministry of this presbytery, so in many ways, we are you, and you are us! And for that, the leaders of PCM, and the sponsoring congregations, are extremely grateful and blessed! Amen, our sisters and brothers! 13

20 Spring Hill Administrative Commission Timeline of the Commission s Work August 25, 2012 Shenandoah Presbytery authorized a Review Team for Spring Hill Presbyterian Church based upon a communication from the church s session that the church was contemplating leaving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). August through November, 2012 Members of the Review Team were appointed according to the Dismissal Guidelines for Shenandoah Presbytery. Members of the Review Team were: Ruling Elders Churches addresses Ellen Blose from Massanutten ellenblose@gmail.com Peggy Roberson from Covenant mroberson1@juno.com Mike Robison from Finley Memorial miker@pff.net Don Roll from New Providence dlr1087@msn.com Teaching Elders Churches addresses April Cranford from Tinkling Spring acranford@tinklingspring.com Jan Owen from Mount Olive jangowen@msn.com Rob Sherrard from Windy Cove wcpcp@cfw.com Randy Webb acting General Presbyter presbyter@shenpres.org November 7, 2012 The Review Team held an organizational meeting. Rob Sherrard was elected as Chair; April Cranford was elected as Secretary. The Team reviewed the Dismissal Guidelines and discussed their task. November 19, 2012 The Review Team met with the Spring Hill Session. The Team listened to the concerns of the Session. The agenda for this meeting contained contact information for all members of the Review Team. November 23, 2012 Chair Rob Sherrard sent an to Pastor Charles McFarlin to be passed along to the Session thanking them for their forthright discussion at the meeting on the 19 th. December 1, 2012 The Review Team met to assess what they had heard at the meeting with the Spring Hill Session and to plan a way forward. December 7, 2012 The Review Team sent a letter to the Spring Hill Session restating what they had heard from the Session on November 19 and proposing opportunities for listening to members of the congregation. The letter also contained an invitation for interested persons to communicate with the Review Team by letter, , or telephone. Contact information for Rob Sherrard, Randy Webb, and April Cranford was included with the letter. 14

21 January 13, 2013 The Review Team met with interested persons from the Spring Hill Congregation in a group setting. The Team also divided into smaller listening units and met privately with a few persons. Rob Sherrard met with Pastor McFarlin during the private meetings. January 16, 2013 Rob Sherrard and Mike Robison joined Pastor McFarlin and a few persons from the Spring Hill Congregation for prayers in the afternoon and later in the evening. Between these times of prayer, Mike and Rob took Charlie and Trish McFarlin out to supper. January 22, 2013 Subsequent to the meeting with the Spring Hill Congregation on January 13, the Review Team sent a letter to the Committee on Ministry and the Committee on Church Development. This letter outlined the work that the Review Team had done to this point in time. The letter recommended that the Review Team be appointed as a Commission of Shenandoah Presbytery to proceed under the Dismissal Guidelines. February 9, 2013 Shenandoah Presbytery appointed the Review Team as a Commission of the Presbytery to proceed according to the Dismissal Guidelines. February 17, 2013 Commission members Don Roll and Rob Sherrard met with the Spring Hill Session to review the Dismissal Guidelines with respect to our recent appointment as a Commission and the way forward outlined in the Guidelines. The next important step in our process was planning for a Congregational Hearing at Spring Hill. Subsequent to this meeting, the Spring Hill Session set the Congregational Hearing for Sunday, March 17, immediately following worship. Following that decision, the Session followed procedures outlined in the Dismissal Guidelines for notification of the Hearing. February 20, 2013 The Spring Hill Session mailed notice of the Congregational Hearing to all active members of the congregation and subsequently published notice of the meeting in each Sunday s bulletin. March 3, 2013 The Commission met to discuss our participation in the Congregational Hearing. March 13, 2013 Two times of prayer with the Spring Hill Congregation were held in anticipation of the Congregational Hearing on March 17. March 17, 2013 The Congregational Hearing was held at Spring Hill following worship. Four members of the Commission attended the hearing. These members included April Cranford, Peggy Roberson, Don Roll, and Randy Webb. Don Roll spoke about the Dismissal Guidelines and Randy Webb gave a view of the present situation from Shenandoah Presbytery s perspective. These presentations had been reviewed by the Commission in the two weeks prior to the Hearing. At 15

