The Spring 2019 Stated Meeting of Charleston Atlantic Presbytery was held Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church, Moncks Corner.
ReCAP
On arrival, commissioners and guests were greeted warmly by church members and offered a delicious selection of breakfast items. The Rev. Sam Martin, Moderator, opened the meeting in prayer, the Rev. Timothy Schoonover of First Presbyterian Moncks Corner gave a welcome and invited one of the church elders to give a history of the church. New commissioners and guests were introduced. In particular, a group of visitors from the Can Bay Presbyterian New Church Development were recognized and invited to speak about recent events at Cane Bay NCD. Earlier this year, the congregation and their organizing pastor parted ways, realizing they had different visions for the future. With the guidance and assistance of a new advisory team from the presbytery, the NCD is “doing a reset.” They have found a storefront to lease that will afford them exclusive space for office, worship and activities, rather than renting space for Sundays only. A retired PC(USA) minister in the group has agreed to preach. The group asked that the presbytery approve the four year lease being proposed by the Shepherding Team, to be voted on later in the meeting.
Worship included communion and a sermon by the Rev. Peter Bynum, who expounded on the parable of the mustard seed. Seeds “live and wait and live and wait,” he said, and even forgotten seeds can one day emerge from the ground, grow and bear fruit. The offering collected to support youth attendance at the Youth Triennium was seen as a way to help sow and nurture the seeds of discipleship.
An outstanding example of seeds bearing fruit was the ordination of Colin Kerr as a minister of the word and sacrament. It is rare that the presbytery ordains a new minister; usually they are ordained by the congregation of the church they will serve, or, sometimes, their home church. Because Rev. Kerr will be the organizing pastor of the Parkside Presbyterian New Church Development, the presbytery is the ordaining body. A charge to the Pastor was made by Rev. Will Deitrich.
During the business portion of the meeting, special presentations were made concerning the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, Hands of Christ, S.T.E.P.S. and the recent mission trip to Puerto Rico.
The Committee on Representation asked for a received affirmative votes on the nominations of Rev. Ashley Sanders to serve on the Nurture Team and Rev. Stephanie Dion to serve on the Shepherding Team. Elder Jim Deavor reminded all present that the COR needs nominations to all teams, committees and commissions of the presbytery.
The Commission on Ministry, in addition to asking Colin Kerr (right) to share his faith journey, also introduced Elder Robert Norris (left) who has been commissioned as a Commissioned Lay Pastor (also know as a Commission Ruling Elder) to serve Sea Island Presbyterian Church.
The Shepherding Team presented four resolutions for vote, all of which were approved without dissent:
1. The “Third Amendment to the Agreement of Purchase and Sale” plus the “Assignment of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale,” were approved as one resolution necessary to move forward with the sale of the presbytery office building on Highway 61 in preparation of moving the office to the Park Circle property.
2. The resolution to approve the request of the Cane Bay NCD Advisory Team to enter into a lease for a space to be used for program, worship and office space, was approved.
3. The resolution to allow Rev. Mike Fitze to negotiate an agreement with the St. Barnabas Lutheran Church for the Parkside NCD to use the building and facilities of that church for office, worship and program activities, was approved.
4. The resolution that Dorchester Presbyterian Church be authorized to apply for and enter into a construction loan in the amount of $500,000 secured by a mortgage on church property–spoken to by Rev. Jeff Kackley of Dorchester PC–also was approved.
All other agencies of the Presbytery reported by written reports in the Commissioner’s Handbook. After reports of the standing committees on Attendance and on Resolution of Thanks were approved, the meeting closed with prayer and with a benediction by the newly ordained Rev. Kerr. Then an excellent lunch was served by First Presbyterian Church of Moncks Corner.
The next presbytery meeting is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 21 at Zion Olivet Presbyterian Church in North Charleston. Commissioners are reminded and requested please to obtain, to either print or download and to read the Handbook prior to the meeting. Anyone, not just commissioners, may obtain the handbook and visitors to presbytery meeting always are welcome.
Submitted by Catherine Byrd, Stated Clerk
For more information read the HANDBOOK and SUPPLEMENT.
Please enjoy the Spring 2019 Presbytery Joys Video HERE. Thank you to all the churches who submitted photos!
