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SYNOD OF
THE SUN
April
26-28, 2007 – Irving, Texas
The SYNOD OF THE SUN met in stated meeting on
Thursday, April 26, 2007, at the Woodhaven Presbyterian Church, Irving,
Texas. Following dinner, commissioners and guests were called to order
by Moderator Alan Ford who offered the opening prayer. (docket in
Appendix A).
Stated Clerk Elizabeth Johnson Pense announced that
there was a sufficient number of commissioners registered to constitute
a quorum. The moderator declared a quorum. (G-12.0202 and Synod
Bylaws 2.8) (attendance in
Appendix B)
The Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner, pastor of the
host church, welcomed everyone to Woodhaven and gave thanks for the
local planning team. Greetings from Grace Presbytery, in whose bounds
the Synod was meeting, were brought by the Rev. Randy Lee, Associate
General Presbyter.
Stated Clerk Pense introduced guests (list in
Appendix B). It was moved, seconded, and passed that all
minister members of other governing bodies be seated as corresponding
members with voice (G-12.0203).
Greetings from the Synod of the Sun were brought by
the Rev. Shane Whisler, Associate Executive. Synod Executive Judy
Fletcher brought her greetings via video-tape because her voice is not
strong enough to speak in public, after having been silent for eight
weeks. Associate Executive the Rev. Lemuel Garcia also spoke and gave a
report on the Synod’s increased cooperative work with synods in northern
Mexico.
Phyllis Roush, President of Synod Presbyterian
Women, gave an end-of-tenure report and was presented a certificate of
thanksgiving and appreciation for her leadership.
Shane Whisler introduced the Rev. Timothy
Davenport-Herbst, Goodland Academy board member (and commissioner from
Grace Presbytery), and David C. Adams, Goodland Academy Director of
Church Relations. Mr. Adams spoke on the history of the Academy and its
current work in educational ministry. The Rev. Jane Huffstetler,
commissioner from Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery in whose bounds Goodland
Academy is located, offered prayer. The covenant was signed by Synod
Moderator Alan Ford and by Mr. Adams.
The Synod then moved to the Sanctuary of the church
for worship, a Service of Word and Sacrament. Liturgists and presiders
at the Table were the host pastor, the Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner,
and Associate Synod Executive, the Rev. Lemuel Garcia. The Rev. Sallie
S. Watson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Bonham, preached.
“Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing” was based on Romans 12:1-21.
The offering was dedicated to the Goodland Academy. (Appendix C)
Following worship, the Synod was in recess.
On Friday, April 27, 2007, commissioners met in
division meetings in the morning and afternoon. During the morning,
members of the MultiCultural Division were deployed among the other
divisions.
On Friday evening, commissioners and guests met for
continued work on “The Next Right Answer,” as the future ministry of the
Synod is considered. The Rev. Janne Brumbelow, Associate Executive in
Palo Duro Presbytery, led the process.
Then the Synod was in recess.
The Synod reconvened at 8:50 a.m. on Saturday,
April 28, 2007. Moderator Ford read 1 Corinthians 13 and offered
prayer.
Gratitude was expressed to all of the folks from
Woodhaven Presbyterian who have been incredibly gracious hosts during
the Synod’s stay.
At the suggestion of Stated Clerk Pense, it was
moved, seconded, and passed that the following elders also be seated
as corresponding members with voice according to the provisions of
G-12.0203: Sara Jean Jackson, Debbie Batisse Kleinman, LaNoir Dawkins
Leeper, and Marion Calvert.
Judye Pistole gave the HIGHER EDUCATION DIVISION
report (Appendix D). The Division brought this motion:
The Higher Education Division moved
that a permanent endowment fund
with appropriated spending
guidelines by established with the Texas Presby-
terian Foundation for the
sole benefit of the Higher Education Division or its
successor and further move
that any money received from the final disposition
of funds available from
sale of campus ministry property or other campus
ministry funds be
designated and deposited in this endowment fund.
It was moved and seconded that this motion
be refer to the Next Right Steps process. The motion failed. It
was moved seconded and passed that the motion be amended by the
removal of the last phrase so that the motion ends with “… from sale of
campus ministry property.” Then the main motion as amended was
approved.
