97-41 CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING PRAYER
The seventy-fifth stated meeting of Gulf Coast Presbytery was called to order at 9:30 am (CST) on Tuesday, October 14, 1997, by the Moderator, TE Brian Johnston. Mr. Johnston led in the opening prayer.
97-42 WORSHIP SERVICE
Presbytery sang the hymn, "Blessed Be the Name." TE Arnie Maves preached a message from Galatians 1:1-9 calling us to proclaim the gospel of Christ only.
97-43 ROLL CALL AND DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
A quorum was declared to be present with the following commissioners in attendance:
CHURCHES
TEACHING ELDERS
RULING ELDERS
Chattahoochee Christ, Lynn Haven Brian Johnston Christ, Mobile Steve Wallace Jim DeCosmo Concord Archie Moore Gerald Sovereign Covenant Bob Hayes Richard Post Wesley Holland Cornerstone Eastern Shore Chip Fellers Fairfield Paul Frick Roland Jones Faith David Gilleran First, Atmore Steve Jennings First, Niceville Michael Swain Vincent Kane Dennis Shackelford Robert Jones First, Panama City Walter Cathey Grace, Gulf Shores Rick Fennig Paul Alred Phillip Prebeck Grace, Madison Loxley Charles Gwin Albert Keuler McIlwain Chuck DeBardeleben William Harris New Philadelphia Vacant James Gilbert Robert Smith Northeast Don Dunkerley Panama City Korean Sam Suk Yang Choe Sun-Ho Pinewoods John Findlay Frank Drew Danny Shuffield Safe Harbor Warrington Bob Hornick Jim Hansen Howard Moss Westminster, Ft Walton Bill Tyson Ralph Ruyle John Hart Westminster, Milton Carl Pearson Obie Willis Westminster, Tallahassee Wildwood Robert Evans Others: TE Steven Bradford (wc), TE Robert Gardner (Chaplain, USAF), TE Arnie Maves, TE Doug Miller (PEF), TE Mickey Schneider (Trinity Presbytertian Church, Independent), TE Bruce Sinclair (New Song Mission), TE Charles Sledge (MTW), Eldon Stanton (Waterfront Mission), TE G. D. Roberts, Cornerstone PC (Independent)
Excused: TEs J. Cavanah, II, C. Gearhart, J. Grider, M. Giffith, T. Hughes, J. Riggs, J. Watson and RE Commissioners from Faith, Robertsdale and Grace, Madison.
Absent: TEs D. Box, J. Craft, J. Hopwood RE Commissioners from Chattahoochee, Christ, Lynn Haven; First, Atmore; First, Panama City; Northeast; Safe Harbor, Westminster, Tallahassee; Wildwood
Visitors: Jimmy Davis (McIlwain), Heath Kahlbau (Eastern Shore PCA), Bryce King (PEF), TE Ken Matlack (SW Florida Presbytery)
97-44 APPROVAL OF PRINTED MINUTES
Minutes from the 74th stated meeting on May 10, 1997 were approved.
97-45 COMMUNICATIONS
1. Minutes from the commission to ordain Jason Riggs, found in order and printed in the minutes; (Appendix A)
2. Minutes from the commission to ordain and install Dennis Shackelford, found in order and printed in the minutes; (Appendix B)
3. Letters from the Clerk of the New Philadelphia Presbyterian Church's congregation meeting and TE R. Wilding, requesting dissolution of pastoral relationship, referred to Ministers and Candidates;
4. Letter from TE R. Wilding requesting transfer to Central Florida Presbytery; referred to Ministers and Candidates;
5. Letter from TE Dennis Shackleford, notifying presbytery of his opposition to Social Security System and decision to request exemption, received as information.
6. Letter from the Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Florida (EPC), notifying presbytery of the dismissal of TE Frank Dole to Gulf Coast Presbytery, received as information;
7. Letter of application for candidacy from Mr. Henry Kahlbau, referred to the Examinations Committee;
8. Letter from the Session, Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church, commending Mr. Henry Kalhbau to Gulf Coast Presbytery, referred to the Examination Committee;
9. Letter from TE Robert Trainium requesting transfer to Susquehanna Valley Presbytery, referred to Ministers and Candidates Committee;
10. Letter from the Stated Clerk, Susquehanna Valley Presbytery, notifying presbytery of the reception of TE Robert Trainium pending his dismissal from Gulf Coast Presbytery, referred to Ministers and Candidates;
11. Letter from the Review of Presbytery Records Committee of the 25th General Assembly, notifying presbytery of the exceptions taken to its minutes of October 12, 1996, referred to the Executive Committee.
