Presbytery of greater atlanta stated meeting

PRESBYTERY OF GREATER ATLANTA

STATED MEETING

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Roswell Presbyterian Church in Roswell, Georgia
The meeting was called to order and opened with prayer at 9:10 AM by the Moderator Dana Hughes as the body gathered in the Fellowship Hall of Roswell Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Lane Alderman, Head of Staff of Roswell Presbyterian Church brought greetings to the body.
The Presbytery recognized and welcomed Haewin Rim, Interim Synod Executive. First time commissioners and partnership representatives were recognized and welcomed.
Preliminary business included:

• 
  The declaration of a quorum
  
• 
  The approval of the docket as amended
  
• 
  The appointment of the teller committee…members from Roswell Church
  
• 
  Approval of the minutes of the stated meeting of August 18, 2012
  

WORSHIP
Worship revolved around the season of thanksgiving and the call to ministry…Rev. Kate Colussey-Estes preached a sermon entitled, How Did I Get to be Eli? based on the text of I Samuel 3:1-10. Part of our time together was directed prayer around tables for the inquirers and candidates of this presbytery. An offering was received for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry scholarship fund totally over $2300.
The body also celebrated the sacrament of Holy Communion.

COMMUNICATIONS
Admit to Record:

1. 
   Received a communication from the Morrow Session expressing their desire not to join PGA2 but to continue to work for “their convictions” within the current structure of Presbytery and Denomination.
   

2. 
   As reported in the minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Presbytery on December 1, 2011, the Stated Clerk received an allegation against a former minister member of the presbytery. An investigating committee, named 11-04 was appointed in conjunction with the Presbytery of Western Reserve who held jurisdiction over the minister member at the time of the receipt of the allegation.
   

Investigating Committee 11-04 concluded their work with the filing of charges. As required by the Book of Order in the Rules of discipline (D-3.0106) the following information is reported to both the Presbytery of Western Reserve and the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta:

On October 27, 2012, a letter was received from Jeffrey D. Peterson-Davis renouncing the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. At the time of renunciation, four charges of sexual abuse of a minor, involving four individuals and separate events from different years was pending before the Permanent Judicial Commission of Western Reserve. The effect of renunciation is the ceasing of the judicial process.
Investigating Committee 11-04 is dismissed with thanks.

3. 
   A communication was received by Shannon Dill responding to the item regarding the reporting of the renunciation of Jeffrey Peterson-Davis:
   

…I have shared in ministry with you…and have appreciated the acumen with which you interpret the Book of Order, but in this instance you have gone beyond the bounds of what is required…as it pertains to D-3.0106…I would like to go on the record as taking exception to the way this matter was handled…I would also appreciate the Clerk noting to the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta that letters of grief over the loss of Rev. Jeff Peterson-Davis in ordained ministry and support of him and his family were received as communication.

4. 
   That the following people served on the commission to install Scott Huie as Associate Pastor of Johns Creek Presbyterian Church in Johns Creek, Georgia on August 12, 2012:
   
   1. 
      Rev. Gray Norsworthy, Johns Creek Presbyterian Church
      
   2. 
      Rev. Neal Kuhlhorst, Johns Creek Presbyterian Church
      
   3. 
      Elder Romona Lavender, New Life Presbyterian Church, Moderator in 2011
      
   4. 
      Elder Ken Skillman, Johns Creek Presbyterian Church
      
   5. 
      Elder Mike Skeeters, Westiminster Presbyterian Church
      

5. 
   That the minutes of the commission to install Scott Huie as Associate Pastor of Johns Creek Presbyterian Church in Johns Creek, Georgia on August 12, 2012 be admitted to record.
   

6. 
   That the following people served on the commission to ordain Brady Radford as a Teaching Elder called to the ministry of Pastoral Counseling, on August 26, 2012. The ordination took place at First Afrikan Presbyterian Church located in Lithonia, Georgia.
   
   1. 
      Rev. Dr. Mark Lomax, First Afrikan Presbyterian Church
      
   2. 
      Rev. Dr. Lonnie Oliver, Validated ministry in the office of GA
      
   3. 
      Rev. Dana Hughes, Moderator of the Presbytery
      
   4. 
      Elder Bertha Dhillon, New Life Presbyterian Church
      
   5. 
      Elder Toni Griffin-Fields, Church of the Master
      
   6. 
      Rev. Dr. Andrew Stephens, Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, Guest of the commission
      

7. 
   That the following people served on the commission to ordain and install Andrew Dickinson as Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Douglasville located in Douglasville, Georgia on September 2, 2012:
   