The Division’s second motion, requesting approval
for campus ministers and college chaplains to celebrate the Sacrament of
the Lord’s Supper, was approved.
Jeff Cranton gave the MULTICULTURAL MINISTRIES
DIVISION report (Appendix E). All motions presented for approval
were approved.
Tim Davenport-Herbst gave the RESOURCING
PRESBYTERIES DIVISION report (Appendix F). All motions presented
by the division were approved.
Meg Garver gave the COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION report
(Appendix G). There were no action items. Garver reminded the body
that the Synod of the Sun is one of only two synods that still print a
newspaper.
Sara Jean Jackson (commissioner in nomination in
New Covenant Presbytery) gave the OPERATIONS DIVISION report (Appendix
H).
The division moved that the Synod approve
the recommendation of the Division regarding the review of the Synod’s
insurance, noting that it was found to be very adequate. It was
approved.
The division moved that the Synod authorize
Synod Executive Judy Fletcher to sign a letter of engagement with a new
auditor, such firm to be selected by an ad hoc audit committee. It was
approved.
It was moved, seconded, and approved, that
the division’s review of the 2006 audit be received by the plenary.
It was also moved, seconded, and approved,
that the Synod actually approve the new covenant between the Synod and
Goodland Academy.
Alan Ford offered prayer for the work of all the
divisions.
Christianne Chase gave the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
report (Appendix I).
The Committee moved that Carlos Lopez
(minister/Mission) and Thomas Freeland (elder/South Louisiana) be
elected to the Synod Nominating Committee in the classes of ‘08 and ‘09
respectively. There were no nominations from the floor. They were
elected.
The Committee moved that the piece of
property in Hammond, Louisiana ( Tangipahoa Parish) currently owned by
the Synod of the Sun, be given to the First Presbyterian Church in
Hammond for use in their college ministry, and that the trustees of the
Synod be authorized to sign necessary documents to effect this
transfer. It was approved. It also was moved that in the
event that the property is sold before May 2012, then money in the
amount of the appraised value as of May 2007 be returned to the Synod.
It was approved.
It was moved by the Committee that a
resolution of thanksgiving for the life of Helen Walton be approved
(Appendix J). The motion carried.
The Committee distributed a review of the work of
the Administrative Review Committee that was appointed by the Executive
Committee in December 2006 to review the action of the Presbytery of
South Louisiana regarding the property of the First Presbyterian Church,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The full text of the report is in
Appendix K.
The four motions were presented to the body as a unit. They were
approved.
Marion Calvert presented the report of the SYNOD
NOMINATING COMMITTEE (Appendix L). Persons were nominated by the
Committee, presented for approval (having been nominated
by an agency or institution), and presented for confirmation
(having been elected by agency). There were no nominations from the
floor. All persons were elected.
Mary Carter announced that there was no report from
the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE.
Alan Ford offered prayer for the work of these
committees.
SYNOD EXECUTIVE Judy Fletcher gave a brief report,
particularly giving thanks for the work of Presbyterian Disaster Relief
folks on the Campus of Virginia Tech (in the aftermath of the shootings)
and in Tulia and Cactus, TX, in the aftermath of bad storms.
STATED CLERK Elizabeth Johnson Pense presented her
report (Appendix M).
The Alternate Plans for Determining Competency
submitted by Indian Nations and Palo Duro Presbyteries were approved.
(Appendices N and O).
Authorization was given for the celebration
of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper at Synod sponsored events.
The review of presbytery minutes, done in peer
review by nine of the eleven presbytery clerks on April 18, 2007, was
approved as submitted (Appendix P).
Moderator Ford gave thanks for the hard work of all
participants in this meeting and called on the Rev. Guinn Blackwell-Eagleson
to offer the closing prayer.
The meeting was adjourned.
The Synod will meet in adjourned meeting on Friday,
October 26, 2007.
These minutes were reviewed by commissioners Alan
Ford and Meg Garver on May 21, 2007, and approved.
Elizabeth Johnson Pense
Stated Clerk
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Minutes of the 