Committee on Preparation for Ministry Supplemental Report September 8, 2015 INFORMATION: 1. The Committee enrolled Mr. Larry Sharrett (First Presbyterian Church, Bristol) as an Inquirer, effective August 18, 2015. The Rev. Eric Spoon is Mr. Sharrett s CPM Liaison. 2. The Committee enrolled Mr. Michael Thornton (First Presbyterian Church, Bristol) as an Inquirer, effective August 18, 2015. The Rev. Sherrolyn Weed is Mr. Thornton s CPM Liaison. RECOMMENDATIONS: None 54
INFORMATION: Committee on Ministry Supplemental Report September 8, 2015 13. Approved the Temporary Supply Contract with a Minister of Another Denomination between Barton Springs Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Bill Dinwiddie (ordained Christian Church), effective September 1, 2015 through January 1, 2016, with the following terms: Weekly Housing Allowance - $150; Annual Vacation 2 weeks. Rev. Dinwiddie was authorized to administer the Lord s Supper. Appointed the Rev. Greg Cartwright to continue as Moderator. 14. Approved the Temporary Supply Contract (CRE) between New Providence Presbyterian Church and CRE Tony Barnette (Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church), effective September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016, with the following terms: Annual Cash Salary - $6,500; Annual Travel Reimbursement - $4,896; Annual Vacation 2 weeks; Annual Continuing Education 2 weeks; and appointed Mr. Barnette as Moderator. 15. Approved the Interim Pastor Contract between First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson City and the Rev. Diana Moore, effective October 5, 2015 through October 4, 2016, 30 hours per week, with the following terms: Annual Cash Salary - $34,000; Annual Housing Allowance - $10,200; Full SECA Allowance; Full Board of Pensions; Annual Reimbursed Travel Expenses at IRS rate up to - $2,000; Annual Continuing Education Reimbursement - $500; Vacation 1 week per quarter; Continuing Education ½ week per quarter; early termination with 30 days notice and salary continuation; and appointed Rev. Moore as Moderator. 16. Approved the associate pastoral call between the Rev. Greg Cartwright and First Presbyterian Church, Greeneville, effective October 1, 2015 pending congregational concurrence and presbytery approval, with the following terms of call: Annual Cash Salary - $29,605; Annual Housing Allowance - $14,400; Full SECA Allowance; Full Board of Pensions; Annual Travel Allowance - $3,600; Annual Reimbursed Professional Expenses up to $1,500; Annual Vacation 4 Weeks; Annual Continuing Education 2 Weeks; Sabbatical Policy permitting Sabbatical Leave after six continuous years of service. Because Rev. Cartwright is currently employed in a temporary pastoral relationship with First Presbyterian Church, Greeneville, the associate pastoral call must be approved by three-fourths vote of the presbytery, in accordance with Book of Order, G-2.0504c. 17. Approved the Waverly Road Presbyterian Church Ministry Information Form (MIF). 18. Dissolved the pastoral relationship between the Rev. Gordon Turnbull and First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, effective October 15, 2015, pending the congregation s concurrence. (Rev. Turnbull has accepted another pastoral call at John Knox Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina, Foothills Presbytery.) 55
19. Approved the Temporary Supply Contract (CRE) between Mountain City Presbyterian Church and CRE Con Sauls (First Presbyterian Church, Bristol), effective October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016, 30 hours per week, with the following terms: Monthly Cash Salary - $2,000; Manse plus paid utilities; Annual Travel Reimbursement at IRS rate up to - $1,000; Vacation 1 week per quarter; Continuing Education 2 weeks annually; early termination with 30 days notice and salary continuation; and appointed Mr. Sauls as Moderator. 20. Approved the Temporary Supply Contract with a Minister of Another Denomination between Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Mark Hutton (ordained Evangelical Presbyterian Church), effective August 19, 2015 through August 18, 2016, with the following terms: Annual Cash Salary - $5,000; Annual Housing Allowance - $31,000; Annual Vacation 4 weeks; Annual Continuing Education 2 weeks; early termination with 30 days notice and salary continuation; and appointed CRE Scott Wise to continue as Moderator. RECOMMENDATION: 21. That the Associate Pastoral Call between the Rev. Greg Cartwright (currently employed in a temporary pastoral relationship) and First Presbyterian Church, Greeneville, effective October 1, 2015, be approved, in accordance with Book of Order, G-2.0504c. G-2.0504 Pastoral Relationships c. Exceptions A presbytery may determine that its mission strategy permits a teaching elder currently called as an Associate Pastor to be eligible to serve as the next installed pastor or copastor, or a teaching elder employed in a temporary pastoral relationship to be eligible to serve as the next installed pastor, co-pastor, or associate pastor. Presbyteries that permit this eligibility shall establish such relationships only by a three-fourths vote of the members of presbytery present and voting. 56
