Stated Clerk’s ReCAP:
The Fall Stated meeting of Charleston Atlantic Presbytery was held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church in Charleston on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Despite the busy time of year, over a hundred members, commissioners and guests were in attendance for an unusually busy meeting. The upcoming 226th General assembly to be held in late June, early July 2024 was the catalyst for some non-routine items: four Commissioners (Revs. CeCe Armstrong and Spike Coleman plus Elders Catherine Byrd and Jay Jackson) one Young Adult Advisory Delegate (Liza Jones) to the GA were elected, two Overtures to the General Assembly were approved, and a concurrence to an overture from the Presbytery of Atlanta was approved. To reach the floor of the general Assembly overtures must be filed in a timely manner and must have the concurrence of at least one other presbytery. To view the overtures, click here (starting on page 15 of the Commissioners’ Handbook).
The Committee on Representation presented a slate of proposed members of various teams, committees and commissions of the presbytery for 2024, which received unanimous approval. SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE REMAIN OPEN. To see the COR report including the open positions, click here (starting on page 26 of the Commissioners’ Handbook). Contact Rev. Lissa Long, any member of the COR or the presbytery office to nominate yourself or someone else.
Highlighting the Commission on Ministry Report, moderator David Yandle declared a time of “Hail and Farewell” welcoming two new ministers to the presbytery (Revs Elizabeth Johnson, First P.C., Hilton Head and David Johnson, Lowcountry PC), and recognizing the retirements of Rev. Sidney Davis– retiring after 46 years in ministry, 31 of them at Zion Olivet– and Rev. Lawrence Peebles–retiring after 40 years in ministry, the last 4+ of them at Santee. He also acknowledged that Rev. Audrey Deas, who retired officially in 2015 is “really retiring” this month after serving as supply pastor for Walingford PC.
Also, in the vein of hail and farewell, the 2024 Moderator, Rev. Cibele Santos and Vice Moderator, Commissioned Ruling Elder Priscilla Holtzclaw were installed. Outgoing Moderator Elder Alan Rousseau was recognized with the presentation of a commemorative gavel. Outgoing Stated Clerk, Elder Catherine Byrd, was recognized for her seven years of service. The new Stated Clerk is Elder David Yandle who will be installed at the Feb. 2024 meeting.
The outgoing Moderator brought the message at worship, taking John 15: 1-8 as his text and “Connectional Presbyterians” as his title. He encouraged and challenged the presbytery and its churches to better engage youth in our connectional ministry. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was observed, an offering was collected to benefit Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and all in attendance enjoyed joining in hymns of the season and service.
Presentations were made by Synod of the South Stated Clerk/Executive, Elder Valerie Young, Stephen McDonal and Parker Lucus of Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center, and Elizabeth Little of the Board of Pensions.
The handbook, including the 2024 budget adopted at the meeting, the full reports of all agencies of the presbytery, can be found on the CAP webpage.
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