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MINUTES STATED MEETING OF HOLSTON PRESBYTERY

September 6, 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Call to Order and Opening Worship .......................................................................................................................... 3171

Enrollment ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3171

Consent Agenda ................................................................................................................................................................. 3176

Treasurer's Report ........................................................................................................................................................... 3176

Stated Clerk’s Report....................................................................................................................................................... 3179

Commissioners' Reports to the 222nd (2016) General Assembly ................................................. 3179

Minutes of the Commission to Install the Rev. Collin Adams ......................................................... 3183

General Mission Board Report .................................................................................................................................... 3183

Holston Presbytery Camp Taskforce Report ......................................................................................... 3184

Election of Mr. Jim Austin as the Holston Camp Director ................................................................ 3185

Employment of a Campus Minister ........................................................................................................... 3185

Approved Revised Financial Policies and Procedures and Personnel Policies ....................... 3185

2017 Proposed General Mission Budget ................................................................................................. 3186

Approved Selling the Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church Manse ....................................... 3186

Committee on Preparation for Ministry Report .................................................................................................. 3192

Committee on Ministry Report ................................................................................................................................... 3192

Salem Presbyterian Church G-2.0404 Waiver ...................................................................................... 3194

Presbyterian Women ...................................................................................................................................................... 3200

Discipleship Committee Report .................................................................................................................................. 3200

Holston Center Report .................................................................................................................................................... 3201

Mission and Evangelism Committee Report ......................................................................................................... 3204

Administration and Budget Committee Report ................................................................................................... 3212

Trustees Report ................................................................................................................................................................. 3214

Nominating Committee Report ................................................................................................................................... 3215

Election of 2017 Presbytery Moderator and Vice-Moderator ....................................................... 3215

New Business ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3221

Report on Grandfather Home and Lees-McRae College ................................................................................... 3221

Committee on Thanks Report ..................................................................................................................................... 3221

Closing Prayer and Adjournment............................................................................................................................... 3221

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MINUTES

STATED MEETING OF HOLSTON PRESBYTERY Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center, Banner Elk, NC

September 6, 2016

Holston Presbytery met for its stated meeting at Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center, Banner Elk, NC, at 9:00 AM. Moderator, Teaching Elder Diana Moore, welcomed those gathered for the meeting. The meeting was opened with worship and prayer, including the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Teaching Elder Joan Gandy, preached. An offering for Five Cents a Meal was collected in the amount of $382,20. Mr. Jim Austin, Interim Camp Director, welcomed everyone on behalf of Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center. Commissioners and guests were welcomed with first time commissioners and guests recognized.

ENROLLMENT:

TEACHING ELDERS PRESENT/ABSENT: Name Present Absent

Adams, Collin X Alderman, Brian X Allen, William E. X Amstutz, Sharon X Armistead, Robert L. X Askew, Catherine Clasen X Austin, Richard C. X Barron, Earle X Bement, Gary X Bier, Tom X Bohn, Christine X Cagle, David X Campbell, John X Cartwright, Gregory X Cave, Payne X Chamberlain, Mike X Chapman, Alan X Christian, H. Martin X Clark, Dan X Clements, Lee X Cobb, Harrell L. X Coggin, Mitch X Crow, Conrad X Donaldson, Dan X Dowling, John X Fifield, Richard L. X Florence, Kaye X Fouse, Clay X

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Freeman, Schaap X Gandy, Joan X Goforth, Bill S. X Gunn, Yale X Hale, David L. X Hazelwood, Deven X Helphinstine, Paul X Hopper, Barron X Huff, Allen X Hutchison, Ralph X Hyers-Prentice, David X Hyers, William D. X Im, Seong Cheol X Imsande, Louis X Jordan, Greg X Kelly, R. Gary X Kestner, C. Phillip X Knisley, Mark X Lancaster, Lewis X LaPointe, Douglas X Locke, Patricia X Martin, James X Martin, John L. X Mays, James X Meredith, Tim W. X Miller, David X Moore, Diana X Norris, Rodney X O’Connor, Hayley X Palmer, Brad X Peake, Thomas X Phillips, J. Thomas X Ray, Richard X Rolling, George L. X Saunders, Raymond X Schmidt, Kyle X Scruggs, Glenn X Shackelford, Edgar P. X Shaw, Angus X Sims, David H. X Smith, Shane X Spoon, Eric X Steinle, Marshall X Strang, Fred Foy X Sutherland, Terry X Sydnor, Charles S. X Taylor, Harrison X

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Wade, Thomas M. L. X Webster, Stan X Weed, Sherrolyn G. X Weisz, Stephen R. X Welch, David X White, Katherine X White, Ray X Whitesides, Davis X Willard, Pat X Wilson, Stuart X Wing, III, William T. X Wyatt, Brian X Young, William X

MINISTERS OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS PRESENT/ABSENT:

Name Present Absent

Blevins, Daniel X

Dinwiddie, Bill X

Garner, Don X

Hutton, Mark X

Rainwater, Robert X

Roe, John P. X

COMMISSIONED RULING ELDERS PRESENT/ABSENT:

Name Present Absent

Baird, Carol X Baird, Gloria X Ballinger, Calvin X Barnette, Anthony X Cagle, Tracy X Catts, John X Cobb, Marci X Culbertson, Mike X Dalton, David X Dameron, Cliff X Doer, Eddie X Farmer, Mary Jane X Finley, Harold X Grimes, Robert X Herndon, Chip X Light, David X Maddox, Anna X Meadows, Bobby X Morelock, Jeff X Rice, Cheryl X Riddle, Jackie X

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Sauls, Con X Stevens, Betty X Wise, Amanda X Wise, Scott X Wright, Kathleen X

RULING ELDER COMMISSIONERS:

Congregation Principal Alternate Visitor/Other

Amity

Barton Springs

Bethel, Dandridge

Bethel, Kingsport Betty Davy

Blountville Charles Mays

Bristol, First Tom Daniel Debbie McMillen

Cedar Creek

Cedarview Coy Klepper

Chuckey

Clinton

Cold Spring

Colonial Heights

Cove Creek

Covenant Mischele Hart Mary Jane Kelley

Cross Anchor Harold Smith

Elizabethton, First Mark Braswell

Erwin Sarah Shultz

Grays Chapel

Greeneville, First Jennette Lively

Hebron

Hopewell

Jefferson City, First Lyle Juroff

Jennie Moore

Johnson City, First Gil Rosenberger

Jonesborough Bill Reese

Keystone

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Kingsport, First Catherine Tucker Liz Stothart

Leesburg

Liberty John Tucker

Magill Memorial

Meadowview

Morristown, First Bobby White Bill Hale

Mountain City Rudy Lucas

Mt. Hermon

New Bethel

New Ebenezer

New Market

New Providence

Newport

Oakland

Old Kingsport

Philadelphia

Piney Flats

Preston Hills Val Manley

Reedy Creek, Bristol

Reedy Creek, Kingsport

Rock Creek

Rogersville Patricia Rhoten

Rosemont

Salem Tod Jablonski Linda Jablonski

Shady Valley

Shenandoah

St. Paul

Strawberry Plains

Tabernacle

Timber Ridge Marilyn Brumley Charles Brumley

Tri City Korean

Watauga Avenue Mike Miyamoto

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Waverly Road Dave Petke

Weaver Union

West Ridge

Windsor Avenue

Zion

PRESBYTERY MODERATOR: Teaching Elder Diana Moore

PRESBYTERY VICE MODERATOR: Tracy Cagle

PRESBYTERY STAFF: Kim Fifield, Jim Austin

COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Russ Pearson, Bill Reese

VISITING/CORRESPONDING TEACHING ELDERS/MINISTERS: Don Steele (Pittsburgh)

VISITORS: Nancy Sauls (Mountain City), Richard and Florence McCray (First Johnson City), Spencer Pickle (Keystone), Sam Stephenson (Lees-McRae College), Angie France (First Jefferson City), Erik Anderson (Magill Memorial). Mary Dobrovolc (New Bethel), Hal Hunter (Covenant), Charles Trifiletti (Covenant), Elizabeth Tucker (Liberty), Ann Peake, Joe Davy (Bethel-Kingsport), Erma Hyers (Covenant), Estelle Armistead (Covenant), Janis Miyamoto (Watauga Ave), Lorie Fees (Grandfather Home), Trish Patterson (Habitat for Humanity), Brent Thomas (Lees-McRae College).

CONSENT AGENDA

The below Consent Agenda was adopted:

Approved enrollment

Declaration of quorum

Approved requests for excused absences

Approved giving visiting ministers voice

Approved Minutes of the March 5, 2016 Stated Meeting

Appointment of Committee on Thanks: Brad Palmer and Allen Huff

Appointment of the Bills & Overture Committee: Brian Wyatt and Bill Reese

Adoption of the Docket

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer’s Report General Mission Budget

January – June 2016

Jan - Jun 16 Budget % of Budget

Ordinary Income/Expense

Income

60160 · Unified Mission Designated Fund 6,847.40

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60500 · Unified Monies 141,431.33 320,000.00 44.2%

60550 · Designated Reserve 0.00 71,476.03 0.0%

61905 · Interest Income 6,843.40 15,985.00 42.81%

Total Income 155,122.13 407,461.03 38.07%

Gross Profit 155,122.13 407,461.03 38.07%

Expense

70100 · GMB/Ministries w/Councils 42,728.43 84,598.38 50.51%

70200 · Committee on Ministry 260.43 1,500.00 17.36%

70300 · Committee Prep for Ministry 0.00 1,500.00 0.0%

70400 · Mission & Evangelism 0.00 3,250.00 0.0%

70500 · Discipleship Committee 10,841.32 22,810.93 47.53%

70900 · Administration & Budget 107,578.22 195,802.25 54.94%

71200 · Holston Camp & Retreat Center 43,257.46 94,730.53 45.66%

71400 · Trustees 20.47

Total Expense 204,686.33 404,192.09 50.64%

Net Ordinary Income -49,564.20 3,268.94 -1,516.22%

Holston Presbytery Fund Balances as of June 30, 2016

Jun 30, 16

ASSETS

Current Assets

Checking/Savings

10000 · CHECKING - CITIZENS BANK

10111 · Select Monies 29,067.84

10172 · Bethany PC-Lease Monies 900.00

10173 · Walkertown PC-Lease Monies 900.00

10211 · Hattie Farthing Fund 2,137.75

10320 · Holston Seminary Student Fund 2,474.30

10410 · Global Mission Fund 1,614.36

10420 · 5 Cents-a-Meal Local 0.03

10421 · 5 Cents-a-Meal International 0.02

10530 · Indian Ridge Payment 3,000.00

10531 · Youth Ministry Endowment 2,750.00

10630 · Presbytery Peacemaking 6,783.49

10640 · EIHN - Restoring Creation 1,425.00

10712 · Ministry - Hawkins County 16,500.00

10714 · Church Hill - Undesignated 7,000.00

11312 · Campus Ministry - Other 8,445.00

11860 · Williams Transition Fund 8.82

11861 · Williams Capital Fund Interest 11,545.41

11862 · Williams Program Fund Interest 13,648.44

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11910 · Honoraria - EP 1,820.19