   1. 
      Rev. James Harper, First Presbyterian Church, Douglasville
      
   2. 
      Rev. David Pearce, Austell Presbyterian Church
      
   3. 
      Rev. Camille Josey, Minister member at large
      
   4. 
      Elder Tracie Cole, First Presbyterian Church, Douglasville
      
   5. 
      Elder Romona Lavender, New Life Presbyterian Church, Moderator in 2011
      
   6. 
      Rev. Dr. Jonathan Miller, West Jersey Presbytery, Guest of the Commission
      
   7. 
      Rev. Leon Jeffords, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, Guest of the Commission
      
   8. 
      Rev. Sandy Fox, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, Guest of the Commission
      
   9. 
      Rev. Ryan Balsan, Philadelphia Presbytery, Guest of the Commission
      
   10. 
       Rev. Robert Gruber, Presbytery of Western Carolina, Guest of the Commission
       

8. 
   That the following people served on the commission to ordain Andrew Stockstill in a validated ministry as Campus Minister at Emory University on September 23, 2012. The ordination took place at Morningside Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
   
   1. 
      Rev. Dana Hughes, Moderator of the Presbytery
      
   2. 
      Rev. Dr. Mark Douglas, Validated Ministry at Columbia Theological Seminary
      
   3. 
      Rev. Baron Mullis, Morningside Presbyterian Church
      
   4. 
      Rev. Jill Tolbert, Minister Member at Large
      
   5. 
      Rev. Samuel Mwaniki, North Avenue Presbyterian Church
      
   6. 
      Elder Ellen Stockstill, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
      
   7. 
      Elder Robert Hay, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
      
   8. 
      Rev. Daniel Smoak, Providence Presbytery, Guest of the Commission
      
   9. 
      Rev. Peter Hobbie, Foothills Presbytery, Guest of the Commission
      
   10. 
       Rev. Stephen Murray, Flint River Presbytery, Guest of the Commission
       

9. 
   That the minutes of the commission to ordain Andrew Stockstill in a validated ministry as Campus Minister at Emory University on September 23, 2012 be admitted to record. The ordination took place at Morningside Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
   

10. 
    That the following people served on the commission to ordain Elizabeth Turner as a Contract Call Pastor for Tallapoosa Presbyterian Church in Tallapoosa, Georgia on October 7, 2012. The ordination took place at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, Georgia.
    
    1. 
       Rev. Dr. David Bowie, Rice Memorial Presbyterian Church
       
    2. 
       Rev. Sara Hayden, Validated Ministry as Director of the Tri-Presbytery NCD Commission
       
    3. 
       Rev. Kate Colussy-Estes, Validated Ministry as Campus Minister at Agnes Scott College
       
    4. 
       Rev. Dr. Jason Whitener, St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church
       
    5. 
       Elder Lucille Parrish, Tallapoosa Presbyterian Church
       
    6. 
       Elder Marilyn Downey, Tallapoosa Presbyterian Church
       
    7. 
       Elder Mark Rogers, St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church
       
    8. 
       Rev. Debbie Wells, Cherokee Presbytery, Guest of the Commission
       

11. 
    That the minutes of the commission to ordain Elizabeth Turner as the Contract Call Pastor of Tallapoosa Presbyterian Church, in Tallapoosa, Georgia be admitted to the record. The ordination took place at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, Georgia.
    

12. 
    That the following people served on the commission to install Laura Hollandsworth Jernigan as Associate Pastor of Northwest Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia on October 14, 2012:
    
    1. 
       Rev. Robby Carroll, Validated Ministry at Shallowford Presbyterian Church
       
    2. 
       Rev. Penny Hill, Executive Presbyter of Greater Atlanta
       
    3. 
       Rev. Julie Johnson, Validated Ministry
       
    4. 
       Rev. Libby Smith-Purcell, Validated Ministry
       
    5. 
       Rev. Dr. Anna Carter-Florence, Validated Ministry at Columbia Seminary
       
    6. 
       Elder John Jernigan, Shallowford Presbyterian Church
       
    7. 
       Elder Kaye Mulkeen Northwest Presbyterian Church
       
    8. 
       Elder Paul Osborne, North Decatur Presbyterian Church
       
    9. 
       Elder Martha Osborne, Certified Educator North Decatur Presbyterian Church
       
    10. 
        Elder Cathy Little, Mission Presbytery, Guest of the Commission
        
    11. 
        Elder Ben Jernigan, Shallowford Presbyterian Church
        

13. 
    That the following people served on the commission to install Matthew Ruffner as Associate Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia on October 14, 2012.
    
    1. 
       Rev. Pam Driesell, Trinity (Atlanta) Presbyterian Church
       
    2. 
       Rev. Sara Hayden, Validated Ministry as Director of Tri-Presbytery NCD Commission
       
    3. 
       Elder Romona Lavender, New Life Presbyterian Church, Moderator in 2011
       
    4. 
       Elder Bede Campbell, Central Presbyterian Church
       
    5. 
       Elder Richard DuBose, Trinity (Atlanta) Presbyterian Church
       
    6. 
       Elder Ben Curran, Trinity (Atlanta) Presbyterian Church
       
    7. 
       Rev. Dr. David Bartlett, American Baptist, Guest of the Commission
       

14. 
    That the minutes of the installation of Matthew Ruffner as Associate Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia on October 14, 2012 be admitted to record.
    

