First Presbyterian Church Thursday, November 19, 1998

Columbia, MD 1 p.m.

11:00 Pre-Presbytery Event: 2 "Year With Education" Presentations:

How Churches Can Be In Partnership With Public Schools by Ledonia Kimball,

Staff Associate, Baltimore City Schools, 11 am-12:30 pm

Rotation Model Classrooms An Open House from 11 am-1 pm hosted by Maria Shupe,

Educator and Lay Ministry Coordinator, First Presbyterian Church, Howard County

noon Registration and Reading Time for Whitebooks

Mission Displays: Genesis Jobs and AIRS (AIDS Interfaith Residential Services)

1:00 Call to Worship and Order Moderator Jim Kirk

Welcome by Host Pastor, The Rev. Robert Culp

Roll Call (by enrollment sheets)

Introduction of New Pastors and Elders

Motion to approve the docket (Submit new business to the Stated Clerk by 6:00 pm.)

1:10 Report of the Stated Clerk pp 3-5 Charles Forbes

Consent Motion pp 2,3

Proposed Amendments to the Constitution pp 4,5

1:25 Committee on Preparation for Ministry p 5 Harry Cahill

1:35 Committee on Church Growth and Evangelism p 5,6 Aaron Lee

1:55 Presbyterian Homes and Family Services Tom Wrenn

2:00 Committee on Education and Congregational Nurture Pat Aaserude

"Year With Education" - "A Look At Public School Issues" by Dr. Carol Parham,

Superintendent of Schools, Anne Arundel County

2:20 Committee on Peace and Justice pp 6,7 William Turner

2:25 Nominating Committee p 7 Betsy Baer

2:30 Order for Midday Prayer: A Service for Public Education Barbara Laukaitis

2:45 Committee On Goals, Objectives, Strategy (COGOS) Jerry Cooper

3:05 Committee on Ministry p 7 Bruce Barstow

3:25 Committee on Mission pp 8,9 Steve Shussett

3:40 Committee on Stewardship and Mission Interpretation Jim Richards

3:45 Global Mission Committee Pat Byerly

3:50 Trustees Rick Lindner

4:00 Committee on Youth: Report on Triennium Mark Sandell

4:15 New Business

4:20 Benediction and Adjournment

LUNCH SUGGESTIONS: Several good, reasonably priced restaurants are located near the Church.

They are listed on page 10.

These actions, brought to the Presbytery by various agencies and individuals, are non-controversial and not likely to require explanation, discussion, or debate. To conduct the routine business of these actions quickly and efficiently, they will be voted on as a group. Delegates will be given the opportunity, by calling the Stated Clerk in advance or from the floor of Presbytery, to remove any action from the Consent Motion in which case that action will be considered and voted on individually.

from the Stated Clerk

I. THAT the Minutes of the 777th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery, September 24, 1998, be approved as appended to this White Book.

II. THAT the Administrative Commission to ordain Candidate Carin Reynolds Farmer, consisting of Ministers James G. Kirk, Chair, Margaret Ferguson, and Robert Ferguson; Elders Daniel Conaway (Granite), Mildred Kreider (Deer Creek Harmony), and Frank Whitney (Harundale); and Corresponding Members Rev. Mary Louise Hawken and Elders Joan Sell (Harundale) and Marilyn Turcotte (Harundale), be dismissed in that Candidate Farmer answered the required constitutional questions in the affirmative and was duly ordained on October 4, 1998, at Harundale Presbyterian Church. On October 15, 1998, Rev. Farmer was dismissed to Genesee Valley Presbytery where she has accepted a call.

III. THAT the Administrative Commission to install the Rev. Vicki Reith Kennedy as the Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry and Outreach of Bethel Presbyterian Church, consisting of Ministers James G. Kirk, Chair, Bruce Barstow, and James Cole; Elders Mary Lee Swith (Bethel) and Robert Ferguson (Grace); and Corresponding Members Rev. Lonna Smith (Websert Congregations Christian Church [UCC], Havre de Grace), and Elder Jody Vavaris (Bethel), be dismissed in that Rev. Kennedy answered the required constitutional questions in the affirmative and was duly installed on November 15, 1998, as the Associate Pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church.

