The seventy-seventh stated meeting of Gulf Coast Presbytery was called to order by the moderator, RE C. Fellers at 10:00 am on Tuesday, May 12, 1998, at the First Presbyterian Church, Atmore, Alabama. TE S. Jennings led presbytery in the singing of "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" and in the opening prayer.

Mr. Jennings gave testimony of God’s faithfulness in the rebuilding of the church facilities following storm damage. Mr. Fellers challenged the ruling elder commissioners to pray for the teaching elders of presbytery and invited REs W. Harris, C. Dettling and S. Phillips to pray for the Teaching elders.

A quorum was declared to be present with the following commissioners in attendance:

CHURCHES	TEACHING ELDERS	RULING ELDERS
Chattahoochee	Absent	Absent
Christ, Lynn Haven	Brian Johnston	Absent
Christ, Mobile	Steve Wallace Alvin Phillips	Absent
Concord	James Moore	Absent
Cornerstone, Destin	George Roberts	Absent
Cornerstone, Tallahassee	Absent	Absent
Covenant	Robert Hayes Wesley Holland	Richard Post
Eastern Shore	Mack Griffith	Chip Fellers
Fairfield	Paul Frick	Robert Cooper
Faith	David Gilleran	Henry Russell
First, Atmore	Steve Jennings	Charles Dettling
First, Niceville	Michael Swain Dennis Shackleford	Vincent Kane Robert Wilson
First, Panama City	David Anderegg	Absent
Grace, Gulf Shores	Rick Fennig	Absent
Grace, Madison	James Cavanah, II	J. D. Scruggs A. L. Hughes
Loxley	Excused	Excused
McIlwain	Charles DeBardeleben Joseph Grider James Davis	William Harris, IV
New Philadelphia	Vacant	J. E. Gilbert Robert Smith
Northeast	Donald Dunkerkey	Absent
Panama City Korean	Sam Suk Yang	Absent
Pinewoods	John Findlay Danny Shuffield	Max Crabbe
Safe Harbor	Thomas Hughes	Absent
Warrington	Robert Hornick	James Hansen Howard Moss
Westminster, Fort Walton	William Tyson	Ralph Ruyle Lyndon Poff
Westminster, Milton	Carl Pearson	Absent
Westminster, Tallahassee	Excused	Absent
Wildwood	Robert Evans	Ross Hardin

OTHERS: Teaching Elders Steven Bradford, Arnie Maves, George Ormerly, Bruce Sinclair, Charles Sledge, and Eldon Stanton,

EXCUSED: Teaching Elders Walter Cathey, James Craft, Frank Dole, C. Gwin, Douglas Miller, Henry Morris, Jason Riggs and Ruling Elder Commissioners from Loxley Presbyterian Church.

ABSENT: Teaching Elders Darwin Box, John Hopwood, James Watson and Ruling Elder Commissioners from Chattahoochee, Christ (Lynn Haven), Christ (Mobile), Concord, Cornerstone (Destin), Cornerstone (Tallahassee), Westminster (Milton).

VISITORS: Brett Carl, David Cias, Richard McArthur, Fred Marsh, Richard Olson, Mrs. George Ormerly, James Rish and John Ryor

Minutes from the 76^th Stated Meeting were approved as printed.

• Letter from Mr. David Cias, a member of First Presbytery Church, Panama City, requesting that he be enrolled as a candidate for the Gospel Ministry; referred to the Examinations Committee.
• Letter from the Session, First Presbyterian Church, Panama City commending Mr. David Cias to presbytery, referred to the Examinations Committee.
• Letter from Mr. Charles Ryor, a member of Wildwood Presbyterian Church, requesting that he be enrolled as a candidate for the Gospel Ministry, referred to the Examinations Committee.
• Letter from the Session, Wildwood Presbyterian Church, commending Mr. Ryor to presbytery, referred to the Examinations Committee.
• Minutes from the Commission to ordain and install Mr. James Davis as Assistant Pastor of McIlwain Memorial Presbyterian Church; found in order. (Appendix A)
• Communication from Westminster Presbytery, stating its position on Creation, received as information.
• Letter from Dr. Paul Gilchrist, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, informing presbytery clerks of advise given by the Committee on Constitutional Business; received as information
• Letter from James Rish, requesting that he be examined and received into presbytery; referred to Examinations Committee.
• Letters from TE Sam Suk Yang and the Panama City Korean Church, requesting that the pastoral relationship between them be dissolved, referred to Ministers and Candidates.
• Requests for excused absence from TEs J. Craft, F. Dole, C. Gwin, J. Moore (late arrival). H. Morris, D. Miller, J. Riggs, and RE Commissioners from the Loxley Presbyterian Church, granted.