Celebration of the Retirement of the Rev. Mark Knisley Mark Knisley has served in ministry since his admittance to seminary almost 40 years ago. He attended Lees McRae College, the United States Marine Corps, East Tennessee State University, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. Ordained in 1980 by Holston Presbytery, he was pastor of: Bethany, Kingsport 1980-1990, Graystone, Knoxville 1990-2004, and Hopewell, Dandridge 2005-2014. He has taught on the faculties of Lees McRae and Tusculum Colleges as adjunct professor of Bible, World Religions, and Christian Ethics courses; and experienced a pulpit exchange in Scotland where he also studied at New College in Edinburg. Knisley has been a hospital and Knoxville Police Department chaplain from 1996-2004. He earned basic and senior certifications through the International Conference of Police Chaplains and served the Knoxville Police Department Chaplain Academy as an instructor. He has also been Chaplain of the Day in the State of Tennessee's House and Senate and was commissioned as a Tennessee Colonel. As an active presbyter in Holston and East Tennessee Presbyteries, Knisley was also a Commissioner to Synod and General Assemblies and was on the Board of Advisors for Lees McRae College 1981-1985, Council on Church Relations for Tusculum College 1992-1995 and Board of Directors for Maryville College as Presbytery and Synod representative 1998-2006. His career has been graced with a tremendous helpmate in ministry, his wife, Nancy. They are the parents of two lovely daughters and six wonderful grandchildren. Forced to retire last year prior to receiving a liver transplant on Christmas day, Mark knows he is providentially fortunate to even be here today. He has strived to be faithful to his Lord, his family, his friends and his congregations and other endeavors. 57
Congratulations upon the Retirement of the Rev. Mark Knisley Congratulations to my friend Mark Knisley upon his Honorable Retirement. Mark and I have known each other since we entered Louisville Seminary in the fall of 1976. Mark is not only one of my closest friends; he has been a pastor and confidant to me and my family. Aside from having a sense of humor that is several degrees off center (which, by the way, has served him well in his ministry); Mark is a normal human being. As classmates, we endured the rigors of balancing an education and student pastoral assignments with the responsibilities of being husbands and fathers. Over the span of four decades, we have shared the highs and lows of everyday life, the accomplishments and disappointments of ministry, the thrills of riding motorcycles and the pleasures of watching sports. Ask Mark about the time that we attended a Big Red Machine baseball game and had to return to our homes after the game on a Saturday so that we could be in the pulpit on Sunday Morning, riding through pouring rain on our motorcycles. The moral is: God watches over preachers and dummies. During his ministry, Mark has served the church with enthusiasm and determination, with creative insight in the Scriptures, adherence to orthodoxy, and a love of the history of Christianity and reformed theology. He has been a loyal member of Holston Presbytery and East Tennessee Presbytery. For a decade, Mark served as a Voluntary Chaplain for the City of Knoxville Police Department and has been active in many shared ecumenical ministries. I love my brother Mark and his family. I congratulate him and his gracious and lovely wife, Nancy, upon his retirement. On this occasion for Mark, the words of the Apostle Paul apply: Well done good and faithful servant. During this past year, along with his many friends and family members, we have supported Mark during his illness, surgery, and recovery. We were shocked to hear of Mark s illness and gladly supported him with our prayers. Then we were amazed at his determination to overcome his illness with the help of his doctors, nurses, and the blessings of God to bring healing. When I think of my friendship with Mark the words of Henri Nouwen come to mind: When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. Mark, you have been a blessing and friend who cares, not only to me, but also to countless others in your life and ministry. I congratulate you on your retirement and wish you every happiness and the blessings of Almighty God. Your Friend, The Rev. Jim Gray, Honorably Retired 58
RECOMMENDATION: Trustees Supplemental Report September 8, 2015 1. Book of Order, G-4.0206, Selling, Encumbering, or Leasing Church Property, states: a. Selling or Encumbering Congregational Property A congregation shall not sell, mortgage, or otherwise encumber any of its real property and it shall not acquire real property subject to an encumbrance or condition without the written permission of the presbytery transmitted through the session of the congregation. b. Leasing Congregational Property A congregation shall not lease its real property used for purposes of worship, or lease for more than five years any of its other real property, without the written permission of the presbytery transmitted through the session of the congregation. That Holston Presbytery approve the lease between First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, and Verizon with the following terms: First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, will receive a total annual rental of $24,000, to be paid annually, with an annual escalation of 2%. The initial term of the agreement is five (5) years. Unless terminated by the Lessee, the agreement shall automatically be extended by three additional five-year renewal terms. 59