OFFICERS AND STAFF OF THE PRESBYTERY OF
MISSISSIPPI
|
MODERATOR |
Rev. Chris Bullock (2006),
2509 Rolling Meadows, Gautier, 39553-0340 (228-457-1706; 228-355-1138; RevChris@GautierPresby.com) |
|
VICE MODERATOR |
Ms. Peggie Herrington
(2006), 2523 Guedon Road, Church Hill 39120-9460 (442-2066; joenpeg@netdoor.com) |
|
STATED CLERK |
Rev. John C. Dudley,
D.Min. (2006), 710 S. 28th Ave., Suite A, Hattiesburg, 39402
(582-9135; 268-6225; FAX 582-9136; theelderjohn@yahoo.com) |
|
EXECUTIVE PRESBYTER |
Rev. William A. dePrater,
D. Min. (2009), 710 S. 28th Ave., Suite A, Hattiesburg, 39402
(582-9135; FAX 582-9136; wadepraterIII@aol.com) |
|
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT |
Mrs. Beverly Strong, 710
S. 28th Ave. Suite A, Hattiesburg, 39402 (582-9135; FAX 582-9136) |
|
CAMPUS MINISTRY DIRECTOR |
Mrs. Amy Ruff, 115 North
25th Avenue, Hattiesburg, 39401 |
|
HUNGER ACTION ENABLER |
Mrs. Sara Brown, 166
Dogwood Trail, Laurel, 39443 (649-8054) |
|
RESOURCE CENTER DIRECTOR |
Mrs. Aserelene Pickett,
710 S. 28th Ave., Suite A, Hattiesburg 39402 (582-9135; 544-7515;
FAX 582-9136; aserelene@aol.com) |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Minutes of the Stated Meeting October
19, 2006
Roll
..Pages 2-4
Report of Stated Clerk............... 4-7
Presbytery Council 8-12
Amendments to Standing Rules
12-16
Report of Commissioners to General Assembly
..16-18
Task Force on Denominational Matters
18-22
Committee on Ministry........... 23-24
Bills and Overtures Committee
.24
Administrative Commission for Disaster Recovery 25
Nominations Committee
..25-27
Other Ecclesiastical Committees
.27
Program Committees
.. 28-29
Adjournment................ 29
NOTE: It is the policy of this presbytery to
authorize the Moderator and the Stated Clerk to read and approve the minutes
for the presbytery. The minutes are not
printed until this approval is given.
Also, once a year the presbytery prints a separate directory, with the
committee structure, and with names and addresses of all churches, ministers,
clerks of sessions, candidates, and committee members. Also, once a year the annual audit is
reported and made available to the presbytery at a regular stated meeting.
STATED MEETING
October 19, 2006
The Presbytery of Mississippi met for its seventy-seventh
stated meeting at Diamondhead Community Church in Diamondhead, Mississippi on
Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. with the Moderator, Rev. Chris Bullock,
presiding. The meeting began with a
service of Morning Prayer led by Rev. Chas Jones, pastor of the host church,
Rev. Scott Castleman, Rev. Sally-Lodge Teel, and Dr. John Dudley, stated clerk
of the presbytery. During the service Dr. Dudley led in a celebration of the
twenty-fifth anniversary of Diamondhead Community Church. The stated clerk also
presented memorials for the following ruling elders who had died since the October
13, 2005 stated meeting of presbytery and whose names had been reported to
presbytery:
Alexander Alford Batton,
Jr.; First Port Gibson; June 6, 2006
Thomas J. Brooks; Fondren;
July 23, 2006
Barbara P. Carroon;
Briarwood; December 7, 2005
James Austin (Sonny) Cook;
First Canton; October 17, 2006
Rick Dean; Diamondhead;
January 13, 2006
Leiland Duke; First
Vicksburg; December 9, 2005
William J. Feltus; First
Natchez; March 21, 2006
Esther S. Harder; Fondren;
May 1, 2006
Cera Leonard; Trinity
