PROVISIONAL MINUTESOne-Hundredth Stated MeetingPRESBYTERY OF THE SOUTHEAST

First Presbyterian ChurchThomasville, Georgia

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017

The 100th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Southeast began with multiple opportunities for those presbyters who arrived early. The peopleof First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville illustrated the Christian hospitality and fellowship for which they are well known. Thursday eveningpresbyters were entertained at a marvelous seated duck dinner at the homeof Elder Powell Jones, and Friday morning opportunities were offered for skeet shooting, plantation tours, and downtown shopping. The welcome givento the Presbytery was an incredible gift to all who arrived early and was an inspiring prelude to a memorable meeting.

100-01 Call to Order - The Presbytery was opened at 3:00 by Moderator-Elect TE Tommy Jordan In the absence of Moderator RE Jeff Guilford who was hospitalized with

a recent malignancy diagnosis.

100-02 Welcome and Worship – DT House from the staff of First Presbyterianwelcomed the Presbytery to Thomasville and led in a service of praise.TE Edward Brouwer opened the meeting with prayer.

Candidate Matt Avery from Cedar Springs Church in Knoxville led the Presbytery in worship centered on Mark 4:26-29.

100-03 Declaration of Quorum – Moderator-Elect Jordan declared after consultation with the Stated Clerk that a quorum was present.

Later in the meeting the Ministerial Candidates Committee wouldpresent requests for excused absences. The Attendance Report ofTeaching Elders and Churches is found at the conclusion of the Minutes.

ATTACHMENT ‘A’

100-04 Approval of the Docket – There being no additions or changes to the proposed docket, the Moderator-Elect presented the docket. APPROVED

100-05 Introductions – Moderator-Elect Jordan welcomed on behalf of thePresbytery a large number of first-time commissioners and guests.

100-06 Approval of Minutes of 99th Stated MeetingModerator-Elect Jordan entertained corrections or additions to theprinted and distributed minutes.

MOTION: That the Provisional Minutes of the 99th Presbytery be approved as presented. APPROVED

100-07 Special Committee on ThanksModerator-Elect Jordan appointed TE Sean White and RE Don McLeanto the special committee.

100-08 PRESBYTERY COUNCILFormer Moderator TE Bill Pardue assumed the role of Moderator forModerator-Elect Jordan to present the Council report.

Moderator-Elect Jordan opened his report with prayer. He then presentedtwo motions from the Council:

MOTION: That Presbytery approve the clarified salary for RE Diane Mizellas Treasurer and Assistant to Stated Clerk. APPROVED

MOTION: That Presbytery accept the invitation of All Souls Fellowship inDecatur, Georgia to host Presbytery at the fall meeting of 2017. APPROVED

100-09 TREASURER’S REPORTTreasurer RE Diane Mizell began her report with prayer.

MOTION: That approval be given by the Presbytery for the presented2017 Budget (with updates for the positions of Stated Clerk and Assistantto the Stated Clerk/Treasurer). This is the second reading of the budget.

Attachment ‘B’ APPROVED

The following report was made on balances as of January 31, 2017:Operating Budget 113,618.15Church Development Fund 144,196.56TOTAL 257,814.71

ASSET ACCOUNTSCommunity United Wooten Trust 21,323.68Court Attendance Scholarship Fund 6,636.00TOTAL 27,596.68

OVERALL TOTAL 285,774.39

The Church Development account has funds earmarked for several approved projects with those projects total being $41,500.

The Treasurer reminded Clerks of Session to submit their 2017Faith Commitments.

This concluded her report.

100-10 MINISTERIAL CARE COMMITTEE (MCC)Chairman, TE Scott Jackson, opened with prayer and presented the first portion of MCC’s report.

