Covenant Presbyterian Church Meeting of Session Monday April 13, :00pm CONSENT AGENDA

Transcription

1 Meeting of Session Monday April 13, :00pm CONSENT AGENDA ACTION ITEMS 1. Approval of March 16, 2015 Session Meeting Minutes (pgs.2-5). Andy Ball, Clerk of Session, moves that the minutes of this meeting be approved as written. 2. Approval of Called Session Meetings Minutes to receive new members (pg. 6). Andy Ball, Clerk of Session, moves that the minutes of these meetings be approved as written. 3. Approval of request for changes to active roll (pg. 7). 4. Approval of baptisms (pg. 8). INFORMATION ITEMS 1. Report from Mission and Outreach Urban Plunge (pg. 9). 2. Clerk s Communications (pg. 10). FUTURE EVENTS April 16 Covenant hosts World Café at 7:00pm in the FH April NEXT Conference with Diana Butler Bass see link: April 26 Danny Seidemann at Covenant 9:30am and 5:00pm April 26 Quest Confirmation at 11:00 Sanctuary Service May 3 Beach Bash 5:00 7:00pm May 11 Next Session Meeting 7:00pm

2 Page 2 of 10 Minutes of the Meeting of Session March 16, 2015 Call to Order Moderator, Bob Henderson The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM. Opening Worship - Bob Henderson Bob gave a devotion on Matthew 14:22-33 about trusting God and God s call in our lives. Determination of Quorum and Adoption of Agenda A quorum was declared by the Moderator. The agenda was adopted. Bill Prestwood Candidate for Ministry Bill Prestwood gave the Session a summary of his experience in seminary to date. He is in his 3 rd year of a 5 year program and will be starting a period of non-parish outplacement service, followed by a year of outplacement service at a church. Session endorsed Bill as a candidate for ministry. P&E Report No Report Administration Tom Coley gave the report in Jeff s absence. The budget continues to be strong. Staff continues to be diligent with expenses and we are under budget due in large part to lowered personnel expenses. Personnel Report Chris Lam gave the session an update on current openings and other personnel matters. Tim Belk has been hired as Interim Dir of music. Tim is a renowned organist and very established in traditional music. Addie Rising has been hired as Director of Communications. Addie brings 15 years of experience in major news outlets. Adam Kortekaas resigned today, effective at the end of March. A Seminary Intern position was approved for the dates of May 27 August 9 and this will be filled by Julia Watkins, one of our Stapleton Davidson interns. She will focus on mission and education work with Jessica. Petra s last day will be July 31, and she will enter a yearlong chaplaincy program at CMC. We have candidates for the Pastoral residency positions.

3 Page 3 of 10 Ministry Reports: Education No Report Worship Tommy Lawson brought a proposal to Session from the Worship Committee. Due to lower staffing levels, and in keeping with other local churches, worship is proposing to modify the worship schedule for the summer. The proposal is to keep the regular schedule for the 9:30 contemporary and both 11am services. The chapel service would be suspended from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The last Sunday chapel service would be May 17, and the service would resume September 13. After discussion, the recommendation passed. Congregational Life Michelle McDevitt Askew gave session an update on the Congregational Life bi-annual meeting and highlight upcoming events. Health and Wellness is doing an End of Life series. There has been good attendance and support. March 22: a professor from UNCC will be speaking to the young adults on this topic. May 3: Covenant will have a blood drive to help with a shortage driven by the weather and flu season. April 8: Carter Cook will be here highlighting his non-profit: Piano vs. Poverty. April 15: is the last covenant connection for the year and it will be a children s musical. April 22: Joshua Becker, author of Becoming a Minimalist will speak about living a clutter free life that matters. This is open to the community. June 28: Cookout and family activity night. Ann Ayers reported that last month s worship attendance report provided good information about why members have not been signing worship response cards. Pastoral concerns came up and were reported to Joan. She requested that each member of Session fill out another worship attendance report. Mission and Outreach Brad Gritter provided highlights of the mission festival on Feb 22. The change in venue to the Rec wing was very well received, as was the change to the menu. There were 370 paid lunches, 35 live auction items, 10 black box items and hundreds of silent auction items. Grand total raised was over $55,000, the largest amount raised since auction began in This will allow us to expand our outreach.