12. Requests for excused absences from TEs J. Cavanah, II, C. Gearhart, J. Grider, M. Griffith, T. Hughes, J. Riggs, J. Watson and RE Commissioners, Faith Presbyterian Church, Robertsdale, and Grace, Madison were granted.
97-46 ADOPTION OF DOCKET
The docket was approved as presented. (Appendix C)
97-47 INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS
Visitors were introduced to Presbytery
97-48 APPOINTMENT OF STANDING COMMITTEES
The Moderator appointed the following commissioners to serve on the Standing Committees of Presbytery:
Bills and Overtures:
RE William Harris
RE Gerald Sovereign
TE Bruce Sinclair
TE Steve WallaceResolution and Thanks:
RE Obie Willis
RE A. G. Keuler
TE Don Dunkerly
TE Doug Miller97-49 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
TE Robert Hornick presented the report to Presbytery. Recommendations B and C were adopted. (Appendix D) In addition, the following motions were unamiously adopted:
That Section 401 of the Standing Rules be set aside to allow TE Rick Fennig and RE Richard Post to be re-elected.
That Section 201 of the Standing rules set aside to allow GCP to meet on 2nd Tuesday in February 1998 (February 10, 1998).
97-50 EXAMINATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT
TE Bob Evans presented the Examinations Committee report. Mr. Evans presented Mr. Heath Kahlbau for reception as a candidate of presbytery. Mr. Evans noted that Mr. Kahlbau's application and the recommendation of the Session of the Eastern Shores Presbyterian Church were received in a timely manner.
Mr. Evans examined Mr. Kahlbau in the areas of Christian experience and call to the Gospel ministry. There were no questions from the floor. Presbytery voted to sustain the examination and to receive Mr. Kahlbau as a candidate for the Gospel ministry.
The Moderator read the questions from BCO 18-3 which were answered in the affirmative and charged Mr. Kahlbau from Philippians 4:6,7. The Moderator led in prayer for Mr. Kahlbau. Mr. Kahlbau's name was recorded in the rolls of GCP as a candidate for the Gospel ministry.
Mr. Evans reported that Mr. David Anderegg's examination before the committee was sustained and that he was approved for examination on the floor of presbytery. Presbytery voted to proceed with the examination.
Mr. Evans examined Mr. Anderegg in the area of theology. After questions from the floor this portion of the examination was sustained.
TE Michael Schneider examined Mr. Anderegg in the Sacraments. After questions from the floor this portion of the examination was sustained.
SPECIAL ORDER--11:40 AM--SMALL GROUP SHARING & PRAYER
Presbytery divided into small groups for sharing and prayer request. After a season of prayer the moderator led presbytery in a prayer of thanksgiving. Presbytery recessed for lunch at 12 Noon.
SPECIAL ORDER -- Lunch
97-50 EXAMINATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT (Continued)
Mr. Anderegg preached from 1 John 3:4-6 Family Resemblance on the moral test of our relationship with God. This portion of the examination was sustained.
TE Michael Schneider examined Mr. Anderegg in the area of English Bible. After questions from the floor, this portion of the examination was sustained.
TE Paul Frick examined Mr. Anderegg in the area of Church History and History of the PCA. There were no questions from the floor. This portion of the examination was sustained.
TE Paul Frick examined Mr. Anderegg in the area of Church Government. There were no questions from the floor. This portion of the examination was sustained.
The examination as a whole was sustained and Mr. Anderegg was approved for ordination.
TE W. Cathey prosecuted the call before presbytery. Presbytery approved the terms of the call and voted to place it in Mr. Anderegg accepted the call and it was placed in his hands. (Appendix E)
Presbytery appointed the following to a commission to ordain and install Mr. Anderegg on November 2, 1997 at 6:30 PM: TEs R. Evans, R. D. Shackleford and P. Frick, REs R. Post, Charles Burgess and Clark Whitehorn. Presbytery invited TE Robert Spears (Palmetto Presbytery) to participate in the commission. (Quorum 2 RE/2 TE)
Mr. Frick reported the committee had received a request from Jean-Baptiste Gueracaque (Independent Evangelist from South Florida) to be received into the Gulf Coast Presbytery as an teaching elder laboring out-of-bounds. The committee recommended that no action be taken on this request. (A motion to examine Mr. Gueracaque failed.)
97-51 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT
TE R. Fennig presented an oral report to presbytery. Presbytery received as information reports of the following: Men's Retreatand the WIC Fall Rallies. Presbytery approved the WIC annual budget as presented.
