[Note: this constitutes neither the official minutes nor an exhaustive report of all the actions of the Presbytery.]
First Presbytery met at Ballantyne Presbyterian Church. Outgoing Moderator Rev. Phillip Mayberry constituted the meeting with prayer. Ballantyne provided gracious hospitality for the delegates throughout the day. Numerous guests were introduced.
Student Austin Bollinger preached from John 15:12-17 for the morning worship, after which the court sang “God, Be Merciful to Me.” A benevolence offering was taken up for presbytery after which a season of prayer was held for needs in the presbytery. A quorum was declared.
Three memorials regarding churches merging were referred to the Moderator’s Committee on Memorials and Resolutions. The Moderator opened proceedings with old business. Minutes of the Spring 2023 stated meeting and May 16 called meeting were approved.
Several second readings to amend the Manual of Procedure were approved and will be updated by the Stated Clerk accordingly.
The reports of the Statesville Korean ARP Commission and the Commission investigating matters concerning Rev. Tae Gun Han contained no recommendations and were received as information.
The Outgoing Moderator addressed the court with a few remarks, after which the incoming Moderator, Mr. Keith Began, took the chair. His Vice-Moderator, Rev. Nathan Frazier, was approved by the court.
The court then proceeded to new business. The court received the report of the Program Committee and Stated Clerk as information. The Treasurer’s report had one recommendation that Presbytery resume mileage reimbursement at the full federal rate. That recommendation was approved.
The Nominations Committee report recommended filling several committee positions and empowered the committee to fill positions that were still open.
The Christian Education Committee report contained no recommendations and was received as information.
The Minister & His Work committee report contained several recommendations relating to stated supply and provisional moderators for specific churches. All recommendations were approved.
The World Witness committee report was not submitted in time for the presbytery packet so the court voted to receive the committee report. The report had one recommendation regarding assisting a church in First Presbytery with some short-term missions funding. The recommendation was approved.
The court was then addressed by presbytery guest Rev. Jeremiah Pitts (PCA), who is the Vice-Chancellor of African Bible University in Uganda, where Rev. Drew Goodman, a member of First Presbytery, will be serving as part of the SEED ministry via World Witness. Rev. Pitts made known the need for qualified educators to assist in the work.
The court was then address by Rev. Lee Shelnutt to make known the changes from Barnabas ministry to SEED ministry and the opportunity SEED has with Erskine and the establishment of a scholarship to provide pastors in Rwanda and Pakistan with an accredited degree.
Following lunch, the court reconvened with the singing of “Come, Christians Join to Sing.”
The Stewardship & Finance Committee had no report. Motion was made from the floor for First Presbytery to fund the SEED ministry at the rate of $25,000 for the next 3 years, with $20,000 going to Erskine and $5,000 directly to SEED. Motion was approved. The funds will be taken out of the First Presbytery Legacy Fund.
Motion was made that First Presbytery acknowledge with gratitude the contribution of Southern Korean ARP Church of $60,000 to First Presbytery. Motion was approved with acclamation.
Motion was made that half of the $60,000 from Southern Korean ARP go to Church Extension with the other half going to the Legacy Fund. Motion was approved.
The Memorials Committee presented a motion to give thanks to Ballantyne ARP for their hospitality. The committee received 3 memorials concerning church mergers. The committee recommended that both the merger of Lakeside Fellowship and Mooresville ARP, as well as the merger of Bethany Memorial and Southern Korean ARP be approved. The recommendations were divided. The merger of Bethany Memorial and Southern Korean ARP was approved. Much discussion ensued about the merger of Lakeside Fellowship and Mooresville ARP, particularly around approving the calls. After that language was removed from the memorial, the merger of the two churches was approved with approval of the calls to be done at a later time.
Synod Moderator, Rev. Rob Patrick, encouraged the court to pray for these new churches resulting from these mergers. Rev. Wayne Frazier prayed for these merging congregations.
From the Candidates and Examinations Committee report, Student Austin Bollinger was examined on the floor for licensure. After questions from the floor, the court approved the recommendation that Mr. Bollinger’s exam be sustained as well as that his senior sermon be sustained as evidence of preparation for gospel ministry. A service of licensure was carried out by Vice-Moderator, Rev. Nathan Frazier, and a signed certificate of licensure was presented to Mr. Bollinger.
From the Church Extension Committee report, a revised terms of call to the Rev. Josh Grimm, RUF-Queens, was approved by the court. The effective start date is June 1, 2023, as that is when the financial administration for RUF-Queens was transferred from Central Services to RUF National.
Rev. Morrie Lawing offered prayer on behalf of the church plants of First Presbytery.
The report of the Congregational Health Committee reminded churches that their 2022 session minutes need to be submitted to the Stated Clerk by September 1 of this year. The report also asked for any retired minister willing to serve as stated supply and moderate a session contact the committee. A recommendation to finalize the merger of Lakeside Fellowship and Mooresville ARP into “Cornerstone ARP” by the moderator appointing a commission in accordance with FOG 3.15-16 was approved. A final recommendation was approved for Appendix 14 to be added to the Manual of Procedure laying out the details when two or more churches desire to merge. The recommendation was approved as a first reading.
The court was dismissed after announcements and the singing of the Psalm of Christian Unity at 3:16 PM.
The next stated meeting of First Presbytery will be on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at First ARP Gastonia.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. G. Mark James,
Stated Clerk First Presbytery
First Presbytery of the ARP Synod 