Presbyterian Reformed Church
Presbytery Meeting April 14-15, 2014
Bible Centre, Stockton-on-Tees, England
OPEN SESSION MINUTES
Monday, April 14, 2014
Opening
Devotional Exercises
At 6:00 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2014, Presbytery convened with a public worship service at Stockton-on-Tees, England and in the Bible Centre, the church building of the Stockton congregation. The Moderator, Rev. Mohon led the worship.
Call to Order
At 8:47 AM, Presbytery was called to order and constituted with prayer by Mr Mohon, moderator (outgoing), at Stockton-on-Tees, England and in the Bible Centre, the church building of the Stockton congregation.
Roll Call
Sederunt:, Rev. Mr Roy Mohon, Rev. Mr Michael Ericson, , Rev. Mr Bradford Freeman, Rev. Mr Michael Ives, Mr Vince Gebhart, Mr Brian Myers, and Mr Christopher Levi.
Excuses have been received from Rev. Mr Timothy Worrell, Rev. Mr D. Douglas Gebbie and Mr Stam. Rev. Dr William Young and Mr Lindsay Smallidge were excused.
Minutes
It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the 2013 annual meeting. 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 that Mr Gebhart continue as clerk. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Mr Ericson take the chair as Moderator. The motion carried.
Approval of the Docket
It was moved and seconded to approve the draft docket as amended. The motion carried.
Correspondence
There was no correspondence not already placed elsewhere on the docket.
Greetings from Delegates and Observers
There were no delegates or observers at this time of the meeting.
Treasurer’s Report
Mr Gebhart presented the Treasurer’s report. It was moved and seconded to receive the Treasurer’s report. The motion carried.
Reports of Standing Committees
Report of the Missions Committee
Mr Ives presented the report of the Missions Committee. It was moved and seconded to receive the report of the Missions Committee. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery task the Missions Committee to continue the children’s catechism program and to resume the adult catechism program in Liberia. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery send a representative to Liberia in 2015 for on-the-ground training, contingent upon funds being available for that purpose by December 01, 2014. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery continue its commitment to Mr Kartee’s present stipend and course costs to the amount of $2000 (annum). The motion carried.
Mr Levi led the Presbytery in a time of prayer for the work of the Missions Committee.
Recess
Presbytery stood recessed from 9:47 to 9:57 AM.
Report of the Church Relations Committee
Mr Ives presented the report of the Church Relations Committee. It was moved and seconded to receive the report as read. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that the Presbytery extend an invitation to the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) to the next stated meeting of Presbytery in 2015. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that the Presbytery approve the application of the KPCA to the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) for membership in that body. It was moved and seconded that the motion be tabled. The motion to table carried.
It was moved and seconded to appoint Mr Gebbie plus any other ministers and elders who are able to go as delegates to NAPARC 2015. The motion carried. (It is noted that NAPARC 2015 is planned to be convened in Southern Ontario.)
Mr Mohon led the Presbytery in prayer for the work of the Church Relations Committee.
Report of the Training for the Ministry Committee
Mr Levi presented the report of the Training for the Ministry Committee. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
Mr Gebhart led the Presbytery in prayer for the work of the Training for the Ministry Committee.
Publications Committee Report
The Publications Committee report was given orally by Mr Gebhart. The work of the committee centered on the revision of the denomination’s website. It was moved and seconded to receive the Publications Committee report as presented. The motion carried.
Stewardship Committee Report
The Stewardship Committee report was given by Mr Ives. It was moved and seconded to receive the Stewardship Committee report. The motion carried.
It was moved that Presbytery add the first three recommendations of the Stewardship Committee to the docket under the Psalmody Conference. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery table the Committee’s recommendations #4, 5, and 6 to later in the meeting. The motion carried.
Mr Freeman led the Presbytery in prayer for the work of the Publications and Stewardship Committees.
Recess
Presbytery stood recessed from 11:38 to 11:45 AM.
Congregational Reports
Charlotte
It was moved and seconded that Deacon Mr Jeff George be given the privilege of the floor during the time of the discussion of the Charlotte congregational report. The motion carried.
The Charlotte congregational report was given by Mr Gebhart. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded that Mr Derek Baars gain a broader exposure within the Presbytery, that he visit and preach in Des Moines and Indiana, that he visit Chesley, that he continue to preach in Charlotte, that the Training for the Ministry Committee engage to get to know Mr Baars better, and that the Training for Ministry Committee reach out to the Free Reformed Churches for further references.
Lunch Recess
Presbytery recessed for lunch at 12:28 PM and reconvened with prayer by the moderator at 1:45 PM.
It was moved and seconded to table the motion.
It was moved and seconded to enter the Committee of the Whole. The motion to enter the Committee of the Whole carried. After about fifteen minutes, on motion, the Presbytery rose from the Committee of the Whole.
It was moved and seconded to direct the Training for the Ministry Committee to correspond with the Free Reformed Churches (of Canada) and with Mr Derek Baars regarding how they might be able to handle Mr Baars’ pursuit of Gospel ministry relative to possible work with the PRC Charlotte congregation. The motion carried.
Indiana
The Indiana congregational report was given by Mr Freeman. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
Mr Myers led the Presbytery in prayer for the Charlotte and Indiana congregations.
