Presbytery of Southern Kansas
11 Stated Meeting – April 5, 2011 11
The Presbytery of Southern Kansas convened with prayer at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at the Spiritual Life Center, Wichita, by Moderator, Ben Ray.
The meeting opened with worship led by the Reverend Tom Church.
Quorum Present
Each person must sign the attendance register for official attendance. Stated Clerk Rebecca New declared a quorum present according to Article V.5.4 of the Ecclesiastical Bylaws, which requires that “one-fourth of the minister members and the elder commissioners present, provided that one-fourth of the churches was represented.” Minister members: 80; Elder commissioners, 80.
Vouchers are available (the Presbytery pays $30 toward motel costs and 20 cents/mile for travel over 70 miles.)
Opening Business
Moderator Ben Ray called the Presbytery to order. Additional handouts for the meeting are available at the registration tables. Anyone wishing to speak on the floor should identify themselves and the congregation represented. All comments should be directed to the moderator. Any motions must be submitted in writing and Robert’s Rules of Order will be followed.
Roll of Ministers Present
James Anderson Charles Ayers James Ayers Paul Bammel
John Barkett Amy Baumgartner Jane Brigden-Graham Don Calderwood
Tom Church Larry Cracraft Amy Dame H. Danny Daniel
Joyce Daniel Gail Fisher Laura Frazey Dick Gorham
Gerald Hallberg Jerry Hilton Thomas “Skip” Johnson Roberta Karchner
Christian Kettler Keith Koch Jeremiah Lange Regina Maas
Steven Marsh William McConnelee Diane Monger Helen Rose Moore
Paul Mueller William Mulford Catherine Neelly Rebecca New
Tom Oak William O’Connell Kermit Oppriecht Denise Pass
Arlene Patrick Jesse Patrick Ben Ray H. Dick Reynolds
Tom Robson Charles Ross Steve Saville Loran Scott
Dennis Scheibmeir Jennifer Snook Scott Solether Seth Svaty
Don Waite Steve Washburn Stephen Wing
Roll of Ministers Excused
Nick Adams Keith Allison John Barnum Shirley Barnum
Allen Beach Eugene Blake George Boone David Clipson
Richard Daeschner Robert Duncan Larre Eschliman
John Enwright Monty Fey James Grant Strother Gross
John Haspels William Hastings Doug Kelly Margaret Lacy
William Long Gordon Mackay Bert McCormick Elizabeth Morgan
William Nelson Catherine Northrup David Owens Don Owens
Mary Carol Perrott Melissa Ramos Jack Singer Roland Slater
Anne Smith Dale Snyder Alfred Spotts Hal Staats
Judith Steele Dawn Swartz C Ernest Williams John Williams
John Wilson Robert Wyman
Roll of Ministers Absent
Geoffery Snook Irving Simon Elizabeth Vogt-Woodin
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Elder Commissioners Present
Anthony-Hopewell, Harold Seipel; Arkansas City, Robert Barrett; Arlington, Dee Brooks; Ashland, Sally Shattuck; Caldwell, Michelle Schiltz; Cambridge, Ernie Hull; Derby, Marilyn Armstrong; El Dorado, V. Ann Sweney; Freeport, Jerry Dusenbury; Garden City, Linda Adams; Halstead, Joan Bailey; Harper, Darla Matthews; Hutch: Don Graves; Kingman, Lorene DeVries; Lakin, Frankie Summers; Larned, Marylee Phinney; Marion: Roger W. Hannaford III; McPherson; Craig A. Gannon; Neodesha; John Settle; New Covenant, Gene Nolte; Newton, Patricia Randall; Parks, Harold Myers; Pratt, Susan Schrepel; Sterling, Ronald Baxter; Tribune, Randy Fahrenholtz; Viola, Howard Means; Wellington, Gloria Klima; Wichita: Bethel, John Drvies; Brotherhood, William Taylor; Calvary, Colene Boring; Covenant: Jennifer Keim; Eastminster, Jack Kirkham, John Moody, William Hendrix, Jack Argetsinger, Ken Juell; First, William DeVore, David Grisham; Grace, Mardelle Moyers, Robin Bissey; Korean, Hyuck Kwon; Mt. Vernon; Sherry Phillips; St. Luke, Harold Culkin; Trinity, Marie Logan; Westwood, Shannon Rooney; Zenith, Carol McNickle.
