Presbytery of Greater Atlantas3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/... · 9190 Campbellton St. Douglasville, GA 30134 (770)942-0710 fax (770)949-3481 [email protected]

The

Presbytery of

Greater Atlanta

__________________________________

Commissioner Handbook

Stated Meeting

December 1, 2011

First-Douglasville Presbyterian Church

9190 Campbelton St.. Douglasville, GA 30134

(770) 942-0710

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Fellowship 9:00 a.m. Stated Meeting 12:45p.m. Adjournment

The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta's Strategic Purpose is to be a catalyst, creator and equipper of

healthy, vital and growing congregations in all regions of the Presbytery.

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

December 1, 2011 P a g e | 2

Dear Fellow Elders of the Presbytery, It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Douglasville for our next meeting. Last year First Presbyterian of Douglasville celebrated her 50th anniversary. At the time, Interstate 20 ended one mile past our current location, and this was mostly farmland. Those faithful, early members worshipped where they could while they looked for a permanent location. One of those places was the local funeral home. One Sunday the worship leaders came early to prepare for the service, and discovered a mix up. The funeral home had arranged for the viewing of a deceased person in the room normally used by the church. The organizing pastor, Bud Little, who shared the story at our 50th anniversary, commented that the deceased fit right in given the lack of animation in the way Presbyterians tend worship. It wasn’t long before property was found, and the church was established. We’ve been striving for 50 years to bring the life-giving news of Jesus Christ to this community and beyond. As you know these are unusual days for the church, including our own denomination. There are several business items on the docket that reflect that reality. Thinking about the complexity of these issues illuminates how dependent we are upon the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We are praying for a successful meeting. We are also working hard to ensure that logistical issues do not impede the business of the day. I have to confess that I don’t normally read the welcome letters like this when I download the presbytery packet. I’m curious if I am the only insensitive member of presbytery. As a scientist by nature, I enjoy experimentation, and so I will give Starbucks gift cards to the first five persons who tell me at the meeting the secret word of the day, which is supralapsarianism. Good luck. Blessings, James B. Harper 9190 Campbellton St. Douglasville, GA 30134 (770)942-0710 fax (770)949-3481

www.fpcdouglasville.org [email protected]

http://www.fpcdouglasville.org/



SO THIS IS YOUR FIRST PRESBYTERY MEETING…..

Welcome if you are a new commissioner to Presbytery. I hope this helps serve as a bit of orientation to you.

All the business of the Presbytery is contained in this handbook. The handbook is divided into 3 sections:

1. The first section contains all the items that you as a commissioner will need to take action upon.

Some will have discussion, and some will be contained within an omnibus motion. Any items in an

omnibus motion are voted on at one time during the Clerk’s communications report. If as a

commissioner, you desire to ask a question, or have debate on any item contained within this motion,

you need to stand at the time of the motion’s presentation and request that item be extracted. The item

will then be removed from the omnibus motion and voted upon separately towards the end of the

meeting.

2. The second section contains all the items from the various committees and entities of the presbytery

that wish to inform you of things they are working on or committee actions that they are empowered

to take. After the items for information, the Admit to Record items are recorded. This is a formality

of items that need to be in the permanent record of the Presbytery’s minutes.

3. The third section (if present) will contain addendum items such as first readings of policies that the

Presbytery will be considering, or resource materials.

On the day of the meeting, a worship bulletin will be distributed. This bulletin will contain, in order, all the

items that will be presented to the commissioners. The difference between the handbook and the bulletin, is

that the bulletin will not have supplemental material such as faith statements, addendum and resource items.

The handbook and bulletin are meant to go hand in hand to help you with the flow and business of the

meeting.

Please read the introductory items in the handbook. These items contain information about parking,

childcare, directions to the meeting, how to make motions if you wish, and information on parliamentary

process.

When you arrive, there will be a registration area. You are asked to register your attendance, receive a name

badge, input your email address if you are willing to answer a survey to evaluate the meeting, and pick up any

handouts that may be available.

The meetings of Presbytery have been designed to provide opportunities for the community to worship and

discuss issues together; as well as do the business that is before it for consideration.

The meeting time of Presbytery is 9:00 until 12:45 PM. The goal is to be able to finish in time for our

specialized ministers and others who find it difficult to devote an entire day due to other commitments. The

hope is that those who wish to connect with others, will be out in time to have lunch or a meeting right after

the meeting.

Again, welcome.



GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN PRESBYTERY MEETINGS

1. When speaking to the Presbytery, be sure to state your name and church.

2. Please keep all presentations to less than three minutes unless otherwise noted on the agenda. The

Moderator will give a 30-second warning so that presenters may conclude their presentation within the

time allotted.

3. Only enrolled commissioners are authorized to vote on issues that are before the Presbytery.

4. Any motion made from the floor of Presbytery (be it a new motion, a substitute motion, or an

amended motion) must be given to the Acting Stated Clerk in writing at the time the motion is

made.

5. Any “new business” must be placed in the hands of the Acting Stated Clerk before the approval of the

docket.

HANDBOOK INFORMATION

We are doing a new thing at the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta! With the adoption of our Strategic Plan, much

will be different as we go about a new way of being Presbytery, which with God’s help; will strengthen our

witness to Jesus Christ in the world.

One “administrative” piece that will be different is our handbook. We have instituted a worship bulletin

which will be handed out at the meeting, and a handbook which will contain the detailed information needed

for business and the flow of the meeting.

Part one of the handbook will contain all action items (except the omnibus motion which will be referred to

by page numbers). Park two of the handbook will contain information items and the admit to record items.

This new format may result in some reports being housed in two places; hopefully it will not cause confusion.

Please know that as we do a new thing (!), I am open to suggestions as we experiment with new methods.

Please feel free to give me feedback as we discern the most helpful way of communicating information. I can

be reached at: [email protected].

HOLD THESE DATES FOR FUTURE PRESBYTERY MEETINGS

2012

Stated Meeting February 11 New Life 9:00-12:45

Stated Meeting May 3 Clairmont 9:00-12:45

Stated Meeting August 18 Shallowford 9:00-12:45

Stated Meeting November 15 Roswell 9:00-12:45

mailto:[email protected]



GENERAL NOTES FOR THIS MEETING

1. To make reservations for child care during this meeting, call Jenni Preston, 770-456-9681.

Childcare is available for preschool children. The deadline for childcare reservations is Monday,

November 28, please give the name and age of the child/children. Parents please provide

snacks/drinks for your children. When arriving at First Presbyterian, please go to the front office

where a greeter will direct you to childcare.

2. Checks contributed to today’s offering should be made payable to “Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.”

This meeting’s offering is for the ministry of the Young Adults in Mission Program.

3. All requests for display tables for the December meeting must be submitted to Gay Alston at

[email protected] by Monday, November 21st.

4. Also contact Gay Alston at [email protected] by Monday, January 30, 2012 to reserve

display space for the February 11, 2012 meeting. Also indicate if electrical access is desired.

5. Requests to be included in audio-visual presentations at presbytery meetings should be addressed

to Ms. Jihyun Oh at [email protected] no later than one week before the meeting.

6. Requests for an excused absence from today’s meeting should be addressed to the Acting Stated

Clerk, Donna Wells, at [email protected] or 678-638-1463.

7. OPTIONAL:

After Presbytery Conversations with Chris Choakian and Terry Newland and James Harper

You are invited to stay following the Presbytery meeting to have some informal conversation with

our two guests. If you wish to stay, you may bring a brown bag lunch or purchase a grilled chick

filet sandwich with fruit cup for $7. There will be a table at the break to take your check (to the

presbytery) or cash if you wish to order the chick filet.

PASTORAL CARE CONCERNS

To join email distribution of the weekly pastoral care reports or to download the Presbytery meeting

handbooks, go to the Presbytery’s web site, www.atlpcusa.org, click the word “subscribe” in the

E-Communications preferences box on the right side of the home page, enter your email address on

the subsequent page, and click “go.” On the subsequent page, check the appropriate report box(es)

and click “submit.”

The Pastor to Pastor/Educator Team is available to minister to all clergy and educators. If you are

sick or have any need to have a confidential conversation about personal matters, they will respond.

Please contact any of the following people:

Joe Sandifer, Coordinator 770-934-6673

Ernestine Cole 404-273-1394

Julie Johnson 770-578-6684

Rick Neale 770-760-8201

Matthew Park 404-363-3000

Greta Reed 404-371-1008

Mardee Rightmyer 404-455-3832

John Roark 770-945-3726







DIRECTIONS

I-20 west bound toward Alabama. First PC is located at exit 36, Chapel Hill Rd. / Campbellton St. Stay in right lane as you exit towards Campbellton Street. First Presbyterian is immediately on the right.

PARKING

Parking for the meeting can be challenging, so please car pool whenever possible.

EVALUATION PROCESS

At the time of registration, you will be asked to supply an email address. We hope to take a portion of

those email addresses and submit them to a new survey provider called Survey Monkey. In turn, a

survey will be sent to you and we ask that you take the few minutes to fill it out to evaluate this

meeting only. You will be asked to provide your e-mail address at each meeting for which you are

willing to evaluate. Our hope is a more complete survey that will help the Council in future planning

of Presbytery.



Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

Docket for December 1, 2011

9:00 Opening items…welcome, prayer, communications

Introduction of Young Adults in mission David York

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Hymn #135: Come thou long expected Jesus

“Global” Litany

9:30 Key Note Speaker… Rev. Christine Chakoian

10:00 Anthem and Offering (to benefit the Young Adults in Mission)

Committee on Preparation for Ministry…Jill Tolbert

10:15 Examinations Commission

James Harper and Terry Newland from Synod of the Living Waters

10:40 First Read Flexible Governance

Calvin Center

11:05 Break

11:30 Hymn to reconvene “We are Called” 3 verses

Gracious Separation discussion and vote

Instrumental Anthem

Budget

12:15 Request of 2 Korean Churches to be dismissed to Atlantic-Korean Presbytery

12:25 Report from the EP

Closing Hymn, v. 3 of We Are Called

12:40 Closing prayer…key note speaker

12:45 Adjournment

1:00 Post Presbytery Conversations- Flexible Governance, Christine Chakoian & Mid Council

Commission

Rev. Chakoian and the Mid-Council Commission folks will spend some informal discussion time for any who

wish to stay following the meeting. If planning on staying, please bring your own lunch, or order at the break

time a chick filet sandwich and fruit meal for $7.



HANDBOOK PART I:

ACTION ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED

COMMUNICATIONS For Recommendation:

1. That the following be approved as part of the Omnibus Motion

Approval of the September 20, 2011 Minutes reviewed by Ken Whitehurst and Margaret

Moore

Admit to Record items of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry (pg 42)

Admit to Record item of the Communications Report (see below), (pg 40)

Admit to Record items of the Operations Committee (pg 47)

Admit to Record items of the Council (pg 46)

For Recommendation…the names in nomination from the Nominating Committee (pg 24)

Please note…if any commissioner has a question regarding any of the above items or wishes the presbytery to

have discussion on any item contained within the above reports, please come to the microphone at this time of

presentation of the motion and request that a particular item be extracted. If anything is extracted, that item

will be placed at the end of the docket for discussion.

(This is part of the Omnibus Motion)

The Presbytery has been informed that Columbia Theological Seminary has chosen its Theological Student

Delegates to the General Assembly this June. It is a formality that the presbytery from which those students

reside, must be elected by the Presbytery. Therefore, we recommend that Simone Adams (Pleasant Hill) be

elected as the TSAD from Columbia Seminary.

EXAMINATIONS

The following people have been examined by the Commission in the areas of Theology, Bible, Worship and

Sacraments and Polity. The Commission has approved each of these people and recommend to the

Presbytery that they be received.

Recommendation:

Jennifer Ayre (Chicago Presbytery) has been called to a validated ministry as an Assistant Professor of

Religious Education and the Director of Religious Education Program at Candler School of Theology. Date

of validation: October 26, 2011.

Thomas Brown (Presbytery of Florida) is Honorably Retired.

Bradley Clayton (Charlotte Presbytery) has been called as an Associate Pastor at Roswell Presbyterian

Church. Effective date: October 24, 2011.

Olin McBride (Saint Andrew Presbytery) has been called as the Head of Staff of McDonough Presbyterian

Church. Effective date: January 2, 2011.



Jennifer Ryan Ayres

Journey of Faith

My life and personal faith journey reflect our common calling in baptism. Like the Directory for Worship reads, I

believe that “baptism is God’s gift of grace and also God’s summons to respond to that grace.” I have been nurtured

and challenged in faith from childhood. Baptized as an infant and raised in the Presbyterian church, my faith

journey has been one of steady and gradual development. Because of my experience of Christian nurture both

within my immediate family and the congregation in which I grew up (in Asheboro, NC), I cannot pinpoint any

particular “moment” in which I came to faith. My entire life has been filled with glimpses of God’s grace and

presence in my life, which, over time, have instilled in me a deep desire to respond to this grace in a variety of

means. In congregational settings and in broader contexts, my sense of God’s call for my life was consistently

reinforced and deepened during my childhood and youth.

During my college years at UNC-Chapel Hill, I, like many of my peers, virtually eliminated church

attendance from my weekly schedule. Despite this “dry spell,” however, I accepted a part-time position in my

home church as an interim director for Christian Education. During that time, I heard and was confirmed in a

call to seek seminary formation, and enrolled at Union-PSCE (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) the

following year. While at Union-PSCE, I found myself surprised, confused, confronted and set aflame by

God’s call for my life. Each day, it seemed, a new question of faith would emerge, with dozens more to

follow. What I loved about seminary was the ever-present community of fellow students and faculty who

understood and encouraged my questions. These questions carried me into parish ministry, and then back to

further graduate education and a teaching ministry in theological education.

As I concluded my studies at Union-PSCE, I struggled to discern whether I was called to parish

ministry or a teaching ministry. By God’s grace, I was invited to serve in an interim associate pastor position

working with youth and their families at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where I’d completed an internship

year while in seminary. That congregation helped me become a pastor, and I cherish the time I spent there.

During my time at MPPC, one of the matriarchs of the church pulled me aside after a Sunday school class I’d

taught, grabbed me by both shoulders, and looked me square in the eye. “Listen,” she said. “Your calling is in

the teaching ministry. And you need to do whatever is required for you to pursue that.” It was a gift of clarity

for which I will be forever grateful, and an external confirmation of the call I’d sensed for several years. The

call to pursue the questions.

It is this deep love for questions, and for accompanying people of faith as they grapple with these

questions, that took me through my doctoral work here in Atlanta, at Emory University; through four years of

teaching Christian ethics on the faculty at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL; and now has

brought be to this particular expression of Christian ministry, as a professor of religious education at Candler

School of Theology. Questions about God’s purposes and calling for our lives are with us always. For people

of faith, it’s in exploring these questions that we actually find our vocation. I continually seek to discern

God’s will for my life. I believe that I have been cradled in the arms of God since my birth and that my

baptism perpetually demands of me a response to this gracious care. Service as an ordained minister of word

and sacrament is one integral component of my response to God’s call, and one that I take very seriously,

even as I am engaged in the teaching ministry.



Jennifer Ryan Ayres

Statement of Faith

I believe in the one triune God, manifest in three distinct, yet inseparable persons – God, the Holy

Parent; Christ, God’s son; and the Holy Spirit.

God has created the universe and all that is in it. Even as it groans under the weight of suffering,

injustice, violence and environmental degradation, we see in it true reflections of the Creator’s mysterious

perfection. All that has been created by God falls under the sovereign rule of God. Out of God’s eternal Love,

God created humanity, in God’s own image. God has created women and men with bodies, souls and minds,

to live in and care for this world. However, God did not create us simply to fulfill a role, but because God

delights in humanity, and seeks relationship with us.

Despite God’s intimate concern for us, we fall short of God’s intent for our lives. The sinful nature of

our humanity separates us from God and from each other. We find ourselves in quite a predicament, as we

understand sin as both a condition that binds us and actions for which we are fully responsible. But this is not

the end of the story!

In God’s eternal love, God came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ. Through Christ, God

has reconciled humanity with Godself. Christ is, for us, not only an historical person used by God for specific

purposes. Christ, the true Word, has been with God since the beginning, and in fact is God.

In his time on earth, Jesus worked, laughed, worshiped, and suffered among us. While Jesus was fully

God, he was not a divine being simply inhabiting a human-like form. Jesus was fully human. In him, true

humanity was realized once and for all. After a life of obedient service and faith, Jesus endured the ultimate

act of obedience in his death. In his final utterance, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?,” we

know that Jesus experienced the fullest depths of human pain… alienation from God. But, we have nothing to

fear in life or death, because Christ both lives and dies with us, and has triumphed over death for us. In his

life, death and resurrection, Jesus has redeemed all human life. Even more than this, he has redeemed the

whole creation.

Christ lives with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Brief Statement of Faith, we confess

trust in “God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.” The Holy Spirits inspires in us

understanding as we read the holy Scriptures. The Holy Spirit gives the gift of faith, and equips us with

particular spiritual gifts that enable us to do ministry as the church. The Holy Spirit unites all believers to

Christ, who is the Head, and unites all believers to one another in the church, which is Christ’s body.

