MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION MEETING
BELLEVUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1717 Bellevue Way Northeast
Bellevue, WA 98004-2853
October 27, 2014
The Moderator Scott Dudley called the regular monthly meeting of the Session to order
with prayer in room S150 at Bellevue Presbyterian Church at 5:45 PM. Third year
finance elder, Perry Satterlee gave his Lay Witness, followed by a prayer and worship
time. The meeting had been preceded by a fast. A quorum was present.
Session Members Present: Elders Aeschbacher, Blake, Carpenter, Fortin, Garza,
Lindgren, Los, Metz, Satterlee, Stone, Stratton, Taylor; Pastors Dudley, Leatherberry,
Mann, and Renshaw.
Session Members Absent/Excused: Elders O’Brian, Bohling, de Vries; Pastors Easley,
Rood, and VanHorn
Other Leaders Present: Scott Burbank, Church Business Administrator; Scott Dean,
Director of Music & Worship; Annie Duncan, Associate Director Young Adults; Nancy
Eastham, Admin Assistant to Senior Pastor; Rich Gingrich, Pastoral Associate; Chris
Martenson, Director of Initiatives and Innovation; Linda Mauzy, Clerk; Colin Robeson,
Associate Pastor for Re: New Ministry; and Jaci Smith Patman, Associate Pastor for
Christian Growth.
Study – Stewardship Training – Scott Mann
Scott Mann led a study session on 2 Corinthians 8-9, guiding session through questions
about how God is described with respect to stewardship, and the principles of giving.
God is described as generous, abundant, giving, and gracious. Giving is to be as much
as you can. Faith and giving are integrated. Homework for next month is to think about
what frees you to be generous and to reflect the qualities of God. What helps you
increase the spirit of generosity as well as the follow through and commitment to
maintain cheerful giving?
1. Pastor’s Report/ Word on the Street
1. A group attended “Movement Day” in New York and the “12 City Covenant Group”
where collaboration with churches, other non-profit organizations and cities is occurring.
BelPres attended with Union Gospel Mission. From the discussions, it appears we were
early adapters of connecting in the community. It’s important remain innovative. One
church created a booklet that distilled down revival into 7 initiatives, not a capital
campaign per se, yet a request to fund the initiatives. They asked for 1% more as a
permanent gift as a way of doing a capital campaign.
2. Debrief of Congregational Meeting/2020 Vision. Scott’s impression was it was good
to be together. Positive response to a dinner congregational meeting. Expression of
global mission could have been stronger. Fun emcee role played by Chris Martenson
helped build sense of community. Results of table questions are in session packet.
3. Ministry Reports
A. Music & Worship – Scott Dean
 Changes in personnel. Eliot Stone is a new leader, Kyle Harmon in leadership
role, Chris Martenson is now giving 10 hours a week, focused on mentoring.
Vacant position filled by Chelsea Leatherberry. We are developing young
worship leaders. Band Jam - has carried over to this year on Wednesday nights.
Good News Group is now just grades 2-4.
 Road Map – progress assessed by participation. Glorify God through music.
 Measurables – tabled some areas due to changes in staff. Interest and concerns
in online and digital process is high. On track and exceeding in all other areas.
 Bel Canto youth come back to be ministered as needed, wonderful relationships
being formed with our young adults
 Collaborating with Family Life Ministries. We have decided on songs all ages
should know, as the language of our faith. Mentoring in Bel Canto and in music
education across ages.
 Question about online community – on Chris Martenson’s radar, will also be
addressed across departmentally.
 Note of tremendous thanks for Karen Nelson, and all she does for Music and
Worship.
B.










Young Adults - Ryan Beattie and Annie Duncan
Following up with relationships built after a great Fall Retreat at Camp Casey
Launch of Fall Series, “Left, Right & Christ: United We Stand (in our differences)”
Prepping for “Christma-sura” - serving homeless in December.
Women’s group mentoring is spreading.
Cascade Fellows going well, four churches partnering with Fuller Northwest
New people finding Origin on web, as a welcoming place and community
Many hits on Young Adults sites on website
Challenges – Origin attendance cycles, some regulars attend every week.
Speakers invited, but sometimes attendance declines following. Focus on being
a transformative community.
Roadmap measurables all going well – Origin, Women’s Group Mentoring,
Cascade Fellow, relying on volunteer leaders as we have 2.5 staff in Young Adult
Ministries
18-32 is age range for young adult
C. Christian Growth – Elder Julie Metz
 Christian Growth is about how we grow as Christians, happens in all areas of
BelPres
 Many activities and opportunities for people to have a transforming experience as
they engage scripture and connect with God
 Collaborating with other departments continually
 Planning and preparation takes many supporters and volunteers
 Challenge points- identifying new leaders, been in transitions with programs, time
needed to help equip leaders to serve, Jaci Smith Patman has a big heart to
encourage people to step in and lead
 Measurables – completed all major launches for fall, many stories of God at work
 Volunteer recruitment on track, core teams established

Internal partnerships on track: working with Finance to bring Financial Peace
University beginning in January, 2015
D.