15. 
    That the following people served on the commission to install Mun-Gye Lee as pastor of Hanbit Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia on October 28, 2012:
    
    1. 
       Rev. Dana Hughes, Moderator of Presbytery
       
    2. 
       Rev. Gray Norsworthy, Johns Creek Presbyterian Church
       
    3. 
       Rev. Bill Nisbet, Roswell Presbyterian Church
       
    4. 
       Rev. In Soo Jung, Korean Community Presbyterian Church
       
    5. 
       Rev. Paul Huh, Validated Ministry at Columbia Seminary
       
    6. 
       Elder David Scott, Crossroads Presbyterian Church
       
    7. 
       Elder Young Kim, Hanbit Presbyterian Church
       

16. 
    Receive a communication from Transylvania Presbytery that Jillian Embrey (candidate of Greater Atlanta) was called to the First Presbyterian Church in Danville, KY. Transylvania both examined and ordained.
    

For Recommendation:

The following items are part of the omnibus motion for approval. If any commissioner wishes to extract any item for discussion, please do so at the time of this report. This item will be placed at the end of the agenda for consideration.

Admit to Record Items in the Communications Report

Admit to Record Items in the Committee on Preparation for Ministry Report
Admit to Record Items in the Committee on Ministry Report
Admit to Record Items in the Operations Committee Report
Admit to Record Items in the Council Report
Recommendation Items from the Nominating Committee Report
The Omnibus motion was approved by voice vote. There was one extraction regarding the admit to record item on Jeffrey Peterson-Davis which was later approved to include in the admit to record.


NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
For Recommendation:
The following people printed in bold are individuals proposed for election. The (l) next to a name represents laity status. The (c) next to a name represents clergy status.
Calvin Center Committee


2015 (2013) (l) Dave Huffman – Pleasant Hill

(2008) (c) Meghan Johnson – Clairmont

(2010) (c) Erin McGee – Trinity Atlanta

(2013) (c) Ollie Wagner – Alpharetta

(2013) (c) Russ Weekly – Good Shepherd



2014 (2009) (l) Angela Ross – McDonough

(2010) (l) Derwin Otwell – Fayette

(2010) (c) Jason Whitner – St. Luke’s

(2010) (l) Cy Wolverton – Covington

(2012) (l) Chris Williams – Trinity Decatur


2013 (2008) (l) Cynthia Brown – First Atlanta

(2011) (c) Patrick Day – Northminster

(2006) (c) Bob Matthews – Friendship

(2011) (l) Eric Knoll – McDonough

(2008) (c) Callie Weber – Validated Ministry
Committee on Preparation for Ministry

2015 (2011) (l) Jamie Butcher – Alpharetta

(2010) (l) Nancy Cunningham – First Atlanta

(2010) (l) Eve Earnest – First Atlanta

(2010) (c) Nicole Lock – Westminster

(2010) (c) Jihyun Oh – Validated Ministry

(2009) (l) Jay York – Shallowford

(2013) (c) D.C. Adams – Newnan

(2013) (c) Jo Anderson – Bremen

(2013) VACANT

(2013) VACANT

2014 (2010) (l) Thomas Adams – Trinity Atlanta

(c) Karen Allaman – Rock Spring

(2009) (c) Jonathan Ball – Validated Ministry

(c) Shannon Dill – St. Luke’s

(l) Carol Dunbar – Covington

(2011) (c) Matt Frye – Norcross

(2012) (c) Billy Honor – New Life

(2009) (l) Raymond Johnson – Westminster

(l) Camille Josey – Peachtree

(2013) (c) Joe B. Martin – Mt. Vernon

(2011) (l) Bill Powell – Roswell

(2012) (c) David Rogers – At large


2013 (2011) (c) Wendy Dewberry – Columbia

(2011) (c) Bryan Dunnagan – Peachtree

(2011) (l) Mary Dyche – Morrow

(2008) (c) Kate Colussy-Estes – Validated Ministry

(2012) (l) Edith Gray Gould – New Life

(2008) (c) Ernie Hess – Covenant

(2008) (l) Margaret Jacobs – Radcliffe

(2011) (c) Kimberly LeVert – Columbia Seminary

(2011) (l) Mary Martin – St. Luke’s

(2011) (c) Jonier Orozco-Usuga – College Park

(2011) VACANT

(2011) (l) Jeff Vaughn – Decatur

Examinations Commission

2015 (2013) (l) Bland Byrne – First Atlanta

(2013) (c) John Callahan – Morrow

(2013) (c) Marsha Snulligan-Haney – Johnson C. Smith Seminary

(2010) (c) Elizabeth Smith-Purcell – Validated Ministry

2014 (2012) (c) Beth Daniels – Member at Large

(2012) (c) Mark Douglas – Columbia Seminary

(2012) (l) Guerry Mashburn – Morningside

(2012) (c) Charles Roberts – Peachtree

2013 (2010) (l) Diane Duane – Roswell

(2008) (l) Charles Easley – Radcliffe

(2009) (c) Paul Huh – Columbia Seminary

(2011) (l) Belle Miller McMaster – Druid Hills

Tri-Presbytery New Church Development Commission
Joanna Adams, Special Advisor

Sara Hayden, Executive Director

2015 (2013) (l) Nancy Phillimore - Shallowford

2014 (2012) (c) Pam Driesell – Trinity Atlanta

(2012) (c) Bryan Dunagan – Peachtree

(2012) (c) Gray Norsworthy – Johns Creek


2013 (2011) (c) Tom Bagley – Hamilton Mill

(2012) (c) Thomas Daniel – Kairos

(l) Rick Wolters – Peachtree

Operations



2015 (2010) (l) Ralph Clements – Roswell (chair)

