First&Presbyterian&Church&of&Houston& & & … · 2016. 6. 23. · 1...

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First Presbyterian Church of Houston Session Agenda – June 14, 2016

5:30PM LC 181 Dinner Book Study-‐Humility (5:45 PM) Cindy Cook/Julie Harris 45 min Omnibus Approve Minutes of the May Session Meeting. Birchfield 5 min Approve Membership Reports Additional Consent Motions (listed in packet) Committee Reports/Recommendations Finance Committee Chris Champion 10 min Responses to Budget Communication Jim Birchfield 10 min Renewal of LOC with Nehemiah Center Chris Champion 5 min Approve Denominational Relations Committee Jim Birchfield 5 min Implementation Team Update Sabrina Espinoza 10 min Pastor’s Report Jim Birchfield 20 min

• Framework for Approaching Mission Support Commitment • Personnel Updates

Clerk’s Report Bill Gutermuth 45 min

• Clerk Dinner • Communication Plan • Disciplinary Matters (Executive Session) • Session Retreat Follow-‐Up (Executive Session)

Old Business Vote on Church Planting TF Recommendations Andrew Stepp 5 min New Business Approve Statement of Faith Jim Birchfield 5 min Prayer and Praise Jim Birchfield 10 min Communion and Doxology 5 min Motion to Adjourn

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Important Dates: Prayer and Worship Gathering July 6 AC Meeting (in person and conf. call) July 12 Presbytery Meeting July 16 (FPC Orange) Mo Ranch July 14-‐17 July Presbytery Meeting (FPC Orange) July 16 Called Session Meeting August 2 Prayer and Worship Gathering August 3 August AC August 9* August Session August 23* Prayer Retreat August 27 Sunday School with the Session August 28 Prayer and Worship Gathering September 7 September AC September 20 September Session September 27* Global Church Conference September 23 -‐ October 2 Prayer and Worship Gathering October 5 FPC Israel Trip October 6-‐22 October AC October 18 October Session October 25* Annual Congregational Meeting October 30 * these dates are not the typical dates for these standing meetings New Member Joining Ceremonies September 11, 2016 November 13, 2016 February 12, 2017 May 21, 2017

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Session Attendance 2016-‐2017 A = Absence E= Excused

June August Sept Oct Nov Jan Feb March April May Barber, Don

Calkins, David Champion, Chris

Cook, Cindy

Davis, Merry Dorsey, Brent

Espinoza, Sabrina Going, John

Gutermuth, Bill

Harada, Michael

Harris, Julie

Herbold, Chris Mallory, George

Marion, Cindy Offenbacher, Matt

Okon, Edet

Schore, Randy Wilson, Randy

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HOUSTON REPORT TO THE SESSION MEMBERSHIP REPORT, May 2016 NEW CHURCH MEMBERS Athon, Lauren Kemble Reaffirm; Memorial Drive UMC, Houston TX Castleman, Pamela Profession of Faith Castleman, Ryan Profession of Faith Espinoza, Steve Reaffirm Glover, Megan Wilder Reaffirm; Parkway Presby. Corpus Christi, TX Gossett, Jeffery Charles t/l; FPC Wichita Falls, TX Gossett, Kam Keiser Reaffirmation Howard, Francine Corso Reaffirmation Howard, Kevin Allen Reaffirmation Kim, Anslie Reaffirmation; FPC Cairo GA Manak, Joe Profession of Faith Meek, Janice Reaffirmation Pond, Byron t/l,4th Presbyterian Church, Chicago IL Semander, Vicki Reaffirmation Street, Larry t/l; Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston Street, Lucia t/l; Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston Tompkins, Caroline Reaffirmation ; FPC San Antonio Tompkins, Thomas Reaffirmation; Westminister Presby. Nashville TN RESTORED TO ACTIVE ROLL Miller, Margaret Winchell Recent Activity Rogers, Celestial Recent Activity Wenger, Magdalen Recent Activity DECEASED Bauer, Ruth Deceased Boatwright, Lois Deceased (04/29/16) DISMISSED None MEMBERSHIP AS OF April 30, 2016 3217 Gains 21 Losses -‐2 MEMBERSHIP AS OF May 31, 2016 3236

