Philadelphia

Covenant Presbyterian Church, Harleysville, PA, hosted the stated meeting of Philadelphia Presbytery on March 14, 1998. Moderator Ted Lim presided over the meeting.

Licentiate Michael Oh preached in conjunction with being examined for ordination. His ordination exam was later approved and Presbytery erected a commission to ordain him at Korean United Church on April 8, 1998.

Received under care was Richard Rojas, a member of Tenth Presbyterian. Per their request, Messrs. Charles Holmes and Stephen Hague were removed from the roll of candidates. Progress was reported on the internships of Jeff Waddington, Richard Zweig, Bryan Stoudt, Richard Philips, and Scott Kesler. The Candidates and Internship Committee intends to cancel the internships of several men, because they have failed to report per the requirements of the Book of Church Order. Joel Helm's internship, under the supervision of TE Marion Clark at the Church of the Redeemer, was approved as having been completed. Philadelphia Presbytery approved an internship proposal for Stephen Huber; he will be supervised by TE John Yenchko, Pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church, Glenside.

Presbytery adopted an insurance plan, which will require participation in most cases by members of the court. The plan states: "Effective this date, all calls of this Presbytery to men laboring within the bounds of the Presbyterian Church in America are to require participation in the Presbytery health plan. . . . Members currently enrolled in other plans are to make arrangements to enter the Presbytery plan once it is established." Rev. Jonathan Inman recorded his negative vote and indicated his intention to issue a dissent. Rev. David Wallover recorded his abstention.

Rev. Bruce Finn reported for the Church Planting Committee, and expressed interest in working among Albanian immigrants. Mr. Young Kim has started to work with University of Pennsylvania students. Tenth Presbyterian, identified as a "PCA flagship church", is interested to start a daughter church in West Philadelphia, center city, or Conshococken. Presbytery voted to give $600.00 to cover half the cost for Licentiate Adam Brice to go to the PCA's Assessment Center.

TE Don Stone reported for the Women in Combat Committee. The court adopted the proposed overture. Jonathan Inman recorded his negative vote, and stated his intention to submit a dissent.

The Philadelphia Soh Mang Church, per its request, was dismissed to Korean Eastern Presbytery. [Korean language churches may belong either to the appropriate Anglo presbytery or the Korean presbytery.-Ed.]

Presbytery licensed Jeffrey Waddington. A licentiate of Northeast Presbytery, he is involved in an internship at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Hatboro. The licensures of Vincent Ciraolo and Nasrat Ghattas were extended for four years.

TE Jim Petty reported on the plans of the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation to expand its ministry to India. TE Carl Derk updated the court on the ministry of Reformed University Ministries, particularly with respect to Licentiate David Green in the Lehigh Valley area. Presbytery increased the salary of TE Anees Zaka of Church Without Walls by $1,000.00 for 1998.

Presbytery approved a celebration of the PCA's 25 anniversary, including a worship service at Valley Forge Convention Center, October 4, 1998, at 2:30 PM. Dr. James Montgomery Boice was invited to preach on the denomination's commitment to the Bible (which will also be what he is going to be preaching on at the General Assembly). There will be four testimonies, each lasting five minutes; two will give thanks for the blessings of the past, and two would look to challenges in the future. Intercessory prayer will be scheduled. Those leading this ninety minute service are to reflect a cross section of the Presbytery. Furthermore, the churches were encouraged to have a pulpit exchange on that date.

TE Frank Moser, Stated Clerk

3008 Byberry Road

Philadelphia, PA 19154-1812

(215)637-5155