Brief Summary of the September 16, 2008 meeting of the Presbytery of Donegal
The meeting was held under blue skies at Camp Donegal. The meeting was called to order at 9:30am by the Moderator, the Rev. Raymond Meute. Prayers were offered for the Rev. C. Richard Brown, who is under hospice care, the Rev. Edward Brandt, former pastor of Cedar Grove Church and Stated Clerk, and Rev. John Diller, a former candidate, who are going to be deployed to Iraq as military chaplains. We remembered the family of the Rev. Dr. Edward Williams, former Stated Supply at Second Church, West Chester, who passed away and Emily Crikelair, granddaughter of the Rev. Ben Sheldon, recovering from a lightning strike 100 days ago.
Elders attending for the first time were introduced and three Pastors new to the presbytery introduced themselves: Rev. Bill Wisneski (who was a candidate in Donegal Presbytery), Pastor at Honey Brook Church, Rev. Andrew James Macleod Smith, to be installed as Pastor at Kennett Square Church on October 12th, transferring from his presbytery in Ireland, and Timothy Dooner, to be ordained and installed as Associate Pastor at Covenant Church on September 21st. The Rev. Larry Moir did an outstanding job of introducing each of our 10 visitors from South Africa, pronouncing their names correctly without notes.
The Rev. Jim Thomas, chairperson of the Committee on Ministry, reported that he will be leaving Central Church where he has been Associate Pastor for the past 14 years for a Call to be Pastor of the Lewistown Church in Huntingdon Presbytery. The Rev. John King was dismissed to Philadelphia Presbytery to be Interim Pastor at Middletown Church, the Rev. Douglas Beltzner was dismissed to the Presbytery of Savannah, and the Rev. Joelle Beller was dismissed to the Presbytery of San Gabriel. We rejoiced with Resurrection Chapel as Elder Celso Mesias answered the constitutional questions to become their second Commissioned Lay Pastor. Two of our candidates received calls: Barbara Whipple to be Pastor at the Fulda and Slayton Churches in the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys following her ordination on September 28th at the Kennett Square Church; and Donna Ryan to be Pastor of the Lower Path Valley and Burnt Cabin Churches in the Presbytery of Carlisle following her ordination on October 12th at the First Church in York. A revised Sexual Misconduct Policy and the 2009 Minimum Terms of Call for 2009 of $48,077 were approved with a 3.5% raise suggested for pastors. The current IRS mileage is 58.5 cents per mile. COM also reported that Rev. Guy Dunham is the Executive Director of the York County Council of Churches as of August 1st and the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between the Rev. James Crawford and the Eastminster Church as of July 31st.
Rousing worship was led by the pastors and choirs of the Oromoo Fellowship, La Iglesia, and our family from Mthatha Presbytery. We were blessed by the rhythms of lively anthems and scripture read in Oromoo, Spanish and Xhosa languages.
The Nottingham and Cedar Grove Administrative Commissions were dismissed with thanks.
The docket was revised so that the Administration Department reported three motions that were approved: the Mission Budget for 2009 was set at $271,315 and the Per Capita Budget at $384,660. 2009 Per Capita apportionment will be $26.51, and the percentages for Basic Mission Support will remain the same at 43% for Presbytery, 12% for Synod and 45% for General Assembly.
The Rev. Dr. William Hess, chairperson, introduced the report of the Work and Witness Department. The Rev. Hunter Farrell, a career missionary with the PC(USA) was selected in 2006 as the Director of the General Assembly Council’s World Mission program area. Dr. Farrell shared that since his birth in 1958, the number of missionaries sent out by the PC(USA) has steadily declined. A new initiative has begun and this year 196 missionaries are on the field, in 2009 there will be 215 and in 2010, 220. They are currently recruiting for 24 positions, either new or as the result of attrition.
The Rev. Tom Milligan, chairperson of the Mission in Action Division, reported that Alicia Weber (member of English Church) is a Young Adult Volunteer in Mission in the Gulf Coast. To support her, use ECO #051474. We were forced to cut PALM grants for 2009. Rev. Hess concluded the report by challenging those present to return to their congregations and encourage their churches to increase mission giving which has dropped $100,000 between 2008 and 2009.
The Associate Exec/Acting Exec thanked the Rev Beth Engel and Ann Dickey for their initiation of Designated and Interim Pastor support groups.
Betty Duncan, Resource Center Director, and the Rev. Tom McKinnon, chairperson of the Congregational Ministries Department, performed an amusing skit to advertise the Christian Formation Event to take place this Sunday, September 21st at First Church in Lancaster from 2-5:30pm featuring nationally known New Church Development speaker, the Rev. Brian Clark, plus workshops.
The docket was rearranged, moving both poster sessions after a delicious lunch served by the Camp Committee in Donegal Hall. Poster Sessions were: “Experiencing Camp Donegal through a Camp Fire” led by Elder Amy Wade, “A Conversation with our Mthatha Partners” led by Rev. Larry Moir, Elder Rick Schmidt and our Mthatha partners, “Make Your Church’s Involvement with PCUSA World Mission More Effective” led by Rev. Hunter Farrell, and “Using Alternative Gifts to benefit Mission” led by Elder John Haynes.
The presbytery approved receiving the Transition Team report for implementation (as guided by the Holy Spirit). The presbytery wants the Council to bring names for an Executive Presbyter search committee by the November presbytery meeting.
The General Assembly Commissioners gave a clear, engaging report of their work. They included comprehensive summaries of their experience in the presbytery papers.
The Committee on Preparation for Ministry brought forward the following to be Inquirers: Susan Carr, Greg Klimovitz. Joshua Gill, and Jamie Gruber were continued as Inquirers, Caroline Levy is ready to be examined for ordination. Donna Ryan was examined by the presbytery and approved for ordination.
The Rev. Dr. Jay Wilkins was approved to be the chair of the Committee on Ministry.
The Peacemaking offering was approved to be a split between the Crossans in Ireland and the Trimbles, Mission Co-Workers at Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan.
We were told about the excellent learning opportunities coming on Saturday Sept 20th from 10am till 3pm at Leacock – our first ever Mission Fair.
The presbytery was adjourned at 4:40pm by prayer and a benediction. |