Meridian; January 6, 2006
Thomas Jasper Lowe;
Briarwood; December 8, 2005
William O. McIlwain;
Covenant; January 21, 2006
Ellen B. Menetre; First
Natchez; January 30, 2006
Steven L. Moore; Fondren;
September 5, 2006
Tom Parkin; Diamondhead
O.T. Robinson; Fondren; October
13, 2006
Ralph Stallcup; Westminster
Hattiesburg; March 8, 2006
ROLL
Following a brief recess, presbytery was reconvened with
prayer by Rev. Clint Regen. A quorum
was present with the following thirty ministers and thirty-eight elders
enrolled for the meeting:
|
Churches |
Ministers |
Elders |
|
|
|
|
|
Bay St. Louis, First |
Richard Jones, I.P. |
David Wilson |
|
Bay Springs, Gavin Chapel |
vacant |
Nona McCree |
|
Brookhaven, First |
Edwin J. Wolff, CLP |
without representation |
|
Canton, First |
Geoffrey McLean |
excused |
|
Diamondhead, Diamondhead |
Chas Jones |
Joan Parmalee |
|
Gautier, Gautier |
Chris Bullock |
Gerry Anne Woodward |
|
Gulfport, Handsboro |
Scott Castleman |
Vern Nix |
|
Gulfport, Orange Grove |
Scott Castleman |
Harold Hill |
|
Gulfport, Westminster |
Karen Bullock, Int. Assoc.Pastor |
Margaret Moyse |
|
Hattiesburg, Pineview |
vacant |
Sara Amos |
|
Hattiesburg, Westminster |
Steve Ramp |
without representation |
|
Heidelberg, Fairview |
vacant |
Marie McCullum |
|
Heidelberg, McFarland |
vacant |
without representation |
|
Heidelberg, Pisgah |
vacant |
without representation |
|
Jackson, Briarwood |
Charles Bowdler |
Anne Hodges |
|
Jackson, Covenant |
Andrew Wells |
Sue Davis Mike Wallace |
|
Jackson, Faith |
William Jones* |
without representation |
|
Jackson, Fondren |
James W. White, Jr. |
Jane Sanders |
|
Jackson, St. Lukes |
vacant |
Sallie Wilson |
|
Kosciusko, Alexander
Memorial |
vacant |
without representation |
|
Laurel, First-Trinity |
James Truesdell |
Henry Davis |
|
Liberty, Liberty |
S.S. |
excused |
|
Liberty, Unity Memorial |
S.S. |
Tom Lewis |
|
Long Beach, Long Beach |
George Barnett |
Ruth Lewis |
|
Lucedale, First |
James Rackley, S.S. |
Margaret Read |
|
Lucedale, Vernal |
vacant |
Norma Bassett |
|
Madison, Grace Chapel |
Steve Bryant |
Gerry Cain |
|
Magnolia, Magnolia |
Charles Ray, CLP** |
without representation |
|
McComb, J.J. White
Memorial |
Lane Stephenson |
Whitney Rawlings |
|
Meridian, Jones Memorial |
vacant |
without representation |
|
Meridian, Prospect |
vacant |
Kim Culpepper |
|
Meridian, Trinity |
Cory Stott |
Joyce Gibbens |
|
Natchez, First |
John Larson |
Joan Gandy |
|
Natchez, Westminster |
vacant |
Wallace Willard |
|
Newton, Pilgrim Grove |
Mattie Jordan, CLP |
without representation |
|
Ocean Springs, First |
Tim Brown |
Bruce Duckett |
|
Osyka, Osyka |
vacant |
without representation |
|
Pascagoula, First |
vacant |
Glenmary Seay |
|
Pass Christian, Pineville |
T.S. |
Vance Sprague |
|
Poplarville, Ruth Memorial |
Sally-Lodge Teel, S.S. |
David St. Louis |
|
Port Gibson, First |
Michael Herrin |
Robert St. John |
|
Sandersville, United |
vacant |
Robert Sanders |
|
Toomsuba, Toomsuba |
Clarence Roberts |
without representation |
|
Vicksburg, First |
vacant |
Jim Chaney Jessie Oldham |
|
Vicksburg, Yokena |
David Daniels, S.S.* |
Bob Friley |
|
Wiggins, Wiggins |
Bill Pettey, CLP |
James Rabby |
|
|
|
|
|
*=Excused **=Absent Without Excuse |
||
Other Ministers
Present: Emett Barfield, Martha Blount,
William dePrater, John Dudley, Andy Hoffecker, Paul Kendall, Theophilus King,
Su McLain, William Smith, and Morris Taylor
Other Ministers with Excused
Absence: All honorably retired
ministers, except those listed above as being present, Skip Ehrlich, Joe
Martin, Ron McFarland, Lynn Miller, and David Ray
Ministers Absent without
Excuse: Joe Pack Arnold, Barron Banks, and Ned Beckes
Corresponding Members:
Mickey dePrater (Presbytery of New Hope), Joan Gray (moderator of General
Assembly; Presbytery of Greater Atlanta), Russell Hays (interim pastor of First
Vicksburg; Presbytery of Foothills), Terry Newland (synod executive; Presbytery
of Sheppards and Lapsley), and Clint Regen (pastor-elect of First Pascagoula;
Mission Presbytery)
Other Visitors: Beverly Aldridge, George Bates, Linda Bates,
Dick Blount, Greg Boettner, Sue Boyd, Margaret Brooks, Bill Brown, Jim Brown,
Sara Brown, Billy Copeland, Erin Counihan, Rachel Covington, Kimberly Crawford,
Frank Cuervo, Gene Eblen, Greg Elmore, Jane Feggestad, Frances Forsyth, Roy
Gibbens, Benton Gibson, Eloise Gryder, Lou Hall, George Hamilton, Virgil
Harris, H.J. Hedgepeth, Peggie Herrington, Anne Hodges, Hank Holcomb, Stuart
Huffman, Elaine Jones, Jeff Krehbiel, Chris Lewis, Amelia Lorenz, John T.
Malestein, Mac McGilvary, Lou Nell McLeod, O.R. McLeod, Peggy McLeod, Pete
McLeod, Bill Miller, Peggie Miller, Linda Miranda, Joe Mitchell, Bob Perry,
Charlotte Perry, E. J. (Gene) Price, Jr., Catherine Regen, Hilda Roberts, Dick
Stowe, Ann White, Judy Whittington, Reid Whittington, Mary Willard, Dan
Woodward
The docket presented by the
Stated Clerk, Rev. John Dudley, was adopted.
Rev. Chris Bullock appointed Rev. Charles Bowdler, Rev. Sally-Lodge
Teel, and elders Stuart Hoffman and Michael Wallace to the Bills and Overtures
Committee and Rev. Tim Brown to the Thanks Committee. Rev. Chas Jones welcomed the presbytery to Diamondhead Community
Church.
REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK
Communications and other
matters presented by the stated clerk were handled as indicated:
1. Excused absences were granted as requested and as
reflected in the roll for this meeting.
2.
The minutes of the
Commission to install Rev. Steve Bryant as pastor of Grace Chapel Presbyterian
Church were received and admitted to record.
REPORT OF COMMISSION
TO INSTALL
REV. STEVE BRYANT
The commission to install
Rev. Steve Bryant as pastor of Grace Chapel Presbyterian Church of Madison,
Mississippi met on June 4, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in the pastors study. The
meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Tim Brown. The following members of the
commission, constituting a quorum, were present: Dr. Emett Barfield, Dr. Morris
Taylor, Rev. Tim Brown, and elders Jim Herring, Revel Rawlings, and Joe
Stradinger. Dr. Barfield was elected as
moderator of the commission, and Dr. Taylor was elected as clerk. The
commission reviewed the order of worship for the installation service. It was
agreed that the meeting of the commission would be closed with the benediction
in the worship service. Members of the commission then entered the sanctuary
for the installation service.
Rev. Tim Brown preached the
sermon, titled Mission Possible and based upon Matthew 28:16 20. Mr.
Herring then propounded the constitutional questions (G 14.0405) to Rev.
Steve Bryant. Mr. Rawlings directed the constitutional questions (G 14.0510a)
to the congregation. Mr. Stradinger then led in the prayer of installation. Dr.
Barfield gave a charge to the newly installed pastor, and Dr. Taylor gave a
charge to the congregation. The service was concluded with the pronouncement of
the benediction by Rev. Steve Bryant.
3. The minutes of the Commission to ordain and to
install Mr. Cory Stott as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Meridian
were received and admitted to record.
REPORT OF COMMISSION
TO ORDAIN AND INSTALL
MR. CORY S. STOTT
The commission to ordain and
install Mr. Cory S. Stott as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Meridian,
Mississippi met on July 16, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. in the session room. The meeting
was opened with prayer by Dr. Morris Taylor. The following members of the
commission, constituting a quorum, were present: Rev. Steve Bryant, Dr. Bill
dePrater, Dr. Morris Taylor, and elders Rachel Covington and Burt Zeller. Dr.
Arthur Jones was also invited to sit with the commission. Dr. dePrater was
elected to serve as the moderator of the commission, and Ms. Covington was
elected as clerk. The commission reviewed the order of worship for the
installation service. It was agreed that the meeting of the commission would be
closed with the benediction in the worship service. Members of the commission
then entered the sanctuary for the installation service.
Dr. Jones preached the
sermon, titled Mr. Canoe and the Ministry of Presence and based upon the
eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. Dr. dePrater then
propounded the constitutional questions (G 14.0405) to Mr. Stott. Mr. Zeller
directed the constitutional questions (G 14.0510a) to the congregation. Ms.
Covington then led in the prayer of ordination and installation. Dr. Taylor
gave a charge to the newly ordained and installed pastor, and Rev. Steve Bryant
gave a charge to the congregation. Also leading in the worship service were
elders Dr. A.M. Bubba Martin, John McCoy, Roger Soons, and deacon Jane
Beasley. The service was concluded with the pronouncement of the benediction by
Rev. Cory Stott.
4. Certificates of dismissal have been received for Rev.
Karen Bullock (Presbytery of Florida), Rev. William dePrater (Presbytery of New
Hope), and Rev. Richard Jones (Presbytery of South Louisiana).
5. The stated clerk reported that the annual audit for
presbytery required by the Book of Order has been completed. Copies are
available in the presbytery office.
6. The stated clerk reported that a copy of the session
minutes from the Hopewell Presbyterian Church has been received.
7. Copies of amendments to the Book of Order approved by
the 217th General Assembly have been received. Presbytery authorized
the moderator to appoint a committee to study the proposed amendments and to
make recommendations concerning them at the February 2007 stated meeting.
8. The following overture from the session of J.J. White
Memorial Presbyterian Church was referred to the Committee on Bills and
Overtures.
The following overture was approved by the session of J. J. White
Memorial Presbyterian Church at its stated meeting on September 10, 2006.
The
session of J. J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church is grieved and outraged by
the publication of the incendiary and libelous work of David Ray Griffin, Christian
Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11, by the Westminster/John Knox
Press. This book (which accuses the
President and the Vice President of the United States, in collusion with the U.
S. Armed Forces, both political parties, and the independent media, of
orchestrating the 9/11 attacks as a pretext of going to war) is a flagrant,
egregious, and unfounded attack on the foundations of constitutional government
in the United States and is a massive abuse of freedom of the press. It is inconceivable that the supposedly
respected and responsible publishing house of the PCUSA would stoop to printing
such gutter journalism. Such publication is a gross insult to the President,
Vice President, and others accused, reflects flagrant disregard by
Westminster/John Knox of the canons of responsible journalism, and places
Westminster/John Knox firmly in the camp of the "lunatic fringe" of
the American far left. While accusing
the U.S. government and administration of treason, the author himself asserts
that he wishes to supplant the United States "demonic regime with a system
of global government." We, the
session of J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church, are in disbelief that an
agency of our church would be the vehicle for an unwarranted attack on the
governmental foundation of our great and free nation, to which we and the
overwhelming majority of Presbyterians are completely loyal, regardless of
differences in political opinion.
The
session of J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church overtures the Presbytery of
Mississippi to take the following action:
1.
Call for the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation to send a letter of
apology to the President of the United States for the publication of Christian
Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11.
2.
Call for the General Assembly Council to send a letter of apology to the
President of the United States, expressing the deep embarrassment and regret of
the people of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the publication of Christian
Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11 by an agency of the PCUSA.
3.
Call for the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation to recall all unsold
copies of Christian Faith and the Truth Behind 9/11 and destroy all
copies in their inventory.
4.
Encourage all its member congregations to re-examine their purchases
from the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, eliminating those that are not absolutely
necessary.
5.
Resolve not to purchase any more items from the Presbyterian Publishing
Corporation for the Resource Center or the presbytery office.
Rev.
Lane Stephenson, Moderator Jason Tate, Clerk of Session
9. A statement adopted by the session of St. Lukes
Presbyterian Church in support of the presbyterys stance on ordination
standards was received as information.
10. A letter from the session of the Wiggins Presbyterian
Church stating that all real property occupied by and used by Wiggins
Presbyterian Church is owned by Wiggins Presbyterian Church was referred to
the presbytery council and the executive presbyter for pastoral response.
11. A letter from the session of First-Trinity
Presbyterian Church endorsing the position of the session of Fondren
Presbyterian Church in opposition to the recommendations of the Task Force on
Denominational Matters was received as information.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
Following announcements, visitors and
first-time elder commissioners were introduced. Minister members of other presbyteries were welcomed as
corresponding members and granted the privilege of the floor.
PRESENTATION BY THE MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Rev. Joan Gray, moderator of the 217th General Assembly, was introduced
by Rev. Chris Bullock. Ms. Gray spoke on her role as moderator and responded to
questions that had been prepared by the Task Force on Denominational Matters
and had been mailed to her in advance of her visit. Following a period for
additional questions for and responses by the moderator, Rev. Joan Gray read
from Ezekiel 37 and then preached what she described as the shortest sermon
anyone would ever hear. The presentation was closed with prayer by Dr. William
dePrater. Following prayer, Dr. dePrater expressed the appreciation of the
presbytery to Ms. Gray by presenting a gift.
PRESBYTERY COUNCIL
Ms. Peggie Herrington, vice
moderator of presbytery, moderated the meeting while Rev. Chris Bullock
presented the following report of the presbytery council.
For Information:
1. The council has approved setting aside $15,000 of
hurricane relief funds as the matching amount for a $30,000 Mission Program
Grant from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for Gautier Presbyterian Church.
The grant is for 2007, the final year of the grant received by Gautier
Presbyterian Church.
2. In accord with the Standing Rules, the moderator of
council has appointed the following to serve on the Personnel Subcommittee: Roy
Williams (First Pascagoula), moderator; Jim Bell (First-Trinity); Deborah
Gambrell Chambers (Pineview); Rev. Charles Bowdler.
3. In accord with the Standing Rules, the moderator of
council has appointed the following to serve on the Finance Subcommittee: Rev.
Michael Herrin, moderator; Burt Crump (Covenant); Rev. William Jones; Joe
Stradinger (First Vicksburg).
4. A portion of the estate of Margaret T. Hall has been
left to Central Presbyterian Church in Jackson. This matter has been referred
to the trustees of presbytery.
For Action:
The Council recommends:
Handsboro Presbyterian Church
Saturday, February 24, 2007
First Pascagoula Tuesday, May 8,
2007
First Port Gibson Thursday,
October 25, 2007
The stated meeting on May 8, 2007 will
be a joint meeting with the Presbytery of
Florida and the Presbytery of South
Alabama.
Presbytery
approved action items 1, 2, 4, and 5. Action item 3 is a first reading and
shall be considered for adoption at the February 2007 stated meeting.
Rev.
Chris Bullock moved that the stated clerk and executive presbyter be authorized
to sign a one-year extension on the lease for the presbytery office at
710
S. 28th Ave, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The motion was seconded and
approved.
FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE
Rev.
