[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

[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.

[Note: this constitutes neither the official minutes nor an exhaustive report of all the actions of the Presbytery.]

First Presbytery met at New Sterling ARP. Moderator Rev. Phillip Mayberry constituted the meeting with prayer. New Sterling provided gracious hospitality for the delegates throughout the day. Numerous guests were introduced.

Student of Theology, Paul Chung, preached his senior sermon for the morning worship, after which the Lord’s Supper was observed by the court. 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 Summer 2022 stated meeting and the August 2, 2022 called meeting were approved. 

Under old business, the moderator’s committee concerning sessional records presented a recommendation for a change to the Manual of Procedure for churches unable to submit their minutes electronically. The committee was then dismissed.   

Several second readings to amend the Manual of Procedure as well as a first reading to remove the ARP Home Board committee were approved.

The court received the reports of the Program Committee, Treasurer and the Stated Clerk. The Treasurer has developed a shorter report that will be sent out in the Presbytery packet, and the full report of each month will go on the First Presbytery website, http://firstpresbyteryarp.org

The Stated Clerk distributed and received forms to gauge the receptivity of First Presbytery regarding Synod’s directive to discuss merging options with Grace and Virginia presbyteries.

The Synod overture to amend the Directory of Public Worship V.B.8.c(10) was presented for discussion. Voting on the overture will be taken up at the Spring Stated meeting.

From the recommendations of the Minister & His Work committee, Rev. Jeff Morrison was approved to be moderator for Mint Hill ARP, Rev. Alex Lott to be moderator for Pressly Memorial, Rev. Bob Wilson to be stated supply and moderator for Covenant Presbyterian at Millers Creek, and Rev. Anthony Pizzuti to be stated supply and moderator for Trinity Reformed Presbyterian.

Rev. Mark James was approved to labor out of bounds at RTS Global. 

Just prior to lunch, Mrs. Susan Tanner gave a report to the presbytery from Central Services. Additionally, Rev. Darin Stone gave a presentation on his ministry, Ministry to State North Carolina, which is under the umbrella of the PCA Mission to North America agency.

Following lunch, the court reconvened with the hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy.

The Minister & His Work committee report was resumed after lunch. The higher levels of censure of Removal of Office and Excommunication (BOD 2.6.D, 4.9, 4.9.C-D) were imposed upon Scott Robar.

The session and pastor of Covenant Presbyterian at Millers Creek were ordered to reconcile in grace and love with the session and pastor of Covenant of Grace ARP in Grace Presbytery.

The Memorials Committee presented a motion to give thanks to New Sterling ARP for their hospitality.

From the Candidates and Examinations Committee report, several items were approved.

Mr. Joshua Feimster, Trenton Cleveland, and Austin Bollinger were all received as students of theology under care. The call from RTS to Rev. Mark James was approved.

From the Church Extension Committee report, funding was approved for RUF Queens and Rev. Josh Grimm, and Trinity Chapel Mission and Rev. Keith Ginn.  ONA MEG grant applications from Living Hope Mission and Trinity Chapel Mission were approved to be recommended to the board of ONA.

The Christian Education Committee report was received as information.

The report of the Congregational Health Committee included reminders of the information and documents that the committee needs from each session of First Presbytery.

The Nominations Committee recommended Rev. Tim Watson to continue as Assistant Stated Clerk, Dr. Rob Roy McGregor III to continue as Parliamentarian, Mr. Butch Bigham to continue as Treasurer, and Mr. Jim Snyder to continue for one more year as Assistant Treasurer.

The committee was also empowered by Presbytery to fill several open unexpired slots on various standing committees.

The 2023 presbytery budget as recommended by the Treasurer was approved from the Stewardship and Finance Committee report.

The World Witness Committee report was voted by a 2/3 majority to be received and acted upon. Funds for 2023 were approved for Rev. Michael Cochran, Rev. Lee Shelnutt, and A.T. & Lauren Cason.

A motion from the floor passed “that the World Witness committee bring to the First Presbytery spring meeting a recommendation for ongoing support of missions in First Presbytery.”

The court was dismissed after announcements and the singing of the Psalm of Christian Unity at 2:55 PM.

The next stated meeting of First Presbytery will be on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Coddle Creek ARP Church.

First Presbytery met at Pisgah ARP. Moderator Mr. Beard McAulay constituted the meeting with prayer. Pisgah members and staff provided gracious hospitality for the delegates throughout the day.

Rev. Andrew Shoger preached a sermon from Jeremiah 1, after which the court sang the hymn, “How Firm A Foundation.” A benevolence offering was taken up for presbytery after the conclusion of the hymn. An extended season of prayer was held for needs in the presbytery as well as the increase of Christ’s Church.

The Parliamentarian was taken sick, so Rev. Morrie Lawing agreed to serve as Parliamentarian pro tem without any objection. The roll was constituted, and a quorum was declared. Guests and elders attending their first presbytery meeting were introduced to the court. The Moderator’s Committee on Memorials and Resolutions was announced. The report of the Program Committee was received as information and the program was adopted as presented. The Moderator opened proceedings with old business. Minutes of the March 2022 meeting, with one change, were approved.