28. ADOPTION OF DOCKET

The docket was adopted as amended to include a Special Order for the Worship Service at 1:15 PM and the report of the Administrative Committee following the Worship Service. (Appendix B)

Visitors to presbytery were introduced. (See 98-25)

The moderator appointed the following commissioners to serve on the Standing Committees of presbytery:

Bills and Overtures: TE C. DeBardeleben
TE Brian Johnston
RE Charles Dettling
RE Henry Russell

Resolution and Thanks: TE Michael Swain
TE Steve Wallace
RE Perry Zakutney
RE William Harris, IV

TE R. Hornick presented the report to presbytery. Presbytery adopted the following recommendations:

• That the docket be approved.
• That the slate of commissioners to serve on Committee of Commissioners to the 26^th General Assemble be approved.

The report as a whole was approved. (Appendix C)

32. EXAMINATIONS – TE M. SCHNEIDER, CHAIRMAN

TE M. Schneider presented the report to presbytery.

• Mr. Schneider reported on the Committee’s revision of the written examinations for ordination, a timetable for application and a mentoring program for the candidates for ordination.
• Mr. Schneider presented Messrs. J. C. Ryor and D. Cias for reception as candidates. Both men have submitted written applications and have been recommendations by their Sessions. Messrs. Ryor and Cias gave testimony of experimental religion and reasons for seeking the Gospel ministry. This portion of the examination was sustained and their names were placed upon the roll of candidates.

The moderator proposed the Constitutional Questions (BCO 18-3), which were answered in the affirmative. TE R. Evans charged Mr. Ryor. TE R. Hayes charged Mr. Cias. The whole matter was closed with prayer.

The report of the committee as a whole was approved.

33. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION – TE R. FENNIG, CHAIRMAN

TE R. Fennig presented the report to presbytery.

• Notice was taken and thanks given for the Gulf Coast PresWIC’s 25^th Anniversary celebration. The Fall Rally will be held at Pinewoods Presbyterian Church on September 19, 1998 and at the New Philadelphia Presbyterian Church on October 3, 1998. Sue Tully will be the speaker. The 26^th Presbyterial meeting will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Niceville. The nationwide WIC conference will be held in Atlanta, GA in September 1999.
• In place of the Men’s Retreat, the CE committee will sponsor a CE&P Equip Conference, October 23-24, at the First Presbyterian Church, Panama City. The conference will include a workshop on Family Worship on Friday and a variety of teacher training and leadership seminars on Saturday.

The report was approved a whole.

34. MINISTERS & CANDIDATES – TE J. FINDLAY, CHAIRMAN

TE J. Findlay led in prayer and presented the report to presbytery. The following recommendations were adopted by presbytery:

                Teaching Elder Fred Marsh reported on the acitivities of the Committee on Mission to North America.

                SPECIAL ORDER – 12:10 PM – SHARING & PRAYER GROUPS

                Presbytery divided into small groups for the sharing of prayer requests and conversational prayer.

35. PRESBYTERY RECONVENED

Presbytery reconvened at 1:15 PM. The moderator led presbytery in the singing of "We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations." TE R. Hayes preached from Proverbs 20:3-7: Godly Men, Godly Fathers.

                SPECIAL ORDER – ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

                TE J. Grider presented the Administrative Committee report to the presbytery.

• Mr. Grider discussed the newly adopted procedure (SR 604) for the review of Session Records by the Administrative Committee.
• Recommendations 1, 2 and 3 were approved (Appendix E).

The report was approved as a whole.