EXAMINATION OF CANDIDATE MATT AVERY FOR ORDINATIONMatt is currently a candidate under care of our Presbytery from Cedar Springs Church in Knoxville for the past two years. Currently, he servesas Director/Young Adults at Cedar Springs. Transcripts from ReformedTheological Seminary (MDiv), PIF, and Statements of Faith have been received by MCC, as well as his background check. Matt’s written examswere graded at an average of 94 on each of the three exams. Havingsustained an oral examination by MCC in August, his terms of call weredeclared acceptable, and Matt had no exceptions to the WCF.

MOTION – That the ordination examination of Matt Avery be sustainedin all its parts and that he be enrolled as a member of Presbytery as anAssistant Pastor at Cedar Springs Church in Knoxville pending his Ordination service. APPROVED

MOTION – That an Administrative Commission be appointed to ordainand install Matt Avery as a Teaching Elder in the EPC and AssistantPastor at Cedar Springs Church. The Commission named was:TE John Wood (CSPC) RE West Breedlove (CSPC)TE Kirk Werner (CrossWalk) RE Piers VanderMerwe (CSPC)

RE Thomas Goode (CEC) APPROVEDMatt Avery signed the Ministerial Obligation and Ethical Affirmation.Prayer was offered by TE John Wood for Matt.

EXAMINATION OF TE RYAN VAN HORNTE Ryan Van Horn is currently serving as TE-Pastor at Resurrection Brooklyn in Brooklyn, New York and a member of the Presbytery ofthe East. He is being called as Evangelist/Church Planter in Chattanooga,Tennessee. The MCC has received his transcripts from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis Missouri; his PIF, and his Statements of Faith, as

well as his background check. The terms of call were declared satisfactory. Having sustained an oral examination before MCC in February, Ryan was presented to the Presbytery for examination. Ryan declared exceptions toWestminster Confession of Faith: 21.8 and the corresponding LargerCatechism and Shorter Catechism 61 and 62. “The restrictions given in theConfession are too strict and what the Scriptures intended when they meant‘rest’.” He declared exception to the Larger Catechism 109. “I think to restrict mental images or any representations goes beyond the scope of thecommandment and is impossible to do.”

MOTION – That the examination of Ryan Van Horn be sustained in all its parts and that he be received from the Presbytery of the East and enrolledas a member of the Presbytery of the Southeast, with call to serve as Church Planter of the Presbytery in Chattanooga, Tennessee. APPROVED

MOTION – That an Administrative Commission of the following be appointed to Install Ryan Van Horn as Evangelist to plant a church onSunday, March 26, 2017:

TE Shayne Wheeler (All Souls Fellowship) RE Doug Gregory (Signal Mtn)TE Mark Grapengator (All Souls Fellowship) RE Brad Wier (Signal Mountain)TE Andy Cornett (Signal Mountain Church) RE Gary Buchanan (Valleybrook)

APPROVEDTE Ryan Van Horn signed the Ministerial Obligation and Ethical Affirmation.Prayer was offered for Ryan by TE Andy Cornett.

COMMISSIONED PASTORRE Jarrod Johnson was presented by MCC for approval as CommissionedPastor at Wilson Station Church, Englewood, Tennessee. Mr. Johnson isan educator and teaches locally in the community.

MOTION – To approve RE Jarrod Johnson as Commissioned Pastor at WilsonStation Church. APPROVED

DISSOLUTIONSThe following dissolutions were approved unanimously by MCC:

TE Alan Wildsmith and Murphy Presbyterian Church, Murphy, NC upon the retirement of Reverend Wildsmith on April 1, 2017;

TE Charles Looney and Covenant Presbyterian Church, Rome, GA withReverend Looney being placed on the roll as Minister Without Call; and

Commissioned Pastor RE Wayne Carter and Farner Presbyterian Church, Farner, TN after receiving RE Carter’s resignation.

EXCUSED ABSENCESThe MCC received the requests for excused absences and after examinationapproved the following: Scott Bowen Mike KuhnAlan Edick Chris RobinsonScott Emmons (illness) Joey SherrardBill Flanagan Walter TurnerClay Harrington Richard WillisBryant Harris (death/father) Kevin Wilson

100-11 EVANGELISM and OUTREACHFormer Moderator Bill Pardue assumed the role of Moderator to providefor Moderator-Elect Jordan to make this report.

