Central Presbyterian Church

Minutes of Stated Session Meeting

December 16, 2002

Present: Rev. Mark Baridon, Pastor and Moderator for this meeting; Rev. Ann J. Deibert, Associate
Pastor; Elder Eileene J. MacFalls, Clerk; Elders Gladys Boykin, Sharon Clements, Adam Cobb, Priscilla
Freeman, Jeanie King, Don Lueckert, Melanie Hardison, Vince Patton, Halsey Sandford, Susan Scott,
Jeff Sodowsky, Susan Stanford, David Wheeler; Seminary Intern: Mr. Rick Upchurch.

Absent: Elder Laurie Griffith

A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order by the Rev. Mark Baridon serving as
Moderator at 7:05 p.m. in the Community Room. He read a poem by Ann Weems, Christmas Trees and
Strawberry Summers as the opening meditation and prayer.

1. Pastors Reports:
A. Rev. Mark Baridon provided a handout Highlights of Marks Activities Since Last Session
Meeting for the sessions information. The list included:
1. Bridges of Hope: Issues are after-school programs for children in the Old Louisville and
California neighborhoods and improving communication among service providers.
2. Interfaith Center at UofL: Denominational leaders are planning a meeting to be held in the fall
to talk with the new president of UofL.
3. Local ACLU: Discussing how Central may get more involved in local civil rights and civic
issues.
4. Christian Home: Discussing how Central might get involved with the residents.
B. Rev. Ann Deibert:
1. Noted that Ms. Marie Yannaco-Grant, director of the Peace Education Program housed at
Central, is moving to Boston. The program will be seeking a new director.
2. She distributed a detailed list How I Spend My Time October 30 December 14, 2002 for the
sessions information and commented she spends her days interrupted.
3. She reported that the Vital Liberal Congregations Consultation at LPTS was rewarding.
4. She distributed a handout that lists Traits of Healthy Congregations and Anxiety Triggers
from a November 2002 seminar at LPTS led by Peter Steinke.

2. Debriefing the December 15, 2002 Congregational Meeting:

A. Affirmed Elder Susan Stanfords presentation of the Changes in Terms of Call. Felt that her
referring to the extra increase for Rev. Deibert as an issue of salary parity for the pastors
rather than as an issue related to co-pastors was helpful.
B. Affirmed Elder Jeff Sodowskys The Witness presented in worship at the suggestion of Elder
Gladys Boykin.
C. Noted that some who publicly disagreed with the session and the congregation about salary parity,
mission giving, having two pastors and living into a co-pastor model at last years congregational
meeting were not present at this years meeting and affirmed they are part of the diversity that
Central values.

3. Financial Report:
A. Elder Susan Scott gave an oral report because the bank statement that she uses to substantiate the
report had not yet been received. She said she feels our investments are in very good hands.
B. She reported on the pledges received for 2003 to date: 70 pledges totaling $186,436.
 C. Elder Priscilla Freeman said the Stewardship Committee would be following up on pledges not yet
received for 2003 via phone calls. Last year we received 95 pledges totaling $211,191.

4. Congregational Nominating Committee Report:

A. Elder Vince Patton, chair of the committee, reported (for information only) that their nominee to
fill the unexpired term of Elder Katie Cobb is Ms. Kathleen Rankin.
B. The session approved calling a congregational meeting on Sunday, January 12, 2003 immediately
following worship for the purpose of electing an elder to fill the vacancy on the session.

5. Removal of Inactive Members: On the recommendation of the pastors who had been in contact with
these members, the session approved removing the following from the Active Roll:
Dee Cochran Paula Hale
Ellen Garrison Kevin Strong

6. Annual Review of Liability and Property Insurance Coverage: Elder David Wheeler reviewed the
churchs insurance coverage:
A. The main policy is a Blanket Property and Liability Package Policy, Insurance and Risk
Management Program with GuideOne Insurance of West Des Moines, Iowa. This policy is offered
to churches in Mid-Kentucky Presbytery. The blanket amount is $43,119,700. The policy includes
Workers Compensation and Employers Liability coverage. Elder Wheeler said the coverage under
this policy for fraud or misuse of funds by forgery has a limit of $10,000.
B. Commercial General Liability Coverage with Capitol Indemnity Corporation of Madison, WI for
$1 million for personal bodily injury is carried on the auto lot; the Carriage House is insured for
$50,000. and the small office building for $30,000.
C. Coverage for Employee Dishonesty for $100,000. and for Forgery or Alteration for $100,000. is
carried with State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company.