36. MINISTERS & CANDIDATES REPORT (Con’t)

TE J. Findlay continued in the presentation of the report to presbytery. The following recommendations were adopted:

• That the procedure to divest without censure, TE S. Bradford, initiated at the 76^th Stated Meeting, be tabled until May 1999, so that presbytery may review the call to Mr. Bradford from the Presbyterian Church of Uganda.
• That the call to TE D. Dunkerley from Church Planting International be approved pending the dissolution of the pastoral relationship with the Northeast Presbyterian Church and that, then he be given permission to labor out of bounds. (Appendix F).
• That the request of Mr. James Rish to have his ordaination reinstated be referred to the Examinations Committee.
• That the communication from Covenant Theological Seminary informing presbytery of the availability of $1,950 scholarship funds be received as information.
• That the annual report of candidates, licentitates, etc be received as information (Appendix G)
• That presbytery approve the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between TE Sam Suk Yang and the Panama City Korean Church pending the reception of his "green Card," and that he then be carried on the rolls as an organizing pastor (See 98-37-3)

37. MISSION TO NORTH AMERICA - TE M. GRIFFITH, CHAIRMAN

TE M. Griffith presented the report to presbytery. Presbytery adopted the following recommendations:

• That the Grace Fellowship Church, Mobile, AL be received as a Mission Church.
• That the following be appointed to serve as a commission giving Sessional oversght to the Grace Fellowship Mission: Teaching Elders R. Fennig, M. Griffith, D. Miller and Ruling Elders J. DeCosmo, A. Keuler and P. Zakutney.
• That TE Sam Suk Yang be called as the organizing pastor of the Korean-American Presbyterian Church of Panama City pending the reception of his "green card," and that he be permitted to receive and dismiss members, conduct the Sacraments and train and ordain officers under the oversight of a commission comprised of members of the Session of the Covenant Presyterian Church (The commission appointed by presbytery will finalize the terms of call to Mr. Yang, arrange for an installation service and report to the 78^th Stated Meeting of Presbytery.)
• That the following Covenant Presbyterian Session members be appointed as a Commission to oversee the Korean-American Presbyterian Church: TEs R. Hayes, REs R. Halley, R. Post and TE SamSuk Yang.

Mr. Griffith informed presbytery that a $4,000 loan to the Panama City Korean Church was authorized by the MNA Committee.

The report was approved as a whole.

38. MISSION TO THE WORLD – TE J. MOORE, CHAIRMAN

TE J. Moore presented an oral report to presbytery, which was received as information. Mr. Moore closed the report with prayer The report was received as a whole.

39. NEW BUSINESS

• Presbytery accepted the invitation of the Covenant Presbyterian Church to host the 78^th Stated Meeting of Gulf Coast Presbytery.
• Presbytery received the following ammendment to SR 401:

Standing Rule 401-4 The Committee will conduct the examination of candidates for ordination, the reception of teaching elders and men seeking to become candidates for the Gospel Ministry in the following manner:

1. Men applying to come under care of presbytery must notify the stated clerk at least four weeks before the meeting of presbytery they wish to appear.
2. Men seeking licensure or ordination must notify the Stated Clerk at least eight weeks before the meeting of presbytery they wish to be examined for licensure or ordination. Written examinations, theological and exegetical papers must be submitted four weeks in advance of the meeting at which they will be examined.
3. Ministers seeking transfer from another presbytery within the Presbyterian Church of America must notify the Stated Clerk at least six weeks in advance of the meeting at which they will be received.
4. Ministers seeking transfer from a denomination other that the Presbyterian Church in America must notify the Stated Clerk six weeks in advance of the meeting at which they wish to be received.

                    Presbytery adoted the following report of the Resolution and Thanks Committee:

We, the members of Gulf Coast Presbytery express our gratitude and appreciation to the Pastor, Officers and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Atmore, Alabama for hosting the 77^th Stated Meeting of Gulf Coast Presbytery and for extending warm and gracious hospitality to us during the meeting and for the provision of refreshments and a delicious lunch.

41. ADJOURNMENT AND CLOSING PRAYER