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Worship Services Comparison

Week 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 5/4/14 5/11/14 5/18/14 5/25/14

8:15 Worship 154 160 166 141 9:30 Worship 208 392 224 162 10:45 Worship 362 495 272 290 11:05 Worship 740 344 412 405 Total Worship Att 1464 1391 1074 998

Youth Sunday Mother's Day

Memorial Day




Youth Sunday Mother's Day Vision Sunday Memorial Day




Youth Sunday Mother's Day

May 2016

Baptisms: Infant 10

Adult 0 Weddings: 0 Member Funerals: 0 NonMbr Funerals: 0

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MINUTES OF THE SESSION THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOUSTON, TEXAS May 17, 2016 The May Stated Meeting of the Session began at 6:30 p.m. in LC181 with a quorum present. Moderator Rev. Jim Birchfield called the meeting to order. Rev. Andrew Stepp opened with prayer. Attendance: See the attached Session Attendance Record for attendance to date for this year.

Omnibus Motions The following omnibus motions, provided to Session in advance of the meeting, were passed without discussion.

• Moved that the minutes of the April 19, 2016 Stated Meeting of the Session be approved. • Moved that the April Membership Report be approved.

Finance Committee – Consent Motion – The following motion was pulled to be discussed regular business. • It is hereby moved, that the Finance Committee unanimously supports the recommendation of (1) a 7% budget

reduction for the 2016-‐2017 fiscal year and (2) that existing vendor contracts should be reviewed and bid out to reduce costs where possible as quickly as possible.

Sabrina Espinosa offered a devotional and prayer. Committee Reports/Recommendations

Church Planting Task Force: Andrew Stepp reviewed how the Church Planting program is in line with Vision 2020. Chris Wolfe distributed a handout showing a comparison if Key Points: 1001 Worshipping Communities, Houston Church Planting Network and ECO and shared a vision of what we can do at First Presbyterian Church. Recommendations for future action by the session for establishing theological and practical boundaries with which First Presbyterian Church plants will operate, particularly around the following area: (1)Theology, (2)Denominational affiliation, (3)Credentials for church planters and (4)Resourcing will be prayed over and voted on at a later date.

Finance Committee: Chris Champion reported on the current status of commitment cards compared to last year and the operating and giving for the first eleven months.

Parking/MFAH Report: David Calkins reported that they are still working on the final parking agreement with MFAH.

Implementation Team Update: Dorian Benn explained what a charter for each ministry should look like, encouraged the ministries to write their charters and to turn them in.

Property Protection Team: no report. Pastor’s Report

• The search for a Director of Family and Children’s Ministry is continuing. • Rev. Jon Crantz will be leaving for his sabbatical in a few weeks. • Pray for Jon Crantz while he is on sabbatical, and for those on the Romanian Mission Trip. • Jim Birchfield met with Mike Cole to resolve how to move forward with closure of the property settlement. • Jim Birchfield read a review of “The Class of 2016: Looking Back”.

Clerk’s Report

• David McCarty reviewed upcoming key dates for the session. • Session Retreat June 3-‐4. • Ordination Sunday June 5 • Presbytery Meeting – July 16 at First Presbyterian Church, Orange, Texas. • David McCarty expressed appreciation to the Session and the leadership for their leadership through the past

years.

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• Bill Gutermuth addressed the Session as the incoming Senior Clerk of Session. o Why are we here as a session? o Why are we who are on the session here? o What Bill would like to see the session do:

§ Getting Corporate Governance right -‐ Define the role of the Trustee § Find a way to make the session more visible to the congregation § Incorporate new membership software. § Identify and train future leaders of the congregation § Build on the prayer focus of the congregation § Form a Denominational Relations Team and build a platform to look into the future § Give the devotional at the Session dinners – Julie Harris and Cindy Cook are developing a

Devotional Guidance • David McCarty read a letter from Rev. Chris Scruggs • Appreciation was expressed for Randy Wilson and Bill Gutermuth for their work on the Property Protection

Team Old Business Ministry Goals Review: Rev. Bill Heston reviewed (1) Vision Goals, (2) Core Values and (3) Strategic Initiatives – What needs to happen in the next three years to enable us to move forward.

