Presbytery had its year-end meeting.  As is normal, the meeting was an afternoon meeting only in Mitchell.  The congregation at Mitchell hosted.

It was the final meeting for our Moderator, Eric Erickson.  Rev. Erickson preached at the opening worship time.

An Inquirer was presented to the Assembly who has become a candidate.  The preparation for ministry process has two levels of standing as potential ministers learn and move along in the process.  Each level takes a year to complete at a minimum.  Tamara Recob is now a candidate for ministry from the Newburgh Church.  She has completed her seminary training and will spend the next year in a chaplain training program in Evansville.  Tamara is like most candidates for ministry these days.  She has been in another career for some years and has felt the call to ministry in the midst of life.

The Corporation of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley, Inc. met.  The presbytery is both a church body and a formal corporation under Indiana law.  We formally turn into a company for a few minutes in order to meet legal rules for a company.

Elections were part of the meeting.    The December meeting is the time when we receive the report of the Nominations Committee and elect officers. Ruling Elder Zack Ellison is our Moderator for 2016.  He is from Columbus First Presbyterian Church.  Our Vice Moderator is going to be Rev, Deborah Fortel.

Service Recognition for outgoing officers was shared.

Larry Jackman
Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Ohio

The Presbytery assembled at the Bedford Church as we gathered our opening worship was led by Susan McGhee as our preacher for the day.

Rev. J.H. Vanlal Hruaia was introduced to the Assembly.  He is the pastor the new Princeton Presbyterian Parish.  The parish was formed by the Princeton First and Princeton United congregations.

Rev. Andrew Black was also introduced following his ordination and installation as pastor of Unity Church in Terre Haute.

Academy Committee  the committee offered two important reminders.

The Committee reminded the Assembly that POV Academy classes are for everyone in our churches and that many people participate in the Academy just for the joy of learning and/or to discover ways they might become better informed to serve their own churches more effectively.

The Assembly was reminded that anyone interested in enrolling in the Academy in order to explore a possible call as a Commissioned Ruling Elder must start classes by the March 2016 class on “Tools for Scriptural Interpretation.”  The deadline to register for this class is January 10, 2016.

1001 New Worshiping Communities

Ruling Elder Vera White from the General Assembly office made a major presentation on the 1001 initiative.  There are supports and opportunities

for starting a new worshipping community in our presbytery.  Learn more on this from the Evangelism and Congregational Witness Committee.

Committee on Ministry reported a change in the minimum standards of compensation as follows:

1. That there be an increase in the required minimum continuing education allowance from $800 annually to $1200 annually.

(Note: We are not recommending a required change in the minimum compensation standards for salary and housing for 2016. Minimum compensation for teaching elders working full-time would continue to be $44,856 if there is no manse, or $34,505 if there is a manse. Minimum compensation for ruling elders commission to pastoral service working full-time would continue to be $33,643 if there is no manse, and $25,878 if there is a manse.)

(Note that there will be not be an increase in Board Of Pension dues for 2016. Required dues for Teaching Elders in a full time installed position is still 35%. We also encourage a church to pay the additional 11/2% dependant coverage, if the pastor needs it.)

Larry Jackman, Stated Clerk