22 the Hearing the vote for proceeding with dismissal was 32 to request dismissal and 13 to not request dismissal. This vote represents 71% in favor of proceeding with dismissal. That percentage was more than the 2/3 majority required in the Dismissal Guidelines to initiate the next stage of our process. April 2, 2013 The Commission met to consider the results of the Congregational Hearing and to devise a plan for moving forward under the Dismissal Guidelines. As a result of this discussion, we planned a meeting with the Spring Hill Session for April 24. April 16, 2013 The Commission received notice by that both the Spring Hill Congregation and Pastor McFarlin were ready to be received by the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians pending their dismissal from Shenandoah Presbytery. April 24, 2013 Three members of the Commission met with the Spring Hill Session to outline the next steps in the Dismissal Guidelines and to begin preliminary negotiations toward a settlement between the Spring Hill Church and Shenandoah Presbytery. April 30, 2013 The Commission met to determine exactly what financial information they would need from Spring Hill to move toward a negotiated settlement and how to care for the congregation during this critical period. The Commission decided to prepare two letters, one requesting specific financial information from the Spring Hill Session and another offering ongoing pastoral care for any members of Spring Hill Church who might need such care in the present situation. May 14, 2013 Commission members Don Roll and Rob Sherrard met with Pastor McFarlin at the meeting of Shenandoah Presbytery as a courtesy to let him review the letters that were being sent to the Session and congregation. May 15 and 16, 2013 The letter to the Spring Hill Session requesting specific financial information was sent on May 15, and the pastoral letter to members of the congregation was mailed on May 16. June 12 and 13, 2013 The Commission received detailed financial information from the Spring Hill Session. This material included: 1. A list of real property with the appraised values taken from the tax rolls from Augusta County, 2. A list of restricted and unrestricted funds held in various accounts under the control of the church, 3. Budgets and actual disbursements for the last five years. June 27, 2013 The Commission met to begin processing the financial information that we had received and to 16

23 discuss a rationale for any settlement that would be negotiated between Spring Hill and Shenandoah Presbytery. [The work of the Commission did not progress during the month of July. Members of the Commission were on mission trips, vacations, and tending to other responsibilities during that time.] August 6, 2013 The Commission worked out a preliminary framework for discussion with the Spring Hill Session for a negotiated financial settlement. This framework included a range of settlement figures based upon different formulas for calculating what would be a gracious financial settlement to be included as part of the plan of separation. August 12 and 13, 2013 On August 12 Mike Robison and Rob Sherrard delivered to Pastor McFarlin the Commission s letter to the Spring Hill Session outlining the preliminary framework. These three discussed the reasoning behind this preliminary framework. On August 13 Rob Sherrard followed up with an to Pastor McFarlin at his request restating some of the points that had arisen in the preceding day s discussion. August 24, 2013 The Commission received a letter from the Spring Hill Session. It was hand delivered by Pastor McFarlin to Chair Rob Sherrard at a meeting of Shenandoah Presbytery and later distributed to the Commission members. This letter represented a proposal for a financial settlement. September 16 The Commission met to discuss the proposal offered by the Spring Hill Session. However, only four members of the Commission were present. We discussed the proposal, but no action was taken. September 25 Chair Rob Sherrard met with Pastor McFarlin and Elder Bill Baylor to discuss where the Session and Commission were at that present moment and to develop a timetable for moving forward. September 30 The full Commission met together. After much discussion and soul searching, the Commission voted to make a specific offer of a financial settlement to the Spring Hill Session. With prayer the Commission sent Randy Webb, Mike Robison, and Rob Sherrard directly to Spring Hill to meet with Pastor McFarlin. These three members of the Commission made the offer which the Commission had agreed upon. October 3 Pastor McFarlin and four members of the Spring Hill Session visited Chair Rob Sherrard at Windy Cove Church. These representatives of the Session said that the Session had met and would agree to the offer from the Commission. October 13 Chair Rob Sherrard met briefly with the Spring Hill Session to thank them for their cooperation in reaching a negotiated settlement. He also outlined the final steps in the Dismissal Guidelines. 17

24 Spring Hill Administrative Commission Summary of Spring Hill Finances Liquid Assets Designated Funds: 43, Undesignated Funds: 462, Total Liquid Assets:$ 506, Real Property Values from the Augusta County Tax Records Church with immediately adjacent parking 999,600 Rental House including land 297,400 Cemetery Land and Picnic Shelter 234,800 Manse including land 206,500 House used by Church Sexton and land 133,700 Extended Parking Lot at the church 2,300 Total Property Value $ 1,874,300 In addition to the figures above the Commission reviewed the budgets, offerings, and expenditures of Spring Hill for the past five years. This review revealed the following information. Rental Regular Budget Year Income Offerings Total Expenditures Over or (Deficit) ,150 80, , , (39,747.37) ,000 79, , , (37,835.76) ,200 86, , , (34,874.42) ,200 79, , , (39,144.95) ,200 85, , , (21,043.55) This review revealed that, while Spring Hill does have considerable financial assets, the church has been using up their reserves to maintain a consistent level of ministry. Over the last five years the church has used $172, from reserve assets to maintain the current level of ministry 18