Southwest Florida Presbytery

Following are the draft of the minutes from the May 13, 2014

 

The Presbytery of Southwest Florida held its 95^th Stated Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church of Tampa, FL (350 S. Hyde Park Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606).

Call to Order

The Moderator, TE Dwight Dolby, called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.

Constituting Prayer

TE Dwight Dolby read Psalm 13:1-6 and offered the constituting prayer.

Morning Worship Service – Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church

Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church led the morning Worship Service. Mr. Jeremy Kemp, a candidate for licensure and a member of Christ Community Church in Lakeland, FL, preached a sermon from Luke 16:1-13 titled, “The Parable of the Dishonest Manager.”

Season of Prayer

TE Danny Dalton led the Presbytery in a Season of Prayer. Presbyters shared praises and petitions from the following churches, after which prayer was offered for them:

• Faith PCA (Wauchula): TE Brook Larrison shared that the congregation is shrinking as young people leave and do not return to Wauchula. The demographic of the community is changing. TE Larrison is planning to leave the church in about a year.
• First PCA (North Port): TE Arnie Brevick shared that the congregation is small and elderly. There are numerous challenges for a small and elderly congregation.
• Berea PCA (Winter Haven): RE Joel DeVictoria asked for prayer for the health of pastor emeritus, TE Bill Roldan. There are challenges as they are a bilingual congregation.
• Redeemer PCA (Lakeland): TE Dave Martin shared that the congregation is growing. The church has purchased land and is beginning the process to build a ministry facility.
• Seminole PCA (Tampa): TE John Keen shared that he is grateful for the church and his Associate Pastor, TE Danny Dalton. The church is coming up on its one hundredth anniversary. There are challenges for the church to reach out to their community.
• St. Petersburg PCA (St. Petersburg): TE Dave Harding shared that the mortgage on their building has recently been paid off. He asked prayer for the proclamation of the gospel to bear fruit in the lives of the people.

At the conclusion of the Season of Prayer at 10:09 a.m., a short recess was taken.

Welcome of Commissioners

The Moderator called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m. and opened in prayer.

TE Steve Casselli (Holy Trinity PCA) welcomed the commissioners to the church facility and provided directions for comfort of the commissioners and others in attendance.

Roll Call – Attendees

The following Teaching Elders were in attendance:

TEACHING ELDER ATTENDANCE

	TEACHING ELDER	CHURCH, MINISTRY, OR STATUS	Sep 12	Nov 12	Feb 13	May 13	Sep 13	Nov 13	Feb 14	May 14
1	Aldrich, Kenneth	Covenant Life PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
2	Arnold, Darrell	Without Call	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
3	Bennett, Drew	Church of the Redeemer PCA	E	P	P	P	E	P	P	P
4	Bergman, Brent	Grace Community PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
5	Brevick, Arnold	First PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
6	Brooks, Sammie	Grace (Lake Suzy) PCA	A	A	P	P	P	P	P	P
7	Brubaker, Robert	Christ Community (Clear.) PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	E/P
8	Burridge, Robert	Out of Bounds (Director, GIRS)	P	P	P	P	P	E	P	P
9	Byrne, Robert	Cornerstone PCA	E	P	P	E	E	E	P	P
10	Casselli, Stephen	Holy Trinity PCA	P	P/E	P	E	P	P	P	P
11	Caswell, Lyle	Christ Community (Lake.) PCA	P	P	A	P	P	P	A	P
12	Clark, John	Honorably Retired	HR	HR	HR	HR	HR	HR	HR	HR
13	Culbertson, Rodney	Out of Bounds (with RTS)	A	E	E	A	E	E	E	E
14	Dalton, Daniel	Seminole PCA	P	P/E	P	P	P	P	P	P
15	Davis, Daryl	Stated Supply (2011)	A	A	A	P	P	A	P	A
16	Dolby, Dwight	Auburn Road PCA	P	P	E	E	E	P	P	P
17	Etienne, Esaie	MTW	A	A	A	A	P	A	P	P
18	Eudaly, Dustyn	Holy Trinity PCA	P	P	P	P	P	E	P	P
19	Fritz, Freddy	Tampa Bay PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
20	Gibson, Dax	Christ Community (Lake.) PCA	P	P	E	E	P	E	E	P
21	Grady, John	Faith (Sarasota) PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	A
22	Graham, John	Honorably Retired	HR	P	HR	HR	HR	HR	HR	HR
23	Hamm, Ted	Cornerstone of L. Ranch PCA	P	P	P	P	E	E	E	E
24	Hansen, Steven	Redeemer (Riverview) PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
25	Harding, David	St. Petersburg PCA	P	P/E	P	P	E	E	E	P
26	Hart, Zane	Covenant Life PCA	*	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
27	Henderson, Geoffrey	Mission (Bradenton)	*	*	*	E	P	P	A	P
28	Holland, Wesley	Westminster PCA	P	P/E	P	P/E	P	E	P/E	E/P
29	Jeantet, Steven	Covenant Life PCA	P	P	P	E	P	P	P	P
30	Johnston, Quentin	Out of Bounds (CHA)	A	E	A	E	E	A	A	E
31	Keen, John	Seminole PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	E	P
32	Kloth, Cory	Cypress Ridge PCA	P	E	P	P/E	E	P	P	E
33	Lamb, Andrew	MTW	E	E	P	E	P	E	E	P
34	Lambert, Ivan	Without Call	A	P	P	P	P	A	P	P
35	LaPointe, Peter	Christ the King PCA	P	P	E	P	P	E	P	P
36	Larrison, Brook	Faith (Wauchula) PCA	P	P	P	P	P	E	P	P
37	Lee, Jeff	RUF at USF	E	P	P	P	P	P	A	P
38	Light, Steven	Holy Trinity PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P/E	P
39	Luchenbill, Thomas	Cypress Ridge PCA	*	*	*	*	P	P	P	E
40	March, Brian	Trinity PCA	*	*	*	*	*	P	P	P
41	Martin, David	Redeemer (Lakeland) PCA	P	E	P	P	P	E	P	P
42	Matlack, Kenneth	MTW	E	E	P	A	E	E	E	E
43	Mawhinney, Scott	Covenant Life PCA	P	E	P	P	P	P	P	P
44	McDonald, Jeff	Covenant (Lakeland) PCA	P	P/E	E	E	P	P	P	P
45	McWilliams, David	Covenant (Lakeland) PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
46	Nichols, James	Tampa Bay PCA	*	*	*	*	P	E	A	P
47	Rice, Tim	Trinity PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
48	Roldan, William	Honorably Retired	P	P	P	A	P	HR	P	HR
49	Sandhoff, Thomas	Honorably Retired	HR	E	HR	P	HR	HR	HR	HR
50	Saville, David	Westtown PCA	*	*	*	*	A	P	P	P
51	Schneider, Thomas	Covenant (Sebring) PCA	*	*	*	P	P	P	E	P
52	Sidebotham, Thomas	Honorably Retired	P	HR	HR	HR	HR	P	P	HR
53	Sinclair, Steven	Christ the King PCA	E	E	P	P/E	P	E	E	E
54	Skipper, Jeff	Church of the Redeemer PCA	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	P
55	Swartz, Craig	Redeemer (Riverview) PCA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
56	Taylor, Frank	Westtown PCA	A	P/E	A	P	A	P	E	P
57	Turner, Benjamin	Trinity PCA	*	*	*	*	*	P	P	P
58	Winfree, Jonathan	Church the Redeemer PCA	E	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
59	Woods, Philip	Cornerstone of L. Ranch PCA	*	*	*	*	*	P	E	P

P = Present; E = Excused; A = Absent Without Excuse; HR = Honorably Retired; * = Not a Presbytery Member

The following churches had a commissioner/s in attendance:

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

	CHURCH	Sep 12	Nov 12	Feb 13	May 13	Sep 13	Nov 13	Feb 14	May 14
1	Auburn Road / Venice	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
2	Berea / Winter Haven	P	A	P	A	P	A	P	P
3	Christ Community / Clearwater	P	P	A	P	P	P	P	A
4	Christ Community / Lakeland	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	A
5	Christ the King / Seminole	P	P	P	P	P	A	P	P
6	Church of the Redeemer  / Winter Haven	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	A
7	Cornerstone of Lakewood Ranch / Bradenton	P	P	A	P	P	P	E	P
8	Cornerstone / Lutz	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9	Covenant / Lakeland	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
10	Covenant / Sebring	P	P	P	P	A	P	A	P
11	Covenant Life / Sarasota	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
12	Cypress Ridge / Winter Haven	A	A	A	A	P	A	A	A
13	Faith / Sarasota	P	A	P	A	A	A	A	A
14	Faith / Wauchula	E	P	P	A	P	A	P	P
15	First / North Port	P	E	P	A	A	A	A	A
16	Grace / Lake Suzy	A	A	A	P	A	P	P	P
17	Grace Community / Palm Harbor	A	A	A	P	A	P	A	P
18	Harbor Community Mission / Bradenton	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
19	Holy Trinity / Tampa	P	P	A	P	A	P	P	P
20	Redeemer / Riverview	A	A	P	P	P	A	A	P
21	Redeemer / Lakeland	A	A	E	P	P	A	A	P
22	Seminole / Tampa	P	E	E	E	P	A	P	E
23	Sojourner Mission / Tampa	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
24	St. Petersburg / St. Petersburg	A	P	A	A	A	A	A	P
25	Strong Tower Mission /Lakeland	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
26	Tampa Bay / Tampa	P	P	P	A	P	P	P	P
27	Trinity / Lakeland	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
28	Westminster / Brandon	P	E	P	P	P	E	P	E
29	Westtown / Tampa	A	A	A	A	A	A	A	P

P = Present; E = Excused; A = Absent Without Excuse; * = Mission / Dissolved

The following Ruling Elders were in attendance: Rodney Edwards (Auburn Road), Joel DeVictoria (Berea), Heath Glandon (Christ Community), Barth Smith (Christ the King), Henry Vierling (Christ the King), Dave Dickmann (Cornerstone of Lakewood Ranch), Bill Hogan (Cornerstone of Lakewood Ranch), Chris Volf (Cornerstone – Lutz), Allen Montgomery (Covenant – Lakeland), William Mulcay (Covenant – Sebring), Kyle Cookerly (Covenant Life), Arthur Molesphini (Covenant Life), Bill Murray (Covenant Life), Gray Vance (Faith – Wauchula), David Greenwald (Grace – Lake Suzy), Robert Rhodes (Grace – Lake Suzy), Ron Brightwell (Grace Community), Brad Meyers (Holy Trinity), Jean Owens (Redeemer – Riverview), Lew Barger (Redeemer – Lakeland), Steve Curtiss (St. Petersburg), Fred Gordon (Tampa Bay), Doug Knox (Tampa Bay), Stan McMahan (Trinity), David Hendricks (Westtown), Scott Meister (Westtown), Jim Pratt (Westtown), and Mike Woodall (Westtown).

The following Candidates, Licentiates, and Interns were in attendance:

CANDIDATES, LICENTIATES, AND INTERNS ATTENDANCE

	CANDIDATES, LICENTIATES, AND INTERNS	Sep 12	Nov 12	Feb 13	May 13	Sep 13	Nov 13	Feb 14	May 14
1	Abel, Matt (CAND/INTERN)		P		P
2	Anderson, Charles (CAND/INTERN)						P	P
3	Ardon, Willy (CAND)						P	P	P
4	Bennett, Rick (CAND/INTERN/LIC)
5	Cleveland, Christopher (CAND/LIC)					P	P	P
6	DeVictoria, Joel (CAND)					P		P	P
7	Elswick, Antony (CAND)					P	P
8	Gawrych, Garry (CAND)					P	P		P
9	Glandon, Heath (CAND/INTERN)		P		P	P	P	P	P
10	Kemp, Jeremy (CAND/INTERN)					P	P	P	P
11	Knecht, Jason (CAND)
12	Krause, Jeff (CAND/INTERN)
13	Malloy, Gabriel (CAND)
14	McMahan, Stan (CAND/LIC)	P				P	P	P	P
15	Price, Blake (CAND)					P
16	Pruitt, Chris (CAND)					P		P
17	Ragsdale, Joe (CAND)							P	P
18	Roldan, Ricky (CAND)	P	P

P = Present; * = Status Changed

Introduction of Visitors

The following visitors were introduced or signed in as attending: Justin Woodall (Westtown), Dave Enslow (Covenant Life), Matthew Bryant (Covenant College), and Al Roach (Faith – Sarasota).

Declaration of a Quorum

The Clerk declared that a quorum was present.

Adoption of the Docket and Special Orders

By common consent the docket was amended and adopted. [See Appendix A.]

The Moderator set the following Special Orders: Lunch: Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

• MSC to approve the February 8, 2014 Minutes of the 94^th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery. [See Appendix B.]

Stated Clerk’s Report

The Clerk opened the report with prayer.

