Transition Team Notes, January 11, 2023

 

Dr. Daniel Hagmaier opened our meeting with prayer.  Members present were Trip Chavis, Alan Peace, Gail Comalander and Dr. Daniel Hagmaier.

The upcoming Townhall Meeting was discussed.  Food provided will be sandwich trays from Mathias Sandwich Shop, Chips, Pasta Salad, Dessert and Drinks.  Deadline to provided number attending is Wednesday, January 25, 2023.  On January 29 at the end of the 10:30, we will ask the ministers to pray over the meal and give instructions about proceeding to the Fellowship Hall to begin the luncheon part of the meeting.

Content for the Townhall:

            Dr. Hagmaier will give a State of the Church including:

                        Year End Financial Statement

                        Pledge Numbers for 2023

                        Adjustments to Church Roll

                        State of Staff

                        Day School

                        Youth

Trip Chavis will compile the slides for our Townhall Meeting.  He will include an updated approximate timeline.  The slides will be in large print and he will use a microphone.

We will discuss the upcoming Survey along with a Prayer Campaign that will be sent out several weeks after the Townhall.  We will stress that the opinions of the congregation are needed and valued.

The Transition Team will work diligently to complete the Mission Statement that when completed will be submitted to the Session for approval.  When approved the Mission Statement will be sent to the Commission on Ministry at Presbytery for approval so that the Nominating Committee can begin seeking members of the Senior Pastor Nominating Committee. 

Trip will provide hard copies of the questions and slides that we will review when we meet in person next Wednesday, January 18th at 4:30 pm.

It was reported that Alan Grimsley will negotiate with the Presbytery concerning the Foundation Church.

The next Transition Team Update will be on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at both services. 

 

Submitted by Gail Comalander

 

 

 

 

Transition Team Report to Session

January 7, 2023

 

Transition Team information continues to be posted to the church website on a weekly basis or as often as possible.

 

Transition Team’s last meeting was December 15th (agenda attached).  Meeting was in person in the fellowship hall.  Next meeting will be January 12th and it will also be in person in the fellowship hall.  For the remainder of January, the Transition Team will have a meeting on January 19th (virtual) and a final January meeting on the 26th in person.

 

As it pertains to the mission of Senior Pastor, Presbytery has provided guidance on necessary steps that will be required before the PNC is formed.  The biggest of those tasks is for LMPC to provide a mission study that will help guide the search process.  The Transition Team has been assigned this task and will be working on this in the coming weeks.   Updates will be provided to Session as appropriate or requested.

 

Town Hall meeting is scheduled for January 29th, the last Sunday in January.  Meeting will be held after the 10:30 service and lunch will be served.  A major focus of this town hall will be reviewing information that will be required for the Mission Study.  We will also provide a detailed update as to status and progress of our transition to a senior pastor.  Childcare will be provided.

 

Congregational update will be provided at both services on January 15th.

 

Meeting schedule over the next few months will be as follows:

 

            Transition Team meets at 5:30 pm on Thursday, weekly.

First and last Thursdays of the month – In person

All other Thursdays – virtual – link can be provided upon request

 

 

As always, if you have questions, thoughts or input, please do not hesitate to reach out to the transition team.

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Trip Chavis

Transition Team Chair

Transition Team Notes, November 10, 2022

 

Rev. Blaine Hill opened our meeting with prayer.  Members present were Trip Chavis, Alan Peace, Gail Comalander and Rev. Blaine Hill.

Blaine updated us on the Finance Committee meeting stating that they are monitoring the pick-up of packets and will be encouraging members to pledge and continue to give to the work of the church.

Trip will contact Warren McDonald, Youth Director, concerning asking the Youth to assist with delivering Stewardship Packets that are not picked up.

Blaine stated that the decision needs to be made as to which committees Daniel, Blaine and Savannah will serve.

Discussion was held on how can we encourage participation of members in the areas of the church?  One suggestion was to have a list five Items that need assistance.  Sessional Committees should seek help from church members.

