Session Summary

By John Dishman

The Session met for its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 22 at 12:45 PM.  All members were present, as was emeritus elder John Rawley, who opened the meeting with a devotional based on I Peter 1.  (Note: the PCA Book of Church Order specifies that all emeritus elders in a congregation are free to attend all Session and Deacon meetings as they desire. However, they may not vote.)

The Session is grateful to the Lord for His providence and provision in the matter of our latest bond program.  In the meeting, it was reported that all bonds have been sold.  This will substantially lower our mortgage payment going forward, and will greatly aid in our cash flow management.

Several motions were passed regarding the TNPC web site, which is administered faithfully and competently by Richard Klein.  One of the passed motions approved the creation of an online password-protected membership directory.  Additionally, the Session authorized the online publication of (1) WACN menus, (2) the library catalog, and (3) the nursery schedule.

It was agreed to officially install Pastor John as interim pastor on Dec. 6 per the guidance of the presbytery. It was also noted that additional help is needed in the preparation of the communion elements.  Tony Anthony will give a minute for ministry on this matter.  By a passed motion, Pastor John was authorized to use women and non-officer men in various portions of the worship services as he sees fit.  Pastor John reported on various options for Children's Church, and also noted that he will teach a communicant's class during the Spring Sunday School quarter. This will give some of the teachers in the Children's Sunday School a break during that period.

Carl Ede and John Rawley reported on small groups.  There is an encouraging trend of growing attendance in the groups.  Additionally, new groups have been formed.  These will become an integral part of the new approach to "Simple Church" as we seek to implement a focused approach to making disciples. It was reported that a good turnout of men occurred at the leadership breakfast held on Nov. 21.  They expressed enthusiasm about the application of the "Simple Church" process to TNPC.  The men in attendance gave positive feedback on the tentative working mission statement and motto that were presented by the Session.  The tentative motto is: "Awed by God, Selfless in Love, Empowered to Serve." Another version is "Amazed by God, Sacrificial in Love, Equipped to Serve."  The Session and leadership will make continual refinement of both. Next year, there will be a presentation to the congregation for further feedback.

By a passed motion, Pastor John was authorized to form a welcome ministry team of 3 or 4 members to expand the way visitors are greeted and followed up. Another passed motion resulted in the adoption of a policy on facilities use.  This policy- which follows the practice in sister PCA churches such as PCPC - declines leasing of TNPC facilities to overtly political organizations, but allows leasing to non-political, non-profit groups such as the Boy Scouts, the Coptic Church (a Trinitarian church), and various home-schooling groups.  In order to preserve the good dynamic that now exists on the Session, it was agreed by a passed motion to limit the number of ruling elders elected to the Session at the annual meeting to six.  Moreover, this follows the advice of the Ad Hoc Committee.

The process for interviewing and qualifying men to stand for election as officers was reviewed.  The men who have agreed to stand for election were to be interviewed on Dec.10, 11, and 15.  The meeting closed in prayer at 5:27 PM.

The December stated meeting of the Session took place on Dec. 10, beginning at 7:00 PM.  The major item of business was the interviewing of candidates for the offices of elder and deacon by two commissions of the Session.  After discussing the results of the interviews, the Session recessed until 4 PM on Dec. 22.  This recessed meeting will be in executive session.  A summary of this meeting will be reported on in next month's Crier.

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