98-41
CALL TO ORDER & OPENING PRAYER
The
seventy-eighth meeting of Gulf Coast Presbytery was called to order by the
moderator, RE C. Fellers at 9:00 AM CDT on Saturday, October 10. 1998. The
meeting was held at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, Panama City, Florida.
98-42
WORSHIP SERVICE
TE
Michael Swain led in the Worship Service and preached using Psalm 66:5-7,
16 as his text.
98-43
ROLL CALL & DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM
A
quorum was declared to be present with the following commissioners in
attendance:
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CHURCHES
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TEACHING ELDERS
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RULING ELDERS
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Chattahoochee
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Absent
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Absent
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Christ,
Lynn Haven
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B.
Johnston
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Absent
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Christ,
Mobile
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Excused
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Excused
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Concord,
Gulf Breeze
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J.
Moore
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Absent
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Cornerstone,
Destin
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Absent
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Absent
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Cornerstone,
Tallahassee
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Absent
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Absent
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Covenant,
Panama City
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R.
Hayes
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W.
Kline
V.
Tinklenberg
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Eastern
Shore, Fairhope
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M.
Griffith
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C.
Fellers
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Fairfield,
Pensacola
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Excused
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Absent
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Faith,
Robertsdale
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Excused
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Excused
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First,
Atmore
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Excused
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Absent
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First,
Niceville
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M.
Swain
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V.
Kane
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First,
Panama City
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W.
Cathey
D.
Anderegg
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Absent
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Grace,
Gulf Shores
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Excused
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Absent
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Grace,
Madison
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J.
Cavanah, II
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J.
Hollingsworth
A.
Hughes
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Loxley
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Excused
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McIlwain,
Pensacola
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C.
DeBardleben
J.
Grider
J.
Davis
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J.
Woodward
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New
Philadelphia, Quincy
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Vacant
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J.
E. Gilbert
R.
Smith
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Northeast,
Pensacola
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Vacant
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C.
Barrows
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Panama
City Korean
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Vacant
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S.
Choe
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Pinewoods,
Cantonment
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J.
Findlay
D.
Shuffield
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Excused
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Safe
Harbor, Destin
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T.
Hughes
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D.
Hamburg
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Warrington,
Pensacola
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R.
Hornick
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Excused
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Westminster,
Fort Walton
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Excused
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E.
Smith
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Westminster,
Milton
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Excused
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Absent
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Westminster,
Tallahassee
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Absent
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Absent
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Wildwood,
Tallahassee
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Excused
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Absent
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OTHERS:
TEs S. Bradford, D.
Dunkerley, A. Maves, D. Miller, H. Morris, G. Omerley, M. Schneider, B.
Sinclair and S. Yang.
EXCUSED:
TEs J. Bancroft, D. Box, J. Craft, S. DeVries, R. Evans, R. Fennig, P.
Frick, D. Gilleran, S. Jennings, C. Pearson, A. Phillips, C. Sledge, S.
Wallace and RE Commissioners from, Faith, Christ (Mobile), Pinewoods and
Warrington.
ABSENT:
TEs J. Craft, R. Gardner, J. Hopwood, G. Roberts, J. Watson, D. Wren,
and RE commissioners from Chattahoochee, Christ, Lynn Haven, Concord,
Cornerstone (Destin), Fairfield, First (Atmore), First (Panama City), Grace
(Gulf Shores), Westminster (Milton), Westminster (Tallahassee), and
Wildwood.
VISITORS:
B. Carl, R. Hollingsworth, D. Hutchinson, R. Olson, H. Kyasooka and E.
Yune.
98-44
APPROVAL OF PRINTED MINUTES
The
minutes of the Seventy-seventh stated meeting were approved as corrected
(Insert “least” on page 7, line 29 and add TE W. Cathey to the list of
those granted an excused absence).
98-45
COMMUNICATIONS
1.
Letter from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, informing
presbytery that her minutes had been approved without exception, received as
information.
2.
Letters from TE W. Holland and the Session, Covenant Presbyterian
Church, Panama City, requesting dissolution of the pastoral relationship,
referred to Ministers and Candidates.
3.
Call to TE Ezra Yune from the Panama City Korean Presbyterian Church,
referred to Examinations Committee.
4.
Letter from TE D. Bartel, concerning distribution of a dissertation
abstract, received as information.
5.
Call to TE S. Bradford from Church Planting International, Inc.,
referred to Ministers and Candidates Committee,
6.
