PRESBYTERY OF HUDSON RIVER Presbytery Meeting January 26, 2016

The Presbytery of Hudson River met in stated meeting on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at Stony Point Center, Stony Point, New York, and was convened at 10:00AM with prayer.

Note: “MSA” = moved, seconded, approved. TE = Teaching Elder; RE = Ruling Elder. PHR website: www.hudrivpres.org with a link to Hudson Happenings.

Call to Gather the Presbyters for God’s Business Moderator Tamara Seidel

Declaration of a Quorum Tamara Seidel Moderator Tamara Seidel declared a quorum was present.

Voting on the Docket Motion: vote on Docket and Consent Agenda. (Attachments I & II) MSA The AA/EEO guidelines were followed during the search process for all of the Teaching Elders and CLPs listed in the Commission on Ministry report.

Introduction of New Ruling Elder Commissioners The Moderator welcomed Ruling Elders who were attending as first time commissioners.

Seating of Corresponding Members Motion: to seat for the year 2016: Noelle Damico, (UCC-Presbytery Communications Director), Abbie Huff, (American Baptist-Nyack Project), Richard Witt, (Episcopal-RMM), Jerry Wondra, (Reformed Church in America), Rev. Jennifer Kottler (Disciples of Christ/ UCC). MSA Motion: to seat Raymond Bagnuolo, for this meeting. (Genesee) MSA

Minutes Readers TE David Mason and CRE Harriet Sandmeier (Cornwall) are the minutes readers for this meeting. The minutes of the December 8, 2015 stated meeting of the Presbytery were read by Teaching Elder Jeffrey Geary and Ruling Elder Mark Douyard (Newburgh, Union). They recommend approval. MSA

Welcome from Stony Point Center Rick Ufford-Chase

Community Conversations  Ephesians 6:10-18—A Bible Study Leslie Mardenborough, leading

 Humanize Not Militarize Poster Project Dale Southorn, leading

 Immigrants, Migrants and Refugees: A Conversation About Local Impact Sarah Henkel, Lori Hylton, and Betsy Palmieri, leading  Rising Strong: A Video Conversation Ben Larson-Wolbrink and Chip Low, leading

 Synod of the Northeast- Beyond the Book of Order Abbie Huff and Peter Surgenor, leading

Worship (Attachment III) The offering was dedicated to the PDA to address the Syrian and European refugee crisis, and totaled $883.30. Leslie Mardenborough, Moderator, and Peter Surgenor, Moderator-Elect were installed.

12:20 PM Blessing for the Meal.

Reconvened at 1:20 PM.

Moderator Leslie Mardenborough assumed the chair.

60 Second Announcements, see “Hudson Happenings” for details on upcoming events.

Advocacy, Education, and Network Team (Attachment IV) Allyn Dunn Allyn spoke of Training Programs they are bringing to church leaders: Elders, Deacons and Finance Teams, on March 13 and April 10, 2016. The attachment gives information on workshops, locations and how to register.

Mediation Team Martin McGeachy We need more people to become trained mediators on our team. The Synod of the Northeast Mediation Network's Training, " Are You Called to Be A Peacemaker?" will be led by the Lombard Mennonite Institute and held at Stony Point Center, on April 25-29, 2016. For more information go to Hudson Happenings. Please join us for this important training and become a part of our team!

Committee on Representation and Nominations David Mason The Committee on Representation and Nominations recommends the following: MSA the following resignation: RESIGN RE Jennifer Watts Disaster Response Team

MSA the following elections and moved with no nominations from the floor, elected: ELECT RE Carla Lesh (Highland) Grants Council 2018 RE Heather Benedict (Montgomery) Committee on Representation and Nom. 2018 RE William Bavoso (Port Jervis) Commission on Ministry 2018