Elder Wheeler said that the Finance Committee of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery is considering options in
addition to GuideOne for churches in the presbytery.

7. Co-Pastor Task Force Update: Elder Halsey Sandford distributed copies of a report to the session
dated December 15, 2002 that outlined what the task force has done since its organizational meeting
on May 28, 2002 and next steps planned for 2003. This will include involving the congregation in the
process. It was noted that the charge to the task force includes make a report to the session of their
findings by February 2003. (Stated Session Meeting of January 28, 2002)

8. Worship Committee update on Flowers for the Sanctuary: Elder Gladys Boykin reported that her
florist will look at the sanctuary and make recommendations.

9. Omnibus Motion:
A. Clerks Report
1. Approve Minutes of Stated Session Meetings of October 21, 2002 and November 18, 2002.
2. Dismiss Kelly Stevenson to Beechmont Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY.
3. Approve updated list of committee members, staff, check signers and money counters for
Centrals Commercial Crime Coverage Insurance (copy attached).

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B. Approve Building Use
Date Time Event Room Needed Contact
November 25, 2002 6:30 8 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Chapel Harry Pickens
December 2, 2002 6:30 8 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Chapel Harry Pickens
December 7, 2002 10:30 a.m. noon Choir Rehearsal Community Room Harry Pickens
December 8, 2002 2 3:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Chapel Harry Pickens
January 10, 2003 6 9 p.m. UofL Social Work Community Room Sally St. George
January 11, 2003 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Students
January 25, 2003 6 p.m. Religious Coalition for ? Mary Morrison
Reproductive Choice
January 27, 2003 1:30 p.m. Community Community Room Givannai Lusco
Partnership (Bridges of
Hope)
The omnibus motion was approved.

10. Received for Information:

A. Membership Report: 186 members; 3 affiliate members; 26 clergy friends = 215
-2 Mamee Evans and Lillie Patterson
B. Average Worship Attendance Report: November = 180
C. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was observed during worship in the sanctuary on
Sunday, December 1, 2002.
D. Home Communion was provided to 3 persons.
E. Pastors Help Fund Expenditures:
1. $19.25 bus fare for Maxwell Street member; $39. emergency lodging; $44. emergency
clothing; $178. to pay a fine for a traffic violation to keep a person from going to jail for
this offense.
2. $1,000. and $400. received in donations
F. Service of Remembrance held Tuesday, December 10, 2002: 21 attended. Rev. Baridon
personally invited all who had experienced loss this past year to attend this service.

11. Choir Loft Overcrowding: Elder Susan Stanford said there is need for more space for singers in the
choir loft and asked how we should go about taking care of this. The matter was referred to the
Property and Worship committees who are asked to bring proposals to the session for consideration.
The growth of the choir and resulting need for additional space is a nice problem for a church to
have.

12. Visioning: Elder Susan Scott asked when we will continue working on Centrals Vision. Rev.
Deibert said we will look at it again in 2003.

13. Worship Concerns: Elder Scott said she had missed the Sunday evening Advent services this year
and hoped we might have them again next year. Elder Sodowsky said he would like us to continue
the practice begun by Rev. Baridon last year of opening the church and offering the imposition of
ashes all day on Ash Wednesday.

14. Adjustments to Stated Session Meeting Schedule: Because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on
the third Monday of January and the Presidents Day holiday on the third Monday of February, the
session agreed to postpone the stated session meetings in those months to the fourth Monday of the
month January 27, 2003 and February 24, 2003.

15. Theological Reflection and Closing Critique: Rev. Deibert reflected that just as the passage in

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 Ecclesiastes notes There is a time for every purpose under heaven . . ., session meetings also seem
to have cycles with a lot of decisions to make and work to do at some meetings and fewer decisions
and less work at others. This December meeting was an example of having less business.

16. Adjournment and Closing Prayer: After a time of sharing prayer concerns, the meeting was
adjourned at 8:05 p.m. with a closing prayer by Rev. Deibert.

Respectfully submitted,

Eileene J. MacFalls
Clerk of Session

Approved January 27, 2003