849th STATED MEETING

OF NEW CASTLE PRESBYTERY First Presbyterian Church of Newark

292 W. Main Street

Newark, DE 19711

Saturday, January 11, 2020

MINUTES

SPARKED BY GRACE TO TRANSFORM THE

CHURCH FOR THE GOOD OF THE WORLD

Moderator Rev. Dianne Deming convened the meeting with prayer at 10:00 AM

The Rev. Steve Brundage of First Presbyterian Church in Newark led us in worship and shared the message. During worship we installed our new Moderator and Vice Moderator, Ruling Elder Charles Collier and The Rev. Neta Pringle. Communion was served and an offering was taken for the One Great Hour of Sharing.

Moderator Charlie Collier reconvened the meeting at 11:15. (Attachment #1: Official Notice of Meeting;

Attachment #2: Roll)

The Moderator declared that a quorum was present and introduced first time commissioners.

Stated Clerk Bob Schminkey was recognized to MOVE the Consent Agenda (Attachment #3). He noted

one correction and one addition. He noted that the Equalization of Rolls (Attachment #4), would become effective at the next Presbytery meeting on March 7, 2020. He also noted that the COMC would be bringing one additional item of business under their report, a motion to Ordain Alex Sprague, currently a Candidate

Certified Ready to Receive a Call under care of New Castle. With those changes, the Consent Agenda,

including the Docket for this meeting and the Minutes from the 848th Meeting was then PASSED.

RECOGNITION OF THE OUTGOING MODERATOR – Tracy Keenan presented our outgoing Moderator, Dianne Deming with a poem, a certificate of appreciation and a “Promissory C- Note” that can be a gift for a charity of her choice.

EQUIPPING OF PASTORS AND CHURCHES

COMMITTEE ON MINISTERS AND CONGREGATIONS - The Rev. Tom Speers (Attachment #5):

• Welcomed The Rev. Kristin Reinhold, new Pastor at West Nottingham Presbyterian

Church in Colora, MD. Noting that she would be installed on Sunday afternoon, January 26 at 3 PM.

• Welcomed The Rev. Tim Bostick, new Pastor at Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE.

COMC then MOVED that we appoint Administrative Commissions to install both Kristin and Tim.

PASSED

Motion: At the request of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, New Castle Presbytery accept the examination,

approval for ordination and call to the position of Pastor of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church in

Williamsburg Ohio for Alex Sprague, and that New Castle appoint an Administrative` Commission to

ordain Alex to the positon of Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PCUSA at his home church,

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Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington Delaware. PASSED (Tentatively we are targeting Sunday

February 9 at 4 PM.)

BEING GOOD STEWARDS

TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE - Shannon Hanson and Mark Olson

Mark and Shannon reported for the Committee RE: Beaver Dam request to dissolve the relationship with the PCUSA and keep their property. Discussions toward agreement have been very cordial and grace filled and they might have a motion for consideration in the near future

DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING LEADERS

COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION - The Rev. Dr. Tracy Keenan

• Port Penn (Pastoral Concerns) – After a lot of prayer and discernment, our brothers and sisters at Port Penn are preparing to close their doors after years of faithful ministry in their community. Tracy will be working with them throughout this process. Please keep them in your prayers…

• New Staffing Arrangements – The Rev. Sara Holben and Bob Schminkey were introduced once again

as they have begun work as Co-Interim Connectional Presbyters as of January 1, 2020 (Attachment #6).

• “Beach” Retreat is coming!!! Our theme is on becoming a Matt 25 Church and Presbytery. Registration is open and there is a slight discount to register early. Please plan to attend.

(Attachment #7)

• “Mysteries of the Presbytery” - The Rev Sara Holben announced that she will be doing a pre-beach retreat workshop on the Mysteries of the Presbyteries. The workshop is especially designed for “new” pastors, but anyone can come. See the flyer attached. Register on line for the retreat and for housing, but

contact Sara to sign up for the retreat. (Attachment #8)

The Rev. Sara Holben then led us in grace before lunch which was provided by First Newark.

The Meeting was reconvened in the Fellowship Hall following lunch.

COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATION AND NOMINATIONS – The Rev. Caitlan Garland

The Committee on Representation and Nominations (CORN) report was presented by The Rev. Caitlan Gartland. The Committee presented the following slate for election to presbytery committees:

IGNITE

Class of 2020 (6) _____________________________

Class of 2021 (6) Tim Bostick, MWS, Limestone (1)

COMMITTEE ON MINISTERS AND CONGREGATIONS

Class of 2020 (6) John Balaguer, RE, Trinity (1) John is filling out the term of Sara Holben.

Class of 2022 (5) Fred Hanna, MWS, Community (1)

(6) ______________________________

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COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MISSIONAL MINISTRY

Class of 2021 (3) Kate Morgan, MWS, Covenant (1)

CONNECTIONAL PRESBYTER SEARCH COMMITTEE

(1) Gary Patterson, RE, Dover (representing Committee on Leadership)

(2) Julius Jackson, RE, Community (representing IGNITE)

(3) Dianne Deming, MWS, Milford (former Moderator)

(4) Miriam Foltz, MWS, New Castle

(5) One Vacancy

Following the elections, Rev. Gartland encouraged us to help the CORN identify potential new committee

members.

