DIGEST OF THE MEETING OF PITTSBURGH PRESBYTERY – MAY 18, 2023

Digest of the Meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery – May 18, 2023

Pittsburgh Presbytery met for its regular Stated Meeting on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The meeting was attended by 91 Ministers of Word and Sacrament and 65 Ruling Elders. There were 41 churches represented by at least one ruling elder and 12 registered visitors. The Moderator, Ruling Elder Louise Schoppe, called the meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. and constituted it with prayer.

The following minister members of other presbyteries be seated as corresponding members:

Rev. Paula Cooper, a member of Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery
Rev. Dr. Stanley Keehlwetter, Covenant Pastor of Heritage United Presbyterian Church from Shenango Presbytery
Rev. Anthony Jermaine Ross-Allam, a member of Twin Cities Area Presbytery

Rev. Ben Schneider, Co-chair of Commission on Ministry, announced those ministers who are new to the presbytery :

Rev. Lori Bass-Riley from Redstone Presbytery who serves as Director of Children & Family Ministries at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
Katherine Campbell who will be ordained to the position of Certified Educator Student/Chaplain Resident at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, if the way be clear
Rev. Dr. Stanley Keehlwetter, Covenant Pastor of Heritage United Presbyterian Church from Shenango Presbytery

He then announced those taking new positions within the presbytery:

Rev. Derek Davenport as Pastor of Sewickley Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Donna Giver-Johnston as Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Trent Hancock as Covenant Pastor of Covenant-Community Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Schneider then announced that Rev. Dr. Vincent Kolb has recently stepped away from his role at Sixth Presbyterian Church as he undergoes treatment for cancer and that Rev. Sarah Robbins will be stepping in as Temporary Pastor of Sixth Presbyterian Church from May 1 through July 31, 2023.

Rev. Schneider then offered a prayer for all of the above including Rev. Kolb.

Acting Head of Staff Rev. Brian Wallace offered a prayer for Rev. Dr. Stephen Wilson who is retiring as of August 31, 2023, and Rev. Dr. Paul Roberts who retired as of February 28, 2023.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, Co-chair Rev. Dr. Charissa Howe moved the approval of the Consent Agenda (with item 8 removed). The Consent Agenda was approved.

The Presbytery heard a report on the Landscape Study by Ruling Elder Michelle Snyder of Holy Cow consulting.

The Presbytery then gathered for worship and its annual celebration of African American Presbyterian Churches with Rev. Anthony Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Center for Repair of Historical Harms preaching and the music team from Friendship Community Presbyterian Church providing music. During worship, presbytery viewed a video from and heard a brief report about the recent International Partnership trip to Malawi.

Following the worship service, the Moderator announced that a monetary offering of $1,012.82 was received at the February meeting for equal distribution to the Lazarus Fund and the Hunger Fund. This amount will be matched by the Pittsburgh Presbyterian Foundation.

Overture on Reparations for Bethel AME Church

Ruling Elder Peter Gilmore from Sixth Presbyterian moved the overture Regarding Reparations for Bethel AME Church.

The Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards moved to amend the motion by deleting the words “and make a financial contribution to support the Bethel AME reparations campaign.” The amended motion was approved.

Matters from the Commission on Preparation for Ministry [full report]

Rev. Walton moved on behalf of the commission that Ruling Elder Rebecca Abbot, a member of the Unity Presbyterian Church, be sustained in her examination for ordination pending call. The candidate was sustained in her oral examination.

Rev. Walton next moved on behalf of the commission that Ms. Katherine Campbell, a candidate under care of Abington Presbytery, be sustained in her examination for ordination. If the way be clear, Ms. Campbell will be ordained to the validated ministry as a Certified Educator Student/Chaplain Resident at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The candidate was sustained in her oral examination.

Rev. Walton then moved on behalf of the commission that Ruling Elder Lam Nguyen be sustained in his examination for ordination. If the way be clear, Elder Nguyen will be ordained as pastor of the Pittsburgh Vietnamese Church. The candidate was sustained in his oral examination.

Rev. Walton then led a prayer for all of those approved for ordination.