(2010) (l) Tom Hyatt – Alpharetta

(2013) (c) Stephen Kolderup – Trinity Atlanta

(2013) (l) Horace Tory – Rice

(2011) (l) Itiharia Toure – First Afrikan

(2010) (c) Dan West – Honorably Retired


2014 (2009) (c) Fahed Abu-Akel – Honorably Retired

(2012) (l) James Binion – Radcliffe

(2011) (l) Linda Davis – Druid Hills

(2012) (l) Toni Griffin Fields – Church of the Master

(2011) (l) Robert Hay – St. Andrew’s

(2013) (l) Margaret Murphy – First Atlanta


2013 (2011) (l) Terry Baker – North Avenue

(2010) (c) Cheryl Gosa – Honorably Retired

(2011) (c) Trace Haythorne – At Large

(2008) (l) Allison Johnson – Stockbridge

(2011) (l) Scott Lewis – Pleasant Hill

(2012) (l) Franklin Malcolm – Luther Hays

Permanent Judicial Commission



2018 (2013) (l) Susan H. Coloussy – Covenant

(2013) (l) John Holloway – Rock Spring

(2013) (c) Alex Moses – Fayette

(2013) (l) Deron Hicks – Warm Springs


2016 (2011) (l) Betsy Morehouse – Covington

(2011) (l) Halsey Knapp – Trinity Atlanta

2014 (2006) (c) Alice Hickcock – Validated Ministry

(2008) (l) Helen Stark – College Park

(2009) (c) Donald Wade – Honorably Retired

(2005) (c) Roosevelt Winfrey – East Point

Personnel

2015 (2011) (l) Brent Adams – Covenant

(2011) (l) Brenda Gales – Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection

(2015) (c) VACANT

2014 (2012) (c) Susan Bennett – Stockbridge

(2012) (c) Caleb Clarke – Eastminster

(2012) (l) Doug Coe – Roswell

2013 (2011) (l) Jim Beisner – Stockbridge (chair)

(2011) (l) Kathy Bremer – Morningside

(2011) (l) Marva Bryan – Memorial Drive
Worship and Planning
2015 (2010) (l) Michael Morgan – Central

(2011) (c) Marthame Sanders – Oglethrope

(2013) (l) Mary Gowing – Rock Springs
2014 (2012) (l) Jamil el-Shair – Church of the Master

(2012) (l) Mary Evans – St. Andrew’s

(2012) (l) Clark Simmons – Druid Hills
2013 (2012) (c) VACANT

(2011) (c) Bobby Hulme-Lippert – Clairmont

(2012) (l) Alice Walker – Covington

Montreat Georgia Lodge Board of Directors



2014 (l) Dianne D. DeBarry – Pleasant Hill
2013 (l) Lyn Crowell Havard – Trinity Atlanta
Presbytery Council

2015 (2013) (l) Tammy Easley – Radcliffe

(2010) (c) Carol Seaton – At Large

(2013) (l) Destiny Williams – Summit
2014 (2011) (l) Kathleen Allen – North Decatur

(2011) (c) Byeong Cheol Han – Korean Central

(2012) (l) Ken Whitehurst – Trinity Decatur
2013 (2011) (c) Tom Hagood – Columbia

(2010) (c) Christopher Henry – Shallowford

(2008) (l) David York – Morningside

Moderator of the Presbytery

2014 (c) Rob Sparks – Fairview


2013 (l) John Fountain – Conyers


2012 (c) Dana Hughes – At large
Sexual Misconduct Response Team

(2012) (l) Rebekah Abel Lamar – Decatur

(2012) (e) Emily Cole – Carrollton

(2012) (c) Glen Small – Pastoral Counselor

(2012) (c) Libby Smith-Purcell – Chaplain

(2012) (c) David Weitnauer – Pastoral Counselor

(2012) (c) Sylvia Wilson – Church of the Master
Synod Commissioners
2015 (c) Lisa Majoros – Validated Ministry

(l) Anne Burkes – Summit

There were no nominations from the floor. The above slate was elected as part of the omnibus motion.

