Westminster
Birchleaf, VA (October 12, 1996)--Sandlick Presbyterian Church hosted the Fall Stated Meeting of Westminster Presbytery. RE Larry Crigger of Asbury Presbyterian Church, Johnson City, TN, was elected Moderator.
The minutes from the Commission to Organize Bartlick Chapel and Install the Pastor were approved. TE John Whitner, who has labored long in Appalachian hills of Southwest Virginia, was organizing pastor for this mission in Haysi, VA, and is the newly-installed pastor. Also approved were the minutes from the Commission to Install Raymond Colgrove as pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church, Limestone, TN.
Presbytery, for extraordinary reasons, waived the six month membership requirement in receiving Mr. Gary Vanderveen as a candidate. The court also voted to proceed to examine TE Richard "Pete" Crews, formerly a missionary with Mission to the World and a member of Southeast Alabama Presbytery, for reception, pending receipt of a call from Reformed Ministries International.
TE Larry Ball, Chairman of the Budget Committee, presented the report, including a proposed budget of $75,265.00. The following motion carried: "That the Budget by approved as presented, with the notation that in order to fulfill our current commitment to church planting works, and to continue supporting church planting works in our Presbytery, the churches of Presbytery will need to increase their giving." During this committee report, Presbytery heard reports from TE Carel van der Merwe and TE Jeff Yelton regarding their respective church planting efforts (Greeneville, TN, and Wytheville, VA). Later in the meeting, TE Bill Leuzinger was added to the Session for the Wytheville mission work, Christ Presbyterian Chapel.
The pastoral relationship between TE Stan Armes and Pulaski (VA) Presbyterian Church was dissolved, effective October 14, 1996. Information from Dr. Morton H. Smith and Dr. Paul Gilchrist regarding the possible reversion of Seven Mile Ford (VA) Presbyterian Church to mission status was received.
TE Larry Ball
5101 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport, TN 37664
(423)288-3664