Presbytery Meeting April 15-17, 2009 Hampton Inn, Manassas, Virginia
Devotional Exercises
Presbytery began with the reading of 2 Cor 10 and an address by Mr Ericson, moderator, upon verse 8. Presbytery sang from Psalm 102 (another of the same) verses 13-22 to the tune Duke Street. Mr Ericson led the presbytery in prayer.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at the Hampton Inn in Manassas, Virginia at 9:19 AM on Wednesday the 15th April 2009 with prayer by the moderator.
Roll Call
Sederunt: Rev. Mr D. Douglas Gebbie, Rev. Dr William Young, Rev. Dr Steven Dilday, Rev. Mr Michael Ericson, Rev. Mr Timothy Worrell, Rev. Mr Roy Mohon, and Rev. Mr Michael Ives, Mr Christop her Levi, Mr Stephen Stam, Mr Dan McGinn, and Mr Lindsay Smallidge.
Also present was Mr Stephen Mouring.
Rev Mr Bradford Freeman was absent, having sent a written excuse (copy is on file). Mr Brian Myers, clerk was also absent with excuse.
Minutes
It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the 2008 annual meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded, that, from this meeting on, all minutes of Presbytery meetings shall be divided into open session and closed session and that only the open session minutes shall be distributed to churches with whom the Presbyterian Reformed Church has a relationship in which minutes are exchanged. The motion carried.
Appointment of ad hoc Committee, Review of Session Books
It was moved and seconded to appoint as an ad hoc committee for the review of minute books: Mssrs Worrell, McGinn, and Smallidge. The motion carried.
Appointment of Officers
It was moved and seconded that Mr. Humphrey continue as Treasurer. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded to appoint Mr Smallidge clerk. The motion carried.
Mr Ives was nominated to serve as Moderator, no other nominations were made. It was moved and seconded to appoint Mr Ives, moderator. The motion carried.
Approval of the Docket
It was moved and seconded to approve the draft docket as amended. (There were three insertions: Approval of Standing Orders, next; Dr Young’s situation, 11 AM Friday; and a closed session at 5 PM today.) The motion carried.
Approval of the Standing Orders
It was moved and seconded to approve the Standing Orders for this meeting. The motion carried.
Greetings from Observers
None of the invited observers were present.
Correspondence
Correspondence from Mr Freeman
It was moved and seconded to receive the correspondence (dated March 12, 2009) from Mr Freeman. The motion carried.
Further matters under this heading of the agenda were postponed.
Reports of Standing Committees
Training of the Ministry Committee Report
The Training of the Ministry report was given by Mr Gebbie. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion was tabled, being made an order of the day 5 PM. (Copy is on file.)
Missions Committee Report
The Missions Committee report was postponed.
Church Relations Committee Report
The Church Relations Committee report was postponed.
Publications Committee Report
The Publications Committee report was given by Mr Dilday. It was moved and seconded to receive the Publications Committee report. The motion passed. (Copy is on file.)
Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer’s report, having been submitted in advance by Mr Humphrey, was presented by Mr Ives. It was moved and seconded to receive the Treasurer’s report. The motion passed. (Copy is on file.)
Correspondence (continued)
Correspondence from Mr Mouring
It was moved and seconded that the communication from Mr Mouring be considered as a petition, and that a committee be formed of members Mohon, Ericson, and Stam to review and summarize the issues contained in the communication and , bring it before the Presbytery under the heading of things relevant to the Northern Virginia [Warrenton] session, things relevant to the Northern Virginia [Warrenton] minister, and to remove and material which involves unsuitable language and content.
Closed Session 1
At 10:14 AM, it was moved and seconded to enter closed Session. The motion carried. Later in the morning, Presbytery exited closed session.
Congregational Reports
The Chesley congregational report was given by Mr Gebbie. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. Dr Young led the Presbytery in prayer for this congregation.
The Rhode Island congregational report was given by Mr Ives. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. Mr Levi led the Presbytery in prayer for this congregation.
The Warrenton congregational report was given by Dr Dilday. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. Mr Ericson led the Presbytery in prayer for this congregation.
At 12:28 PM, Presbytery recessed with prayer by the moderator. After lunch, at 1:39 PM, Presbytery reconvened with prayer.
The Des Moines congregational report was given by Mr Ericson. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. Mr Mohon led the Presbytery in prayer for this congregation.
The Charlotte congregational report was given by Mr Worrell. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. Mr Mouring led the Presbytery in prayer for this congregation.
The Stockton-on-Tees congregational report was given by Mr Mohon. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. Mr Smallidge led the Presbytery in prayer for this congregation.