SPARKING MISSION PARTNERSHIPS

AND NEW CHURCH INITIATIVES

CONSIDERATION OF OVERTURES

The Stated Clerk outlined our process for consideration of overtures in preparation for the 224th General

Assembly;

Our process for consideration of Overtures will be the following:

The Moderator will grant the Overture Advocate 5 minutes to present the issue.

This will be followed by a maximum or 20 minutes discussion on the issue. During this time, clarifying questions may be asked. People wishing to speak for or against the issue will be recognized for a maximum of 2 minutes each, rotating time between pro and con.

After 20 minutes, or if there are no additional speakers, the Overture Advocate will have one minute to summarize the issue.

At all times, speakers are requested to address all questions and remarks to the Moderator.

Overture #1: From the Committee on Ministers and Congregations, passed on December 12, 2019. On Severance Packages. This overture amends the Book of Order to allow Presbyteries to establish provisions for severance payments for pastoral calls and Certified Christian Educators. The full overture is as follows:

TITLE: On establishing the authority of Presbyteries to define severance plans for installed ministers

The Presbytery of Beaver-Butler overtures the 224rd General Assembly (2020) to direct the Stated Clerk to

send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:

Shall G-3.0303(c) be amended as follows: [Text to be added is shown as italic.] G-3.0303 Relations with

Sessions c. establishing minimum compensation standards including provisions for severance payments for

pastoral calls and Certified Christian Educators and Certified Associate Christian Educators within the

presbytery.

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Rationale for Overture from Beaver/Butler Presbytery 8/27/19 In 1993 the General Assembly Permanent

Judicial Commission ruled in the case Saurbaugh v. the Presbytery of Great Rivers that “The Book of Order

does not give the presbyteries power to require congregations to pay compensation upon dissolution of

pastoral relationships.” (Remedial Case 206-13,11.094 attached) In subsequent years the church has

maintained that while a presbytery can have guidelines and policies concerning severance for ministers at the

dissolution of a pastorate, the presbytery has no authority to enforce those policies. This overture seeks to

remedy that omission in the Book of Order by making explicit the authority of presbyteries to create and

enforce severance policies by linking that authority to the power to set minimum wages and approve calls. The

overture does not attempt to set a national severance policy, but to clarify the presbytery’s relationship to both

the session and the minister during times of transition.

Stated Clerk Bob Schminkey presented this overture on behalf of the COMC. COMC has passed the overture and sent it to the floor of Presbytery for consideration.

MOTION: To CONCUR with Beaver Butler Presbytery and send this Overture to the 224th General

Assembly for consideration. PASSED

Overture #2: From the Session of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, passed on December 16, 2019. This overture is titled, "A Call for Ending the Siege of Gaza and Collective Punishment of

Innocent Palestinian and Israeli Citizens” and affects PCUSA policy with regard to the Middle East. The full overture is as follows:

TITLW: A Call for Ending the Siege of Gaza and Collective Punishment of Innocent Palestinian and

Israeli Citizens

The New Castle Presbytery overtures the 224th General Assembly (2020) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

to:

1. Call for the United States government to:

A. Exhort the government of Israel immediately to cease and desist all hostile actions that are defined as

“collective punishment” under International Law. This includes stopping military attacks by air,

land, and sea on non-military targets in Gaza that have disproportionally killed thousands of

Palestinian civilians and caused billions of dollars in property damage since 2008.

B. Exhort the government of Israel to end the siege of Gaza that restricts its access to adequate water and

electricity and the entrance of food, medicine, and fuel to Palestinians in Gaza so as to alleviate and

end the humanitarian and environmental crises caused by the siege and provide the material resources

necessary for economic prosperity, human health and safety, and environmental protection.

C. Exhort the government of Gaza and all Palestinian militias within Gaza to cease and desist all hostile

activities against Israel and its citizens that are defined as “collective punishment” under International

Law. This includes the launching of unguided rockets into civilian areas of Israel.

2. Direct the Stated Clerk to communicate this action to all other PC(USA) councils, the U.S. Government

and to the press and media.

RATIONALE

Purpose

This overture is pursued with the hope that:

• The cessation of the Israeli government’s collective punishment of Palestinians (both Muslims and

Christians) in Gaza will allow Palestinians to have the necessities for human life and will help lead to

a peaceful and just end to the conflict.

• Likewise, the cessation of collective punishment of Israeli citizens by the government and Palestinian

militias in Gaza will contribute to a peaceful reconciliation between the two peoples.

The situation in Israel/Palestine cannot and will not improve unless and until these actions perpetrated by

each side on the other, and defined by the Geneva Conventions as collective punishment, end for good.

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International Definition of Collective Punishment

Collective punishment is a form of retaliation whereby, if a person commits a crime, that person’s family

members, friends, acquaintances, sect, neighbors or entire ethnic group are targeted for retaliation. The

punished group may often have no direct association with the person who perpetrated the crime or direct

control over their actions.

Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Convention states that communities and nation states are prohibited from taking

actions where “persons may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective

penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Reprisals against persons

and their property are prohibited.” This includes actions against civilians or property in reprisal for actions

taken by their government, over which they have no control.

The International Committee of the Red Cross commentary to the conventions states that parties to a conflict

often would resort to "intimidating measures to terrorize the population" in hopes of preventing hostile acts,

but such practices actually "strike at guilty and innocent alike.” They are opposed to these inhumane and

unjust actions.

Numerous examples since Roman times of communities or nation states using collective punishment in armed

struggles or the occupation of conquered territories include:

• Military operations that disproportionally kill civilians based on their ethnicity or nationality

• Restricting food, or water, or medicine to people based on ethnicity or nationality

• Denying people the right to assembly or travel based on ethnicity or nationality

• Targeting an entire ethnic group or nationality for death or destruction of their homes, property,

or economy in retaliation for actions taken by their government over which they have no control.

• Restricting fuel and electricity to people based on ethnicity or nationality

Actions by the Government of Israel that Meet the Definition of Collective Punishment

For thirteen years, the Israeli government has controlled the borders of Gaza, restricting or denying the

movement of people, materials, fuel, food, and medicine by land, sea, or air, thus imprisoning

1.8 million Palestinians and creating a humanitarian disaster that is a direct result of the official Israeli policy.

In early September 2015, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development cautioned that without

significant changes to Israel’s policy, Gaza has no chance of recovery and will become unlivable by 2020.

Since then, Israel has tightened restrictions and the situation has deteriorated.

Although the Israeli government declared an end to its military administration in Gaza in 2005, it continues to

control all border crossings by land, sea and air, monitors all movement of people and goods in and out of

Gaza and regulates that movement according to Israeli interests. This blockade has caused Gaza’s economy to

collapse. Before the blockade Gaza’s unemployment rate was 19%. By 2017, it was 44% among men, 72%

among women and for those under age 29, 62%. Some 80% of Gaza’s residents depend on humanitarian aid.

About 60% suffer from food insecurity.

This collective punishment has been carried out by:

• Israel’s restricting fuel and electricity to Gaza Palestinians

For instance, in response to rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian militants, the Israeli Defense Ministry

in August 2019 halved the amount of fuel allowed into Gaza from Israel. While Israel’s airstrikes against the

sites of rocket launches is not prohibited by international law, cutting needed fuel for the 1.8 million Gaza

citizens is a clear example of collective punishment that is prohibited by international law.

Because of a fuel shortage and severe damage caused by the Israeli bombing of the power plant in Gaza in

2006, electricity from Israel is supplied for just a few hours every day. Water and sewage systems, which rely

on a constant supply of power can barely function. Furthermore, the Israeli government restricts the entry of

spare parts to maintain existing systems. The effects on daily life and the ability to do business are disastrous.

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Long, daily blackouts rob Gaza residents of their human rights and keep them from leading reasonable lives.

All these restrictions are examples of collective punishment.

• Israel’s restricting food, or water, or medicine

Infrastructure and public services in Gaza are in dire condition. 96% of Gaza’s water is contaminated and

unpotable. The sea water desalination plant is not in operation due to the lack of a constant supply of

electricity. In retaliation for actions taken by the government of Gaza or militants over which the population

has no control, Israel limits the amount of food, medicine, and materials that can enter Gaza. The distance

from shore that Gaza Palestinians can fish is also limited, or fishing is prohibited altogether.

Restricting adequate food, water, and medicine to the civilian population in retaliation for actions by a

government or militant groups over which civilians have no control is a clear example of collective

punishment.

• Israeli denial of the right to assembly or travel

The Israeli government controls the entry or exit from the Gaza strip by land, air and water. Few Gaza people

are permitted to leave, forcing them to live in an open air prison from which they cannot escape. Since the

protests along the Gaza perimeter fence began on March 30, 2018, Israeli security forces have fatally shot over

190 demonstrators – including 31 minors. According to figures by the United Nations Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), over 12,700

casualties have been treated in Gaza hospitals. Over 5,800 of them suffered live gunshot wounds. 1,900

suffered teargas inhalation injuries, and some 480 were hit by rubber-coated metal bullets. Approximately

2,300 of the casualties were minors. Doctors have had to perform amputations, usually of a lower limb, on 90

protesters, including 17 minors and one woman. These are clear examples of collective punishment.

• Israeli government actions causing civilian death, injury, and property damage

Since 2008 there have been six major Israeli attacks on the Gaza strip that caused substantial death, injury and

property damage to Palestinians and which constitute collective punishment.

o Operation Cast Lead: Dec. 2008 - Jan. 2009

o Operation Pillar of Defense: Nov. 2012

o Operation Protective Edge: July - Aug. 2014

o Border Open Fire Policy: 2008 -2018

o Right of Return Protest Killings: 2016 -2018

o Two days of air attacks on Gaza: November 2019

Israel’s military actions against military targets, as part of armed conflict, are not prohibited under

international law, but many of these actions resulted in death, injury, and property damage to Palestinian

civilians not directly related to military targets. These actions, summarized in Table 1, show the

disproportional harm perpetrated on Palestinians, which is collective punishment. (The source of this

information is from the Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem.)