Mr. Finnig conveyed an invitation to the commissioners from Dianne Poff, PresWIC President to attend the 25th Annual Meeting of the Gulf Coast Presbyterial, January 24, at the McIlwain Memorial Presbyterian Church.
97-52 MINISTERS AND CANDIDATES COMMITTEE REPORT
TE W. Tyson presented the report to GCP. The following recommendations were adopted:
1. That the call to TE Alvin Phillips to serve as assistant pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Mobile be approved. TE Steve Wallace prosecuted the call and reported that Mr. Phillips was willing to accept the call. (Presbytery granted this exception to procedure because Mr. Phillips was unable to attend the meeting. Presbytery appointed the following as commission to install Mr. Phillips as assistant pastor on November 23, 1997 at 6 PM TEs B. Sinclair, S. Wallace and REs M. Campbell, J. Bentley, D. Buchanan, J. DeCosmo, B. Peterson and R. Thompson. (Quorum 2RE/2TE)
(Appendix F)
2. That the change in terms of the call to TE Joe Grider be approved (from assistant pastor to associate pastor) (Appendix H)
3.That presbytery acknowledge that Mr. David Anderegg's internship requirement was certified as completed by Central Georgia Presbytery.
4. That per his request, TE Paul McHenry be divested from office without censure according to BCO 38-2.
5. That TE Robert Trainum be transferred to Susquehenna Presbytery.
6. That presbytery approve the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between TE R. Wilding and the New Philadelphia Presbytery Church and that he be transferred to Central Florida Presbytery.
7. That Mr. Jimmy Davis be enrolled as an intern in Gulf Coast Presbytery effective May (Mr. Davis was examined and received as a candidate during the 74th SM. Presbytery failed to receive Mr. Davis as an intern.) The moderator read BCO 19-10 to Mr. Davis and he was approved for internship as follows:
At Cantonment, Florida on the fourteenth day of October, the Gulf Coast Presbytery, having received testimonials commending Mr. Jimmy Davis, having received him as a candidate for the ministry, has placed him under internship at his request in order to test his gifts for the holy ministry.
Then the whole matter was concluded with prayer by the moderator.
8. That TE Steve Bradford be permitted to remain on presbytery rolls w/o call until next stated meeting of presbytery.
Presbytery received items a-e as information. The report was received as a whole.
97-53 MISSION TO NORTH AMERICA COMMITTEE REPORT
TE R. Hayes presented the report to presbytery. Oral reports were given by TE B. Sinclair and TE H. Morris.
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were adopted. (Appendix H)
97-54 MISSION TO THE WORLD COMMITTEE REPORT
The report was presented by TE Archie Moore. Mr. Moore introduced TE D. Miller, who presented a report on his work with International Students at the University of South Alabama.
Reports were also received by Melinda Wallace (Co-Mission) and Bryce King (PEF in Mexico short-term work teams)
Mr. Moore reported on the recently held meeting of presbytery MTW chairman in Atlanta. He encouraged the churches of presbytery to meet the MTW askings so that the MTW administrative charge to missionaries might be reduced.
TE Doug Miller led in prayer to close the report.
97-55 ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE REPORT
RE Vincent Cain presented the report to presbytery.
Recommendations 1, 2, 3, & 4 were adopted. (Appendix I)
7-57 NEW BUSINESS
The following items were adopted.
1. Presbytery accepted the invitation of FPC, Niceville to host its 76th Stated Meeting, Tuesday, October 10, 1998.
2. Presbytery constituted the Executive Committee as a commission to elect nominees to the GAA Nominating Committee
3. That Presbytery direct the Ministers and Credentials Committee in a pastoral capacity to immediately look into the purported problems in the Panama City Korean Church; and further, that the Ministers and Candidates Committee be given the powers of a commission in this matter to take such action as may be required to restore and/or maintain the peace and harmony in the Panama City Korean Church; and further, that the Ministers and Credentials Committee report to Presbytery on this matter, even to calling a meeting of Presbytery should one be warranted. October 28 as a day of prayer for troubled churches within our presbytery.
97-58 REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE
RE Obie Willis presented the report to presbytery. The following resolution was adopted:
We, the members of Gulf Coast Presbytery, would like to take this opportunity to thank Pinewoods Presbyterian Church and the wonderful women who so generously provided a wonderful meal and for their hospitality and generosity.
97-59 ADJOURNMENT AND CLOSING PRAYER
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 PM. TE Bob Hayes led in the closing prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
R. Hornick, Stated Clerk