Trip will give Transition Team Update on Sunday, November 20 at both services.  Trip and Blaine will work on the information to be presented.

The Transition Team Study was discussed at length.  Concerning the Financial Report, a historical study of general giving going back 5 years would be helpful.  Other areas to be studied is budget growth, giving growth, pledged amount and non-pledged giving.  Blaine suggested that some of this information can be found in the January, 2022 Session Packet.

Rev. Dr. Daniel Hagmaier will be at LMPC on December 9.  Sunday, December 11 will be our Lessons and Carols service so he will not preach until Sunday, December 18.

Trip closed the meeting with prayer.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 UPDATE

Digest of Transition Meeting 9-29-22

Present:  Trip Chavis, Melinda Rogers, Blaine Hill, Gail Comalander, Alan Peace

  • Melinda opened with prayer.
  • News from Blaine and Savannah:

Priorities for Blaine per our meeting last week.

  • Officers training
  • Worship services 
  • Stewardship campaign
  • Communication (may get outside help) someone to help with communications
  • Communications from areas of focus: 
  • Trip went to the staff meeting and reminded the staff that we are here if they have any questions or concerns.  He was impressed by the staff.
  • No other questions from designated areas.
  • New Business:
  • After the October 9th Town Hall Meeting, we will continue to have the 3rd Sunday Minute for Missions.
  • Our next meeting will be October 6th at the church.  We will discuss the agenda for the October 9th Town Hall Meeting, assisting Blaine, and a timeline for the study.
  • We need a structure for the October 9th Town Hall Meeting.  
  • Make sure we can stream the meeting, have a microphone, restate questions, and let the congregants know of any progress made.
  • The Interim Committe is close to meeting with Session about a candidate, and is unsure the procedure for meeting about a candidate.
  • Blaine suggested we sing a hymn before and after Town Hall Meeting.
  • Continuing to bring Foundation to its conclusion

 

  • Next Meeting:  October 6th at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall.
 

TRANSITION TEAM Members

                                                                          

Trip Chavis                                        803-920-3666                                                  chavis01@gmail.com

Melinda Rogers                               803-960-5667                                                  chapinrogers@gmail.com

Pat O’Cain                                         803-331-1634                                                  pocain@gmail.com

Alan Peace                                        803-331-2430                                                  apeace@jpslaw.com

Gail Comalander                              803-206-1892                                                  comalandergp@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 UPDATE
Please join the Transition Team at the next Town Hall meeting in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 on October 9th. You can read the notes from their last meeting here. The Interim Search Committee is moving forward in its search.
The members of the Transition team are Trip Chavis, Melinda Rogers, Pat O’Cain, Alan Peace, and Gail Comalander.
 
SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG- His praise in the Assembly of the saints (Ps. 96:1) 
 
At Lake Murray Presbyterian we have added new staff in the last year and are saying goodbye to some experienced staff.  Notably, our Senior Pastor, Dr. Ben Sloan, who has served us for 18 years retired (at 65 as of 9/13/22).  
While we have capable Associate Pastors in Rev. Blaine Hill and Rev. Savannah Demuynck, we will also be looking to add an Interim Pastor for a time, and take this opportunity to re-evaluate our ministry and how we might improve our service to the Lord, our community, and our people.  
On 5/22/22 Our Session, upon getting the okay to do so by Trinity Presbytery’s COM, elected an Interim Search Committee (ISC).  This committee consists of Ginny Rogers (chair), Cheyrl Boone (Vice Chair), Mary Higginbotham, Merideth Strawhorn, and John Harris.   Dr. Danny Murphy, our General Presbyter, will be coming in August to explain the timeline and procedures to the congregation.  We hope to get an Interim Pastor here to help with the work of preaching, teaching, and pastoral care until the Senior Pastor arrives.  
On July 10th we will held a congregational meeting to both: 1) Dissolve Dr. Sloan’s call effective 9/13/22 and 2) appoint a Nominating Committee that will nominate elders and deacons to the congregation as well as nominate a Pulpit Nominating Committee (at the proper time after the Interim is here) to look for a new Senior Pastor.   
 