The church is Christ’s body in the world. In the church, individual believers come together and make

up a new, unified, organic approximation of the kingdom of God. The church is one living, breathing body; a

body that weeps, laughs, serves, prays and proclaims the good news in the world. Calvin believed (as do I)

that the two marks of the true church are the Word rightly proclaimed and the sacraments rightly

administered. If the Word is proclaimed and the sacraments administered with integrity, people and

communities are changed. Our lives collide with the truth of the gospel, leaving the imprint of grace upon our

souls. We are changed and made ambassadors for Christ, as Paul told the church at Corinth.



When the Word of God is proclaimed in worship, Christ is made present among us, through

the power of the Holy Spirit. Those responsible for preaching are called to diligently and

faithfully present a sermon that illumines the holy Scriptures. Scripture is authoritative for

the faithful because it reveals Christ, the true Word of God. Reformed worship also is

marked by the practice of the two sacraments of the Church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

These two rituals are signs of Christ’s real presence among us, and make very real our bond

as the members of the Body of Christ.

In corporate worship, God’s children are called, gathered, nourished and challenged to seek

to join in God’s work of making real the Kingdom of God on earth. We do this when we seek

love, justice, reconciliation, discipleship and peace. This calling demands much of us,

sometimes requiring that we speak an unpopular yet prophetic word in response to injustice

and suffering, even as we anticipate God’s alternative future of peace, justice, and the

flourishing of creation. Created by God, redeemed in Jesus Christ, and sustained by the

Holy Spirit, we must engage this calling with boldness and with faith.

Thomas E. Brown

Journey of Faith

Hebrews 11-12

"His faith journey made him a man of the church. It was through the church that he knew of God, it was in the

church that he knew the Christ and witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit. He was less an individualist than a

communitarian, less a mystic than a messenger of the practical application of the gospel and ethics of Jesus,

less a seeker of saving grace for himself than a grace-mediator for others. He journeyed through a labyrinth

that included the oppression of poverty, the option of greed, the opportunity for service. He was never not

in and of the church."

My pilgrimage could be so summarized. From the Cradle Roll of Sanston (Va.) Presbyterian Church (1933),

to the people of Carondelet-Markham PC (St. Louis,

pastor 1995-98), the church, the Presbyterian Church specifically, has confirmed, challenged and comforted

me as I have hiked like Abraham, et alia, into the unknown and the unseen. Always, it has been the people

of the church, the Body of Christ manifest, who have represented and re-presented the Voice of God, the hand

of Jesus, the inspiration of the Spirit. I have run the race set before me “surrounded by a great cloud of

witnesses.”

They included Ms. Mitchell and Aunt Gladys, my teachers at FPC, Florence, S.C. who prepared me for

confirmation at age 11; my mother, at whose feet I memorized the Children's Catechism; the Boy Scout troop

leader at First PC , Savannah; .the pastor at Oakhurst PC, Decatur, who coached the 9th grade youth group

wherein I felt the first stirrings of a call to ministry; Henry Mobley, pastor at Oakland Ave. PC , Rock Hill,

S.C., whose preaching got my attention; Hobie Holtzendorff, elder and teacher at OAPC, Y Director and Key

Club sponsor, who first showed me that I could be a leader; Lauren Brubaker, professor of religion and

chaplain at USC, Columbia, whose classes in Bible and in Christian philosophy helped me to apply intellect

to my faith, and to understand the epiphany of a call to ministry that occurred in a political science class. He

was a Princeton TS alum so off I went to Princeton in September, 1955. By January,1956, I was youth

director at Covenant PC, Trenton, where Allen Winn taught me how to pastor, and where I was ordained and

installed as Associate Pastor June 9, 1959. Guided by PTS' Samuel Blizzard, I completed a Th.M., focused



upon the pastor's role in parishioners' occupational crises. That led to a call to join Ed Golden in 1964 at the

Board of Christian Education, Philadelphia, to help shape plans for developing occupational counseling

services for clergy and other church leaders. In 1966 I went back to Princeton to lead Northeast Career

Center, the pilot for centers gradually established ecumenically across the nation. In 1970 Jim Glasse, new

president of Lancaster (Pa.) TS, persuaded me to come down and help him rebuild a dying institution. I did

and we did.

I moved to St. Louis in 1978 to establish a local and international consulting service for individuals, the

churches and other organizations. I retired in 1998. All through this journey I served on presbytery (

ministry, preparation for ministry, personnel and administration, camp and conference), as well as national

church, committees, and preached a lot! It has been a great journey. The church. Always the church!

Thomas E. Brown

Statement of Faith

Participation in, and submission to, the church is and always has been essential to my faith. As contrary to the

New Testament ideal as I have seen her be in some instances, I still believe, after more than 70 years of

conscious participation, that it is through and in the church, gathered as two or three, or as multitudes, that the

Holy Spirit moves in and among us to help us work toward accomplishing the goal of the prayer, “ that thy

kingdom come, thy will be done on earth….” . See G 1.0200 old book, “The Great Ends of the Church.” I

summarize the basics:

1. I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but I do not own him. He owns himself and relates to me. I

seek him in and through the church and in whatever ways he makes himself manifest to me. He is not

restricted to my perceptions of him!

2. The Spirit blows where the Spirit will but I believe even so that the dialogue (I-Thou) which is essential

to a dynamic Christian faith must occur in the context of the church; otherwise, I may righteously develop

one more of the currently popular me-oriented religious manifestos that are sprinkled with wordy

acknowledgements of Jesus but which on close examination look more like Narcissus wrapped in religious

language. My own wisdom, insight, leadership, is subject ultimately to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as

expressed in, through and by the church. The church keeps me humble (most days). For an excellent sermon

on the dangers of Narcissus see Doug DeCelle at www.fpclagrange.org/resources/The+Tyranny+of+Me.pdf

3. I accept and trust in the basic Calvinistic belief that God is at work in the world but I try never to be

absolutely certain that I know exactly what God is doing. Scripture, the tradition of the church, and the

dialogue mentioned above all help me know some things that God probably does not do and some things that

God probably does do but I must be careful to distinguish my thought of God from the reality of God, my

belief in God from the truth of God. I see in a mirror darkly and trust that I shall see face to face but for now I

must live by faith. So I have. So I do. So I shall. See Hebrews 11:1; ah, see the chapter!

4. Wow! That makes of life an ongoing adventure: walking my path with a sense of commission and happily

discovering along the way more and more of the wonders of God. Knowing God in Christ is not a finished

book. It is not simply an Easter egg hunt for eggs God has hidden and dares us to find. God is still at work

creating. The Creator is the creating power in the universe. I am now 79. If I live another 79 years I will still

be discovering, still singing “Great Creator still creating..” See Presbyterian Hymnal: 268



5. The church has always called me out of myself and into service in Christ’s name. I believe that such calling

out is our major mission challenge today. I believe I am called to continue to do what I can to help to meet

that challenge, though “the old gray preacher he ain’t what he used to be.” See Presbyterian Hymnal: 525,

Here I Am Lord.

Samuel Bradley Clayton

Journey of Faith

I am a blessed person. My relationship with Jesus Christ continues to be an incredible journey of

discovering those blessings and being thankful for the gifts I often take for granted. When I reflect on the

ebbs and flows of my faith, I do not think of particular moments that were monumental to my growth.

Instead I see faces of mentors, friends, and family members who have taught me the meaning of God’s grace

through their love and support. God calls us to community because our faith grows when we witness Jesus

Christ in our neighbor. Through the relationships that I have had with many inspiring people, I have grown

closer to God, and I consider those relationships a result of God’s providence. From the time I was born, I

was nurtured and loved by my parents and my church family, and I came to understand God’s love through

their patience and self-sacrifice. Because of my relationship with my church family, I learned quickly that I

was a unique child of God, and that God had a plan for me and for the world. Through my relationships with

my family and friends, I witnessed God serving the world through their hands and feet and hearts. Because of

their generosity I learned God’s deep love for all of creation, even those who seemed very different than me.

Because of the people I have met around the world, through travels to Scotland, Russia, Mexico and Peru, I

learned that God works beyond boundaries, and is not limited by time, money, space, or convenience. And

even through the struggles that I have had with friends and neighbors, I have witnessed Christ struggle along

with me when I have been slow to recognize the grace and truth that surrounds me. I felt called to ministry

from an early age, but I also feared that I would simply follow the advice of those I admired. I chose to leave

home to go to college, and leave again to study abroad in Scotland, hoping to have more time to discern

God’s will for my life on my own. But each time I moved, God simply put more relationships in my life,

relationships that have nurtured me, challenged me, and helped me to grow as a Christian. Through the CPE

program at seminary, I was privileged to meet many people who taught me a great deal about Jesus Christ by

sharing their story with me. And after hearing those stories I began to feel a deep call to pastoral care, so that

I could continue to share those stories with others as they witness to the gospel. Since I began serving as a

minister, the congregations where I have served have given me the greatest gift of all. They have taught me

the true meaning of grace. Through the ups and downs, through my growth as a pastor, they have continued

to open their arms to me, to encourage me, depend on me and challenge me, not because I have earned their

love or support, but because my life depends on grace just like everyone else. I truly feel called to Roswell

Presbyterian Church because I feel called to pastoral care, because I feel called to help them share their

stories and experiences of Jesus Christ. I feel called to this new relationship, because I know that my faith in

Jesus Christ will continue to grow and change as I witness Christ living and working among them.



Samuel Bradley Clayton

Statement of Faith

I put my faith and trust in the one and only God who creates and provides for all heaven and earth.

The same God who gave fire to the sun and stars, who made mountains grow up from the valleys, and oceans

extend around the world, also created me and every other person as a unique child of God. God’s Spirit

supports me and provides for me everyday of my life as God continues to evolve creation into what it is

intended to be. By God’s own choice, I am connected to God, dependent on God, and in relationship with

God. God loves me and chooses never to give up on me, no matter how often I abandon God. God continues

to create me each day renewing me when I make mistakes, rejoicing with me when I succeed, and making me

whole with each passing moment, because God loves me. God defined this love through the incarnation in

Jesus of Nazareth. Because of Jesus Christ I have a new life with God. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of

who God is and who I am supposed to be as a whole person. Through the life, death, and resurrection of

Jesus Christ, God is fully known and I know what it means to love perfectly. In the life of Jesus, God

accepted the limitations that we face and entered into our community to become one of us. God knows what

it is like to be human and showed us who we are called to be as whole people…people who sacrifice for each

other, people who depend on each other, people who belong to God and to each other. In the death of Jesus

Christ, God revealed to us the perfect love of self-sacrifice and service for others, and accepted the judgment

and punishment for the mistakes that we could not face on our own. In Jesus’ resurrection God promised us

that the limitations of this life are powerless against God’s mercy and grace. By including God’s children in

the life that Christ lived, in the death that He endured, and the resurrection where He reigns, God makes us

whole and redeems creation to what it is intended to be. Because I have put my hope in the life, death and

resurrection of Jesus Christ, I do not dwell each day within the sadness of my own imperfection. Instead I

live thankfully and joyfully in response to who Jesus is and to God’s immeasurable grace and love.

Whenever I offer pastoral care to a parent or child, whenever I offer my time and talents in mission service,

whenever I teach a Sunday school class, I do so with joy and thanksgiving for the ways that Christ has loved

me and for the ways that the Spirit sustains me each day. God’s grace and mercy is the good news of the

Gospel that only comes through Jesus Christ and I know that Good News through the testimony of the Bible.

The Bible is the inspired word of God that tells the story of the relationship between God and creation. I read

the Bible through the lens of faith, and I have a relationship with the text so that every time I read its pages it

is new for me. Just as those who wrote the Bible were guided by God’s Holy Spirit, I am guided by the Spirit

every time I read its pages, and I have faith that the Spirit speaks to my heart and breathes new life into me.

Sustained by the Holy Spirit, I am called to a new life in Christ…a life that depends upon the community of

faith, and serves the needs of the world by pointing to Jesus as the light of the world. Each day I approach

God with humility, remembering that I am both redeemed and limited, judged and loved, sustained and

called. It is to this God that I pray and serve, and have my hope.

Olin W. McBride

Faith Journey

My pilgrimage of faith with Christ and the Church has been one of great adventure, learning, and growth.

When I personally embraced the Christian faith at the age of thirteen, I had no idea the call to discipleship



would carry me to so many places and bring me into relationships with so many people in America, as well as

Europe, the Middle East and Central America.

I was born and raised in Conway, SC. I was fortunate to have been brought up in a strong Christian home.

There was never a day in which I didn’t feel the love of my parents and the love of the church. I thank God

for my parents who nurtured me through the days of my youth.

I was baptized as an infant in the Kingston Presbyterian Church, Conway, SC. I have vivid memories of

sitting with my older brother in the balcony of that grand church and feeling God’s presence at a very early

age. From the beginning of my life, physically and spiritually, a family has surrounded me with prayers and

loving support.

Although my father was influential in my spiritual development, my mother probably had more impact on my

faith as an infant and child. I remember sitting in her lap, almost nightly, and listening as she read some of

the great stories of our faith from her Bible. She also would sing some of the wonderful children’s hymns

that many of us hold very dear. My time with her, in reading and singing, taught me what it meant to believe

in a sovereign God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the authority of Scripture

and the mission of the church. Those lessons were vital but one lesson she taught me towers about them all –

the JOY of our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I felt a strong call to ministry in the fall of 1982. My call led me to Columbia Theological Seminary in July

of 1983. I received my Master of Divinity degree in May of 1987. I have served pastorates in Leland, MS

(1987-1991); Aiken, SC (1991-2001); Myrtle Beach, SC (New Church Development 2001-2003); and

Starkville, MS (2003-2011).

I recently (summer of 2010) had the privilege of being a recipient of a Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal

Program during which time I traveled (Austria and Germany), studied and reflected on my first 23 years of

ministry. During this program, I spent some time studying the writings of Thomas Merton at the Abby of

Gethsemane in Kentucky.

My faith journey has been tested through the years. Through the death of my father at an early age, my

mother as well, and recently my brother, I have witnessed nothing but grace and the fulfillment of Scripture

that “where He is so we will be.” Looking back over some 53 years of life and 24 years of ordained ministry,

I see clearly that God’s hand has held me and on more than one occasion, nudged me along the journey of

life. This knowledge gives me hope for whatever the future holds.

My wife Virginia, better known as Jim, and I have been married for 31 years. We have two children, Emory

(age 24) and Watson (age 21). Emory is a graduate of Mississippi State University. She is married and the

mother of a wonderful 11 month old daughter, Emma. Watson is a rising junior at Mississippi State.

I enjoy deer and turkey hunting, fly fishing, golf and tennis and spending time with my family. More recently,

trying to understand what it means to be grandparents has been our priority and our great joy.



Olin W. McBride

Statement of Faith

Being a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most exciting and fulfilling opportunity God has ever

provided for me and my family. I believe God has called me to preach, teach, lead and grow a church for His

glory.

I believe in the living and creating God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who calls each of us by name. I believe

in one God whom to know is life eternal, whom to serve is joy and peace.

I believe in Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God; fully human and fully divine. God sent his unique Son, Jesus

Christ, to die for our sins, to restore us to right relationship with God. I believe Christ to be the Mediator

through whom God has come to us and through whom we come to God. His resurrection means that our faith

is not empty, the final victory is assured over all evil powers which destroy and deform life, and that death,

the last enemy, is conquered.

I believe in the Holy Spirit through whom God continues to speak to us in the language and words of the

Bible, through the life of the church over the ages, and in the movement of the Spirit in the world today and

throughout history. The Holy Spirit is Giver of Life, the Re-newer and Helper of God’s people. The Holy

Spirit accompanies us on our journey of faith. We may not always be sure of this presence but I believe that

God’s Spirit is with us, sometimes gently, sometimes powerfully, guiding us in the midst of life’s stresses and

strains, our constant comfort and help in times of need.

I believe the Bible is God’s Word to us. It was inspired by God through real humans as they preached,

taught, prayed, composed poetry and song, told and retold stories, remembered and collected. As God spoke

to those human situations, so God speaks to us. All of Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching

the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living (II Timothy 2:16).

I believe the Sacraments are outward symbols of the renewing grace of God which is conveyed in the

Sacraments to sincere participants. Baptism declares our belonging to the family of God. The water

symbolizes the cleansing of our sinfulness by the blood of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Baptism

marks a new beginning and a new effort to serve Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a simple meal which

announces the death of Christ for our salvation. The Risen Christ communes with us in the Sacrament and

gives us fellowship, nourishment, and renewal.

I believe the church is the home of the family of God, where we are nurtured into a deeper relationship with

God, sustained in difficult times, and equipped for service. The church is set apart by God through the Holy

Spirit to be a chosen people in the world. Every Christian is a representative of God, able to share God’s love

in the individual’s own unique way to a hurting world.

