| ARP Magazine

Try This New Twist for Halloween
This year, First ARP Statesville (NC) will celebrate Halloween by handing out goody bags filled not only with candy, but religious stickers, pencils and information about Statesville ARP Church. The Board of Christian Education plans to give the bags to approximately 1,800 children this year at Statesville’s downtown celebration. The board invites church members to participate by bringing individually wrapped candies to the church to add to the bags. Put a new twist on Halloween where you live this year by including an invitation to worship at your church in your Trick or Treat bags.

Mint Hill on the Move!
Dr. Barry Eller sends word that after three years, the church is about ready to break ground for a new building. “It’s about time,” he said. “So hang on…we’re getting ready to run with a new phase in our journey.”
For now, the church has settled in at the Hemby Bridge site, after moving from Bain School. “It sure feels like ‘home’ once again,” Eller said.

Fall Presbytery Meetings

First Presbytery met Oct. 13, 2009, at Covenant Church, Statesville, NC:

Approved the call from the Burlington First Church to the Rev. Brian Gregory.
Approved the call from the City Church of Greensboro to the Rev. Jim White.
Approved the call from the Christ Community Church as associate pastor to the Rev. Bryan Crotts, and dissolved his associate pastoral relationship with the Huntersville Church effective Oct. 31.
Dissolved the Wheat Seed Korean Mission, Fayetteville.
Approved the retirement of Rev. Tim Robinson from the Burlington First Church effective Dec. 31 and dissolved his pastoral relationship as of that date.
Approved the organization of the City Church Mission.
Approved the organization of the Gaston Community Mission.
Removed Rev. Joseph Moore from the roll of the Presbytery at his request.
Approved the transfer of the Rev. Stacey Cox to the Calvary Presbytery of the PCA pending a request for transfer from the clerk of that presbytery and dissolved his pastoral relationship with the Rivertown Mission.
Received the following under care: Brad Marshall (Emmanuel Church), Adam Christiansen (Covenant Church, Statesville), and Justin Welch (Christ Church, Denver).
Voted down a Memorial from the Pinecrest Session which would have asked Synod’s Board of Benefits to consider providing cost-of-living increases to those who served for 20 years or more in the ARP Church, but transferred to another denomination, and then returned to the ARP Church after they retired.
Re-staffed the ARP Home Board of Directors, said Board’s membership had been frozen for several years and activated the new Board immediately.
Renewed the stated supply relationship between the Craig Avenue Tabernacle Church and Rev. Bob Owens through Dec. 27, 2009.
Granted permission for the Rev. Tanner Cline to labor outside-the-bounds of Presbytery with the Wade Center in Bluefield, WV, and dissolved his pastoral relationship with the Christ Fellowship Church.
Removed Carl Dobson from the roll of students under care. He has moved his church membership to another denomination.
Licensed Nathan McCall and approved him for ordination pending a call.
Added Rev. Tim Bowers to the list of approved supplies and approved him as supply pastor of the Glenwood Church for a period of six months.
Approved funding requests for various mission churches from Presbytery and Outreach North America sources.
Approved the continuation of the internship between Charlie Jones and the City Church of Greensboro.
Encouraged churches to put a line item in their budgets to support church planting in Scotland.
Elected Elder Anthony Navarro of the Huntersville Church as Moderator-Elect for the Fall 2010 term.
Heard plans of the Christian Education Committee to hold six Spring/Fall Flings for senior adults in the eastern, Piedmont, and western areas of the Presbytery. This will replace the former practice of having only two events presbytery-wide per year.

Catawba Presbytery highlights Oct. 13, White Oak ARP Church, Winnsboro, SC:

Heard the senior sermon of Melvin M. Wines for Licensure and Ordination. Wines was examined and licensed. He is to receive a call as an associate at the Ebenezer Church and will be ordained at 5 p.m. on Nov. 8, 2009.
Heard the Middler sermons of Andrew Shoger and Jamey Dagenhart. Both are students at Erskine Theological Seminary.
Gave approval for Arsenal Hill to extend a Bi-Vocational Call to J. Michael Lashley, who will begin his work on Oct. 14 and will be installed at Arsenal Hill by a Commission of the Presbytery on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.
The Commission on the Old Brick Church reported on plans to purchase two acres around the church that will allow better maintenance of the existing wall and provide parking.
Approved a lease agreement for a meeting place for the Indian Land Mission.
The following were elected to Presbytery positions:
Executive Board [2014] – Dr. Robert Alexander to begin serving July 1, 2010.
Chairman of the Minister and His Work [2013] – David H. Lauten to begin term July 1, 2010.
Vacancy on State of the Church Committee – Andrew Basham
Approved Rev. Jan Senneker as Stated Supply for the Living Waters Church.

Second Presbytery, Oct. 13, 2009, Erskine Theological Seminary,Due West, SC.

Student Garison Taylor preached his Middler sermon.
Examined and received David Griffin, pending his transfer from Mississippi Valley Presbytery. We then approved his call to become associate pastor at Greenville (SC) ARP Church. His primary duties will be in Christian Education and Pastoral Care.
Examined students Timothy Brooks and Michael Horne.
Brooks was received as an ordained minister and has accepted a call to be a chaplain in the US Army Reserve.
Horne was licensed and then accepted the call to become the pastor at the Lower Long Cane ARP Church. This is a Bi-Vocational Call. He plans to be ordained and installed on Oct. 25.
Approved the call for William L. Barron, Jr. to be a chaplain in the US Army Reserve. His ordination service will be held at a later date.
Received under care the following students of theology at Erskine Theological Seminary:
John Paul Marr, a member of the Due West ARP Church.
Sungjune Kim, a member at the Greenwood ARP Church.
Heath Coker, a member at the Greenwood ARP Church.
From the Committee on Church Extension we learned of the resignation of Stephan Cobbert from the New Millennium Mission. Cobbert’s wife Monica is dealing with cancer and they are also now responsible for the care of their three grandchildren. He is anticipating a call to another denomination.
Presbytery also officially closed the New Millennium mission.
Elected Patrick Malphrus to begin serving as Moderator at the spring 2010 meeting of Presbytery.

Mississippi Valley Presbytery, Oct. 5-6, Mt. Zion ARP Church in Troy, MI:

Elected Bob Mitchell, ruling elder in the Richland ARP Church, as moderator-elect for 2010. Rev. Tim Phillips was elected as principal clerk of MVP.
Approved that a letter be drafted and sent to Robert Rutt, former treasurer of MVP, congratulating him on 50 years of marriage.
Heard student Andy Coburn preach a sermon on I Corinthians 2:1-5. Coburn was later examined and received by the presbytery. Coburn accepted a call to become the associate pastor of the New Albany Presbyterian Church in New Albany, MS.
Heard Alan Avera, director of Outreach North America, speak about the work of ONA in helping presbyteries plant churches in the North America and Scotland.
Discussed the details of continued funding for the Havana Mission in Havana, AR.
Voted to discontinue an exploratory Bible study in Burkesville, KY.
Rejected the request of a PCA church wishing to pursue affiliation with the ARP and voted to draft a letter to the church stating that it should pursue reconciliation with its own presbytery.

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