Presbytery of Wabash Valley COM Report to Assembly 5.23.17 Page 1 of 6 A.2.e Commission on Ministry Meeting at Bethlehem, Logansport on March 2, 2017 ACTIONS of COM as a commission: Approved COM minutes for February 2, 2017 Provisionally approved full-time Terms of Call for candidate Brad Rito provided by Garrett Presbyterian Church, pending congregational call and ordination: Salary 31,000 Housing allowance 10,500 Other Unvouchered allowances 2,000 Effective Salary 43,500 SECA less than 50% 3,328 Vouchered all business expenses 3,000 Approved covenant and full time terms of call for Lucia Oerter, called to Central Presbyterian Church, Lafayette, effective 2/15/2017: Salary 54,000 Housing allowance 24,000 Flex account 5,000 Unvouchered expenses 500 Effective Salary 83,500 SECA less than 50% 6388 Vouchered auto expenses 2,500 Vouchered business related expenses 1,000 Vouchered study leave expenses 3,000 Vouchered moving expenses, not to exceed 6,000 Five weeks Approved worship planning, request to serve communion, and commission for installation on March 19, 2017, by email for Lucia Oerter: Rev. Sarah Sanderson-Doughty - TE Presbytery Moderator, First, Elkhart Rev. Jennifer Burns Lewis TE Presbytery Visioning Connecting Leader Rev. Carol McDonald TE HR Rev. Ann Smith Williams TE HR Bethany, Lafayette Rev. Justin Schlesinger-Devlin TE Memorial, Dayton Rick Ryan CRE Presbytery Vice Moderator, Elston Spencer Bower - RE Bethany, Lafayette Wilella Burgess - RE Central, Lafayette Brad Parker RE Central, Lafayette Mark Wright RE - Elston Corresponding, Rev. John Oerter TE Vance, Wheeling, WV Dismissed David Wood, TE at large, to Presbytery of Pittsburgh to accept a call. Approved request from Michael Pennanen, DOC minister and temporary pastor of First, Hammond to accept his boundaries and ethics training from 2014.
Presbytery of Wabash Valley COM Report to Assembly 5.23.17 Page 2 of 6 A.2.e Approved call and full time terms of call for candidate Taylor Hall with Sunnyside Presbyterian Church for temporary covenant as Pastoral Resident: Salary and housing allowance 42,110 Vouchered study leave allowance; may 2,000 accumulate for three years Vouchered auto allowance 1,000 Vouchered data allowance 300 Postponed action on changes in full time terms of call for Kevin Bowers with Bethany, Lafayette: Salary 38,195.05 Housing allowance 19,000 Effective salary 57,195.05 SECA 4,375.42 Vouchered travel expenses 1,700 Vouchered business expenses 1,000 Vouchered study leave expenses 1,000 Health FSA 1,715.85 Vouchered reimbursement for dental 1,632 Five weeks Approved increase in terms for Laura Penney Bade as Parish Associate with Bethany, Lafayette: Salary 1517.35 Vouchered monthly preaching stipend 1,800 Vouchered teaching allowance 900 Approved changes in full time terms of call for David Lawrence with Trinity, West Lebanon, effective January 15, 2017: Salary 20,000 Housing allowance 20,000 Effective salary 40,000 SECA 3,000 Vouchered auto 5,220 Vouchered business expenses 1,000 Vouchered study leave expenses 2,000
Presbytery of Wabash Valley COM Report to Assembly 5.23.17 Page 3 of 6 A.2.e Received reports from: o Donna Enersen, CRE with Pleasant Hill, Frankfort o Catherine Moran s advocates report on Earl Park, Fowler, Oxford, Kentland and Wolcott o Jamie Miller s report on facilitated conversation with Kendallville, Albion, Auburn, Garrett, Ligonier, Salem Center and Chapel of the Lakes o Ann Williams s report on Memorial-Dayton, Pleasant Hill-Frankfort, Geetingsville, Central-Lafayette, Deer Creek-Camden o Sarah Bishop s advocates report on Elkhart, Goshen and Mishawaka. o Adi Veenendaal provided her advocate s report on Memorial, First Presbyterian, Sunnyside, and Westminster, all in South Bend. o Steve Quinlan provided his advocate s report on Pierceton, Wabash, Bethlehem, Logansport, and Rochester congregations. o Roger Hartzler provided advocates report on Hammond, Highland, Schererville, Valparaiso, Portage and Winfield. Next in-person COM meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2017, 10 am EST at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, 5588 N State Rd 25 Logansport, IN 46947 Commission on