I believe in the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ. As God sent Christ to us, so Christ sends us into the

world. We are here to proclaim Christ in word and deed.



COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY:

For Recommendation:

1. That the Presbytery allow CPM to appoint the five readers of ordination exams at its December 8,

2011 meeting in order to meet the GA deadline of December 15 to submit names.

2. The Committee voted to allow Jane Kagia to be given an oral examination as an alternative method of

examination for Theological Competence. Presbytery approval requires ¾ vote per G-2.0610.

3. The Committee on Preparation for Ministry recommends the following inquirers be enrolled as

candidates as of shown dates:

Sharon Gregory, Crossroads July 14, 2011

Joannah Cook, Clairmont October 6, 2011

Yeonkwon Jeong, Korean Community November 3, 2011

Meredith Loftis, St. Luke’s November 3, 2011

Sharon Gregory

Faith Journey

I grew up in a nominally Jewish home. My maternal grandmother was orthodox and saw that we all got training

from Hebrew school and attended services. Nana was the rock in my broken home. My parents divorced when I

was nine. I have 3 siblings younger than I: Billy, 2 years younger (dead now 4 years), Jon (5 years younger) and

Jacquelyn (7 years younger). We lived with Mom for two years then spent the rest of my years at home with

Dad and Ardelle (step-mom (dead now 2 years)). I became a Christian through the ministry of “Christ the Only

Way Mission”, led by Brother Bob Carter, minister to the “hippies.” I prayed to ask Jesus into my life over a

cereal bowl in fall of 1971. I made a public profession of faith and was baptized in Norcross Galilean Baptist

church.

Two years later I went to the University of Florida to pursue a degree in nursing. By God’s grace, I completed

that degree and grew in my faith through several ministries and churches: Notable are: Campus Crusade for

Christ, Community Evangelical Free Church under pastor Michael Braun, and Hebrew-Christian Fellowship. I

was married in August of 1976 to Alan Eugene Brown Jr..

Upon graduation, after making the family rounds, we moved our small household to Dallas, Texas where Alan

was to pursue a degree in ministry. Unfortunately we became a seminary statistic; regrettably the marriage

ended in 1981.

While still in Dallas, I met my future husband John Gregory. We moved to Atlanta so I could go to school at

Emory University for a Masters in Neonatal Perinatal Nursing. After graduation in 1985, John and I were

married 8-31-86.



God called me out of a season of anger and deep hurt by sending 3 women into my work life. Two came to a

support group I led for parents experiencing stillbirth, miscarriage or neonatal loss. I followed them to

Crossroads Presbyterian church where I joined in 1989 and later served as an elder, Bible study leader, Drama

Coordinator, Women’s group leader, youth leader, and many other roles as God used my gifts of helps, teaching

and encouragement in various capacities.

The third woman had an infant, in the NICU where I worked who died at two weeks of age. God used Martha to

disciple me back in my walk with the Lord while I was ministering to her in her grief.

I continued to work in the NICU as clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner until 2002. At that time our

new Women and Infant Director wanted a nurse run grief support program for the whole division. I have been in

the role for the last 6 years.

My call to ministry came thrumming on deaf ears. I began to hear it two years ago in various modes including a

heart desire to minister to people with the riches of God’s Spirit. Recently, I attended a chaplain’s ordination

and the service spoke to me directly. One of my primary objections was addressed by a lunch mates who had

started seminary at 52. I shared the call with another chaplain who affirmed what I shared.

I have fibromyalgia, have been bankrupt in the last 2 years and have a daughter entering college in Fall of 2009.

My husband, while supportive, does not involve himself in church. His ministry is prophetic and on the internet.

I have gone through and am still involved in extensive counseling for child abuse of various forms. I have never

been pregnant; Leah is a gift from God by adoption. This is my legacy of pain, from which God intends for me

to minister to others (2 Corinthians 1:2-5). I do not know How but I do know Who has called me.

Sharon Gregory

Statement of Faith

I believe that triune God created the world by the Word and declared it good. God the Father, Son and Holy

Spirit created men and women in God’s image. I believe that Old Testament history helps me understand

God’s character through His law and His redemptive relationship with His people. Jesus existed, was with

God and was God and took on human form through birth to the Virgin Mary. His life and teachings showed

us a new view of the Kingdom of God. He died and suffered because his message was seen as a threat to the

existing religious and government structures. In Jesus’ death, God provided the eternal sacrifice for the

forgiveness of the sins of humans so those who believe will be saved. By the resurrection of Jesus, God

demonstrated His power over sin and death.

The sacraments are means for making God’s grace visible. The sacrament of baptism may be done

when believing parents present their infant and enter into a partnership with the church to raise them in the

nurture and admonition of the Lord. Adults not baptized as infants are baptized when they make a profession

of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The congregation also enters into partnership with the new

believer to help them growth in their faith. We remember Jesus through the sacrament of the Lord’s Table.

Baptized believers partake in obedience to the command to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus

when we eat the bread and drink the cup. The spiritual nourishment received in this remembrance reflects the

bond shared with Jesus in spiritual communion.



The church serves as a hub for spiritual nurture from which believers go out to serve Jesus Christ in

the world. The local congregation learn, worship, fellowship, serve and pray together so they may grow in

their faith. Each believer has a responsibility to discern the gifts and talents God has given them and how

best to serve the church and mankind through those gifts. Members of the congregation serve in mission to

the community, nation and the world as directed by the session. The session participates in the mission as

directed by PC USA and uses the resources of Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly to choose where,

when and who to serve. The church is a representative of Jesus Christ to the world.

God chooses and calls humans to respond to His love and the grace revealed in Jesus. Humans choose

to respond in belief to Jesus as their Savior and Lord and commit themselves to a life of obedience being

empowered, guided and taught by the Holy Spirit who dwells in them. The Christian faith is a life of living

out the character of the Kingdom of God. Someday, Jesus will come and resurrect the church and establish

the Kingdom of God for eternity.

Joannah Cook

Faith Journey

My parents raised my sister and me in Watkinsville, a small town outside Athens, GA. They instilled

Christian moral values in us and we attended a small Baptist church where I became a member and was

baptized around the age of 11. Although we were not a family that expressed our emotions on an intimate

level, my sister and I knew we were loved and we did not take for granted the opportunities our parents

worked hard to give us.

However, it was not until I was 16 years old that I began to realize that Christianity was not about

following rules, but enjoying a relationship with Jesus. Through two mentors who were my middle school

teachers, I began to see Jesus as a human being who knew and loved me and desired a relationship with me.

My later teenage and college years were marked by progress in my understanding

of my sin, God’s grace, and the importance of Christian community as I sought to

learn all I could through Scripture and Christian mentors. It was at this point that

my parents’ marriage fell apart and they lived separated for several years before

their marriage ended in divorce during my junior year of college. Undoubtedly, I

experienced many doubts, anger, and confusion, but with the help of many Christian

peers and mentors I was able to lean upon Jesus and begin to grow closer to Him.

After graduating from the University of Georgia, I applied for seminary at Gordon-Conwell

Theological Seminary and was accepted. I received a Master of Divinity

degree and began teaching at Wesleyan, a Christian, private school in Norcross, GA. I taught Bible, coached

basketball, and coordinated service projects for four years.

Sensing it was time to leave Wesleyan, I was open to what the next step might be. Wondering if it

was international missions, I embarked on a month-long trip to the Balkans; it still amazes me that I had to

travel so far to discover that God was calling me remain in Atlanta. However, God did not call me to remain

in the Atlanta that I knew. Rather, I heard the Lord calling me to a place where I would experience economic

and racial diversity among my neighbors and I moved from the comfort of Norcross to the East Lake

community of east Atlanta.

I followed the Lord’s lead and began working for Atlanta Youth Project (AYP), an urban youth

ministry; I served as a volunteer coordinator and Bible study leader for seven years. Among these youth, I

learned about the challenges facing the poor, my own presumptions and prejudices about so called “inner city

families”, and the need for committed, Christian witnesses in the midst of suffering.



Nevertheless, during the last two years of my work with AYP, I began seriously considering a

vocation toward which the Lord had been quietly nudging me: hospital chaplaincy. I was accepted as an

intern in the CPE program at Egleston in January 2010. Within the first week, I felt my calling affirmed and

knew that I was in the right spot to continue my faith journey and minister to others out of my gifting. After

completing my internship, I was accepted at Egleston for a 1 year residency.

A simple, yet apt way to describe my sense of calling to chaplaincy is to refer to

the movie Chariots of Fire. In it, British track athlete Eric Lidell says: “When I run,

I feel God’s pleasure.” Similarly, when I am at the hospital, serving those in pain, I feel God’s pleasure.

Joannah Cook

Statement of Faith

When I walked down the aisle of our small Baptist church at age 11 hearing voices sing the last stanza of

"Just As I Am", I had very little idea of the journey I was publicly and formally beginning. When I told the

preacher that I was ready to become a member of the church and to be baptized, I didn't yet know the full

meaning of what it meant to be part of the body of Christ and to be forgiven of my sins. However, I

understood that God existed, that God was powerful and that God loved me.

In my adolescence, as I struggled with my identity and began to realize that the world was not as it should be,

I faltered in my child-like faith. At the same time, more indirectly than directly, I learned that being a

Christian was behaving correctly or, at least having a sound, moral value system from which to operate. I

began to see religious devotion as equal to good behavior. My Christianity became about performing and

doing the things that any good Christian should do. The external things like making good grades, achieving in

sports, being a good daughter, sister, and friend were how I measured my faith. I was not taught that

Christianity worked from the inside out, beginning with my heart and leading to my actions.

Two of my high school teachers began holding Bible studies after school. For the first time, through their

teaching I understood that being a Christian meant having a relationship with Jesus Christ, not meeting a

certain moral standard. I felt my soul awaken when we read Scripture, prayed and talked about Jesus, the

present and alive Jesus. As I listened to and watched them, I began to see that I could never obey all the rules

and that Jesus had already done so on my behalf. This was both a startling realization and a huge relief.

As my relationship with Jesus grew, I developed a deep curiosity about theology and ministry. I sensed God

leading me to a path of full time work in service to others. I attended Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary

and graduated with a Master of Divinity. At GCTS, my faith was challenged and cultivated through my

friendships with other students and with faculty members. It was a gift to be able to mature in my

relationship with Jesus through my studies and I am very thankful for the years I had at seminary in

preparation for a life of ministry.

While at seminary, I took a study tour with a professor and 7 students to the former Yugoslavia. While there,

I witnessed up close the aftermath of war, both the physical destruction and the spiritual and emotional

turmoil caused by bitter conflict. Speaking with people who had seen horrendous acts of war and even been

perpetrators of violence was shocking and surreal. Yet I could not stop re-playing the conversations and

picturing the peaceful faces of Croats who were able to forgive Serbs. I looked at my picture album from this

trip knowing I would go back there again. I visited three more times. Each time falling more in love with the



culture and people of Croatia. As a result of my time there, reconciliation and community became dominant

interests and themes in my own life and ministry such that after four years of teaching in the suburbs of

Atlanta, I was compelled to move to the south side of the city working among low-income African American

families in urban ministry. God called me to live as a minority in my community although at times I may feel

uncomfortable or threatened.

My spiritual journey was deeply defined and impacted by my experiences in Croatia. God used a diverse

group of people from all over the world to guide me (though they had no idea such was happening) in making

a paradigm shift in my thinking about Christianity. I saw for the first time how influenced I was by the

western culture of Christianity and how susceptible I was to worshipping an idea of Jesus shaped by cultural

messages rather than Jesus Himself. This realization opened up many questions and refined my thinking

about practicing my faith in the world around me. Through these trips and other experiences, God has taught

me to depend upon Him for strength and grace to reach out to hurting and marginalized people. This calling is

where "my deep joy meets the world's great need" (Frederick Buechner) and has now manifest itself in the

specific calling of ministry to the sick and dying as an ordained minister and chaplain.

I am assured that my joy and God’s glory meet when I am present to those who suffer loss and grief. It is my

hope that “his grace to me is not without effect” (I Cor 15:10); that by God’s grace others may know God’s

deep, unconditional love for them, especially in the midst of some of the most painful times of their lives.

Yeonkwon Jeong

Faith Journey

I became a Christian when I was eleven. It all happened because I followed one of my friends to a

church. The church’s name was Joongboo Methodist Church. It was fun to go to church every Sunday

because I could play with friends. Maybe it was God’s grace that I went to Daesung Middle School which

was Christian middle school. It was rare in Korea. I think attending Christian Middle School helped me

become and mold myself as a Christian because I attended a service before class every day. Through morning

services I gradually understood God and His presence in my everyday life.

I wanted to devote myself to God as his faithful servant; however, it did not happen that way. As I

grew older, that idea started to fade, and that thought was taken over by my desire for worldly things such as

fame, wealth, and power. At college I majored in Computer Engineering and received B. Eng, M. Eng, and

Ph.D. degrees from Chungnam National University in Korea. At age of twenty eight I became a professor at

Juseong University. I traveled many countries and met many different people because of my work. Even

though I pushed the idea of being a pastor aside, I still was a devote Christian. I just pursued the worldly

dreams at that time.

Since freshman year of college, I had become a member of teachers in Sunday School of Joongboo

Methodist Church. I coordinated and directed Sunday school’s schedules, activities, special events, and

curriculum with other faculty members. I mediated between Sunday school and the board of the church. From

1986 to 2000 year, during those fifteen years I studied Bible eagerly to give youngsters better understanding

of Bible. At age of forty I became an elder in Juseongchun Presbyterian Church.

I am pursuing theological education to obey God’s calling in Columbia Theological Seminary. My

family is a member of Korean Community Presbyterian Church of Atlanta (KCPC), which is in Duluth,

Georgia. As a director, I am serving the “Yunhap Christian Academy” which is a non-profit education

organization to educate children (K~12) in a summer program and Korean language. Also as a member of



“Company of New Pastors” in PCUSA, I have a monthly meeting with spiritual mentors and colleagues who

challenge me to struggle about the theological and pastoral issues.

Yeonkwon Jeong

Statement of Faith

I believe in one God experienced and revealed to us in three ways—God the Father, God the Son, and

God the Holy Spirit. I believe that in the beginning Triune God is almighty and creates everything into being

from nothing, and all creation was made good.

I believe in a Savior, Jesus Christ, God's only son who was incarnated. He lived in this world for thirty

three years and died for us on the cross. Through His dying and His resurrection, God has provided us with a

way to be saved forever. It is offered freely by God‘s grace. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has eternal

life and peace with God.

I believe that God the Holy Spirit enables us to have faith, to be justified through the faith, to be

renewed every day. Also He binds us to form a community in the name of God and empowers us to live as

Jesus’ disciples. He is ever present in the world; communities of faith; in and with individuals.

I believe that God creates human beings in the image of God. But through the falling of Adam and

Eve, original sin has been passed down through the generations. In addition, human beings have still left from

God and stayed towards pride, greed, and selfishness. As a result, everyone is under God’s judgments as a

sinner. Human begins are not saved by any of our own merit or works, but only by the believing of Jesus

Christ. Because of sin, we cannot fully live out the lives that we were created to live with God and with one

another.

I believe that church is a covenant community called by God to praise God and serve God. The church

has to proclaim the saving love of Jesus Christ as well as participate in faithful community works.

I believe that Bible is the inerrant word of God which reveals truths about God and the salvation of

human beings. The Old and New Testaments, inspired by God, have absolute authority in all matters of life

and practice of faith. All scriptures are beneficial for teaching, for correction, and for training in

righteousness.

I believe that there are two sacraments. Only baptism and the Lord's Supper were instituted by God

and commended by Christ. I believe that baptism is one and does not discriminate between gender, race, age,

class, and so on. Everyone can be adopted into the Church through baptism. The Lord's Supper is the sign and

seal of eating and drinking in communion. It is to give thanks for and remember God’s saving acts. In

addition, it binds us into one body with Christ, and helps us to experience a foretaste of the coming Kingdom

of God.



Meredith Loftis

Faith Journey

I was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada during a great blizzard in November of 1985. I lived there for about 4

years, and while I do not remember it, I really enjoy telling people that I saw the Jamaicans bobsled in the

1988 Winter Olympics. After living in Dallas, Texas for a couple of years, Atlanta, Georgia became what I

call home to this day and where I was raised. Because my parents are American, I have dual citizenship with

both Canada and the United States.

I was born to a lifelong Presbyterian and a reformed Baptist, and became myself a lifelong Presbyterian too.

The constant in my life was school and church. Without fail, my brothers and I would be sitting in Sunday

School and worship, learning the bible stories, attending Vacation Bible School, youth group, confirmation,

mission trips, and probably more that I cannot remember.

After high school, I attended Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina where football was considered

almost as holy as church itself. I was engaged in several activities such as intramurals, working as a Resident

Assistant for university housing, playing club rugby, and attending all the major sporting events. But what I

will remember most is my time spent with the Presbyterian Student Association (my mother says I actually

majored in PSA). This is where I found my niche and had my greatest memories. It led me to work for

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which in turn lead me to work for the American Red Cross.