15000 · Charitable Gift Annuity -10,951.31

20000 · Citizens Bank

20210 · Pastoral Care 1,583.25

20531 · Youth Triennium 8.21

20710 · Church Development 309.82

20750 · New Church Development 227.38

20780 · Evangelism 981.59

20911 · Equipment Reserve 691.86

21820 · Grigsby Scholarship 12,435.96

21830 · Braziel Scholarship 4,313.87

21840 · Dixon Scholarship 5,195.44

21881 · Ninth Street Loan Fund - Hold 3,108.49

Total 20000 · Citizens Bank 28,855.87

10000 · CHECKING - CITIZENS BANK - Other 32,279.79

Total 10000 · CHECKING - CITIZENS BANK 160,205.00

30000 · PRESBYTERIAN FOUNDATION

30211 · Hattie Farthing Fund 37,718.83

30710 · Church Development 31,961.49

30730 · Small Church Fund 149,663.63

30750 · New Church Development () 73,722.80

31709 · Admin&Bud Restricted 2016 400,000.00

31820 · Grigsby Scholarship 84,361.17

31830 · Braziel Scholarship 43,220.86

31840 · Dixon Scholarship 35,450.92

31870 · Pattie Bushong Fund 1,951.68

31880 · Robinson Fund 963.73

31881 · Ninth Street Loan Fund 15,215.70

31882 · Ninth Street Scholarship 33,165.10

31883 · Tusculum College Endowment 105,369.38

Total 30000 · PRESBYTERIAN FOUNDATION 1,012,765.29

Total Checking/Savings 1,172,970.29

Other Current Assets

40000 · The PFSA, Inc Grant-Restricted 227,000.00

Total Other Current Assets 227,000.00

Total Current Assets 1,399,970.29

Other Assets

80000 · Notes Receivable

80100 · Indian Ridge Baptist Church 98,500.00

80200 · Hebron Presbyterian Church 24,993.48

Total 80000 · Notes Receivable 123,493.48

Total Other Assets 123,493.48

TOTAL ASSETS

1,523,463.77

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INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business introduced.

STATED CLERK’S REPORT was given by Rich Fifield.

INFORMATION:

1. Received reports from the Holston Presbytery commissioners and Young Adult Advisor Delegate to the 222nd (2016) PCUSA General Assembly. (See attached.)

2. Proposed amendments to the Book of Order from the 222nd (2016) General Assembly will be voted on by Holston Presbytery at the December 6, 2016 stated meeting. (View/Download the Proposed Amendments from the Holston Presbytery website here: http://holstonpresbytery.org/index.php/download_file/390/)

3. Received the Minutes of the Commission to Install the Rev. Collin Blair Adams as pastor of Waverly Road Presbyterian Church. (See attached.)

Report for the 222 General Assembly (2016) Presbyterian Church (USA)

To Holston Presbytery Carol Baird, Ruling Elder Commissioner

I am thankful to God and all of you for allowing me to represent Holston Presbytery as your Elder Commissioner. The people I met, the worship and meals we shared, and the work we did for the PCUSA and ultimately for God were uplifting and affirming.

The assembly began with worship on Saturday, June 18 and ended with worship Saturday, June 25. The time between was filled with committee meetings, discussions, debates, and prayer as the delegates attempted to discern the way forward for the PCUSA. There were also many celebrations: Heath Rada’s service as Moderator and Larissa Kwong Abazia’s service as Vice-Moderator of 221st General Assembly, the election of Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston as Co-Moderators of the 222nd General Assembly, Gradye Parsons’ retirement from his position as Stated Clerk, and the election of J. Herbert Nelson II as the Stated Clerk.

Each commissioner is assigned to a committee to address the business of the assembly. I was on Committee 14, Theological Issues and Institutions, which recommended approval of a new Directory of Worship that took 10 years to develop, has 5 chapters instead of 7, has just 25 mandatory directions as opposed to more than 120, and is one-third shorter than the current one. The new directory will be coming to Holston and the other 170 presbyteries way soon for ratification. The Directory of Worship is part of the Book of Order. I think you will like it and hope you will vote to approve it.

The assembly also voted overwhelmingly to include the Confession of Belhar in the Book of Confessions on a recommendation from the committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. A letter from the PCUSA accompanying the study guide on the confession says, “We believe that the Confession of Belhar, a profound statement on unity, reconciliation and justice in the church, comes to us as a word from God for this particular time and place for the PCUSA.” It was originally proposed for adoption at the 218th General Assembly in 2008 by the Task Force

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on Reparations and was approved by a majority of the presbyteries by the deadline 2010 but failed to reach the required two-thirds threshold. The 220th General Assembly (2012) voted to recommend its inclusion again and sent the recommendation to the presbyteries after the 221st General Assembly (2014). This time it received 84 percent approval. I hope you will take time to read it.

Another important action was a vote to send to the presbyteries a proposed amendment to the Book of Order that would restore the previous nomenclature for ordered ministry in use prior to 2012 when the new form of government was adopted. Those now called teaching elders would become ministers of Word and Sacrament; ruling elders would be elders; and commissioned ruling elders would be commissioned lay pastors. I hope you will vote to approve this proposed amendment.

The assembly also rescinded the action of the 221st General Assembly which directed synods and presbyteries to work together on a new configuration of synod boundaries that would reduce their number to between 10 and 12 by a vote of 421-158.

Please visit www.pcusa.org and read other news from the assembly.

The 223rd General Assembly will be in St. Louis, Missouri in 2018. Please consider serving Holston Presbytery as a commissioner.

Report for the 222 General Assembly (2016)

Presbyterian Church (USA) To Holston Presbytery

J. Thomas Phillips (Tom), Teaching Elder Commissioner

Describing a General Assembly is a little like the old fable of the blind men being asked to describe what an elephant is like – only by the part they could touch!

My best description of the Assembly in Portland this year is that it was a combination of a political convention, a worship conference, a presbytery meeting writ-large, and a family reunion where you don’t know most of the cousins (but mostly like the ones you get to know).

This General Assembly was inspirational, historic, deeply Christian and Presbyterian, attended by people who love Jesus Christ and the church. Like all large meetings, it was at times boring, but mostly as opportunity to remind all of us what is good and right about the greater church we love and serve! It was also a huge amount of work. Many have asked me how much I enjoyed Portland. Except for Sunday worship in a local church, and one lunch away from the convention center, all I saw of Portland was the hotel, the light rail, and the inside of a convention center. The long and the short was that this was a wonderful, educational, God-given event, and I thank Holston Presbytery for allowing me to serve as a commissioner.

What did we do? More things than I can cover in a single page. We elected Co-Moderators for the first time and both of them are women, and both are Teaching Elders. They are bright, energetic, and faithful leaders who were elected by a large majority on the first ballot, and I believe they will represent the church well for the next two years.

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The Confession of Belhar was adopted and added to our Book of Confessions. This confession comes out of the era of apartheid in South Africa, and speaks about God’s calling for reconciliation and a condemnation of racial injustice. Its adoption in a time of ongoing racial tension in our nation and world is timely for us. The outpouring of emotion on the floor of the Assembly was overwhelming as Allan Boesak, one of the authors of the confession, finished speaking. The Assembly spontaneously began to sing, “We Shall Overcome,” standing and holding hands as we sang. Now comes the much harder work of living into this call for reconciliation and an end to racial injustice for all of us.

We elected a new Stated Clerk for the Presbyterian Church (USA). J. Herbert Nelson II replaces our friend and colleague Gradye Parsons as Gradye retires. J. Herbert has very good credentials, and I believe will serve us well in this position.

I was fortunate enough during the Assembly to spend some time with Gradye, and I cannot number the times he was honored over the week. He will certainly be missed! May he be blessed in his retirement.

Controversies were very small for this Assembly and in ways which still inspire, time and time again, that the hand of God moved as the Assembly sought a better solution – even going against some committee recommendations. Of course it is easy to be satisfied when one’s own opinions are mostly shared by the majority.

I would love to sit and talk about the Assembly with anyone, with your church’s session, or with your congregation. Invite me and we will do our best to schedule it.

Report for the 222 General Assembly (2016) Presbyterian Church (USA)

To Holston Presbytery Courtney Fletcher, Young Adult Advisory Delegate

Hi all,

My name is Courtney Fletcher, and I am a youth Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville, TN. I will be a junior this year at ETSU with a nursing major, and I work at Niswonger Children’s Hospital as a nurse intern which I adore!

In June I was fortunate enough to attend the PC(USA)’s General Assembly in Portland, OR as a YAAD (Young Adult Advisory Delegate). I was terrified at first, because I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, even after the hours and hours I had put into trying to prepare myself- nor had I ever even been on a plane for that matter.

What I came to find (after the jet lag wore off) is that there is a huge sense of honor and responsibility within the whole conference and being nominated to go in the first place. The General Assembly happens every two years—and this year the main focuses that I could discern were on 4 things: the Belhar Confession, two-state resolution, fossil fuels, and evolution.

Before any of the major discussions took place, the PC(USA) made history within the first couple days of the conference by electing two co-moderators to equally share the leadership

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responsibility for the next two years, which had previously been a moderator and vice moderator. Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston are the first leading moderators who are both female; and they have such beautiful, passionate hearts with a desire to serve like no other.

Continually, another history making event occurred with the acceptance of the Confession of Belhar into our PC(USA) Book of Confessions. This was a super emotional point in Plenary and also a HUGE deal for ecumenical faith within the church!

On a different note, I wasn’t on the International Affairs committee, but I can say that the Presbytery did decide in favor of the two-state resolution for the oversea affairs regarding Israel and Palestine.

I was, however, on the Environmental committee focusing heavily on how to deal with the finite source of fossil fuels. The day started with a very long debate about grammar- and then finally got down to business.

It was made known that the PC(USA) holds shares in the EXXON-Mobil company totaling a miniscule 0.001%. With that being said, I was beginning to question the whole ordeal considering we are a mere drop in the bucket for this fossil fuel industry as a whole. It appeared that we are simply making a statement for the Presbytery by proposing divestment. Coming from a tiny hometown of grass fields and home gardens in Greeneville, TN, I couldn’t wrap my head around the entirety of the situation. I did, however, sit next to an extremely passionate Elder from a church in Texas whose membership consisted of a 90% population in the oil industry. After much, MUCH debate, my small committee number nine ultimately concluded with the divestment of PC(USA)’s shares over a three-year span.

In Plenary, however, there was an amendment to this divestment- to be replaced with an evaluation of the fossil fuel company’s policies for each Presbytery. This amendment was ultimately voted in favor of, to hopefully pose a middle ground for the Presbyteries whose livelihood is based on fossil fuels.