Ministry Meeting at Bethlehem, Logansport on April 6, 2017 Present: Catherine Moran, Moderator; Ann Williams, Roger Hartzler, Stan Kessler, David Lawrence, Rebecca Kuiken, Sarah Bishop, Toby Mueller, Guy Wahlman, and Louis Sandos; Adi Veenendaal was excused; ex-officio Jennifer Burns Lewis and Linda Long were present. Invited guest Jan Edmiston, Presbytery of Chicago, was unable to attend. ACTIONS of COM as a commission: Approved COM minutes for March 2, 2017, after amendment. Approved Pierceton Ministry Information Form after discussion of two non-presbyterian references and its former pastor as references; COM Advocate will ask Pierceton to add two teaching elder/minister members of presbytery as references. Approved terms of call for Terri Thorn and First Presbyterian Church, Lebanon Salary 34,850 Housing allowance 22,000 Effective salary 56,850 Board of Pensions 22,338 SECA 4,349 Vouchered business expenses 2,200 Vouchered study leave expenses 2,000 Unspecified vouchered reimbursement 600 Approved terms of call as Transitional Pastor for Rose Taul and Range Line, Hebron, for 19 hours/week, effective 11/26/16. Guy Wahlman was named Advocate. Salary 22,000 Vouchered auto expenses 6,000 One week
Presbytery of Wabash Valley COM Report to Assembly 5.23.17 Page 4 of 6 A.2.e Approved final extension of six-month covenant for Linda Skaggs as temporary pastor with First, Highland. COM approved election of a PNC and will require its approval of a signed covenant of closure between the congregation and Linda Skaggs that concludes any further pastoral relationship. Approved end of temporary covenant between John Lersch and Ligonier Presbyterian Church, effective May 28, 2017. John will be recorded as Honorably Retired. Approved covenant and full time terms of call of Brad Rito as a minister member of presbytery after his ordination as a teaching elder and transfer on April 23, 2017, by Presbytery of Detroit, effective May 1, 2017: Salary 31,000 Housing allowance 10,500 Moving expenses 2,000 Effective salary 43,500 Board of Pensions 12,900 SECA 3,328 Vouchered study leave expenses 250 Vouchered professional expenses 2,750 As directed by Presbytery Assembly, COM has approved Tom Smith (TE, Chapel of the Lakes) as mentor for first-call pastor Brad. This mentoring relationship will be added to his covenant of call. Interviewed four PNC members and candidate serving in Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois and provisionally approved call to him to serve as Associate Pastor with Westminster Presbyterian Church, Munster, pending congregational vote. COM waived expectation of preaching in neutral pulpit; PNC has watched his online sermons for several weeks. Approved application to Culley Fund from David Lawrence for $1,000 toward his study for a D. Min. degree online through Dubuque Seminary. DISCUSSION OF PENDING MATTERS, NO ACTION TAKEN: Received letter from Dyer and Merrillville sessions requesting that Paul Anderson be moved from temporary pastor to be called and installed. Received update from Toby Mueller and Jennifer Lewis about possible joint congregational witness with a covenant between Bethel Presbyterian Church, Union Mills, and a Wanatah congregation currently being served half-time by an ordained UCC pastor known to COM through serving in other Presbytery congregations. Update: COM s requested Listening Team appointed by Presbytery Moderator has met twice with Earl Park and worshipped with them. Plans for revising Boundaries and Ethics training continues in partnership with the Synod of Lincoln Trails, with a grant request pending with Synod to train a team from each of eight presbyteries to provide consistent B&E training in return for a three year commitment to offer B&E training twice a year. Expectation is that by fall 2017, presbytery members may attend B&E training in place and date most convenient for them, and jointly trained trainers would offer consistency and reciprocity among presbyteries. CRE Revitalization Team will hold an information session for those interested in CRE training on June 17 th at the Community Presbyterian Church in Rochester. COM adjourned with prayer at 2:10 pm EDT.