Currently, I work for an electrical contracting company in Kennesaw, Georgia where I administer the

apprenticeship and training program, as well as the safety program. It has been an interesting experience, but

difficult as I do not interact with people very much. I am very excited to start seminary at Columbia

Theological Seminary in September (though very nervous about Hebrew!).

Meredith Loftis

Statement of Faith

I believe that our one triune God desperately wants us to know what love is, to experience that holy love, and

to pass it on to all we know. We see that relational love bound up within the trinity as Augustine described it,

as Lover, Beloved, and the Bond of Love. The three manifestations of God are one through the relationship

that binds them together. I truly believe this is how God wants us to be in relationship towards each other.

We, as mere human beings, need that community, for it is through that community that we see God within

ourselves and each other. God made this possible through his Incarnation in Jesus Christ who took on our

humanity, and because of the Spirit of God that is also part of Jesus, we are bound to the Godhead through the

Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ, the incarnate Logos, truly human and truly divine showed us through his human life and

ministry what it means and looks like to be connected to the Creator and the Spirit. Because God took on

flesh and became truly human, God has suffered and experienced joy as humans do. However, if Jesus had

not been truly divine, our salvation would be at stake because only God can reconcile us to Godself.

Something had to happen in order for humans to know God again, but there was nothing we could do. I

believe that since Jesus was and is the perfect human/divine model for us, we must imitate his ministry of

healing, teaching, reconciliation, and proclaiming the news of the inextricable love that our God has for us.

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection his life and ministry were vindicated by God. Because of this

validation, we must strive to bring the kingdom of God about as Jesus first initially did and continues to do in



this world. However, the church is never in a fixed, static position towards its knowledge of God. We are

forever continuing to see how God is at work in our lives; we are constantly reforming what we believe and

giving thanks that God continues to reveal Godself to us. We, of the Reformed Tradition, do not believe that

God is just watching us from high on a throne, but is amidst us, in us, and acting on us.

As I continue in my theological education and learn the technical side of how to research, exegete, and

interpret, it has become clear to me how important these tools are for a church that is not static but always

reforming, a church that is constantly seeking faith through understanding. For it is through continuous

learning that we learn about our God. I believe that it is essential to always be searching, for it is impossible

to learn about the mystery through and through. But we believe that we have a faith that is always seeking

understanding. Searching and discovering continuously to try and discover who our God is critical to faith.

Never accepting complacency in the journey to discover who that God-man is, who Jesus the Messiah was

and is today. Faith is not a goal to attain, but a never-ending process that leads us to new ways of thinking

about God, which leads to continuous reformation of the church.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

For Recommendation:

Names in bold type are proposed by the Nominating Committee at this meeting. Names in regular type are those

persons previously elected who continue their service.

Moderator of the Presbytery 2012 Dana Hughes Clergy woman At Large

2013 John Fountain Lay man Conyers

220th

(2012) General Assembly Commissioners June 30-July 7 - Pittsburgh, PA Elder Joe Brown Trinity, Atlanta

“ Carol Dunbar First, Covington

“ Mary Evans St. Andrews

“ Franklin Malcolm Luther Hay

“ John Shevlin Alpharetta

“ Celestine Tory Rice Memorial

Minister Dana Hughes Moderator-Elect, At Large

“ Craig Goodrich First, Atlanta

“ Jonier Orozco-Usuga College Park

“ Paul Roberts Johnson C. Smith Seminary

“ Todd Speed Decatur

“ Susan Hayes Northminster

Youth Advisory Delegate Cameron Ross McDonough

Bills and Overtures Committee 2012 Morgan Hay Clergy woman St. Andrews

“ Alfred McWilliams Lay man Radcliffe

“ Cliff Sandell Clergy man Specialized Ministry

2013 Lindsay Armstrong Clergy woman First, Atlanta

“ Toni Griffin-Fields Lay woman Church of the Master

“ Geraldine Murkock Lay woman Westhills



2014 Camille Josey Lay woman Peachtree

“ Kirk Susong Lay man North Avenue

“ 1 OPENING

Camp and Conference Committee 2012 Robert Chambless Lay man Shallowford

“ William Herndon Clergy man Porterdale

“ Megan Johnson Clergy woman Clairmont

“ Caroline Leach Clergy woman Oakhurst

2013 Cynthia Brown Lay woman First, Atlanta

“ Patrick Day Clergy man Northminster

“ Bob Matthews Clergy man Friendship

“ Eric Knoll Lay man McDonough

“ Callie Weber Clergy woman Val.Min-counselor

2014 Angela Ross Lay woman McDonough

“ Derwin Otwell Lay man Fayette

“ Jason Whitner Clergy man St. Luke’s

“ Cy Wolverton Lay man Covington

“ Chris Williams Lay man Trinity, Decatur

Campus Ministry Commission Our commissioners to the tri-presbytery commission

2012 Ann Clay Adams Clergy woman Specialized Ministry

“ Nancy Peterson Lay woman First, Atlanta

“ John Washburn Lay man Druid Hills

2013 Shannon Ball Clergy woman Specialized Ministry

“ Catherine Higgins Clergy woman Specialized Ministry

2014 Edrick Boateng Lay man New Life

“ Robert Hay Lay man St. Andrew’s

Committee on Ministry 2012 Terry Nall Lay man St. Luke’s

“ Gloria Chough Clergy woman Korean Central

“ Tina de Waart Lay woman Lawrenceville

“ James D. Harper Clergy man First, Douglasville

“ Mary Hay Clergy woman Honorably Retired

“ Charles Landrum Clergy man Honorably Retired

“ George Lawson Lay man New Life

“ Barbara Leath Lay woman Church of the Master

“ Mary Caroline Lindsay Lay woman Central

“ John Shevlin Lay man Alpharetta

“ Celestine Tory Lay woman Rice Memorial

“ Margaret Turney-Ayer Clergy woman Roswell

2013 Emily Cole Lay woman Carrolton

“ Jane Hubbard Lay woman First, Douglasville

“ Robert Lukat Lay man Morrow

“ Jeff Meyers Clergy man North Avenue

“ Steve Pelham Lay man First, LaGrange

“ Cecelya Taylor Clergy woman Trinity, Decatur

“ David Kivett Clergy man St. Andrew’s



“ Joel Tolbert Clergy man Rehoboth

“ Sylvia Wilson Clergy woman Honorably Retired

“ Kimberly Clayton Clergy woman Columbia Seminary

“ Kay Stewart Lay woman Shallowford

“ Lou Reaves Lay woman Memorial Drive

2014 Marnie Crumpler Clergy woman Peachtree

“ Clarice Elder Lay woman North Decatur

“ Michael Garrett Clergy man Westminster

“ Gail Perkins Clergy woman Rock Spring

“ Nancy Scott Lay woman Crossroads

“ Tom Wigley Lay man Decatur

“ Susan Hayes Clergy woman Northminster

“ Mark Roberson Lay man Roswell

“ Ron Reams Lay man Fayette

“ Marinda Harris Clergy woman Westhills

2 OPENINGS

Committee on Preparation for Ministry 2012 Jamie Butcher Clergy woman Alpharetta

“ Brooksie Cunningham Lay woman Radcliffe

“ Nancy Cunningham Lay woman First, Atlanta

“ Eve Earnest Lay woman First, Atlanta

“ Paul Fulks Clergy man Val. Min -Chaplain

“ Sharol Hayner Clergy woman At Large

“ Nicole Lock Clergy woman Westminster

“ Jihyun Oh Clergy woman Val. Min-Chaplain

“ Sue Riggle Clergy woman First, Jonesboro

“ Rob Sparks Clergy man Fairview

“ Rix Threadgill Clergy man Buford

“ Jay York Lay man Shallowford

2013 Wendy Dewberry Clergy woman Columbia

” Bryan Dunnagan Clergy man Peachtree

“ Mary Dyche Lay woman Morrow

“ Kate Colussy-Estes Clergy woman Val. Min- College

“ Beverly Friedlander Clergy woman Val. Min. –Chaplain

“ Ernie Hess Clergy man Covenant

“ Margaret Jacobs Lay woman Radcliffe

“ Kimberly LeVert Clergy woman Columbia Seminary

“ Mary Martin Lay woman St. Luke’s

“ Jonier Orozco-Usuga Clergy man College Park

“ Dale Phenicie Lay man Peachtree City

“ Jeff Vaughn Lay man Decatur

2014 Tom Adams Lay man Trinity, Atlanta

“ Karen Allamon Clergy woman Rock Spring

“ Jonathan Ball Clergy man Specialized Ministry

“ Shannon Dill Clergy woman St. Luke’s

“ Carol Dunbar Lay woman Covington

“ Matt Fry Clergy man Norcross

“ Raymond Johnston Lay man Westminster

“ Camille Josey Lay woman Peachtree

“ Bill Powell Lay man Roswell



3 OPENINGS

Committee on Representation 2012 Tania Easley Lay woman Radcliffe

“ Claudia Lopez Lay woman Centro Familiar Cristiano

“ Jae Kim Clergy man KCPC

2013 C. P. Huang Lay man Atlanta Taiwanese

Connie Lee Clergy woman First, Atlanta/Hillside D’Jaris Wallace Lay woman Rice Memorial

2014 Kathy Lane Lay woman Druid Hills

“ Eric Thomas Lay man Rock Spring

Council 2012 Doris Hoenig Lay woman Memorial Drive

“ Carol Seaton Clergy woman At Large

Oliver Wagner Clergy man Alpharetta

2013 Tom Hagood Clergy man Columbia

Christopher Henry Clergy man Shallowford

David York Lay man Morningside

2014 Kathleen Allen Lay woman North Decatur

Byeong Cheol Han Clergy man Korean Central

Ken Whitehurst Lay man Trinity, Decatur

Examinations 2012 Joe Brown Lay man Trinity, Atlanta

“ Gary Charles Clergy man Central

“ Ken Ingram Lay man First, LaGrange

“ Elisabeth Smith-Purcell Clergy woman Specialized Ministry

2013 Diane Duane Lay woman Roswell

Charles Easley Lay man Radcliffe

Paul Huh Clergy man Columbia Seminary

Belle Miller McMaster Lay woman Druid Hills

2014 Beth Daniel Clergy woman Kairos

Mark Douglas Clergy man CTS/First, Atlanta

Chuck Roberts Clergy man Peachtree

Marsha Snulligan Haney Clergy woman Val. Min. JCSTS

Montreat Georgia Lodge Board of Directors 2013 Lyn Crowell Havard Lay woman Trinity, Atlanta

2014 Dianne D. DeBarry Lay woman Pleasant Hill

New Church Development Commission Our commissioners to the tri-presbytery commission

2012 Gloria Chough Clergy woman Korean Central

April Love-Fordham Clergy woman Oak Mountain

2013 Tom Bagley Clergy man Hamilton Mill

Johnson Kinyua Clergy man Imm. Fellowship

Rick Wolters Lay man Peachtree

2014 Pam Drisell Clergy woman Trinity, Atlanta

Wylie Hughes Lay man St. Luke’s/Church of the Master



Operations Committee 2012 Ralph Clements Lay man Roswell

Roland Downing Lay man First, Atlanta

Tom Hyatt Lay man Alpharetta

Gerald Ledbetter Clergy man West Point

Itiharia Toure Lay woman First African

Dan West Clergy man Honorably Retired

2013 Terry Baker Lay man North Avenue

Cheryl Gosa Clergy woman Honorably Retired

Trace Haythorne Clergy man At-Large

Allison Johnson Lay woman Stockbridge

Scott Lewis Lay man Pleasant Hill

Franklin Malcomb Lay man Luther Hay

2014 Fahed Abu-Akel Clergy man Specialized Ministry

James Binion Lay man Radcliffe

Linda Davis Lay woman Druid Hills

Toni Griffin Fields Lay woman Church of the Master

Robert Hay Lay man St. Andrew’s

Caroline Kelly Clergy woman Central

Personnel Committee 2012 Brent Adams Lay man Covenant

Brenda Gales Lay woman Resurrection

Todd Speed Clergy man Decatur

2013 Jim Beisner Lay man Stockbridge

Kathy Bremer Lay woman Morningside

Marva Bryan Lay woman Memorial Drive

2014 Susan Bennett Clergy woman Stockbridge

Caleb Clarke Clergy man Eastminster

Doug Coe Lay man Roswell

Worship Committee 2012 Cynthia Blaine Lay woman Roswell

“ Mike Morgan Lay man Central

Marthame Sanders Clergy man Oglethorpe

2013 Denise Davidson Lay woman First African

Bobby Hume-Lippert Clergy man Clairmont

Alice Walker Lay woman Covington

2014 Chip Blankenship Clergy man Lawrenceville

Mary Evans Lay woman St. Andrews

Clark Simmons Lay man Druid Hills



COUNCIL

For Recommendation:

1. (the following recommendation is part of the omnibus motion)

That the Presbytery adopt the plan for parity that it operated under for the calendar year 2011. This includes

previous Book of Order numbers as found in the former Book of Order G-11.0101 as well as the Presbytery’s

plan for parity. Please see the addendum for the complete plan.

2. That the Presbytery adopt the following policy on Gracious Separation as amended from the first

reading presented to Presbytery on September 20, 2011. The crossed out sections are deletions from

the original first read while the italicized are additions from the original first read.


Policy for Gracious Separation 1. Introduction

The 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved Commissioners’ Resolution Item

04-28 which urged (quoting the then-current Book of Order):

.”..that presbyteries and synods develop and make available to lower governing bodies and local congregations

a process that exercises the responsibility and power ‘to divide, dismiss, or dissolve churches in consultation with

their members’ (Book of Order, G-11.0103i) with consistency, pastoral responsibility, accountability, gracious

witness, openness, and transparency. Believing that trying to exercise this responsibility and power through

litigation is deadly to the cause of Christ, impacting the local church, other parts of the Body of Christ and

ecumenical relationships, and our witness to Christ in the world around us, the General Assembly urges

congregations considering leaving the denomination, presbyteries and synods to implement a process using the

following principles:

Consistency: The local authority delegated to presbyteries is guided and shaped by our shared faith, service,

and witness to Jesus Christ.

Pastoral Responsibility: The requirement in G-11.0103i to consult with the members of a church seeking

dismissal highlights the Presbytery’s pastoral responsibility, which must not be submerged beneath other

responsibilities.

Accountability: For a governing body, accountability rightly dictates fiduciary and connectional concerns,

raising general issues of property (G-8.0000) and specific issues of schism within a congregation (G-8.0600).

But, full accountability also requires preeminent concern with ‘caring for the flock.’

Gracious Witness: … Scripture and the Holy Spirit require a gracious witness from us rather than a harsh

legalism.

Openness and Transparency: Early, open communication and transparency about principles and process of

dismissal necessarily serve truth, order, and goodness, and work against seeking civil litigation as a solution.”

The rationale supporting this resolution stated that it is easy to “emphasize the property trust responsibilities of

Presbytery/synod oversight to the exclusion of the pastoral responsibility of caring for the congregations (members

staying and leaving) and the responsibility of public witness to Christ with the larger body of Christ and the community

and world.” Secondly, it was suggested that presbyteries should be consistent in communicating how they will respond

to congregations seeking dismissal and that all parties should engage in a more grace-filled exchange.



2. Statement of Values of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

The Presbytery’s overarching value is the mission of Jesus Christ. This mission leads us to several values in cases of

discord within the Body of Christ:

a. Unity

The congregations and members of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta seek to uphold one another and to respect each

other’s integrity, even as we acknowledge significant differences in our views of what the Bible teaches about a number

of issues. We affirm the freedom of conscience of each member of the body of Christ. We desire to encourage peace

and unity, while minimizing confrontation between our congregations and members, as we seek together to find and

represent the will of Christ. In all that we do, it is our prayer to strive to be a church modeled on the body of Christ, a

church made up of many different parts, all of which are necessary for its mission to the world (F-1.0301). Our spiritual

unity is derived from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. (2

Corinthians 13:14)

b. Freedom of Conscience and Mutual Forbearance

Presbyterians have always celebrated and recognized significant differences of opinion on issues that matter. This ethos

is currently noted in the historic language found at F-3.0105: “[W]e also believe that there are truths and forms with

respect to which men of good characters and principles may differ. And in all these we think it the duty both of private

Christians and societies to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other.” Our covenant demands that we strive to

work together in peace and unity, even in the midst of our diversity. The duty is always to attempt to bring the

estranged member back into the covenant community, and we promise to carry out that duty in our ordination vows.

Through our theology we understand that “Presbyters are not simply to reflect the will of the people, but rather to seek

together to find and represent the will of Christ. Decisions shall be reached in governing bodies by vote, following

opportunity for discussion, and a majority shall govern” (F-3.0204 and 3.0205). At the same time, the church is

committed to being open to voices sharing minority opinions. At some points in our history, minority views eventually

became those of the majority. Thus, the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recognizes “’The church

reformed, always to be reformed according to the Word of God’ in the power of the Spirit” (F-2.0200).

