Presbytery of West Jersey Meeting Highlights – January 21, 2003
Collingswood, New Jersey

CELEBRATIONS: Three Presbytery staff are celebrating anniversaries: Ardie Midgette, Associate to the Stated Clerk, 25 years; Judy Platt, Director of the Resource Center, 15 years; Beth Thomas, Bookkeeper, 10 years. Committee on Preparation for Ministry certified Mark Gaskill’s readiness to begin ministry.

EXECUTIVE PRESBYTER: Rev. David Cassie spoke of the Redevelopment Conference attended by 10 representatives of the Presbytery. Participants learned how to transform congregations into mission-driven, gospel-driven, love-and-justice-driven centers of life.

PARITY REPORT: Presbytery approved the following churches to elect one additional elder commissioner to all meetings of the Presbytery of West Jersey between February 1, 2003 and January 31, 2004: Greenwich, Grenloch, Haddon Heights First, Haddon Heights Bethany, Hammonton, Janvier, Marlton, Mays Landing, Merchantville, Millville and Mount Laurel.

PRESBYTERY WORSHIP: Presbytery amended Standing Rule 214 to add 5 extra minutes for worship when communion is not celebrated and 10 when it is.

IRS: Allowable rate for mileage reimbursement has been decreased by the IRS to $.36.

COUNCIL: Established a Special Committee of Council for New Church Development. Adopted guidelines for the use of Program Funds. [Full text will be in the full minutes of the Presbytery.]

TASK FORCE ON CUBA PARTNERSHIP: The thirteen people going to Cuba in March were introduced and commissioned.

ELECTED: General Assembly Commissioners - Rev. Deborah Brincivalli, Rev. Patrick Orazi, Elder Annette Emerson (Moorestown) and Elder David Large (Marlton); and alternates - Rev. Bruce Gillette, Rev. Alison Bucklin, Elder Rosetta "Frankie" Johnson (AC Jethro) and Elder Durant Charleroy (Willingboro). • Synod Commissioners - Rev. Deborah Oosterbaan and Elder Samuel Henderson (Carneys Point); and alternates - Rev. Delrio Ligons Berry and Elder Cricket Cohen (AC First). • Elder Edward Behrens (Cherry Hill) to the Interpretation and Stewardship Committee, Class of 2004.
• Youth Advisory Delegates: General Assembly Jaime Donahue (Blackwood); Synod Elizabeth Wasik (Haddonfield).

EVANGELISM/CHURCH GROWTH COMMITTEE: 149 people attended the Evangelism Fair.

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY REPORT:
• Rev. Philip Olson was appointed stated supply of St. Paul’s Church in Laurel Springs, while Rev. David Wenker is on sabbatical leave for nine months.
• Rev. Julia Pizzuto-Pomaco, associate pastor of the Merchantville Church, was called as pastor of Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church of Daretown
• Rev. Debra May Cerra was called to Calvary Presbyterian Church of Riverton.

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS: Received from the Treasurer for the Administrative and Mission Budgets for 2001 as well as the Board of Trustees and the Third Century Fund. 100% of per capita for 2002 was paid.

PEOPLE
• Rev. J. Robert Watt, a retired member of Presbytery, died November 19. Ordained in 1944, he was a member of the Presbytery since 1947.

Installations, etc.:
• Rev. Joel Buckwalter as Pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Cinnaminson, September 22.
• Rev. Kenneth Larter as Pastor of the Deerfield Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Street, October 20.
• Rev. Richard H. Herman as Associate Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown, October 27.
• Rev. Robert Higgs, Executive Director of the Atlantic City Presbyterian Mission Council was recognized in his new position in a service at the end of September in the Jethro Memorial Church.

Presbytery Actions Related to pastors, etc.:
• Dissolved the pastoral relationship between Rev. David Poland and the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Salem so that he may accept a call as Pastor of the Gwynedd Square Presbyterian Church of Lansdale, PA.
• Received the Rev. Bryan Bass-Rile, our hunger action enabler, as a member of this Presbytery from the United Methodist Church.
• Approved Rev. Helen Dekker as the Interim Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Haddon Heights. 16 ministers and elders dissented from this action.
• Approved Charles and Diana Lyles to be Commissioned Lay Pastors to the Victory First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City.

Other People Items:
• At his own request Graham F. VanKeuren has been removed from the roll of candidates for the ordination of Word and Sacrament.
• Rev. Phil Olsen spoke to the Presbytery in conjunction with the Evangelism Fair.
• Presbytery applauded the work of our readers in the cooperative ordination exams: Rev. MaryJane Inman, Interim Associate Pastor of Trinity Church, Cherry Hill; Elder Kathleen Stackhouse, Presbyterian Church of Woodbury; and Elder Robert Webb, First Presbyterian of Pitman and Presbytery Treasurer.
• Presbytery elected the following to the committee and the class: Christian Education 2004 Rev. Nidia Fernandez, Chaplain Ancora - Council 2003 Rev. R.Nelson Ralls, Retired - Committee on Ministry 2004 Rev. John Sheldon, Ocean City, 2004 Elder Thomas Godonis, Moorestown - Self-Development of People 2003 Elder Paul Sudhaker Pillay, Atlantic City Chelsea.
• Lissette Gonzalez, spoke of the work that she will be doing in rural Honduras. Contact the Moorestown Church if you are interested in supporting her financially.

COUNCIL REPORT:
• Approved $1400 in program funds so the Treasurer may attend the 2002 Church-wide Fiscal Officers Meeting in Louisville in November.

• Approved up to $2030 in Programs for vouchered expenses for the Evangelism Fair, Nov. 19.

• Council voted to have Presbytery pay the Synod per capita in full by January 31 to take advantage of the discount of 2.5%. Presbytery equity funds will be used to pay the $55,685.37 per capita; Presbytery equity will be reimbursed as the per capita comes in to the Presbytery.

PRESBYTERY ACTIONS
• Endorsed the re-financing of the Friendship Community church loan from the PC(USA) Investment & Loan Program in order to possibly reduce the interest from the current 7.5% to possibly 6.25% and to be the guarantor of the loan, which is required.

• Approved the request of the Bunker Hill Church to sell its manse located at 605 Hurffville-Cross Keys Road in Sewell for $120,000, minus $10,000 in consideration of needed repairs for a new roof, windows and doors and the savings of any realtor commission. The proceeds will be invested with interest and dividends used to provide a housing allowance for the pastor.

• Approved the terms of the purchase by St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Laurel Springs for the building and lot at 419 Park Avenue in Laurel Springs for $110,000 with a mortgage in the amount of up to $88,000 for a term of up to 20 years at not more than 7.5%.

• Endorsed the application of Iglesia Presbiteriana Bet'el, Vineland to the Synod of the Northeast for a loan of up to $10,000 to complete their kitchen construction.

• Canceled student loans from the West Jersey Academy Fund of the following recipients who have served the church as ordained ministers for five years or more: The Rev. Pamela Szurek ($1,000) The Rev. Janet Abel ($1,200); The Rev. Karen Nesmith ($1,000) The Rev. Mikel Pugh ($500)

• Adopted the Policy on Student/Clergy Debt and to make it available to first-call pastors in order to qualify for debt assistance from the Board of Pensions.

• Received a report of the Commissioners to the October meeting of the Synod Assembly.

ATTEST:
Rev. John T. Ash, III
Stated Clerk
Presbytery of West Jersey

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