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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NORTH CENTRAL PRESBYTERY April 4, 2008 AFTERNOON SESSION, April 4, 2008, 1:30 p.m.
The opening worship was led by the retiring moderator, Rev. Shirley Topar. The service opened with the congregation singing “Open My Eyes, That I May See” accompanied by Jo Ann Beard at the organ. Rev. Topar read from Matt 13:24-30. She prayed and spoke on the parable “The wheat and tares”. Today there are weeds and tares all around us. Can we let the tares (those who don’t believe as we do) live with us in the world today? We don’t have the right to decide who are wheat and who are tares, only one in Heaven can. Rev. Topar closed with prayer.
Rev. Randal Leslie gave the necessary announcements.
The Moderator called the meeting to order and after a sign in roll call, the Clerk declared a quorum present.
Rev. James Messer prayed the Constituting Prayer. Rev. Shirley Topar was elected Moderator by acclamation. Rev. James Messer was elected Vice-Moderator by acclamation. The program was adopted as printed.
Visitors: Rev. Frank Ward (West Tennessee Presbytery), Moderator of General Assembly, and Executive Director of the Program of Christian Education was seated as an advisory member.
Recess was called for committee appointments: The moderator declared recess out and appointed members to the select Committee on Overtures, Resolutions and Excuses: Chr. Rev. Carroll Richards, Rev. Melissa Goodloe, Rev. Geoff Bunting and elders Raymond Scales and Tom McReynolds.
Announcements: A donor heart has been found for Eduardo Montoya Jr. Rev. David West, the new pastor of Lincoln, was introduced.
Communications: A letter from Red River Presbytery concerning Henry Arriole being dropped from rolls as an ordained minister. The report of Organization of the Cumberland Christian Community was read. The Treasurer’s Report was received.
Denominational Representatives: Rev. Frank Ward, Moderator of General Assembly, spoke about the good news—we are in the midst of a mess of transition. It’s in the midst of a mess that God in Christ enters. Good things are happening. When you wake up Jesus, somethings gonna happen. Good things are happening through young people and in new candidates for ministry, all program agencies in the denomination met in a global retreat and refocus on the world not just the U.S. We’re waking up Jesus in the CP Church. Rev. Ward also brought flyers about programs in the church. Construction has begun on the new center and we have four months to vacate the old headquarters. Dr. Carroll Richards, spoke on behalf of the Center Task Force. He showed a schematic of the two new denominational center buildings. The Warren Building was sold to the Boys and Girls Clubs. The main building was sold to Chick-Fil-A; the closing is set for May 9 with 45 days to vacate. Closing on the two new buildings was Feb. 22. The contract has been awarded on the new buildings with the hope to occupy in late July. We must raise $500,000 to be debt free on the buildings and $300,000 to retire old debt. There are outstanding pledges of $200,000. Website www.ilovemychurch.net for a list of contributors. He gave an overview of the new buildings and asked for pledges to be fulfilled, or if you haven’t given to the building project, please give.
BOARD REPORTS
The report of the Board of Christian Education was read and its recommendation adopted, marked “C” and placed on file.
The report of the Board of Ministry was concurred in as read. Per Recommendation Three, Gail Allen was introduced to the body and he told Presbytery about himself and was examined by Presbytery. Rev. Messer asked the constitutional questions and prayed. Gail Allen was accepted into the Presbytery and his name was entered onto the roll as a candidate. The recommendations were adopted, and the report was marked “D’ and placed on file.
The moderator called recess. The moderator called recess out.
The report of the Board of Finance and Trustees was read. A letter from Terra Sisco concerning insurance was referred to the Committee on Excuses, Overtures and Resolutions. A motion was made to amend the recommendation that North Central Presbytery pay 35% instead of 20% of the premium; motion carried. A motion that the extra 15% be paid from cash management fund was made; motion carried. The report was concurred in, its recommendation adopted as amended, marked “E” and placed on file.
The report of the Board of Heritage and Witness was read, its recommendation adopted, marked “F” and placed on file.
The report of the Board of Judiciary and Session Records was accepted as read, marked “G” and placed on file.
The report of the Board of Nominations was read and accepted, marked “H” and placed on file.
The report of the Board of Congregational and Pastoral Care was read. Recommendation One was amended for clarification of which church to read, “Presbytery is to look into the situation concerning the Petersburg, IL church for future action” by motion vote.” The report was concurred in, its recommendations adopted as amended, marked “I” and placed on file.
The moderator called recess until the evening service. Rev. Randal Leslie gave the closing prayer and blessed the meal.