There are also times when members find it impossible to go along with the majority. The Presbytery encourages all

presbyters and congregations to “concur with or passively submit to” the vote and wisdom of the majority (footnote to

G-2.0105). If their consciences will permit neither, the Presbytery will be generous in allowing congregations and

presbyters with strong issues of conscience to pursue peaceable withdrawal through dismissal to another Reformed

body in accordance with our interpretation of the Trust Clause as found in Sections 3 and 6 below.

c. Dialogue and Reconciliation

The goal of this Presbytery will always be reconciliation and continued engagement in relationship for all congregations

within the Presbytery, without the threat of isolation, estrangement or blame. The Presbytery is to be a servant to the

congregations God has entrusted to us, encouraging and supporting them toward becoming healthy, growing

congregations. This is especially true for those congregations for whom the bonds of unity are stretched and

ecclesiastical connections are frayed over issues of conscience to the point of considering disaffiliation.

1 John 4:18 states: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and

he who fears is not perfected in love.”

The Presbytery’s commitment to this passage in how we dialogue with each other means that we are committed to

engage the leaders of a congregation or the congregation as a whole without threat of punishment. It is likewise



incumbent upon the leaders of congregations wrestling with issues of conscience to share their concerns with

Presbytery leadership in a timely manner, being assured that the response will not be hostile, but instead one of

prayerful dialogue and a commitment to act in love and in the best interests of the congregation as well as the

Presbytery’s mission.

Dialogue recognizes that our Reformed tradition includes broad historical differences between the great doctrines and

themes of the church, and the specific theories and models which different communities have found useful in seeking to

understand those doctrines in the practice of their faith. A Reformed stance allows room for a variety of legitimate

perspectives and valid models of “essentials” that allow an understanding of underlying mysteries. Graciousness on

both sides acknowledges this validity and seeks to honor rather than to demonize one another.

3. The Property Trust Clause

According to the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (G-4.0203):

All property held by or for a particular church, a Presbytery, a synod, the General Assembly, or the

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), whether legal title is lodged in a corporation, a trustee or trustees, or an

unincorporated association, and whether the property is used in programs of a particular church or of a more

inclusive governing body or retained for the production of income, is held in trust nevertheless for the use and

benefit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The Trust Clause is intended to evidence the inter-connected relationship existing between the Presbyterian Church

(U.S.A.) and its congregations, as well as our unity in the covenant of common mission. Presbytery, as a corporate

organization of the body, is responsible for ensuring ministry in its geographical area by guiding and coordinating the

work of the particular churches within its bounds in order to maximize their strength for effective witness to the broader

community. Presbytery, therefore, has an inherent interest in the location and facilities of its member congregations to

further this mission.

Under the Trust Clause, a particular congregation’s church property, including land, buildings, and fixtures, is held in

trust for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Unless the congregation exercised exemption from this provision to seek

permission at the time of reunion, the congregation cannot sell, lease, or encumber it without the permission of

Presbytery, nor can it take property with it to another denomination unless Presbytery voluntarily releases its claim

upon the property.

The Trust Clause also reflects our understanding of the church as a communion of saints across time, with

responsibilities both to those who came before and those who will follow. When a congregation seeks to leave the

Presbytery, it is breaking what is often a significant historic relationship; it is also departing from a fellowship in which

its officers have participated, by whose polity they have pledged to be governed, and with which many members may

feel bonds of affection. This policy therefore cautions any congregation seeking to separate from the Presbytery to

consider its actions carefully.

The Trust Clause should not be used as a weapon to threaten civil action against a congregation. In considering

enforcement of the provisions of the Trust Clause, it is important that Presbytery and its member congregations act

graciously to one another. Scripture calls us to seek in all humility to resolve our disagreements and avoid the harm that

is done to the Gospel and Christ’s body when Christians resort to civil litigation and public disputes over property.

Therefore, Presbytery will not preemptively initiate civil litigation based on the Trust Clause. But, if a congregation

initiates civil action, the Presbytery may take legal action to defend its mission strategy for the Presbytery.

4. Process for Engagement with Presbytery Concerning Possible Dismissal

a. Initial Contact and Exploration



When any member of Presbytery the Council becomes aware, through either formal or informal contacts with church

leaders or members, that a congregation is in disagreement with Presbytery and/or the denomination to the extent of

considering withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), this information should be brought immediately to the

attention of Presbytery Council for action. Council COM Executive Committee will appoint two or more skilled and

experienced persons to work alongside the congregational consultant to contact the pastoral staff of the congregation to

determine the nature and seriousness of dissent. During this initial period of investigation, the congregation will be

identified only as “Congregation X” in Presbytery’s communications.

The persons assigned to represent Presbytery will seek a time of prayer and conversation focused upon understanding

the conflict and identifying potential steps toward reconciliation. Discussions may be held with congregational leaders,

the Session and/or small member groups as deemed appropriate, and may require several months or longer as the

Presbytery representatives attempt to ascertain how widespread is the dissatisfaction within the congregation.

b. Continued Dialogue and Determination of Possible Reconciliation

If it appears that reconciliation may not be likely and congregational leadership continues to express a desire to

withdraw from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbytery Council COM Executive Committee will then nominate a

Presbytery Engagement Team (PET) to undertake further discussions with the staff, Session and wider congregation as

they attempt to discern God’s will for denominational affiliation. Presbytery Council will be informed of the action.

The PET will be comprised of a balanced number of ministers and elders who are representative of the Presbytery as a

whole and, if possible, will include persons who have special skills, training or experience in mediation and negotiation.

The proposed membership and commissioning of the PET, together with the identity of the congregation, will be

reported to Presbytery. Thereafter, the chairperson of the PET will remain in regular communication with Council, and

Council will provide periodic updates on the status of discussions with the congregation to the Presbytery.

The congregation’s staff and Session, in consultation with the PET, will arrange a period of discussion to inform the

full congregation of the issues in question and how the denomination handles disagreement and dissent. It is expected

that the congregation’s leadership will ensure the PET is involved in all communications with the congregation so that

both sides of every issue are addressed fairly and accurately. The congregation will also give the PET an accurate

membership roll of the congregation. The PET’s dialogue with the church congregation will be guided by the

following:

Prayerful and respectful conversation to achieve clear understanding of the issues and positions of all

participants, including those of congregation members who do not wish to withdraw from the denomination.

Clarification of the services and benefits provided to the congregation and its leadership by its affiliation with

Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Explanation of the process of dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its likely consequences,

including financial, property and other related matters.

Exploration of whether reconciliation is feasible.

This period of dialogue and exploration will normally extend over a number of months, during which the PET will

attempt to ascertain the extent of support for a dismissal request. If it appears that progress can be made toward

reconciliation through continued and constructive dialogue, congregational leadership and the PET will establish a

mutually agreeable timeline for talks to be held and proceed to engage in such dialogue.

c. Negotiation of Terms of Dismissal

If the PET and leadership of the congregation are not able to establish a basis for reconciliation, the congregation’s

Session will appoint a Special Committee of the Congregation (SCC) to begin negotiating with the PET the terms for

dismissal and formal validation of the congregation’s desire to be dismissed. The SCC should comprise a mix of pastors



and elders, including members of the congregation’s finance, property and personnel committees, and should be

representative of the broader congregation, including those who wish to remain in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Once the SCC has been formed, negotiation of specific terms and a timeline for dismissal should proceed as

expeditiously as possible.

5. Terms for Dismissal

a. Release to Another Body

Consistent with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) polity and General Assembly actions taken in Anderson v. Synod of

Florida and Strong v. Bagby, a congregation can be dismissed with property only to another Reformed body recognized

by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It cannot be dismissed to “independency.”

b. Mission Strategy

As noted previously, the Presbytery views its role in interpreting the Property Trust Clause as a responsibility to act on

behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its member congregations to ensure ministry is coordinated and carried

out effectively in its geographic area. The congregational consultant in conversation with the Committee on Ministry

will therefore conduct a mission strategy and impact study with regard to the particular church seeking separation.

c. Review of Property and Financial Records

The SCC will provide to the PET copies of all executed documents concerning the congregation’s incorporation and

by-laws, real property and other assets including, but not limited to, current bank and investment accounts, deeds of

trust, loan agreements, liens, property and casualty insurance, and statements of tangible and intangible assets.

Representatives of the SCC and the PET will review these documents to determine whether Presbytery, Synod or any

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) body is named therein and/or is exposed to any liability claims which exist or may arise

under these documents. In order for the dismissal process to proceed, steps must be taken to repay in full any

indebtedness owed to or guaranteed by Presbytery, the Synod, or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or to refinance such

indebtedness through an independent creditor without support from Presbytery/Synod/Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Appropriate action must also be taken to amend any organizational documents, as necessary, and to ensure that

adequate insurance coverage of all property is maintained until dismissal is completed.

Similarly, if the congregation has established a foundation or received grants or endowment(s), related documentation

must be examined to identify any terms or restrictions affected by the proposed dismissal or involving Presbytery,

Synod or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Corrective action must be taken as appropriate.

Prior to finalization of the dismissal process, legal counsel will be retained to review the settlement agreement, prepare

a quit claim by Presbytery to the congregation for any real property being released, and prepare an indemnification by

the congregation to Presbytery against any and all future claims that may arise related to the property. All legal costs

associated with this and any other corrective action noted above shall be borne by the congregation.

d. Appraisal of Real Property

The SCC will provide to the PET two current market appraisals of all of the land, buildings, fixtures, and contents held

by the congregation. The cost of these appraisals, prepared by independent appraisers satisfactory to both the SCC and

the PET, will be borne by the congregation. Fair market value will ordinarily be obtained by averaging the two

appraisal amounts.

e. Status of Minister Members of Presbytery



If a congregation is to be dismissed by Presbytery, one of the paramount concerns of this process is to assure that the

rights and status of minister members are considered and handled properly. Ministers serving the congregation may

choose to continue serving the congregation or to seek another call within the P.C.(U.S.A.). If a minister requests

transfer to the Reformed body to which the congregation is requesting dismissal, this transfer will normally be approved

unless the minister is the subject of a pending judicial or investigative action (per D-10.0105). If the minister instead

chooses to stay within the P.C.(U.S.A.), the minister’s call to the congregation shall be dissolved at the congregation’s

dismissal and the minister shall be enrolled as an at-large member of the Presbytery, which will allow the minister to

continue to seek calls within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). A congregation’s head pastor must make this choice at

the time of dismissal, and associate pastors have up to eighteen months after dismissal either to request transfer to

another Reformed body or to find another call within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

f. Status of Members under Care of Presbytery

Special attention should be given to members of the congregation who are preparing for ministry and are under the care

of Presbytery. Each member under care, together with his/her liaison from the Committee on Preparation for Ministry

(CPM), should be advised immediately of the congregation’s desire to seek dismissal. The member under care will be

given the option of being dismissed with the congregation or transferring their membership to another congregation

within Presbytery and/or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). If transfer to another congregation within Presbytery/the

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is requested, PET and the CPM liaison will assist the member in seeking a waiver of the

usual six-month requirement for church membership in order to maintain care status.

g. Status of Members of the Congregation

It is important that, throughout the dismissal process, both the SCC and PET communicate carefully so that divisiveness

is minimized between those in the congregation who wish to withdraw and those members who want to remain in the

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). After formal voting by the congregation and Presbytery has been completed, all

members will be contacted regarding their membership status (see Section 9 below). Members being dismissed who

serve on Presbytery committees will have their terms end officially on the day Presbytery votes to dismiss the

congregation.

6. Negotiation of Financial Terms for Withdrawal Dismissal

To allow the Presbytery and the congregation seeking dismissal to act graciously to one another, the SCC and PET will

negotiate clear and specific terms by which the Presbytery will make a gift of the property to the congregation and the

congregation will make a financial contribution to the Presbytery. These gifts will tangibly recognize the

congregation’s and Presbytery’s history of ministry together, and will bless one another for their future ministries.

These terms will take into account the following considerations:

The congregation’s size.

The extent of dissatisfaction with the P.C.(U.S.A.)—particularly, whether a minority might wish to remain

within the P.C.(U.S.A.) either by joining other congregations or by seeding a new church development.

The congregation’s comprehensive financial situation.

The appraised value of the property, any loans and liens against it, and the circumstances of those loans.

Any grants made to the congregation, either to plant the congregation or to further its mission and ministry.

The congregation’s history and longevity within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and predecessor

denominations.

The tangible and intangible value the Presbytery and denomination has offered the congregation through, for

instance:

o The education and training of pastors, Christian educators, and candidates for ministry,



o Support for pastors and Christian educators during times of transition and throughout their ministry,

o Camp and conference centers,

o Educational resources, and

o Shared mission and witness both locally and globally.

The tangible and intangible value the congregation has offered the Presbytery and denomination through its

history.

A reasonable timeframe and means of distributing the gifts.

Ordinarily, the financial gift to the Presbytery will be allocated according to the policy for the sale of church property.

At present, that policy metes 45% of the amount to new church development, 45% to congregational transformation,

and 10% to be designated by the congregation to P.C.(U.S.A.)-related mission efforts.

When presenting their final recommendations to the congregation and Presbytery, the SCC and PET will also present

their discernment process, so it is clear to the congregation and Presbytery that the financial terms represent a

mutually gracious dismissal agreement.

The decision of whether or not to release the Presbytery’s claim to property used by a particular congregation will be

made by the Presbytery, bearing in mind its responsibility to deploy assets of people, real estate and financial resources

for the furtherance of the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) within its bounds. Therefore, if the congregation

is seeking to withdraw and retain its real property, the PET and SCC will negotiate terms whereby Presbytery will gift

the property to the congregation in exchange for an agreed compensation. These terms should reflect the mission

strategy of Presbytery and should, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate successful ongoing ministry by both

Presbytery and the congregation.

These terms will normally adhere to the following guidelines:

Compensation to Presbytery for the loss of the real property will ordinarily be at least 10% of the appraised

market value of the congregation’s land, buildings, fixtures and contents.

In some cases, such as where the Presbytery has invested significant financial resources in the congregation, a

higher payment may be appropriate, as negotiated between the SCC and PET.

The settlement terms will include a due date by which final payment must be made and will specify whether

payments are interest-free or include interest calculated at a specified rate.

Title to the property will not be released by the Presbytery until all compensation for the property has been

received.

In some circumstances, the value of the property in relation to the size of the departing congregation may dictate

consideration of other terms for compensation. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

A long-term lease of the property, under which the departing congregation retains full use of the buildings but

title remains with the Presbytery.

Sale of the property to a third party and allocation of the proceeds between the departing congregation and the

Presbytery.

Dissolution of the congregation and retention of the property by Presbytery for new church development or

utilization for another mission of the Presbytery.

7. Validation of Congregation’s Request for Dismissal

After the PET and SCC have negotiated the terms of dismissal, Presbytery will formally call a meeting of the

congregation to validate their desire for dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and ascertain the



congregation’s unity in this decision. Because of the importance of the dismissal decision on the life of the church, at

least 50% of the active members of the congregation shall be in attendance for this vote to take place.

The called meeting of the congregation must be noticed at least 30 days in advance, and every effort must be taken to

maximize participation of the members in this meeting. A written settlement agreement, including the mission strategy

and impact study and Trust Clause considerations, will be made available to the congregation. It is expected that

representatives of the PET and SCC will address the congregation and discuss any specific issues that will enable the

congregation to make an informed decision based on facts and prayerful discernment. Steps will be taken to ensure that

only active members of the congregation are permitted to vote, and voting will be by secret written ballot.

If 80% two-thirds or more of those voting approve the request for dismissal and accept the terms of the negotiated

agreement, the dismissal request will be deemed as validated by the congregation. The congregational vote, however, is

advisory only; the final decision to dismiss rests with the Presbytery.

If the vote for dismissal does not receive a two-thirds supermajority, there is real potential for congregational conflict.

To allow the congregational leadership to caringly address the situation, an interval of no less than twelve months must

pass before another congregational vote for dismissal can be taken.

8. Process for Presbytery to Approve Dismissal of the Congregation

Once the congregation has formally voted to request dismissal from Presbytery/the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and

has accepted the terms of the negotiated agreement for dismissal, Presbytery will vote on accepting the terms of the

agreement and dismissing the congregation to another Reformed body. Representatives of the PET will report on the

discernment process, financial terms, and the congregational vote tally at a regular stated meeting of presbytery, and

will strongly encourage the Presbytery to approve the dismissal.

It should be noted that renegotiation of the terms for dismissal through use of amendments from the floor of Presbytery

would invalidate months of work between the PET and the congregation. Therefore, the proposal should be presented

as a whole, with the understanding that the final agreement has been reached by good faith negotiations between the

PET and the congregation. The motion to accept the terms of the settlement and dismiss the congregation should be

preceded by a two-thirds vote required to limit amendments and debate.

Approval requires a simple majority. In the unlikely event that the Presbytery does not approve the dismissal, the PET

may return to the next stated meeting of Presbytery with a reconsideration of issues raised by the Presbytery.