Chairman Jordan opened his report with prayer.The chairman presented TE Phil Thrash (Mid-Atlantic Presbytery) from WorldOutreach. Phil spoke to the presbytery on three crucial initiatives. The chairman then presented TE Grady Davidson, pastor at Lookout Valley Church, who spokeof their congregation’s ongoing ministry to children ages 4-6, as well as to the families of these children. Also introduced to the presbytery was TE Shawn Stewartfrom World Outreach.

This completed the report of Evangelism and Outreach.

100-12 PRAYER TIMEThe order of the day was called by the Moderator and Associate TE Ed Langhamled the presbytery in a consecrated time of prayer. TE Langham read from John 15of Jesus’ teaching on the vine and the branches. Included in the prayers were intercessions for: RE Jeff Guilford (brain tumor); TE Scott Emmons (chemo treatments); Nathan Sexton, son of TE Buddy Sexton (continued bold standagainst cancer); Bryant Harris (death of his father); CP Jarrod Johnson’s father; and the Farner elders.

100-13 Recess for Supper100-14 FRIDAY EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE

A most-inspiring service of worship was provided for the community of the

Presbytery and the members of First Presbyterian Church, Thomasville in thechurch’s historic sanctuary. The Sanctuary Choir and music staff led thecongregation in worship with TE Shayne Wheeler as preacher and TE TimFilston and the ruling elders of First Church celebrating the Communion Service.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017

100-15 Presbytery reconvened Saturday morning promptly at 8:30 with Moderator-Elect Tommy Jordan continuing to provide quality leadership. He called on TE Ryan Van Horn to lead the presbytery in a devotional time and opening prayer for the day.

100-16 MORNING DEVOTIONAL was given by TE Van Horn from John 8:58-59 on confronting the world with Jesus. He concluded his devotional with prayer.

100-17 STATED CLERK’S REPORTTE Bill Dudley, Stated Clerk, opened with prayer and presented as the onlyitem an introduction to Will Johnson, new WebHost for the new presbyterywebsite. Will shared briefly on accessing the site.

100-18 CHURCH HEALTH and GROWTHChairman, TE Tim Filston, opened with prayer and presented several itemsof interest and action.

The Church Revitalization Seminar led by Ken Priddy and Bob Stauffer of theGoCenter will be hosted for the presbytery at Cedar Springs Church in Knoxville March 31 – April 1.

The Chairman spoke of Pastoral Cohorts and Clusters and the intent of theCHG to actively encourage every pastor to join a cohort. Our geographicalspread makes it challenging for pastors to get together face-to-face, butpastors can meet regularly through Google hangouts, Zoon, or Goto Meeting.The committee’s goal is to address the isolation of pastors.

TE Matt Miller shared his story of developing a cohort among a small group of pastors who meet weekly. His testimony was encouraging and affirming for this proposal.

CHG Committee allocated $4,000 to the Spring City (TN) Church as they seek

to draw a full-time pastor to sustain recent membership growth, and $2,000allocated to Plumtree Church to help underwrite a mission trip to Brazil whichhas become an important mark of their vitality.

100-19 CHURCH PLANTING and RECEIVING COMMITTEERE Diane Mizell as Chairman opened with prayer.TE Mark Grapengater presented the report and motions.

CHURCH PLANT at CHATTANOOGAChurch Planting and Receiving voted unanimously to fund TE Ryan Van Horn asapproved Evangelist – Church Planter in the Southside neighborhood of Chattanooga. Funding is in the amount of $20,000 for2017 and $10,000 for2018 all coming from the committee’s yearly discretionary fund of $25,000.No action was to be taken --- only an enthusiastic announcement to Presbytery.Additionally, First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville funded $4,000 which will be given to the Van Horns for moving expenses to Chattanooga.

Book of Order – Government 5-4.A.3 states: “A presbytery or a session may appointan administrative commission to serve as a temporary governing body of the missionchurch.”