Actions by the Government of Gaza that Meet the Definition of Collective Punishment

To be sure, the militants and the government of Gaza have been responsible for sending rockets, with no

guidance systems, indiscriminately into Israel. Because they can fall in civilian areas and cause death, injury,

or property damage, they too, constitute collective punishment, for their impact is on persons who are not

responsible for the actions of their government. These actions are also summarized in the B’Tselem data in

Table 1.

Why Presbyterians Must Speak Out Against Collective Punishment

As Presbyterians following the example of Jesus, we believe the prophetic mission of the church is to speak out

courageously, honestly and lovingly against the siege of Gaza and all forms of collective punishment carried

out in Israel/Palestine as well as the rest of the world. As the Body of Christ on earth, we are called to stand

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alongside the oppressed to help bring about justice for them, leading to peace and reconciliation with their

oppressors.

In accordance with past policy statements and the theological-ethical bases of our confessions, the 219th

General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) affirmed the following human rights, moral

principles, and goals guiding its recommendations regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict:

• The moral principle of applying humanitarian laws regarding warfare to all nations

These laws, protecting civilians and nonmilitary facilities, prohibit such internationally recognized violations

as the use of anti-personnel weapons and weapons of mass destruction, the assassination of political

opponents, collective punishment, detention without due process, and the torture or abuse of prisoners.

• The moral principle of applying these same humanitarian laws regarding warfare to nongovernmental

combatants

These laws prohibit such practices as suicide bombing, kidnapping, shelling civilian populations, and torturing

or abusing prisoners.

The purpose of this overture is to name the acts of collective punishment that the governments of Israel and

Gaza are perpetrating against each other and to call for an immediate end to these acts. By honestly

recognizing these acts, the Presbyterian Church (USA) can add its voice to an international dialog to which we

trust American, Israeli and Palestinian leaders will be compelled to listen and respond. We ask the church to

join the witness of others.

***

Table 1 statistics on deaths and homes destroyed

B’Tselem, “The Gaza Strip,” March 3, 2019,

www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20190303_13000_gazans_homelsess_since_2014_war

B’Tselem, “The Gaza Strip,” November 11, 2017,

www.btselem.org/gaza_strip

Table 1: Impact of Collective Punishment Actions Taken by the

Israeli and the Gaza Palestinian Governments 2008-2018

Israel Government

Actions Against

Palestinian Citizens

Gaza

Government

Actions Against

Israeli Citizens

Civilians killed in Israeli and Gaza government attacks 2481 13

Minors under 18 years killed in Israeli government attacks 896 1

Homes destroyed/damaged by Israeli and Gaza government attacks 21,500 1

Property damage resulting from Israeli and Gaza government attacks $6.7 billion $0.02 billion

Civilians with restrictions of food, water and medicine 1,800,000 0

Civilians lives and businesses affected by restriction of fuel and

electricity 1,800,000 0

Citizens subject to a siege on land, air and sea 1,800,000 0

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B’Tselem, “Open Fire Policy,” January 11, 2019

https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20190117_2018_fatalities

Table 1 statistics on property damage

United Nations Conference on Trade

and Development, “Report on

UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian

people,”

https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/tdb62d3_en.pdf

Global news , Nick Logan, “How much will it cost and how long will it take to rebuild Gaza?, July 28, 2014

(statistics from U.N. Conference on Trade and Development statics)

http://globalnews.ca/news/1478589/how-much-will-it-cost-and-how-long-will-it-take-to-rebuild-gaza/

The Rev. Greg Jones presented the overture on behalf of the session of Westminster.

MOTION: To APPROVE the Overture and send it to the 224th General Assembly for consideration. Ken Jones (Calvary) proposed one amendment which was defeated.

The MOTION then PASSED and the overture was approved.

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IGNITE – The Rev Nona Holy

The Rev. Nona Holy presented the Ignite report (Attachment #9), first reviewing some of the grants Ignite has shared in 2019. Details of year one grants can be found in the Ignite attachments

provided.

She made special mention of a recent grant of $10,000 to the Synod for the “Montgomery Immersion trip, scheduled for Feb. 6 – 8, 2020. This will bring together people from all over the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, the most racially diverse synod in the PCUSA, to visit the Legacy Museum and Memorial that displays the history of slavery and racism in America, including the enslavement of African-Americans, racial lynchings, segregation, and racial bias.

She also reviewed the “Unglued” Church process, noting that we are at the mid-point of the first year and are beginning to consider a second year of the project.

Rev. Holy and Rev Holben then commissioned our Guatemala Partnership Team as they prepared to visit Guatemala in the coming weeks. They noted that Carrie Saathoff from our Guatemala partnership team has been nominated to serve on the Board of our partner CEDEPCA USA . The

“election” will be in February.

Rev. Holy noted the attached Ignite report had dates and deadlines for proposals in 2020.