Recess
Presbytery stood recessed from 2:51 to 2:57 PM.
Chesley
The Chesley congregational report was distributed in advance. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
Des Moines (Trinity)
The Des Moines (Trinity) congregational report was given by Mr Myers. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
Mr Ives led the Presbytery in prayer for the Chesley and Des Moines congregations.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island congregational report was given by Mr Gebhart. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
Stockton-on-Tees
The Stockton-on-Tees congregational report was given by Mr Mohon. It was moved and seconded to receive the report. The motion carried.
Mr Freeman led the Presbytery in prayer for the Rhode Island and Stockton-on-Tees congregations.
Reports of ad hoc Committees
Form of Government and Book of Discipline
The ad hoc Committee on the Form of Government and Book of Discipline was distributed in advance. On motion, the Presbytery entered into the Committee of the Whole. After discussion, on motion, Presbytery rose from the Committee of the Whole.
It was moved and seconded to remit the report back to the Committee to develop a draft of a specific set of guidelines for teleconferencing. The motion carried.
Psalmody Conference
The Report of the ad hoc Committee for a Psalmody Conference was presented by Mr Levi. It was moved and seconded to receive the report of the ad hoc Committee for a Psalmody Conference.
It was moved and seconded that the Committee consider or reconsider the venue of the conference in consultation with the session of the Indiana congregation. The motion carried.
The motion to receive the report carried.
Three items from the Stewardship Committee report had been moved to this place in the agenda and were taken up at this time.
It was moved and seconded to set an advertising budget for the 2015 conference to promote the conference among NAPARC churches, especially those nearer the conference location. It was moved and seconded to table this motion. The motion to table carried.
It was moved and seconded to direct the Publications Committee to set up a temporary social networking page to promote the conference within its respective congregations, well in advance of June 2015. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded to direct sessions to promote the conference within their respective congregations, well in advance of June 2015. The motion carried.
Review of Session Minute Books
It was moved and seconded to waive the review of session minute books at this time. The motion carried.
Adjournment for the Day
Presbytery set as the order of the day to teleconference with Mr Gebbie 10:00 AM in open session. Prayer being offered by the moderator, at 4:48 PM, Presbytery stood adjourned to 8:30 AM tomorrow to begin in closed session.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The Presbytery reconvened in open session at 8:42 AM. The Moderator lead devotions with the reading of Proverbs 8:1-17, a brief message on verses 15:16, the singing of Psalm 67 (first version) to the tune Selma, and prayer.
Closed Session
At 8:56 AM, it was moved and seconded to enter closed session, primarily for discussion. The motion carried. Presbytery recessed from 9:55 to 10:03 AM. From 10:05 to 10:32 Presbytery teleconferenced with Mr Gebbie to ask questions relative to committee work. At 12:15 PM, Presbytery recessed for lunch. At 1:35 PM, Presbytery reconvened with prayer by the moderator.
The following resolution was moved and seconded:
Whereas, the Presbytery sees the situation in the Indiana congregation developing toward two separate congregations, therefore, to accommodate a transition to two congregations be it
Resolved that the pastor agrees to hold two communion seasons in the Columbus location and visit as needed and over the next twelve months; and
Resolved that the session be directed to study and implement such session-level actions they judge may be helpful toward an effective transition; and
Whereas, the Presbytery sees the value of mutual fellowship at the Lord’s Table, therefore be it
Resolved That Presbytery encourages the members of the Indiana congregation to attend communion seasons in both locations if possible.
The resolution carried.
It was moved and seconded that the motion be moved to open session and that the substance be communicated to the congregations of the Presbytery.
At 2:50 PM, Presbytery re-entered open session.
Stewardship Committee Report (continued)
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery direct the Treasurer and the Stewardship Committee to develop a draft budget for Presbytery for 2015/2016. The motion carried.
New Business
Cooperation with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland
It moved and seconded that Presbytery encourages Pastor Mohon to maintain such cooperative action as is attainable with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the interests of the witness of the reformed church in England. The motion carried.
Columbus Minister and Elder
It was moved and seconded that the Presbytery records it gratitude to God for the resilience of the Indiana session granted to it under much hardship and the commitment they have manifested to maintain the Lord’s work. The motion carried.
Psalmody Conference
It was moved and seconded that Presbytery direct the ad hoc Committee for the Psalmody Conference to postpone the psalmody conference to a future date but to continue planning and bring recommendations. The motion carried.
Proposal for a Day of Fasting
It was moved and seconded that the Presbytery appoint Saturday, October 18, as a day of solemn fasting and prayer, that we and our people may humble ourselves and call upon the Lord for mercy on our lands, the Church in them, and our congregations that God may intervene, pardon, and pour out His Holy Spirit. The motion carried.
Resolutions of Thanks
It was moved and seconded to thank the Stockton-on-Tees congregation for their fellowship and hospitality in hosting the meeting. The motion carried.
Time and Place of Next Meeting
It was moved and seconded that the next regular meeting of Presbytery be held within the bounds of the Indiana congregation at the call of the Moderator. The motion carried.
Adjournment
It was moved and seconded to adjourn. The motion carried. After prayer by the moderator, Presbytery stood adjourned 3:42 PM.
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Michael Ericson, Moderator
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Vince Gebhart, Clerk
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