STATED SESSION MEETING MINUTES SUMMARY

                        September 20, 2007 meeting

            (The minutes summarized here have been read by the individual Session members, but have not been approved in a Session meeting)

A Stated Session meeting of the Session of Covenant Presbyterian Church was held on Thursday, September 20, 2007, beginning at 7:00 pm at the

Roberts’ Room.  A quorum was present.

The meeting was begun with prayer and a scripture reading by Rev. Morgan.  The following business was conducted:

1)                            TREASURER’S REPORT – Dorothy Wells discussed printouts of Income and Expenses, Balance Sheet, Monthly Comparison and Utility

Costs with the session.  August was a lean month and took in less income than expenses. Prepaid pledges and Challenge Gift are what carry us

through months like this.  There was a deficit of $15,856, but expenses were not out of line for the month.  Budgeted expense was at 101%,

budgeted income was at 77%, pledged income was at 90% for August and 95% year-to-date.  This means we are still lagging in income

year-to-date.

2)                            CLERKS REPORT – Joanne Fowler, Co-Clerk, presented minutes of the August 16, Stated Session Meeting and the August 19, and

September 16, Called Session Meetings and those were approved with some corrections requested.  It was announced that the Presbyterian

Church USA Committee on Polity invites our members to comment on the draft of the newly written Book of Order.  It can be found at www.pcusa/government/draftbookoforder. 

3)                            PASTOR’S REPORT – Rev. Morgan distributed a handout explaining his ideas on visioning for the future, at least three years into the future.

Should Sherman see growth, the church needs to prepare for changes.  Much discussion evolved around Rev. Morgan’s ideas for growth:

1)      be an inviting church; 2) be welcoming and demonstrate hospitality; 3) connect and develop relationships; and, 4) develop discipleship,

strengthen gifts and opportunities for serving God through serving others.

The Fall Stewardship Campaign was also discussed.  Our stewardship campaign will fall under the leadership of Rev. Morgan this year.  He

will work with a team    emphasizing year round discipleship, giving and the church’s ministry.  The Session discussed and approved changes to the Stewardship procedure that include hands-on leadership of the pastor, including the pastor’s access to all financial records of the church.

4)                            DCE REPORT – Janet Chester reported that over 60 people have enrolled in the Disciple Bible Study and that WOW began on September 9

with over 80 people attending.  Sunday School classes have begun well and the Christian Education Committee continues implementing a preschool program.  Janet Chester continues working with a committee in revising the church’s child protection policy. 

5)                            COMMITTEE REPORTS – There were no committee reports which required session action.

6)                            The meeting was adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.