EXAMINATIONS
For Recommendation:
The Commission examined the following people in the areas of Theology, Bible, Worship and Sacraments, and Polity. The Commission has approved the examinations and now recommends these candidates for reception.
Reginald (Reggie) Avant (San Francisco Presbytery) has a validated ministry as a hospice chaplain at Kaiser Permanente. Date of validation: September 26, 2012. Effective date of reception: November 15, 2012.
Dan Commerford (candidate of Twin Cities Presbytery) has been called as the pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church. Effective date of reception: upon ordination.
Anthony Damelio (candidate of Western Reserve Presbytery) has been called as a Lilly Grant Recipient to the Central Church Pastoral Program. Effective date of reception: upon ordination.
Ryan Jensen (South Alabama Presbytery) has been called as the pastor of Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church. Effective date: October 22, 2012.
Christin Johnson (candidate of Greater Atlanta) has been called as a contract call associate pastor at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church. Effective date of reception: upon ordination.
The floor was opened for questions. A motion was made to vote on the candidates individually. This motion failed by voice vote.
Following questions, the examination was closed and the slate was approved for reception by voice vote.

New Church Development Commission
For Information:

TPNCDC: Fall NEGA Presbytery Report 2012

Dear Presbytery of Greater Atlanta,
I want each of you to know how many people’s lives you are impacting with the gospel by your support and involvement in planting new churches in our Presbytery. This Sunday, over 3500 people will worship God at one of the 23 new churches we have organized through our regional church planting effort called the NCDC, (the New Church Development Commission). Many will worship in storefronts, others in the chapels of established congregations; still others are building a new church from the ground up in living rooms and school cafeterias. 3,500 may not seem like a “lot” in a world of more than six billion people. But these churches, like your own, grow exponentially when every member of Christ’s Body commits to live the faith they enjoy and to share it with their neighbors and friends. Our impact and journey of faith grows as more people in more places and contexts join us in the work and walk of Jesus Christ.
Through PGA’s leadership in new church planting, we are doing cutting-edge mission for the glory of God and it is making a huge difference in our denomination, our communities, and in the lives of individuals who are discovering and renewing a commitment to follow Jesus and live his mission in the world. Future generations will experience the joy of discipleship because we are asking the question, “who’s not here in Christ’s church?” and doing something strategic about it.
And, who’s not here in Metro Atlanta, and beyond? We are asking that question here in our Presbytery. On November 10^th at the Colonnade Restaurant, the NCDC will host the Inaugural Gathering of the New Church Roundtable – a conversation with community members, church leaders and others passionate about starting new churches to share ideas, to collaborate, and – most importantly – to look to the story of the birth of the church in the gospels and Acts about the movement of church planting we can catalyze together with God’s help. Our vision is to work together to start SIX more new churches together by 2017. We are looking for partners who would like to be a part of this regular gathering or who want to help start new churches. If you feel called to make the birth of new churches possible, want to help start a new church or know of people who want to be supportive of this discernment and work, we would like to know! It takes a village – and a Presbytery!
Finally, many churches experience renewal and growth as a result of a dogged commitment to stay focused on their mission – their “reason for being” – and consistent practice of the values they want to embody as a community of faith. Your NCDC is learning from those churches. We have updated our mission statement into a key phrase we hope all of us can remember and share. It’s at the core of what we can do together. It’s our reason for existing as a Commission of this presbytery, and something we are all privileged to carry out as followers of Jesus Christ. Here it is: Start new churches and live Christ’s love.
We hope you will join us as leaders and supporters in this mission. Have a look at the exciting and important developments in our movement since our last NCDC meeting, organized by the Values we practice in this work, below.
In Christ,
Sara Hayden, Director of the NCDC 678-638-1461 (o) 404-333-4359 (c)
Start new churches and live Christ's love – www.tpncdc.org

Valuing: Partnership + Innovation + Fruitfulness.  Staying: Kingdom-Centered
Link with us on Twitter! www.twitter.com/tripresncdc

Follow us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/tpncdc

Our Values
Partnership:

Planting new churches is the joy of all who follow Jesus – not the privilege of an appointed few. We value the community necessary to build fruitful new churches, and are looking for partners, joined as one body of Christ.

• 
  Can you swing a hammer?! We have a generous base of leaders and organizations who financially support our work (125), but sometimes it’s hard to conceive of “church planting ” when you’re involved from afar. On Sundays, for example, most people are at their own congregations and thus have little interaction with the vision and leaders of the new churches they support. SO, your NCDC is excited to announce the FIRST hands-on church-planting project: “To Hapeville . . . with Love.” Here’s our first project:
  

El Nazareno Presbyterian Church of Hapeville (right next to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport), a current recipient of a PCUSA Mission Program Grant for Church Planting, has no playground in its city, and is determined to build the first one! This “Hands-on” mission project was conceived by our own NCDC commissioner Rick Wolters, who is working with his Sunday School class to join as volunteers and provide cash to fund the project. El Nazareno is located at 3368 N. Whitney Ave in Hapeville, the building of the former Hapeville Presbyterian Church. (Church members and the Presbytery generously gave the church building to El Nazareno when HPC was no longer able to continue meeting as a congregation – Christ’s mission continues in this place!) Together, with the help of several churches and passionate individuals, we raised $28,950 to build the playground and live Christ’s love with El Nazareno and the underserved Hapeville community. On October 27^th, built and dedicated the playground, fixed up the church, created a pavilion for the community, and dedicated it to the glory of God! Interested in getting involved next fall? Please give Sara Hayden a call at 404-333-4359. We’d love to have you, your mission team, or your family join us in our next new church mission project.