MSA the following leadership nominations and moved with no nominations from the floor, elected: ELECT TE Alynn Dunn and RE Norman Brown Advocacy, Education, and Network Team Co-Chairs RE Georgia Hooper Peek (Katonah) Boundary Training/Response Team TE John Miller Budget, Finance, and Property Commission TE Jeffery Farley & Charles Low Commission on Ministry Co-Chairs CRE Anne Wood Commissioned Ruling Elder Committee TE Angela Maddalone & TE Daniel Yang Emerging Ministries Team Co-Chairs RE Robert Trawick (Germonds, New City) Faith & Order Committee TE Cathryn Surgenor Grants Council TE Benjamin Larson-Wolbrink Imagining Team RE Michelle Torosian (Pleasantville) & Betsy Bush (Hitchcock, Scarsdale) Legacy Team Co-Chairs TE Martin McGeachy Mediation Team RE Erik Harris (Katonah) Personnel Committee RE Heather Benedict (Montgomery) Representation/Nominations Committee TE Gail Burger Self-Development of People Committee

Personnel Committee Erik Harris Motion: that Susan De George be profoundly thanked and appreciated for being the Acting Head of Staff from May to December 2015, and doing such a great job! MSA

Budget, Finance & Property Charles Barton The Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference will be at the San Antonio Airport Hilton, February 29-March 2, 2016. Go to stewardshipkaleidoscope.org/conference for 2016 Conference Information and Registration. The Presbytery’s Stewardship Team offers six scholarships for the Conference Registration.

Please review where your church ended 2015 with their per capita and mission giving payments.

The Budget, Finance and Property Commission/The Board of Trustees recommends the Presbytery amend its lease with the Nyack Center, Inc., regarding premises located at 58 Depew Avenue, Nyack, NY (the “Premises”) as follows:  The lease shall be extended from February 1, 2016 to January 31, 2021.  The rent shall be $100.00 per year.  The amendment shall grant the Tenant an option to purchase the Premises during the term of the lease, as extended, at a price of $125,000 if the option is exercised and the purchase is exercised and the purchase is completed on or before January 31, 2017, and if the option is not exercised during said period, the option price shall increase $5,000.00 in each successive year during the option to purchase period; and  The amendment shall provide that the Tenant’s interest in the buildings on the Premises shall be conveyed to the Landlord in the event the Tenant ceases to conduct business on the Premises, dissolves its business, its business is dissolved or vacates the Premises in consideration of the payment of $1.00. The Presbytery of Hudson River has determined that it is in the best interests of the Presbytery to sell said Premises pursuant to the terms of the option to purchase. The Presbytery of Hudson River directs its Trustees to engage legal counsel to correct any legal issues regarding title, to obtain the necessary consent required under Article 12 of the Religious Corporation Law to sell the Premises pursuant to the terms of the option to purchase, and to represent the Presbytery in the conveyance of the Premises to the Tenant. The Trustees of the Presbytery of Hudson River are authorized to make any changes in the documents necessary to carry out the intent of these resolutions and any Trustee shall be authorized to execute on behalf of the Presbytery any document to be submitted to any court and to execute any document necessary to convey title pursuant to the resolution herein. Motion: to amend the lease with the Nyack Center, Inc., as previously explained. MSA

The Budget, Finance and Property Commission/The Board of Trustees recommends the Presbytery approve the request of the Bryn Mawr Park Presbyterian Church, Yonkers to lease a portion of its property (church steeple area and basement area) to Verizon Wireless for five years, effective February 1, 2016, at an annual rate of $30,000 per year with a yearly increase of 3% for the second, third, fourth and fifth year of the lease agreement. Motion: to approve the request of the Bryn Mawr Park Presbyterian Church, Yonkers to lease a portion of its property to Verizon Wireless. MSA

Acting on behalf of the Presbytery of Hudson River at its January 12, 2016 Meeting, the Budget, Finance and Property Commission/The Board of Trustees approved the following Resolution of Recommitment to the Ministry of Holmes Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center: “Recognizing our historic ties to the ministry at Holmes Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center, the Presbytery of Hudson River affirms our commitment to support this ministry with our prayers, interpretative materials, through our Presbytery meetings and gatherings and financial support.” Motion: to affirm this action. MSA

Acting on behalf of the Presbytery of Hudson River at its January 12, 2016 Meeting, the Budget, Finance and Property Commission/The Board of Trustees “endorsed the Grant application to the Synod of the Northeast Innovation Fund for a $100,000 investment in the Renew Reinvest Capital Campaign for Holmes Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center.” Motion: to endorse the Homes application for a Synod Grant Request. MSA

For Information: The Amity Presbyterian Church Sale Closing took place on December 4, 2015. Net proceeds from the Sale amounted to $268,002, from which the Presbytery was reimbursed for carrying costs of $79,031.78 during the years 2011-2015; with net proceeds to Legacy Fund of $170,073.20 and $18,897.03 to Presbytery’s Unrestricted Fund. (Policy approved last year)

The Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Yonkers Sale Closing took place on December 31, 2015. (they are now tenants)

The Brewster Presbyterian Church Sale Closing took place on January 15, 2016. Insurance needed to close.

