Session Minutes

November 20, 2025

 

  • Attendees: Dave Hinkley, Krista Batchelor, Treasurer Bruce Batchelor, Marsha Brooks, Chrissie Galliher, Gary Lowe, Carmie Messenger, Margie Fielder, Pastor Steve, Robert Dennison and Pete Capozolli.
  • Absent: Charles Henry.
  • Pastor Steve opened the meeting with prayer at 7:00PM.
  • Gary Lowe presented the devotional.
  • A quorum was present.
  • Session minutes of October 22 reviewed and approved. Special Session meeting of November 5 was not available and will be reviewed at the next Session meeting.
  • Interim pastor’s report which included an accelerated schedule to search for a new pastor was presented. The primary reason for accelerating the pastoral search is the lack of available interim pastors in the Presbytery and the fact that 3 local churches are in need of interims. The requirement for a mission study was emphasized.  This is to be accomplished by hiring an expert to expedite the study which must be approved by Session, the congregation and Presbytery prior to formally establishing a PNC.  Funding for the study will come from the savings of not paying a pastor’s salary for the first part of 2026. The preliminary search for candidates for PNC will start now with confirmation by the congregation and Presbytery to come after the mission study and Bethel profile is completed and approved.
  • Pulpit supply is in place through the end of 2025. We must immediately commence search for pulpit supply beginning in 2026.  Presbytery will provide a moderator for Session meetings until we find a permanent pastor who could be a part time person depending on the results of the mission study.
  • Purging of the rolls to properly reflect our membership will commence now, headed by Clerk of Session. The goal is to complete that effort as soon as possible to establish a membership number which will influence both the per-capita fee to Presbytery and the salary factor for a new pastor.
  • Presbytery COM chair Rev. Mary Speers and Bethel’s COM liaison, Elder MaryLou Rau, Fallston PC, will be attending next Session meeting on December 11.
  • The expenses of the Women’s group were discussed. A motion was made to move the expense to a formal budget category and have their checkbook set up for other officer signatures. Motion carried.
  • Funeral expense payment and reimbursement was discussed. A motion was made to establish a formal budget category to cover funeral expenses which will be a pass-through process since the bereaved family normally pays for expense related to funeral costs.  In the event that the bereaved cannot afford to pay the expense, Bethel will absorb the costs. Motion carried.
  • We held a detailed discussion of all committee reports/minutes on the docket.
  • A motion was made to authorize the Trustees to contract to install bollards adjacent to the parking lots near the sanctuary entrance and across the front of the church to protect the congregation from possible automobile intrusion from Norrisville Road. Motion carried.
  • Administration/Personnel committee presented planned staff salary actions for 2026. After substantial discussion a motion was made to accept the proposed salary actions presented. Motion carried.
  • A request from Security/Safety committee was presented asking to have the congregation provide emergency contact information should an incident occur in church. We agreed to do so and place a file in the Security tablet used in the sanctuary for access to Security personnel, should it be necessary.
  • A request for a children’s playground from the Outreach committee was discussed. We referred the request back to Trustees for detailed information as to specific costs and any special insurance impacts.
  • The wild turkey visiting the cemetery was discussed. It was the opinion that the turkey will move on naturally.
  • Next meeting on December 11, 2025, at 7:00PM.
  • Meeting adjourned at 8:25PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

David Hinkley, Clerk

 

Special Session Minutes

November 5, 2025

 

  • Special Session meeting held to vote on Bulletin notices and pastoral information.
  • Meeting opened with prayer by Pastor Steve 6:00PM.
  • A quorum was present.
  • David Hinkley, Clerk served as secretary.
  • A list of announcements was presented by Pastor Steve.
  • A motion was made to accept the list as presented. Motion carried.
  • Pastor Steve presented his resignation offered to Presbytery this date wherein he has accepted a call as transitional pastor to First Presbyterian Church of Brighton, Colorado effective January 1, 2026. His last day at Bethel will be the Christmas Eve 11 PM service.
  • A motion to adjourn was made.
  • The Meeting closed with the Lord’s prayer by all at 6:25PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

David Hinkley, Clerk