On behalf of the commission, Rev. Walton then moved that presbytery authorize the following recommendation for examining candidates who have been certified ready pending call or have received a call for ordination:

At a separate time, most likely, just before a called Presbytery meeting, there would be a public examination of candidate with the care team present, hosted by the Commission on Preparation for Ministry and Moderated by the Chair of CPM or their designee. All eligible commissioners will be allowed to ask questions of the candidate during this time.

During the Presbytery meeting, the candidate would be introduced, asked to read their statement of faith, and dismissed. No questions to the candidate will be asked during the meeting itself. The CPM will make a motion to approve the candidate for ordination, and an opportunity for additional questions to the representatives of the CPM and debate on the motion will be provided. The body will then vote on the motion to approve the candidate.

The Moderator called upon Rev. Rebecca DePoe to speak to the motion and explain the new process. Following much debate, a motion to amend, a proposed substitute motion, and a motion to refer to the CPM and EC were all defeated, the motion was approved.

Report of the Acting Head of Staff

Rev. Wallace discussed the recent hiring of Elizabeth Meriwether to be the presbytery’s new Business Administrator, a hiring necessitated by the retirement of Ruling Elder Roy Burford from that post effective July 31, 2023. Rev. Wallace then moved that:

On the occasion of his retirement, Pittsburgh Presbytery hereby expresses its deep appreciation to Ruling Elder Roy E. Burford for his many years of meritorious service to the church as a ruling elder and church administrator, and specifically for his 13 years of service to Pittsburgh Presbytery as Business Administrator.

The motion was properly seconded and was approved.

Rev. Wallace gave an update on the denomination’s call process and changes of terminology and expected changes to the Board of Pensions medical coverage.

Rev. Wallace gave a brief update on the transition process and invited commissioners to attend one of the planned Landscape Study discussion sessions and promoted an upcoming event on empowering church leaders.

Committee on Nominations Report [full report]

Elder Strong reported that the nominations committee was nominating Rev. Walt Pietschmann to fill an unexpired term on the Executive Committee in the Class of 2024A – West. There being no nominations from the floor, the nominee was elected.

Commission on Ministry Report [full report]

On behalf of the Committee, Rev. McClure-Archer moved that presbytery approve the call of Rev. Derek Davenport as Pastor of Sewickley Presbyterian Church. The Moderator noted that because Rev. Davenport currently serves as Designated Associate Pastor, this approval required a three-quarter vote of presbytery. The motion was approved.

There was one oral addition to the commission’s report. Rev. McClure-Archer moved that Rev. Dr. David Esterline be dismissed to San Jose Presbytery effective March 13, 2023. The motion was properly seconded and was approved.

Matters from the Executive Committee [full report]

Rev. Dr. Charissa Howe called the presbytery’s attention to the Executive Committee’s recent action to create a Taskforce on Reparations to the Black Presbyterian Churches in the Presbytery.

Matters from the Stated Clerk [Link to full report]

Elder Campbell announced that she had been informed that there was an error in the minutes of the Administrative Commission to Ordain Rev. Erin Angeli and that the error would be corrected prior to the finalization of the minutes. She also announced that the Minutes Reading opportunity previously scheduled for Saturday, May 20, 2023, had been cancelled due to a funeral in the extended presbyter family and that those who had signed up to participate had been notified of the need to make other arrangements.

The Stated Clerk moved that Pittsburgh Presbytery approve the following proposed amendments to the Book of Order:

22E which amends G-2.0503 to change “Honorably Retired” to “Retired”

22G which amends G-2.0603 and requires periodic boundary training for Inquirers

22K which amends G-2.1002 and requires periodic boundary training for Commissioned Pastors

22L which amends G-2.1103 and requires periodic boundary training for certified Christian educators

22O which amends G-3.0106 and require councils to require periodic boundary training

22P which amends G-3.0106 and require councils to adopt anti-harassment and anti-racism policies

No proposed amendments were removed for separate debate and the omnibus motion was approved.

The meeting ended at 5:42 p.m. with prayer given by Ruling Elder Rebecca Abbot.