Elder Commissioners Absent
Bucklin, Chase, Cherryvale, Coffeyville, Coldwater, Conway Springs, Dodge City, Great Bend,
Haysville, Holcomb, Independence, Jetmore, Kingsdown, Leoti, Liberal, Lyons, Mayfield, Medicine Lodge,
St. Luke, Spearville, Syracuse. Wichita: Southwest; Winfield, Yates Center,
Council Members Present but not mentioned above
Dwight Corrin, Mary Ellen Garver, June Hicks, Mary Knecht, Sue Nispel
Staff Members Present
Rachel Furry – Bookkeeper
Brian Wheeler – Director of Camping Ministries
Jan Lane – Administrative Assistant
Corresponding Members
David McKechnie – Presbytery of New Covenant
Nancy Kahaian - Presbytery of Northern Kansas,Interim Executive, Synod of Mid-America
Commissioned Lay Pastors Present
Kay Hull, Barney Korbelik
Inquirers and Candidates
Robert Barrett
Meagan Ludwig
Debra Schmidt
First Time Elders
Elders were introduced by their pastors.
Temporary Committee
Vouchers and Tellers – Ken Coryell, Denise Pass, Marilyn Armstrong
Visitors
15 visitors registered
Docket
A motion prevailed to approve the docket.
Presbytery of Southern Kansas
13 Stated Meeting – April 5, 2011 13
Proposed Docket
PSK April 5, 2011
9:00 am Opening Worship
9:45 am Opening Business: Seating of Corresponding Members; Appointment of Temporary Committee; Introduction of first-time Elders.
9:50 am Committee on Preparation (M) Amy Dame
10:05am Council Report (C) Sue Nispel
Budget and Finance
Transition Task force Ben Ray
10:30am BREAK
10:50 am Stated Clerk Report (A) Rebecca New
10:55 am Mission Interpretation (E) Mary Knecht
11:05 am Camping Committee Jeremiah Lange
11:15 am Nominations Committee (J) Jim Anderson
11:25 am Committee on Ministry (H) Dick Reynolds
12:00 NOON LUNCH
1:00 pm Church Order (L) Dwight Corrin
Vote on Amendments
10-A – 10-O
2:00 pm Mission Interpretation (E) Mary Knecht
2:10 pm Arrested Reports/Unfinished Business
Temporary Committee
2:12 pm Adjourn
Offering for the Day
The offering of $465.65 is donated to the PSK Mexico Mission Trip.
Committee on Preparation for Ministry
PSK Inquirer, Meagan Ludwig, was introduced by CPM Moderator, Amy Dame.
Meagan spoke to her spiritual journey, education and plans for the future.
A motion prevailed that Meagan Ludwig be advanced from Inquirer to Candidate status in the Presbytery of Southern Kansas.
Presbytery of Southern Kansas
14 Stated Meeting – April 5, 2011 14
Council Reports
Sue Nispel reported the dates and location of Presbytery meetings:
June 14, 2011 – Presbyterian Church, Garden City
September 20, 2011 – First Presbyterian Church, Winfield
November 15, 2011 – New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Hutchinson
She highlighted the financial reports for the month ending Feb 28, 2011 (see Appendix A,B); the year-to-date receipts (see Appendix C).
A motion prevailed to amend the 2011 Presbytery budget to include Camp Reserve funds of $ 22,780.00 and $5,925.00 which represents six months of Board of Pensions healthcare and pension benefits for the Administrative Assistant.(See Appendix D, INCOME: Camp Reserves and EXPENSES: PSK Administrative Assistant: Insurance.)