Under old business, recommendations from the moderator’s committee concerning sessional records were approved, including the committee’s request to continue its work. A second reading to change the Manual of Procedure was also approved.

The Moderator-Elect, Phillip Mayberry, was called to the chair, who introduced his Vice-Moderator, Mr. Ken Zappone. The court then proceeded to new business. The court received the report of the Treasurer as information. Recommendations from the report of the Stated Clerk were approved, including a first reading to change the Manual of Procedure.

A motion from the floor to “direct our clerk and committee on congregational health to make accommodations for sessions who do not have the technological capacity to submit session records electronically” passed.

The need to move the Fall Stated Meeting Date from November 8 to November 15 due to election day was approved by 2/3 vote.

The Minister & His Work committee report was tabled until after lunch.

In the report of the Candidates and Examinations Committee, several items were approved. Two new students were received under care as students of theology – Mr. Paul Chung and Mr. William Hunter. Student Jacob Jastrzembski was examined and approved for licensure. A call was approved and extended to Licentiate Robert Duran who accepted the terms. It was noted that the committee had acted in June as a commission to approve the call to Rev. Lee Shelnutt from World Witness.

The Church Extension committee gave its report to the presbytery. Their report included updates from the current church planters and church plants. The committee will assume the oversight of the ministry of RUF-Queens University in light of the dissolution of the Synod Campus Oversight Board.

The report of the Christian Education committee was received as information.

The report of the Congregational Health Committee included reminders of the information and documents that the committee needs from each session of First Presbytery.

Following lunch, the court reconvened with a hymn.

The Minister & His Work report was taken up from the table and it noted several actions taken as a commission and brought forth 8 recommendations. Recommendation #3 was amended to replace “Rev. Jeff Richards” with “Rev. Charles Evans” and #4 amended to replace “moderator” with “stated supply.” It was noted that Dr. Michael Milton has retired from Erskine and his time in the ARP is over so he will be removed from the roll of retired ministers of First Presbytery as he had maintained his credentials in a PCA presbytery.

The Memorials Committee presented a motion to give thanks to Pisgah ARP for their hospitality in hosting Presbytery.

The Nominations Committee had no report.

The Stewardship and Finance Committee report dealt with the disbursement of the funds from the Retirement Home Board Fund. The recommendation to rename the Erskine Seminary Fund to the Legacy Seminary Fund was approved. The funds from the Retirement Home were then disbursed between the Legacy Seminary Fund and the Church Extension fund.

The motion from the floor to “Officially dissolve the ARP Home Board of Directors and amend the Manual of Procedure accordingly, with the first reading to be brought at the Fall Stated Meeting” passed.

The World Witness committee had no report, but motion was made that presbytery receive the committee’s nomination of Elder Ken Jackson as the new chairman of the committee.

The court was dismissed after announcements and the singing of the Psalm of Christian Unity at 2:15 PM.

The next stated meeting of First Presbytery will be on November 15, 2022, at New Sterling Church.

The Spring 2022 Stated Meeting met at the Mooresville ARP Church on March 8, 2022. Rev. Phillip Mayberry preached a sermon from Hebrews 12:18-29, after which the court sang the hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.”

Under old business, the court received the report of the judicial commission regarding Rev. Scott Robar. The commission was dismissed.  

Presbytery approved four overtures from Synod 2021 regarding changes to the Form of Government and one overture from Synod 2021 to add the Directory of Private & Family Worship to our standards. The votes were recorded and sent to the General Synod.

Current Vice-Moderator, Rev. Phillip Mayberry, was elected Moderator for the coming 12-month term.

In the report of the Candidates and Examinations Committee, several items were approved. Three new students were received under care as students of theology – Mr. Paul Lawing, Mr. Jordan Perkins, and Mr. Pedro Pollorena.  Rev. Jason Strong was examined and approved for transfer as pastor of the Crowder’s Creek ARP Church.  Rev. Daniel Albuquerque was examined and approved for transfer as associate pastor at the Starmount ARP Church.  Student Robert Duran was examined and approved for licensure.

In the report of the Church Extension Committee, the church plant proposal from Mark Forbes to plant Living Hope ARP Church in south Belmont, NC as a mission of first presbytery was approved. The provisional session will be Dr. Bill Kelly, Dr. Andy Dyksterhouse, Mr. Walter Payne, and Mr. Bill Sevy.

The report of the Congregational Health Committee included a new document, “Some Church Health Resources” to help churches strengthen areas they determine need work based on the “Key Elements of a Healthy Church” document.

The World Witness committee recommended support for Michael Cochran, Lee Shelnutt, and a short-term mission trip to India for Joe Rolison. All recommendations were approved.

The Stewardship and Finance Committee report included a recommendation to give money to help Rev. Andy Ward pay back an unexpected and substantial debt. This recommendation was approved.

The court was dismissed after announcements and the singing of the Psalm of Christian Unity at 3:56 PM.