Moderator Report
March 2025
One fourth of 2025 is in the books. That went by fast! We
are observing Lent, gearing up for Palms Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, and Red
River Presbytery.
Seek Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
Our standing committees have not met, but we have had
activity in these functional areas.
Missions.
NTR. Note place in bulletin and announced.
Worship.
We should learn Whosoever Will. It would be a good
selection for our Presbytery worship.
Education
NTR
Building and Grounds.
There is an assortment of B&G items in the B&G
Mailbox that has been there for a while.
Food for thought.
·
We should make a few minor repairs in the
sanctuary before Presbytery (does not have to be the long-term solution).
·
Pastor turnover might be a good time to replace
the desk and workstation. The next pastor will also need a CPU & monitor or
notebook. The office printer is over 15 years old and is surely due for
replacement but it has given us a good run. I would advise budgeting for these things for
the FY 26 budget and then discussing what is needed with the next pastor.
Fellowship
We had a small but enjoyable fellowship meal on 2 February
2025. We need to decide what to do with fellowship meals going forward.
Other
May is Membership Month. Let’s coordinate to invite
those who attend regularly or with more than the twice a year frequency to join
the congregation. I am not talking about Tom making an announcement several
times and hoping for the best. Let’s plan this work and work our plan.
Pastor Turnover. CIF Goal is 1 April; 2025. What you
want in your next pastor goal is 1 May 2025. These are not dates to turn in the
forms but to get the nuts and bolts established.
Sometime after Spring Presbytery, we (the session) should
send a letter to the BOM and Committee on Clergy, Theology, and Social Concerns
requesting to dissolve the pastoral relationship with me and approve one in which
I am designated as Stated Supply. This keeps us in line with not searching for
a pastor while such a relationship already exists. This would go to Presbytery
in September for approval.
Since the last time you called a pastor, the Standing Rules
of Red River Presbytery have been updated to require the Board of Missions to
have a liaison during your search and for the BOM to review the pastoral
contract. Note: The rules do not say
approve. The BOM does not have approval authority of who the church calls, but
they are the committee assigned to recommend the minister receiving the call to
Presbytery.
Therefore, I have enclosed a copy of a contract we reviewed
at this month’s BOM meeting. I redacted only the pastor's name.
I suggest that each session member drafts their own verbiage
before meeting collectively to arrive at a corporate synopsis. I would also
suggest that the session have a “Define who we are” meeting following the
scheduled session meeting.
I am on the BOM and can be your liason.
Annual Report. Submitted.
Minutes. Submitted.
Finances.
QR Code Link to Online Giving. Are we there yet? This
item was moved to the report section of the agenda.
Projects
in Search of a Champion.
