Old First Presbyterian

Session Minutes 2007

Session Meeting December 2007
Motion that Session candidates (Jeanne Kirkwood, Jeannie Choy Tate, Barry Clagett, Carol Carter, and Chris Burt) and Deacon candidates (Oliver Spencer, AnnieScott Rogers, Dan Joraanstad, Mary Culp, and Betsy Chiao) be approved – MSC

Motion that Jean Olson, Chuck Olson, and Pam Byers with Rosemary Bledsoe if she is in town and Jeannie Choy Tate if she is not be our commissioners for the 1/15/08 Presbytery meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Richmond- MSC

Motion that Elders meet in a special meeting at 9:30 on 1/6/08 to interview last four new candidates (M-Feister, S-Carter) – MSC

Session Meeting October 23, 2007
Motion that Session adopt draft guidelines for Installation of Permanent Art as a substitute for policy approved on 3/27/07 - MSC
Motion to accept Session Structure Task Force Charter - MSC
Motion to dissolve the Music Program Task Force with thanks – MSC
Motion to approve Jack Haberer to preach on 11/18 - MSC
Motion to change Session meeting from 1/22/08 to 1/29/08 - MSC
Motion to call an Annual Congregational meeting 2/10/08 - MSC

Session Meeting September 25, 2007
Motion that Session to help bring Terry Stumpf, an inquirer in the path toward ordination, to San Francisco to meet with Session and re-engage with the congregation at a mutually agreeable time sometime in the next six months. – MSC
Motion to accept gift to church of stole and cloth from Steve Taber with a suggestion to give Steve an opportunity to present it. – MSC

Session Meeting July 24, 2007
Motion to hire Bill Vaughn as Interim Organist through end of December, 2007 . – MSC
Motion to hire the Rev. Eugenia (Genie) Kinney as Director of the Doris Krauss Senior Center effective August 1. – MSC
Motion to approve Nancy Holve’s attendance at the Western Christian Educator’s Conference at Zephyr Point, NV Oct 14-17 and to count this time as study leave rather than vacation and reimburse up to $500 for registration, room and board in conference expenses. - MSC
Bryan Nichols has agreed to be nominated as Elder for the class of 2008 finishing up the uncompleted term of Daniel Pearch. Session met with Bryan and discussed his faith history and sense of call. Motion to call Congregational Meeting for 8/12/07 – MSC
Motion to move email issue to Operations Committee with progress report back to Session by August meeting if possible – MSC.

Operations Motions:
Motion that Session approve the use of $980 from the Building Reserve Fund to cover the expense of purchasing four flat screen monitors, which have been used to upgrade the four principal computers in the church office network – MSC
Motion that Session approve the use of up to $5,000 from the Building Reserve Fund for the purchase and installation of a new 72 cubic foot, 3-door True refrigerator and a new 19 cubic foot True freezer to replace the three old existing units. – MSC
Motion that Session approve the use of $7,000 from the Building Reserve Fund for building a new cupboard for dishes, removal of existing cupboard and installation of large dishwasher, tables, sink, and disposal, without affecting any other part of the existing kitchen – MSC

Special Session Meeting April 15, 2007
On behalf of the Pastor Nominating Committee, we move that the Session of Old First Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, call a congregational meeting on June 3, 2007, after worship in the sanctuary for members to hear and receive the report of the Pastor Nominating Committee, after which the congregation will consider and vote on the call of the Rev. Margret (Maggi) Lewis Henderson as pastor and head of staff at Old First Church. MSC!

Special Session Meeting April 15, 2007

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and vote to give approval to two PCUSA grant proposals, one for $1,000 for Jazz Vespers, and one for $4,000 for the Senior Center, both which are due in the Presbytery office Thursday April 19.

Following discussion, MSC to approve the Jazz Vespers proposal as written. Following discussion, MSC to approve the Senior Center proposal on the condition that revisions be made that would further define how the asked-for money would be used.

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Session Meeting March 27 , 2007

Motion to approve action of Membership Secretary to reinstate Christine Juhan after she belatedly responded to us requesting her name stay on the roster.- MSC
Motion to approve James Uren and Tamara Lowenstein as members of the Senior Center Commission. MSC
Motion to approve request by Gary Wassan and his summer mission program to stay here – MSC
Motion that Session approve Waiver of Bond requirement for Trustee not named in the Trust. MSC
Motion that Old First Presbyterian Church, through action of the Session, hereby requests that bond requirement under Probate Code Section 15602 be waived for both Stephen Taber and Barry Clagett and that both individuals be permitted to act as Trsutees without filing any bond. MSC
Motion for permission granted for choir to sell CDs and sheet music on 4/8 and 4/15 for purpose of funding music programs. MSC
Motion that Permanent Art Policy will take effect by the end of 2007 unless a substitute is agreed to by consensus of Session. MSC
Motion that Clerk of Session will put together a bulletin insert for the second Sunday after each Session meeting. MSC