Standing Committees: Bills and Overtures

No appointments.

Standing Committees: Judicial Business

The Clerk reported that the two cases before the Standing Judicial Commission of the General Assembly have been adjudicated. The SJC has ruled that the Presbytery erred in both cases. The two cases are as follows:

1. SJC Case 2013-07: Complaint of First North Port Session vs. Presbytery of Southwest Florida. [See Appendix C.]
2. SJC Case 2013-11: Appeal of First North Port Session vs. Presbytery of Southwest Florida. [See Appendix D.]

The Clerk continued with the following report:

• MSC to approve the requests for excused absences from Teaching Elders Steve Sinclair, Rod Culbertson, Ted Hamm, Ken Matlack, Quentin Johnston, Bob Brubaker, Tom Luchenbill, Cory Kloth, and for the Sessions of Seminole Presbyterian Church (Tampa) and Westminster Presbyterian Church (Brandon).
• The Clerk reported that various correspondences were sent and/or received. He invited Presbyters to view them if they wished to do so at the Clerk’s desk.
• The Clerk drew attention to the letter Major General Bentley R. Rayburn, Chairman of the Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel, regarding sexual assaults on members of the military services. [See Appendix E.]

The Stated Clerk introduced Mr. Matthew Bryant, Admissions and Church Relations Officer from Covenant College, who gave a brief update on Covenant College. Several men prayed for Covenant College.

The Clerk closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Candidates for Ministry

The Chairman of the Candidates for Ministry Committee, TE Steve Light, opened with prayer. He reported on the work of the Candidates for Ministry Committee. [See Appendix F.]

Recommendation: That the Presbytery remove Mr. Ricky Roldan as a Candidate for Gospel Ministry in accordance with Mr. Roldan’s request.                                                                                                                                              Adopted.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve the Internship of Mr. Stan McMahan.   Adopted.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve the Internship of Mr. Matt Abel.           Adopted.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve the Internship of Dr. Christopher Cleveland.

Adopted.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve the Internship of Mr. Jeremy Kemp.      Adopted.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery transfer Mr. Matt Abel to the Metro Atlanta Presbytery.

Adopted.

Written reports were received from the following Intern Reports: Matt Abel, Chuck Anderson, Willy Arden, Rick Bennett, Christopher Cleveland, Heath Glandon, Jeremy Kemp, Jeff Krause, and Stan McMahan.

Written reports were received from the following Candidates for Gospel Ministry: Anthony Elswick, Blake Price, Chris Pruitt, Joel DeVictoria, Heath Glandon, Jeffrey Krause, and Joe Ragsdale.

TE Steve Light closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Examining (Partial)

The Examining Committee Chairman, TE Jonathan Winfree, opened with prayer. He presented the report of the Examining Committee. [See Appendix G.]

TE Winfree introduced Mr. Jeremy Kemp, who comes to our Presbytery as a candidate for licensure to preach the Gospel within the bounds of the Presbytery of Southwest Florida. [See Appendix H.] He is a member in good standing of Christ Community Church in Lakeland, FL, where he serves as Student Ministry Director. Mr. Kemp has completed an internship as a candidate under care of the Presbytery of Southwest Florida. He was examined in accord with BCO 19-2, in Christian experience, call to preach the Gospel, theology, Bible content, and church government. Mr. Kemp preached a sermon to the Presbytery. Mr. Kemp has no stated differences with the Westminster Standards.

After his oral examination, he was then excused from the assembly.

• MSC to sustain his Christian experience.
• MSC to sustain his call to preach the Gospel.
• MSC to sustain his views in theology.
• MSC to sustain his exam in Bible content.
• MSC to sustain his exam in church government.
• MSC to approve the sermon of Mr. Kemp.

Upon Mr. Kemp’s return to the assembly, the Moderator posed the questions of BCO 19-3 to Mr. Jeremy Kemp, to which he answered affirmatively. After prayer for him by the Moderator, the Moderator read the pronouncement of BCO 19-4, and Mr. Jeremy Kemp received a Licensure Certificate from the Stated Clerk.

At Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church, the 13^th day of May, 2014, the Presbytery of Southwest Florida, having received testimonials commending Mr. Jeremy Kemp, proceeded to submit him to the prescribed examination for licensure, which was met to the approval of the Presbytery. Having satisfactorily answered the questions for licensure, Mr. Kemp was licensed by the Presbytery to preach the Gospel with the bounds of this Presbytery.

