First Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, VA

Session Summary Minutes – February 17, 2014

The Session met with new members at 6:00 pm in Room 206. Jim Gates opened the meeting with prayer, and the following persons were examined and welcomed into membership:

Everett Alcorn / Kalyn Mace-Guilloux
Kelly Alcorn / Przemyslaw (Jan) Kaczynski / AbbieNordhagen
Jean Guilloux / Tiffany Kaczynski

After prayer, a quorum was noted with the following members present:

Carolyn Buzek, Karen Campo, Jim Dille, Jean Farrell, Ron Gates, Jon Mann, Rudy Miller, Jeanne Perin, Cline Reasor, Jim Slaughter, Laurie Talty, Joel Weaver, Eunice Whitehurst, Jim Gates, Valena Hoy, Jim Wood.

Guest

Hunter Johnson joined Session for the first part of the meeting to assist Jean Farrell in giving a report of the Sticky Faith Conference in California last week. She and Jean, Laura Arana, Jim Gates, and Jim Wood spent four days learning the background and basis for the Sticky Faith concept through the Fuller Youth Institute. The plan is toapply it to the youth at FPC. Highlights of her report are:

  • 40 to 50% of youth active in their home church walk away from their faith and church membership after high school.
  • Other research has shown that if young people have developed a close relationship with 5 or more adults within their home church, the drop-off rate is much less.
  • The Sticky Faith Cohort is a learning group process of innovative churches committed to take the research and apply it to their settings to offer more transformative youth and family ministry.
  • To be part of the Sticky Faith Cohort, we partner with churches across the country hosting monthly webinars and meeting for two in-person Summits that help build a foundational structure for implementing Sticky Faith and shifting church culture.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Cline Reasor reported on the Januaryfinances for the church:

  • FPC Operating Revenue and Expenses this year compared to last year

January 2013 / January 2014 / % Change
Revenue / $152,397.69 / $154,020.67 / ----
Expenses / $169,524.51 / $123,268.61 / 27% decrease
Net Total / -$17,126.82 / $30,752.06
  • FPC Preschool Operating Revenue and Expenses this year compared to budget

Budgeted / January 2014 / % Difference
Revenue / $661,073 / $575,865.17 / -13% difference
Expenses / $686,230 / $589,184 / -14% difference
Net Total / -$25,157 / -$13,319 (-$17,399*)

*Tuition prepayments (~$4,080)

  • 2014 Stewardship Campaign Update

27 decreased their pledge by $27,794

38 had no previous pledge and pledged $106,380

109 increased their pledge by $104,070

98 stayed the same

122 households pledged last year, but have not done so this year ($375,985)

265 households are contributors that haven’t pledged

2014 Stewardship Campaign
10/30/13 / 11/6/13 / 11/13/13 / 11/20/13 / 12/4/13 / 12/11/13 / 12/18/13 / 2013 YE / January '14
166 / 197 / 208 / 222 / 229 / 234 / 237 / 255 / 269
$1,023,334 / $1,142,200 / $1,194,980 / $1,250,790 / $1,279,990 / $1,290,312 / $1,310,762 / $1,364,182 / $1,429,307
2013 Stewardship Campaign
11/11/12 / 11/18/12 / 11/25/12 / 12/3/12 / 12/10/12 / 12/17/12 / 12/27/12 / 2013 YE / End
209 / 220 / 228 / 247 / 267 / 279 / 283 / 287 / ---
$1,131,579 / $1,207,414 / $1,231,944 / $1,315,544 / $1,372,304 / $1,395,504 / $1,404,984 / $1,423,784 / $1,520,000
  • At year’s end we were 4% less than the previous year. The contraction correlates to a ~$65K reduction in total pledges at the conclusion of our pledge campaign.
  • We should have very reliable pledge numbers for the first review of our budget in March.

Consent Agenda

Jim Gates requested that Steve and Lisa Litwiller, Nigel and Tia Anderson, and Nancy Litwiller be added to the Removal list and Billy Gresham,Jr. be added to the Transfer list on this month’s Consent Agenda. After these additions, the Consent Agenda was approved by common consent.

Pastor’s Reports

Valena Hoy

  • Valena is Vice Chair of the C.O.M., working on church vacancies.
  • She will be attending and helping at the Women’s retreat this weekend.
  • March 16th is the Windows on the Soul organ concert at FPC, led by our organist, Stephen Cook.
  • She is helping guide Jeff Keeney, an FPC member, who is in the process of becoming a candidate for ministry.
  • Her work with Cradock continues.

Jim Gates

  • Jim informed Session that he would be moving the first time visitor parking spots to a more visible and accessible location on First Avenue by the sanctuary.
  • He is currently working on obtaining sufficient funds ($5,000+) to send Bibles to the refugee camp in South Sudan where Ross Wood is currently working for Samaritan’s Purse. The Bibles are used to teach English to the Muslims in the camp.
  • Following up on an Outreach Committee decision to have only church members in leadership positions for our ministries, Jim will transition the leadership of the FPC Soup Kitchen this week to Alex Kenefic.

Jim Wood

  • Jim echoed the enthusiastic remarks of Jean Farrell and Hunter Johnson about the Sticky Faith Conference.
  • Over 300 people participated in the Park Place Blitz on February 1; Circle of Grace and Union Mission folks joined members of our church for the very successful intergenerational event.
  • Cradock is going well.
  • Wednesday night adult class picks up this week and will run for eight weeks, including Ash Wednesday.

Personnel

Jim Wood presented the Personnel Report in Chair Barbara Haga’s absence:

  • We have two new Door Wardens: James Wright and Jordan Crouthamel, both students at Regent staying in the Northminster House.
  • Joy Hickey will be assuming the position of Administrative Assistant.
  • The Interim Minister of Contemporary Music position will be offered this week.
  • Session will meet next Wednesday night, February 26, at 6:00pm with Jeff Schulte.

It was moved and seconded to adjourn at 7:45pm. After congregational concerns were brought forward, Session members contributed to a group prayer, brought to a close by Valena Hoy.

Final 3/8/14