Northeast
Schenectady, NY (January 17-18, 1997)-The historic First Presbyterian Church in the old industrial city of Schenectady hosted the January stated meeting of Northeast Presbytery. This marked the second time that the venerable congregation has hosted this court. First Presbyterian, which had been involved in a long battle with the Presbytery of Albany of a liberal denomination regarding the church property, was officially independent for many years before coming into the PCA in 1991. Its downtown buildings are close to Union College, the Amtrak station, and the General Electric facilities.
TE Steve Gonzales. Chairman of the Candidates, Credentials, and Internship Committee, presented the various men who had come before his committee. Mr. Matthew Sullivan and Mr. Jeff Waddington were taken under care as candidates. Mr. Jim Om was received as a candidate and licensed, and had his one year internship performed in Philadelphia Presbytery approved. He is presently a pastoral intern at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. The completed internships for Mr. Chris Robinson and Mr. Glenn Hoshauer were approved. Mr. Michael Lawrence was licensed to preach the gospel. His sermon on Psalm 150 made the point that the musical instrumentation mentioned there in the context of temple worship has been fulfilled in Christ. Mr. Mel Sensenig was licensed, and, having fulfilled his internship at Christ Presbyterian Church, New Haven, CT, was approved for ordination. Mr. Jeff Dillard was approved for ordination. He is already in the U. S. Army, and a call for him to be a militarychaplain was expected soon. TE Tom Cannon, a member of Palmetto Presbytery who has been ministering in Australia, was received in order to serve as campus minister with Reformed University Ministry (RUM) at New York University. He will be working under an agreement between RUM and the Village Church.
Presbytery approved a proposal to release churches and territory in order to form a new New York City Metro Presbytery. The measure was approved only after the boundaries were drawn so as not to include Rockland County and the northern half of Westchester County in New York.
Also approved was an overture asking for a full investigation by the Interchurch Relations Committee of Commissioners regarding the actions of the PCA delegation to the November 1996 meeting of NAPARC.
Two General Assembly representatives made presentations: TE Mike Hall of Insurance, Annuities, and Relief, and RE Marvin Padgett of Reformed University Ministry.