Session Minutes

December 11, 2025

 

    • Attendees: Dave Hinkley, Krista Batchelor, Chrissie Galliher, Pastor Steve, Robert Dennison, Marsha Brooks, Margie Fielder, Carmie Messenger, Gary Lowe, Bob Horn and Don Scott
    • Guests: Jack Carlson LuAnn Rau, both from Presbytery COM.
    • Absent: Charles Henry and Pete Capozzoli.
    • A quorum was present.
    • Pastor Steve opened the meeting with prayer and the devotional at 7:00PM.
    • November 20 and special Session meeting of November 5th minutes reviewed and approved with the following corrections: Spelling of Chrissie Galliher was corrected, Pete Capozzoli was present, arrived late.
    • Interim pastor’s report which included introduction and commissioning of COM team and Session.
    • Each person present gave a brief introductory statement about themselves and what they did and contributed to Bethel.
    • We discussed the Presbytery requirement for a mission study to be completed before a PNC can be formed. Ray Mute, currently serving as pastor at Highland Presbyterian Church, will do the study. Ray will provide a written report to be approved by Presbytery to allow formation of the Bethel PNC. Coordination with Ray will be done by Session.
    • In the interim, the existing nominating committee will create a list of 7 people to be nominated to the PNC to be elected by the congregation after approval of the mission study.
    • We held a discussion of all committee reports/minutes on the docket.
    • Session requests that all committee reports include the full names of individuals mentioned, not just nicknames or first names.
    • The children’s Christmas Play will be held during the December 14th
    • The early service on Christmas Eve will be held at 5:00PM.
    • A congregational meeting to elect church officers, nominating committee members at large and any other pertinent items to be brought before the congregation, is scheduled for December 14, 2025 at 11:45AM after church service.
    • The wild turkey visiting the cemetery was discussed. It was the opinion that the turkey will move on naturally.
    • We chose to award Christmas bonuses totaling $500 to be delivered prior to year end 2025.
    • With all of the confusion relative to changes in interim staffing, we decided to postpone approval of the 2026 budget until the January 15, 2026 meeting.
    • To preclude end of year delays upcoming year budgets will be submitted to Finance by the end of September.
    • Next meeting on January 15, 2026, at 7:00PM.
    • Meeting adjourned at 8:35PM.

    Respectfully submitted,

    David Hinkley, Clerk