Presbytery of Wabash Valley COM Report to Assembly 5.23.17 Page 5 of 6 A.2.e Commission on Ministry Meeting electronically by Go-to-Meeting May 4, 2017, 10 am EDT Present: Catherine Moran, Moderator; Ann Williams, Roger Hartzler, Stan Kessler, David Lawrence, Sarah Bishop, Toby Mueller, Steve Quinlan and Guy Wahlman; Adi Veenendaal and Louis Sandos were excused; ex-officio Jennifer Burns Lewis and Linda Long were present. Rebecca Kuiken was absent. ACTIONS of COM as a commission: Opened with prayer and Bible study and conversation about baptism. Approved COM minutes for April 6, 2017, after amendment. Ratified email vote to approve covenant between TE Dan Lewis and Lake Village Presbyterian Church as temporary pastor, effective May 7, 2017 with following terms of call for part-time service: o Salary $500/month o Preach and administer sacraments on one Sunday o Moderate session o Provide visitation and congregational support o Additional services such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Christmas Eve will be compensated separately. o Maximum annual total of this agreement is $6350. Reviewed COM s letter of apology to First, Plymouth for not inquiring into orally reported concerns about the congregation prior to recommending a commission to work with that congregation. Approved Ministry Information Form prepared by PNC for First, Monticello seeking a full time pastor, and recommended adding a maximum for the compensation range. Stated Clerk will provide log-information for the PNC chair to enter the MIF. Approved extension of Lyle Ewing s temporary covenant as Transitional Pastor with First, Monticello until December 31, 2017, with no change in other terms of call. Reviewed covenant of Brad Rito called to Garrett, ordained by Presbytery of Detroit on April 23, 2017 and transferred to Presbytery of Wabash Valley, and approve amendment to call that expects Brad to initiate and follow through with mentoring program as required by Presbytery Assembly. His installation commission was approved, but his date of installation awaits COM approval for his worship planning for this presbytery installation service, and signed copies of the covenant papers as amended. Approved request of session and Transitional Pastor Rose Taul for Range Line, Hebron to form a PNC to search for a part-time, installed pastor after discussion of extensive research including MissionInsite prepared for COM about ministry in that community. COM Advocate will meet with the session to explore options for shared ministry in that region of the presbytery. Approved final contract as temporary pastor with TE Linda Skaggs and First, Highland, to be terminated with covenants of closure by pastor and congregation and exit interview by December 31, 2017. COM expects the PNC to be elected prior to the end of December. Approved request from CRE Coordinator Ann Williams to solicit applications from trained ruling elders to be commissioned to administer sacraments in small congregations unable to get a teaching elder to come. COM will request that six be commissioned at
Presbytery of Wabash Valley COM Report to Assembly 5.23.17 Page 6 of 6 A.2.e the November Presbytery Assembly to serve for 2018, expanding from the current team of three. All commissioned ruling elders serving communion will not serve in their home congregation, and will report regularly to COM. Approved request of TE David Lawrence to serve communion at a Presbyterian church when he is visiting the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Heard report of those requesting training to serve a three-year term on Mediation Teams. So far, there are three non-com volunteer teaching elders. Noted that COM documents need review prior to loading onto new website. Anticipate request to dissolve the call of TE John Lersch with First, Kendallville after the congregation meeting on May 7 th. COM will initiate conversations about potential for shared ministry with other congregations in that region. Approved request to dismiss TE David Comstock to Presbytery of Maumee Valley. Dissolved call between Sarah Sanderson-Doughty and First, Elkhart effective April 30, 2017, and approved her dismissal to Presbytery of the Cascades effective June 1, 2017, to accept a call in Portland. COM voted to eliminate the pastoral position of co-pastor, effective April 30, 2017, leaving one pastoral position. Stated Clerk will report this action to OGA and Board of Pensions. After discussion, dissolved the call for installed pastor Rebecca Kuiken and amended proposed temporary one-year covenant for Rebecca Kuiken and First, Elkhart, effective May 1, 2017. Received information that Westminster, Munster has voted to call Beau Brown as its Associate Pastor. COM agreed to review his covenant of call and its terms by email vote prior to June 1, 2017, and to call an electronic audio-video meeting is needed for discussion. Received information that Union Mills has approve a part-time pastoral relationship with a UCC pastor; COM will consider email vote for the temporary covenant and her admission as a temporary minister member of presbytery. Received Taylor Hall as a minister member of Presbytery of Wabash Valley following his ordination and transfer by Presbytery of Plains & Peaks. COM was adjourned with prayer for Moderator Catherine Moran at 12 noon EDT. Respectfully submitted, Linda Long, Stated Clerk