Heartland

Lincoln, NE (November 14-15, 1997)-The 27th Stated Meeting of Heartland Presbytery was hosted by Zion Church-PCA. TE Dan Dermyer, Moderator for 1997, presided over the meeting. The host pastor, TE Stu Kerns, led the opening worship service, which included observance of the Lord's Supper. After a time of reports from and prayer for various churches in Nebraska, the women were dismissed to attend the Women in the Church meetings. Among the visitors present for the Presbytery meeting were TE Robert Fiol, the Assistant to the General Assembly Stated Clerk; Mr. Tom Bryan of the denominational Insurance, Annuities and Relief Committee; Rick Norton, who has been appointed by Mission to the World to labor in Peru; and TE Bob Nilson of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Lincoln.

With regard to proposed Book of Church Order amendments, the Presbytery voted 31-0-1 in favor of Item 1, and 1-24-5 against Item 2.

Presbytery approved the report of the Commission to ordain and install David Innes as Pastor of Bible Presbyterian Church, Cono Center, IA.

Presbytery entered into executive session to consider the report of the Commission to Communicate with Northeast Presbytery. (The executive session minutes are kept separately, although numbered consecutively with the regular minutes.) While in executive session, the court approved the report of the Commission and authorized the Stated Clerk to speak for the Presbytery regarding these matters [see article on page 8-Ed.].

Presbytery elected the following officers: RE John Pink, Moderator for 1998; TE Larry Hoop, Vice Moderator for 1998; TE Lawrence Lunceford, Stated Clerk for 1998-2000; and RE Bernerd Harms, Treasurer for 1998-2000.

A 1998 budget of $33,950 was adopted. This represents a $300 increase over last year's budget. Included is a $3,000 honorarium for the Stated Clerk and a total of $26,000 for the Mission to North America Committee.

There has been some expression as to the desirability of changing presbytery boundaries, in order that commissioners might not have to travel so far. Siouxlands Presbytery has appointed a committee to study the possibility of forming a new presbytery comprised of portions of the two presbyteries. A study committee was appointed to respond to the request from Siouxlands, which would look at potential boundaries, whether churches in presbyteries other than these two should be looked at, the question of when, and reaction from the denominational MNA Committee. [Siouxlands was received as a PCA presbytery in 1981, comprised mostly of seceders from the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., and having as its territory only South Dakota. In 1982, the same year as the "Joining and Receiving" with the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, the boundaries were expanded to cover the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. In 1989, Heartland was formed, covering Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and northwest Missouri.-Ed.]

Per his request, Candidate Wayne Larson was transferred to the care of Great Lakes Presbytery. Reports were heard regarding Joel Keen, Brad Anderson, and James Kim regarding their progress in the pursuit of the gospel ministry. An internship plan for Tony Felich was approved. Taken under care were Glen Averill and Dan Sladek.

Rick Norton and Marie Deutschmann (who has been appointed by MTW to the Czech Republic to teach missionary kids) spoke of their calls to the mission field.

A report from Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, was distributed to the court. The PresWIC Vice President, Delores Lunceford, gave a report on that organization's activities.

Presbytery approved the request by Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Overland Park, KS, to have its Associate Pastor, Mark Merritt, become Pastor. The votes by the congregation were unanimous, thus meeting the requisite super-majorities of four-fifths and three-fourths, respectively (BCO 23-1).

Presbytery approved the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between Zion Church and TE Todd Bowen, pending approval by the congregation; and approved his call as Organizing Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Mission in Grand Island, NE. The temporary government for the Grand Island mission was transferred to the Session of Zion Church from the Session of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Kearney, NE, with appreciation being expressed to the Kearney church.

Presbytery approved the establishment of a mission work in Smithland, IA, and for TE Phil Kayser to be evangelist of this budding church, Loess Hills Mission.

Reports were heard regarding budding works in Lee's Summit, MO; Omaha, NE; Lincoln, NE; and Cedar Rapids, IA.

Upon the singing of "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," and prayer, the Presbytery was adjourned. The next stated meeting is slated to be held in Wichita, KS, on March 20-21, 1998.

TE Lawrence N. Lunceford, Stated Clerk

5902 Blue Ridge Cutoff

Raytown, MO 64133-3728

(816)353-4304

[NOTE: This information regarding the Stated Clerk is listed as a courtesy to our readers, and does not imply that he was the direct source of the material upon which this article is based.-Ed.]