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