With joy and thanksgiving, we are pleased to announce the Presbytery of Hudson River has received a second bequest from the Estate of Laurel Gouveia, an adherent of the Ossining Church, in the amount of $1,000,000.

Charles spoke about the Gouveia Bequest that now amounts to $2,000,000. And explained why this money will not be used for the General Operating Budget. (Attachment V)

Stated Clerk’s Report (Attachment VI) Susan De George The minutes of the December 8, 2015 stated meeting of the Presbytery were read by TE Jeff Geary and RE Mark Douyard (Union, Newburgh). They recommend approval. MSA For information: o There are currently 9 Administrative Commissions and Discernment Teams working in our presbytery. Susan wants to acknowledge and thank them for their faithful service working with churches in need of guidance. o ID cards will be mailed to TEs when they are completed. o The Statistical Reports are due Friday, February 5, 2016. Clerks of Session, please file them right away. o We need your updated church officials forms mailed to the office as soon as possible. These forms help us to ensure good communication within the presbytery. o Sunday, April 24, 2016 will be Clerks of Session Day at 2pm, at Stony Point Center. There will be review of minutes and detailed information on the Child Protection Policy and the Misconduct Policy that are required at each church by December 31, 2016.

Transition Team Changes: Tamara Seidel  Motion: to accept the resignations of: o CRE David Frost (Region 1) o RE Greg Ransom (Region 3) MSA  Motion: to Elect to the Transition Team: o RE Gerald Husted (Wappingers) (Region 1) o RE Heather Benedict (Montgomery) (Region 3) With no nominations from the floor, MSA

Continuing Transition Team Members: Chairperson--TE Debbie Bronkema, TE Laurie Ferguson, TE Paul Lent, RE Leslie Mardenborough, TE Jonah So, RE Stephen Valastro, TE Dorinda Violante

Transition Team Laurie Ferguson Laurie Ferguson reported that the team is meeting regularly and working with Gavin Meek, Interim General Presbyter, on a strategic plan for the presbytery moving forward. Their discernment process is being formulated. There will be small group discussions at the April presbytery meeting concerning this path.

Interim General Presbyter’s Report Gavin Meek Gavin spoke about the work with the Transition Team to determine how to move forward in mission and ministry. The community conversations at the April meeting will be pertinent to this work. Gavin also reported that he is meeting with the staff and committee chairs individually to ask questions and talk about their work. Commission on Ministry (Attachment II) Jeffrey Farley & Charles Low Motion: to approve #1, of the Consent Agenda. MSA Motion: to approve #2- 14 of the Consent Agenda, with the following amendment to #12, for January –March 2016. MSA

Communications Update Noelle Damico Noelle reported that there are ways to share Hudson Happenings on line. The deadline for the next HHs is Tuesday, February 9, 2016.

Faith and Order Robert Trawick The first reading for “On Amending G-2.1104 Administrative Personnel Association” and “A Healing Overture” to be voted on at the April meeting were presented. (Attachment VII) Motion: to approve “A Church Committed to the Gospel of Matthew 25” “A Gospel Vision for the Church”. (Attachment VIII) Discussion ensued. MSA

New Business None

Attendance Proclamation

64 Teaching Elders and CLPs 30 Ruling Elder Commissioners 21 Visitors, officers & staff 115 TOTAL

Motion: to Adjourn- 3:00PM MSA

With no further business before the body, the meeting was adjourned with prayer at 3:00PM. The next stated meeting will convene on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at the Stony Point Center, Stony Point, NY, at 10:00AM.

______Teaching Elder Susan De George Ruling Elder Wendy Spierling Stated Clerk Journal Clerk