Guiding Council Report

Presbytery of New Harmony – Tuesday, August 16, 2022 Rev. Gavin D. Meek, Moderator of the Guiding Council

The Guiding Council (GC) reports the following actions taken on behalf of the presbytery:

1. Approved the minutes of the May 21, 2022 Stated Meeting of NHP.

2. Approved, for the August 16, 2022 Stated Meeting at Goodwill, the following: Docket; Omnibus Motion; and the preacher Rev. Nick Cheek, Bridge Interim Pastor, Goodwill.

3. Received any and all reports and acted on recommendations from its committees (Cultivation and Empowerment [CEC] and Personnel and Finance [P&F]).

4. Received reports from NHP Administrative Commissions: Camp Pee Dee, John

Calvin, and New Harvest, including an approval of a recommendation of the John

Calvin Presbyterian Church Administrative Commission that it be dissolved given that they have completed their charge.

5. Received the report of the Transitional EP/SC which included the following highlights:  The Stated Clerk reported that the Investigating Committee (IC) in Case 2021-2 reported on June 6 that it is not filing charges and that those who brought the Allegation of Offense has, on June 11, brought to the Permanent Judicial Commission a petition to review the IC’s process; that is in process and will occur on or before September 11, the 90 day time requirement.  It was noted we neglected to budget for the possibility of two months of continuation pay for the TEP&SC. However, if that possibility were to become a reality, it should be fine as some budgeted expenses will not be realized, such as the youth coordinator.  It was also noted that the Guiding Council approved in March additional costs of approximately $18,700 for the rebuild of the office after the damage from a broken pipe due to extreme cold: LVP flooring, painting doors and frames, LED lights throughout, and two smooth ceilings. The actual additional costs came to just over $3,000. This is due in part with some over estimates and that we only purchased only 4 bookcases but were reimbursed for 40+; we were also able to salvage three. 6. Approved unanimously paying off NHP’s outstanding Mortgage Grants with PILP for $39,095.50, a 50% discount.

7. Approved unanimously the promotion of Church Mutual Insurance Company’s Voluntary Affinity Program within NHP. (Church Mutual has been in business for over 125 years and insures ten of our 61 congregations plus NHP with a total annual premium of approximately $140,000. We request that you approve their voluntary

Affinity Program (attached) which would allow them to approach our congregations with the opportunity to join the others already insured. In the next two years, through their recruitment and providing bids to our other congregation to achieve $300,000 in annual premiums, all will get a 5% discount. Please all congregations will be assured that they have proper coverage by a company that has specialized with church coverage for over 125. There is no obligation as it is voluntary, but could provide better, more appropriate coverage and less of a cost.)

8. Approved unanimously the extension of the agreement with the Rev. Dr. Ella Busby as the Associate of Pastoral Care and Fellowship to December 31, 2022 with no other changes to the agreement.

9. Approved unanimously the extension of the agreement with the Rev. Gavin D. Meek as the Transitional Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk to December 31, 2022 with no other changes to the agreement.

10.Approved unanimously giving blessing to First, Cheraw to sell a bequeathed commercial property; the congregation voted after the 1983 Reunion to stay with the

Property Clause of the former PCUS denomination which meant this sale doesn’t need presbytery approval, but the leaders of the congregation wanted to be respectful of

NHP.

11.Received the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Steve Fitzgerald from CPM as he is transferring to Coastal Carolina to accept a call as Interim Pastor.