Burns Flat Cumberland Presbyterian Church: Moderator Report for August 2025 (Elder Retreat)

Moderator Report

August 2025

Unlike previous reports for the elder retreat, which summarized the previous month's business and activity, I have kept this report lean and linked earlier reports for more context.

Seek Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Missions. NTR

Worship. NTR

Education. NTR

Building and Grounds. NTR

Fellowship. The last two 5^th Sunday Fellowship Meals are cancelled. Our fellowship time will be focused on the services and meals with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Other

Finances. The session is not pursuing cost reductions for our insurance or phone bills. The quote from Dobson for 1 phone line and 500 Mbps internet is on the read board.

Priorities. Only two elders completed the priority exercise. As we were flirting with the law of small numbers, if most participated, the minimal response received voids any collective value that might have been achieved other than the individual thinking invested by those who did the exercise.

VBS Wrap-up. Decorations and materials need to be taken down and stored or discarded following backpack issue.

Elders, please continue your prayer and meditation regarding your nominations for our next elders to serve on the session or reducing the size of the session. Here are the responses so far concerning willingness to serve.

Ethan Delp Yes

Danny Rush Not at this time

Rick Reeves No response

Kathy Stegall No response

Larry Walker No response

Rodney Chilton As a last resort

Carolyn Murray No response

Tom Personal. I expect to cease my financial transactions on behalf of the church on/about 1 December 2025. I’m asking someone to take over the Manse Management on 1 December 2025. I expect that Presbytery (BOM) will appoint me as the Burns Flat CPC session moderator once I’m gone. Logistically, it makes sense; however, I intend to be available for questions and leave the moderating to the pro tempore most of the time.

I also expect 2025 to be the last year that Sharman does Angel Gifts or F4.

Pastor Turnover.

Elder of the Month (EOM). We did this when Duawn was here, but subsequently expanded the liturgist pool, and elder leadership duties atrophied. The transition time is a good time to revive it, at least for 3 months until the session finds something better.

The EOM will serve as liturgist or arrange for liturgists, open and close the building on Sundays, Wednesdays, and other days in which there is something offered to the entire body. The EOM will check doors and thermostats, building cleanliness, and items in need of repair or maintenance (e.g. toilets, ice machine, freezer).

The EOM should coordinate with the pulpit supply (or new pastor) for Sunday services. I recommend that during the month of service, the EOM attend the session meetings regardless of whether they currently serve in that capacity. While the session still governs, the EOM list for the first 3 months is drawn from our most experienced elders. Not all may be serving on the session.

January – Phil Delp

February – Rick Reeves

March – Rodney Chilton

Turnover Confirmation Brief/Meeting. I suggest a Transition Confirmation Session Meeting on 28 December 2025. It is only a confirmation brief if the agenda has been explored and possibly addressed in advance. Agenda Items might include:

o Moderator Pro Tempore

o Insurance POC

o Pulpit Supplies (if the new pastor is not on board)

o Answering Machine Message Updates

o Notification Systems (Facebook, Website, Texts)

o Confirm EOM or adopt another system

o Mail and Routing

o Informing External Agencies/Groups of changes (AA, Election Board, school, etc.)

o Renter/Manse Management

o Janitor Oversight

o Bulletin Supply and Preparation

o Fire Safety Compliance and Inspection