EVENING SESSION April 4, 2008 7:00 p.m. The Consecration Service was conducted by the CPWM. The prelude, “Amazing Grace” was played by Tracy Durgy at the piano and Jo Ann Beard at the organ. The Moderator called recess out. The congregation sang “Trust and Obey”. Lucy Becker read James 1:5 and explained the Laos Vision School project for which the evening’s offering will be used. The offering of $423.00 was received by Sara McCawley, Nancy Gordon, Marilyn Tisdale and Jeanne McCutchin. June Smith offered the Offertory Prayer. The speaker of the evening, Debbie Shanks read from Proverbs 3:5-6 and spoke on trusting in God and He will Set Our Paths Straight”. We all know what trust means but what does “lean not on your own understanding” mean? We don’t always understand our purpose in life. Only God understands the greater purpose of our lives and will set our paths straight. She closed with prayer and the congregation joined in singing “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” The Communion Service was officiated by Rev. Randal Leslie assisted by the Revs. Albert Smith, Kevin Vanderlaan, Terra Sisco and Shirley Topar. Rev. Leslie closed with prayer and the congregation sang “He Touched Me.” Rev. Leslie gave the Benediction. The moderator declared recess until 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
SATURDAY MORNING, April 5, 2008 8:30 a.m.
The morning devotional was led by Candidate J. C. McDuffee with Jo Ann Beard at the organ and Tracy Durgy at the piano. The congregation sang “We Gather Together” and “Near to the Heart of God”. He opened with prayer. He read from Exodus 29:42-46 and spoke on “Why Do you Go to Church”. The church is the place to meet God and introduce people to God. We should be prepared to meet God when we go to church.
The Heritage Report of Elm River (the Brown Church) CPC Church was given by Chris Blevins.
The moderator called the meeting to order. After a voice roll call, the clerk declared a quorum present. The minutes were approved as corrected.
Visitors: Rev. Frank Ward, West Tennessee Presbytery, Moderator of General Assembly, was seated as an advisory member.
Communications: A blessing --Eduardo Montoya, Jr. did receive a heart and came through surgery well.
The Report of the called meeting of General Assembly of December 12, 2007 was read by Rev. Shirley Topar, marked “J” and placed on file. Report on the Ministry Council by Roy Shanks. The Council was formed to make our denomination a better functioning unit. At the beginning of thinking about a move of the center, there was a lack of harmony in the denomination so the Organizational Task Force was appointed to address the issue. Its report completely restructured the operation of the Church with the merger of all committees into the Ministry Council consisting of 21 members in charge of the complete corporation. General Assembly will have to approve the merger this summer. Roy distributed a flyer explaining overview of all the ministry teams and the ministry council in a global ministry.
Moderator Ward clarified the $250,000 that initially was going to fund the Ministry Council will not have to be borrowed because funds are in place and that the Council is blessed to have Roy and hopes he will continue to serve as a member.
The moderator called recess. The moderator called recess out.
Committee Appointments: The Memorial Committee: Rev. David West, chr., Rev. Kevin Vanderlaan and elder Stanley Kline.
The Committee to Investigate the Petersburg, IL Church: Rev. J. B. Gates, chr., Rev. Albert Smith, and elders Stephen Hughes and Rita Vaught.
BOARD AND STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report 2 of the Board of Ministry was read and concurred in, marked “K” and placed on file.
The report of the Select Committee on Overtures, Resolutions and Excuses was read, its recommendations adopted, marked “L” and placed on file.
Rev. Terra Sisco thanked Presbytery for increasing insurance payment.
The minutes were accepted as read. After a final voice roll call, a quorum was declared.
The meeting was adjourned to meet on October 10, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. CDT with the Bethany CPC in Bethany, IL.
Rev. Shirley Topar gave the Benediction.
Moderator STATED CLERK APPENDIX A REPORT OF THE CEREMONY TO ORGANIZE CUMBERLAND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN EAST DUNDEE, IL (FORMERLY HANOVER PARK CP CONGREGATION)
To: North Central Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Spring meeting, Chandler, IN. April 4-5, 2008
The ceremony was held on Sunday, March 9, 2008, in the facilities of Fox Valley Baptist Church, 16N562 Vista Lane, East Dundee, IL. This is the new meeting place of Cumberland Christian Community.
There was a gathering of about 150 people representing the congregations of Fox Valley Baptist, Ebenezer CP church and the local congregation, Cumberland Christian Community.
Worship service began about 1 p.m. with some songs of praise led by the musical group of the local congregation. Pastor Reverend Rene Alvarez welcomed all people attending, gave some announcements, and immediately after, the offering was collected. Reverend Phil Zilinski, pastor of Fox Valley Baptist Church gave words of greeting in behalf of his congregation, expressing how pleased they were with the Cumberland CC congregation meeting in their building.
Reverend Lynn Thomas, Director of Denominational Cross-Cultural Ministries was in charge of the sermon. Rev. Eduardo Montoya, in behalf of North Central Presbytery presided at the act of organization, including ordination of elders, installation of the pastor and declaring Cumberland Christian Community as an organized church in our presbytery. Revered Lynn Thomas assisted with the ceremony and Rev. Jeremias Aros presented the charges to the congregation and pastor. He did the closing prayer.
The members of the Session are Lidia Zorrilla, Noe Tavera, David Davila and Carlos Ospinal. A list of 45 persons was called as members of the new organized church.
Respectfully submitted, Reverend Eduardo Montoya Presiding minister of the church organization ceremony
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