A motion prevailed that the offering from the Presbytery meeting on April 5, 2011, is donated to the PSK Mexico Mission Trip.
The Transitional Task Force requests to be relieved of the task of searching and hiring a full-time interim General Presbyter and suggested that the Council assume the responsibilities of creating, searching for and hiring someone to a part-time position.
A motion prevailed that the Presbytery rescind the previous action (2010 PSK minutes page 33) where the Transitional Task Force is elected to search for and hire a Temporary Presbytery Administrator.
Sue Nispel verbally presented to the presbytery the position and job description for the position of Temporary Presbytery Administrator of the Presbytery of Southern Kansas:
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15 Stated Meeting – April 5, 2011 15
A motion prevailed that the Council is elected to search for and hire the Temporary Presbytery Administrator.
Vision and Planning Report
Regina Maas reported on the work of the Vision and Planning Committee/Transitional Task Force.
She led the presbytery in an exercise to gain written information concerning future wants and needs.
Announcement
Moderator Ben Ray, informed the body that the Presbytery packet for the June 14th meeting will be available electronically either through e mail or through the website, www.pbysk.org. Packets will not be mailed through the postal service. If a Commissioner is unable to get the information electronically, contact the Presbytery Office for assistance.
Stated Clerk’s Report
The changes in membership since February 15, 2011 were:
Received from other PC(USA) presbyteries
Helen Rose Moore
Ordained by Southern Kansas
Paul Bammel
The 2010 Presbytery of Southern Kansas Membership Statistics:
Prior Membership: 10,072
Gains 280
Losses 475
Total Active Membership 9,877
Average Attendance 3,888
Potential Giving Units 5,994
Budgeted Income 9,746,552
Budgeted Expenses 10,805,951
A motion prevailed to approve the minutes of February 15, 2011.
Mission Partnership and Support
Mary Knecht introduced Ernie Hull, Moderator of the PSK Disaster Response Team.
Ernie announced that PDA Clean-up buckets may be brought to the Presbytery meeting, June 14th at the Garden City Presbyterian Church. Buckets collected will be taken, via a covered trailer furnished by Charles Ayers, from Garden City to Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, Little Rock, Arkansas for further distribution to residents in area affected by floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. A listing of supplies that need to go into the buckets was distributed.
Ernie Hull also spoke to the needs being met in Japan by One Great Hour of Sharing. A video showing the work done by the funds distributed through OGHS was presented.
Mary Knecht reminded everyone to return the Mission Pledge card to the Presbytery Office.
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Mary thanked those within PSK who support the WSU Campus Ministries during the interview and hiring process of a new pastor. Christopher Eshelman has been hired to lead WSU Campus Ministries. Pastor Eshelman currently serves West Heights United Methodist Church, Wichita in a part time position.
Nora Coryell spoke regarding the upcoming Mission-‘N-A-Weekend at Westminster Woods Camp on May 6-8, 2011. Five thousand dollars has been donated by PSK Presbyterian Women to buy paint and other supplies needed for the weekend. Excess funds donated will go to the Friends of Westminster Woods Fund.
Hyuck Kwon, Korean Presbyterian Church, Wichita, gave an overview of the recent revival held at the Korean church led by Reverend Syngman Rhee, a past moderator of General Assembly, who is currently serving as a professor at the Union Theological Seminary and Presbytery School of Christian Education. Rev. Rhee celebrated his 80th birthday during the revival. He is now traveling as a missionary to North Korea.
The 2011 Big Tent will be held June 30-July 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information is available at www.gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/big-tent
Camping Committee
Brian Wheeler, PSK Director of Camping Ministries, spoke about summer camp at Westminster Woods Camp. He introduced a video about the camping sessions at Westminster Woods and challenged all churches to send youth to summer camp.