• 
  Churches want to plant new churches! In the last month, four different churches said they are seriously exploring a call to plant a new church, and would be open to doing that in the next three years, or sooner. THIS MAKES SENSE – by planting new churches, mother churches catalyze the gifts and talents present in their own congregation, as we think creatively about relevant ministry in our context that makes a difference in people’s lives. Two of those churches have chosen to make new church development one of their top four major mission emphases. We give thanks to God for these churches’ overflowing witness that pays forward the gift of life and love they enjoy as disciples of Jesus Christ. All of those churches had a representative present at our April 2012 NCDC meeting at Mountain Lake Church. Two of those congregations have never planted a church before. Two things to keep in mind: 1) our Agile Plan for Church Planting (see below) can enable churches to envision what this process might look like and the steps to foster conversation and spiritual fruitfulness; 2) Our attentiveness to expanding the conversation with our partners and colleagues as a movement of church planting is bearing fruit! See more opportunities below and get involved! 3) As we start more new churches people are excited about, our opportunities multiply to respond to God’s grace.
  

Innovation:

We welcome fresh ideas about church planting; we are committed to discovering and practicing modern and ancient ways of “doing and being” disciples of Jesus Christ.

• 
  Food For Thought Sustains our Work! It’s our call and responsibility as leaders in this mission to be molded and informed by what’s working in church planting in a variety of contexts. We cannot be good stewards of new church planting if our eyes are closed to the contexts through which we are called to serve. Therefore, NCDC commissioners have committed to reading two special articles or stories per month that will expose us to faithful and fruitful innovation in the church and society. Some of our articles will be probing, others full of tips and tricks. All, we pray, will strategically advance us in our mission to Start new churches and live Christ’s love! Here’s what we’re reading this month:
  

• 
  "Zero to 90: Innovative Ideas for Planting and Accelerating Church Growth" by Olu Brown
  
• 
  "Religion: The Missionary and the Mega-church." From the Big Sort by Bill Bishop
  

PGA Commissioners and friends: If you’d like to receive and share these hand-curated articles, please let us know! We will add you to the list, and each month you will receive some awesome articles – for free! Your commitment to innovation will benefit your own church growth and mission, as well as our success in new church planting as a presbytery. Get started today – sign up for our newsletter at tpncdc.org!

• 
  Worship at a New Church – October 7^th at Impact Church. Here’s an announcement in advance in case you are reading the Presbytery docket before the meeting. Hopefully, you’ve experienced worship that’s changed your perspective and made you feel closer to God, your neighbor, and motivated you to GET MOVING in your walk with Jesus. On October 7^th, take advantage of an opportunity to worship at Impact Church in Atlanta, one of the most exciting church plants in recent years. Impact Church is a United Methodist Church plant on the west side of Atlanta. Our Moderator of the NCDC, Joanna Adams, has set up an opportunity for us to worship with the community at 10 am, and we were joined by members of our newest church start search team, the Pulse Church search team, and, of course, the people of Impact. We think we can learn a lot from our brothers and sisters at Impact, and look forward to worshipping with them. Here is the address: 765 Peeples Street St; Atlanta, GA 30310. We will take more “field trips” in the future, so if you’d like to be exposed to church in a different context a few times a year, let us know! We’d love to expand our group.
  

• 
  New Church Roundtable Starting up in Atlanta. On Monday, November 12^th, we will gather together with supporters and leaders of new church planting from around our region to get excited about opportunities to start new churches and live Christ’s love. Our movement will be successful if we expand our partnership to more and more churches and individuals as we actively participate in shaping the kind of faithful and bold future we’re about as Christ’s church. People from all three presbyteries are welcome to this event. If your church wants to make a splash through new church planting, you will want to connect with others through this roundtable! If you are interested in being a part of this fun and important roundtable, please send an RSVP to contact@tpncdc.org and we will send you an invitation.
  

Fruitfulness:

We are attentive to the kind of efforts that bear spiritual fruit in people’s lives, and are willing to dismiss methods and projects that do not bear this fruit, according to God’s leading.

• 
  The steps to start new churches from the ground up. This September, Pam Driesell (Organizing Pastor of Oconee Presbyterian and now Senior Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian – Atlanta), Peter Lim (English Ministry Pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Marietta), Thomas Daniel (Organizing Co-Pastor of Kairos Church) and Sara Hayden will develop a brief 5 (or so) -step plan NCDC can exercise or recommend to churches and potential leaders who sense a call from God and community to plant a church. Among the steps we will consider: Recruitment (finding people with a call and competency to start new churches – both lay and ordained); Assessment (the tools we use to say “no” to some and “yes” to others); Preparation (to include Coaching & Mentoring; Continuing Peer Support; Vision and Values); Launch (going “public” with the new faith community) and Multiplication (starting a new church once you’ve done it yourself) . . . If you have something to recommend to this emerging plan, please contact one of us with your ideas!
  