Furthermore, evolution was a quite controversial topic within plenary. In the PC(USA)’s affirmation of creation, it has been stated that “God has connected all life . . . by virtue of decent with modification”. The overture put forth was that “decent with modification” should be replaced with “by virtue of biological evolution.” This was the closest vote of the entire assembly. The voting began with a 51/49 denial of the changed wording; but was quickly countered when someone requested a revote from technical difficulties. The vote was at this point 50/50; however, this time, the count was slightly in favor of the changed wording by just a very few people. After a period of debate and then a third revote, it was decided that the Affirmation of Creation’s wording would, in fact, change with a 51/49 vote to include that “God has connected all life . . . by virtue of biological evolution.”

The debate put forth was that if God made the universe, then He thus made evolution also, adding that science shouldn’t be denied. There were many commissioners stating that they thought everything we were discussing was a theory, but we cannot deny that brought to us in Genesis. Ultimately, the discernment came to include the change with much prayer thereafter.

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I would like to thank each and every person who prayed for myself and all other delegates and commissioners at the 222nd General Assembly. I am continually struck with how blessed I am with Holston Presbytery and our denomination as a whole.

Blessings!

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION of Holston Presbytery to install the Rev. Collin Adams as pastor of the Waverly Road Presbyterian Church, Kingsport, Tennessee.

The Commission, according to the appointment of Holston Presbytery met at Waverly Road Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, August 28, 2016, at 2:45 PM, with the Rev. Eric Spoon; (the Rev. Dan Clark was unable to attend); Ruling Elder Jo Morrison (Waverly Road Presbyterian Church); and Ruling Elder Karen Welch (Jonesborough Presbyterian Church); and the Rev. Andy King (Presbytery of the Peaks) as a Corresponding Member. The meeting was opened with prayer, and a quorum was present. The Rev. Eric Spoon served as Moderator and Clerk of the Commission. Responsibilities and procedures for the Service of Installation were reviewed, and the Commission recessed to be reconvened in the presence of the congregation at 3:00 PM. The Commission agreed to adjourn following the Benediction.

The Moderator reconvened the Commission in the presence of the congregation and the Rev. Any King led the congregation in worship, preaching from Ephesians 4:1 – 16. The Moderator propounded the Constitutional Questions for the Pastor-elect, and Ruling Elder Jo Morrison propounded the Constitutional Questions to the Congregation. All questions being answered in the affirmative, the Rev. Collin Adams, was installed as pastor of the Waverly Road Presbyterian Church, Kingsport, agreeably to the Word of God and the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The installation prayer was led by Rachel Lawson and included a laying on of hands.

Members of the presbytery and others then welcomed the newly installed pastor into their fellowship in the ministry of the Word. The Rev. Eric Spoon delivered a charge to the Pastor. Julie Vogel delivered a charge to the congregation on behalf of the Rev. Dan Clark.

At the conclusion of the service the pastor pronounced the benediction. After the service, officers and members of the church gave to their new pastor an appropriate expression of cordial reception and affectionate regard.

Signed by Moderator/Clerk:

The Rev. Eric Spoon <s>

SMALL GROUP RECESS – the meeting was recessed for small group discussions and reconvened at 11:00 AM.

GENERAL MISSION BOARD REPORT was given by Bill Reese.

Call to Order with opening devotional and prayer by Bill Reese, Moderator, at 3:01 PM.

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Present: Bill Reese; Diana Moore; Tracy Cagle; Eric Spoon; Tom Phillips; Kaye Florence; Russ Pearson; David Light; Pam Pope; Mark Knisley; Mary Dobrovolc; Marshall Steinle; Angus Shaw; Ed Hutchinson; Kim Fifield; Jim Austin; Andrea Sutter; Rich Fifield.

Reports/Recommendations to the General Mission Board:

Stated Clerk’s Report ........................................................................................... Rich Fifield

2017 stated presbytery meeting hosts: March 4, 2017 – First Church, Greeneville; June 3, 2017 – Strawberry Plains Church; September 5, 2017 – Holston Camp; December 5, 2017 – Available.

Treasurer’s Report ................................................................................................Kim Fifield

Moderator’s Report ......................................................................................... Diana Moore

Vice-Moderator’s Report .................................................................................... Tracy Cagle

Taskforce Reports:

1. Campus Ministry Taskforce – no report.

2. Holston Presbytery Camp Taskforce Report was given.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE GENERAL MISSION BOARD, that the Holston Presbytery Camp Taskforce Report be adopted and referred to the Camp Taskforce to aid in implementation. (See attached.) The recommendation was approved.

Committee Reports:

3. Discipleship Committee Report was given by Russ Pearson.

Recommendation to the General Mission Board, that $32,000 be released from the campus ministry funds to employ a temporary, part-time, 20-hour per week, person devoted to campus ministry at ETSU through July 31, 2017. The recommendation was approved.

Background: In August 2014, the presbytery General Mission Board appointed a taskforce to study campus ministry within the presbytery and make a recommendation on the future of campus ministry. In 2015 the session of Covenant Presbyterian Church sent an overture to Holston Presbytery urging the presbytery to grow campus ministry and the Holston Camp ministry. This overture was answered with the Campus Ministry Taskforce Report, which was presented to the General Mission Board on August 18, 2015. The report outlined three recommendations: (1) view campus ministry as a mission of the whole Church; (2) work to provide vision and assistance for campus ministry at ETSU; (3) repair the ETSU Campus Ministry House for use or for sale. Items 1 and 2 were given to the Campus Ministry Taskforce to “be accomplished by renewing and enhancing the charter of the existing Campus Ministry Taskforce to come back to the General Mission Board with more specific mission, vision and program recommendations.” Item 3 was given to the Administration and Budget Committee to implement (which has largely been completed.)

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4. Administration and Budget Committee Report (Items a. and b. were considered in executive session) was given by David Light.

a. Recommendation to the General Mission Board, that Mr. Jim Austin be elected by the presbytery to be the Director of Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center, effective January 1, 2017. The recommendation was unanimously approved.

RECOMMENDATION TO PRESBYTERY: that Mr. Jim Austin be elected by the presbytery to be the Director of Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center, effective January 1, 2017. Approved.

b. Recommendation to the General Mission Board, that the Rev. Schaap Freeman, be employed as a part-time, temporary employee, devoted to campus ministry. The recommendation was unanimously approved.

c. It was moved and seconded that the General Mission Board dismiss the Campus Ministry Taskforce. The motion was approved.

d. Recommendation to the General Mission Board, that the proposed revisions to the presbytery 2017 Financial Policies and Procedures be adopted. The recommendation was approved.

i. Require authorization of both the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer on all staff business reimbursements (§5, A., 2., b)), and

ii. Remove references to the Director of Communications position (§2, A.), and remove any unused restricted fund accounts (§2, A. 1.).

e. Recommendation to the General Mission Board, that the proposed revisions to the presbytery 2016 Personnel Policies and Procedures be adopted, effective immediately. The recommendations were considered seriatim.

i. To comply with the new overtime provisions in the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The motion was approved.

a. amend the position description classifications for the Communications Director, Campus House Director and Treasurer/Financial Manager from EXEMPT to NON-EXEMPT, and

b. include the following provision in the section Work Week and Payroll Periods: “All overtime work hours must be approved in advance by the Executive Presbyter or the Administration and Budget Committee Moderator.”

ii. Add the additional classification in the Employment Category. The motion was approved.

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“Temporary Employees: Persons, ordained or not ordained as teaching elders, who are employed for a specified term, with salary and benefits governed by a separate employer-employee agreement.”

iii. Add “Health Reimbursement Arrangement” to the list of Voluntary Benefits—Employer-Paid. The motion was approved.

iv. Adopt the Employee Dues Share with Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Plan Document. The motion was approved.

v. Adopt of the Health Reimbursement Arrangement Plan Document. The motion was approved.

f. Recommendation to the General Mission Board, that the Proposed 2017 General Mission Budget be adopted. (See attached.) The recommendation was approved.

Other Business:

5. Book of Order, G-4.0206, Selling, Encumbering, or Leasing Church Property, states:

a. Selling or Encumbering Congregational Property

A congregation shall not sell, mortgage, or otherwise encumber any of its real property and it shall not acquire real property subject to an encumbrance or condition without the written permission of the presbytery transmitted through the session of the congregation.

b. Leasing Congregational Property

A congregation shall not lease its real property used for purposes of worship, or lease for more than five years any of its other real property, without the written permission of the presbytery transmitted through the session of the congregation.

The Session of Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church requests written permission of Holston Presbytery to sell the church Manse, located at 3235 Fairview Lane, Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. The General Mission Board will recommend that the Presbytery approve the sale of the manse.

RECOMMENDATION TO PRESBYTERY: that Strawberry Plains be granted approval to sell their manse, located at 3235 Fairview Lane, Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. Approved.

Actions Referred to the General Mission Board by Presbytery -- None

The Proposed Agenda for the September 6, 2016 Stated Meeting of Holston Presbytery was reviewed.

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Small Group Leaders:

1. Eric Spoon 3. Jim Austin 2. Bill Reese 4. Tracy Cagle

Concerns and prayers were shared.

Future Dates for the General Mission Board and Presbytery meetings in 2016 and 2017:

General Mission Board Presbytery

September 6, 2016 (Tue) — Holston Camp November 15, 2016 December 6, 2016 (Tue) — (Jonesborough Church) February 14, 2017 March 4, 2017 (Sat) — First Church, Greeneville May 16, 2017 June 3, 2017 (Sat) — Strawberry Plains Church August 22, 2017 September 5, 2017 (Tue) — Holston Camp November 14, 2017 December 5, 2017 (Tue) — Open Adjournment with prayer at 4:24 PM by Kaye Florence.

The General Mission Board Minutes Committee met and approved today’s minutes. (Marshall Steinle; Angus Shaw; Ed Hutchinson; Bill Reese; Rich Fifield)

This space left intentionally blank.

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Holston Presbytery Camp Taskforce Report

Introduction

The Holston Presbytery Camp Taskforce was created by the presbytery General Mission Board to study the future ministry of the Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center. The Taskforce is composed of two members of the presbytery Camp Committee/Board (the Rev. Mark Knisley and the Rev. Greg Cartwright); two members of the presbytery Administration and Budget Committee (Ruling Elder David Light [Shenandoah Presbyterian Church] and the Rev. Angus Shaw); two members of the presbytery Trustees (Ruling Elder Pam Pope [Jonesborough Presbyterian Church] and the Rev. Dan Clark); and two at-large members from the presbytery selected by the 2015 and 2016 presbytery moderators (Ruling Elder Lyle Juroff [First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson City] and Ruling Elder Mike Floyd [Jonesborough Presbyterian Church]); with the Interim Camp Director and Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk as ex-officio members. (See General Mission Board Minutes, 11/17/15.) The Taskforce met face-to-face seven times, including a tour of the camp and its facilities. They gathered information from personal interviews with Brian Frick, the PCUSA Presbyterian Mission Agency Associate for Camp and Conference Ministries; the Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center Committee/Board; the Holston Presbytery commissioners at the June 4, 2016 stated meeting, and the Director of Sunset Gap Community Center. The Taskforce also invited survey responses from former and current summer campers, former retreat participants, former and current summer camp staff, current permanent camp staff, former and current volunteers and supporters.

