Moderator Report
May 2025
School’s out. VBS season is upon us. That is followed
shortly by camps. Hello Summer!
Seek Justice. Love
Mercy. Walk Humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Our standing committees have not met for some time. They
have atrophied to the point that they no longer exist, but we have had some activity
in these functional areas.
Missions.
Stott-Walace info posted to Read Board. Inclusion in the agenda
upon request.
Worship.
It was good to have a special for Resurrection Sunday.
Thanks to Lori Schneberger for continuing the student-led Baccalaureate service
this year.
Education
Rodney Chilton is our Sunday School Superintendent. He will
provide a quarterly report to the session.
Building and Grounds.
I cleaned out the paint from the storeroom, used what I
could, and removed the residue from the floor as much as possible (without
stripping too much of the original floor paint with that which had leaked and
hardened). It may not be pretty, but it’s not a fire hazard anymore. Derrick will
submit an estimate on what to do next regarding lights, and thinks the entire front
door framing might need replacing. I upgraded the signage on the front doors.
In the all things
considered category, the manse has recurring plumbing problems, primarily
attributable to roots. We average about one plumber call per year. There is an ongoing
list of items that need to be repaired.
I have been spraying around the building with some limited
success. I’m trying to keep all vegetation away from the AC units and the rock
bed next to the Yaupon Hollies. I would like to do something with the north
side of the building, which is not highly visible but frequently gets overgrown
with weeds.
Recommendation 1: That Tom be allowed to experiment with
landscaping on the north side of the building.
Fellowship
The meal for the Dorman’s was very much appreciated. The
next 5th Sunday is 29 June 2025.
Other
Finances. We have expended our budget for funeral expenses.
Our Presbytery expense (travel and hosting) is about exhausted (guestimate—I am
not the FA). Arlington was expensive but
really added only about $100 over the norm. An estimate of the required hosting
funds must be determined (estimated and compared with the balance remaining) to
see if a budget amendment is needed or we will host Presbytery on the cheap. If you recall, we disbursed the Backpack
Ministry funds at the beginning of the fiscal year, so these funds are fully
expended as well. Also, the Jr/Sr youth and K-6 Youth Expense (stipends) have
not been disbursed this year (about $1000). Another $2000 is due to be disbursed for camp
and up to $500 for VBS. In addition to the recurring big-ticket expenses—insurance
($2325 – 4X per year—the next payment should be on April’s report) and OUO ($2100
2X per year—the next payment is scheduled for September), we are due another cumulative
disbursement of about $3500. For the line items noted.
Budget. I suggest that the session define the budget
authority for this body. I imagine that with the variety of backgrounds and
experiences on the session, no two people have quite the same perception. This
is more important when the budget is tight, but it will serve sessions going
forward regardless of fiscal standing. I have provided budget guidelines from
various sources and will make this a June agenda item only if the session
requests. I will provide no budget information/worksheets for the Elder Retreat.
Fiscal Discipline and Accountability. So far, there
have been no responses to my posts about another person to help with finances.
I added some verbiage to my latest request seeking the tech-savvy. This is a double-edged
sword as to whether it increases interest or scares off possible candidates,
but it is surely a need in our age.
Pastor Turnover. It’s time to talk search committee
structure and when to start building it. The POA&M targets 1 July 2025. It’s
important that before these people are actually put to work, the session
needs to be able to articulate in one accord the parameters of the committee as
well as the who we are and who we are looking for parts that you
have already begun. Somewhere in the planning and discussion, you need to
discuss Danny Rush. We agreed that he would not be pressured into stepping into
something that he may or may not be ready for, but surely there needs to be a conversation
among the session elders, and at some point with Danny. Danny goes to resident
PAS this summer and should better grasp where he stands in relation to his
studies and calling. I would think that by the Elder Retreat, he might have a
realistic idea of what he is up for beyond his studies.
In the alternate course of action mode, you may (or may not)
want to consider the Baptist approach (not ubiquitous by any means) to filling
the pulpit after I am gone. Sometimes they are in no hurry so that they can
build their war chest, that is to save money for a while by not having a
pastor to pay. Food for thought.
As you continue discussing expectations of the next pastor,
you may want to consider whether these areas that surfaced in last year’s
discussions are expected of your next pastor. Remember that regardless of
whether the pastor is an employee or an independent contractor, a meeting of
the minds (agreement) at the front end of the process generally produces
the best fruit and least conflict.
These may not need to be in the announcement, but the search
committee should be conversant with these. You don’t want to fly someone out
here only to find out afterwards that one or more of these would eliminate us
from their consideration.
Also, I have included in your hard copy packages the 2024
Clergy Compensation Survey.
Bulletins – Sourcing,
preparation, printing, and distribution
Liturgists – Scheduling
and promulgation
Prayer
List
– Compilation and promulgation
Website – Create and manage
a website (FB page) for Burns Flat CPC
Some
Caretaker Duties
·
Sunday Open and Close (Usually 8 am until all
leave [normally by 12:30 pm]).
·
Church Building Key Manager
·
Oversee Janitorial contract, supply requests, and
performance
·
Property Manager for the Manse.
For all the thinking and planning involved, you must trust
that God will send us who we need. We also need to do our part. Pray, trust, do
your part, and trust some more. It benefits us as much as it does the process.
Disposition of Old Copier and Supplies. The old was
discarded, and the toner cartridges were taken to Christi’s Thrift Shop.
Evangelism. We have approximately 200 GOD LOVES YOU –
LOVE ONE ANOTHER WRISTBANDS on hand. We
did not budget for any this year. I will likely place a personal order later
this year. If you think we need any for the remainder of the year, adding them
to my order would be advantageous to both (once you decide what, if anything,
to budget). There is a little discount for volume.
QR Code Link to Online Giving. I still need the URL to our specific part of
the Subsplash website. This is for the online postings. The QR code for printed
materials is working fine.
Trustees. Trustees generally work with matters of
real property. While the Presbytery is the owner of the property (some rulings
say joint owner with the local congregation, but the traditional thinking is
that ownership of real property and ordination are the exclusive domain of the
Presbytery). The trustees act as executors of the estate in many aspects. We
should at least have something in writing as to who they are. This is an agenda
item.
The next meeting is scheduled (by our 3rd
Sunday model) for 15 June 2025. That’s Father’s Day. We have met on Father’s
Day before. If we change it, we should go later in the month rather than sooner,
as sooner will be right on the heels of VBS—agenda item.
Action between meetings. Based on sporadic response
to electronic requests for the session to approve/deny something between
meetings, I will word the requests I receive going forward as “Absent
objections…” This is the silence is consent mode and should address most
situations. I have done this when the request originates with me and the answer
is predictable. I will apply it across the board in the future. Should the
matter require significant discussion, I will call a meeting of the session in
ample time to deal with the request.
Tom Personal, I will be away on 25 May 2025. Please
remember the Gideons in your pulpit
supply listings.
Projects
in Search of a Champion.
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