• 
  Interviews to Share from New Church Success Stories. Our own Tom Bagley shared his story of starting Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church in a recent interview. You will be spiritually inspired by his insights and wisdom. We will be sharing Tom’s and Transformation Covenant Church’s Pastor Frances Githieya’s stories in an upcoming NCDC e-newsletter. Not on our e-newsletter list? Please let us know!
  

• 
  Pulse Church Lead Pastor Search Moving Forward Expeditiously. NCDC Commissioner Warren Combs has a comment we love to remember in this work: “matters of the Holy Spirit shall be dealt with expeditiously.” In such fashion, The Pulse Church Search Team has set a goal to recruit passionate candidates for the Lead Pastor position of West-Midtown’s Pulse Church, and thanks to the team’s committed leadership, their important work is well underway. They have received direct applications (letters of interested and Personal Information Forms, and in some cases, supplementary documents) from 31 excellent candidates. Many of our candidates found out about this opportunity through social media posts on Facebook and Twitter – talk about Innovation! (every time you “re-post” something about Pulse, our reach expands exponentially!) We know that Leadership selection and discernment is probably the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of successful church planting. Keep our fabulous team -- Billy Honor, Toni Griffin Fields, Rick Wolters, Sarah Ruffner, Brady Radford, Leslie Prince, and Winston Lawson -- in your prayers for their continued work and leadership in this mission. We are grateful to them for their dedication and spirit! Contact them at pulsechurchpnc@gmail.com
  

We have also received inquiries from a number of individuals indicating they would like to be involved in Pulse Church or would like to visit when it gets started. If you know of a neighbor, family member, or friend who’s looking for a church like Pulse, they can find out more (or sign up to get involved!) at http://tpncdc.org/meet-our-churches/pulse-church/

Our thanks to Greater Atlanta Presbytery for making 50% of the funds from the sale of closed churches available to start new churches. May God keep our witness strong and true!
Kingdom-Centered-

The more we join together and equip others to join Christ’s mission I the world, the closer we come to a world alive in God’s love and justice.

• 
  starting new churches is about living the love of God in our relationships, communities, and world! Successful church planting at its core makes the world a closer reflection of God’s kingdom on Earth -- as more and more communities and individuals live out and share the good news of Jesus Christ.
  

I am deeply thankful to you for your courage and commitment to serve as leaders and key visionaries in this movement. I pray that God continues to give us faith to lead boldly, the wisdom to discern faithfully and the will to act decisively regarding our way forward together on behalf of NCDC’s future and service to God’s church. I look forward to seeing many of you at the New Church Planting Roundtable, in future conversations, and to the privileged work that await us.

Remember: Start new churches and Live Christ’s Love!

Sara Hayden

Ps: We would like to share updates with you through our E-newsletter! Please sign up at www.tpncdc.org or send your email address to sara.hayden@tpncdc.org.
When you follow and share new church efforts at www.facebook.com/tpncdc and on Twitter at @TriPresNCDC, you help our mission grow. Thanks to those from NEGA who’ve already joined!

The following

Partners in Mission

Help New Churches Thrive

with their generous financial gifts to the NCDC over the past twelve months:*
Because of the generous investment of individuals, families, churches, and presbyteries in new church planting, every dollar you, your church, or your business gives to this mission goes directly to start new churches. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can donate securely online at www.tpncdc.org, or by sending a check to the TPNCDC at 1024 Ponce de Leon Ave NE; Atlanta, GA 30306.

Up to $50

Judy and Dick Allison

Marva Brian

Gwen Cleghorn

Columbia Theological Seminary

Andy and Stacey Cooke

Claire and Guerry Dyes

Elward Ellis

George Gitahi and Rahab Gitonga

Joseph Goodrich

Toni Griffin-Fields

Joy Fisher

Sandy and Russell Hinton

Billy Honor

Anne Hughes

Peninah Kanja

Beth Kimani

Winston Lawson

Faye McKay Clegg

Cassandra Morrow

Faith Ngotho

Benjamin and Naomi Reyes

Anne Sayre

Ann Wamaitha

John and Ann Watson
$51-150

Dwight and Nina Blinson

Sarah and Richard Brownlee

Sug and Steve Cheatwood

Peter and Carolyn Cobb

Andy and Stacey Cooke

Euphemia Gitau

George Goodwin

Tim and Susan Hayden

Cindy and Bill Humphries

Winnie and Richard Myrick

Monticello Presbyterian Church

Pulse Church Vision Team

Martha Rosselot

Leslie and Lloyd Prince

Ken and Lois Quist

Mardee Rightmeyer

Claire Schueler Blake

Betty Marie Stewart

George Tatro

Lynn and Mac Young
$151-250

The Brazilian Christian Church

Bob and Joyce Burnett

Columbia Seminary- “Explorations”

Margaret Curtis

Nancy Gould

Iglesia Presbiteriana Horeb (NCD)