TE Winfree introduced TE Justin Woodall, who comes to our Presbytery to be examined according to BCO 13-6 for transferring his credentials from Palmetto Presbytery, where he is a member in good standing. [See Appendix I.] He has been called to serve as Assistant Pastor of Evangelism at Westtown Presbyterian Church in Tampa, FL. TE Woodall was examined in Christian experience, and his views in theology, the Sacraments, and church government. TE Woodall stated his differences with the Westminster Standards as follows:

WCF 21:8, WLC 117, and WSC 60 (“…Observe an holy rest… from… recreations”): Whereas we were created to be beings who glorify and worship our creator God in our bodies and
Whereas Christian fellowship is certainly a part of the worship of our triune God and Whereas the Sabbath is to remind us of the rest that is yet to come (Hebrews 4:9) and
our anticipation of the grace of the Kingdom is meant to have a celebratory spirit, I believe that reasonable recreation on the Sabbath that celebrates the already/not yet kingdom and encourages Christian fellowship and familial love and does not exhaust the participants is a good and wholesome way to enjoy God’s Sabbath.

After his oral examination, TE Woodall was excused from the assembly.

• MSC to sustain his exam in Christian Experience and Call to ministry.
• MSC to sustain his exam in Theology.
• MSC to sustain his exam in the Sacraments.
• MSC to sustain his exam in Church Government.
• MSC to approve TE Woodall’s stated differences to our Standards to be more than semantic, but not out of accord with any fundamental of our system of doctrine (BCO 21-4).
• MSC to approve the Terms of Call of TE Justin Woodall to become the Assistant Pastor of Westtown Presbyterian Church of Tampa, FL. [See Appendix J.]
• MSC to receive TE Justin Woodall as a member of the Presbytery of Southwest Florida, pending his dismissal from Palmetto Presbytery, and install him as the Assistant Pastor of Westtown Presbyterian Church in Tampa, FL.
• MSC to appoint a Commission composed of TE Frank Taylor (Convener), TE Dave Saville, TE Craig Swartz, RE Mike Woodall, RE Jim Pratt, RE Scott Meister, and RE Scott Halback to install TE Woodall, setting the quorum at 2 TEs and 2 REs.

Upon his return to the assembly, prayer was offered for TE Justin Woodall. TE Woodall then signed the Ministerial Obligation Form.

Orders of the Day: Lunch (12:00 – 1:00 p.m.)

The Moderator ordered a recess for lunch at 11:55 a.m. Lunch was served until 12:55 a.m. at Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Permanent Committee Report: Examining (Continued)

The Moderator called the meeting to order. TE Jonathan Winfree opened the afternoon session with prayer.

TE Winfree introduced Mr. Stan McMahan, who comes as a Licentiate in our Presbytery and a Ruling Elder of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, FL, where he is a member in good standing. He has been called to become the Associate Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, FL. [See Appendix K.] Mr. McMahan was examined in the areas prescribed by BCO 21-4, in Christian experience, call to the ministry, Bible content, theology, church government, sacraments, and church history, including the history of the PCA. His sermon, which was preached when he was licensed to preach the Gospel, was approved. Mr. McMahan stated his difference with the Westminster Standards as follows:

WCF IV.1 (“in the space of six days”): The authors of the Confession likely interpreted the days of Genesis 1 in terms of literal, 24-hour days. I am not convinced that the passage is to be read in this way. I believe the days of Genesis 1 are more likely describing creation by way of analogy. The days, then, are not meant to be taken literally, but as God’s days—analogous to ours but not necessarily identical.

After his oral examination, Mr. McMahan was excused from the assembly.

• MSC to sustain his exam in Christian Experience and call to the ministry.
• MSC to accept his seminary transcripts as evidence of his knowledge of Greek and Hebrew.
• MSC to sustain his exam in Bible content.
• MSC to sustain his exam in theology.
• MSC to sustain his exam in the Sacraments.
• MSC to sustain his exam in Church history.
• MSC to sustain his exam in history of the Presbyterian Church in America.
• MSC to sustain his exam in principles and rules of the government and discipline of the church.
• MSC to approve his theological paper.
• MSC to approve his exegetical paper.
• MSC to approve Mr. McMahan’s stated difference to our Standards to be more than semantic, but “not out of accord with any fundamental of our system of doctrine” (BCO 21-4).
• MSC to approve the terms of call of Mr. Stan McMahan to serve as the Associate Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, FL, and that he be received as a Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of Southwest Florida. [See Appendix L.]
• MSC to appoint a Commission composed of TE Tim Rice (Convener), TE Jonathan Winfree, TE Lyle Caswell, RE Tim Strawbridge, RE John Tucker, and RE Justin Wilson to ordain and install Mr. Stan McMahan as the Associate Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, FL, setting the quorum at 2 TEs and 2 REs.