IV. THAT the Minutes of the 776th Meeting of the Presbytery be corrected to show that the Bylaws of the Trustees of the Presbytery were adopted with the following amendment:

In Article III, Section E, Vacancies: "Any vacancy . . . shall be filled by the Presbytery, upon nomination by the Nominating Committee of the Presbytery.

from the Council

IV. THAT the Manual of the Presbytery be amended to provide for the appointment of the Chair of the Council Nominating Committee by the Chair of Council. The new wording will be:

VII, 4. e. Nominating Committee of Council. The committee will be composed of a Chair, who will be the Vice-Moderator of the Presbytery, ex officio, and two other members, all appointed by the Chair of Council.

from the Committee on Ministry

V. THAT Presbytery concur in the request of the Rev. Terrence Alspaugh and the Session of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church that he be their Parish Associate.

from the Committee on Administration

VI. THAT the Manual of the Presbytery be amended by adding the following subparagraph to the list of duties and responsibilities of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry:

VIII. 13. e. Establish Administrative Commissions to ordain candidates of this presbytery who have calls in another presbytery in accordance with Manual XII.

I. REPORTS

A. Communication

The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly has written a letter to Presbytery Moderators emphasizing the resolution of the last General Assembly regarding the importance of inclusive language. Copies of the letter and resolution will be available on the registration table.

B. Necrology

The Rev. Hubert Black, ordained by the Church of Scotland on January 24, 1940 and a member of Baltimore Presbytery since November 16, 1971, died on October 5, 1998.

Elder Evelyn Boyd of Knox Presbyterian Church, died on October 3, 1998.

C. Resignation

Linda Nepstad from the Trustees.

II. THAT the Consent Motion, printed on page 2, be adopted.

III. THAT the Overture from the Session of Maryland Presbyterian Church, which requests that Presbytery concur in Overture 98-2 (that "Amendment B" be striken from the Book of Order) from the Presbytery of Milwaukee, be docketed for the January, 1999, meeting.

On Striking G-6.0106b from the Book of Order (from the Presbytery of Milwaukee)

WHEREAS, our synod has urged us to use the processes of our Book of Order to express our concerns about G-6.0106b, and

WHEREAS, the 210th General Assembly approved an authoritative interpretation of the constitution, affirming the denomination's commitment to "consider the lives and behaviors of candidates for ordination as individuals . . . and not to exclude anyone categorically," and

WHEREAS, the Presbytery of Milwaukee has covenanted to trust sessions and presbyteries to ordain those called by God through the voice of the church; and

WHEREAS, for the peace, unity, and purity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) G-6.0106b should be stricken from the Book of Order,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Presbytery of Milwaukee respectfully overtures the 211th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the Presbyteries for their affirmative of negative vote:

IV. Proposed Amendments to the Constitution

The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly has sent recommended amendments to the Book of Order to the Presbytery for its affirmative (YES) or negative (NO) votes. The amendments are listed in the chart below. Committee and Council recommendations have been received for the amendments scheduled for a vote at this meeting; they are designated "NOV" in the right hand column. Those marked "NOV *" will be voted on as a group in an omnibus motion after commissioners have been given the opportunity to remove from the group any amendment that they wish to discuss separately.

NOTES: Wherever a specific month is indicated, that is the month in which the amendment will be considered by the Council or Presbytery. An asterisk (*) indicates that the amendment will be included in a consent motion. Opportunity will be provided to remove any amendment from the consent motion.

One copy of Proposed Amendments... is being sent to each church with Whitebooks. Additional copies may be obtained from the Presbytery Office and will be available on the hand-out table at the Meeting.

I. THAT Inquirer Debra Renee Avery of Hagerstown Presbyterian Church be examined regarding her sense of call to the ministry and, if the examination is sustained, that she be enrolled as a Candidate for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament.