Mac and Jan Irvin

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

New Vision Presbyterian Church

Kate and Robby Robinson

Nick and Mary Villaume

$251-500

Kent Balch and Tony Fishpaw

Joseph and Suzanne Brown

Warren and Arnelle Combs

New Presbyterian Church of Georgia

Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church

Dick and Bobbie Pope

Staff, Trinity Presbyterian Church - Atlanta

Cathy and Seth Vining
$501-1000

Tom and Anita Adams

Linda Alley and Steve Konisberg

Kathy Bremer

John and Pat Britt

Calvary Presbyterian Church

Covenant Presbyterian Church - Athens

Pam Driesell

First Presbyterian Church – Griffin

Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church

Sara Hayden and Chris Henry

Barton and BJ McMillan

Leslie and John Michael

Dan Ottaviano

Mark and Beth Roberson

Rockmart Presbyterian Church

$1001-$5000

Joanna and Al Adams

Dalton Presbyterian Church

Decatur Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church - Cartersville

Grace Presbyterian Church

Robert and Cindy Metzler

Northwest Presbyterian Church - Atlanta

Oconee Presbyterian Church
$5000-10,000

Bethany Presbyterian Church - Marietta

Morningside Presbyterian Church

Northeast Georgia Presbytery

Peachtree Presbyterian Church –

Seekers Sunday School Class

Shallowford Presbyterian Church
$10,000-150,000

Cherokee Presbytery

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church

Norris Lake Presbyterian Church

Parkway Presbyterian Church

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

Presbytery of Greater Atlanta – Compassion Fund

Synod of the South Atlantic

Trinity Presbyterian Church - Atlanta

And Our Awesome In–Kind Supporters:
Alpharetta Presbyterian Church (sharing God’s house with a new church)

The Brazilian Christian Church (annual celebration host/meal)

Kathy Bremer (strategic planning and consulting)

John and Pat Britt (brochure printing and consulting)

Bob and Joyce Burnett (To Hapeville with Love – sandbox and project design)

The Dev Department (website design and development)

El Nazareno Presbyterian Church (Lead Partner – To Hapeville with Love & annual celebration host/meal)

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of Ghana (NCD) (annual celebration host/meal)

First Presbyterian Church – Cartersville (annual celebration host/meal)

First Presbyterian Church – Conyers (sharing God’s house with a new church)

First Presbyterian Church – Gainesville (children’s discipleship curriculum)

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (sharing God’s house with a new church)

Impact UMC – Atlanta (Teaching us what they know to help Pulse Church)

Johns Creek Presbyterian Church (sharing God’s house with a new church)

BJ and Barton McMillan (piano and brick masonry)

Eastminster Presbyterian Church – Marietta (Partner - To Hapeville with Love; Children’s Nursery)

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (sharing God’s house with a new church)

Ministerio Hispano el Buen Pastor (annual celebration host/meal)

Morningside Presbyterian Church (children’s discipleship curriculum & Partner – To Hapeville with Love)

New Vision Presbyterian Church (NCD) (annual celebration host/meal)

Northwest Presbyterian Church – Atlanta (Partner – To Hapeville with Love)

Peachtree Presbyterian Church Seekers Sunday School Class (Partner – To Hapeville with Love)

Willianson Perez (Graphic Design for To Hapeville with Love)

Nancy Phillimore (new church control training and financial dashboards)

Shallowford Presbyterian Church (Host - Taking Your Communication to the Next Level; Partner – To Hapeville with Love)

Shallowford Pairs and Spares (Partner – To Hapeville with Love)

Bridges Smith (project management extraordinaire for To Hapeville with Love)

Trinity Presbyterian Church (Host – Annual Celebration; Host- Courageous Leadership on November 10)

COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY
Admit to Record:

1. 
   The following churches received session orientations:
   

None

2. 
   The following persons were enrolled as Inquirer as of shown date:
   

James Klotz, Morningside August 2, 2012

Margaret Harouny, Clairmont October 4, 2012

3. 
   Annual Consultations were conducted for the following persons:
   

Jody Andrade, Trinity

Glenn Goldsmith, North Avenue

Sharon Gregory, Crossroads

John Harrison, Central

Yeonkwon Jeong, Korean Community

Nancy Kinzer, Decatur

Sophia Park, New Korean Presbyterian of Georgia (NCD)

Charles Wesley Pitts, St. Andrew’s

Jeanne Simpson, Eastminster

4. 
   The following person was certified ready to receive a call:
   

Katherine Lankford, First Afrikan

5. 
   The following Inquirer was transferred at their request:
   

Inquirer Layton Williams was transferred, per their request, to Mission Presbytery under the care of Central Church of Austin.

Directory: dfc attachments -> public -> documents
documents -> St. James Episcopal Church Annual Meeting January 18, 2015
documents -> Journal Part II clergy Directory and Journal of Proceedings of The Seventy-Fourth Annual Meeting of the Convention of The Diocese of Oklahoma of The Episcopal Church November 4-5, 2011 St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church
documents -> Resources Table of Contents