4 Page 4 of 10 Engagement Karen Calder reported on new plans for 2015, in addition to hospitality and assimilation of new members. She discussed the following 4 goals: 1. Establish a process to track and measure member engagement. 2. Work in partnership with new Communications Director to make communications more user friendly. 3. Educate members about church resources section of the website. 4. Assimilate Elders into role of hospitality. Clerk s Report Andy Ball invited Session to attend a meeting from 7-8:30 at Covenant on April 16. Presbytery is forming an Emmaus Team. Discussion of topics and changes in Presbytery. Bob commended the work of interim Presbyter Betty Meadows. Presbytery is looking to determine its role and how we will support Presbytery. A more active role will require more resources. Old Business/New Business In new business, there was a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. A motion was made, seconded and approved. Staff Announcements/Pastoral Concerns Jessica extended an invitation to attend a workshop by Dianna Butler-Bass. She talks about nones and where the church may go from here. This is April Yesterday Covenant hosted 4 churches from Charlotte and Raleigh to learn about our new contemporary worship service. Thanks for all of the hard work that has set the stage for other churches. Carla reported that we decided to build two houses in Reynosa instead of one. Petra asked for prayers for the Urban Plunge mission trip this weekend where young adults will go into homeless camps, Habitat. There will be an intergenerational service event Saturday for a Habitat build. Bob thanked Session for the respect shown during the process of considering the changes to the wedding policy. Other churches are contacting us to find out about our process. Kate MacKenzie gave an update on the Presbytery meeting. Joan announced pastoral concerns including two new babies in the congregation, death of Sonny Price, people in hospital and with upcoming surgeries.

5 Page 5 of 10 Bob reminded us that there will be a celebration of Talleys on April 12 th and they will be with us until April 19 th. Also, at 5:30 on April 12 th is the confirmation meeting with Quest class. Petra asked for prayers for a new family in the Arosa condos, and for a smooth transition. Ann Ayers enjoyed the music concert by the contemporary music team at Myers Park Methodist. Bob thanked everyone for extending hospitality to the guest preacher yesterday. Closing Prayer Respectfully submitted, Andy Ball, Clerk Robert W. Henderson, Moderator

6 Page 6 of 10 Called Session Meetings Sundays, March 29 and April Covenant held two Called Session Meetings, on March 29 and April 5, 2015 each at 10:30 a.m., in the Parlor, for the purpose of receiving new members. Lora Borrelli introduced the following new members and information: March 29, 2015 Terry Loeb Reaffirmation 3/29/15 Ann Blinn Reaffirmation 3/29/15 April 5, 2015 Robin Doermann Transfer Letter--Central Church of God, Charlotte, NC 4/05/15 Walker Doermann Transfer Letter--Westminster Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC 4/05/15 The following were also restored to the active roll: Charles Walker Harris Restored from inactive roll 3/09/15 Joyce Harris Restored from inactive roll 3/09/ New Members YTD: 20 Moderator, Bob Henderson called for a motion of acceptance at each gathering. Motions were made, seconded and approved. Each meeting adjourned with prayer. Respectfully submitted, Andy Ball, Clerk Robert W. Henderson, Moderator

7 Page 7 of 10 Session Meeting Request for Changes in the Active Roll April 13, 2015 Removed from Active Roll Name Transferred to Date Kathleen Shields First Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, SC 3/10/15 Thomas Willard Shaw First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC 3/15/15 Tommie Haigler Shaw First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC 3/15/15 David Randy Norton Removed Per Request 3/05/15 Betty Norton Removed Per Request 3/05/15 Anne Steppe Removed Per Request 3/27/15 Bernette Bowen Removed Per Request 3/27/15

8 Page 8 of 10 Session Action Item Summary Subject: Baptisms Date: April 13, 2015 Report From: Baptism Committee Chair: Lani Lawrence Background: Baptism must be approved by the Session. Process to Date: Parents have requested that their children be baptized. Budget Impact: None Actions Taken or Recommendation: The Baptism Committee recommends approval of the following baptisms: March 29, 2015 at the 9:30am service in the Covenant Sanctuary Alice Catherine Gaston Parents Will and Sarah Gaston April 5, 2015 at the 11:00am service in the Covenant Fellowship Hall Robert Preston Caldwell, IV Parents Preston and Anna Caldwell April 19, 2015 at the 9:30am service in the Covenant Sanctuary Thomas Jacob Graybeal Parents Brian and Cindy Graybeal April 26, 2015 at the 9:30am service in the Covenant Sanctuary Benjamin Robert Gaither Parents John and Sarah Gaither May 10 th, 2015 at the 11:00am service in the Covenant Sanctuary Brooklyn Annaliese Young Parents Kirk and Megan Young Motion: Motion to approve the baptisms of Alice Catherine Gaston, Thomas Jacob Graybeal, Benjamin Robert Gaither, Robert Preston Caldwell IV, and Brooklyn Annaliese Young Attachment(s): None

9 Page 9 of 10 Session Information Item Summary SUBJECT: Urban Plunge Mission Trip DATE: April 13, 2015 Report From: Mission & Outreach Ministry (Petra Wahnefried) From March 19 through March 22, eight young adults participated in the Urban Plunge Mission Trip. This three-day, local trip was packed full of learning, as we sought to further understand the needs of our city, and how we can respond to those needs as individuals, Christians and a church. We also contributed to our city through service and did projects at nine partner agencies, while learning from several more. Each evening held rich conversations as we processed what we had seen that day. Several people commented that their view of homelessness completely changed as a result of this mission experience.

10 Page 10 of 10 Session Information Item March 16, 2015 Subject: Clerk Communications From: Andy Ball, Clerk Communication has been received from the following organizations acknowledging donations: The Relatives Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary