STATED MEETING9 JUNE 2015
PRESBYTERY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
LAWRENCE ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LAWRENCEVILLE, NEW JERSEY
The stated meeting of the Presbytery of New Brunswick was held on 9 June 2015 at the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, 1039 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648.
ROLL
To be supplied for the permanent minutes.
The presbytery was called to order with prayer at 6:45 pm by moderator Hallgren.
New elder commissioners to presbytery were introduced: Lily Olsen and Nick Pulimude from Nassau Presbyterian Church, Jena McWha and Bob Masek from Pennington Presbyterian Church, and John O'Melia from Bound Brook Presbyterian Church.
The docket was presented.
DOCKET
5:00Pre-Presbytery Event
Meet our new Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Nancy Muth
5:45Dinner
6:45Gathering BusinessModerator Rev. David Hallgren
Welcome new commissioners/seating of corresponding members
Approval of Docket & Minutes
Consent Agenda
6:50Worship
Commissioning of Summer Mission Participants
7:30 Personnel Committee
7:40Leadership Transition Team
Motion: That the Presbytery endorse the work of the Leadership Transition Team
and offer support for their choice of Rev. Dr. Nancy Muth to be
the Executive Director of the Presbytery.
8:00Committee on Preparation for MinistryRev. Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp
Inquirer Jyung In Lee (Jenny Lee) to be moved to Candidacy
8:25Committee on MinistryElder Poppy Orendorf
Brian K. McCollum for ordination to validated ministry as
Director of Recruitment at Princeton Theological Seminary
Kristie Webb Finley for ordination to a validated ministry as
ministry of evangelism and part time pastor to the "Dinner Church,"
sponsored by Plainsboro PC and Dutch Neck PC
9:10Appointment of Nominating Committee and information gathering
9:20Administrative CouncilModerator Lorelei Zupp and Treasurer Linda Gilmore
Financial Report
Mission & Ministry Funding process
9:30Adjournment
The docket was approved as presented.
CONSENT AGENDA
Committee on Ministry:
RECOMMENDS:
1. That Presbytery elect elder Jan Everett, elder David Luck, elder Cherry Oakley, and the reverend John Potter to serve on the Committee on Ministry in the class of 2016, and the reverends Mike Capron and Jan Willem van der Werff to serve in the class of 2017.
REPORTS:
1. Labor outside PNB bounds - Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp
On 7 April 2015 the Committee on Ministry, acting on behalf of presbytery in a month in which it does not meet, concurred with the request of the Rev. Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp to labor outside the bounds of this presbytery, while she serves as interim pastor with the Abingdon Presbyterian Church, effective 6 April 2015, in the Presbytery of Philadelphia.
2. New Brunswick Presbyterian Church
On 7 April 2015 the Committee on Ministry concurred with the request of the Presbyterian Church in New Brunswick session to post their Ministry Information Form, and begin their search for a full time transitional pastor.
3. Slackwood Presbyterian Church
On 5 May 2015 the Committee on Ministry concurred with the request of the Slackwood Presbyterian Church to post their Ministry Information Form, and begin their search for a full time pastor.
4. Ordination Administrative Commission - Laura Ferguson
Acting on behalf of Presbytery in a month in which it does not meet, the Committee on Ministry concurred with the request of Ms Laura Ferguson and the Presbytery of Philadelphia to ordain her as a Teaching Elder – when the way be clear – to fulfill her call as Stated Supply Associate Pastor with the Newtown Presbyterian Church; further, the Committee on Ministry approved the Administrative Commission to ordain her in a worship service to he held on Sunday, 31 May 2015 at 5:00 pm at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, with permission to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Upon ordination, her membership is to be transferred to the Presbytery of Philadelphia.
Administrative Commission
Reverend David Hallgren, Moderator - Pennington Presbyterian Church
Lynn Dorsey, Ruling Elder - Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville
Carol Thompson, Ruling Elder - Grace Presbyterian Church
Reverend Jeff Vamos - Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville
Reverend Joyce MacKichan Walker - Nassau Presbyterian Church
Corresponding Members
Janet Eshelman, Ruling Elder - Newtown Presbyterian Church
Reverend Sam Massengill - Newtown Presbyterian Church
Laura has been under care of this presbytery and was certified ready to receive a call on 25 August 2014; she met with the Presbytery of Philadelphia's equivalent of the Committee on Ministry and was approved by the Presbytery of Philadelphia on 19 May 2015.
5. Validation of ministry – D. Paul La Montagne
The Committee on Ministry, acting on behalf of Presbytery in a month in which it does meet, concurred with the request of the reverend D. Paul La Montagne to validate his ministry as part time Minister of SKY Fellowship with the Taiwanese American Fellowship Presbyterian Church, effective 1 May 1 2015. (This is a contract position, hired by the session to serve as pastoral leader for the English speaking ministry of the Taiwanese American Fellowship Presbyterian Church.)
6. Contract revision – Princeton Korean Presbyterian Church
In order to correct a formula error in the benefits section of the December 2014 Presbytery's "with manse” terms of call worksheet, the Committee on Ministry approved the revised contract terms (financial) between the Rev. Steven Kim and the Princeton Korean PC, for 30 hours/week.
Terms of contract:
Cash salary$ 24,722.00
Housing allowance$ 12,000.00
Manse value$ 12,000.00
Effective salary$ 46,722.00
Social security offset$ 3,574.23
Total cash compensation $ 50,296.23
Pension (11 %)$ 5,139.42
Death/disability (1 %)$ 467.22
Major medical (23%)$ 10,476.06
Family med. (1.5 %)$ 700.83
BoP dues $ 17,053.53
Reimbursed expenses
Travel$ 600.00
Continuing education$ 480.00
Professional expenses$ 180.00
Total reimbursable pool $ 1,260.00
Total compensation$ 68,609.76
Total cash cost $ 56,609.76
Committee on Preparation for Ministry:
REPORTS:
1. Shari Oosting was enrolled as an inquirer.
On 1 June 2015 the Committee on Preparation for Ministry enrolled Shari Oosting, a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church, as an inquirer into the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament.
2. Mary Beth Charters was enrolled as an inquirer.
On 4 May 2015 the Committee on Preparation for Ministry enrolled Mary Beth Charters, a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church, as an inquirer into the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament.
3. Alan Thorne was enrolled as an inquirer.
On 4 May 2015 the Committee on Preparation for Ministry enrolled Alan Thorne, a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, as an inquirer into the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament.
4. Ordination examination readers
Acting on behalf of the presbytery, the Committee on Preparation for Ministry gave the office of the General Assembly the following names to serve as ordination examination readers: Matt Rhodes, teaching elder, Kathryn Mustaro, teaching elder, Deborah Davis, teaching elder, Cynthia Hellerman, ruling elder, and as an alternate, Nina Reeder, teaching elder.
The Administrative Commission
REPORTS:
1. Progress preparing 601, 613, and 615 N Clinton for sale.
Pursuant to the action of the presbytery on 10 March 2015, the Administrative Commission has contracted for the demolition of 613 N. Clinton, and arranged to borrow money from the loan fund portion of the Urban Mission Fund in order to resolve the Grant Mortgage on 601 N. Clinton.
The Transition Task Force
RECOMMENDS:
1. That the Presbytery approve the changes in Job description and terms of call for the stated clerk that were distributed with the materials for the meeting.
2. That the presbytery approve the request of the First Presbyterian Church of Lambertville that they be granted relief of conscience in their Board of Pensions dues payments.
The Board of Pensions, pursuant to a policy enacted by the General Assembly in 1998 that permitted congregations to ask for relief of conscience so that their Major Medical dues would not be used to fund abortions. Permission for this must be granted by the presbytery. The funds segregated by a grant of relief of conscience are made available for the support of adoptions.
The Stated Clerk:
REPORTS:
1. Study Leave
The stated clerk will be on study leave from 21 June to 2 August 2015. Study leave is not vacation, and questions requiring advice can still be submitted to him by email. If any business requiring the direct attention of a stated clerk arises, stated clerks of nearby presbyteries are prepared to render assistance and can be reached through the presbytery office.
The Consent Agenda was approved as presented.
The reverend Dan Migliore, professor emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary announced that Jurgen Moltmann, a theologian and writer with whom many of us are familiar, will be giving a public lecture at Princeton Theological Seminary on Sunday, 21 June 2015. The subject will be “Predestination: Karl Barth and the Election of Grace.”
WORSHIP
Music for Worship was led by Amy Watt, Director of Music at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church. Worship was led by the reverend Nina Reeder. Worship included a service of commissioning for participants in various summer mission and service trips.
REPORT of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
The Personnel Committee noted that we had, by the consent agenda, taken action on a new job description and new terms of call for the Stated Clerk, as the motion passed at the March meeting required us to do. Their next task will be to prepare a new job description for Ilene Black, the office administrative assistant.
REPORT of the LEADERSHIP TRANSITION TEAM
The reverend Wendi Werner reported for the Leadership Transition Team.
MOTION: The Leadership Transition Team Moved that the Presbytery endorse the work of the Leadership Transition Team and offer support for their choice of Rev. Dr. Nancy Muth to be the Executive Director of the Presbytery.
The motion passed without opposition.
MOTION: It was moved and seconded that the Leadership Transition Team be dismissed with gratitude.
The motion passed without opposition.
REPORT of the COMMITTEE on PREPARATION for MINISTRY
The reverend Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp reported for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.
The Examination of Jyung In Lee (Jenny Lee)
The Committee on Preparation for Ministry recommended that the Presbytery of New Brunswick enroll Jyung In Lee (Jenny Lee) as candidate for ordination as a teaching elder to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament. The Committee on Preparation for Ministry met with Ms. Lee on 1 June 2015. Ms Lee is a member of the Princeton Korean Presbyterian Church and was enrolled as an inquirer by the Presbytery of New Brunswick on 3 June 2013.
Upon examination the presbytery concurred with the recommendation of the committee and Jyung In Lee (Jenny Lee) was enrolled as a candidate for ordination.
The constitutional questions were administered by moderator Hallgren. Ms Lee was given a charge by Jennie Rodriguez and the examination concluded with prayer by reverend Steven Kim.
REPORT of the COMMITTEE on MINISTRY
Elders Poppy Orendorf reported for the Committee on Ministry.
MOTION: The Committee on Ministry recommends to Presbytery that the ministry of candidate Brian K. McCollum, serving as Director of Recruitment in the office of the Dean of Student Life at Princeton Theological Seminary be validated, that his examination for ordination be sustained, and that he be received as a member of this presbytery upon ordination.
Mr. McCollum was certified ready to receive a call by the National Capital Presbytery on October 19, 2013. The Committee on Ministry has agreed, if the way be clear, that this Presbytery will request the National Capitol Presbytery to ordain Mr. McCollum on our behalf.
Upon examination the presbytery concurred with the recommendation of the committee and Brian K. McCollum was approved for ordination and his ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary validated.
The reverend Jeff Ugoretz continued reporting for the Committee on Ministry.
MOTION: The Committee on Ministry recommends to Presbytery that the ministry of candidate Kristie Webb Finley, to serve as part time pastor with the “Abundant Grace Dinner Church,” a joint outreach ministry of the Dutch Neck and Plainsboro Presbyterian Churches, be validated, that her examination for ordination be sustained, and that she be received as a member of this presbytery upon ordination.
Terms of call 12 - 15 hours/week
Cash/housing$12,000
Reimbursable expenses$ 500
Total $ 12,500
Vacation: 4 weeks per year,
2 weeks continuing education. Coordinated with partner pastors.
Medical is through spouse's employer, Princeton University.
Pension, disability, and death benefit, covered through other employer,
Princeton Theological Seminary.
(15 hours a week does not qualify for Board of Pensions participation.)
Ms. Finley was certified ready to receive a call by the Presbytery of Chicago
in July, 2014.
Funding for this ministry via grants - applying for $16,000 per year
Tapestry Funds - New Brunswick Presbytery $2,500 seed money 2015-16
Vital Worship Grant from Calvin Seminary
1001 New Worshiping Communities- PC (USA) $7,500 seed money 2015-16
Innovation Fund Grant - Synod of the Northeast - $6,000 for 2015-16
NOTE: The amounts given here may be adjusted
Upon examination the presbytery concurred with the recommendation of the committee and Kristie Webb Finley was approved for ordination and her ministry with the Abundant Grace Dinner Church, an outreach of Dutch Neck and Plainsboro Presbyterian Churches validated.
REPORT of the NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Moderator Hallgren introduced the reverends Molly Dykstra and Dawn Adamy, co-chairs of the Nominating Committee. They posed several questions for the presbytery as it considers the business of nominations for 2016, and asked the presbytery to provide them with names to be considered for nomination.
REPORT of the PRESBYTERY ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION
Elder Linda Gilmore, treasurer of the presbytery, reported for the Presbytery Administrative Commission.
Elder Gilmore presented the final 2014 Financial Report. The most noteworthy new information was that uncollected per capita ended the year at $29,000, not the $50,000 that had been projected.
The 2015 Financial Report, complete through 30 April was presented. Expenses have been a little higher than expected, and we have, to date, received only 15% of expected per capita payments, so the presbytery had a slight cash flow problem which has been resolved.
Elder Gilmore then reviewed the new process for applying for Mission and Ministry funding. The forms for this are posted on the presbytery’s website.
ADJOURNMENT
The presbytery voted to adjourn at 9:40 pm. Prayer and benediction was offered by the reverend David Hallgren.
Respectfully submitted,
D. Paul La Montagne
Stated Clerk