|
Winter Stated
Meeting Highlights
By
Paul Hooker, Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk
The Presbytery of St.
Augustine met for its Winter Stated Meeting on Saturday, 9 February 2008, at
Palms Presbyterian Church in
Jacksonville Beach. Upon entering the parking lot, commissioners to
presbytery were greeted by Palms members proudly showing off the new
education and office facilities. Commissioners were invited to tour the
beautiful new facilities and to see the exciting changes in the physical
plant. At the center of these changes was the Palms “Oasis” – a magnificent
courtyard highlighted by a central fountain made in the shape of a baptismal
font. The font invited you to come forward, touch the water, and be reminded
of your baptism. The font and courtyard were designed by Rev. Dr. Carol
DiGiusto, associate pastor at Palms, as part of her work toward her Doctor
of Ministry degree. A visit to the font was a beautiful and powerful way to
begin a day of service to the church, reminded of our common calling in
baptism to bear faithful witness to the grace of God in the world.
The presbytery was led in
worship by Dr. Dudley Weaver, pastor of the Memorial Church in St.
Augustine, and Elder Joan Wells, certified as a lay pastor by the
presbytery. The preacher for the morning was Rev. Dr. Paige McRight,
executive presbyter of Central Florida Presbytery. The presbytery observed
the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
Paige McRight also served
as our featured speaker, presenting an excellent discussion of the report
and recommendations of the
Form of Government Task Force. Paige’s presentation was followed by
questions and answers from the floor.
Among the important items
of business transacted at the meeting were:
-
Receiving new ministers. The
presbytery welcomed Larry Hendon from Florida Presbytery as the new
associate pastor of First Gainesville, and Jennifer and Jeff Arnold,
candidates under the care of Central Florida Presbytery, as new
associate pastors at Mandarin church.
-
Granting honorable retirement.
The presbytery recognized the distinguished careers of
two of its members, Bill Emery and Russell Rasco, and granted them the
status of honorable retirement. Bill has been serving as pastor of the
Arlington church, and Russell has been CEO of the Centers (formerly
Marion Citrus Mental Health Center) and has also served as stated
supply in High Springs.
-
Memorials. The presbytery
grieved the loss of three of its minister members since its last
meeting: Ken McCracken, Bill Shea, and Graham Hardy. Memorial
resolutions were spread on the minutes of the meeting in honor of the
long and distinguished service of each minister.
-
New Church in Development.
The presbytery approved the recommendation of its New Church
Development Committee to receive as a new church in development the
One-in-Christ Korean Fellowship in Jacksonville. The new development
has been meeting for worship in a storefront on Philips Highway in
Jacksonville, and is being led temporarily by Rev. Samuel Huh, a
retired member of the presbytery.
-
2008 Operating Budget. The
presbytery approved the
operating budget for 2008.
-
Westminster session overture on Israel-Palestine.
The session of the Westminster Church in Gainesville proposed an
overture to be sent to the 218th General Assembly on peace
in the Middle East. The overture had been distributed to all pastors
and sessions before the meeting, and several were prepared with
suggestions for amendment. None of the proposed amendments were
approved, and the presbytery engaged in a discussion on the merits of
the proposal itself. In the end, the overture was defeated by a vote
of 51 for and 55 against.
-
New Moderator. The presbytery
received and installed Elder Andy Vloedmann, from Gainesville First,
as its new Moderator. In so doing, the presbytery also expressed its
appreciation for the service of outgoing Moderator, Rev. Rhonda
Link-Cummings. Rhonda will now serve as Moderator of Presbytery
Council for a year.
|
It was a busy day, and an
eventful one, but one that will be remembered for warm hospitality, vigorous
debate, significant moments of transition, and powerful worship.
The Presbytery of St.
Augustine will meet again on Tuesday, 6 May 2008, at 9:00 am at Montgomery
Presbyterian Conference Center.
|
|