Special Session Meeting April 15, 2007

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Session Meeting April 15, 2007

Motion to approve action of Membership Secretary to reinstate Christine Juhan after she belatedly responded to us requesting her name stay on the roster.- MSC
Motion to approve James Uren and Tamara Lowenstein as members of the Senior Center Commission. MSC
Motion to approve request by Gary Wassan and his summer mission program to stay here – MSC
Motion that Session approve Waiver of Bond requirement for Trustee not named in the Trust. MSC
Motion that Old First Presbyterian Church, through action of the Session, hereby requests that bond requirement under Probate Code Section 15602 be waived for both Stephen Taber and Barry Clagett and that both individuals be permitted to act as Trsutees without filing any bond. MSC
Motion for permission granted for choir to sell CDs and sheet music on 4/8 and 4/15 for purpose of funding music programs. MSC
Motion that Permanent Art Policy will take effect by the end of 2007 unless a substitute is agreed to by consensus of Session. MSC
Motion that Clerk of Session will put together a bulletin insert for the second Sunday after each Session meeting. MSC

February 07:

1) Motion that Bill Feister be Session liaison to Old First Concerts Board.

2) Motion that Ted Chiao would be Moderator of Nominating Committee

3) Motion that Carol Carter would be Nominating committee member

4) Motion to approve Deacons holding Ice Cream Social after worship on 4/15/07 with permission to sell ice cream

5) Motion to approve Deacons selling tee-shirts and other items during Deacon’s Sunday as well as outside coffee hours through the Spring and Summer

6) Motion to table with recommendation that it be refined by existing members of Task Force and appropriate Session members and pastor in one or more meetings

7) Motion that $5,400 be allocated from the Building Reserve Fund to paint the 24 exterior window frames on the second and third levels on the Sacramento Street side of the church building. Art Olson will coordinate project but will not get on a ladder!

January 07:

1) Budget Accepted;

2 ) Session authorizes the formation of the Ken Matthews Memorial Fund, with appeals to be made to the congregation and also to other friends of Ken, as feasible. The fund can be announced to the congregation as early as January 28, 2007. Worship Committee, in consultation with the Stewardship Committee will have primary responsibility for conducting special appeals for this fund.

Money from the Ken Matthews Memorial Fund, as available, can be used to fund:

An original commissioned choral work, in memory of Ken (Note: initial conversations have been held with American composer Gerald Near);
Expenses for an organ concert by Marie-Louise Langlais, Ken’s Parisian organ teacher, under the auspices of Old First Concerts, in October, 2007 (Note: 2007 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of French composer Jean Langlais, several of whose works the choir has sung);
Other special music programs consonant with Ken’s music vision for Old First.

Expenditures from the Matthews Memorial Fund will be authorized by the Session on recommendation of the Worship Committee.

3) Motion to accept the following slate as Committee Chairs: - MSC

Barry Clagett – Finance (PNC)
Charles Olson – Operations
Cindy Burt – Worship
Ellen Milligan – Stewardship
Greg Free: Missions
Jean Olson – Christian Education
John Sebastian - Planning
John Sebastian – President of Corporation
Pam Sebastian – Personnel
Rosemary Bledsoe – Congregational Care
Ted Chiao – Evangelism
Bill Feister – Session Rep to Deacons (PNC)
Carol Carter – Session Clerk

4) Motion to withdraw reservation of $22,000 from the hot water heating system

5) Motion that $2,000 be allocated from Building Reserve Fund to increase Sacristy storage capacity and protect electronic equipment mounted on Sacristy rear wall.

6) Motion to table discussion of Permanent Art Policy until March session meeting

7) Motion to allocate $50,000 from Jackie Johnson bequest house sale into Building Reserve Fund making a total allocation of $85,000 (including the $35,000 allocation approved by Session on 9/26/06)

8) Motion to approve concept of Capital Campaign with details to be worked out. Motion to table to February

9) Motion to authorize Personnel to offer a six-month contract to Jay Pierson as Interim Music Director with possible renewal after that under same terms.

10) Motion to authorize Personnel to negotiate with Glen Frank re status of his interim position as organist.

11) Motion that Session direct Columbarium Task Force to form a policy regarding who may buy a niche or plaque and report back to next meeting. The Task Force shall address all issues on John Sebastian’s 11/16 memo at that time.

Old First Presbyterian Church, San Francisco

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