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Dear Friends,
I give thanks for Kate Buckley, who has agreed to preach when I am unable and who always, in her soft but powerfully poetic and prophetic style, preaches the Gospel as it should be preached. She filled the pulpit last week because of our daughter Amanda's wedding here at SSPC (as wonderful as can be imagined) and, because of my annual Bald Head, NC Bull Drum fishing tournament, you will worship with her again on October 15th.
Also, this Sunday, we have called a short congregational meeting after the 10:30 am worship to elect and confirm a new slate of Trustees. Here's a little history. Every year since SSPC was chartered in 1954, we've been required by the state to have acting trustees to serve the corporate charter. Up to now, we have had 3 acting as President, Secretary, and Treasurer that roll through the three-year term like our Elders and Deacons.
The Presbyterian "Book of Order" stresses that the trustees' role is managing the investment of the endowment and the particular bequests made to the congregation to ensure they are being honored. Up to now, we have relied on our "investment" committee for this. Several months ago, at two consecutive meetings, the session discussed changing this to bring us in order. Afterward, they voted to roll the existing 3 trustees and 6 investment committee members into one larger Board of Trustees of St. Simons Presbyterian Church. This will bring us into compliance with the Book of Order and consolidate two groups into one.
You have already agreed at a previous congregational meeting to change our bylaws to accommodate this. This Sunday, you will be asked to receive from the nominating committee the 3 classes of 3 Trustees and to confirm them with your vote of blessing and confidence.
One more thing. In the old days, most church bylaws existed to satisfy the state's corporate requirements. But in the last 30-40 years, wanting to be more responsible with the "rules and policies" we use to govern, churches have expanded the bylaws to include these too. When I came 19 months ago, I was surprised that St. Simons had yet to make this change. Often, something will come up, and someone will say, "We can't do it that way." "Why not," I usually respond, "where is it written?"
In most cases, no one knows. In however much time I have left with you, I hope to form a "bylaw" committee to develop our bylaws by including the spoken but unwritten policies into one bylaws document. Then, everyone will have access to the rules and procedures, spoken or unspoken.
See you in church,
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