Minutes of the Presbytery of Olympia
May 16, 2013 – Stated Meeting
Camp Sound View, Longbranch, WA
The Presbytery of Olympia met on May 16, 2013 at 1PM.
Moderator Rev. Sue Watkins opened the meeting with prayer.
Four first-time Ruling Elders were introduced.
A quorum was established--the rolls are listed below:
Teacher Elders Present:
Doug Basler Larry Brown Jeffrey Bursch
Ralph Carr Kathryn Castle Sahara Chea
Meghan Davis Joyce Emery Brad Epperson
Steven Fischback Ron Ganzer Robyn Hogue
David Kegley Don Keller James Kim
Tom Kirkpatrick Stephen Klump Peter Little
Dan MacDonald Robert Masciola Gary Mathieson
Barbara Schacht Bill Schacht Phil Schiller
Jonathan Schmick Harlan Shoop Kenneth Sikes
Steve Starr Jim Thoburn Jim Tweedie
Sue Watkins
Ruling Elders Present:
Don Ross Aberdeen, First
Bob Thompson Buckley, Community
Guy Warren, Marcia Greenfield Chehalis, Westminster
Gary Jackson Kelso, First
Carol Reeve-Keller Lakewood
Ron Marshall Longview
Don Johnstone Mineral
Ruth E. Moore Milton, Mission Woods
Peggy Gillespie, Linda Anderson Montesano
Sid Olson Olympia, United Churches
Irene Hunter Olympia, Westminster
Rose Erickson Onalaska, Community
Bill Marsh Puyallup, First
Gayle Shenk Shepherd of the Hill
Bill Tidwell Tacoma, Marine View
Marilyn Scott Tacoma, Skyline
David Brown Tenino, First
Bob Mohr, Gina Stewart, Erin Shagrer,
Bob Lucas & Jim Seely University Place
Dirk Muyskens Woodland
Elders Chairs Standing Committees of the Presbytery or serving on Strategic Board:
Eunice Robbs, Strategic Board
Ginnie Seely, Strategic Board
Commissioned Ruling Elders
Jeani Shofner, Hoquiam
Guests:
Kari McFarland, Interim Stated Clerk-Elect/Candidate for Ordination
Zack Brown, Sound View Director
Matthew Klump, Sound View Staff
Zack Brown, Sound View Camp Director, welcomed Presbyters and thanked the body for their support of the Camp over the years
The docket was approved as presented
Interim Stated Clerk Report - Clerk Kari McFarland reported on her recent trip to Louisville where she attended training for New Clerks. She also clarified two upcoming installation events.
The Consent Agenda was approved as presented
Relationship-building Activities - Dave Edscorn, Sound View Camp Assistant Director led a set of vigorous moving around activities and successfully got our blood flowing.
A Word from the Transitional Executive Presbyter- Rev. Dr. Keith Tanis reported by video from Indiana where he is at leadership training for New Presbytery Executives. He was sorry he could not be with us today. He stressed again and again our Mission Themes of being Relational, Spiritually-Led and Intentional in our work as a Presbytery. He expressed gratitude and hopefulness for our work together as exemplified by the good work we are doing around Camp Sound View.
Discerning God’s Leading Together – An Amendment to the Discerning God’s Leading Together policy was recommended by the Strategic Board. The policy and amendment was presented in the docket. Jeff Bursch and Meghan Davis briefly presented information on the amendment and responded to questions from presbyters. The key change is charging $10,000 to churches wishing to depart from the Presbytery to cover the expenses of the Discernment Team and Administrative Commission members. It was clarified that churches already in the process will not have to pay the fees included in the amendments.
An amendment from the floor was presented that would delete all fee charges proposed in the amendment. The reasoning was we have never paid volunteers doing work for the Presbytery, e. g. the chairs of the various Committees of Presbytery or special commissions and we should not change that policy for doing God’s work in the Presbytery.
The amendment to delete the fees was approved by voice vote.
Given the defeat of the proposed fees there was discussion of the need to develop a pool of volunteers to do this work and possibly to compensate part time staff if extra work is required.
