• Outgoing Moderator Elder John Hitchcock shared a number of his activities, all clearly positive experiences for him.
• Call to Worship and Opening Prayer.
• The congregational singing of Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.
• Following a responsive Invitation to Discipleship, John led the incoming Moderator, Rev. Joyce Rife, in a series of questions related to her term of office. A unison prayer followed.
• The Commerce Presbyterian Church choir sang Majesty and Glory of Your Name.
• John then passed the symbols of the office of Moderator, a cross, stole and gavel, to Joyce, and all sang presbytery's theme song and Joyce's favorite, Here I Am, Lord.

  Rev. Monty Nelson and Rev. Joyce Rife, Moderator

• Thanks, John! Welcome, Joyce!

• Roger Nicholson, member of Middle Tennessee Presbytery - serving as Interim Pastor of Oconee Presbyterian Church.
• Joan Stevens, member of Tampa Bay Presbytery - serving as Stated Supply Pastor of Helen Presbyterian Church.
• Rindy Trouteaud, member of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, serving as Interim Pastor of Monticello Presbyterian Church.
• Jennifer Horton, member of Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery - serving as Temporary Supply Pastor and Moderator of Session of Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church.

In addition to presbytery's tradition of change of Moderator at the winter stated meeting, there is another tradition. This one recognizes the death of our elders and ministers and, at the same time, emphasizes our unity and permanency in God's kingdom.

Subsequent to worship, the Bills and Overtures Committee reported the tally of the voting which occurred earlier:

  

Part 1 10-1 New Form of Government (FOG)   81 Affirmative 79 Negative

Part 3 10-A Gifts & Requirements - On Amending G-5.0106b

                                                                  75 Affirmative 87 Negative

Part 3 10-F Certified C. E. Ed. re:G-11.4007 and G-14.0730

                                                                138 Affirmative 23 Negative

Part 3 10-G Synod Functions - On Amending G-12.0100

                                                                127 Affirmative 29 Negative

Part 3 Omnibus (which included every other Part 3 proposal, except
10-C)                                                         150 Affirmative 9 Negative 

  

Following this report, there was a Worshipful Moment.

  

10-C will be voted on at the May stated meeting, along with Part 2 10-2, Confession of Belhar.

Council's report began by introducing Maurice Gregory, an elder for the First Gainesville Church and chair of the Budget and Finance Action Team. Maurice began by indicating that presbytery's budget for 2010 ended in the "black." However, the draft of the 2011 budget in the amount of $525,468 contains a $27,000 deficit. As a result, Ministry Teams and Action Teams are advised to commit no more than 1/2 of their 2011 budget at this time. He also recommended that churches pledge an additional 25 cents per member per month. Following review, a revised budget will be presented at the May 17, 2011, stated meeting.

 

Presbytery approved the Council recommendation that the 2011 fall stated meeting of presbytery be held at Unicoi State Park, convening late afternoon on Sunday, November 6, and concluding the next day. Also, following our CPA's recommendation, a fourth person was authorized to sign checks - the chair of Council. In this case, Brock Burnett was so elected.

 

As the afternoon began to wind down, the following reports informed the commissioners:

• The Committee on Ministry recognized the retirement of the Reverend Dave Fahner.
• Edie Covert, reporting for the Leadership Development Ministry Team, called attention to the report in the Handbook and various documents in the presbytery packet e.g. Summer Camps and Conferences and resources in the presbytery Resource Center, such as Vacation Church School curriculum options, and information related to the Middle East. Edie also called attention to the Kairos/Palestine document, urging churches to study it prior to the stated meeting in May.  Ken Meeks commented on the recent highly successful Winter Leadership event, which drew about 270 participants.
• In a Minute for Mission, the Lavonia Church described, among other programs, their involvement in the Georgia Food Bank distribution - providing 3,000 food boxes to individuals and families.
• The Nominating Committee requested presbytery to approve Preparation for Ministry Team being given the authority to recommend to presbytery names of persons to serve as readers for standard ordination examinations. Nominating Committee was further granted authority by presbytery to fill additional Ministry Team and Commission vacancies between meetings of presbytery.
• Communications/Links Network Ministry Team chair, Emily Cheney, presented a strong case for electronic media versus paper, environmental issues, and ecological concerns.
• Congregational Development Ministry Team - Alice Wood and Julie Thompson emphasized the coming Acts 16:5 program to be led by Stan Ott, and Alex Stevens called attention to the Association of Smaller Congregations Conference to be held May 16 - 18, 2011, at Epworth-by-the-Sea.
• Following the report of the Resolutions Committee and a Worshipful Moment, the meeting ended at 3:30 p.m.

 The next meeting is May 17, 2011 - hosted by the Augusta Korean Presbyterian Church. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with Call to Order at 9:30 a.m. The theme is "Toward a Just Peace in Israel-Palestine." Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel and Mr. Mark Braverman will both make presentations at the meeting.

 

Postscript