Dr. Sloan announced his retirement 4/24, and his last working day was 7/31. His last official day was 9/13/22 (his 65th birthday when he is eligible for Medicare).  The presbytery’s Committee on MInistry and the presbytery as a whole approved his being the pulpit supply at Foundation Presbyterian (a temporary, part-time position until the church is able to hire someone permanent and full time).  
 
The session formed a transition team to oversee the various components of change in the coming year. The members of the transition team are Trip Chavis (chair), Pat O’Cain, Melinda Rogers, Gail Comalander. Rev. Blaine Hill serves as the staff resource to the transition team.  There will be a listening session 9/4/22 after worship in the fellowship hall with the Transition Committee.  
 
There have also been some office staff changes in the last 6 months.  But the Session and Program Staff want to assure you we are working hard to do the work of ministry at LMPC.  Amy Frick is the new secretary.  Dana Taylor is the new Bookeeper.  Jennifer Williams is the new Day School Director;  Sue Tominey is the Assistant Day School Director.  Denise Holland is the new Adminsitrative Director.  Rev. Blaine Hill is the Lead Associate and Interim Head of Staff.  He will remain Head of Staff until the Interim or Senior Pastor arrive.  Blaine and Savannah have been given extra duties (and extra pay) as they fill this interim interim period.  
 
Please pray for LMPC as we go through these transitions.  

Pastoral Transition Glossary: some abbreviations and terms

LMPC Lake Murray Presbyterian Church

PCUSA  Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA). www.pcusa.org

TP       Trinity Presbytery, the regional body that oversees Lake Murray Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Dr. Danny Murphy is the General Presbyter in Trinity Presbytery. www.trinity-presbytery.org

Session This is the board of elders that governs the congregation. The elders are elected by the congregation each year. They serve a term of three years.

COM  Commission on Ministry. This is the group in Trinity Presbytery that manages the relationship between pastors and congregations. It acts on behalf of the presbytery at various points in calling a pastor.

COM liaison Our church will be given a liaison, or contact person on the Commission on Ministry.

PIF Personal Information Form. This is a standardized ‘resume’ that our denomination uses in the Church Leadership Connection (CLC) for pastors who are seeking or open to accepting a new call.

MIF Ministry Information Form The standardized ‘resume’ that our denominstion uses in the Church Leadership Connection (CLC) for congregations that are seeking a pastor.

CLC Church Leadership Connection The computerized matching service that our denomination provides to connect congregations and potential pastors. Any MIF or PIF in this system has been approved by the appropriate presbytery. clc.pcusa.org

Interim Pastor A pastor who serves congregations by providing temporary leadership for a congregation when their pastor has left the congregation. An interim pastor has received specialized training for this work.

Interim Search Committee A committee of the Session that is to locate a suitable interim pastor to serve LMPC. The Session of LMPC has appointed Ginny Rogers (chair), Cheyrl Boone (vice-chair), Mary Higginbotham, Meredith Strawhorn, and John Harris.

Congregational nominating committee A committee of the congregation that nominates a slate of elders and deacons each year for the church. In some churches, the congregational nominating committee will also nominate the pastor search committee. LMPC will hold a congregational meeting to elect the congregational nominating committee on July 10th.

Pastor Nominating Committee A committee of the congregation that seeks out and finds a person for the congregation to call, in partnership with Trinity Presbytery, to serve as the installed pastor of LMPC.

Installed Pastor A pastor who is a covenanted relationship with a congregation. Ben, Blaine and Savannah are all called and installed pastor.

Terms of Call These are the details of call (ie compensation) for a pastor. The COM of TP must approve these terms. They include effective salary (cash and housing), profession expenses (such as automotive, education, etc), dues to the Board of Pensions to provide retirement, medical insurance, and death disability insurance, SECA tax offset, vacation, study leave among other things.

Updated VBH 6/23/22