Central Affirmations

I. Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center is an important ministry and asset of Holston Presbytery. Over and over again, through personal conversations, testimonies, shared experiences and comments, the value of the camp and the ministries offered through the camp were emphasized. The outdoor setting, relationships with others, and spiritual experience were the qualities of the camp’s ministry most often mentioned.

II. The focus of Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center is on providing life transforming possibilities with children, youth, adults, summer staff and volunteers. 82% of survey respondents stated that their experience at Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center was life changing. Participants and volunteers credited the change to spiritual growth, increased self-confidence/independence, fun and being outdoors.

III. The Camp Director should continue to be a presbytery staff position. The ministry of Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center is shared by and for the benefit of all congregations within the presbytery. Likewise, the Camp Director should be an available resource to the congregations and leaders within the presbytery. (The General Mission Board adopted this affirmation/recommendation. See General Mission Board Minutes, 5/17/16.)

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Recommendations

The continued ministry of Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center will require the presbytery’s firm commitment to the following recommendations, which may be categorized into the areas of facilities (IV), finances (V), and program (VI, VII, and VIII).

IV. The essential development of additional comfortable lodging facilities on camp-owned property. Ideas/goals are:

To welcome more groups, families and individuals to life transforming opportunities.

To provide additional financial revenue to the camp and the presbytery.

V. By 2020, the camp is to be financially self-sustaining, including all staffing costs associated with the camp. Ideas/goals are:

Be accurate and transparent in the camp’s financial accountability.

Seek ways to connect contributors with specific mission opportunities.

VI. Reinforce residential summer camp as a unique way of providing life transforming possibilities. Ideas/goals are:

The outdoor residential small group summer camp is a distinct setting for powerful Christian experiences.

A strong program, summer staff and minister chaplains are essential to the experience.

Summer staff positions offer ways for persons to discern calls into ministry.

Volunteer positions offer ways for persons to be changed through service.

VII. Expand retreats and summer day camps as opportunities for life transformation. Ideas/goals are:

Intentionally invite retreat and camp constituents to participate in life changing possibilities.

Increase the diversity of groups using the camp.

VIII. Partner with congregations, other groups and individuals to provide life transforming opportunities in indigenous ways throughout the region. Ideas/goals are:

Engaging congregations within the presbytery strengthen their ministry and develop programs.

Hosting mission groups coming into the region.

Partnering with sponsors to add new ministries for specific groups (i.e. veterans, challenged people, education opportunities, special event-focused groups.)

Engaging in mission to others, offering opportunities for life transformation.

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Holston Camp Survey Summary

957 surveys were distributed by email. Surveys were also available on the Holston Camp Facebook page.

A total of 105 surveys were returned—about 11%. The average survey return rate for external surveys is 10%-15%.

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General Mission Budget 2017 Proposed

Income $399,218.75

Unified Monies $320,000.00

Unified Mission Designated Funds

Budget Balancing Options $63,233.75

Interest $15,985.00

Checking Account $500.00

Designated Interest $15,485.00

Expenses $399,218.75

Ministries within Holston Presbytery Committee on Preparation for Ministry $1,000.00

Committee on Ministry $1,000.00

Mission and Evangelism Committee $2,000.00

Church Development and Evangelism $2,500.00

Institutions $0.00

Ethical Issues and Human Needs $0.00

Discipleship Committee $22,810.93

Congregational Life $2,000.00

Youth Ministry $3,500.00

Young Adult Ministry $17,310.93

Holston Center $95,369.76

Administration and Budget Committee $194,395.89

Office $8,352.00

Staff $186,043.89

Ministries with Councils $82,642.16

Holston Presbytery Council $270.00

Synod of Living Waters Unified $6,000.00

Synod of Living Waters Per Capita $24,862.16

General Assembly Per Capita $51,510.00

General Assembly Unified Balance $0.00

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Budget Balancing Options

2017 Proposed

1 Designated Reserves Unused #10110 2 Bill Per Capita to Non/Low Giving Churches $5,000.00

3 Decrease Synod Unified Giving $5,000.00

4 Transfer funds from Youth Ministry Endowment Fund #10531 to GMB Youth Ministry $3,000.00

5 Transfer funds from Campus Ministry Campaign Fund to Young Adult Ministry $15,000.00

6 Decrease GMB to Holston Center $30,000.00

7 Transfer funds from Admin & Bud Restricted 2016 #31709 for 2017 $5,233.75

Total Budget Balancing Options $63,233.75

COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY REPORT – no report.

INFORMATION:

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY REPORT was given by Tom Phillips.

INFORMATION:

1. Transferred the Rev. Chris Vogado to the Presbytery of Charlotte.

2. Approved the Interim Pastor Contract between the Rev. Dr. Stuart Wilson (Lehigh Presbytery) and First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, effective October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017, with the following terms: Monthly Cash Salary - $3,083.33; Monthly Housing Allowance - $3,083.33; Monthly SECA - $500; Monthly Professional Expense Reimbursement - $333.33; Monthly Travel Reimbursement at IRS rate up to $208.33; Full Board of Pensions; Optional $50,000 Life Insurance, 90% paid by employer; Annual Vacation – 5 weeks; Annual Continuing Education Leave – 2 weeks; and appoint Rev. Wilson as Moderator.

3. Transferred the Rev. Dr. Stuart Wilson from the Presbytery of Lehigh to Holston Presbytery.

4. Transferred the Rev. Mitch Coggin from the Presbytery of Ohio Valley to Holston Presbytery.

5. Approved the CRE Temporary Supply Contract between CRE Jeff Morelock (Old Kingsport Church) and the session of Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church, effective August 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017, with the following terms: Weekly Cash Salary - $150; Vacation – one Sunday per quarter; and appoint Mr. Morelock as Moderator.

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6. Approved First Presbyterian Church, Bristol, to move forward in calling a congregational meeting to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee (per G-2.0801).

G-2.0801 Pastoral Vacancy

When a congregation has a vacancy in a pastoral position, or after the presbytery approves the effective date of the dissolution of an existing pastoral relationship, the congregation shall, with the guidance and permission of the presbytery, proceed to fill the vacancy in the following manner.

G-2.0802 Election of a Pastor Nominating Committee

The session shall call a congregational meeting to elect a pastor nominating committee that shall be representative of the whole congregation. The committee’s duty shall be to nominate a pastor for election by the congregation.

7. Approved the Rev. Dan Clark for Level I Transitional Ministry Seminar at Montreat, August 28 through September 2, 2016.

8. Approved transfer of the Rev. Christine Bohn from the Presbytery of Detroit to Holston Presbytery. (See attached Faith Journey and Statement of Faith.)

9. Approved the Temporary Supply Contract with a Minister of Another Denomination between the Rev. Mark Hutton (ordained Evangelical Presbyterian Church) and Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church, effective August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017, with the following terms: Annual Cash Salary - $4,000; Annual Housing Allowance - $32,000; Annual Vacation – 4 weeks; Annual Continuing Education – 2 weeks.

10. Approved the Temporary Supply Contract between the Rev. Mitch Coggin and Salem Presbyterian Church, effective September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017, with the following terms: Annual Cash Salary - $3,000; Annual Housing Allowance - $22,000; Board of Pensions Pension Plan and Death/Disability beginning January 1, 2017; Annual Vacation – 4 weeks; Annual Continuing Education – 2 weeks, and appoint Rev. Coggin as Moderator.

11. Approved the Interim Pastor Contract between the Rev. Diana Moore and First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson City, effective October 5, 2016 through October 4, 2017, 30 hours per week, with the following terms: Monthly Cash Salary - $2,833.33; Monthly Housing Allowance - $850; Full Board of Pensions; Monthly Reimbursed Professional Expenses - $290.33; Vacation – 1 week per quarter; Continuing Education – ½ week per quarter (up to two weeks of unused vacation and/or continuing education may be carried over from previous contract); early termination with 30 days’ notice and salary continuation; and appoint Rev. Moore as Moderator.

12. Approved the retirement of the Rev. Bill Wing, effective October 1, 2016.

13. Approved the Rev. Dr. Angus Shaw to serve as temporary supply at Bethany Presbyterian Church (EPC), October 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017.

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14. Transferred the Rev. Elizabeth Troyer to the Presbytery of Charlotte where she has accepted a new call as Associate Pastor of Matthews Presbyterian Church, Matthews, NC.

RECOMMENDATION:

15. That Salem Presbyterian Church be granted a waiver on limitation of terms for ruling elders for up to three years, as provided in G-2.0404, because of their small membership. Approved.

Faith Journey - Stuart Thomas Wilson

Nurtured in a Presbyterian congregational family of faith, my childhood was graced with worship, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Children’s Choir. Several Psalms, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes were memorized encouragingly. Biblical stories were creatively proclaimed in word, print, and picture through weekly lessons that were kept in my personal notebook. Those richly colored messages, along with the empathetic images of my Church School Teachers, still effectively linger.

When I was thirteen years old, my father walked into my room and declared that both he and my mother were no longer sure about what they believed. We would not be attending church regularly as a family, & I could make up my own mind about what I wanted to do. Up until that point, I had not questioned the truth of the gospel. My faith was fractured.

During adolescence I wandered and wondered. Occasionally, I went to church by myself. As a high school student, I began a search through literature, world religions, and philosophy---especially existentialism. I came to radical doubt.

In my senior year I was invited back to church to meet the new minister. God’s love through him gifted me the freedom to question deeply, to read critically, & to dialogue vigorously. While a university freshman, faith came to me.

After college I completed two years of seminary, and was married at the beginning of an intern third year. Following graduation and six years in the pastorate, my spouse and I decided to divorce. Again I wandered and wondered: to stay in or leave ministry. For a season I worked outside the church, plus serving congregations part-time.

It is amazing what beauty the Holy Spirit can create out of crisis. I met my best friend, we were married, I reengaged the parish ministry as vocation, and we became a family blessed with four children. Subsequent to fifteen years as an installed pastor, I embraced a call to interim ministry.

Throughout my faith journey, I have experienced good times, challenges, and pain. I believe God has used this bundle of life to generate new inward-outward growth. I am grateful and continue to pilgrim.

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Statement of Faith - Stuart Thomas Wilson

Through divinely revealed historical action, there is given an essential witness to the true, living, free, loving Trinitarian holy one: the transcendent-incarnate-immanent God. The originating, sustaining, governing, judging, reconciling and redeeming creativity of the triune God is proclaimed by the Old and New Testaments, which are the authoritative written Word of God for faith and life. Confessional standards interpret the inspired biblical testimony.

