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April & May 2018

Summary of the Session Meetings – April & May 2018
  • The treasurer presented a financial report for March.
    • Contributions were down again this month.
    • New Hope paid out all benevolence money for the year in March.
    • The Session voted to set up a new Property Fund and seed it with the $5000 that was donated by Drury Hotels.
    • The treasurer ask and the Session agreed to transfer $11648 from the Rainy Day Fund to the General Fund to cover daily expenses.
  • The church has received acknowledgment of the receipt of our donations from the Community Kitchen, Chattanooga Room In The Inn, and the Presbytery Mission.
  • Ron Young was elected commissioner to the Presbytery meeting on May 15th.
  • Vacation Bible School will run from June 6 to June 11.
    • This year’s theme is Peace Lab.
  • New computers have been installed in the office and pastor’s office.
  • The church has leased a new copier to replace the 12 year old copier we have been using.
  • The Session discussed and tabled the idea of establishing an online service for accepting donations.
  • The strategic planning process dealt with the sale of church property and the purchase of new property.
    • We are in serious discussions with Drury Development Corp. regarding the sale of the church property.
    • Session members have also looked at a desirable new property for the church at 7608 Shallowford Road.
  • At a Special Session meeting on April 22nd the Session approved calling a Congregational Meeting for April 29th to vote on the sale of church property and the purchase of new property.
  • At the Congregational Meeting on April 29ththe Session presented a proposal from Drury Development Corp. to  purchase the current church property for $6,500,000.
    • The motion to sell was amended to specify that at least 10% of the sale price would go to the Presbytery of East Tennessee.
    • The congregation also authorized the Session to purchase a suitable property for the construction of a new church.
  •  At the May meeting the Session was updated on the status of the sale of church property and the purchase of new property.
    • The two processes are moving along as expected at this time.
    • The timeline for closing on the sale of our property to Drury is approximately 45 days.
    • There was a preliminary discussion of how we should invest the proceeds from the sale of church property as we move forward.
  • The Session approved a request from Greer Harris to transfer her church membership to New Hope.
  • The Session approved a scholarship for Greer to help her attend Camp John Knox this summer. 
  • The strategic planning portion of the meeting focused on determining the mission of New Hope Presbyterian Church.
    • This discussion is just beginning.
    • Marilyn Suber and Melanie Teeter did a presentation outlining some of the possibilities for our church mission.
    • The Session will be following up with discussions with the congregation.
 The next Session meeting will be WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13 at 6:30pm.
 
Submitted by Peter Savard, Clerk of Session