794th STATED MEETING

The Consent Motion consists of actions not considered to be controversial, nor likely to require explanation or discussion. They will be voted on as one motion made by the Stated Clerk. Members and Commissioners may request the removal of any item from the Consent Motion by contacting the Stated Clerk prior to the meeting or so requesting when the Motion is made. Removed items will be considered at the report time of the agency presenting the motion.

From the Stated Clerk:

1. THAT the Minutes of the 793rd Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Baltimore, September 27, 2001, be approved as appended to this White Book.

2. THAT the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Presbytery, October 18, 2001, be approved as appended to this White Book.

3. THAT the Administrative Commission appointed by the Committee on Ministry to install the Rev. Richard H. Jones as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County--consisting of Ministers Jerome Cooper, Linda Nepstad, and Francis Tennies; Elders William Starke (Good Shepherd), Chair, and Catherine Blacka (First of Howard County); and Corresponding Members Rev. Michael O'Brien and Elder Peter Dinsmore (First of Howard County)--be dismissed in that Rev. Jones answered the constitutional questions in the affirmative and was duly installed by the Commission on October 14, 2001.

4. THAT the Administrative Commission appointed by the Committee on Ministry to install the Rev. LeAnn Hodges as Associate Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis--consisting of Ministers George Demass, Chair, Alison Halsey, and William Hathaway; Elders John McGinnis (First of Annapolis), Ellen Makar (Ark and Dove), and Howard Jackson (Knox); and Corresponding Member Rev. Doug Gerdts (Transylvania Presbytery)--be dismissed in that Rev. Hodges answered the constitutional questions in the affirmative and was duly installed by the Commission on November 4, 2001.

5. THAT the minutes of Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church be approved without exceptions.

From the Committee on Ministry:

6. THAT Presbytery join with the Session of Havenwood Presbyterian Church and the Rev. George Toole in establishing a Parish Associate relationship, effective February 3, 2002.

7. REPORTS

A. Necrology

Elder George W. McCarty, ordained January 2, 1966 at Towson Presbyterian Church, died on September 27, 2001.

Elder Kenneth A. McCord, ordained December 13, 1970 at Towson Presbyterian Church, died on December 13, 2001.

B. Resignations

Roger Gench, from the Nominating Committee

George Brown, from New Church Development

William Henderson, from New Church Development

C. Communications

The Session of Churchville Presbyterian Church has delivered to the Stated Clerk a copy of a Session Resolution which is consistent with the present call for confessing churches and which calls on the Presbytery not to ordain any person not willing to affirm this confession. The full resolution may be read at the Stated Clerk's desk.

8. THAT the Docket be approved as printed with changes noted by the Moderator or Stated Clerk.

9. THAT the Consent Motion be adopted.

10. REPORTS that the General Assembly has authorized the Board of Pensions to increase the dues payment to 28.5% effective with 2002 salaries.

11. REPORTS that it has concurred in the Session appointments of Interim Pastors who will also serve as Moderators of their respective sessions:

A. Light Street: Rev. Corinne Baker, effective November 8, 2001.

B. Northminster: Rev. Brett Morgan, effective December 1, 2001.

12. THAT Presbytery concur in the call of Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church to Candidate Stephen J. Tisinger to be their Pastor, effective November 12, 2001, with the following terms of call:

Cash Salary 30,000

Housing Allowance 16,280

SECA Allowance 3,720

Pension (BOP) 28.5%

Travel, Continuing Education, &

Professional Expenses* 5,000

Vacation 1 month

Study Leave 2 weeks

*Vouchered

13. THAT Presbytery concur in the call of Harundale Presbyterian Church to the Rev. Marie F. Sheldon to be their Associate Pastor, effective December 1, 2001, and request her transfer from Genesee Valley Presbytery. Her terms of call are:

Cash Salary 20,832

Housing Allowance 23,832

SECA Allowance Included

Continuing Education* 2,780

Pension (BOP) 28.5%

Every 7th Sunday off

Travel Allowance* 2,500

Professional Expenses* 1,654

Dental Premium 300

Vacation 1 month

Study Leave 2 weeks

*Vouchered

14. THAT, with the concurrence of the Session, the Presbytery appoint the Rev. Wesley Baker as Stated Supply and Moderator of the Session of Lakeland Presbyterian Church for a period of six months beginning November 1, 2002. Rev. Baker will serve half-time and be compensated at the Presbytery minimum.