Jesus Christ is God incarnate and is, therefore, the unique and normative revelation of authentic diving being, as well as the unique and normative revelation of authentic human being. In the mysterious and profound reality of the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension and promised return of Jesus, there is unveiled the unfathomable depth of God’s suffering and liberating love. Thus, there also is disclosed the height of sin and salvation.

Our life apart from God finds expression as active and passive rebellion against God, enmity with and for other persons, self-destruction, and exploitation of the created world. Our life with God in and through Christian community is manifested as thankful obedience to God, humanizing care with and for other persons, holistic self-integrative behavior, and responsible stewardship of and toward a good though distorted creation.

Yet, even with our most mature faithfulness in relation to God, others, self and creation, we never cease in this existence to be sinners who always stand in need of forgiveness and renewal. Some of the corporate means through which we continue to encounter the God of costly grace are prayer, worship, study of scripture and Christian tradition, participation in the intensive-extensive life of the church, and celebration of the sacraments. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are pointers to and confirmations of the gospel and of the real presence and work of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit, who empowers all believers for mission in and to the church and world.

Presbyterian mission in and to the church and world, as well as its institutional life, is processed through a constitution. A Presbyterian constitution is a formal and material tradition through which is pursed an orderly and diligent polity, along with an internal-external mission of proclamation, justice, compassion, peace and continual reform.

However, needed personal and structural reform of both church and society is not the absolute cure for the absurdity of evil, the pandemic of sin, and the shroud of suffering. We await the final consummation of God’s victory in Jesus Christ, by whom we are judged, with whom we can live in joyful disciplined freedom, and in whom we can trust through life and death and into the beyond---now and forever!

Faith Journey - Mitchell J. Coggin

The Protestant watchwords “grace alone, faith alone, embodies principles of understanding that continue to guide and motivate the people of God in the life of faith.” (F-2.03 The Confessions As Statements of The Faith of the Church Catholic)

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These have been my watchwords since childhood as well. Growing up as the youngest in a family of 4 in 1950’s racially torn Alabama, I was blessed into a family active in a Baptist church who taught the value of all persons black and white.

I made a profession of faith and baptized at the age of 8 at Wayside Baptist Church in Alexander City, Alabama. My faith journey began after having a frightening dream, which impressed upon me that I was a sinner in need of God’s forgiving grace. This is the grace that has guided me my entire life. Also as a child, I began to feel the call of God to ministry between the ages of 10-15. I was too young to know exactly what God had in store for me but the church recognized within me the gifts of God to be used for the people of God. My faith was primarily nurtured by my mother, Sunday School teacher and Women’s Missionary Union President, who led us to be active in our church twice on Sunday’s and for mid-week prayer and Bible Study. I felt it to be a logical step to attend a Baptist College (Samford University, 1978, Religion major) and a Baptist seminary (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1981, MDiv) to be followed by returning to Alabama to serve as pastor of a Baptist church. I had after all, served as Interim Pastor and Youth/Children’s Director while in college, but the grace of God changed the course of my life. While working at a Christian camp between college and seminary, I met the woman that was to become my wife and soul-mate (Linda Skidmore Coggin, married 1979). While at seminary, serving as pastor of a small congregation I first began to sense God’s call in a new direction. A Clinical Pastoral Education internship affirmed within me the gifts of pastoral care and led to a 15 year call as Hospital Chaplain. It was during the course of these years that as Linda and I moved from Texas to Indiana, from a position of Chaplain at a denominational hospital to a county hospital, that we began to sense God leading me to transfer my credentials to PC (USA). Our pastor, Executive Presbyter and a PC (USA) chaplain in a local hospital formed for me a mentoring and support team who helped guide me to understand and embrace the confessions that, without my awareness, had already guided me in “what the church is to be and what it resolves to do.” Following an extensive study of the Book of Confessions and Book of Order, the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley moved to transfer my credentials as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I feel at home in a church guided by ruling and teaching elders not intent upon “lording it over” the congregation, that does our work in councils, and reflects not the will of people but to represent the will of Christ.

It is difficult to narrow 60 years of life and 37 years of ordained ministry to one page, so perhaps it best to summarize in this way. Throughout my life, my faith has been guided and nurtured by the church. As a teaching elder, I continue to affirm my call to the confessional and connectional church of Jesus Christ and will continue to be open to the call and challenge of God to share my gifts with/within the community of faith that, in part, is the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Statement of Faith - Mitchell J. Coggin

I experience God through the work of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit as an active presence in my life through worship in the church, commitment to God’s Word through scripture and through service to God in the world. The relationship of the Trinity teaches us

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how to have proper relationships with God and others. I believe that Christ was both fully human and fully divine. It was important for Christ to be human as an incarnation of the Word that “was with God and the Word that was God.” As we are confirmed into faith in Jesus Christ, our confession is made so that we can be forgiven of our sin and walk in newness of life. Christ's death gave us the hope of eternal life. We receive salvation not because of any work or merit we accomplish but solely because of the free gift of God's grace.

Jesus' life and ministry, as recorded in the Scriptures, gives us a model of how to live as faithful disciples of God in the world. The Bible is our guide that tells a revelation of who God is and how God wants us to live. Being a member of the church means literally being the hands and feet of Jesus alive in the world today. Being the church involves worshipping God, celebrating thanksgiving for God's blessings, proclaiming the gospel, loving and serving others, and seeking justice. To live as the body of Christ means that we embrace and live out the things that Christ was passionate about while on earth – such as caring for the widow and the orphan and seeing justice for those that are marginalized and oppressed by society. God calls us to live not as isolated Christians but as a part of a community of faith. It is this community that encourages, sustains, and holds us accountable in our Christian journey. The rhythm of the life of the believer moves from worship to ministry, from ministry to worship.”

Baptism and Communion have been instituted by God and commended by Christ. Sacraments are signs of the real presence and power of Christ in the Church, symbols of God’s seal in redemption, renewal in our identity as the people of God and God’s mark for service. Throughout our history in the Reformed tradition, we gather on the Lord’s Day for hearing the Word and celebrating the sacraments as a way of encountering the risen Lord. Baptism is a sign of God’s grace and our response and is a foundational recognition of Christian commitment. Those desiring baptism for themselves or their children are led to make vows of the profession of their faith, to renounce evil and affirm reliance on God’s grace and to declare their intention to participate actively in the worship and mission of the church. Children are to be baptized without undue haste and without undue delay as well in a sign that God’s love claims people before they can themselves respond in faith. Communion should be celebrated regularly and frequently as determined by the session. The bread and cup may be served by ordained officers of the church, or by other church members on invitation of the session or other governing body of the church.

Preaching, nurture and fellowship, worship, social justice and the expression of living our faith are lived out in our work and worship as Presbyterians. In the Reformed tradition as lived out in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Teaching and Ruling elders are duly charged with church governance and polity at every level of the church. The questions asked of elders, deacons and Teaching Elders during ordination, installation and commissioning underscore the priority of salvation and service, work and worship, duty and discipline. In all that we do we remember the Protestant watchwords, “Grace alone, faith alone,” never “me alone” in our worship and work.

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Christine T. Bohn – Faith Journey

I grew up in Minnesota, the youngest of five siblings. My parents faithfully attended church and encouraged us to participate in youth activities. They were generally quiet regarding matters of discipleship, presenting us an example without many words. My brother embraced a more outspoken approach to discipleship when he was a teenager and I was still very young. His excitement affected the whole family, so that I grew up surrounded by the language of faith in a way my older siblings did not. When I was at camp the summer I turned nine years old, something clicked for me and the faith of my family became my own. Though I could not have put it into words at the time, I knew in my bones that the God of the universe knew my name and loved me. This awareness never left me. Nevertheless, when I went away to college I quickly grew distracted and my attentiveness to God waned. I earned three degrees in environmental engineering, discovered a love for teaching to go along with my interest in science, and joined the faculty of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

With mercy and patience, God pursued me in my wanderings. Finally, in my early

thirties, I could ignore God’s nudges no longer. I returned to church, not really expecting anything to change other than my Sunday morning routine. I became involved in a small group Bible study. Our initial study lasted only several months but we spent three years together, delving into Scripture, learning from one another and from the Holy Spirit. Jesus captured my heart. God had my attention now. I became more and more involved, not only in study but also in service. Everything changed.

Following a mission trip to El Salvador, I sensed that God was calling me in a whole

new direction. After arguing long and hard with God that the most sensible thing was for me to serve him as an engineer, I finally surrendered to an utterly un-sensible option. I resigned my position at Georgia Tech and enrolled in seminary, unsure of where the path was leading but convinced that this was the first step. In seminary I was challenged to examine more deeply what it meant for me to be a disciple of Jesus, and I was given ample opportunity to fall in love with pastoral ministry, while my love for teaching continued unabated. My senior year I served a very small church in Macon as student preacher, the VA Hospital in Atlanta as student chaplain, and my seminary community as teaching assistant for Hebrew. What fun! I experienced God at work in all of these contexts, and my passion to help people grow in relationship with Jesus Christ—whatever the context—was clarified. What direction next? Teaching? CPE supervisory training? Congregational ministry?

In the end, I sensed that God was calling me to serve in a congregational context,

where I could teach and encourage and preach and, most of all, form close relationships with people of different ages, backgrounds, and experiences. For the last almost 14 years I have served a small church in Ann Arbor. I will forever give thanks for the love, grace, and friendship that I experienced in this congregation.

Nine years ago I married the love of my life, Phil Bohn. This year, discerning that it was

time to make a change and move closer to family, we tearfully said goodbye to our church family in Ann Arbor and moved to Tennessee. We are very excited to be here

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and to follow God’s continued leading in this place.

Christine T. Bohn – Faith Statement

I believe in the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—eternally three, eternally one in perichoretic union. God is loving and holy, just and righteous, gracious and merciful, sovereign and free, patient and persistent, Alpha and Omega. In love and freedom, God created ex nihilo all that is and imbued creation with beauty and grandeur. Humanity, created in God’s image, bears both inherent dignity—not conditional upon circumstance, function or dysfunction—and creative responsibility—to care for one another, other creatures and creation.

I believe that evil is present in creation and that humanity is marred by sin. We see in

ourselves and one another not dignity but shame. We rejoice not in creative responsibility but destructive assertion of self-will. Rebellion and alienation bind us. We are both exploited and exploiters. Yet God’s grace abounds. God’s plan and purpose will come to pass. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. God will dwell in the midst of God’s people, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. God’s love is not generic or mechanical, but personal and enigmatic.

I believe that God’s great plan of redemption encompasses all of history, in which God

is an active agent, both demonstrating sovereignty and respecting human freedom. Through Abraham and Sarah, God chose a particular people. Through Jacob and his family, exodus and Sanai, exile and return, God formed this people to be a special treasure and a blessing to the nations. God self-revealed. God gave promises. In the fullness of time, God sent Jesus.