Upon his return to the assembly, TE Jonathan Winfree prayed for Mr. Stan McMahan. Mr. McMahan then signed the Ministerial Obligation Form.

TE Jonathan Winfree closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Liaison for Christian Education

The Liaison for Christian Education, TE Danny Dalton, opened his report with prayer. He added a few comments to his written report. [See Appendix M.]

He invited Deacon Dave Enslow to give a brief update on Men’s Ministry in our denomination.

TE Danny Dalton closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Liaison for Mission to the World

The Liaison for Mission to the World, TE Bob Brubaker, opened with prayer.

He invited TE Esaie Etienne to give an update of his ministry with Mission to the World in Haiti. TE Etienne gave a report of his ministry in Haiti. TE Bob Brubaker prayed for TE Etienne.

TE Andrew Lamb was also gave a brief update on his ministry with Mission to the World, much of which is in parts of the world that is closed to the Gospel.

TE Brubaker closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Reformed University Ministries

The Reformed University Ministries Chairman, TE Steve Casselli, opened the report with prayer. A report from the Florida Joint Committee on Campus Ministry had been sent to elders in the Presbytery. [See Appendix N.]

He invited TE Jeff Lee to report on the work at the University of South Florida, which he did. He was encouraged by the recent summer conference of RUF at Panama City, FL.

TE Steve Casselli closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Administration

The Administration Committee Chairman, RE Jean Owens, opened with prayer. He reported on the work of the Administration Committee. [See Appendix O.]

At the November 2013 Presbytery meeting, the Presbytery approved a change to the order in which the Permanent Committees report, by having the Examining Committee and Candidates for Ministry Committee always report first. Thus, the Standing Rules should be changed to reflect the wish of the Presbytery. This is the second reading of the proposed change to the Standing Rules.

Currently, Article 4-3 states (in part):

The Permanent Committees shall be docketed to report on a rotating basis to each stated meeting of Presbytery.

Recommendation: The proposed change would have Article 4-3 read (in part) as follows:

The Permanent Committees shall be docketed to report to each stated meeting of Presbytery as follows. The Examination Committee and Candidates for Ministry Committee shall always be docketed before the other Permanent Committees, which shall report on a rotating basis.                                                                                                                                 Adopted.

The Administration Committee recommends that the Presbytery have all four Stated Meetings of the Presbytery on a Tuesday. Thus, the Standing Rules will need to be changed.

Currently, Article 2-1 states:

STATED MEETINGS: Four stated meetings shall be held each year convening on the second SATURDAY in FEBRUARY and SEPTEMBER, and on the second TUESDAY in MAY and NOVEMBER. Meetings shall begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude by 4:00 p.m.

Recommendation: The proposed change would have Article 2-1 read as follows:

STATED MEETINGS: Four stated meetings shall be held each year convening on the second TUESDAY in FEBRUARY, MAY, SEPTEMBER, and NOVEMBER. Meetings shall begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude by 4:00 p.m. Failed ¾ Majority Needed (42-19-0).

The Presbytery Treasurer, Deacon Randy Coryell, gave a written report regarding the Presbytery finances as of April 30, 2014. The Presbytery Income as of April 30, 2014 was $17,107; the Expenses were $10,637, for a Surplus of $6,470. The Cash Reserve as of April 30, 2014 was $22,753. [See Appendix P.]

TE Jean Owens closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Mission to North America

The Mission to North America Committee Chairman, TE Drew Bennett, opened with prayer. He reported on the work of the Mission to North America Committee. [See Appendix Q.]

TE Drew Bennett closed the report with prayer.

Permanent Committee Report: Shepherding

The Shepherding Committee Chairman, TE Dustyn, opened with prayer. He reported on the work of the Shepherding Committee with regard to churches and Teaching Elders. [See Appendix R.]

Recommendation: That the Presbytery grant TE Esaie Etienne the powers of evangelist (per BCO 8-6) for a period of twelve months.  Adopted.