The Columbus congregational report was given by Mr Smallidge. . It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. Mr Stam led the Presbytery in prayer for this congregation.
Closed Session 2
At 2:22 PM, it was moved and seconded to enter closed session. At 4:08 PM, Presbytery exited closed session.
Training of the Ministry Committee Report (continued)
The Training of the Ministry report was taken from the table. It was moved and seconded to receive the Report of the Training of the Ministry Committee. The motion carried.
Report of NAPARC Observer and Appointment of Next Observer(s)
It was reported that the 2010 meeting of NAPARC would be in Grand Rapids 17-18 November. It was agreed that at least two (2) observers or delegates (to be determined by the Church Relations Committee) be sent to the 2010 meeting of NAPARC.
Report of the FoG-BoD ad hoc committee
Mr Gebbie reported that the committee had nothing further to report. The committee stood dissolved.
Charlotte Overture
By common consent, it was agreed that the Overture from the Charlotte Session (that the words, “There is no imposition of hands, but after” be struck from paragraph 53 of the Form of Government and replace with the word, “After”), which, at last year’s meeting had been “passed to the sessions for consideration” &c., be placed on next year’s docket and that position papers and materials—for and against—be requested.
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery recess until the next day at 11 AM. The motion carried. At 4:37 PM, after the moderator prayed, Presbytery stood adjourned for the day.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Presbytery reconvened in open session at 11:12 AM. The Moderator lead devotions with the reading of Psalm 46 , the singing of Psalm 67:1-6 to the tune Crediton, and prayer.
Review of Session Minute Books
Mr Worrell verbally presented the report of the ad hoc committee for the Review of Session Books. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried. A summary of the report, in Mr Worrell’s hand, is on file.
Reports of Standing Committees (continued)
Church Relations Committee
Mr Ives presented the report of the Church Relations Committee. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that the Presbytery send observers to the next HRC and FRC assemblies, according to the convenience of the presbyters.
Missions Committee
This report was postponed until after lunch.
Correspondence (continued)
Correspondence from Mr Mouring
Closed Session 3
It was moved and seconded to enter closed session. The motion carried. While in closed session, Presbytery recessed for lunch from 12:35 PM to 1:44 PM. Presbytery also recessed for dinner. At 8:01 PM, Presbytery exited closed session.
Reports of Standing Committees (continued)
Missions Committee
Mr Worrell presented the report of the Missions Committee. Mr Ives presented the portion of the report related to the work of the home missionary. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery request that the session of the Northern Virginia Session review communications relative to services of worship conducted under their direction. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that the clerk of presbytery write a cordial letter of Christian greetings to the Reverend James Kartee of the Rose of Sharon Church in Liberia and, encourage continued dialog with his contacts in the PRC that we might get to know him and his work better. The motion carried. Mr Gebbie dissented.
Mr. D. Gebbie dissented from the above carried motion and submitted the following reasons:
1. That the motion appended to the Missions Committee’s Report has no bearing on any matter raised in the Report.
2. That the motion requires Presbytery to encourage a relationship of ‘continued dialog (sic)’ with a party or parties concerning whom the Presbytery knows nothing from written sources and extremely little by way of spoken anecdote.
Correspondence (continued)
Correspondence from Mr Freeman
It was moved and seconded that the Presbytery deny the Rev. B Freeman’s request that the pastoral relation between himself and the Columbus, Indiana congregation be dissolved and that Presbytery renew its commitment to support the work in Columbus. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded to recess. The motion carried. At 8:47 PM, after Mr Mohon prayed, Presbytery stood adjourned for the day.
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Presbytery reconvened in open session at 9:05 AM with prayer by the Moderator. The Moderator lead devotions with the reading of Proverbs 2 and the singing of Psalm 119:89-96 to the tune Palestrina.
Closed Session 4
At 9:13, it was moved and seconded to enter closed session. The motion carried. At 12:42, Presbytery recessed for lunch, with prayer offered by Mr Dilday. At 1:45, Presbytery reconvened into closed session. Presbytery stood recessed from 3:25 PM to 3:48 PM and recessed again for dinner. At 10:00 PM, Presbytery exited closed session.
Resolution of Thanks
It was moved and seconded to thank the Warrenton Congregation for their hospitality in hosting the meeting. The motion carried.
Next Meeting and Adjournment
It was moved and seconded that the next regular meeting of Presbytery be held 18-20 May 2010 within the bounds of the Des Moines congregation. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded to adjourn. The motion carried. At 10:04 PM, after Dr Young prayed, Presbytery stood adjourned.