She concluded her report with a word or gratitude for Ignite members who have rotated off the committee, the staff of the Presbytery and all the ways God has enabled us to work together.

Vice Moderator, The Rev. Neta Pringle adjourned the meeting with prayer at 2:00 PM.

NEXT STATED PRESBYTERY MEETING:

10:00 AM Saturday March 7, 2020

Presbytery “Beach Retreat”

Hyatt Regency Resort

100 Heron Blvd.

Cambridge, MD

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Official Notice of Meeting

2. Consent Agenda

3. Roll

4. Equalization of Rolls for 2020

5. Committee on Ministers and Congregations Report

6. Introduction of Co-Interim Connectional Presbyters, Rev. Sara Holben and Bob Schminkey

7. Beach Retreat Flyer

8. Mysteries of the Presbytery Flyer

9. Ignite Financial Report

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ATTACHMENT #849-1

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ATTACHMENT #849-2

MINISTER/CRE/ELDER SERVING CHURCHES:

CHURCH MINISTER(s) ELDER(s) Beaver Dam Vacant

Buckingham A-Glenn Zuber

Calvary Vacant Kenneth V. Jones

Chesapeake City, First Vacant

Chestertown E-John Ames

P-Caitlan Gartland

Lanny Parks

Christiana Vacant Paula M. Sims

Church of the Covenant P-Kate Morgan

P-Ginny Jones (CRE)

Pat Todd

Church on Main Vacant

Community A-Fred Hanna Stephanie Hines

Concord E-Steve Clark

Coolspring Vacant

Delaware City, First Vacant

Dover, Presbyterian Church of P-Mike Williams Reid Beveridge, John Dumas

Easton P-Duke Dixon Nancy Clark

Elkton P-Gary Willingham-McLain David Spencer, Elaine Brunson

Elsmere P-Matt Waters (Lay)

Faith Chapel A-Pam Ruarke (CRE)

First & Central A-Doug Gerdts Mark Olson

Frankford A-Peter Maurer

Georgetown P-J. Gerald Egger

Green Hill P-Tom Speers

Hanover A-Tim Arnold (CRE)

P-Andrew Jacob

Head of Christiana P-Hilary Livingston

Limestone Vacant Kathy C. Magner

Lower Brandywine P-Dave Lovelace

E-Emma Horn

Makemie Memorial A-Samuel Monte

Manokin Vacant

Milford, First P-Dianne Deming Judy Adams

Newark, First P-Steve Brundage Faithe Koser, Ann Roybal

New Castle P-Miriam Foltz Beverly Stoudt, Connie Reese

New Covenant P-Carol Fisher

Ocean City, First A-Dan McKenty

Ocean View A-Terrence Dougherty Bob Wolf

Olivet P-Mawuna Gardesey (CRE) Vivian Gyening

Perryville E-Anne Gunn (CRE)

Pitts Creek Vacant

Port Deposit A-Rich Watters (CRE)

Port Penn, First A-Tim Arnold (CRE)

Red Clay Creek E-Randy Clayton

A-Eric Koenig-Reinke

Rehoboth (MD) E-Kirk Dausman

Rehoboth Midway Vacant

Riverfront (NWC) P-Edwin Estevez

Rock P-Tom Euston

St. Andrews E-Victoria Bethel Winnie Wagner

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CHURCH MINISTER(s) ELDER(s) Seaford E-Laurie Hiller Melinda Thompson

Smyrna, First E-John Riley

Trinity E-Brad Martin

E-Barbara Price-Martin

Carol Shumway, Penny Lindell

West Nottingham P-Beth Thomas Susan P. Orndorf

Westminster Rehoboth A-Doug Griffin

Westminster Wilmington P-Gregory Knox Jones

P-Sudie Niesen Thompson

Margo Reign, Carrie Saathoff,

Mark Mosher

Wicomico P-Maggie Gillespie

**CHART LEGEND: P=Present; A=Absent; E=Excused

HONORABLY RETIRED:

E-Francis Ackerman

E-Alex Ayers

E-Susan Bennett

E-Earl Brooks

E-Scott Burkley

E-Brian Childs

E-Tom Davis

E-John Dean

P-Frank Deming

E-Beth Doty

E-Stuart Dunlap

P-Lyle Dykstra

E-Edee Fenimore

E-Nancy Ferguson

P-Charles Gilmore

E-Richard Hays

P-Jim Herrington

P-Sara Holben

E-Jim Horn

E-David W. Jones

E-David Kaminsky

E-James Kay

E-Debra Latture

E-Richard Loringer

E-Laurie Loveless

E-Barbara Macfie

E-Carl Mazza

E-James Mehler

E-John Paderson

E-David Parke

P-John Potter

P-Neta Pringle

E-Bob Prior

E-Clifford Richards

E-Eric Ruoss

E-Everett Sahrbeck

E-Julius Schiedel

E-Will Shackleford

E-Kate Simons

E-Kerry Shull

E-Bob Snable

P-Bob Stoddard

E-Jane Stover

E-Edward Torsch

E-Robert Undercuffler

E-Michael Williams

E-Francis Wolf

E-Cameron Yorkston

OTHER MINISTERS ON THE ROLL:

E-Donna Bowers

A-Elisa Diller

A-Marge Egger

P-Nona Holy

P-Jeongju Grace Howard

P-Jeffrey Howard

A-Catherine Jackson

P-Tracy Keenan

P-Anne Ledbetter

E-Kai Moore LeFranc

E-Kimberly Bracken Long

E- Randy Otto

E-Koo Suh Pak

P-Kathie Pownall

P-Tim Rodden

E-Emily Schwenker

A-Jenny Warren

E-Tim Woodruff

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS: Tim Bostick, Charlotte Presbytery; Kristin Reinhold, Peaks Presbytery

ELDER COMMISSIONERS BY VIRTUE OF PRESBYTERY OFFICE:

Steve Bingham, IGNITE

Charles Collier, NCP Moderator

Mark Douyard, NCP CRE

Cathy Higgins, IGNITE

Julius Jackson, IGNITE

Lynette Kenton, NCP Treasurer

Rourke Moore, NCP CRE

Gary Patterson. COL Chair

Bob Schminkey, NCP Co-Interim Connectional

Presbyter

Winnie Wagner, IGNITE

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GUESTS:

Susan Baer, Ocean View

Lisa Bates, Limestone

Norma Bostick, Harrisburg Presbytery

C. Andrienne Daniels, Church on Main

Bruce Fine, Green Hill

Sandy Fine, Green Hill

Diane Freed, Limestone

Susan Goodman, Limestone

Mae Hall, Community

Linda Hickman, Limestone

Phil Hickman, Limestone

John Mitchell, First-Milford

Virginia Mitchell, First-Milford

Sarah Pragg, Limestone

Cindy Rogers, First-Newark

Donna Scully, New Castle Presbytery

Venetta Stewart, Community

Xing (Thomas) Zhang, First-Delaware City

ATTENDANCE TOTAL: 95

Ministers/CRES: 40

Ruling Elders: 35

Guests/Corresponding: 20

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ATTACHMENT #849-3

CONSENT AGENDA

849th Stated Meeting of New Castle Presbytery First Presbyterian Church, Newark

January 11, 2020

Items for the Consent Agenda are collected and MOVED by the Stated Clerk to expedite routine

business that usually does not require discussion and debate. All of these items will be included in one

omnibus motion for a single vote unless there is a request to lift one or more out for separate action

during the meeting. If you have questions or would like information about any item in the Omnibus

Motion, please contact the Stated Clerk prior to the meeting, or at the meeting request that item be lifted

out for separate consideration.

THE STATED CLERK MOVES that the following items be APPROVED or AFFIRMED.

• Approval of the Docket for the 849th Meeting of New Castle Presbytery (this meeting).

• Approval of the Minutes from the 848th Meeting of New Castle Presbytery.

• Approval of the Equalization of Rolls for 2020.

• Approval of the Lord’s Supper at all Presbytery meetings in 2020.

• Receive the written report of the Committee on Ministers and Congregations.

• Affirm the Schedule for Presbytery Meetings for 2020:

849th Stated Meeting – Saturday January 11, 2020, 10 AM First Presbyterian Church, Newark

850th Stated Meeting – Saturday March 7, 2020, 10 AM

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge MD

851st Stated Meeting – Tuesday May 19, 2020, 4 PM

Wicomico Presbyterian Church, Salisbury MD

852nd Stated Meeting – Tuesday September 22, 2020, 4 PM Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, DE

853rd Stated Meeting – Saturday November 14, 2020, 10 AM First Presbyterian Church Milford, DE

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ATTACHMENT #849-4

EQUALIZATION OF ROLLS MINISTER OF WORD AND SACRAMENT AND RULING ELDER COMMISSIONERS

Submitted by the Connectional Presbyter/Stated Clerk

January 11, 2020

849th Stated Meeting of Presbytery

ROLL OF MINISTER MEMEBERS (FORMERLY TEACHING ELDERS):

The roll of Ministers of the Word and Sacrament in New Castle Presbytery totaled 104 as of January

1, 2020.

The Book of Order specifies in: G-3.0301 Composition and Responsibilities

The presbytery is the council serving as a corporate expression of the church within a certain

district and is composed of all the congregations and ministers of the Word and

Sacrament within that district. The presbytery shall adopt and communicate to the sessions a plan

for determining how many ruling elders each session should elect as commissioners to presbytery,

with a goal of numerical parity of ministers of the Word and Sacrament and ruling elders. This plan

shall require each session to elect at least one commissioner and shall take into consideration the

size of congregations as well as a method to fulfill the principles of participation and representation

found in F-1.0403 and G-3.0103. Ruling elders elected as officers of the presbytery shall be

enrolled as members during the period of their service. A presbytery may enroll, or may provide by

its own rule for the enrollment of, ruling elders during terms of elected service to the presbytery or

its congregations.

The Presbytery addresses the imbalance by inviting sessions of particular churches to elect additional

ruling-elder commissioners, with special attention to the full expression of the rich diversity of the

church’s membership as noted in G-3.0103.

