Presbytery Summary

Digest of February 17, 2024

112^th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of New Harmony

The Presbytery of New Harmony held its 112^th Stated Meeting February 17, 2024, at Kingston Presbyterian Church, Conway. Moderator Barbara Champagne called the meeting to order with prayer. Following the declaration of a quorum, the Dockt and Omnibus Motion were adopted. First-time Ruling Elders were welcomed. Corresponding Member, Rev. Dr. Debra Bronkema (presenter of Cyclical Full Circle) was introduced and seated. Rev. Robert Bannan, host church pastor, welcomed the Presbytery. The church historian gave a brief history of the church. 

Worship was led by Elder Barbara Champagne, retiring moderator, with assistance of Bradley Hardee, organist; Rev. Max Michaels, liturgist; Rev. Dr. Christa Brewer, Necrology Reporter; Rev. Dr. Ella Busby and Rev. Robert Bannan, Communion Celebrants; and Rev. Gavin Meek and Rev. Tony Larson, Installation and Commissioning Leaders. Worship included Celebration of the Lord’s Supper, recognition of Ruling Elders who entered the Church Triumphant and Eternal in 2023, and Installation of Rev. Tony Larson as Moderator of 2024. An offering of $939 was collected for local needs being addressed by Kingston Presbyterian Church. 

Rev. Dr. Debra Bronkema gave a presentation on Re-visioning and Revitalizing Small and Midsize Churches. [For churches committed to revitalization through Cyclical Full Circle, grants are available. If you are interested, contact Gavin Meek.] 

Presbytery took the following action:

• Heard Good News from our Congregations presented by various ruling elders.
• Received a report from the Committee on Ministry and approved recommendations to concur with Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery on an Overture to the General Assembly that Administrative Leave be changed to Paid Administrative Leave and that Marion Presbyterian Church be allowed to begin their discernment process as soon as they have a date for an audit on the calendar, whether that audit has begun, but requiring that the audit be completed before they have the ability to call a congregational meeting and the end of the discernment process. The report also emphasized the movement of several small member congregations to engage in larger parish ministry and urged clerks of sessions to make sure their minutes are reviewed by teams this spring.
• Received a report on the ministry of Thornwell by Walker McKenzie.
• Received a report from the Guiding Council and approved recommendations to revise descriptions for the Committee on Ministry and Committee on Preparation for Ministry, to dissolve with great thanks and deep appreciation the New Harvest Administrative Commission upon the installation of three elders that will constitute the session and establish a new Administrative Commission, without original jurisdiction, to assist and support the New Harvest Presbyterian Church Session.
• Received a report from the Committee on Representation and Nominations and approved recommendations to elect Rev. Ashley Cheek as Presbytery’s Teaching Elder to the Synod Class of 2025 and to elect Rev. Lamar Helms (class of 2026), Rev. Don McCann (class of 2024) and Elder Geneva Sharp (class of 2023) to the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.
• Received a report from the Committee on Preparation for Ministry and approved their recommendation to honor Marcy Carl’s request to dissolve her candidacy with New Harmony Presbytery.
• Received a report from the Presbyterian Agency for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc. and approved the recommendation that March 17 be dedicated as “PADD Sunday” and an offering be taken.
• Received reports Administrative Commission Reports from Mizpah Presbyterian Church, New Harvest Presbyterian Church, and Second Presbyterian Church, Pageland.
• Received the Stated Clerk’s Report.

Following announcements and expressions of thanks, the meeting was adjourned with prayer by Moderator, Tony Larson.

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