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- Re-elected Kathy Yingst as Clerk of Session and elected Michelle Curry, CPA of Achenbach & Curry, as Treasurer for terms of one year.
- Derry Church offers a Youth Servant Leadership Scholarship in honor of youth leaders in our congregation who have been committed to the Derry Church community. It is awarded to high school seniors and the award can be used for any legitimate higher education expense. This scholarship, approved by Session in 2019, contained a requirement that the individual(s) receiving the award be a member of Derry Church. Session discussed this requirement and approved a change which removed that requirement from the policy. The rationale is that we want our youth to discern when the Holy Spirit is calling them to become a member of Derry, not do so to qualify for a scholarship. The application stresses participation in Derry activities and requires written essays which reflect on the applicant’s personal beliefs and how their faith has influenced their work within Derry and in other community service activities.
- Greg Taylor of Stewardship & Finance reported that due to generous congregational giving and underspending by church committees, we finished 2023 with a positive change in net assets of $20,000. After discussion, the Session approved adding this overage to the members’ equity account to be available for use towards a potential deficit at the end of 2024.
- Two additional confirmands submitted information on their projects for the “Be a Blessing Challenge.” Emmie Achorn will be collecting donated items for the Harrisburg Humane Shelter and Anne Burke will be soliciting donations for baskets that she will be filling with items for cancer patients, named Ian’s Baskets in honor of her grandfather who battled cancer. The Session approved both projects.
- The Session reviewed Pastor Stephen’s 2024 Terms of Call, which have not changed from 2023. The Terms will be voted upon by the congregation at the Annual Meeting on February 11, and the Session recommends that they be approved. Pastor Stephen previously submitted a proposal that he receive no cash increase in compensation, but rather that additional travel for him in 2024 be funded from the Brong Scholarship Fund. Session previously approved this use of those funds.
- Tom Davis and Mike Leader will be Session’s representatives on the Nominating Committee. All active Elders were elected as Commissioners for the 2024 Presbytery meetings.
- Derry Discovery Days’ Pancakes & PJ event will be moved Saturday, January 27 considering the weather predictions for the original date of January 20. The preschool will be including an online silent auction of items donated by local businesses during this event. The session approved opening the silent auction to Derry’s congregation.
- Session approved the collection of items for Christian Churches United of the Tri-County area for their two walk-in overnight shelters. Derry’s Mission & Peace Committee will be collecting the items which consist of food, clothing, toiletries, and needed items for the shelters through Feb 15.
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