Nominating Committee
Moderator, Jim Anderson presented the list of nominees:
Brotherhood Community Ministries Corporation
Classes
2011 Cara Leahy
Mary Knecht
2012 Sue Nispel
Russ Pickering
2013 Catherine Neelly
Committee on Ministry
2012 Helen Rose Moore
Synod Committee on Representation
2013 Sampson Sadiq
There were no nominations from the floor.
A motion prevailed to elect all nominations as presented.
Committee on Ministry
Moderator ,H. Dick Reynolds presented the committee report:
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1. Reverend James Anderson was granted permission to labor outside the bounds on May 13th
2. Received a report of the Triennial visit with Marion Presbyterian Church.
3. The Church Information Form (CIF) for First Presbyterian Church in Hutchinson was approved.
4. The Interim CIF for Grace Presbyterian Church was approved.
5. The Rev. Dr. David McKechnie was appointed Moderator(Contingent upon reception by
PSK) of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Wichita.
The committee recommends that a Commission be elected to close the Coldwater Presbyterian Church:
Commissioners are: Reverends James Ayers, John Barket and Regina Maas, Moderator. Mary Alice McKinney, Coldwater, Glenna Melkus, Larned, Barney Korbelik, Dodge City and Commissioned Lay Pastor, Spearville.
Note: The Coldwater Church Closing Worship Service will be held May 1, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.
David McKechnie was introduced for examination for membership and entertained questions from commissioners.
A motion prevailed to arrest the examination.
A motion prevailed to receive David McKechnie as a minister member of the Presbytery of Southern Kansas upon receipt of his letter of transfer from New Covenant Presbytery.
A motion prevailed to approve the terms of call for David McKechnie as Interim Pastor, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Wichita, beginning March 15, 2011.
Cash Salary $100,000
Housing Allowance 36,000
Full medical, pension, and death benefits of the Board of Pensions 16,320
Auto Allowance at IRS current rate not to exceed 3,600
Travel Allowance 6,000
Professional expenses 1,500
Continuing Education 1,200
Communication Allowance 1,200
Moving Expenses 600
4 weeks vacation including 4 Sundays (Use it or lose it)
2 weeks study leave annual (Use it or lose it)
The AA/EEO document is on file in the Presbytery Office.
A Commissioner asked a question requesting an update regarding an action at the February 15, 2011, PSK meeting.
Question: What is the status of the action concerning the Conway Springs congregation and Rebecca New?
Answer: Administration of the payment of the severance is the responsibility of Council. Payment of $3,143.00 will come from the PSK Small Church Reserve Fund. Council will confirm payment information to PSK Bookkeeper, Rachel Furry. One payment for the entire amount will be made to
Rebecca New on Monday, April 11, 2011. Pension benefit payments have been received from First Presbyterian Church, Conway Springs, for Feb. and March 2011, and forwarded to the Board of Pensions.
A question from the floor requested information concerning the automobile owned by the Presbytery. The car is presently stored and maintained at the home of Ken Coryell.
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18 Stated Meeting – April 5, 2011 18
Church Order Committee
Moderator Dwight Corrin asked Diane Monger, Commissioner to the 291th General Assembly and committee member, to discuss the process used by the G.A. Committee regarding Proposed Amendment 10A.
Dwight Corrin presented the proposed amendments to the Book of Order as provided by action of the 219th General Assembly (2010). Each amendment was discussed and votes were by ballot. Ballots were counted by the tellers appointed by the Moderator, Ken Coryell, Denise Pass and Marilyn Armstrong.
The amendment voting results (results were reported to the body during Unfinished Business).
Amendment 10-A. Yes, 33 No, 60
Gifts & Requirements – Amending G-6.0106b
Amendment 10-B. Yes, 93 No, 4
Removing Stated Clerk or Clerk of Session – on Amending G-9.0203b
Amendment 10-C. Yes, 91 No, 6