Michael Herrin, reporting for the Finance Subcommittee, moved that presbytery
set the presbytery per capita assessment for 2007 at $10.03 and that the
following ecclesiastical (per capita) budget for 2007 be approved. (Note that
synod per capita for 2007 is $3.62, and General Assembly per capita is $5.79.
Thus total per capita assessment is $19.44.) The motion was seconded and
approved.
|
2007 ECCLESIASTICAL BUDGET |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME |
2006 BUDGET |
2007 BUDGET |
|
|
Per Capita |
|
|
|
|
Presbytery |
$62,205.00 |
$62.236.15 |
|
|
Synod |
22,701.02 |
$22,462.10 |
|
|
*General
Assembly |
34,929.47 |
|
|
|
Pastors' Retreat |
3,200.00 |
3,200.00 |
|
|
Transfer from Unrestricted
Funds |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Per Capita Income |
$123,035.49 |
$87,898.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
2006 BUDGET |
2007 BUDGET |
|
|
Per Capita |
|
|
|
|
Synod |
$22,701.02 |
$22,462.10 |
|
|
*General
Assembly |
34,929.47 |
|
|
|
Office Rent |
24,000.00 |
24,000.00 |
|
|
Stated Clerk |
|
|
|
|
Housing |
11,305.00 |
12,305.00 |
|
|
Pension/Medical |
7,100.00 |
7,600.00 |
|
|
Expenses |
50.00 |
50.00 |
|
|
Presbytery Meetings |
1,600.00 |
1,600.00 |
|
|
Committees |
|
|
|
|
Presbytery
Council |
2,500.00 |
2,500.00 |
|
|
Committee on
Ministry |
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
3,000.00 |
3,000.00 |
|
|
CLP |
2,500.00 |
2,500.00 |
|
|
Pastors' Retreat |
7,200.00 |
7,200.00 |
|
|
Preparation for
Ministry |
2,500.00 |
2,500.00 |
|
|
Nominations |
700.00 |
700.00 |
|
|
Representation |
100.00 |
100.00 |
|
|
Trustees |
350.00 |
350.00 |
|
|
Permanent
Judicial Commission |
500.00 |
500.00 |
|
|
Administrative
Commissions |
500.00 |
500.00 |
|
|
Peace, Unity,
and Purity |
1,000.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Women's
Ordination |
500.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Ecclesiastical
Expense |
$123,035.49 |
$87,867.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*General Assembly Per
Capita is a pass-through item.
Whatever funds congregations |
|||
|
send to presbytery that
are specifically designated as General Assembly per capita will be |
|||
|
forwarded to the General
Assembly. |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Presbytery Per Capita |
$10.03 x 6205 = |
62,236.15 |
|
|
Synod Per Capita |
$3.62 x 6205 = |
22,462.10 |
|
|
*General Assembly Per
Capita |
$5.79 |
|
|
Due
to the troubled situation of our denomination, the Finance Subcommittee decided
not to submit a program budget at this time.
We would call to the attention of the presbytery, however, that our
financial needs have increased from 2006.
We are being asked to pay an $83,190.00 package for our new executive
presbyter, along with a $40,174.00 package for our administrative
assistant. In addition, the Church
Extension Committee has had requests for $39,000.00 in pastoral support aid for
2007, up from $30,000 which was budgeted last year. At the same time, we expect less aid from outside the presbytery
to help with our budget.
Instead
of presenting a challenge budget, a member of the Finance Subcommittee will be
contacting each of the presbyterys congregations over the next few weeks, to
find out what each congregation can pledge toward the presbytery program
budget. Once all the congregations have
been contacted, the Finance Subcommittee will reconvene and design a 2007
program budget based on the presbyterys expected income for the year. This budget will be presented for approval
at the February meeting of presbytery.
PERSONNEL SUBCOMMITTEE
In the absence of Roy Williams, moderator
of the Personnel Subcommittee, Dr. A.M. Bubba Martin presented the following
report.
For information:
X
The Personnel Subcommittee
approved the statement, Moved that $10,000 of the cash salary paid to William
A. dePrater may be considered as supplemental housing, utilities, and
appurtenances allowance to the degree that it is used as such. The statement
was referred to the presbytery council for consideration and approval.