TOTAL RESIDENT MINISTERS OF THE WORD AND SACRAMENT = 104

BASIS OF ALLOCATION OF RULING ELDERS:

MEMBERSHIP COMMISSIONERS # OF CHURCHES TOTAL

More than 500 4 2 8

350-500 3 1 3

115-300 2 18 36

Less than 115 1 28 28

NWC* 1 2 2

TOTALS 51 77

*(New Worshipping Communities)

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Equalization of Rolls – 2020

Page 2

RULING ELDERS ACCOUNTED FOR BY POSITION IN PRESBYTERY: (16)

POSITION TOTAL

PJC Ruling Elders 4

Presbytery Officer Ruling Elders:

Moderator, Treasurer & Stated Clerk

3

Committee Chair (incl: Covenantal Partnership

Committee)

2

Trustees President 1

Commissioned Ruling Elders Serving Churches

and in Presbytery Service

10

TOTAL 20

Based on membership statistics at the close of 2018, the following churches are entitled to additional

ruling-elder commissioners by virtue of membership:

CHURCHES ENTITLED BY SIZE TO SEND MORE RULING ELDERS: 21

CHURCH TOTAL

1. Westminster (Wilmington) 4

2. Red Clay Creek 4

3. Newark (First) 3

4. Limestone 2

5. Trinity 2

6. Elkton 2

7. Chestertown 2

8. Dover 2

9. Lower Brandywine 2

10. Concord 2

11. First & Central 2

12. New Covenant 2

13. Westminster (Rehoboth) 2

14. Hanover 2

15. New Castle 2

16. Wicomico 2

17. Easton 2

18. Community 2

19. Buckingham 2

20 Smyrna 2

21 West Nottingham 2

TOTAL 47

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Equalization of Rolls – 2020

Page 3

CHURCHES ENTITLED TO ONE RULING ELDER/UNDER 115 MEMBERS: 28

Beaver Dam

Calvary

Chesapeake City

Christiana

Coolspring

Church of the Covenant

Delaware City

Elsmere

Faith Chapel

Frankford

Georgetown

Green Hill

Head of Christiana

Manokin

Makemie Memorial

Milford

Ocean City

Ocean View

Olivet

Perryville

Pitts Creek

Port Deposit

Port Penn

Rehoboth (MD)

Rehoboth (Midway)

Rock

St. Andrews

Seaford

NEW WORSHIPPING COMMUNITIES ENTITLED TO ONE RULING ELDER; 2

Church on Main (Middletown), Riverfront/505 (Wilmington)

CHURCHES ENTITLED TO ONE ADDITIONAL RULING ELDER COMMISSIONER BY

RACIAL/ETHNIC DIVERSITY (NCP Manual M-1.111): 7

Community, Dover, First & Central, Hanover, Olivet, St. Andrews and Seaford

TABULATION

POSITION # OF ELDERS

Ruling Elders Accounted for by Position in Presbytery 20

Churches Entitled by Size to Send more Elders 47

Churches Entitled to One Elder 28

New Worshipping Community Entitled to One Elder 2

Churches Entitled by Racial/Ethnic Diversity to Send on Additional Elder 7

TOTAL RULING ELDERS 104

TOTAL MINISTER MEMBERS 104

TOTAL PRESBYTERY MEMBERSHIP 208

Equalization of Rolls to take effect at the first presbytery meeting following the

849th Stated Meeting, which is scheduled for March 7, 2020.

ATTACHMENT #849-5

Committee on Ministers and Congregations

Report to New Castle Presbytery

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Welcome to Minister of Word and Sacrament Timothy Bostick, Pastor, Limestone Church, COMC

approved October 30, including terms of call. Congregational Meeting held November 17.

Transferring from Presbytery of Charlotte. Effective January 13, 2020. Installation Service Date

TBD.

Welcome to Minister of Word and Sacrament Kristin Reinhold, Pastor, West Nottingham Church,

COMC approved October 31, including terms of call. Congregational Meeting held November 17.

Transferring from Presbytery of the Peakes. Effective January 1, 2020. Installation Service Date

TBD.

Motion—Request the Moderator to appoint an Administrative Commissions to Install Mr.

Bostick and Ms. Reinhold.

COMC on December 12 voted to ask New Castle Presbytery to consider the request of Beaver/Butler

Presbytery regarding an overture to the 224th General Assembly regarding severance policy. COMC

recommends presbytery vote to concur in the sending of the overture to GA.

Actions

COMC approved a contract for pastoral oversight and coordination of worship between Minister of

Word and Sacrament Anne Ledbetter and Church on Main, part-time, September 1, 2019 – August

31, 2020.

COMC on December 12 approved a revised Severance Agreement between Minister of Word and

Sacrament Kim Jackson and the Dover church. COMC approved the transfer of Ms. Jackson to

Albany Presbytery, effective December 31, 2019.

COMC, on December 12, approved Minister of Word and Sacrament Joel Lee Tolbert as Pastor,

Chestertown Church, including terms of call. Congregational Meeting held December 29, 2019.

