[Note: this constitutes neither the official minutes nor an exhaustive report of all the actions of the Presbytery.]
First Presbytery met at Coddle Creek ARP. Moderator Rev. Phillip Mayberry constituted the meeting with prayer. Coddle Creek provided gracious hospitality for the delegates throughout the day. Numerous guests were introduced.
Rev. Brian Wood preached from Psalm 101 for the morning worship, after which the court sang “Crown Him With Many Crowns.” Moderator Mayberry led the court in a season of prayer for needs in the presbytery.
The Moderator opened proceedings with old business. Minutes of the Fall 2022 stated meeting were approved. A report on churches who had not submitted 2021 session minutes was presented. The Congregational Health Committee was tasked with contacting those churches.
One second reading to amend the Manual of Procedure was approved as well as a second reading to remove the ARP Home Board committee from the Manual of Procedure.
The court voted on two Synod overtures. The first overture to prohibit virtual communion in the Directory of Public Worship was approved 68-0-0. The second overture to modify the Form of Government regarding the version of Robert’s Rules of Order was approved 63-1-2.
The court then proceeded to new business. The court received the reports of the Program Committee and Treasurer as information.
The Stated Clerk’s report contained three recommendations for altering the Manual of Procedure, all of which were approved as a first reading. The following ministers laboring out of bounds were approved to vote at General Synod 2023: James Anderson, Will Anderson, Mike Basie, Mark Brooks, Robert Cara, G. Mark James, Ken McMullen, Stephen Myers, and Dean Turbeville.
Nominations were held for Moderator to serve July 2023 through June 2024. Elder Keith Began of the Covenant Reformed church was nominated. Mr. Began accepted the nomination and the floor was closed for nominations. Mr. Began was approved.
The following recommendations from the Minister & His Work committee were approved before the order of the day:
1. That the previous (fall 2022) report on the situation between Covenant Church Miller’s Creek and Covenant of Grace ARP Church be rescinded.
2. That the revised report on the situation between Covenant Church Miller’s Creek and Covenant of Grace ARP Church be approved.
Discussion on recommendation #3 “That the report of the sub-committee on ministerial withdrawals be approved as the first reading of a proposed change to the Manual of Procedure of First Presbytery” was interrupted by the order of the day.
The report from First Presbyterial was received as information. There is currently no one serving as President of First Presbyterial.
The court was then addressed by Synod Moderator, Mr. Bill McKay, on “Keeping Our Focus” from Hebrews 12:1-2. Motion was made and approved to include the Moderator’s address in the minutes of presbytery.
Following lunch, the court reconvened with the singing of Psalm 125.
The Minister & His Work committee report was resumed after lunch.
Recommendation 3 was amended to add paragraph 4.D.3 “Removed ministers shall be transferred into a local congregation by the Presbytery when practicable, through the M&HW committee acting as a commission.” The amended recommendation, “That the report on ministerial withdrawals be approved as the first reading of a proposed change to the Manual of Procedure of First Presbytery,” was approved.
The following recommendations were all approved:
1. That Rev. Leo Markwat be approved as provisional moderator of the New Sterling ARP Church.
2. That $1,000 for counseling for Rev. Tim Watson and his wife be granted.
3. That the provisional-moderator relation between Rev. Vaughn Hathaway and the Garrison Memorial ARP Church be dissolved.
4. That the annual reports from ministers laboring out of bounds be received as information.
5. That Rev. Alex Lott be approved as the presbytery representative for the congregational meeting of Mooresville ARP Church to vote on a change in call to Rev. Andy Ward, who will become bi-vocational.
6. That the sabbatical plan from Rev. Zack Keuthan be received as information.
7. That our actions as a commission be sustained.
The following additional recommendations were also approved:
7. That presbytery dissolve the stated supply relation between Rev. Vaughn Hathaway and the Garrison Memorial ARP Church.
8. That presbytery direct the MHW Committee as to how to proceed in the matter of Rev. Tae Gun Han and the Bethel Korean ARP Church.
9. That the moderator of presbytery appoint a commission to look into the situation at Korean Statesville ARP Church.
In response to recommendation #2, a motion was made from the floor “That the moderator appoint a commission, including at least 2 Korean members of presbytery, to investigate and adjudicate the matter of Rev. Tae Gun Han.” Motion was approved.
The Memorials Committee presented a motion to give thanks to Coddle Creek ARP for their hospitality. The committee received 3 memorials concerning church mergers. The committee recommended that items #1-2 in the Mooresville ARP memorial be approved. Both items were approved. The committee recommended that items #3-4 in the Mooresville ARP memorial not be approved as they will be dealt with in later presbytery business. Both items were not approved.
Concerning the two memorials from Bethany Memorial and Southern Korean respectively to merge, the committee recommended that the court take the two memorials together and approve them. Much discussion ensued. Both recommendations (listed in the Bethany ARP memorial) were approved.
Motion was made and approved that the moderator appoint a commission to come alongside the Bethany ARP and Southern Korean ARP churches to enact their merger.
From the Candidates and Examinations Committee report, Rev. James Almond was examined on the floor for transfer from Catawba Valley Presbytery of the PCA. After questions from the floor, the court entered into executive action. In executive session, the Candidates & Examinations recommendation was amended and approved to read “That the examination of Rev. James Almond be sustained and that he be approved for transfer into First Presbytery and that Rev. James Almond be prohibited from teaching his exceptions to the Standards and that Candidates & Examinations provide counsel and resources for Rev. Almond’s further exploration of his exceptions.” The court arose from executive session and the actions of the executive session were read to the court.
The terms of call from Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church to Rev. Almond was approved and Rev. Almond accepted the terms.
From the Church Extension Committee report, funding was approved for Living Hope Mission in Belmont. The financial administration of RUF-Queens was transferred from Central Services to RUF National effective 6/1/23, while Rev. Grimm’s call will remain in First Presbytery and oversight of RUF-Queens will remain with Church Extension. A one-time gift to RUF-Queens was also approved.
The Christian Education Committee report had one recommendation to amend the Manual of Procedure in light of the dissolving of Synod’s Christian Education Ministries. Recommendation was approved as a first reading.
The report of the Congregational Health Committee recommended that churches contemplating a merger or dissolution within 2-3 years contact their committee. Recommendation was approved.
The Nominations Committee report included no recommendations, but motion was made from the floor that Michael Krueger fill the 2025 elder position on the World Witness committee. Motion was approved.
The Stewardship and Finance committee recommended that a $50,000 loan for Rev. Andy Ward and the Moorsville ARP church to be repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the Mooresville ARP property. The recommendation was approved.
From the World Witness Committee report, funds for 2023 were approved for Rev. Joe Rolison’s short-term missions trip to India.
The court was dismissed after announcements and the singing of the Psalm of Christian Unity at 4:36 PM.
The next stated meeting of First Presbytery will be on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Ballantyne ARP Church.
First Presbytery of the ARP Synod 