MOTION – To appoint the following as an oversight committee to serve as a governing body for the Chattanooga, TN church plant:

TE Shayne Wheeler – All Souls Fellowship, Decatur, GATE Mark Grapengater – All Souls Fellowship, Decatur, GATE Andy Cornett – Signal Mountain Church, Signal Mountain, TNRE Brad Wier – Signal Mountain Church, Signal Mountain, TN APPROVED

Chairman Mizell expressed the following for the committee and thePresbytery: “It is with gratitude to God alone that we welcome RyanVan Horn to this presbytery and to the mission of planting a church towitness to those in the southside neighborhood of Chattanooga. We pray for God’s protection and guidance for Ryan, Erin, and their children:Seth, Isaac, and Abby as they labor together to make Christ known.”

MOTION – To rescind the motion of the 97th Stated Meeting of Presbyterythat read: “moved to designate $25,000 from 2016 Church Development Fund toward the second year ASF Resident Program. Funds will be held byPOSE until resident is chosen and has committed to the program.”All Souls Fellowship has made the decision not to be a Residency TrainingChurch. APPROVED

This concluded the report of the committee.

100-20 COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW OF SESSION MINUTESRE Palmer Griffin, Chairman, opened his report with prayer. The followingreport was presented from the committee:

SESSION MINUTES REVIEWED STATUSBuck Hill PC Approved without Exception with Notations requiring responseCedar Springs PC Approved without Exception with Notations requiring responseSignal Mountain PC Approved without Exception with NotationsTrion PC Approved without Exception with NotationsCornerstone PC Approved without ExceptionFirst, Thomasville Approved without ExceptionMars Hill PC Approved without Exception

**All Souls Fellowship Approved without Exception **Eastminster PC Approved without Exception

(** churches presenting minutes for first time to POSE)

DEFERREDParkway PC Deferred to 101st Stated Meeting

STATUS OF EXCEPTION NOTICES PREVIOUSLY ISSUEDNo exception notices outstanding

MINUTES SCHEDULED FOR REVIEW – 101st STATED MEETINGParkway PC (Deferred from 100th at request of the Moderator)Central PC Grace PCCommunity United Wooten Greenbriar PCCovenant PC Providence ChurchFaith PC Trinity PCFarner PC Valleybrook PCFirst, Rome Woodland PC

REVISION OF REVIEW PROCESSChairman Griffin reported that the RSM is revising the review rotation forSession minutes. Beginning with the 103rd Presbytery meeting in February,2018, ALL Session minutes will be due at the February Stated Meeting eitherelectronically or by hard copies of original minutes. The Committee will review the minutes between the February and May meetings and will reportout at the May meeting. A memo with this announcement and the newimplementation schedule will be sent to Session Clerks and Moderators in the next few days.This concluded the report of this committee.

100-21 SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THANKS

TE Sean White reported for the special committee and opened his report with prayer. Sean opened his report with a reading and applied wording from Psalm 150. “Lord, we give You thanks for traveling mercies, for the grand hospitality of First Church here in Thomasville which began before we even

arrived, for the beauty of Your creation with the spring-like temperatures and the beauty of

landscape all around us,for fellowship created from skeet shooting, for the hearing of God’s Word from Matt Avery, Shayne Wheeler, and Ryan Van Horn, for our very competent and talented Moderator-Elect Tommy Jordan,for a well-conducted meeting by all our leaders, for the priority of prayers spoken in Your name, for prayers for our Moderator Jeff Guilford and for his healing. In all these things we give You thanks and praise, O Lord.

MOTION – To approve the said prayer of thanks. APPROVED

100-22 UNFINISHED BUSINESSThe Stated Clerk declared there was no unfinished business.

100-23 NEW BUSINESSThe Stated Clerk declared there was no new business.

100-24 ADJOURNMENTThe Moderator-Elect entertained a motion to adjourn. The motion to adjourn was made from the floor and seconded. APPROVED

The Moderator-Elect Tommy Jordan closed the meeting with prayerat 9:45 AM.