I. THAT the following resolution be adopted [This will be a standard resolution used to formally establish each New Church Development]:

Whereas the Presbytery Committee on Church Growth and Evangelism, working through its New Church Development Committee, has identified the Randallstown area as having high potential for a New Church Development, and

Whereas the Committee has established a Randallstown New Church Development Committee to further study the area and they have recommended the establishment of a New Church Development in that area, and

Whereas the Committee on Church Growth and Evangelism and its New Church Development Committee concur in that recommendation, be it therefore resolved:

THAT the Presbytery of Baltimore designate the Randallstown area for the establishment of a New Church Development of the Presbytery;

THAT the Presbytery designate the Randallstown New Church Development Committee as a site selection committee for the Presbytery; the Pastor Nominating Committee for calling an Organizing Pastor, a position factored at 1010; and a Commission of the Presbytery to maintain the rolls and authorize the Sacraments for the New Church Development;

THAT the Presbytery direct the Stated Clerk to apply for a PIN for the New Church Development upon the request of the Randallstown New Church Development Committee;

THAT the Presbytery authorize the Trustees of the Presbytery to purchase land at the site of the New Church Development and authorize the Presbytery and/or the Trustees of the Presbytery to borrow necessary funds for the purchase and/or improvement of said land with an appropriate church building;

THAT the Presbytery direct all of these agencies to make regular reports to the Presybtery of their activities; and

THAT the Presbytery direct the Church Growth and Evangelism Committee, at the appropriate time, to recommend to the Presbytery that the Randallstown New Church Development be chartered as a particular congregation of the Presbytery of Baltimore.

I. REPORT

The Care of the Earth Task Group offers the following responsive prayer which was used last summer at a Montreat conference titled, "Strands In The Web Of Life: Exploring Our Roles In Ecology, Peace, and Justice." Presbyterians for Restoring Creation sponsored the conference.

Leader: Praise to you, O God, source of all waters. For vast oceans, flowing rivers, and gentle rains, we give you thanks.

People: Forgive our careless waste and polluting ways.

Leader: Help us to cleanse, conserve, and share; teach us to care for the gift of water.

People: come and heal your people. Come and heal the waters.

Leader: Praise to you, O God, creator of the dry land. For mighty mountains, rolling hills, and fertile prairies, we give you thanks.

People: Forgive our wanton greed and violent ways.

Leader: Help us to sow, till, and harvest with care; teach us to live gently on the land.

People: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the land.

Leader: Praise to you, O God, breath of life and maker of air. For wind and wave, breath and breeze, light and life, we give you thanks.

People: Forgive our heedless acts and selfish ways.

Leader: Help us to live justly, simply, and wisely, teach us to care for the gift of air.

People: Come and heal your people. Come and heal the air.

Leader: Praise to you, O God, Lord and Giver of Life. Your love sustains planet earth and by your hand all things living are fed.

People: Forgive our neglect and abuse of your gifts.

Leader: Help us to serve, defend, and restore your creation.

People: Help us care for your people. Help us care for the earth.

II. THAT the Presbytery adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has called upon nations to implement a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1963, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1997; and

WHEREAS, the Presbytery of Baltimore has joined with the General Assembly in its support of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1989 and again in 1994; and

WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which would outlaw all nuclear weapons testing, including underground explosions, has been signed by 140 nations, but has not been ratified by the United States Senate, be it therefore

RESOLVED by the Presbytery of Baltimore, acting November 19, 1998, that the Presbyery:

REAFFIRMS its previous support for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty;

CALLS UPON the United States Senate to ratify said treaty at the earliest possible moment; and

DIRECTS the Stated Clerk to so advise Senators Mikulski and Sarbanes, the leadership of the Senate, the Secretary of State, and the President of the United States.

I. REPORTS that December 28, 1998 is the deadline for submitting nominations for Commissioners to the 1999 General Assembly.