It is our prayer that, by all parties’ committing to follow the above process in good faith, we can resolve our differences

reasonably and with grace. civilly, without resorting to litigation. To allow for an orderly transition, the effective date

of dismissal will occur no earlier than 90 days after the Presbytery vote.

9. Determination of Members’ Desire for Transfer

Within 30 days of the Presbytery’s vote approving dismissal of the congregation to another reformed body, Presbytery

will prepare a letter to members of the church informing them of their option to be dismissed with the congregation or

to remain in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The church will mail the letter to all active members of the congregation

promptly and will bear all costs associated with this mailing. The letter will direct that responses are to be returned to

Presbytery. The Presbytery through the PET will then ensure that contact is made with those members wishing to

remain in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).



10. Completing the Dismissal

Recognizing that the departure of valued colleagues in ministry will be a matter of pain for all parties, it is appropriate

for the Presbytery to hold a time of prayer giving thanks for prior shared ministry and prayers for the ongoing witness

of both the departing congregation and of all the other congregations in the Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church

(U.S.A.).

3. Consideration of the budget, which includes a 3-5% increase for the staff and keeping the per capita at

the 2011 level:

Presbytery $13.36

Synod $ 1.45

General Assembly $ 6.50

Total $21.31

See next page for the 2012 Budget





HANDBOOK PART II:

INFORMATION AND ADMIT TO RECORD ITEMS

COMMUNICATIONS

For Information:

The 220th

General Assembly shall take place on June 30 until July 7, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA. As you are

aware, Presbyteries send overtures to the Assembly for consideration…overtures to change the Constitution

as well as other types of overtures. The submission of these overtures to the General Assembly must adhere

to deadlines. In turn, because a presbytery must endorse an overture, we have our own deadlines in order to

meet the deadlines of General Assembly. In turn, that session would submit to the Bills and Overtures

Committee. These deadlines also pertain to overtures that are called Concurrence Overtures…overtures that

concur with an overture that a different Presbytery has already submitted to the GA.

Any overtures that a Partnership wishes to submit, must come through a session of one of our churches.

Please make note of the following deadlines:

1. GA deadline for overtures dealing with changes to the Constitution is March 2, 2012. Therefore

for us, overtures dealing with changes to the Constitution must be voted on by our February 11, 2012

meeting. This means any overture to be submitted by sessions for consideration, must come to Bills

and Overtures by its January 9, 2011 meeting.

2. GA deadline for overtures dealing with any financial implications is May 1, 2012. Therefore for

us, overtures having financial implications must be voted on by our February 11, 2012 meeting as our

May 3 meeting will miss this deadline. Again, our deadline for overtures with financial implications

must come to Bills and Overtures by its January 9, 2012 meeting.

3. GA deadline for all other overtures is May 16, 2012. Therefore for us, any other overtures must

come to Bills and Overtures by either its January 9 meeting or March 26, 2012 meeting.

Admit to Record:

1. The Presbytery is pleased to recognize Annette Houtz from Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church as

having received her Level II designation in Church Administration from the National Administrative

Personnel Association.

2. The Presbytery is pleased to recognize Yvette Tuitt from New Life Presbyterian Church as having

received her Level I designation in Church Administration from the National Personnel Association.

Ms. Tuitt was also elected as the National Treasurer for 2011 of the National Administrative

Personnel Association.

3. The Stated Clerk has received an allegation against a former minister member of this presbytery. As

per the Book of Order, an Investigating Committee (#11-04) has been formed.



4. The following people served on the Installation Commission for David Lewicki and Beth Waltemath

as co-pastors of North Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur, GA on June 26, 2011:

Rev. Joanna Adams, Honorably Retired

Rev. Hardy Kim, First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta

Elder Gordon French, North Decatur Presbyterian Church

Elder David York, Morningside Presbyterian Church

Elder Joann Nurss, Hillside Presbyterian Church

Elder Romona Lavender, New Life Presbyterian Church

Dr. Paul Smith, Guest of the Commission, Presbytery of NYC

Rev. Deborah Lewicki, Guest of the Commission, Presbytery of Scioto River Valley

5. That the minutes of the installation of David Lewicki and Beth Waltemath as co-pastors of North

Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur, GA on June 26, 2011 be admitted to record.

6. That the following people served on the commission to ordain Steven Andrews to the validated

ministry of hospital chaplaincy on October 7, 2011. The ordination took place at Ormewood Park

Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA.

Rev. Greg Wiggins, Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church

Rev. Katherine Higgins, validated ministry

Rev. Robert Sparks, Fairview Presbyterian Church

Elder Cathie McBeth, Ormewood Park Presbyterian Church

Elder Mardee Rightmyer, Morningside Presbyterian Church

Rev. David Bartlett, Guest of the Commission, American Baptist Association

Rev. John Van Nuys, Guest of the Commission, Wabash Valley Presbytery

7. That the following people served on the commission to ordain and install Matthew Ruffner as the

Designated Associate Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA on October 16, 2011.

Rev. Pam Driesell, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta

Rev. Tom Tewell, Validated Ministry

Rev. Sara Hayden, Tri Presbytery New Church Development Commission

Elder Vivian Guthrie, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta

Elder Jeff Vaughen, Decatur, Presbyterian Church

Rev. Dr. Jeri Perkins, Guest of the Commission, Trinity Presbytery

Rev. Dr. David Powers, Guest of the Commission, Cherokee Presbytery

8. That the following people served on the commission to ordain Linda Snyder (candidate Greater

Atlanta) as pastor of Middle Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania on December 3, 2011.

The ordination took place at the Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer in Snellville, GA.

Rev. John Byerly, Church of the Redeemer

Rev. Nicole Lock, Westminster Presbyterian Church

Elder Tom Strnad, Church of the Redeemer

Elder Ray Johnston, Westminster Presbyterian Church

Elder Mary Thurmond, Good Shepherd Presbyteirna Church

Rev. Will Dietrich, Guest of the Commission, Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery

Rev. David Walters, Guest of the Commission, United Methodist Conference, Gainesville District



COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY Admit to Record:

1. The Committee approved India Harris Holmes’ request to be given time and a half on her

Theological Competency exam in January 2012.

2. The following church received a session orientation:

Rice Memorial

3. The following persons were enrolled as Inquirers as of shown date:

a. Laura Brekke, Conyers September 1, 2011

b. Layton Williams, St. Luke’s October 6, 2011

c. Kari Pellegrino, Ormewood Park October 6, 2011

d. Simone Adams, Pleasant Hill November 3, 2011

e. Hae-Jin “Jinny” Choe, Korean Community November 3, 2011

4. Annual Consultations were conducted for the following persons:

a. Jody Andrade, Trinity Atlanta

b. Jessica Chancey, Druid Hills

c. Joannah Cook, Clairmont

d. Jeff Davis, Roswell

e. India Harris Holmes, Westhills

f. Meredith Loftis, St. Luke’s

g. Joel Moore, First Atlanta

h. Brian Powers, Clairmont

i. Katie Preston, Roswell

j. Jeanne Simpson, Eastminster

k. Hodari Williams, First African

5. The following persons were certified ready to receive a call:

Joung Chul “JC” Lee, Korean Community

Yvonne Thurmond, First Douglasville

Jeff Davis, Roswell

6. The following candidates received a call:

Steven Andrews, CPE Residency, Grady Hospital

Linda Snyder, pastor of Middle Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, PA



COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY For Information:

1. Committee on Ministry approved a modification that permits a contract pastor (or contract associate

pastor) to request a waiver from the requirement of a separate future care financial amount. COM became

aware that in some instances, the contract pastor’s future care amount is incorporated into additional amounts

for housing allowance or other components of effective salary by agreement between the contract pastor and

session.

2. Committee on Ministry approved the minimum compensation standards for 2012. The 2011 policy was

amended to reflect the Cost of Living Adjustment published by the Social Security Administration of 3.6%

for 2012. All congregations are encouraged to review the history of salary increases and consider giving this

as a minimum increase to all clergy and educators. The COLA increase applies to all clergy and certified

Christian educators presently serving congregations.

Additionally, the cash amounts for Salary plus Housing Allowance is the effective salary for a pastor serving

a congregation. For 2012, the minimum effective salary is $40,000. The minimum effective salary is

increased by 1% for each year of service compounded beyond ordination, for up to 30 years of service. The

pastor may adjust how the salary and housing will be divided, so that the Pastor receives the maximum tax

benefit of a housing allowance.

The COM Guidelines for Minimum Compensation Standards was also updated to reflect 2012 Board of

Pensions Dues of 32.25%.

See the Addendum for the complete policy (pg 50 ).

Admit to Record:

1. Change the status of Troy Bronsink to minster member at large. Effective date: December 31, 2011.

2. Change the status of Elizabeth Coleman to minister member at large. Effective date: September 13,

2011.

3. Change the status of Joel Alvis to minister member at large due to the completion of his interim

contract. Effective date: October 31, 2011.

4. Approve Rachael Knoll to moderate the session of McDonough Church until the arrival of their new

pastor. Effective date: November 1, 2011.

5. Validate the ministry of Lisa Majoros as the Associate Director of AMIS with a housing allowance

declaration of $30,000. Date of validation: September 28, 2011.

6. Dismiss Stephanie Hankins to Salem Presbytery as a minister member at large per her request.

Effective date: November 1, 2011.

7. Place Jonathan Mack on the inactive roll of presbytery. Effective date: December 31, 2011.

8. Change the status of Drew Ditzel to member at large. Effective date: September 22, 2011.



9. Approve the Contracted Call Pastor contract between Jo Anderson and First Presbyterian Church in

Bremen. This contract is for 20 hours per week. Effective date: October 1, 2011.

a. Housing Allowance 19,000

b. Deferred compensation (403B) 5,000

c. Total Effective Salary 24,000

d. Four weeks vacation

e. Two weeks continuing education

10. Change the status of Thomas Livengood to minister member at large. Effective date: September 30,

2011.

11. Approve the Contracted Call Pastor contract between Meg Jackson Clark and Dallas-Dodd

Presbyterian Church. This contract is for 15-20 hours per week. Effective date: October 1, 2011.

a. Salary 4,500

b. Housing 16,500

c. Deferred Compensation…the pastor has affirmed that this is taken care of in her secular

position and would therefore prefer to have this as part of her housing.

d. Continuing Education 2,000

e. Business and Professional Expenses 1,000

f. Four weeks vacation

g. Two weeks continuing education

12. Approve the call of Brad Clayton (Charlotte Presbytery) as Associate Pastor of Roswell Presbyterian

Church. Effective date:

a. Salary and Housing 50,000

b. Social Security Portion 3,825

c. Continuing Education 1,000

d. Book allowance 400

e. Full Pension

f. Dental Reimbursement 276

g. Cell phone reimbursement 400

h. Mileage Reimbursement as needed

i. Full moving expenses

j. Four weeks vacation

k. Two weeks continuing education

13. Approve the extension of the Stated Supply contract between David Rogers and Bethany Presbyterian

church until December 31, 2011.

14. Approve the Interim Contract (for part time) between Joan Gray and Clairmont Presbyterian Church.

Effective start date: November 1, 2011.

a. Salary 19,540

b. Housing 19,540

c. Auto Allowance 1,800

d. SECA matching 2,990

e. Continuing Education and Books 500

f. 403(b) annuity 5,630



g. Two weeks vacation

h. One week continuing education

15. Dismiss Barnabas Sprinkle to Cascades Presbytery in order that he may accept the call as pastor of

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Medford, Oregon. Effective date: December 11, 2011.

16. Ordain Linda Snyder (candidate Greater Atlanta) and dismiss her to Redstone Presbytery in order to

accept the call as pastor of Middle Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant, PA. Effective start date:

January 1, 2012. Date of ordination: December 3, 2011.

17. Approve the call of Caleb Clarke as the installed pastor (previous the Designated Pastor) of

Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Terms of call remain the same as under the designated period.

Effective date: October 9, 2011.

18. Approve the Honorable Retirement of Andrew Smith. Effective date: December 1, 2011.

19. Validate the ministry of Jennifer Ayres (Chicago) as an assistant Professor of Religious Education at

Candler. Effective date of validation: October 26, 2011.

20. Validate the ministry of Robert Thomson Jr (candidate of Greater Atlanta) as a Director of Older

Adult Ministry (with the hope of forming partnerships for older adult ministry in the community at

large). Effective date of validation: October 26, 2011.

21. Approve the Contract Call Associate Pastor agreement between Bill Nisbet and the Roswell

Presbyterian Church. This agreement is for 20 hours per week. Effective date: November 1, 2011.

a. Salary 18,190

b. Housing 18,000

c. Vacation is 4 weeks

d. Continuing Education is 2 weeks

e. SECA allowance 2,768.50

f. Medical deductible 5,676

g. Contribution for 403B 4,344

h. Continuing Education 1,000

i. Mileage reimbursed at IRS rates

22. Approve the Interim Contract agreement between Chip Blankinship and Lawrenceville Presbyterian

Church. Effective date: October 11, 2011.

a. Salary 35,000

b. Housing 30,000

c. Full Board of Pensions

d. SECA allowance 4,972

e. Auto vouchered at IRS rates 3,500

f. Business and professional expenses 1,500

g. Dental Insurance 1,250

h. Vacation, One month

i. Continuing Education, two weeks



23. Approve the terms of call as pastor between Olin McBride (Saint Andrew Presbytery) and

McDonough Presbyterian Church. Effective date: January 2, 2012.

a. Salary 64,000

b. Housing 28,500

c. Full Pension

d. Continuing Education 5,100

e. Auto expenses reimbursed 6,500

f. SECA allowance 7,715

g. Medical deducible, Dental 1,400

h. Four weeks vacation

i. Two weeks study leave

24. Dissolve the called relationship between Sandi Wilmesherr and The Summit of South Fayette

Church. Effective date: December 31, 2011.

25. Approve the Contract Call Pastoral agreement between Sandi Wilmesherr and the Summit of South

Fayette Church. This position is for 20 hours per week. Effective date: January 1, 2012.

a. Salary 7,050

b. Housing 7,050

c. Deferred Compensation (403b) 6,000

d. SECA 1,300

e. Dental Reimbursement 300

f. Continuing Education 1,000

g. Vouchered mileage 500

h. Business Expenses 500

i. Five weeks vacation

j. Two weeks Continuing Education

26. Dismiss Johanna Lee to Central Florida Presbytery at their request. Effective date: September 11.

2011.

27. Remove Carol Lakey Hess from the rolls of the Presbytery. Per G-2.0507, Rev. Hess has requested

that her ordination be set aside. Effective date: November 4, 2011.

COUNCIL For Information:

1. The Council is presenting to the Presbytery a first reading of a “Flexible Governance” plan for the

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. Please see this plan in the addendum of the handbook. There will be a

town hall meeting for feedback, questions and input on January 11, 2012 from 10:00 until noon at

Druid Hills Church.

2. The Council has graciously accepted the invitations of the following churches to host 2012 Presbytery

meetings:

February 11, 2012 New Life Presbyterian, College Park GA

May 3, 2012 Clairmont Presbyterian, Decatur GA

August 18, 2012 Shallowford Presbyterian, Atlanta GA

November 15, 2012 Roswell Presbyterian, Roswell GA



OPERATIONS MINISTRY TEAM Admit to Record:

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, Inc.