The balance of the amendment then was approved by voice vote.
Report from the Administrative Commission at Harrison Square - Ron Marshall reported for The Administrative Commission appointed to work with the Harrison Square Presbyterian Church, Centralia, regarding their loan. The Commission recommends Presbytery approve a loan modification agreement between the Mission Development Certificate Program and First Presbyterian Church of Centralia, d/b/a Harrison Square Presbyterian Church, with the Presbytery of Olympia as the guarantor of the loan as was the case with the original loan in 2006. Effective March 1, 2013 the modified loan would have the following terms: principal sum of $2,574,721.84 and interest rate of 5% per annum, and the monthly payments to be interest only for one year. At the present time these interest only payments are $10,800 per month.
Ron also reported Harrison Square is looking into selling their property to remove their debt obligation. There was speculation the property was worth the principal amount of the loan but no formal appraisals have been completed. Regarding Presbytery liability there has been no change due to the change in loan terms. Ron also reported Harrison Square has informally withdrawn from the Discernment Process, due to the difficult questions surrounding the loan.
The vote to affirm the new loan terms was approved by voice vote.
Report from Stewardship - Harlan Shoop, Chair of Stewardship, said we too seldom thank those who donate to our church causes. He wanted to thank those who pledged to presbytery. He led us in giving ourselves a hand for our generosity. Part of that generosity has helped fund Camp Sound View. A moving testimonial then was given by Eric _____, a Camp Sound View alumni.
Rev. Peter Little, the pastor at Buckley Community then gave a short talk about the need to change our language around stewardship. Be done talking apologetically about the need for money or the language of scarcity and budget needs. Instead talk in a positive way about what is needed.
Commission on Ministry Recognition was given for the service of Rev. Jon Schmick upon his retirement. Rev. Sue Watkins gave initial remarks to thank Rev. Schmick for his service in Ministry. Several others followed with complementary and congratulatory remarks. Members of Marine View also gave special thanks for his pastoral service. Rev. Schmick gave some concluding remarks about his time of service, and thanked the body for their support over the years. There was a concluding prayer with laying on of hands for Jon.
Report from Personnel – Chair Ruth Moore moved, in concurrence with the Strategic Board, to change Rev. Dr. Keith Tanis’s title to Executive Presbyter and change his position to full time, beginning in 2014. Salary and benefits and other terms of his revised employment contract are described below. Several questions were asked and responded to.
The motion was split with the change in title and full time employment were approved by voice vote.
The terms of the position in 2014 were voted on separately and approved by voice vote.
The three year contract also was approved by voice vote.
It was announced that Executive Assistant Susie Zych will be retiring as of end of June. A prayer was offered for Susie and her decision to retire.
Other Business – Interim Clerk Kari McFarland announced there may be a change in the location of the September Presbytery meeting , so keep an eye out for any changes.
A closing prayer was offered before breaking for worship
4:00 PM Worship at Campfire
5:00 PM Dinner
6:00 PM Motion to Adjourn
Docket Items for Consideration
Consent Agenda
May 16, 2013 – Sound View Camp
Commission on the Preparation for Ministry
1. Met for a time of discernment with Shari Monson, Certified Candidate.
2. Conducted Annual Consultation with Walt Woodall, Inquirer.
Commission on Ministry
Dialogue to Discern (appendix to DGLT)
2nd Reading; 1st reading at September 2012 Stated Meeting (attached)
Membership Changes
Approved change of status for Rev. Jon Schmick, pending Marine View congregational
meeting, to honorably retired.
Terms of Call
Approve 10 month (Feb. 15 - Dec. 31, 2013) contract for Rev. Melody Young as Part-time
Pastor of Visitation at Westminster Chehalis / 8-10hrs per week / $647.62 per
month, all of which is to be designated as housing / mileage reimbursement up to
$1800.
Stated Clerk
Approve the minutes of the March Stated Presbytery meeting.
Receive the report of the GA Amendments vote tally from March Meeting (attached).