Letter from the Session, First Presbyterian Church, Atmore,
concerning the dissolution of the pastoral relationship with TE S. Jennings,
referred to Ministers and Candidates.
7.
Letter from the Clerk of Session, Northeast Presbyterian Church of
Pensacola, commending Mr. Craig Barrows as a candidate for the gospel
ministry.
8.
Letter from the Ministers and Candidates Committee acting as a
commission, notifying presbytery of the dissolution of the pastoral
relationship between TE D. Dunkerley and the Northeast Presbyterian Church
of Pensacola.
9.
Requests for excused absence from TEs J. Bancroft, D. Box, J. Craft,
S. DeVries, R. Evans, R. Fennig, P. Frick, D. Gilleran, S. Jennings, C.
Pearson, A. Phillips, C. Sledge, S. Wallace, and RE Commissioners from
Faith, Christ, Pinewoods and Warrington.
98-46
ADOPTION OF DOCKET
The
docket was adopted as presented. (Appendix A)
98-47
INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS
Visitors
were introduced to presbytery (see 98-43)
98-48
APPOINTMENT OF STANDING COMMITTEES
The
moderator appointed the following commissioner to serve on the Standing
Committees of presbytery:
Bills and Overtures: TE
S. Bradford
TE M. Schneider
RE A. Hughes
RE J. Hollingsworth
Resolution and Thanks:
TE J. Cavanah
TE H. Morris
RE E. Smith
RE J. Gilbert
98-49
Executive Committee Report – TE R. Hornick Stated Clerk
TE
R. Hornick presented the report to presbytery. Presbytery adopted the
following recommendations:
1.
That the docket be approved.
2.
That the nominees for GCP officers, chairman and committee members be
elected.
3.
That the nominations to General Assembly Committees and Agencies be
approved and forwarded to the Nominating Committee.
The
report was approved as a whole (Appendix B)
98-50
EXAMINATIONS –TE M. Schneider, Chairman
TE
M. Schneider presented the report to presbytery.
1.
Mr. Schneider introduced Mr. Craig Barrows to presbytery. Mr. Barrows
has submitted a written application for reception as a Candidate for the
Gospel Ministry. He is a member and a ruling elder of the Northeast
Presbyterian Church of Pensacola. Presbytery has received a letter from the
Session recommending that he be enrolled as a candidate.
Mr.
Barrows gave testimony of experimental religion and call to the Gospel
Ministry. The examination was sustained and Mr. Barrow’s name was entered
upon the roll of candidates.
The
moderator proposed the constitution questions (BCO 18-3), which were
answered in the affirmation. TE D. Dunkerley presented a charge to Mr.
Barrows and led in prayer.
2.
Mr. Schneider reported that the Session of the Northeast Presbyterian
Church requested that Mr. Barrows be appointed as ruling elder supply.
Presbytery approved the request in accord with BCO 22-6. Mr. Barrows will
serve as a ruling elder supply until a pastor is called.
3.
Presbytery enrolled Mr. Barrows as an intern of the presbytery. The
moderator led in prayer and addressed Mr. Barrows as required by BCO 19-10.
At
Panama City, Florida, the tenth day of October, 1998, the Gulf Coast
Presbytery, have received testimonials commending Mr. Craig Barrows, having
received him as a candidate for the ministry, has placed him under the
internship at his request in order to test his gifts for the holy ministry.
4.
Mr. Schneider introduced TE Ezra Yune to presbytery. Mr. Yune has
been called by the Panama City Korean Presbyterian Church. He is a member of
the Korean Southeast Presbytery.
Mr.
Yune gave testimony of his Christian faith and call to the Gospel ministry.
Presbytery voted to sustain the examination in experimental religion.
Mr.
Schneider examined Mr. Yune in views of theology. After questions from the
floor, this portion of the examination was sustained.
Mr.
Schneider examined Mr. Yune in views of sacraments. There were no questions
from the floor. This portion of the examination was sustained.
Mr.
Schneider examined Mr. Yune in views of church government. There were no
questions from the floor. This portion of the examination was sustained.
The
examination as a whole was sustained. Presbytery received Mr. Yune into Gulf
Coast Presbytery, pending his dismissal from Korean Southeast Presbytery.
TE
R. Hayes presented the call in behalf of the Panama City Korean Church.
Presbytery approved the call and placed it in Mr. Yune’s hands. Mr. Yune
accepted the call (Appendix C).
