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SYNOD OF THE SUN – ADJOURNED MEETING
October 26, 2007 – Irving, Texas
The Synod of the Sun met
in Adjourned Meeting on Friday, October 26, 2007, at the
Presbyterian Mission Center in Irving, Texas. Moderator Alan
Ford called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
Mr. Ford declared that a
quorum was present (attendance in
Appendix A).
Synod Executive Judy R.
Fletcher announced that Associate Executive Lemuel Garcia would
be leaving early in 2008 to accept the call of Salem Presbytery
to serve as an Associate Executive.
Elizabeth Johnson Pense,
Synod Stated Clerk, led the assembly in OPENING WORSHIP,
including a Call to Worship, the singing of a hymn, a prayer of
confession and assurance of pardon. Following the sharing of
peace, the assembly began its business. (Appendix B)
The docket was presented
by the Stated Clerk who recommended that the Personnel Committee
report be added as the first item in the 12:45 business
session. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the
docket as amended be approved. (Appendix C).
Suggestions from the
Executive Committee for processes for the day’s work were
presented by the Stated Clerk. It was moved, seconded, and
passed that information item #1 in the report of the
Executive Committee be formally approved and used during the
meeting. (Executive Committee report in
Appendix D)
These guidelines are as
follows:
---ordinarily the moderator will call on commissioners to speak
before corresponding members, staff, and others
---persons shall speak only once on each issue
---the moderator will try to alternate persons speaking in favor
of an issue
with those speaking in opposition
---persons speaking will introduce themselves and address the
moderator
---speeches will be limited to two minutes
Christianne Chase
moved on behalf of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE action item #1 in
the Executive Committee report: The Executive Committee
recommends that the Synod approve the first recommendation in
Draft #7 of the new missional design, lines 174-175.
(7th draft in
Appendix E).
Mort McPhail (elder/New
Covenant) led the assembly in a review of the contents of the
proposed missional design (7th draft).
Then Moderator Ford led
the assembly in a series of amendments.
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that “multicultural processes” be added
in line 102 so that the sentence in the middle of the line would
read “Current Synod multicultural processes, ministries and
partnerships.”
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that “multicultural groups” be added in
line 117 so that the line would read “Synod, its presbyteries,
its institutions and multicultural groups and serve as vital
link to the larger.”
It was moved that
the word “ministries” be substituted for “mission” in line 100
and wherever else it appears in the design. The motion died
for lack of a second.
It was moved to
delete “may continue” in line 103 and add “will continue in
the transition.” The motion died for lack of a second.
Then the assembly voted
on the main motion as amended (action item #1 from the Executive
Committee). The motion passed.
Christianne Chase then
moved action item #2 from the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
report: The Executive Committee recommends that the Synod
approve recommendations two through seven in Draft #7 of the new
missional design, lines 177-198.
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that “Divisions,” which is the proper
description of section 3 in the current bylaws, be substituted
for “Meetings.”
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that “diverse” be added in line 180 so
that the line would read “a diverse working group be
appointed.”
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that in lines 197-198 the following be
substituted for the whole: “that presbyteries develop effective
channels for communication between synod commissioners and
presbyteries.”
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that “each presbytery elect one elder
and one minister in the class of 2008 and one elder and one
minister in the class of 2009,” be added to line 178.
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that “with co-opted members to ensure
diversity” be added in lines 194 so that the line would read
“the 2007 Synod Executive Committee continue to serve with
co-opted members to ensure diversity, as needed, throughout.”
Then the assembly voted
on Executive Committee action item #2 as amended. The motion
passed.
The final draft of the
new missional design is in
Appendix F.
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that the following statement written by
the Joint Ethnic Councils be affirmed by the Synod:
“Therefore, be it resolved that the Synod of the Sun reaffirm
its commitment to multicultural ministries by continuing funding
of multicultural ministries in the Synod of the Sun.” (full text
of the resolution in
Appendix G).
Tim Davenport-Herbst
offered the prayer at lunch.
During lunch
commissioners met in divisions.
The assembly reconvened
at 1:45 p.m.
Shelby Miller presented
the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE report, and moved on behalf of
the committee a 3% raise for all Synod staff. The motion was
approved. (Appendix H)
Sara Jean Jackson
presented the proposed 2008 BUDGET on behalf of the Operations
Division and moved its approval. The motion passed.
(Appendix I)
STATED CLERK Elizabeth
Johnson Pense presented her report (Appendix J).
The NOMINATING COMMITTEE
report was presented by Moderator Marion Calvert. It was
moved, seconded, and passed that all persons nominated be
elected by the synod, and that all persons presented for
confirmation be confirmed. There were no nominations from the
floor. (Appendix K)
The report of the
COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATION was presented (Appendix L).
Christianne Chase gave
the remaining portions of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE report
(Appendix D). She presented information items #2, #3, and #4.
She moved on behalf of the committee action items #4, #5,
and #6. The motion passed.
The commissioners
recessed to division meetings.
The plenary reconvened
at 2:45.
Commissioners and others
were invited to share expressions of thanksgiving and gratitude
for the work of the day. Alan Ford offered prayer.
On behalf of the
Operations Division, Sara Jean Jackson moved that the
COVENANT between the Synod and the Pan American School be
approved. James Matthews, President of the school, spoke. The
motion passed. The covenant was signed by President
Matthews and Moderator Ford. (Appendix M)
Jose Luis Casal
announced the opportunity of multicultural training to be held
in El Paso, Texas in November 2007.
On behalf of Resourcing
Presbyteries Division, Shelby Miller announced the most recent
MISSION INITIATIVE GRANTS. She also announced that one more
round of grants would be awarded before the new missional design
takes effect. Guidelines are on the Synod’s website. Deadline
is in March 2008 for awarding in April 2008. (Appendix N)
Elizabeth Johnson Pense
offered expressions of gratitude for Alan Ford as his term as
moderator of the synod ends at the end of 2007. Judy Fletcher
presented a gift. The body rose in gratitude.
Meg Garver, on behalf of
the Executive Committee, moved EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE action
item #7: The Executive Committee recommends that the Synod elect
Moderator-in-Nomination Christianne Chase, elder from Cimarron
Presbytery, as Moderator of the Synod of the Sun, for a two-year
term beginning on January 1, 2008, and that she be installed
during the October 2007 meeting. The motion passed.
Out-going Moderator Ford
asked Ms. Chase if she were willing to accept this office. She
answered in the affirmation and was presented the Synod stole
and Moderator’s cross. Barbara Ware (elder/Cimarron) offered a
charge. David Duncan (minister/Mission) offered prayer.
Christianne Chase
moved, on behalf of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, action item #8:
The Executive Committee recommends that the Synod elect as
Moderator-in-Nomination the Rev. Jane Huffstetler, minister from
Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery, for a two year term, beginning on
January 1, 2008. The motion passed.
SYNOD EXECUTIVE Judy R.
Fletcher gave a brief report.
It was moved,
seconded, and passed that expressions of gratitude be
extended to Fletcher, other staff, the writing team for the new
missional design, and the Executive Committee.
Stated Clerk Pense led
the assembly in CLOSING WORSHIP, including scripture, prayers,
and singing. (Appendix B).
The Adjourned Meeting
concluded at 3:35 p.m.
Elizabeth Johnson Pense
Stated Clerk
These minutes were
read and approved on November 13, 2007, by Alan Ford and Meg
Garver, elected by the Executive Committee for this
responsibility in 2008.
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Adjourned Meeting of the