Preliminary Statement of Financial Position

Operations Fund

As of September 30, 2011

Assets

Cash ($313,573.96)

Investments $867,008.94

Accounts Receivable

A/R--Operations $1,863.59

A/R-Due from Clifton Sancturary Min. $1,028.56

A/R-Hanbit PC $34,994.87

A/R-Midway PC $13,421.57

A/R-Norris Lake PC $45,373.01

A/R-Georgia Avenue Building/Site $28,199.35

A/R-Riverdale PC $110,570.23

Pledges Receivable (Ground Lease) $1,000,000.00

Discount on Pledges Receivable (Ground Lease) ($731,150.00)

Total Accounts Receivable $504,301.18

Notes Receivable $131,746.16

Prepaid Expenses $5,816.58

Property & Equipment $41,066.77

Land, Buildings and Property (Net) $3,522,574.50

Total Assets $4,758,940.17

Liabilities, Fund Principal, & Restricted Funds

Liabilities

Benevolences/Accounts Payable $750.00

Due to (from) Other Funds

A/P Operations $72,873.11

HFSA ($1,697.72)

Long-term Debt

Due to Wells Fargo Equip Express $20,165.99

Due to Wells Fargo Equip Express (Car) $0.00

Due to Wachovia Bank $67,309.60

Due to Wachovia (CSM) $119,250.07

Due to Wells Rago (College Park) $36,746.16

Total Long-term Debt $243,471.82

Total Liabilities $389,464.45

Total Restricted Funds $581,274.96

Fund Principal

Fund Balance-Operations $3,529,336.34

Transfers to Degignated/TR Accounts $185,641.23

Net Income Year-to-Date $73,223.19

Total Fund Principal and Net Income Year-to-Date $3,788,200.76

Total Liabilities, Fund Principal, & Restricted Funds $4,758,940.17




Operations Fund Revenues and Disbursements-Preliminary

Period Ending September 30,

2011

Actual Actual

Period Ending Period Ending Annual Budget

9/30/2011 9/30/2010 FYE 01/31/12

Unified $ 604,788.17 $ 585,104.92 $ 875,000.00

Per Capita $ 463,123.80 $ 450,631.96 $ 565,600.00

Budgeted Designated

Budgeted General Assembly $ 129,025.15 $ 121,584.39 $ 248,500.00

Budgeted Presbytery $ 43,682.44 $ 51,882.15 $ 110,000.00

Total Designated $ 172,707.59 $ 173,466.54 $ 358,500.00

Interest Income $ 8,823.64 $ 6,911.56 $ 13,000.00

Designated for Presbytery Only $ 55,554.29 $ 95,274.50 $ 160,600.00

Other Income $ 5,740.07 $ 204,108.33 $ 113,000.00

Total Revenues before Transfers $ 1,310,737.56 $ 1,515,497.81 $ 2,085,700.00

Transfers

Calvin Center $ 100,000.00 $ 133,332.00 $ 150,000.00

New Church Development $ 72,116.27 $ 64,497.00 $ 110,000.00

Peacemaking $ 263.73 $ 229.63 $ 3,000.00

From Restricted Funds $ (223.14) $ (5,782.72)

$

(6,390.00)

Total Transfers $ 172,156.86 $ 192,275.91 $ 256,610.00

Benevolent Disbursements $ 411,925.63 $ 428,260.42 $ 727,884.00

Program Expenses

Committees & Partnerships $ 25,658.34 $ 33,387.39 $ 63,841.00

Salary and Benefits $ 494,569.88 $ 583,834.48 $ 767,543.50

Administrative Costs $ 168,316.29 $ 182,207.65 $ 269,821.50

Total Program Expenses $ 688,544.51 $ 799,429.52 $ 1,101,206.00

Total Transfers and

Disbursements $ 1,272,627.00 $ 1,419,965.85 $ 2,085,700.00

Change in Net Assets $ 38,110.56 $ 95,531.96 $ -

Other Revenues $ 35,129.29 $ 32,472.47

$

-

Net Operating Total $ 73,239.85 $ 128,004.43 $ -



THE PRESBYTERY OF GREATER ATLANTA

2011 BENEVOLENCE GIVING RECORDS

* See explanations on last page regarding each column.

COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 COLUMN 4 COLUMN 5 COLUMN 6 COLUMN 7

CHURCH BENEVOLENCE UNIFIED BENV. SPECIAL NON-BUDGETED PER CAPITA PER CAPITA TOTAL OF ALL

PLEDGE RECEIVED DESIGNATIONS DESIGNATIONS ASSESSMENT RECEIVED RECEIPTS

ALPHARETTA $22,350.00 $16,762.50 $1,221.00 $7,079.30 $19,029.83 $19,029.83 $44,092.63

ATLANTA KOREAN $2,750.00 $2,750.00 $703.23 $703.23 $3,453.23

ATLANTA TAIWANESE $2,258.86 $1,704.80 $1,704.80

AUSTELL $2,741.07 $3,598.02 $2,194.93 $6,339.09

BARNESVILLE $0.00 $617.99 $617.99 $617.99

BETHANY $0.00 $497.00 $3,644.01 $0.00 $497.00

BUFORD $1,473.78 $11,635.26 $1,473.78

CANAAN KOREAN $298.34 $298.34 $298.34

CARROLLTON $4,700.00 $3,525.00 $2,643.20 $2,376.00 $6,009.42 $4,554.00 $13,098.20

CENTRAL $53,813.00 $40,359.78 $5,039.00 $3,041.05 $14,192.46 $14,192.00 $62,631.83

CHURCH OF ST. ANDREW $746.00 $1,193.36 $746.00

CHURCH OF THE MASTER $3,000.00 $165.00 $3,239.12 $3,000.00 $3,165.00

CHURCH OF THE NEW COVENANT $0.00 $1,682.15 $45.00 $2,280.17 $2,280.17 $4,007.32

CLAIRMONT $2,333.35 $1,333.35 $2,333.35 $7,040.72 $6,000.05

COLLEGE PARK $1,000.00 $1,470.39 $0.00

COLUMBIA $1,039.10 $651.00 $2,876.85 $1,690.10

CONYERS $0.00 $1,932.00 $180.00 $7,138.85 $5,355.00 $7,467.00

COVENANT $6,160.00 $1,303.36 $975.00 $4,943.92 $8,438.36

CRISTO PARA TODAS LAS NACIONES $873.71 $0.00

CROSSROADS $0.00 $500.00 $125.00 $125.00 $2,919.47 $2,962.09 $3,712.09

DALLAS-DODD $1,600.00 $1,600.00 $1,050.00 $746.00 $937.64 $937.64 $4,333.64

DECATUR $30,000.00 $20,000.00 $22,207.34 $21,180.00 $15,620.23 $14,835.92 $78,223.26

DRUID HILLS $9,000.00 $4,500.00 $2,586.00 $1,262.00 $4,581.65 $4,582.00 $12,930.00

EAST POINT $781.00 $1,425.60 $1,129.43 $1,129.43 $3,336.03

EASTMINSTER $0.00 $716.00 $969.00 $8,481.38 $4,240.70 $5,925.70

EBENEZER $800.00 $800.00 $532.75 $532.75 $1,332.75

EMORY $2,000.00 $500.00 $2,752.35 $201.00 $2,514.58 $3,453.35

FAIRVIEW $4,000.00 $2,000.00 $660.80 $2,919.47 $2,919.47 $5,580.27

FAYETTE $2,780.34 $1,851.96 $7,799.46 $3,899.74 $8,532.04

FELLOWSHIP $724.54 $0.00

First AFRICAN $27,500.00 $20,625.03 $3,750.03 $17,665.99 $13,071.03 $37,446.09

First PRES-ATLANTA $42,500.00 $10,107.52 $3,283.80 $55,128.97 $55,128.00 $111,019.32

First PRES-BREMEN $0.00 $240.00 $362.27 $362.27 $602.27

First PRES-COVINGTON $20,000.00 $15,000.03 $638.00 $3,448.00 $6,712.65 $5,034.78 $24,120.81

First PRES-DOUGLASVILLE $1,891.50 $429.81 $11,476.24 $2,321.31

First PRES-GRIFFIN $5,036.72 $0.00

First PRES-JONESBORO $6,300.00 $922.40 $2,250.00 3,857.11 $2,240.00 $11,712.40

First PRES-LA GRANGE $5,000.00 $3,750.03 $3,798.36 $416.67 $13,638.40 $10,228.77 $18,193.83

First PRES-MAN. WM $937.64 $937.64 $937.64

First PRES-P'TREE CITY $0.00 $3,750.00 $6,500.00 $2,125.00 $9,311.92 $12,375.00

FRIENDSHIP $2,250.00 $2,250.00 $325.00 $675.00 $490.13 $490.13 $3,740.13

GOOD NEWS GARDEN $980.26 $0.00

GOOD SHEPHERD $0.00 $169.00 $5,851.68 $169.00

GRACE COVENANT $1,086.81 $0.00

GREENVILLE $681.92 $681.92 $681.92

GUM CREEK $0.00 $365.00 $249.00 $2,024.45 $614.00

HAMILTON MILL $27,000.00 $19,057.08 $365.00 $3,068.64 $2,568.64 $21,990.72

HANBIT $2,216.24 $0.00

HEMPHILL MEMORIAL $2,000.00 $2,000.00 $100.00 $1,044.19 $1,050.00 $3,150.00

HILLSIDE $2,401.00 $3,281.74 $3,281.74 $5,682.74

JACKSON $3,500.00 $200.00 $40.00 $1,513.01 $1,513.01 $1,753.01

JESUS HOPE OF GEORGIA $0.00

JOHNS CREEK $4,631.00 $1,450.50 $13,340.06 $13,340.06 $19,421.56

KELLEY $110.00 $2,578.51 $110.00

KOREAN CENTRAL $2,770.30 $0.00

KOREAN COMMUNITY $42,769.17 $15,000.00 $15,000.00

KOREAN P.C. OF GEORGIA $2,067.07 $0.00

KOREAN P.C. OF LAWRENCEVILLE $639.30 $0.00

LAWRENCEVILLE $4,500.00 $2,063.52 $304.00 $8,545.31 $8,545.31 $15,412.83

LOYD $10,000.00 $7,504.00 $670.00 $200.00 $4,262.00 $4,262.00 $12,636.00

LUTHER HAYS $550.00 $550.00 $550.00 $300.00 $703.23 $703.23 $2,103.23

09/30/11



MCDONOUGH $12,750.00 $5,475.20 $12,450.00 $13,425.30 $13,425.30 $44,100.50

MEMORIAL DRIVE $931.00 $669.99 $3,388.29 $1,976.45 $3,577.44

MORNINGSIDE $3,500.00 $3,500.00 $3,976.00 $395.00 $9,419.02 $9,419.02 $17,290.02

MORROW $707.44 $6,094.66 $3,200.00 $3,907.44

MT VERNON $26,600.00 $6,309.61 $640.00 $11,379.54 $11,379.57 $44,929.18

NEW LIFE $10,655.00 $0.00

NEWNAN $19,000.00 $14,249.97 $1,175.57 $9,994.39 $7,495.83 $22,921.37

NORCROSS $694.00 $63.50 $1,053.14 $3,388.29 $847.07 $2,657.71

NORTH AVENUE $31,000.00 $22,545.44 $11,374.97 $14,283.14 $12,943.94 $12,943.94 $61,147.49

NORTH DECATUR $423.75 $750.00 $6,989.68 $1,173.75

NORTHMINSTER $21,175.47 $1,472.00 $10,676.31 $7,783.68 $30,431.15

NORTHWEST $19,000.00 $9,500.00 $255.00 $6,938.37 $6,968.37 $16,723.37

OAK MOUNTAIN $285.00 $1,299.91 $532.75 $817.75

OAKHURST $5,300.00 $3,533.32 $644.00 $3,388.58 $7,522.43 $7,200.00 $14,765.90

OGLETHORPE $9,375.00 $6,787.50 $579.41 $685.00 $3,366.98 $3,724.00 $11,775.91

ORMEWOOD PARK $1,108.12 $0.00

PEACHTREE $191,555.59 $0.00

PHILADELPHIA $3,500.00 $1,750.00 $700.00 $250.00 $2,855.54 $2,732.40 $5,432.40

PINE GROVE $0.00 $200.00 $50.00 $191.79 $127.86 $377.86

PLEASANT HILL $30,000.00 $22,500.00 $11,832.37 $18,092.19 $18,092.00 $52,424.37

PORTERDALE $1,129.43 $0.00

PRESBY CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER $0.00 $7,508.32 $0.00

PRESBY CHURCH OF THE RESURRECT'N $1,200.00 $800.00 $123.66 $2,727.68 $1,866.64 $2,790.30

RADCLIFFE $3,000.00 $1,500.00 $3,339.29 $734.40 $6,947.06 $4,035.00 $9,608.69

RAY MEMORIAL $556.00 $635.00 $3,857.11 $802.37 $1,993.37

REHOBOTH $506.00 $481.00 $2,450.65 $2,450.65 $3,437.65

RICE MEMORIAL $500.00 $513.07 $2,514.58 $1,500.00 $2,513.07

ROCK SPRING $595.25 $4,027.59 $3,360.00 $3,955.25

ROSWELL $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $14,560.00 $5,694.51 $54,766.70 $27,383.35 $97,637.86

SHALLOWFORD $11,997.00 $2,430.58 $16,770.97 $16,770.97 $31,198.55

SMYRNA $1,812.50 $7,927.32 $7,927.32 $9,739.82

SOUTH HIGHLAND $720.00 $222.64 $942.64

ST ANDREWS $23,000.00 $20,000.00 $520.00 $1,308.00 $6,861.82 $6,861.82 $28,689.82

ST LUKES $50,000.00 $35,000.00 $1,585.00 $18,500.00 $17,239.79 $17,240.00 $72,325.00

STOCKBRIDGE $10,000.00 $6,666.64 $600.00 $125.00 $4,922.61 $4,922.61 $12,314.25

SUMMIT OF SOUTH FAYETTE $1,662.18 $0.00

TALLAPOOSA $100.00 $100.00 $285.00 $210.00 $319.65 $319.65 $914.65

TIMBERRIDGE $7,010.99 $0.00

TRINITY ATLANTA $124,548.75 $3,797.00 $8,090.59 $46,562.35 $43,982.00 $180,418.34

TRINITY DECATUR $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $206.50 $3,153.88 $3,089.95 $4,796.45

WEST POINT $1,981.83 $1,981.83 $1,981.83

WESTHILLS $1,108.12 $570.81 $570.81

WESTMINSTER $0.00 $1,814.12 $5,451.10 $13,467.92 $10,058.32 $17,323.54

BENEVOLENCE TOTAL $492,288.00 $634,058.46 $170,968.78 $137,444.12 $910,047.84 $489,407.80 $1,431,879.16

INDIVIDUAL GIVING TOTAL $495,858.38

OVERALL TOTAL $1,927,737.54

COLUMN (1) Benevolence Pledges from church sessions.

COLUMN (2) All funds for basic benevolence support of GA, Synod & Presbytery Missions. Not included here are special designations,

which are reported in Column 3.

COLUMN (3) Designated amounts that support the budgeted work of the governing bodies and institutions of the church.

COLUMN (4) Designated amounts that support non-budgeted work of institutions of the church, such as E.C.O.'s & Capital Funds.

COLUMN (5) Per Capita due by April 1, 2010 is $21.31 per member based on the active membership of the congregation as of

January 1, 2011 as reported in the Assembly statistics for Dec. 31, 2009.

COLUMN (6) Per Capita received at Presbytery's Office.

COLUMN (7) Total of all receipts: Includes amounts in columns (2), (3), (4) & (6).

If there is an error, please send a written request for correction to Gwen Hairston, Financial Support Specialist, [email protected]

at the Presbytery Office. Your written request will expedite our ability to respond. If you have any questions, contact Gwen Hairston at 404-898-0711, x125.



HANDBOOK PART III:

INFORMATION AND ADMIT TO RECORD ITEMS

1. GUESTS OF THE PRESBYTERY

Reverend Christine Chakoian serves as pastor/head of staff at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake

Forest, Illinois. Her prior pastorate at Community Presbyterian Church in Clarendon Hills, Illinois

(1996-2005) was preceded by associate pastorates at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Portland,

Oregon; Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, and Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Columbus,

Ohio.

Current community activity includes service on the Boards of Trustees of McCormick Theological

Seminary and Presbyterian Homes, as well as the Lebanese American University, a Presbyterian-

affiliated college in Beirut, Lebanon.

A frequent contributor to 30 Good Minutes public television program, Ms. Chakoian is also a

columnist for The Presbyterian Outlook. Her sermons and articles appear in a number of monographs.

Ms. Chakoian is married to John W. Shustitzky. They have one daughter, Anna Shustitzky, who is a

graduate of the University of Chicago who is serving as a Young Adult Volunteer in South Korea.

Terrance (Terry) T. Newland, PCUSA Preacher’s Kid

1971-1975 Auburn University, BA Philosophy

1975-1978 Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, MDiv

06/12/78 Ordained by The Presbytery of Birmingham (MS)

06/78– 8/89 Associate Pastor, Shades Valley Presbyterian, Birmingham, AL

09/89 – 03/99 Minister, First Presbyterian, Anniston, AL

04/99 – 10/04 Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley

(Central Alabama)

11/04 – present Synod Executive, Synod of Living Waters

(Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee)

Married 36 years to Diane Slay Newland, Living in Trussville, AL

Have worked in the Presbyterian Church for 43 years (since I was 15)

Currently serving on;

G.A. Administrative Commission for Middle Governing Bodies

GAMC/MGB Advisory Board

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Board of Trustees

Maryville College Board of Church Visitors



2. COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY

GUIDELINES FOR ONGOING COMPENSATION

&

MINIMUM COMPENSATION STANDARDS

The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

Effective January 1, 2012

These Minimum Compensation Standards apply to all churches with full-time pastoral services of a Minister of the Word and

Sacrament and full-time educators. All Terms of Call should meet or exceed these Minimum Compensation Standards. They

should also be considered as guidelines to prorate compensation for part-time calls, except that paid time off for vacation and

continuing education leave should not be prorated for part-time calls. These standards are written for the situation of a

congregation calling a minister to fill a vacancy. Calls, Terms of Calls and annual changes in either or both should be

approved by the Committee on Ministry.

The compensation guidelines are based on the Cost of Living Adjustment published by the Social Security Administration.

For 2012, the COLA increase is 3.6%. All congregations are encouraged to review the history of salary increases and

consider giving this as a minimum increase to all clergy and educators. The COLA increase applies to all clergy and certified

Christian educators presently serving congregations. In addition to the COLA increase, the Presbytery has increased the

minimum amount slightly in order to align with other professionals such as school teachers with masters degrees in DeKalb

County whose present average is just above $43,000.

