June 12, 2006

Dear Friends:

The Presbytery of the James met for its 63rd Stated Meeting on June 10, 2006, at Three Chopt Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA.   We are most grateful to the members of Three Chopt Church for hosting this meeting and providing gracious hospitality for out time at their church.  We are grateful to God for the time and fellowship with one another in Christ.

Attendance:  65 congregations out of 113 represented (58%); 129 Elder Commissioners (59%); 103 Minister Commissioners (47%); 2 Certified Educators/Elders; and 49 visitors.

PEOPLE        We welcomed the following ministers into the presbytery or recognized changes in ministries:

Ø      Rev. Glynn Bell, Member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Interim Associate, Fredericksburg Church

Ø      Rev. Rob Burns, from Missouri Union Presbytery, Temporary Supply, Crestwood Church

Ø      Rev. Bill Cowfer, POJ, Interim, Kirk O’Cliff Church

Ø      Rev. Doug McMurry, Honorably Retired effective June 1, 2006;

Ø      Rev. Kurtis C. Hess, Honorably Retired effective July 1, 2006.

Ø      Candidate Tom Harmon (New Hanover) was certified, ready to receive a call as of May 23, 2006.

Ø      Approved Candidate Christopher James Thomas, to be ordained and installed as Associate Pastor, Grace Covenant Church.

Ø      Approved Candidate Tommy Nichols, to be ordained and installed as Pastor, Beulah Church.

Ø      Enrolled Patrick Hiltz (St. Giles) as a candidate for the ministry as of February 28, 2006.

Actions of the Presbytery:

1.                  Approved the minutes of the March 18, 2006, meeting.

2.                  Elected Rev. Rebekah Johns, pastor at Bethlehem Church, as Moderator in Nomination for 2007.

3.                  Dissolved the relationship with Rev. Nancy Dawson, Associate for Congregational Ministries, in order that she might accept the call as General Presbyter, Presbytery of the Peaks.  Nancy will be missed by the presbytery.

4.                  Learned that Rev. Tim Hoyt-Duncan, Associate for Leadership, has requested that his relationship with the presbytery be dissolved in order that he might accept a call as Pastor, Northport, Long Island, New York.  Tim will be missed by the presbytery.

5.                  Approved changes to the presbytery manual concerning nominations for various boards or committees.

6.                  Approved a procedure to appoint a Committee of Counsel between meetings of the presbytery.

7.                  Elected a number of people to various boards and committees.

8.                  Approved the name of the new church development mission in Western Caroline County, “Living Peace Presbyterian Church”.

9.                  Authorized the sale of a time share by the Mitchell’s Congregation.

10.              Approved the St. Andrew’s Congregation to borrow up to $400,000 for expansion of sanctuary and education spaces at an interest rate not to exceed 7.75% and for three years.

11.              Approved the New Hanover Congregation to borrow an additional $300,000 (up to $1.7 million for construction and $2.2 million for permanent financing) in accord with the terms provided by Wachovia Bank in a commitment letter dated May 1, 2006.

12.              Approved   Ministers as Members at Large:  Rev. Sarah Nave, 1/16/06; Rev. Terry Alexander, 2/23/06; Rev. Dong-Yong Choi, 2/23/06; Rev. Hal Hankins, 5/1/06; Rev. Beverly Bullock, 4/10/06.

13.              Approved an alternative method of testing for Candidate Alfred Graise (Third, Richmond) for the  Worship and Sacraments Ordination Exam.

14.              Heard the report of the Special Administrative Review Committee for the Fredericksburg Korean Church.

15.              Appointed an Administrative Commission with the powers of G-9.0503a(4) to work with the session of the Fredericksburg Korean Presbyterian Church to insure that irregularities are corrected and that the church is brought into compliance with the Book of Order by the October 2006 meeting of the Presbytery.

16.              Approved the 2006 budget

17.              Referred back to the Public Ministries Board the proposed name change and mission statement with requests for further study and exploration.

18.              Authorized the Trustees of the Presbytery of the James, Inc., to sell the presbytery’s office park to Fourth Centrum of Virginia, Inc., for $1,760,000 and pursuant to the other terms specified in the contract

19.              Approved the following changes for 2007 Terms of Call:  (a)increase of housing and salary by 3.7% to $36,812; (b) increase of continuing education to $762 per year.

20.              Approved the policy of ordaining persons to Stated Supply positions

21.              Authorized CPM to certify candidates ready to receive a call on behalf of the presbytery and report all such actions to the next stated meeting of the presbytery as provided for in G-14.0310.

Two Cents/Five Cents a Meal:  $80.92

NEXT MEETINGS:

            Called Meeting – Wednesday, July 18, 2006, 4:00 PM, First Church Charlottesville

The 64^th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery will be Tuesday, October 10, 2006, at Camp Hanover, Mechanicsville, VA.

H. Carson Rhyne, Jr.

Stated Clerk

2007 Meetings, Presbytery of the James

February 10                First Church, Charlottesville

June 9                         INVITATION NEEDED

October 9                   INVITATION NEEDED