II. NOMINATES the following persons to the Permanent Judicial Commission, Class of 2004:

Robert Ferguson (E)(R/E), Grace Ginger Memmott (M)(W), Frederick

III. NOMINATES Anita Hendrix (M)(W) to the Trustees of Baltimore Presbytery, Class of 2000.

I. REPORTS that, acting on behalf of the Presbytery (because the Presbytery of the James was meeting before November 19), it concurred in the call of Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church to the Rev. Edward A. Bellis, IV, to be their Associate Pastor, effective November 1, 1998, and requested his transfer from the Presbytery of the James. His terms of call are:

Salary $ 19,525

Housing 15,975

SS Adjustment 2,700

Medical Supplement 250

Moving Costs up to 2,400

Book Allowance $ 250

Study Leave Allowance 400

Vacation 1 month

Study Leave 2 weeks

Pension 28% of effective salary

II. THAT Presbytery concur in the call of Trinity Presbyterian Church to the Rev. M. Muriel Burrows to be their Associate Pastor, effective Feb. 1, 1999, with the following terms of call:

Salary $ 25,000

Housing 7,600

Utilities 4,000

Pension 28% of effective salary

Auto Allowance $ 1,000

Book Allowance 600

Vacation 1 month

Study Leave 2 weeks

and That the Presbytery request her transfer from the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy.

I. REPORT

Allegany Health Right $ 6,500

AIDS Interfaith Residential Services 15,000

Baltimore Family Shelter 40,000

Barrelville Presbyterian Church 1,500

BUILD Community Policing 3,500

Campus Ministry - Frostburg 7,500

Cumberland Interfaith Consortium 9,000

Flex Grants 7,000

GEDCO North Baltimore Cares 5,000

GEDCO Residential Services 5,000

Genesis Jobs 5,000

Hagerstown YMCA 3,500

Interfaith Action for Racial Justice 8,000

Korean Older Adults 6,000

Kunte Kinte 17,500

Light Street/Lochearn Intern 4,000

McKim Community Center 62,500

Patrick Allison House 7,500

Project PLASE 8,500

Parish Nursing 2,500

Single Again 9,000

South Baltimore Homeless Shelter 9,500

Westminster House 3,000

$246,500

Should the name of YOUR ministry or mission project be on this list for the year 2000?

If your church has an on-going project or is developing a new project, the Presbytery of Baltimore may be able to contribute financially to the work that God is doing through it. But ONLY if you let us know. Applications are available through the Presbytery office and must be submitted by April 1. Read our MISSION FUNDING GUIDELINES on page 9.

As the Committee on Mission, our purpose and action is rooted in scripture. The writer of I John tells us, "for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen." (I John 4:20) Our contemporary church is both confronted with God's action in and through mission and challenged by Christ in the faces of our sisters and borhters.

Jesus gave the summary of the commandments, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind ... and your neighbor as yourself." (Matt. 22:37-39) Jesus showed us how to love our neighbors. He healed the sick and set people free from the bondage of sin and death. As disciples of Jesus we seek to love our neighbors through service.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians, "...we are ambassadors for Christ...." (II Cor. 5:20) As Christ's ambassadors, we engage in mission on behalf of those in need within the bounds of the Presbytery of Baltimore.

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us - we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? (I John 3:16-17)

1. Funding for all projects shall be recommended on the basis of an annual review. There are three types of projects: one-time grants; start-up projects; and on-going projects. Ordinarily, start-up projects may be funded for up to three years. On-going projects will be evaluated and funded based on achievements and progress toward three to five-year goals and plans.

2. Funding will be considered in light of current Presbytery mission goals and objectives.

3. Funding will take into account some balance of the geographical areas of the Presbytery as well as the number of communicant members in each area.

4. Funding will take into consideration the Mission Committee's priorities in terms of the program categories most in need of support (e.g., health care, housing/shelter, youth, community organizing/development, etc.)

5. Funding will weigh the opportunity a project provides for "hands on" participation by persons in local churches.

6. Funding should substantially make a difference in the continuation of the project.

7. Only churches in good standing with the Presbytery will be considered for funding of mission projects (i.e., per capita, mission contributions, statistical report, pastor's pension, etc.).