TE Andrew Lamb prayed for TE Etienne as he has been entrusted with the power of evangelist.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve without exception the Session Minutes of the following churches: Christ Community (Clearwater), Christ the King (Seminole), Church of the Redeemer (Winter Haven), Covenant (Lakeland), Covenant (Sebring), Faith (Wauchula), Grace (Lake Suzy), Redeemer (Riverview), Tampa Bay (Tampa), and Westminster (Brandon).                                        Adopted.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve with exception the Session Minutes of the following churches: Berea (Winter Haven) [Executive Session Minutes were not submitted for review, and must be submitted to the Shepherding Committee] and Seminole (Tampa). [Executive Session Minutes were not submitted for review, and must be submitted to the Shepherding Committee].            Adopted.

Recommendation: That as no response has been received from the Session of Christ Community Presbyterian Church (Lakeland) regarding their exception of substance for the 2012 Session Minutes, the Session is requested to respond to the Shepherding Committee before the next Stated Meeting of the Presbytery.                                                                                                                           Adopted.

The Shepherding Committee requests that the following churches turn in their Session Minutes for 2013: Auburn Road (Venice), Christ Community (Lakeland), Cornerstone of Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton), Cornerstone (Lutz), Covenant Life (Sarasota), Cypress Ridge (Winter Haven), Faith (Sarasota), First (North Port), Grace Community (Palm Harbor), Holy Trinity (Tampa), Redeemer (Lakeland), St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg), Trinity (Lakeland), and Westtown (Tampa).

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve the response of Christ Community Church (Lakeland) to their 2012 Session Minutes.             Adopted.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery send attached communication to First Presbyterian Church of North Port, FL. [See Appendix S.]          Adopted.

The congregation of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church has dissolved the relationship of TE Dustyn Eudaly as the Associate Pastor of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church as he plans to go and study for a PhD in Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.

Recommendation: That the Presbytery approve TE Dustyn Eudaly’s call to labor out bounds as a PhD candidate in Old Testament studies at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, per BCO 8-7, effective the start of the Fall academic semester, 2014.  Adopted.

TE David McWilliams prayed for TE Dustyn Eudaly as he begins his labors out of bounds of the Presbytery of Southwest Florida.

TE Steve Casselli requested that a Resolution of Thanks from the Session of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church be placed on the Presbytery Minutes regarding TE Dustyn Eudaly:

Resolution of Thanks from the Session of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church.

May 13, 2014.

Whereas since the assumption of his ordination vows June 27, 2004, TE Dustyn Eudaly has maintained exemplary faithfulness to this presbytery, his local church and most importantly to his Lord, Jesus Christ, and

Whereas, he has maintained his commitment to the Scriptures as the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice (BCO 21-5), consistently studying them first and foremost with a personal devotional frame, feeding upon them as his portion and sustenance, the joy and delight of his heart (Jer. 15:16), defending them when necessary from error (Titus 1:9), and faithfully preaching and teaching them, both publicly and privately (Acts 20:20), and

Whereas, he has been faithful to his vow to subscribe from the heart to the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of this church as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures; (BCO 21-5) and has employed them faithfully in leading, guiding, and directing this Church as her subordinate standards, and

Whereas, he has labored faithfully to exercise discipline with all reverence, care, humility and gentleness, (Gal 6:1ff) even at the cost of great personal sacrifice to his own comforts and the risk of his own reputation and yet as a faithful under-shepherd of the Great Shepherd of the sheep (1 Pet 5:1-4), and for the blessing and protection of God’s people, and

Whereas, he has sought to maintain the peace and purity of the church by seeking out those whom he may have offended in the regular course of his labors (Matt 5:23), examining his own heart and confessing his sin to his brothers (Matt 7:3-5) diligently seeking to make amends where offense has been given, and seeking to overlook an offense whenever possible (Prov 17:9; 19:11), and

Whereas, he has faithfully served on various committees and commissions of this presbytery as well as having served twice as its moderator, with a view to the edification and advancement of the church, and

Whereas, he has prayerfully sought to proclaim the saving grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are “without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12) by both personal evangelism and public proclamation of the Gospel (2 Tim. 4:5), as well as in the promotion of foreign and domestic missions in obedience to the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20), and