I believe in Jesus, God’s own Son, fully human and fully divine, the incarnate Word of

God. Jesus is the One in whom, by whom, and for whom all creation was made, and Jesus is Israel’s promised Messiah. He is God’s fullest self-revelation. Through him is the fulfillment of God’s promises. Through his death atonement for sin is accomplished and evil is defeated. By his resurrection Jesus was vindicated, and in his ascension all authority has been given to him. In him the Kingdom of God is inaugurated and with his return God’s plan will be consummated.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who is the on-going presence of God in the

midst of creation and who indwells those who are in Christ. The Holy Spirit guides, teaches, sculpts, and energizes. By the Holy Spirit we are given gifts for service and nurtured in fruit that we might conform more and more to Christ’s likeness. By the Holy Spirit we encounter God in Scripture (God’s Word written), in the Sacraments, in community, and in the world. By the Holy Spirit we share in God’s compassion for the vulnerable and God’s vision for shalom.

I believe that God calls his people into one ekklesia—one church, one family— and

commissions us to love God with heart and mind and soul and strength, to love neighbor (even enemies), to love one another, to be Christ’s witnesses and to pursue reconciliation in the world. Discipleship is not merely a decision that determines eternity but a way of life that shapes every day. I believe that following Jesus is an adventure that entails both struggle and

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delight. It does not eliminate pain or confusion, but by grace we are carried through them. It does not instantaneously transform us, but by grace our chains are broken so that we might be healed and set free, know peace and joy, find purpose and meaning, and come alive.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN REPORT was given by Mary Dobrovolc.

DISCIPLESHIP COMMITTEE REPORT was given by Russ Pearson.

INFORMATION:

1. Mobile Resource Center at Presbytery- The committee will purchase curriculum for churches to borrow. We hope to have a table for the June Presbytery meeting for this purpose.

2. Presbytery Youth Retreat 2016: November 11th-13th at Holston Camp. This will be for 6th-12th graders. During the weekend there will be age appropriate discussions. The theme is “In these Waters”, centering on our baptism and discipleship.

3. Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church will continue to host a monthly youth group for all

presbytery churches interested. Contact the Rev. Shane Smith, shane@chpres.org, (423) 239-9194, if you want to attend.

Presbyterian Campus Ministry/Youth Ministry

Program Budget January – June 2016

Jan - Jun 16

Budget

% of Budget

Income

60000 · HP Youth Ministry 3,250.02

6,500.00

50.0%

60002 · Restricted Funds 0.00

3,500.00

0.0%

60003 · Synod of Living Waters 3,976.02

7,952.00

50.0%

60004 · The PFSA, Inc 1,515.24

3,030.00

50.01%

60005 · Facility Use Income 0.00

200.00

0.0%

60006 · Interest Income 98.53

150.00

65.69%

60007 · Donations-Other Income 100.00

Total Income 8,939.81

21,332.00

41.91%

Gross Profit

8,939.81

21,332.00

41.91%

Expense

70100 · Expenses Campus House

70101 · Cable TV, Internet, Telephone 359.94

1,000.00

35.99%

70102 · Campus Labor 0.00

400.00

0.0%

70103 · Cleaning 0.00

500.00

0.0%

70104 · Electricity 1,366.64

5,000.00

27.33%

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70105 · Cleaning Supplies 0.00

400.00

0.0%

70106 · Food/Student Fellowship Groups 0.00

500.00

0.0%

70107 · Propane 1,070.96

1,050.00

102.0%

70108 · Miscellaneous 54.00

500.00

10.8%

70109 · Office Supplies 0.00

300.00

0.0%

70110 · Printing/Postage/Promotion 0.00

200.00

0.0%

70111 · Repairs/Maintenance 548.74

10,000.00

5.49%

70112 · Van Expense 1,545.00

2,000.00

77.25%

70113 · Water 256.35

1,600.00

16.02%

Total 70100 · Expenses Campus House 5,201.63

23,450.00

22.18%

Total Expense 5,201.63

23,450.00

22.18%

Net Income

3,738.18

-2,118.00

-176.5%

Presbyterian Campus Ministry/Youth Ministry

Fund Balances as of June 30, 2016

Jun 30, 16

ASSETS

Current Assets

Checking/Savings 112,086.49

Other Current Assets 56,220.74

Total Current Assets 168,307.23

TOTAL ASSETS 168,307.23

LIABILITIES & EQUITY 0.00

HOLSTON PRESBYTERY CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER REPORT was given by Jim Austin. Jim Austin also spoke about the Camp’s ministry.

Summer camp was a success in that we offered our Christian ministry toward the transformation of minds, bodies, and spirits to 489 campers in a faith community. This compares to 464 total campers in 2015 and 284 total campers in 2014. Of the 489 campers in 2016, 151 were day campers (9-week program) and 338 were enrolled in Resident Camp (7-week program).

Summer camp income increased from $88,853 in 2015 to $131,809 in 2016 representing a 48% gain. Summer camp expenses also increased from $18,067 in 2016 to $49,331 in 2015 representing a 173% increase.

We have returned to a model of “small group camping” offering age-appropriate activities. Older campers utilized our Gilmer Woods (rustic) campsites, which have been retro fitted with Eno hammocks for sleeping. Many more off-campus activities were included in the various age groups such as: gem mining, Grandfather Mt., Lees-McRae Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, white-water rafting on the Watauga and Nolichucky Rivers, biking/camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway, backpacking/camping on the AT, spelunking in Worley’s Cave, mountain biking on Beech Mountain, and tubing and canoeing on the New River.

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Our Chaplain-in-Residence program was reinstated bringing ministers from the Holston Presbytery to camp to lead morning and evening devotions.

The camp’s retreats are projected to increase in numbers and revenue for 2016. As of August 7, 2016, we had 1,513 guests of which 82 were Holston Presbytery parishioners. Retreat income through August 7, 2016 was $192,144 with projections to exceed $291,00 by year-end. This compares to 1,722 guests at end of July 2015 with $237, 037 total retreat income in 2015. Please see the P&L and Balance sheet for more information.

The Camp Board/Committee has designated $10,000 of camp funds to seed a fundraising campaign to renovate 5 bedrooms in Guenther Lodge which share bathroom facilities. The proposed $80,000 renovation would result in 4 bedrooms with private bathrooms. This change would make these guest rooms more desirable and allow us to increase rates for those rooms.

In summary, the camp’s business is trending well and our Christian ministry is being upheld. In particular, I would like to praise the full-time staff for their commitment and dedication to our camp.

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Holston Camp Budget January – June 2016

Jan - Jun 16

Ordinary Income/Expense

Income

40000 · Operating Income

Unrestricted Gifts 9,824.06

406000 · Holston Support 7,500.00

406300 · NC Tax Rebate 3,048.63

Total 40000 · Operating Income 20,372.69

406400 · Retreat Income 144,683.60

407000 · Summer Camp Income 131,808.83

407200d · Camper Scholarships 750.00

Total Income 297,615.12

Gross Profit

297,615.12

Expense 232,213.72

Net Ordinary Income 65,401.40

Other Income/Expense 925.88

Net Income

66,327.28

Holston Camp Funds

June 30, 2016

Jun 30, 16

ASSETS

Current Assets

Checking/Savings

300000 · BB&T 92,895.85

Total Checking/Savings 92,895.85

Accounts Receivable 18,448.41

Other Current Assets 3,048.63

Total Current Assets 114,392.89

TOTAL ASSETS 114,392.89

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MISSION AND EVANGELISM COMMITTEE REPORT was given by David Welch.

INFORMATION:

1. The 2016 5¢-a-Meal Local Hunger Grant Applications totaled $78,000, a $6,000 increase from 2015. The 2016 5¢-a- Meal International Hunger Grant Applications totaled $14,000, a $3,000 decrease from 2015. (See Hunger Grant Application Summary below.)

Thank you for your continued 5¢-a-Meal Special Offerings which support these important hunger-relief ministries of Holston Presbytery congregations!

2. The Mission & Evangelism Committee is exploring the possibility of hosting an interfaith event and participating in a Presbytery wide mission project. Trish Patterson, Community Outreach Director for Holston Habitat, Habitat for Humanity, will share information about the Faith Build House that will be built in Kingsport in the Spring of 2017.

RECOMMENDATION:

3. That the 2016 5¢-a-Meal Local and International Grants that were approved be paid on a ratio allocation, relative to the total 5¢-a-Meal Special Offerings received in 2016. Approved.

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Local Hunger Relief Total

Church Project Name Program Use Requested

Amount

$76,000.00

First Morristown

ALPS Adult Day Services Monies will be used to offset cost of meals for program participants. We serve 2 meals per day plus snacks and drinks. In 2015 we had 4199 service days

$2,000.00

First Morristown

Vital Visits (Home Delivered Meals)

This program provides hot home delivered meals Monday-Friday for 12-15 clients daily. The clients are 60 years or older with limitations that causes them to have difficulty preparing meals. Many are on SSI with a very limited income. We also provide meals for the disabled who are under 60 years old.

$2,000.00

Preston Hills Hunger First-Kingsport Provide clothing, food and meals for poor and homeless from a downtown Kingsport store

$2,000.00

Mt. City Feed My Lambs Enables MCPC to provide food vouchers in emergency situations, especially for the elderly and families with small children

$2,000.00

Blountville Blountville Area Ministerial Association Food Bank

The BAMA food bank provides food or needy people in the Blountville area. The food bank is located in the First Baptist Church building and I open each Monday afternoon. Five local churches are in BAMA and it is always a struggle to provide enough food for the number of people in need.

$2,000.00

New Bethel

Community Food Pantry (located at Edgefield United Methodist Church)

Having a great concern many years ago about feeding the hungry in the area around Piney Flats, Edgefield United Methodist Church started a food pantry at their church. Over the years, Edgefield has remodeled their basement to accommodate and distribute food items that they receive from area churched. On the 3rd Saturday of each month, members of the church, Boy Scouts and other volunteers from the community pack and distribute food boxes to those who need help in feeding their families.

$2,000.00

New Bethel Haven of Rest Rescue Mission in Bristol

Haven of Rest Rescue Mission in Bristol, TN is a non-profit rescue mission that has touched countless lives meeting physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the communities in the Mountain Empire. One of their many ministries is The Haven Food Ministry which offers a free nightly community meal to anyone. Another ministry is The Haven Pantry which is a Food Distribution Center that operates 4 days a week providing a three-day portion of food to those individuals in need who are under the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Evangelical Christian in conviction and non-denominational in service, relies heavily on charitable donations

$2,000.00

Waverly Road WRPC Food Pantry A standard bag of non-perishable groceries supplemented with additional food (based on availability and household size) is distributed to

$2,000.00

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clients once per calendar month, upon request.

Covenant Good Samaritan Ministries, Inc.