Ministers called by congregations are considered by the IRS to be “employees” for income tax purposes, and yet “self-

employed” for purposes of Social Security taxation. Ministers are exempt from withholding either for income taxes or for

Social Security taxes. Instead, they are required to pay quarterly estimated income taxes and self-employment Social

Security taxes (SECA). At the end of the year, one’s salary and certain cash allowances are reported in Block 1 of a W-2,

upon which both income and SECA taxes must be paid. One’s housing allowance is reported in Block 14 of a W-2, upon

which only SECA taxes must be paid (to the extent that the Housing Allowance is used specifically for this purpose). Both

income and SECA taxes must then be paid on any Housing Allowance received in excess of what the IRS allows.

The following four categories and annual amounts are essential parts of these standards for calendar year 2012:

I. Salary and Housing:

NOTE: The cash amounts for Salary plus Housing Allowance is the effective salary for a pastor serving a

congregation. For 2012, the minimum effective salary is $40,000. The minimum effective salary is increased by 1%

for each year of service compounded beyond ordination, for up to 30 years of service. The pastor may adjust how the

salary and housing will be divided, so that the Pastor receives the maximum tax benefit of a housing allowance. For

example (using the minimum standard): if the fair rental value of the owned or rented house (furnished) plus utilities is

determined to be $15,000, then the $40,000 total cash remuneration package can be re-stated as $25,000 for salary plus

$15,000 for housing allowance. This is not an option when the Pastor lives in the manse; if the church provides a

manse, please consult with the Presbytery office regarding special rules.

II. Professional Expenses:

1. Continuing Education and Professional Books minimum of $1,000

2. Church Business Travel Expenses minimum of $3,600

3. Church Business and Professional Expenses Negotiated

These expenses should be set up under an Accountable Reimbursement Plan and substantiated by adequate

documentation before reimbursement by the church. This is beneficial to the pastor since Professional Expense

Allowances paid directly to ministers are reportable as taxable income in Block 1 of a W-2, and deductible only to

the extent they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income. It is also beneficial to the church because cash allowances are

included in effective salary for purposes of calculating Board of Pensions dues. The church should set up an



accountable reimbursable plan for the church business use of a minister's personal car. The published IRS business

mileage rate will be used and can be found at www.irs.gov.

III. Benefits

1. Full Pension (including death and disability coverage) and Medical Benefits through the Board of Pensions.

Dues for 2012 are 32.25% of the total of Salary, any deferred compensation (such as employer contributions to

a 403 (b) Plan), and Housing Allowance as a minimum (“Effective Salary”). Professional Expenses above and

other benefits may be included also. SECA amounts in excess of 50% must also be included as part of Effective

Salary for calculating benefits dues. For further information and publications, see http://www.pensions.org.

2. At least one-half of Social Security based on Salary and Housing Allowance.

3. Full dental insurance coverage by the Board of Pensions, or equivalent coverage through another policy, or

reimbursement of actual expenses up to the cost of the dental insurance premium of the Board of Pensions.

When paid by the church, this coverage may be included as part of Effective Salary for calculating benefits dues

when the church does not provide dental coverage to all employees.

4. Four weeks paid vacation.

5. Two weeks of Continuing Education per year, which can be accumulated up to six weeks.

6. Moving Expenses - actual.

IV. Annual Review

1. Consideration of a merit increase, cost of living increase and changes in Fair Rental Value of the Manse.

V. Additional Standards

1. Any additional agreements shall be in writing and shall become part of the terms of call when approved by the

presbytery.

2. The designation for Housing or Manse Allowance shall be approved before the calendar year begins in order to

meet Internal Revenue Service requirements. From Church Treasurer Alert, October 2002: “Relevance to

church treasurers: The tax code now limits the nontaxable portion of a church-designated housing allowance for

ministers who own their home to the annual fair rental value of the home (furnished, plus utilities), beginning in

2002. As a result, ministers who own their home will not pay federal income taxes on the amount of their

compensation that their employing church designates in advance as a housing allowance, to the extent that A)

the allowance represents compensation for ministerial service, B) is used to pay actual housing expenses, and C)

does not exceed the annual Fair Rental Value of the home (furnished, plus utilities).”

3. Churches may want to consider leasing an automobile for a minister. All personal use shall be included as income to

the minister.

4. The budgeted amount for Travel is an estimate and should be negotiated on a yearly basis in light of the current IRS

rate and the miles a pastor drives on church business.

5. Churches are encouraged to develop creative ways to compensate clergy, such as extra vacation time, a Sunday off

each quarter, use of a parishioner vacation home in the mountains, beach, etc.

6. If it is a first call situation, the church will allocate sufficient money in the pastor’s Continuing Education

allowance to cover the cost of the program ($540.00 annually) and will allow for the necessary time

commitment of 5 days annually above the required 2 weeks of Continuing Education.

COUNCIL:

Plan for Parity…if adopted will go into effect on January 1, 2012

A. Adoption of the previous Form of Government parity plan for elders at Presbytery was found in G-11.0101. For the year 2012, the Council recommends we keep this same plan: Under 500 members 1 elder 501-1000 members 2 elders 1001-1500 members 3 elders

http://www.irs.gov/



1501-2000 members 4 elders 2001-3000 members 5 elders Continue with above formula

B. Policy for Achieving Parity for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta (last revision was December 1, 2009)

1. Based on the Book of Order’s urging to pay special attention to the concerns of G-9.0104, all racial ethic

churches in this presbytery, along with churches which are multi-racial/multi-cultural by 50%, receive one extra

elder allocation..

2. Immediate past year’s Moderator and the Moderator-elect for the coming year – if elders – shall have the right

of vote.

3. Elder Commissioners to the General Assembly shall have the right of vote for the year of their election.

4. Every local congregation shall have as a minimum, an equal number of elder commissioners to the number of

installed pastors. (For example, a congregation with two installed pastors having a membership of 499, shall

have two elder commissioners to presbytery).

5. Each of the five ministry teams, the Committee on Ministry, and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry

shall name one of its elder members to be commissioners at Presbytery for that year.

6. All ordained elders who are members of Council shall have the right of vote during their term of office.

7. All Certified Christian Educators who are ordained elders, shall have the right of voice and vote.

8. The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta shall use only active honorably retired minister members as a criterion in

determining balance. Active membership shall constitute attendance or excused absence at a minimum of two

presbytery meetings per calendar year.

9. The Balance of elders shall come from a formula dealing with adding elders based on proportional size of the

congregation, paying special attention to G-11.0101.

Churches under 99 members 0 additional elders

Churches from 100-749 members 1 additional elders










Churches from 9001-10,000 members 11 additional elders

10. All Executive/Exempt Staff of Presbytery who are ordained elders, shall have the right of voice and vote.

11. The Chairperson of both CPM and COM if ordained elders, shall have the right of voice and vote.

12. Any CLP (Commissioned Lay Pastor) serving a chartered church or a NCD sanctioned by the New Church

Development Commission shall have the right of voice and vote during their time of service.

This Plan will be reexamined if Flexible Governance is approved by the Presbytery at a later date.

2. Request for dismissal to Atlanta-Korean Presbytery (see next two pages)







3. Flexible Governance Plan

Rationale for the Creation of PGA2

This summer, in response to concerns expressed by congregations who would not support the

adoption of new ordination standards out of concern regarding the ordination of gay and

lesbian Presbyterians, coupled with the concurrent adoption of the new Form of Government

(nFOG), the Coordinating Council of the Presbytery named a task force to explore the

possibilities for flexible governance within this presbytery (Flexible Governance Task Force

(FGTF)). The new Form of Government gives us an opportunity to address this and other

concerns while also devising a way of relating to one another that moves us beyond the

fractured context in which we currently govern ourselves.

Critical to our proposal is an understanding of the impact of Amendment 10A. Unlike an

earlier amendment to the Form of Government that affirmed the call of women to ordained

ministry (now ordered ministry), Amendment 10A does not affirm the call of gay and lesbian

persons to ordered ministry. But neither does it explicitly dismiss it. In other words, when the

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta votes to approve or disapprove the ordination of new ministers

(teaching elders), the language of the new ordination standards allows for continued

disagreement among our congregations over whether or not we will ordain gay individuals.

If we continue to govern ourselves as we have in the past, by debating and voting in a winner

take all context, we are convinced that our separation from each other will only increase and

our witness to Christ will be further compromised. We believe the church is called to work

connectionally, in grace and peace, to further His Kingdom for today’s and future generations.

To this end and with the advent of nFOG, we are called to a new mindset that invites us to

approach our polity not as a set of rules but a description of our common life. In addition,

nFOG expresses a polity that is enabling, one which encourages us to get past our inclination

to create rules to address every uncertainty and, instead, to trust the broad principles of our

polity, giving room for God’s spirit, flexibility and creativity. Presbytery is called not

primarily to govern, but to discern the will of God for the mission of the church.

In this spirit, we offer this proposal as a new way forward.



By creating a group of churches within the Presbytery (PGA2) that has the power to ordain,

we lessen the need for further debate about qualifications of ordination that relate to sexual

orientation. In this way, we honor the will of the majority and pave the way for openly gay

Presbyterians to be ordained, while, at the same time, preserving the freedom of conscience of

those who would disagree. With this contentious debate removed from the center of our

relationship, we are freed to utilize the new flexibility and creativity given by nFOG to

discern the will of God for the mission of the church.

Proposed Name: PGA2 (May be changed by forming congregations)

Authorities/Powers Granted by PGA to PGA2

• COM

• Examinations

• CPM

• Ordinations

• PGA2 will adopt procedures to ensure there is an order to its activities and report those

activities to the Stated Clerk for the minutes of the Presbytery’s admit to record items.

(ordination/installation commissions, Inquirers, Candidates and Final Assessments,

pastoral changes)

Continued authority of PGA:

• GA Commissioners –

The Presbytery Nominations committee will take into account the number of churches

PGA2 and the total membership of PGA2 churches when making nominations for

Commissioners to General Assembly.

• Nominations to the PJC would reflect the percentage of churches that affiliate with

PGA2 in order to ensure broad representation. In the spirit of mutual forbearance, we

would highly encourage that neither PGA1 or PGA 2 initiate cases against each other

around ordination standards

Shared relationship:

• Gather at least twice yearly to celebrate and strategize mutual mission and pray for one

another. All pastors are encouraged to meet regularly for theological discussion, prayer

for one another, and to resource/connect together in mission. All elders are encouraged

to meet at least quarterly to pray and resource one another for mission.



• Congregations in PGA2 are encouraged to support the partnership through sharing in

the costs of common staff and overhead (the support would not be absolutely required

but encouraged). A PJC ruling and paragraph G-3.0106 of the Book of Order prohibit

forced per capita.

Staff ($17.20 per member)

◦ enable partnering amongst congregations

◦ support pastors (Coaching etc)

◦ connect pastors through clergy groups that foster good faith efforts for dialogue,

prayer and theological discussion

◦ resource congregations

■ Congregational Assessment

■ Strategic Planning

■ Demographic Assessment

Overhead ($5.87 per member)- utilities, insurance and the like

• PGA2 churches are encouraged to support, as their Sessions feel led, the; Local

Mission of the Presbytery (Calvin Center, Campus Ministry, and New Church

Development); the Global PCUSA mission (for instance missionaries Shelvis and

Nancy Smith- Mather); and, other local missions (Thornwell, Presbyterian Homes of

Georgia, Street Grace, AMIS, etc)

Entrance into PGA2:

Congregations wishing to enter the new governance and mission structure of PGA2 will do so

by a super majority (2/3) vote of the Session of the local church.

All Clergy, installed or contract staff, related to the congregation will participate in PGA2.

Congregations wishing to remain under the current governance and mission structure of the

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta need take no action. The PGA2 shall exist for three years, prior

to a general review that shall take place by May 1, 2015, evaluating potential renewal or

revision of its ongoing relationship with the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. It is encouraged

that churches who wish to enter this relationship, do so by May 1, 2012 so that all churches

can start on the same timeline. That being said, churches may choose to enter this

relationship at a later time, but the evaluation time period will remain the same as indicated

above.

Working out the details:



It is understood that no policy can foresee all the specifics in details that may arise during this

time period that may need to be worked out. Therefore, it makes sense to have some “body”

be designated as an arbitrator/mediator in these situations. We recommend that the present

task force members be this “body.”

Conclusion:

This proposal calls us to a moment of honesty as a presbytery and as a denomination. Behind

the opposition and support of Amendment 10A, prior its passage, were differing and deeply

held convictions about biblical interpretation and human sexuality and what it means to

maintain the peace, unity, and purity of the church. With the passage of the amendment, these

convictions have not disappeared. They are putting enormous strain on our continued

common life as a denomination and our local life as a presbytery.

This proposal attempts to take historical principles of Presbyterian governance, freedom of

conscience and mutual forbearance, and apply them in a way that reduces the conflict

perceived by many congregations. By allowing the majority and minority to maintain and

practice ordination standards that accord with their understanding of Scripture and the

Confessions, a degree of conscience and integrity is preserved for ordained leaders and

congregations. By removing the need to confront one another on individual cases concerning

ordination, a degree of visible mutual forbearance is permitted. It is also hoped that having

such an option will free congregations who feel bound to consider departing from the PCUSA

(or to remain a part of it in a disengaged manner) to consider an alternative and to work

earnestly toward a unity that may be fashioned by the Holy Spirit at work amongst us.

The task force charged with presenting this proposal believes that the risk of reordering our

common life as a presbytery is less than the risk of simply living with the current state of the

division among us. It is a creative approach that allows us to cooperate where we can and

differentiate where we must. It maintains the unity of the church while creating a space in

which the Spirit can address our disunity.

4. New Church Development Commission – Fall 2011 Presbytery Report

About the NCDC

The Tri-Presbytery New Church Development Commission was formed jointly by the Presbyteries of Greater Atlanta, Cherokee and Northeast Georgia in 2001. The hope and goal: that together, we might grow Christ’s Church – deep and wide – by catalyzing the development of diverse new churches in our Presbyteries as they call, nurture, and equip disciples of every nation.



Currently, seven leaders from churches in each Presbytery serve as members of the commission, and they are joined by committed disciples from Jesus Christ throughout our presbyteries in carrying out this mission. Each volunteer is passionate about supporting and encouraging Christ’s great commission to share the good news

We give thanks for the following sister churches who carry out this central mission of Jesus Christ by supporting this ministry during 2011:

Bethany Presbyterian Church: English Ministries – Marietta, GA

Bethany Presbyterian Church: Korean Ministries – Marietta, GA

Covenant Presbyterian Church – Athens, GA

First Presbyterian Church – Cartersville, GA

First Presbyterian Church – Douglasville, GA

First Presbyterian Church – Griffin, GA

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church – Lilburn, GA

Grace Presbyterian Church – Dawsonville, GA

Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church – Hoschton, GA

Iglesia Presbiteriana Horeb (NCD) – Conyers, GA

Johns Creek Presbyterian Church – Johns Creek, GA

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church – Stone Mountain, GA

Morningside Presbyterian Church – Atlanta, GA

New Presbyterian Church of GA (NCD) – Jonesboro, GA

New Vision Presbyterian Church (NCD) – Johns Creek, GA

Newnan Presbyterian Church – Newnan, GA

Oconee Presbyterian Church – Watkinsville, GA

Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church – Atlanta, GA

Peachtree Presbyterian Church – Atlanta, GA

Rockmart Presbyterian Church – Rockmart, GA

Trinity Presbyterian Church – Atlanta, GA

You are cordially invited to our Annual Celebration of this ministry featuring multicultural worship and an

international meal on March 3, 2012 from 5:30 – 8:30 pm, location TBD.

For up-to-date resources, best practices, and biographies of new sister churches, visit: www.tpncdc.org

Help spread support of our mission by “liking” the NCDC on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tpncdc

http://www.bethanyem.com/

http://bethanykorean.org/

http://covpresathens.org/

http://www.cartersvillepres.org/

http://www.fpcdouglasville.org/

http://www.presbychurchgriffin.org/

http://www.presbychurchgriffin.org/

http://http/hamiltonmillpc.com/

http://www.tpncdc.org/meet-our-churches/new-church-directory/iglesia-presbiteriana-horeb-conyers-ga/

http://jcpcusa.org/

http://jcpcusa.org/

http://morningsidepc.org/

http://www.tpncdc.org/meet-our-churches/new-church-directory/new-presbyterian-church-of-georgia-jonesboro-ga/

http://www.tpncdc.org/meet-our-churches/new-church-directory/new-vision-presbyterian-church-duluth-ga/

http://www.newnanpres.org/

http://opcusa.org/

http://opcbrookhaven.org/

http://www.peachtreepres.org/

http://rockmartpresbyterian.org/

http://trinityatlanta.org/

http://www.tpncdc.org/

http://www.facebook.com/tpncdc

Documents

Presbytery of Greater Atlantas3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/... · 9190 Campbellton St. Douglasville, GA 30134 (770)942-0710 fax (770)949-3481 [email protected]