Budget, FY17: A motion was made, seconded and approved for the Session to enter into executive session at 8:37 pm to consider the budget proposed by staff and endorsed by the Finance Committee. The Session returned to regular order at 9:15 pm after approval of the motion from Finance. New Business Class of 2019: David McCarty moved that Session approve the Class of 2019 for ordination and installation on June 5, 2016. After a second, the motion carried by voice vote. Class of 2017 Vacancy: Matt Offenbacher, Chair of the ONC, moved Session approve Merry Davis, elected by the congregation on May 15, 2015 at a called congregational meeting, for installation on June 5, 2016 to fill the remaining one year open term vacated by the resignation of Bill Cornelius. The motion carried by voice vote.

Clerk of the Class of 2019: Bill Gutermuth moved Cindy Cook be elected Clerk for the Class of 2019. After second, the Class of 2019 was given voice and vote. Ms. Cook, running unopposed, was elected by voice vote.

Treasurer: Bill Gutermuth moved Chris Champion be re-‐elected Treasurer for the Session term of 2017. After

second, Mr. Champion, running unopposed, was elected by voice vote. At-‐Large Member of Advisory Council: Bill Gutermuth reported that David Barnes and Susan Miclette had been

nominated for the position of At-‐Large Member of the Advisory Council. Mrs. Miclette was elected by secret ballot. End of Term Celebration: Bill Gutermuth led the Session in a farewell celebration of the Class of 2016 and the

At-‐Large Member, Mary Alford. Ruling Elders present were David McCarty, Clerk, Marilyn McDonald, Dorian Benn, Dan Morris, and Lori Johnson (Danny Taylor was absent).

Prayers were raised for the church, particular member concerns, ministry partners, and neighbors. Communion was served by intinction officiated by Jim Birchfield. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 pm with prayer and the singing of the doxology. ___________________________ _____________________________ Rev. Jim Birchfield, Moderator David McCarty, Clerk of Session

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Minutes of the CALLED CONGREGATIONAL MEETING FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOUSTON, TEXAS

May 15, 2016 A Called Congregational Meeting of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston was called to order, on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 12:03PM in the Fellowship Hall with a prayer by the Reverend Dr. Jim Birchfield. David McCarty, Clerk of Session, declared that a quorum was present. The following business was defined in the call: 1. The election of a Ruling Elder nominated by the Officer Nominating Committee to fill a one-‐year vacancy in the Class of 2017; 2. Approval of a change in terms of call for all five pastors to establish regular payments into a new Pastoral Sabbatical Fund established by Session. Matt Offenbacher, Chair of the Officer Nominating Committee, gave the report of the committee nominating Ruling Elder Merry Davis, to fill the one-‐year vacancy in the Class of 2017 and noted that Session had endorsed this nomination. There were no nominations from the floor. Ms. Davis was elected by voice vote. David McCarty moved the second item of business on behalf of the Session. After amendment, the text of the motion was: Whereas, Session has approved a Sabbatical Leave Policy for all installed teaching elders providing for a paid sabbatical leave of three months after seven years of service (and after every seven years thereafter), Whereas, Session has authorized the creation of a Sabbatical Reserve Account to provide for reimbursement of actual expenses incurred by the pastors when on an approved paid sabbatical leave up to $9100 and provided for initial funding of the account from permanent funds and designated member contributions, Resolved, that the terms of call for each of FPC’s installed Teaching Elders Jim Birchfield, Pastor, and Associate Pastors Bill Heston, Jon Crantz, Andrew Stepp, and Michael Homan be amended to add the annual contribution on his behalf to the Sabbatical Reserve Account of up to $1300 in any year of service in which the funds designated for the pastor or associate pastor in the account is less than the target $9100. The motion was approved by voice vote. After completion of the business expressed in the call of the meeting, informational presentations were delivered to those present explaining the terms of the recent settlement agreement resolving the litigation with the denomination and explaining Session plans to update the corporate documents of FPC. The meeting was adjourned at 12:42PM with prayer by Dr. Birchfield. ___________________________________ _____________________________ Rev. Jim Birchfield, Moderator David McCarty, Clerk of Session

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Consent Motions From Finance Committee

Nehemiah Center

• WHERAS, Nehemiah Center Inc. (the “Center”) has requested that FPC Houston extend credit to the Center in the form of a line of credit that the center may draw upon for to supplement working capital needs.