___________________________________ ______________________________TE Tommy Jordan, Moderator-Elect TE William Dudley, Stated Clerk

ATTENDANCE REPORT - ATTACHMENT A

CHURCH TEACHING ELDER RULING ELDER

All Souls Fellowship Shayne Wheeler Present Decatur, GA Mark Grapengator Present

Mike St. Denis Present

Bethany Church Charles Echols PresentKingsport, TN

Brainerd Church Jonathan Schwartz Present Jerry Griswold PresentChattanooga, TN Tom Johnson Present

Charles Miller Present

Buck Hill Church Jim Hoilman PresentNewland, NC

Cedar Springs Church John Wood Present Geo Hall PresentKnoxville, TN Scott Jackson Present

David Strunk PresentAlan Edick ExcusedClay Harrington ExcusedMark Steimer Absent

Central Church Merle Caudill CP PresentHyden, KY

ChristChurch Bill Dudley, Interim Present Palmer Griffin PresentDalton, GA

Community Evangelistic Buddy Sexton Present Reginald Strong, CP AbsentKnoxville, TN

Community United Wooten Gregory Whitaker, CP PresentWooten, KY

Cornerstone Church Tommy Jordan PresentFranklin, NC

Covenant Church Dane Freeman PresentRome, GA Frank Randall Present

Crosswalk Church Kirk Werner Present James Waldrop PresentKnoxville, TN

Eastminster Church Sean White Present Mark Hastings PresentKnoxville, TN

Don McLean

Faith Church Jason Minter Absent McDonough, GA

Farner ChurchFarner, TN

First Church Jeff Chadwick Present Ed Brewster PresentRome, GA Bill Pardue Present John Cowan, Sr. Present

John Cowan, Jr. AbsentGreg Garrett PresentAlan Storey Present

First Church Tim Filston Present Harry Jones PresentThomasville, GA Mike Jones Present

Nelray Lily Present

Grace Church Richard Holmes Present Dick Byland PresentFranklin, NC John Sill Present

Greenbriar Church Paul Bowling PresentManchester, KY

Hope Fellowship Mark Gregory Present Craig Fowler PresentChickamauga, GA

Lookout Valley Church Grady Davidson Present Fred Anderson PresentChattanooga, TN Susan Fryar Present

Mars Hill Church Bryant Harris ExcusedAcworth, GA

Murphy Church Alan Wildsmith PresentMurphy, NC

New Beginning Larry Myers PresentSpring City, TN

New Hope Church Richard Willis ExcusedKingsport, TN

Parkway Church Mike Austin Present Mary Mac Harrell PresentCumming, GA Tom Harrell Present

Plumtree Church Ryan Bridgeo, CP PresentPlumtree, NC

Providence Church Edward Brouwer Present Phil Ingles PresentHazelwood, NC Pat Ingles Present

Signal Mountain Church Scott Bowen Excused Tom Blockley PresentSignal Mountain, TN Margaret Ferguson Present Doug Gregory Present

Andy Cornett Present Joe McCall PresentJoey Sherrard Excused Diane Mizell Present

Bruce Novkov PresentDonna Peterson PresentJarrell Reeves PresentDan Stanley Present

Trinity Grace Church Tully Hunter Present Cathy Cutts PresentLoganville, GA Jamie Frey Present

Trion Church Bill Flanagan Excused Charles Frady PresentTrion, GA Stated Supply

Valleybrook Church Adel Thalos PresentChattanooga, TN

Wilson Station Church Jarrod Johnson, CP PresentEnglewood, TN

Woodland Church Matt Miller Present Kathy Young PresentMemphis, TN

ACTIVE – Without Call (Parity)

ARAUJO, Aparecido Present LOONEY, Charles Present

BUSH, Daniel Absent THOMAS, Michael Absent

EMMONS, Scott Excused WILSON, Kevin Excused

HODGE, Robert AbsentACTIVE -- OUTSIDE BOUNDS (Parity)

Call approved for a definite period of time. After the expiration of that time, the Minister must receivefurther approval to continue. If the nature of this call impedes or prevents regular and/or required attendance at Presbytery meetings, the Teaching Elder may be granted the status of Associate Member.