Whereas, he has maintained an example of vital piety and the gravity of disposition that is becoming of a minister of the Gospel (1 Tim 4:7,8), modeling for us one “who uses the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them” (1 Cor. 7:31), looking always to the things above where Christ is (Col. 3:1) as we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13), and

Whereas, he has exercised his ministry without partiality (James 2:1,9) living out that religion which is pure and undefiled before God (James 1:27), visiting the sick, caring for the outcast, tending to the needs of widows and orphans, defending the rights of the oppressed (even the unborn), and

Whereas, he has managed his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive (1 Tim 3:4), not neglecting his wife or children in the midst of the demands of his ministry but seeking with all diligence to catechize them in the doctrines of our holy religion (BCO 56-5), setting forth a living witness to the love that Christ has for his bride the church (Eph 5:21ff), and

Whereas, he has in sum been faithful and diligent in the exercise of all [his] duties as a Christian and a minister of the Gospel, whether personal or relational, private or public; and has endeavored by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in [his] manner of life, and to walk with exemplary piety before the flock of which God [has made him] overseer (BCO 21-5),

Therefore, be it resolved that the Southwest Florida Presbytery expresses its gratitude to you, Dustyn Eudaly, and places this resolution on its minutes as an expression of our thankfulness to you and through you to the one who gives gifts to men in the form of office in His church (Eph 4:1-3), our exalted Savior Jesus Christ, and may you go from us with the blessing and in the name of our great triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To God be the glory! Amen.

Stephen J. Casselli, Moderator

TE Steve Light, Assistant Pastor

RE Don Bennett

RE Wink Hall

RE Brad Meyers                                                                                                       Adopted.

TE David McWilliams gave thanks and prayed for TE Dustyn Eudaly.

TE Dustyn Eudaly closed the report with prayer.

Unfinished Business and General Orders

There was no unfinished business or general orders.

New Business

TE Bo Byrne requested that a Resolution of Thanks from Cornerstone Presbyterian Church of Lutz, FL be placed on the Presbytery Minutes regarding the service of RE Johnny Starnes:

WHEREAS, Johnny Starnes served joyfully and enthusiastically as a member of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church for twenty years, and

WHEREAS Johnny Starnes faithfully taught Sunday School, New Members Classes, and Catechism Classes through the years; and

WHEREAS Johnny Starnes was selected by the congregation to serve as a member of the Session; and was ordained to holy office as Ruling Elder in Christ’s Church; and

WHEREAS Johnny Starnes was subsequently selected to serve as Clerk of its Session, served as the president of the Trustees of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church of Lutz Inc.; and

WHEREAS Johnny Starnes was a faithful and active member of the Presbytery of Southwest Florida in the Presbyterian Church in America, giving unselfishly and generously of his time to support the work of the church; and

WHEREAS, Johnny Starnes, as Clerk of Session developed and improved Session Records keeping for other Presbytery Churches and receiving Honorable Mention for his endeavors: and

WHEREAS, Johnny Starnes is remembered for his kind, humble and gracious demeanor; for his numerous acts of service behind the scenes; and for setting before this presbytery, as well as his church and family, a worthy example as a diligent shepherd of God’s church; and

WHEREAS, Johnny Starnes served his country retiring as Lt. Colonel (USARMY) for 23 years and retired from government service from South West Florida Water Management District 17 years for a total of 30 years serving our nation,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Presbytery of Southwest Florida, the Session, the Diaconate, and the congregation of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church do hereby express their gratitude to God for his service;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this expression of honor and thanks be spread upon the minutes of the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church of Lutz, as well as the Presbytery of Southwest Florida, and that it be read to the presbytery at which time a copy be given to the Stated Clerk of Southwest Florida Presbytery.

ADOPTED this sixth day of May in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Fourteen.

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Robert Byrne (Moderator)

RE Christian Volf (Clerk of Session)

RE Don Loose

Deacon Larry Sprinkle                                                                                              Adopted.

 

TE Dwight Dolby prayed and gave thanks for RE Johnny Starnes.

Announcements

TE Dwight Dolby announced that the citrus crop in Florida is in serious danger of being lost due to a bacterial disease. TE Dolby prayed for the citrus crop of Florida.

Next Meeting

The 96^th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Southwest Florida will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Riverview, FL at 8:30 a.m.

Adjournment

• MSC to adjourn the 95^th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Southwest Florida.

Closing Prayer

TE John Keen closed the Presbytery meeting with prayer at 3:07 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

TE Freddy Fritz

Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Southwest Florida

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