Category Archives: Assembly

What Happened At Assembly 12/2/14

December 2, 2014

A Short Day at Mitchell—As is our norm, we met at Mitchell for our year-end meeting.  The half day meeting began at 1:00.

Worship—Our opening worship was led by our retiring moderator Elder Judy Holy and Susan McGhee.  Communion was celebrated to mark the close of the meeting.

New Leaders—The assembly greeted our new Synod Executive the Rev. Sara Dingman.  Sara offered her personal greetings to the presbytery.  Also, we met and had opportunity to hear greetings from the new Director of Pyoca.  Rev. Jake Hofmeister has recently taken office.

Meeting of the Corporation—Each year the Presbytery meets as a corporation of the State of Indiana.  It is this corporation that conducts civil business.  As a company, we elected Lant Davis as our President, Rob Peters as Vice-President and Jean Brown as Treasurer.

The Stated Clerk Reported—Larry reminded all moderators and clerks of session to get their annual reporting done early.  Support for that process can be through the Clerk or through Stephanie Worden at the office.

Larry also reminded the Assembly that we will be voting on Amendments to the Book of Order at our March meeting.

Per Capita and Budget Actions – A budget was presented and adopted.  Good conversation and discussion of that budget accompanied the adoption.  The total rate of the per capita will not change.  $29.33 remains the total of per capita.

Honorable Retirements – Rev. Jay Hudson was recognized as he retires and leaves behind the post of President of Presbyterian Investment Loan, Inc.  Jay joined Rev Dave Crittenden as Dave also retires from being the Interim Synod Executive of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.

Both Jay and Dave have been invaluable resources to the churches of our presbytery.

Election of New Officers and Committee/Commission Members – The nominating committee reported a slate of candidates for the Presbytery.  Nominations for membership of the nominating committee itself were presented by the Council. Along with many others Rev. Eric Erickson was elected as Moderator of Presbytery for 2015 and Elder Zack Ellison as Vice Moderator.  Officers were installed and the retiring Moderator, Judy Holy was honored for her service as Moderator for 2014.

Lawrence Jackman, Stated Clerk

What Happened at POV Assembly 9/13/14

September 13, 2014

Gradye Parsons, the Stated Clerk of General Assembly, was our guest at the Assembly and the preacher for the opening of the meeting. Gradye spoke in his warm and winsome manner focusing on the ways in which we can truly know and be known to each other. It was a great sermon.

Dedication of the Micah Center—Our host church (Dale Presbyterian) has just finished the construction of an expansion of the Church building to house and more significantly serve the needs of the Dale community. This church is an outward focused mission oriented group. The assembly was part of an entire weekend of work to dedicate this new ministry and focus.

Presentation of the Commissioners to the 221st General Assembly was offered. Alan Finnan gave a verbal report and Phil Newton presented his information in written form due to a schedule conflict.

The Olivet Administrative Commission reported. The legal issue with the Olivet Presbyterian Church has been settled. The Commission was dissolved with the gratitude of the Presbytery. The details of this settlement will be available online. There was no absolute resolution of some issues.

Various Committees reported on their work.

A Refinement of Presbytery Structure was adopted along with revised bylaws. This has been the result of much work on the part of a task group. Committees have been somewhat redefined and formed in such a way as to offer more responsibility and accountability.

Susan McGhee is initiating her 6th year as our Presbytery Executive.

L. Jackman, Stated Clerk

What Happened At Assembly—June 10, 2014

Worship—As always, our meetings start and end in worship.  In the middle we fill the space that is worship too.  This meeting Kevin Fleming was our preacher.  Kevin is the pastor at First Church in Evansville.  His message was heavily focused on mission/stewardship/good witness already in place in our midst and the call to greet the future.  The celebration of Communion at the close of service was led by Murray Thompson who will soon retire as the pastor at Bloomfield.

Design Team Report—The Presbytery structure was adopted approximately 5 years ago.  It has served us well in some respects, but was a sweeping concept when initiated.  Some parts of that structure have worked, some have never really been fully implemented and some have faced challenges in accomplishing  goals.  There is, currently, a “Design Team” in place that is seeking to adjust and tune our current structure into a more functional tool for mission.

That team brought an initial report to Assembly including a bylaw revision that would more adequately support the mission of “what we want to be” as a Presbytery.  A more complete design will come to us in our December meeting.

CRE Dick Poff – Dick was re-commissioned as the Commissioned Ruling Elder Pastor at Spencer Bethany.  In two tours of service at Bethany, Dick will now enter his 11th year with the congregation.

Next Meeting—Our next meeting, September 13, will be in Dale.  We will help dedicate the new work at Dale in the Micah Center.  The Stated Clerk of General Assembly,  Grayde Parsons, will preach for us at that service.

Minimum Salary Recommendation— The Committee on Ministry report included a preview of minimum salary changes—the compensation will be an increase of 1 ½ percent taking the number to $44,856 when no manse is provided.  There is also, as has been published widely a   1 ½ % charge for dependent coverage for dependent family members that will be an additional item of need for clergy calls.

Other Committees—The Assembly also heard reports from the POV Academy,  The Mission Partnership Workgroup, PYOCA, Staff Reports and the shared information of the “Good News from the Pews”.

June 10, 2014 Assembly

The next Assembly will take place at 10:00am (ET) on Tuesday, 6/10/2014 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, IN.

Registration will begin at 9:00am (ET).

The packet, driving directions, and the minutes from the March meeting will be available for download from the assembly web page after 4:00pm on May 29th.

Online registration for the Assembly is available now. Please let us know if you will be in attendance!

Edited 5/29/2014: The Assembly packet is now available for Download.

March 29th Assembly

The next Assembly will take place at 10:00am (ET) on Saturday, 3/29/2014 at United Presbyterian Church in Bloomington.

Registration will begin at 9:00am (ET).

The packet, driving directions, and the minutes from the December meeting are now available for download from the assembly web page!

December Assembly Report

What Happened at Assembly
December 3, 2013

Hospitality of Mitchell Church—As is the December tradition, we met at Mitchel Church for an afternoon meeting.

Opening Worship and Proclamation of the Word—Outgoing Moderator Scott Hill preached in the opening worship.

Greetings from the Board of Pensions—POV has a new Representative from the Board of Pensions.  He is Rev. Edward Thompson.  Rev. Thompson spoke to the Assembly about changes and challenges before the Board.  He also assured the body of the very sound nature of the pensions.

Olivet Administrative Commission—Rev. Lant Davis reported on the progress of recent conversations between the parties.  The Attorneys from both sides are working toward an eventual solution of this issue.  The Assembly voted down a motion to direct the Commission to achieve a resolution with specific elements included.

Recognition of the Honorable Retirement of the Rev. Jill Hudson—Jill’s service to the life of the total church was acknowledged as the Presbytery conferred the status of Honorable Retirement.

Commissioning of Ruling Elders to Pastoral Service         

Elder Barbara Snyder was commissioned to service within several congregations where she serves as Moderator of session.

Elder Sharon Kutz-Mellem was commissioned to service in Laconia and Valley City congregations.

Elder Andy Traister was commissioned to service in Mount Tabor Church.

Elections—the Nominating Committee presented a slate for offices and committees for 2014 those persons were elected.

Installation of Incoming Moderator—Elder Judy Holy from Bloomington First Church was elected Moderator for 2014.