Transferring from Presbytery of Northeast Georgia. Effective January 26, 2020. Installation

Service Date TBD. Mr. Tolbert will be welcomed at the March 7 meeting of presbytery.

Announcements

Installation Service for Pastor Victoria Bethel, St. Andrew’s Church, is Saturday, January 18, 1pm.

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COMC Report to Presbytery

January 11, 2020

Page 2

The Port Penn congregation, by session action, is requesting to close the building and dissolve the

congregation, effective April 26, 2020. Guidance is being given by presbytery staff and the

Covenant of Caring for Congregations Committee.

Minister of Word and Sacrament Grace Howard has concluded her ministry with First Pres.

Delaware City, effective December 31, 2019.

Minister of Word and Sacrament Fred Hanna appointed Session Moderator of the First Presbyterian

Church of Delaware City, effective January 1, 2020.

Minister of Word and Sacrament Laurie Loveless appointed Session Moderator of the Dover

Church, effective January 1, 2020.

Commissioned Ruling Elder Rourke Moore appointed Session Moderator of the Green Hill Church,

effective February 1, 2020.

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ATTACHMENT #849-6

Introducing...

New Castle Presbytery’s New Co-Interim Connectional Presbyters,

The Rev. Sara Holben and Ruling Elder Bob Schminkey

Sara and Bob begin work as our Co-Interim Connectional Presbyters on January

1, 2020. They will be “job-sharing” this full-time position, each working

approximately half-time, while we search for a full-time permanent Connectional

Presbyter.

The role of the Connectional Presbyter is to serve the Presbytery in four broad areas of ministry:

- Pastoral Support, for both Ministers of the Word and Sacrament and Elders,

including Commissioned Ruling Elders who are serving actively in the work of the

Presbytery.

- As advocate and agent, for recruiting ministers for service within the Presbytery.

- As Stated Clerk, and

- In organizational transformation, helping the presbytery evaluate the current and

future efficiency of our new structure.

Sara and Bob will divide the position roughly as follows:

Sara: As pastoral presbyter, staffing the Committee on

Leadership (COL), Committee on Ministers and Congregations

(COMC), Committee on Preparation for Missional Ministry

(CPMM), and as advocate and agent, recruiting and supporting

pastors in their call and in times of transition.

Bob: As Stated Clerk, and staffing the

Trustees and Financial Resources

Committee, and the Committee on

Representation and Nominations

(CORN).

Here are the “Top Ten” things to know about Sara and Bob...

Number 10 – Sara was ordained in 1988 in Florida Presbytery. She

was only the second woman pastor in the presbytery at the time.

Number 9 – This is Bob’s second time around serving as Stated Clerk (part of the Connectional

Presbyter position). He previously served as Clerk from 2015 – 2018. He loves the Book of

Order! (Although the “mission” section in the old BOO was his favorite.)

Number 8 – Sara served as Pastor at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown in New Castle

Presbytery from November 2000 until she “retired” in 2018, after 30 years in ministry.

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Introducing Bob and Sara

Page 2

While at Chestertown, the membership grew to over 300 and they built and paid for a new

sanctuary. In addition, the church established a vibrant ministry partnership with a

congregation in Malawi and is a leader in local mission activities.

Number 7 – Bob has served the national church as a leader in the Presbyterian AIDS Network

and the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA). He has been to

every General Assembly except one since 2001.

Number 6 – Sara was Moderator of New Castle Presbytery during a difficult time in our history

and has also served on the former Committee on Ministry, the Mission Unit and the “Balcony

2” Task Force.

Number 5 – Bob grew up in the United Methodist Church, and became a Presbyterian in 1997.

He was ordained a Ruling Elder in 2009. Immediately after his ordination, he resigned from the

Session and may be the only Stated Clerk in the PCUSA to have never served on a Session.

Number 4 – Sara was a Volunteer in Mission in Cairo, Egypt in 1976 – 1977, and later worked

for the old UPCUSA Hunger Program in their New York City offices.

Number 3 – Bob has over 25 years of experience working with and managing faith-based anti-

poverty organizations, including Bread for the World, Church World Service and Meeting

Ground. He also spent five years in the financial services industry.

Number 2 – From 1994 – 1996 Sara and Bob were PCUSA Mission Workers in South Africa,

where they witnessed the first ever democratic elections in that country as Nelson Mandela was

elected President. They go back to see their friends regularly and will be traveling to South

Africa and Ghana for three weeks in July 2020.

Number 1 – Sara and Bob have been happily married for 42 years! After living in Chestertown

MD for most of the last 18, they “retired” in July 2018 and traveled extensively for a year. They

now live in the Riverfront area of Wilmington where they can watch the sunrise over the

Christina River.

To contact them:

Bob Schminkey Sara Holben 410-708-6463 410-708-0292 statedclerk@ncpresbytery.org sholben@ncpresbytery.org

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ATTACHMENT #849-7

849th Stated Meeting Minutes

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ATTACHMENT #849-8

849th Stated Meeting Minutes

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ATTACHMENT #849-9

849th Stated Meeting Minutes

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