For Information
(After review of proposed amendments, the Strategic Board recommends the following amendments: in red)
SECTION TWO --- STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
1. Faithful departures. A congregation discerning that it must leave the PC(USA) may be faithfully following the will of God for that particular church body.
2. Commitment to avoid litigation. In fulfillment of Resolution 04-28, adopted by the 218th General Assembly, we recognize that the exercise of the process to “divide, dismiss, or dissolve churches in consultation with their members” (Book of Order 2009-11, G-11.0103), if accomplished by litigation, “is deadly to the cause of Christ . . . and our witness to Christ in the world around us.” Therefore we will carefully follow the principles of consistency, pastoral responsibility, accountability, gracious witness, openness and transparency.
3. Open Communication. We affirm the right of Teaching and Ruling Elders to discuss options for responding to the actions of the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly.
4. “Early entry” conversations. Teaching Elders and/or Sessions which begin intentional and sustained discussions about separation from PC(USA) will invite Presbytery participation through the General Presbyter and the RCOM representative, or other Commission on Ministry designee. The General Presbyter would also be expected to make pastoral contact with any congregation that is understood to be struggling with its future in the PC(USA).
5. Congregational Gatherings. Whenever any congregational gatherings involving withdrawal considerations are held, Presbytery representatives will be invited to participate and speak.
6. Presbytery teams. To ensure adequate communication between the particular church and the Presbytery, teams will be formed as needed. These are as follows:
A. For the Discernment Process (Section Three) a Discernment Team will be formed, comprised of balanced representation from the affected congregation and PCOM appointees [representation detailed in Section Three]. The Discernment Team will assist and support the congregation as it discerns the future of its affiliation with the PC(USA) and will ensure that the Strategic Board is apprised of on-going conversations and discernment. People trained in conflict resolution will be available throughout the process.
B. If the process proceeds to final negotiations over terms of separation, the Presbytery shall elect an Administrative Commission as its representative, with clearly defined responsibilities established by vote of the Presbytery. PCOM is encouraged to nominate members of the Discernment Team to be considered for the Administrative Commission.
C. COM will establish and train a pool of members for Discernment Teams and Administrative Commissions to conduct all future discernment and commission processes to be deployed as needed. Each Presbytery-appointed member of the Discernment Team will be compensated $2,000 by the Presbytery. Each Presbytery-appointed member of the Administrative Commission will be compensated $2,000 by the Presbytery.
SECTION FOUR: FINDING A WAY FORWARD
3. The following guidelines will direct the negotiation stage of the “Discerning God’s Leading Together” (DGLT) policy.
A. In support of the ongoing work of the Presbytery of Olympia, the departing congregation will remit a sum that equals three times the full PC(USA) per capita apportionment assessed in the year of their dismissal, plus an amount equal to any unpaid per capita assessed for the prior two years. A payment plan that meets the needs of both the Presbytery and the congregation may be agreed upon by the Administrative Commission and the Session.
B. In support of the ongoing mission of the Presbytery of Olympia, the departing congregation will continue its mission support of the Presbytery by remitting a sum that equals three times the “fair share” of undesignated mission giving collected by the Presbytery in the year prior to dismissal. A “fair share” will be determined by dividing the total undesignated Presbytery mission giving collected in the previous year by the number of members in the Presbytery in the previous year and then multiplying that by the number of members in the departing congregation. A payment plan that meets the needs of both the Presbytery and the congregation may be agreed upon by the Administrative Commission and the Session.
C. Departing churches will be assessed $10,000 to reimburse the Presbytery for the cost of compensating the Discernment Team and Administrative Commission members.
D. In support of congregation members that wish to remain in the PC (USA), the departing congregation will provide a one-time payment per member who transfers to any PC (USA) congregation within the Olympia Presbytery within one year of the presbytery’s vote to dismiss, payable to the receiving congregation upon receipt of the letter of transfer. The payment will be equal to five times the per capita apportionment per member assessed in the year of dismissal. It is understood that the date of the Presbytery’s vote to dismiss will determine the timeline, regardless of any delays that may be caused by judicial action initiated following that vote.
6 Stated Meeting of the Olympia Presbytery 5.16.13