The Stated meeting of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys was called to order with prayer at 10:00 a.m. by moderator, the Rev. Dawn Carder.

 The Call to Worship and the Prayer of Invocation was led by Dan Smith.  We sang the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”  Dan Smith led us in the Prayer of Confession, Declaration of Pardon, Sharing of the Peace of Christ.  We sang the “Gloria Patri.”

The Rev.Dan Smith welcomed the Presbytery on behalf of the First Presbyterian Church of Holland, Minnesota.

A quorum was established.  First time commissioners were introduced.

PRESBYTERY VOTED to seat the following as corresponding members: 

The Rev. Neal Lloyd from the Twin Cities Area Presbytery

The Rev. Andy Kennaly from the East Oregon Presbytery

PRESBYTERY VOTED to grant the following people voice:

            D.J. Jeremiason, Clearwater Forest Camp Director

There were changes to the proposed agenda, the Stated Clerk’s Report, the Executive Presbyter’s report and the Nominating Committee’s report were added.  PRESBYTERY VOTED to approve the agenda.

Bob Maharry, Nominating Committee member placed the following names into nomination for co-chairs of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry:   Elder Gerald Olson, Madelia and the Rev. John Lindholm.

The Consent Agenda was presented as follows:

CONSENT AGENDA

FOR THE

MINNESOTA VALLEYS PRESBYTERY

February 5, 2008

1.             Receive the Report of the Council, items of information (Appendix A)

2.             Approve the minutes of the November 27, 2007 Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys.

3.             Receive the Committee on Ministry report, items of  (Appendix B)

4.             Receive the Stated Clerk’s Report (Appendix C)

5.             Receive the Committee on Preparation for Ministry Report (Appendix D)

The action which the Committee on Ministry took regarding the terms of call for the Rev. Terry Olthoff was removed.

The Rev. Pamela Prouty, Stated Clerk gave an oral report simply stating that if people have questions about the annual reports to please call her.

The Scripture Reading of Ezekiel 37:1-14 was shared by the Rev. Sue Coller, Executive Presbyter.  She also gave the meditation entitled “Risking Hope.”  Joys and concerns were shared, and Dena Fischer from Mankato shared in the prayers of the people and the Lord’s Prayer.

The Rev. Neal Lloyd a member of the Proposed Form of Government Task Force presented information about the proposed Form of Government which will be coming to the General Assembly in June, 2008.

We broke for lunch at 12:00 p.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. with Speak Out!  Bev Raske promoted the Leadership for Development for Ministry.  The first class is March 28 on Spiritual Habits.  LeRoy Ennenga reported on the water project in Occidente Presbytery in Guatemala scheduled fro April 18; there is room for two people to join the crew; if interested talk with LeRoy or Jim Krapf.  Rallah Madison promoted the Clearwater Conference which is the weekend of April 19 at Clearwater Forest.  Leonard Sweet is the plenary speaker along with many workshops.  We joined in singing the hymn “Be Thou My Vision.”

The Rev. Sue Coller, Executive Presbyter gave a presentation on Natural Church Development.

David Jeremiason, Camp Director gave an oral report.  He reported about upcoming camps and conferences.

Al Jergenson, member of the Council gave an oral report.  Grayson Osteraas, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee who brought forth three requests from congregations for building projects.  PRESBYTERY VOTED to approve the request from the Edgerton congregation to build a garage/storage building at the cost of $25,000, all funds on hand.  PreSBYTery VOTED to approve the request from the Winnebago congregation to secure a loan of $50.000.00 to refurbish their church kitchen.  PRESBYTERY VOTED to approve the request from the Windom congregation to secure a loan for $5,000.00 to repair their boiler.

The Rev. Herb Rotunda a member of the Task Force  for Fund Distribution from the Sartell Church brought forth the following recommendations:

Task Force on the Use of Riverside Net Proceeds

Recommendations

The Task Force on the Use of the Net Proceeds of the Riverside Administrative Commission recommends the following from the sale of property of the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Sartell to the Riverside Evangelical Church, estimated at $278,567.50:

1.  10% or $27,856.75 to go to mission outside our borders.  Social Action Ministries will determine an appropriate mission: one or more projects or support of long-term mission staff.