15. THAT the Presbytery concur in the request of the Rev. Edward Bellis and Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church that the pastoral relationship be dissolved effective October 14, 2001, and the Presbytery validate Rev. Bellis' ministry as Youth Minister for Jennings Chapel and Poplar Grove United Methodist Churches and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Mt. Airy.

16. THAT the Presbytery concur in the request of the Rev. William Johnston and the Ashland Presbyterian Church that the pastoral relationship be dissolved effective November 25, 2001, and that Rev. Johnston be enrolled as a Member-at-Large (family responsibilities).

17. THAT, at her request and the request of National Capital Presbytery, Presbytery dismiss the Rev. Katherine Simons to National Capital Presbytery so that she may accept the call of the New Hope Presbyterian Church to be their Pastor effective December 1, 2001.

18. THAT, the Presbytery go into executive session, concur in the changes in Pastoral Calls as shown on the sheet "PRESBYTERY OF BALTIMORE PASTORS' COMPENSATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001", and thereafter go into public session. [Note from the Stated Clerk: The purpose of adopting this motion in executive session is to allow the clerk to limit the circulation of the compensation listing. However, the listing is always available to all members of the Presbytery and elders of its particular churches.]

19. THAT, the Presbytery receive the listing of Specialized Clergy for 2001, and approve the actions listed by number code in the right hand column.

20. THAT Candidate Stephen J. Tisinger be examined for ordination, and if the examination is sustained, that the Committee on Ministry be authorized to appoint an administrative commission (or commissions) to ordain and install him as the Pastor of the Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church. Mr. Tisinger has previously been examined by the Presbytery regarding his Statement of Faith and all other matters except in regard to his specific call to Christ Our Anchor.

21. NOMINATES:

Committee on Education and Congregational Nurture

Janet Williams (E,F,R/E) Lochearn, Class of 2004

Patricia Aaserude (E,F) First of Bel Air, Class of 2004

Committee on Evangelism and Church Growth

Jeremy North (E,M) Govans, Class of 2003

22. THAT Presbytery adopt the following resolution:

Whereas, on February 18, 1964, the Presbytery overtured the General Assembly to affirm the place of prayer and Bible reading in the public schools and encouraged individuals "to support the adoption of adequate safeguards to ensure the freedom for Bible reading and prayer in our public schools"; and

Whereas, on April 25, 1964, the Presbytery went "on record as favoring a constitutional amendment which would permit prayer and Bible reading in the public schools"; Be it therefore

Resolved that the above actions of the Presbytery of Baltimore are hereby rescinded and are of no further effect.

[Copies of the full texts of the original actions are available from the Stated Clerk.]

23. REPORTS that appended to this White Book is a chart of approval of Session minutes for the years 1994 through 2001. Churches are expected to submit their minutes to the Stated Clerk annually to be read and approved. Pastors and Clerks of Session whose minutes have not been regularly submitted and approved are strongly urged to participate in the next round of Clerk of Session meetings hosted by the Stated Clerk each winter/spring for the purpose of reading and approving session minutes. The Stated Clerk will announce the next round of meetings around the first of the year.

24. THAT the reports--appended to this White Book--of the Baltimore Chapter of Presbyterians Pro-Life and of That All May Freely Serve: Baltimore be accepted and the organizations be continued as special organizations recognized by the Presbytery of Baltimore.

25. THAT the Manual be amended to provide that members of Special Organizations recognized by the Presbytery of Baltimore be added to the list of persons who have voice in the presbytery as stated in the second sentence of III, 4 Voice, when items related to their organization are being considered. The second sentence of III, 4, Voice, will read: "Members of all agencies, subagencies, and special organizations recognized by the Presbytery will have voice in the Presbytery whenever business relating to, or originating in, their agency, subagency, or organization is being considered."

25. ADDENDUM. The Council has recommended that in the amendment proposed in White Book item #25, the following be inserted between "and" and "special": "the Chairs or their designees of". The Committee on Administration has not met since the Council meeting, but its Chair believes the Committee would concur with the Council changes and will make the motion as Council recommends. With the Council change, the new wording in the Manual would be: "Members of all agencies and subagencies, and the Chairs or their designees of special organizations recognized by the Presbytery will have voice in the Presbytery whenever business relating to, or originating in, their agency, subagency, or organization is being considered."