Presbytery
appointed the following to a commission to install TE Ezra Yune as pastor of
the Panama City Korean Presbyterian Church, date to be determined by the
commission:
TE M. Schneider
RE R. Post
TE R. Hayes
RE T. Bingham
TE D. Anderegg
RE S. H. Choe
(Quorum – 2 RE/2 TE)
5.
Presbytery approved the report of the Examination’s Committee as a
whole.
98-51
MISSION TO THE WORLD
TE
M. Griffith presented the report to presbytery.
1.
Mr. Griffith introduced TE D. Dunkerley, TE S. Bradford and TE H.
Kyasooka (Reformed Presbyterian Church of Uganda) to presbytery to report on
their ministry in Uganda.
2.
TE G. Ormerly reported on his ministry in Belize.
98-52
MINISTERS AND CANDIDATES – TE J. Findlay, Chairman
TE
J. Findlay presented the report to presbytery.
1.
Interns – Mr. Findlay reported on the progress of Bret Carl and
David Hutchinson. Both men are making excellent progress toward meeting
presbytery’s requirements as evidenced in written reports and as verified
by their supervisors.
2.
Dissolution – Mr. Findlay notified presbytery on the dissolution of
the pastoral relationship between TE W. Holland and the Covenant
Presbyterian Church. The Session of the Covenant Presbyterian Church
concurred with Mr. Holland’s request for dissolution. Presbytery sustained
the action of the Ministers and Candidates acting as a commission and
approved the transfer of Mr. Holland to Palmetto Presbytery.
3.
Recommendations–Presbytery approved the following
recommendations:
a.
That the call of TE S. Bradford from Proclamation International, Inc.
be found in order and placed in his hands and that he be given permission to
labor out-of-bounds. (appendix
D)
b.
That presbytery dissolve the pastoral relationship between TE S.
Jennings and the First Presbyterian Church, Atmore, AL.
4.
Presbytery approved the report as a whole. (Appendix E)
98-53
MISSION TO NORTH AMERICA-TE M. Griffith, Chairman
TE
M. Griffith presented the report to presbytery. Oral reports were presented
by TE B. Sinclair (New Song Presbyterian Mission), TE R. Hayes (Panama City Korean American Mission) and TE M. Griffith
(Grace Fellowship Mission, Mobile.)
The
Following recommendations were adopted:
A.
That presbytery support to New Song Mission be reduced to $1,000 per
month.
B.
That TE Bruce Sinclair’s salary and benefits for 1999 be as
follows: Salary - $23,400
Housing
- $13,200
Medical
Expense Reimbursements - $1,750
C.
That TE Sam Suk Yang’s terms of call be as follows:
Salary
- $20,857
Manse
Allowance - $9,143
Social
Security/Annuity - $2,295
1
Month vacation
D.
That the Administrative Committee be directed to examine the minutes
of Mission Church Commissions and report to presbytery.
E.
That the congregations of presbytery be encouraged to pray for
and financially support the Mission Churches of Gulf Coast
Presbytery.
F.
That the Mission to North America Committee be approved to serve as a
commission (Quorum 2 RE/2 TE) to dissolve a particular church (at their
request) to a mission church (Per BCO 13-10). (Appendix F)
98-54
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE – TE L. Grider, Chairman
TE
J. Grider presented the report to presbytery. Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
& 6 were adopted as presented. Presbytery also directed to the committee
to contact churches that have failed to submit Session Records for review
and report to the 78th Stated Meeting of Presbytery.
The
report was approved as a whole. (Appendix G)
98-55
OLD BUSINESS
Presbytery
voted unanimously to adopt the proposed changes to its Standing Rules 604.
(Appendix H)
98-56
NEW BUSINESS
Presbytery
voted to amend Standing Rules 201 as follows “…shall be held on the
second Tuesday in February, May and October.”
The
79th meeting of presbytery will be held at the McIlwain Memorial
Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, February 9, 1999.
98-57
REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE
Presbytery
adopted the following report of the Resolution and Thanks Committee:
We,
the members of Gulf Coast Presbytery, do hereby express our gratitude and
appreciation to the officers, members and the Women in the Church of the
Covenant Presbyterian Church of Panama City, Florida, for hosting the
Seventy-eighth Meeting of Gulf Coast Presbytery; and for extending their
gracious hospitality to us during the meeting and for the provision of
refreshments ad a delicious lunch. In addition, our appreciation is
especially heartfelt in light of Covenant Presbyterian Church’s
hospitality over the years.
98-58
ADJOURNMENT
Presbytery
adjourned at 2:00 PM. TE J. Davis led in the closing prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
TE R. Hornick, Stated Clerk