Brief Summary of March 25, 2008 Presbytery of Donegal Meeting
The Presbytery of Donegal met in a stated meeting on March 25, 2008 at the Donegal Presbyterian Church in Mount Joy, convening at 9:30am with prayer by Moderator Rev. Ray Meute.
The pastor, Rev. Tom McKinnon, and a team of musicians led the presbytery in lively worship.
The presbytery went into Executive Session. Rev. Diane Burkland, chair of the Administrative Commission, presented the negotiated settlement with Great Valley, Forks of the Brandywine and Upper Octorara Churches. The presbytery voted unanimously to approve the report. The presbytery rose from Executive Session.
Our Acting Executive, the Rev. Charles Gross, presented a certificate to the Rev. Steve “Gutty” Gutridge recognizing the 25 th anniversary of his ordination; announced two Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training Events scheduled for April 10 and Nov. 13 th from 9:30-12pm at Bellevue Church and an upcoming Stewardship Workshop on May 8 th at Bellevue; and announced the 4 poster sessions: “Put Humor in Your Pulpit, Podium and other Presentations,” “Leadership Tools for the Trade,” “Be Involved in Refugee Resettlement,” and “The Three Components of the Christian’s Testimony.”
The Stated Clerk, the Rev. Dr. Bill Netting, reported the installation commissions for Rev. David McCabe, Pastor at First Church in Phoenixville, Rev. Ann Marie Osborne, Designated Associate Pastor at Highland Church, and Rev. David Willerup, Designated Pastor at Nottingham Church completed their work; William Wisneski, a candidate under care of Donegal Presbytery, was ordained on March 11 and dismissed to Philadelphia Presbytery; gave a summary of the statistics for 2007 for the presbytery; and reported on the Synod meeting held on Feb. 21-22.
Allan Ziegler, Treasurer, submitted financial reports and made a motion that Donegal Presbytery not pay unremitted per capita amounts for 2007 to upper governing bodies due to the lack of sufficient funds. The motion was approved.
The chairperson of Council, Elder Gail Benjamin reported Council is in a process of discernment for the purpose of addressing the mission funding for 2009 and for new ways of funding and doing missions and Council now and in the future; Council has received the report from the constitutional committees and will be studying them as a further review; and as Trustees of the presbytery, Council heard a first reading of a Fraud Policy which is necessary for insurance purposes.
Rev. Diane Burkland, Chair of Property and Insurance Committee, reported on an item of business that came to the committee after their regular meeting. The presbytery gave permission to the Kennett Square Church to rent the Westminster House to the United Methodist Church of the Open Door.
Rev. Phoebe Kitson-Davis reported for the Committee on Representation, noting that the GA Commissioners are all white males. (Later in the meeting Vice Moderator Rev. Jim Shuler noted that his daughter, Katie Shuler, will be attending GA as Youth Advisory Delegate.)
Rev. Mark Atkinson and Rev. Dr. Judd McConnell reported on progress of the Transition Team. Future plans are the final report of the Consultant , the Rev. John Sharick, and Transition Team to be mailed to the presbytery on June 3. The Consultant will present the report for first reading at the June 17 th presbytery meeting, followed by debate and adoption at the Sept. 16 th presbytery meeting at Camp Donegal.
The Rev. David Hall, serving with WEC International-USA as Director of Mobilization and WEC Link, gave a powerpoint presentation about the advance of Christianity worldwide.
The presbytery enjoyed a delicious lunch in the beautiful new room with a view overlooking the creek and countryside. Two half hours of poster sessions followed lunch. The presbytery reconvened at 2:50pm.
Rev. Jim Thomas, chairperson of the Committee on Ministry reported the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between the Revs. Jennie and Steve Clark and the First Church in Strasburg as of March 31; extension of the Interim Pastor contract between Highland Church and the Rev. Bill Jackson on a month-by-month basis until a pastor is called; approval of the installation commission for Rev. David Willerup as Pastor at Nottingham Church on March 9; permission for Chestnut Level Church to make Rev. Tom Dodge a Parish Associate; approved an interim contract for Rev. Burt Parry and the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millersville; dismission of Rev. John Potter to Baltimore Presbytery; call of Rev. Beth Engel as Designated Pastor at Pequea Church; approved a 10 week sabbatical for Rev. Jay Wilkins, pastor of Trinity Church and the change of status for Rev. Catherine Mason from active to at-large member as she phases out her full-time pastoral counseling ministry. The Committee on Ministry is reviewing the Sexual Misconduct Policy; the Mediation Team has met with a church in the presbytery for preliminary work with the session; and presented 2008 Annual Compensation Review for approval. A Memorial Minute for the Rev. Walter G. Cook was read by the Rev. Douglas Hileman.
Rev. Tom McKinnon, chair of the Congregational Ministries Dept., introduced Amy Wade, Camp Donegal Administrator, who led the presbytery in a rousing rendition of a camp song which tied in with the overall theme presented by Moderator Meute of the presbytery as symphony. Betty Duncan reported on a change in the name of the Christian Education Division to Christian Formation Ministry Team; the Christian Educator’s event scheduled for September 21, usually held at Camp Donegal will be held at First Church in Lancaster this year.
Rev. Steven Clark, chairperson of the Work and Witness of the Church Department, introduced Rev. Dr. Donald Hackett who reported that the Rev. Don Lincoln, Pastor of the Westminster Church in West Chester will be point person for a team to encourage La Iglesia. Elder Nan Best reported on work done by the Vitalization Division including formation of a Latino Ministry Team; work with Nottingham Church and participation in Pastor Willerup’s installation; work on designated pastor covenant for Pequea Church; participated in Synod meeting Table Talks; work on planning group for transition immigrant housing in Lancaster now called iHOW (international House of Welcome); planning second phase of Conflict Management training, arranging for GA training event for coaching teams; and arranging attendance for Nering Huete and a member of La Iglesia at the National Multicultural Conference in San Antonio.
Rev. Guy Dunham, chair of the Administration Dept. introduced Rev. Dr. John Morgan who asked that all paper versions of the Presbytery Manual be destroyed and the one posted on the website be used as the current version pending further changes after the Transition Team reports.
Elder Ed Martin gave the report of the Committee on Nominations including newly elected members of the Committee on Ministry, Committee on Preparation for Ministry and Administration Dept.; resignations of Rev. Jennifer and Steven Clark, Rev. Bob Barcus and the Rev. and Mrs. C. Richard Brown. New chairs for Work and Witness Dept. and Committee on Preparation for Ministry, and members of PJC and Vitalization Division will take effective in June.
Rev. Daniel Moore presented the report of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry. Jennifer Prior (Paoli) gave her statement of motivation and moved from Inquirer to Candidate status.
Elder Roger Stemen presented the final report of the Task Force on Abortion which was approved. Donegal Presbytery was one of two presbyteries that responded to a letter from the Stated Clerk, Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick to all 172 presbyteries recommending the study conducted by the Presbytery of Mississippi and asking that each presbytery conduct a similar study. The chairperson thanked the Council for appointing the Task Force. At their request, the Task Force was dismissed with thanks for a job well done.
The meeting was adjourned at 4pm with prayer by the Moderator, the Rev. Raymond Meute, Jr.
NEXT STATED MEETING: Tuesday, April 15 at Pine Grove Church beginning at 7pm
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