MINUTES IN BRIEF – July 24, 2012
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CHESTNUT HILL
The Presbytery convened at 10 am with the Moderator, Teaching Elder Dr. Brent Eelman, presiding. Teaching Elder Cynthia Jarvis, host pastor, welcomed the presbytery which was followed by the introduction of first time Ruling Elders. Teaching Elder Laurie Weicher moved the approval of the docket with one change. The Presbytery approved and graciously accepted the invitation of the Oxford Presbyterian Church to host the September 25, 2012 meeting.
The Presbytery gathered for worship with Teaching Elder Bill Teague presenting a meditation on Numbers 10:29-32. Following worship the Consent Calendar was approved. Ruling Elder Delores Brisbon reported for the Writing Team for Executive Presbyter and took the Presbytery to task for being “dysfunctional”. Teaching Elder Bill Teague then gave the report of the Presbytery Design Team describing sources where they received input and the resulting design which will be debated and voted on at the September meeting. Ruling Elder John Murphy shared the proposed staff reductions. There were many comments and questions for the remainder of the time until lunch.
Teaching Elder Joseph I. Steele provide prayer for the closing of the morning session and for lunch. The Presbytery reconvened with the open microphone for announcements. Ruling Elder Robert Kenworthy presented the report of the Stated Clerk Search Committee and placed the name of Teaching Elder Kevin Porter in nomination. There were no nominations from the floor and he was elected to begin 1 December 2012 with 131 votes for, 13 against and 1 abstention. While the votes were being counted, Teaching Elder Adan Mairena presented the ‘Have You Heard?’ segment of the docket. Vice-Moderator, Ruling Elder Courtenay Willcox presided over the remainder of the afternoon session.
Teaching Elder Jesse Garner gave the report of the Administrative Commission for the Bethany Collegiate congregation. After reviewing the history of the negotiations, he moved on behalf of the Administrative Commission 15 parts of a motion, the effect of which is to transfer the congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery of the East. The Presbytery approved the transfer. Then Mr. Garner moved the transfer of Teaching Elder Jerome Iamurri to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery of the East which the Presbytery also approved. The Administrative Commission was then dismissed, with thanks, upon receipt of the congregation and Rev. Iamurri by the Presbytery of the East.
Teaching Elder Abigail Rusert gave the report of the Preparation for Ministry Committee, who presented both Shannon Waite and Greg Penza for candidacy. After a thorough examination, the Presbytery approved both for candidacy. Following prayer for the candidates, Ruling Elder Bill Young gave the report for the Committee on Ministry. The Presbytery granted Honorably Retired status to Teaching Elders Paul E. Toms, III and Stanley Wherry. The Presbytery also approved the Call of Teaching Elder Jane Ritterson as pastor of the Aston Presbyterian congregation, established an Administrative Commissions to the Mt. Airy congregation and the Bethel congregation, approved the terms of call for the pastors of the Presbytery for 2012, and approved the examination for ordination of Megan Alyse LeCluysa to serve as a Campus Minister of the Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania. She will be ordained by the Presbytery of the Grand Canyon, her home presbytery.
Ruling Elder Ted Behr gave the report of the Urban Missional Team asking the Presbytery to approve the second Sunday of September 2012 as Public Education Recognition Sunday. Teaching Elder Kevin Porter demonstrated with a surprise presentation of a certificate to Teaching Elder Ethelyn Taylor for her service as a public school teacher. The presbytery unanimously approved the proposal.
Ruling Elder Dr. Eric Greenhow reported for Committee on Nominations, Teaching Elder Bruce Barstow gave the report of the Stated Clerk, and Teaching Elder Keith Lawrence reported on the attendance at the Presbytery meeting. The microphone was open for personals and Ruling Elder Courtenay Willcox, the Moderator presiding, at 4:30 pm, gave the Closing Prayer.
Minutes in Brief July 24, 2012
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The next stated meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia
will be
25 September 2012 at 10 am
at
Oxford Presbyterian Church, 8501 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia.
The corner of Stenton and Gowen, next door to the Presbytery Center.