I. REPORTS

A. That it approved the recommendation of the Personnel Committee that all Presbytery staff receive a 2% cost of living increase (actual cost of living is 1.7%); that Alice McGee receive an additional 4% merit increase to reflect expansion of her position; and that Mary Ellen Barrett receive an additional 4% increase to bring her salary to the benchmark level established by the Personnel Committee.

B. Council authorized the Trustees to explore options both architecturally and financially for the installation of an elevator to provide disabled persons with access to the Presbytery offices.

C. Council voted to provide $200 from 1998 Council funds in support of the Churchwide Redevelopment Conference.

4 Restaurants in the Dorsey Hall Professional and Shopping Center on the WEST side of Rte 29.

Directions: From Rte 29, take Rte 108 West. Turn right at first light onto Columbia Road. Continue two lights. Turn right onto Dorsey Hall Road. Make an immediate right into the Shopping Center. The 4 eating places are just beyond the Giant grocery store.

2 Restaurants on the EAST side of Rte 29.

Directions: From Rte 29, take Rte 108 East. Turn left at first light onto Bendix Road. Wendy's and Pizza Hut are immediately on the right. (A long block from the Church.)

Jan 28 Presbytery Meeting, Kenwood PC, 1 pm

Mar 12-19 Guatemala: Una Aventura Y Un Encuentro!

Mission Trip to Guatemala: An Adventure And An Encounter

Mar 25 Presbytery Meeting, Cherry Hill PC, 4 pm

Apr 17 Spring Gathering of Presbyterian Women

Apr 22 Presbytery Meeting (if needed)

Apr 24 3RD ANNUAL BIG EVENT Keynoter: Taylor Branch

Preacher: Stephany Graham

June 17 Presbytery Meeting, Hope PC, 4 pm

**************************************************************************

A time to focus on how Presbyterians can give more energy, intelligence, imagination and love to the mission of education, nurturing the community of faith and serving the public good.

Maria Shupe - Educator, Lay Ministry Coordinator, First Presbyterian Church of Howard County

L.I.F.E. (Learning In Faithful Exploration) is First PC of Howard County's version of the Workshop Rotation Model for Sunday School. This model uses a variety of learning styles in classrooms that are uniquely designed for specific activities. Children rotate with their grade level through five workshops over a five week period, studying the same Biblical story each week. During the Open House, you will have the opportunity to visit each area, experience the unique learning activities in each area, and review completed curriculum materials.

Ledonia Kimball - Staff Associate, Baltimore City Schools

In addition to hearing Ms. Kimball's comments, this will be a conversation with Ms. Kimball about her experience in the Baltimore City Public Schools. Ledonia Kimball has worked as a teacher and administrator for over 35 years. Her current focus is safety and drug free schools. Bring your own lunch.

Dr. Carol Parham - Superintendent of Schools, Anne Arundel County

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I. A. Communications (Continued)

First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Presbytery of East Tennessee, requested support on their overture to restore Hiroshima Day (to be named "Day of Prayer for Nuclear Peace") to the Presbyterian Planning Calendar. Referred to the Committee on Peace and Justice. [Presbytery rules specify that a committee receiving such a referral needs to report to the Presbytery only if the committee recommends that the Presbytery take some action.]

I. B. Necrology (continued)

Elder Loretta Kreider Andrews, elder and member of Brown Memorial Woodbrook Presbyterian Church and member of the Peace and Justice Committee of the Presbytery, ordained on February 9, 1975, by Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, died October 31, 1998.

III. Correction: Rev. Lonna Smith is from the Webster Congregational Christian Church.

III. THAT, pending action by the congregation, the call of the Rev. Tom Willadsen, Associate Pastor at Towson Presbyterian Church, be dissolved so that he may accept the call of the First Presbyterian Church of Oshkosh, Wisconsin to be their Pastor, effective February 1, 1999; and THAT he be transferred to the Presbytery of Winnebago on that date.

IV. THAT Presbytery, acting in Executive Session, concur in the changes in Terms of Call listed in the 1998 Report of Pastors' Compensation, which was distributed at this meeting.

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