Good Samaritan Ministries responds to the food needs of the poor in Johnson City and Washington County through tree programs. 1) Daily meals served to walk-ins at The Melting Pot, 2) Monthly food boxes from their food pantry to qualified recipients, 3) Seasonal food boxes at Thanksgiving and Christmas to qualified recipients.

$2,000.00

Zion Greeneville/Greene County Ministries

One third of the residents of Greeneville/Greene County need help in meeting their basic food needs. This ministry is instrumental in helping to meet these needs.

$2,000.00

Rogersville RPC/Community Aid Services Agency Food for the Hungry Program

RPC will work with the Community Aid Service Agency (an agency of the United Way of Hawkins Co) to provide food boxes for the poor people with acute conditions of hunger. Some of the funds will be used to provide a food check for milk, bread and fruit in addition to the food box the needy person (or family) will receive. Only the very neediest will receive the food check for milk, etc.

$2,000.00

Rock Creek Care and Share

Churches of Unicoi County support this organization with both monetary and food donations. When food supplies run low, Care and Share must purchase food. This amount will help replenish their pantries. A small group of volunteers keeps the organization running, with a Board of Directors including a President and Treasurer who make reports to churches who donate to the agency.

$2,000.00

Morristown Daily Bread Community Kitchen

The Daily Bread will use these funds to help feed the homeless and less fortunate in the Lakeway area. This past year we were able, due to the great community support, feed 83,000 plates-hot home cooked meals.

$2,000.00

Morristown Tennessee Food on Foot Foundation, Inc.

The foundation delivers approximately 300 food bags weekly to the Hamblen County Schools on Fridays. The teachers call us and advise of children they have in their classes who they know will not eat over the weekend. We also make approximately 300 food bags for the homeless and hungry to pick up at our location each Saturday. All bags include a bottle of water.

$2,000.00

Morristown Emergency Food Pantry

The Emergency Food Pantry provides food to approximately 23,000 individuals in Hamblen County in 2015. Food insecurity continues to be an issue in the rural Appalachian county.

$2,000.00

Morristown Ministerial Association Temporary Shelter

MATS will feed over 450 people next year in East Tennessee. MATS will also clothe and shelter homeless men, women, children and whole families.

$2,000.00

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Elizabethton The Shepherd's Inn-Emergency Shelter/Safe House

All the women and children are admitted in emergency housing. All come without any other housing options. The Grant assists with the feeding of women and children. Formula for infants and baby foods are amount eh nutrition provided regularly. Approximately 700 occupancy days were provided in 2015.

$2,000.00

Elizabethton Food for the Multitude

Food for the Multitude provides a hot lunch every Saturday to needy individuals and families in the Carter County, TN area. Approximately 225 meals are served each week. In 2015 over 10,000 meals were served. The funds will be used to supplement the purchase of food and other supplies.

$2,000.00

Elizabethton ARM Assistance Resource Ministry (Food Program

On a month to month basis we provide food to 600 to 1000 families. Demographically speaking our county is predominantly poverty level or below. The food we distribute sustains these families when the food stamps run out from month to month. We purchase food through Second Harvest and Walmart.

$2,000.00

Bristol Bristol Emergency Food Pantry

BEFP is Bristol's hub for interfaith food poverty assistance. The pantry provided food to almost 14,000 local people in 2014. Referrals come through other local agencies with which BEFP coordinates information and services.

$2,000.00

Bristol Fairmount Elementary School, Bristol, TN

The students of Fairmount Elementary face hunger when they are out of school on extended breaks. More than 80% of the school's students received free or reduced lunch during the school year but during summer and other breaks many go hungry. Fairmount would use the funds to purchase nonperishable items and clean drinking water, box these items, and distribute them to families when school is not in session, often providing the only food the student will receive. Fairmount will provide the food to 10 families selected for great need. Cost would be $50 per family, times 4 distributions, for a total of $2000 for the year.

$2,000.00

Bristol Abuse Alternatives, Inc. Abuse Alternatives provides all necessary groceries for 3 meals a day for those who are given temporary emergency shelter I times of crisis.

$2,000.00

Chuckey Second Harvest Food Bank/Mobile Food Pantry, Chuckey Site

Chuckey is one of the fifty sites served by Second Harvest. Currently the site served 45 or more low income families many of whom are headed by elderly or handicapped individuals. The need is especially acute during times when meals are not available at local schools. Included are a number of grandparents rearing grandchildren due to societal problems.

$2,000.00

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Watauga Ave Salvation Army-Center for Hope

The Center of Hope provided warm and safe shelter to those who are homeless and hot meals to those who are hungry. In 2015, the Salvation Army Center of Hope Soup Kitchen served 66,639 meals to the hungry in the community. The Social Services department provided 450 food boxes for people in need. Safe Shelter and care are provided to homeless men, women and children every night of the year. The funds from this grant will be used to provide year-round nutritious meals in addition to the special Christmas meal for needy men, women, and children in the Johnson City region.

$2,000.00

Watauga Ave Appalachia Service Project-A cup of Cold Water

The Cup of Cold Water project was established to provide wells and indoor plumbing to families in need. The project includes installing safe electrical pumps to bring well water into the home. The project also provides safe upgrades to basic plumbing for families in need. Some of the projects completed in 2015: 562 homes repaired, 39 bedroom and bathroom additions, 94 wiring/plumbing/septic system/wells updated. People served: 1620 including 577 children, 403 elderly, 459 disabled, 26 veteran and 55 single parents.

$2,000.00

Watauga Ave Second Harvest Food Bank of NE Tennessee

Second Harvest has a mission to feed the hungry by securing and distributing food and grocery products through regional agencies and Food Bank programs that provide services to the needy, ill, children and elderly in Northeast Tennessee. Second Harvest supports the following food programs: The Food for Kids Backpack Program, Kids Cafe, The Food Bank's Summer Food Service Program and Mobile Food Pantry.

$2,000.00

Watauga Ave West Main Street Christian Church

West Main St. Christian Church located in downtown Johnson City, in corporation with other local churches, including Watauga Ave, provides a hot meal every Saturday to needy and homeless people in the Johnson City area. Known as Loaves and Fishes, this is an ongoing project to feed needy individuals and families. The number of meals served each Saturday is between 90 to 110. The church also provided a Sunday evening service. This service, known as The Master's Table provides a worship service and a hot meal. The meal meets the basic hunger needs and motivates participation in the worship service. Between 40 to 60 individuals and families are served each Sunday. Watauga Ave helps with providing meals and financially.

$2,000.00

Jefferson City Douglas-Cherokee Neighborhood Center

Funds from this grant would be used to provide food for those people who fall below the 150% poverty income guideline.

$2,000.00

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Jefferson City Douglas-Cherokee Meals on Wheels

The funds from this grant would be used to provide meals to homebound senior citizens age 60+. The Meals on Wheels program currently has 40 seniors in Jefferson County on the waiting list to receive meals that we do not have funding for.

$2,000.00

Jefferson City Fourth Judicial District Drug Recovery Court

The Drug Recovery Court operates a transitional house for women in White Pine, TN. They serve individuals living in Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. The house can hold up to 12 women at a time. These women are involved with the criminal justice system and have addictions problems. The women stay a minimum of 18 months, are held to strict guidelines and accountability. They attend classes, go to meetings and attend church. The women have to provide all their food and personal items. Rarely does one of these women have family that can assist her. Some will be able to attain food stamps until they can get a job. Often times it takes several weeks. The grant funding could help keep our pantries full and ensure these women are eating healthy.

$2,000.00

Jefferson City Appalachian Outreach

Appalachian Outreach is a poverty relief ministry in partnership with the community. They provide a spectrum of services including, home repair for those living in substandard conditions, shelter for women and children (Samaritan House Family Ministries), food for the hungry, educational programs and a clothing ministry. Our food pantry serves approximately 400-600 families per month. These families are struggling to meet their basic needs. Families receive a food basket that will feed a family of four for four to five days. Larger families are given additional food items. Funding would be used to purchase the necessary food items to continue serving families through the Kids Club, food pantry and the Samaritan House Family Ministries.

$2,000.00

Jefferson City Boys & Girls Club, Dumplin Valley

The grant funds will be used to install a water fountain at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dumplin Valley in White Pine. The clubhouse opened in 2009 in a renovated building. The plan was to install a state of the art kitchen but has not been completed. Kids are encouraged to bring water each day. This comes with several issues: storage, sanitation, germs, members remembering, etc. As of now water is available in large coolers daily but is a tedious task. Storage and also having cups is a problem with this solution.

$2,000.00

Greeneville Rural Resources Mobile Farmers' Market

We will use the funds to purchase and distribute locally grown food and food from Rural Resources Garden as well as provide seeds and plants to residences of public housing. Unsold produce from the garden will be donated to community mobile

$2,000.00

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farmers market.

Greeneville Tabernacle Mission Soup Kitchen

The Soup Kitchen continues to see increased participation and continued need in the community it serves. They serve over 100 meals each week to fold either at the Soup Kitchen or with takeout meals to those home bound or unable to get to the kitchen to share a meal. These funds will underwrite the ongoing expenses of the operation with the purchase of food and supplies. The community that they serve is not adjacent nor in readily accessible to grocery stores or other shopping opportunities for basic needs. Likewise, the community has an aging population that benefits by the ministry of the Soup Kitchen.

$2,000.00

Newport Sunset Gap/Feed My Sheep (50%/50% division)

Funds used to provide food to the needy in Cocke County

$2,000.00

Hopewell Safespace Safespace provides sanctuary, housing and food to victims of domestic violence in our area.

$2,000.00

Hopewell Kingswood Home for Children

Kingswood has a mission to serve abandoned, abused and neglected children from across a seven county area of East TN. Kingswood provided a place of safety and healing for a capacity of 32 children. The children are schooled in the public school system.

$2,000.00

Hopewell Dandridge Ministerial Association

The local DMA Food Pantry supplies area families in need under stringent guidelines-to fulfill the needs but also to prevent abuse and promotes education to assist families in stretching their food dollars.

$2,000.00

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International Total

Church Project Name Program Use Requested

Amount

$12,000.00

Bristol Boroko Primary School, Kenya

A multi-year worsening drought in Broko, Kenya has led to diminishing harvests of food crops. Meals served at the primary school are a major motivation for the children to attend class. Funds from the grant will be used to purchase maize and beans for school lunches.

$2,000.00

Bristol Western Wollega Bethel Synod Ethiopia

These funds will be used to provide food for retired ministers/wives who have served this synod in rural Ethiopia. Their pensions are insufficient, and they are unable to work due to advanced age and related health issues. Through this grant, the synod is able to provide much needed critical food supplies

$2,000.00

Bristol Bethel School/IPIB Felipe Camarao, Natal, Brazil

Funds will support provisions for midday meals to over 150 pre-K through 2nd grade at the school, who come from highly impoverished neighborhoods of Felipe Camarao, in Natal (a city of 1.2 million). Bethel School is a social project of the small Presbyterian congregation in Felipe Camarao though which the church engages the community in holistic, transformative ministry. The school on the church property has a kitchen which can prepare hot meals and provide healthy beverages for the children.