FOLEY, Jack Present REESE, Julian Absent

HUTTON, Mark Absent ROGERS, Tim Present

KUHN, Mike Excused SWAFFORD, Bill Absent

MURREY, Edward Absent TURNER, Walter Excused

ROBINSON, Chris Excused

RETIRED – Active (Parity)

DUDLEY, Bill Present

RETIRED – Inactive Non-Voting MemberRetired Teaching Elder, who does not participate in the life of the Presbytery by attending at leastone Stated Meeting during a calendar year, may be placed on Inactive Status at the discretion of thePresbytery

RETIRED - ASSOCIATE MEMBER – Non-voting Member (Not Parity)Retired or serving in a capacity outside of bounds of presbytery which may impede or preventregular and/or required attendance at Presbytery meetings. Must be requested within two yearsof change of call to status of Associate Member. After two years of being retired, Presbytery may place on Associate roll. Voice and vote given on all committees of Presbytery.

Voice but no vote on Commissions. Not eligible to serve as officers of the court.

BAKER, Carlton Absent KEYSER, David AbsentRetired 2/1/03

CALLAHAN, George AbsentRetired Inactive 2/6/09 LANGHAM, Edward PresentAssociate 2/1/14

FAIRALL, Craig Absent RAGON, Ronald AbsentRetired 7/1/07

FLANNAGAN, Bill ExcusedRetired 5/1/07 RISER, Steve Absent

Retired 10/1/11HALEY, Pam Absent

Retired 10/6/12 SMITH, H. Andrew AbsentAssociate 2/2/13 Retired

HARRIS, Sam Absent VAN DYKE, Jim AbsentRetired 5/4/02 Retired 4/30/92Associate 10/2/15

WALLACE, Allen AbsentHOFFMAN, Dave Absent WARE, Cobb Absent

RetiredHORTON, Michael Absent Associate 5/7/11

Retired 2/5/16ZINN, Roy Present

JENNINGS, William Absent Retired 9/30/11Retired 10/1/11 Associate 10/16

JONES, Steve AbsentRetired 1/1/06

CANDIDATES UNDER CARE

AVERY, Matt Cedar Springs Church/Knoxville, TN Present

BRIERE, Maurice Crosswalk Church/Knoxville, TN

HOUSE, DT First Presbyterian Church/Thomasville, GA Present

JOLLEY, Brandon All Souls Fellowship/Decatur,GA Present

KEASLING, Andrew Cedar Springs Church/Knoxville, TN

OBSERVERS

Deborah Miller, Brainerd Church/Chattanooga,TN

Dana Hall, Cedar Springs Church/Knoxville, TN

Richard Bowers, Central Church/Hyden, KY

Camille Jordan, Cornerstone Church/Franklin, NCKaren JordanTommy Jordan, Jr.

Kathy Hastings, Eastminster Church/Knoxville, TN

Marc Stover, First Church/Thomasville, GA

Ann Byland, Grace Church/Franklin, NC

Cathy Sill, Grace Church/Franklin, NC

Alberta Anderson, Lookout Valley Church/Chattanooga, TN

Suzanne Austin, Parkway Church/Cumming, GA

Ann Hunter, Trinity Grace Church/Loganville, GA

Katherine Frady, Trion Church, Trion, GA

Lynne Thalos, Valleybrook Church, Chattanooga, TN

Angie Johnson, Wilson Station Church, Englewood,TN

Jan Langham

Nathan Turner/Erskine Seminary

Mike Bixler, Thomasville, GADiana ConeBecky CraneTom Everett

EPC

Shawn Stewart, EPC World Outreach

Phil Thrash, EPC World Outreach

Ryan Van Horn, Presbytery of the East – to be examined