• MOVED that due consideration and support of the Center, a line of credit up to $100,000 is authorized, but not required, from FPC Houston to the Center, subject to the satisfaction of the Treasurer of FPC Houston, that (a) the loan will be a true payable line of credit and not an indirect contribution, (b) the loan will bear interest and expenses at least equal to those of the FPC’s bank line of credit and (c) the loan is made for a length, and under adequate terms and with adequate documentation, with the Treasurer authorized to take all acts necessary and advisable to carry out this resolutions; however, in no circumstance will the term of the loan extend beyond July 15, 2017. FY 2016 Surplus

• MOVED that 10% of the FY 16 surplus be allocated to additional missions giving in the FY17 budget.

ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES June 7, 2016 The Advisory Council of First Presbyterian Church of Houston met on June 7, 2016 in the Pastor’s Conference Room at 7:30 a.m. In attendance were Bill Gutermuth, David Calkins, Cindy Cook, Chris Champion, and Jim Birchfield. Bill Gutermuth opened the meeting with a devotional on Esther 4:14 and prayer. Finance + Budget: Chris Champion reported that May was in the black, but pledges are still down from last year. There have been changes in the Finance Department staffing. A task force is being formed to review all contracts and vendors the church has presently. It was recommended that a hospitality committee be formed to address refreshments on Sundays. Parking: Debbie Hanna gave an updated report on the present and future parking situation in regards to the MFA,H and Presbyterian School. Nehemiah: Debbie Hanna reported a request from the Nehemiah board for a further donation. Technology: Jennifer Bouble reported that the church has selected the Fellowship 1 Software to manage membership along with other tools it provides. Data migration is scheduled for August with December the target to have entire implementation complete. Personnel: Jim reported that Susan Burke’s position will be outsourced since she has retired. The Personnel Committee is now part of the Operations Committee. The search for the Children + Family Ministries Director is hopefully close to completion. Session Agenda Discussion: The following issues are on the table for Session and scheduled as follows:

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• Plan for Donations to PCUSA Mission Partners • Approve Denominational Relations Committee • Committee Charters/Complete Assignments • Approve Statement of Faith

Pastor’s Update: Health is great. The Romania mission trip was a great encouragement. Clerk’s Report: Communication with the congregation is of utmost importance. A schedule has been proposed to get information out more than quarterly from members of session. This was confirmed by Celeste. Senior Pastor’s review will be scheduled in the next 2 months. A Clerk Dinner will be held 6/8 including past and present clerks for communication and brainstorming. AC went into Executive Session to discuss several matters. There being no further business, the meeting was closed in prayer by Cindy Cook and adjourned just after 11:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Cook, Sophomore Clerk of Session

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Proposed Framework for Approaching

Our $300,000 Commitment to PCUSA Mission Projects

Assumptions

• $60,000/year in quarterly payments of $15,000/quarter • Funding from Permanent Funds accounts (primarily building projects and

scholarships) • Combination of PC USA requested projects and existing FPC ministry priorities

Proposed Framework

• Session direction to PF Committee to allocate “first $60,000” each year to this project • All gifts assume an actionable grant request to PF • First two quarterly gifts ($30,000) to Mo Ranch in honor of Mike Cole • $15,000 to The Outreach Foundation (For the Evangelical Theological Seminary of

Cairo) • $15,000 to Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services • Future giving allocated according to the following priorities:

Primary Partners

§ Mo Ranch § The Outreach Foundation § Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services

Secondary Partners

§ Prayers of the People (Lay Chaplains) § Montreat Conference Center § Seafarer’s Ministry (Port of Houston)

• Will require two motions at June Session meeting: § Motion to direct the PF Committee to make a special grant to Mo Ranch in time to

meet the July 15th deadline for the first payment. § Motion to direct the PF Committee to adopt the above giving framework.

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