$2,000.00

Bristol Crossworld Morne Caillot School

Purpose: to provide hot school lunches to 120 students at the Morne Caillot Church elementary school for five months. Northwest Haiti is one of the poorest areas of Haiti and for the last three years has been plagued by drought. The town of Port-de-Paix is spilling over across the river to the west from Port-de-Paix. Many people who can’t afford to live in the city live across the river to the west. The church at Morne Caillot was started to minister to these people and now has a school with 120 children. The biggest impediment to the education of these children is the lack of nutrition. Providing lunch during the school day means that the children can concentrate, think, and learn. It cost $400 a month to give 120 children a bowl of rice and beans at lunch time during the school day.

$2,000.00

Greeneville Moyo wa Afrika, Inc. Emergency Food Relief in Maasailand, Tanzania

Funds for Moyo wa Afrika will be able to provide emergency fool relief to the people of Engaruka and Selela villages in Northern Tanzania. Because of a long drought season, these pastoralist communities suffer a loss of crops and livestock and therefore have no food or income to care for their families. Funds provided will allow Moyo wa Afrika to provide emergency food relief to families during the drought

$2,000.00

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season. As a step towards a sustainable solution to this problem, Moyo wa Afrika is researching and applying for funding from other sources to build irrigation systems in these villages.

Hopewell Living Waters for the World

LWW has been providing clean water systems to remote and impoverished regions of the world for 21 years. Volunteers are trained to install the systems and assist the people in the use and care. It is incomprehensible that families should not have an ample supply of clean water. $2,000.00

ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT was given by Rodney Norris.

1. which serves local congregations and their ministries, church leaders, and the wider church! The ministry of Holston Presbytery is funded by the voluntary contributions of its congregations.

2. A reminder to all congregations and church treasurers: a statement detailing your congregation’s designated and undesignated financial gifts to Holston Presbytery are sent each quarter. Your review of the quarterly statement is an important internal financial control of the presbytery’s finances. Please immediately report any discrepancies to the presbytery office or to the Administration and Budget Committee moderator.

3. A reminder to all presbytery committees: all presbytery expenses must be paid by voucher (with supporting documentation) upon approval of the presbytery committee moderator and subsequent review of the Administration and Budget Committee moderator.

4. Things to know about the General Assembly and the Synod of Living Waters per capita:

a. The General Assembly per capita is $7.12 (2016) per church member, as recorded on your annual statistical report. (Read more about it here: http://oga.pcusa.org/section/departments/per-capita/)

b. The Synod of Living Waters per capita is $3.62 (2016) per church member, as recorded on your annual statistical report.

c. The combined General Assembly and Synod of Living Waters per capita is $10.74 per church member. Holston Presbytery is required by the Book of Order to give the full per capita to the General Assembly and the Synod of Living Waters—even when congregations withhold their giving to the presbytery.

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d. For 2016, Holston Presbytery will give nearly $80,000 in combined per capita (based on the total reported 2014 church membership of 7,220)—which is over 26% of all anticipated congregational contributions in 2016!

5. A report of the congregational giving to the Holston Presbytery General Mission Budget for January through June 2016 is below.

Congregational Contributions to the Holston Presbytery General Mission Budget

Jan - June 2016

Amity Presbyterian Church

Barton Springs Presbyterian Church

Bethany Presbyterian Church

Bethel (Dandridge) Presbyterian Church $700.00

Bethel (Kingsport) Presbyterian Church $750.00

Blountville Presbyterian Church $1,100.00

Cedar Creek Presbyterian Church

Cedarview Presbyterian Church $1,000.00

Chuckey Presbyterian Church

Clinton Presbyterian Church

Cold Spring Presbyterian Church

Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church $23,765.02

Cove Creek Presbyterian Church

Covenant Presbyterian Church $12,499.98

Cross Anchor Presbyterian Church

Erwin Presbyterian Church $3,333.33

First (Bristol) Presbyterian Church

First (Elizabethton) Presbyterian Church $7,250.00

First (Greeneville) Presbyterian Church $5,000.00

First (Jefferson City) Presbyterian Church $3,625.00

First (Johnson City) Presbyterian Church

First (Kingsport) Presbyterian Church $34,990.00

First (Morristown) Presbyterian Church $12,500.00

Grays Chapel Presbyterian Church

Hebron Presbyterian Church

Hopewell Presbyterian Church $1,907.00

Jennie Moore Memorial Presbyterian Church

Jonesborough Presbyterian Church $6,250.00

Keystone Presbyterian Church $100.00

Leesburg Presbyterian Church

Liberty Presbyterian Church

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Magill Memorial Presbyterian Church $600.00

Meadowview Presbyterian Church

Mountain City Presbyterian Church $1,091.00

Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church

New Bethel Presbyterian Church

New Ebenezer Presbyterian Church

New Market Presbyterian Church

New Providence Presbyterian Church $500.00

Newport Presbyterian Church

Oakland Presbyterian Church

Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church

Philadelphia Presbyterian Church

Piney Flats Presbyterian Church $500.00

Preston Hills Presbyterian Church $300.00

Reedy Creek (Bristol) Presbyterian Church $800.00

Reedy Creek (Kingsport) Presbyterian Church $720.00

Rock Creek Presbyterian Church $400.00

Rogersville Presbyterian Church $2,500.00

Rosemont Presbyterian Church

Salem Presbyterian Church

Shady Valley Presbyterian Church

Shenandoah Presbyterian Church

St. Paul Presbyterian Church

Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church

Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church $700.00

Tri-City Korean Presbyterian Church $600.00

Watauga Avenue Presbyterian Church

Waverly Road Presbyterian Church $17,500.00

Weaver Union Presbyterian Church

West Ridge Presbyterian Church $450.00

Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church

Zion Presbyterian Church

Total $141,431.33

Note: Contributions received after the fifth business day of the month are credited when received.

TRUSTEES REPORT – no report.

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NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT was given by Angus Shaw.

INFORMATION:

1. Prayerfully consider where you will serve within the presbytery! Let the Nominations Committee know where you would like to serve via email: info@holstonpresbytery.org. See the below chart for opportunities and vacancies.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

2. That Ruling Elder Tracy Cagle (Strawberry Plains Presbyterian Church) be nominated (and elected) to serve as the 2017 Holston Presbytery Moderator. There were no nominations from the floor. Mrs. Cagle was elected by acclamation.

3. That Teaching Elder Tom Phillips be nominated (and elected) to serve as the 2017 Holston Presbytery Vice-Moderator. There were no nominations from the floor. Rev. Phillips was elected by acclamation.

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Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2017

Committee on Preparation for Ministry (9)

Eric Spoon (TE)* Allen Huff (TE) Doug LaPointe (TE)

Brian Alderman (TE) John Zirkle

Mitch Coggin (TE)~ Charles Mays

Committee on Ministry (12)

Sharon Amstutz (TE) Tom Phillips (TE)* Paul Helphinstine (TE)

(TE) Diana Moore (TE) Joan Gandy (TE)

(RE) Scott Wise (RE) John Maddux (RE)

Karen Welch (RE) Charles Brumley (RE) Ernie Williams (RE)

Mission & Evangelism (15)

Dave Welch (TE) Alan Chapman (TE) (TE)

Bill Wing (TE) Pat Locke (TE) Ann Harley

(TE) Jim Amstutz Kathleen Wright

Betty Dickson Mary Dobrovolc

Martha Pendley Barron Hopper (TE)

Discipleship (9)

Seong Im (TE) Deven Johnson (TE) Bill Hyers (TE)

Collin Adams (TE) Brad Palmer (TE) Aaron Caton

Russ Pearson* Larry Dodd

Holston Camp Committee (9)

(TE) Brian Wyatt (TE) Tod Jablonski

Jeff Morelock Stan Webster (TE) William Phillips II

Mark Knisley (TE)* Erik Anderson

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Administration & Budget (12)

Rodney Norris (TE) Pat Willard (TE) David Light*

Angus Shaw (TE) (TE) Gary Kelly (TE)

(TE) Joe Chambers

Pam Pope Stewart Baggett (TE)

General Mission Board At-Large Members (3) Tod Jablonski Angus Shaw Marshall Steinle (TE)

Committee on Representation (3) Janis Miyamoto

Nominations Committee (6) (Nominated by Moderator) (LF) Karen Welch (LF)

(LM) Tod Jablonski (LM)

Officers:

Presbytery Moderator (1-YR Term) (Not elected until September 2017)

Tracy Cagle (RE)

Presbytery Vice-Moderator (1-YR Term) Tom Phillps (TE)

Presbytery Recording Clerk (3-YR Term)

Presbytery Treasurer (3-YR Term) (Not elected until December 2017)

Kim Fifield (RE)

Presbytery Assistant Treasurer (3-YR Term) David Light (CRE)

Class of 2024 Class of 2022 Class of 2020

Trustees (6) (6-YR Term) (Not elected until December 2018)

David Light (RE) John Smith (RE)

(RE) (TE)

Permanent Judicial Commission (7) (6-YR Term)

(RE) Brian Wyatt (TE)

(RE) William Phillips II (RE)

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Readers/Commissioners/Delegates: Class of 2019 Class of 2018 Class of 2017

Ordination Exam Readers (4) (1-YR Term)

(Not elected until December 2017)

(TE)

Martin Christian (TE)

Carol Baird (RE)

David Petke (RE)

Ordination Exam Reader Alt. (1) (1-YR Term) (TE or RE)

225TH GA - 2022 224TH GA - 2020 223RD GA - 2018

General Assembly Commissioners (2) (2-YR Term)

(Not elected until December 2021)

(Not elected until December 2019)

(Not elected until December 2017)

General Assembly Commissioners Alt. (2) (2-YR Term)

GA Young Adult Advisory Delegate (1) (2-YR Term)

GA Young Adult Advisory Delegate Alt. (1) (2-YR Term)

Class of 2027 Class of 2024 Class of 2021

Synod Commissioners (2) (3-YR Term)

(Not elected until December 2024)

(Not elected until December 2021)

(Not elected until December 2018)

Synod Commissioners Alt. (2) (3-YR Term)

Synod Nominating Committee (1) (3-YR Term)

* Denotes Moderator; TE-Teaching Elder; RE-Ruling Elder; LF-Lay Female; LM-Lay Male

Desires nomination or re-nomination

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PREVIOUSLY DOCKETED NEW BUSINESS FOR TODAY: None.

REPORTS ON Grandfather Home for Children, Lorie Fees, and Lees-McRae College, Brent Thomas, were given.

PROMOTIONS were shared with the presbytery.

THE COMMITTEE ON THANKS reported.

ADJOURNMENT: Brad Palmer delivered the prayer of thanks for the meal and the Moderator adjourned the meeting at 12:11 PM.

Diana Moore, Moderator

Richard L. Fifield, Stated Clerk