2. $50,000 invested with the Presbyterian Foundation for New Church Development.  Budget & Finance Committee will decide annually whether the earned interest will stay invested or allocated to L5007 New Church Development.  Task Force recommends that local churches be strongly involved and committed to New Church Development and these funds can assist in marketing studies, programming dollars and staff when the need occurs.

3.  $30,000 allocated to a renamed L5065 Pastoral/Congregational Support and Development.  Committee on Ministry and Congregational Growth and Development can utilize these funds in consultation with each other for such activities including but not limiting to pastoral coaching and mentoring, training on leadership development, dealing with congregational change & conflict management, pastoral self-care & retreats, short-term conflict intervention in churches, and elder training and development conducted at the cluster level.

4. The remaining $170,710.75 invested in a trust fund with the Presbyterian Foundation called Congregational Transformation”.  L5012 Revitalization and L5015 Redevelopment will be combined into a new L account called “Congregational Transformation.” Churches can apply for these funds to Congregational Growth & Development for projects such as but not limited to shared ministries among churches for youth, ethnic populations, elderly & other staff, cluster development, and development of unique ministries. Budget & Finance Committee will determine annually whether earned interest from this Congregational Transformation Trust Fund is to be reinvested in the trust fund or if transferred.  If transferred, 70% of the interest will go to the L account on Congregational Transformation and 30% would go to L5065 Pastoral/Congregational Support and Development.  Budget & Finance Committee should also consider the value of future dollars to ensure that the trust fund remains solvent for future generations.

5.  Since the Presbytery will unlikely request additional offerings for Renew the Church, one-third of L5014 Renew the Church Offering or $500.70 be transferred to L5007 New Church Development and two-thirds or $1016.56 be transferred to the new L Congregational Transformation account.

6.  After all expenses of Riverside Administrative Commission has been paid, remaining dollars from L5033 New & Emerging Mission and L5096 Sartell Church be allocated to the Congregational Transformation Trust Fund and these L accounts can be eliminated.

PRESBYTERY VOTED to accept and adopt the recommendations from the Task Froce on the Use of the Riverside Net Proceeds and have the Budget and Finance committee carry through on the mechanics on distributing the monies.

The Rev. Scott Prouty and Elder Bev Raske gave a Synod Report entitled “SLAP your Luck.”  Laughter and joy was shared by all!

Elder Bev Raske gave a report about the Leadership Development for Ministry.

Elder Betty Knutson from Willmar, Denise from the Pipestone congregation  and the Rev. Dan Billings gave an oral report about the recent Gulf Shore Blitz which occurred this past January.  Forty-four people from the Presbytery went for one week down on the Gulf Coast.   $26,500 was left for use by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for future projects.

Sue Coller, Executive Presbyter gave an oral report.  She distributed certificates for churches who have paid up their mission pledges:

The floor was opened to nominations for the chair of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.  The floor was closed to nominations.  PRESBYTERY VOTED to cast a unamious ballot for the Rev. John Lindholm and Elder Gerald Olson as co-chairs for the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.

Items of New Business were then covered.  The item of Terry Olthoff’s terms of call was pulled from the Consent Agenda.  Richard Underdahl-Peirce, chair of the Committee on Ministry came forward to share the process the Committee on Ministry went through with this call.  PRESBYTERY VOTED to receive the action of the Committee on Ministry on approving the call between the Rev. Terry Olthoff and the First Presbyterian Church, Lismore and the First Presbyterian Church, Edgerton, Minnesota.

Elder Deb Klaassen, chair of the Congregational Resources committee came forth to share about the One Great of Sharing Offering.  An offering of was received.  The Doxology was sung.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion was administered by the Rev Sue Coller and the Rev. Mark Chamberlain and the elders from the Holland church.

The Closing Hymn was “Lord Dismiss us with Your Blessing.”

Celeste Lasich and Herb Rotunda served as the parliamentarians.