Initiatives and Innovation - Chris Martenson
Exciting new role for Chris to try new initiatives and to innovate
Vocation group at Microsoft continuing
Community Groups - short-term similar to small group, group that is open certain
dates
Podcasts - need licensing for traditional music, is hard to get for older hymns and
is needed for podcast of the services
Program management tools, how we manage across departments, processes
and tool we use, working with Scott Burbank
Open house party November 16 to celebrate completing of upper campus, meet
Family Life staff
Planning for next congregational meeting, brunch after 11 AM service possibly
Community group meeting had an idea of hosting in homes, idea of Table Time
is popular, yet hard to get numbers to be critical mass
Sergio commented on live stream (real time) versus podcasting (post the event).
We can podcast the sermon that happened. Can live stream the 9 AM and 11
AM worship services because they are not archived, we take recording down in a
week. Ideally, we stream both modern and traditional services, and make
podcasts if we have licensing rights.






Clerk of Session’s Report
MSP approving the Consent Agenda for October 27, 2014, including the Regular
Session Meeting Minutes of September 22, 2014; the Statistical Report for September
2014, the Minutes of the Special Session Meeting, October 5, 2014, and the Minutes of
the Congregational Meeting on October 7, 2014. No changes. One motion was passed
approving all the minutes.
BelPres Statistical Report for September 2014
Membership Total
September 1, 2014
3195
Additions [G-10.0302a]
New Members
Restored to Active Roll after being Removed (personal Request)
Reactivate from Inactive Membership roll (By Activity/request)
Reactivated from moved and unknown status [G-10.0302b (6)]
Reactivate from nonresident Inactive Roll
Removals [G-10.0302b]
Letters of Transfer (1)
Requests Termination (3)
Joy Ianniciello, RB# 5908
Joins another Church (4)
Add to Nonresident Inactive Roll (5)
Moved and Unknown (6)
Add to Inactive Roll (7)
Deaths (8)
-1
Warren F. McClure, RB# 602, September 1, 2014
Byron L. Reynolds, RB# 4515, September 11, 2014
-2
Removals from the Inactive Rolls [G-10.0302b (7)
Requests
Joins another Church
Membership Total
September 30, 2014
3192
People served communion in SEPTEMBER
1st Sunday of month
1874
6 PM Service each week
524
Special meetings
First Time Visitors
21
Interested in Membership
19
Average Worship Attendance
2372 (Includes aver online of 479)
Baptisms [G-10.0302c (2)]
Approved
Children
Elle Cathryn Johnson, born 1/28/10 and Grady David and Grant Christian
Johnson, born 12/13/13, daughter and sons of Kyle and Christy Johnson
Katherine Davidge Browne, born 5/22/02 and Megan Elizabeth Browne, born
5/6/07, daughters of Eric and Carrie Browne
Abigail Rose Gilbert, born 7/19/14, daughter of Michael and Laura Gilbert
Nora Susan Terrien, born 2/10/14, daughter of Ryan and Kristina Terrien
Adult
Lindsey Marie Doherty
Anna Lynn Doherty
Baptisms Performed
Children
Megan Elizabeth Browne, born 5/6/07, daughter of Eric and Carrie Browne
Adelaide Jo Douma, born 12/19/12, daughter of Brent and Erin Douma
Gemma Lynn Freeborn, born 3/3/13, daughter or Mark and Jayme Freeborn
Adult
Chase Katherine Millard
Zoe Helene Millard
Katherine Davidge Browne
Evangeline Blandyna Kalicinski
Weddings Performed [G-10.0302c (1)
Jaime Kochan and Abe Castillo, 9/12/14, Rev. Rosalind Renshaw
Nicole Bracey and Lucas Simons, 9/14/14, Rev. Lars Rood
Presbytery Report:
Steve Aeschbacher gave a report. The next presbytery meeting is on Tuesday night,
November 18 at Newport Presbyterian and is the last one this year. Annie Duncan will
defend her statement of faith and all session elders, especially those who have not
attended a presbytery meeting, are urged to be there.
Deacons Report:
No action. Ministering to congregation. Zip Code Coffee was very good and
encouraging.
Treasurer’s Report
Finance Elder Deneen Blake reported the figures for September 2014.
Actual income for September was $470,217(86%). Actual expenses for September
were $559,071(86%) creating a shortfall of $88,853 for the month. September is the first
month of the 2015 Fiscal Year.
Deneen noted that compared to FY 2014, September income is affected by having a 4
week period compared to a 5 week month last fiscal year. Average receipts are up
2.31% and attendance is up 2.68%. October is typically better than September,
however we are off to a slow start for receipts.
Department Check-Ins and What’s the Big Thing
Caring Ministries
No action. Reminder to sign up for prayer ministry for at least 3 dates. Prayer class
scheduled for October 26 and November 9 from 9:30-10:45 AM in Scott Dudley’s office.
Christian Growth
No action. Literary Night November 7.
Faith + Work + Culture
No action.
Family Life Ministries
No action. Ministry staff moving up to 3rd floor, will all be in same location. Fully staffed, 3
associates hired, supporting all areas. Still a need for volunteers of any adult age. Sixtyeight high school students are going on the upcoming high school retreat.
Finance, Facilities, Equip & Tech, Communications
No action. Hired Sammy Simpson, in role opened up by Tom Deets’ retirement.
Human Resources
No action.
Initiatives and Innovation
No action.
Leadership Development
MSP to approve new members from New Members class. Will be introduced on
November 16, including 4 baptisms. Elders are encouraged to come to the next class in
January, on Wednesdays beginning January 21, 28, and February 4. Come early for
food.
Missions Movement
No action. Ways for the congregation to participate in Christmas season are planned
including giving and serving opportunities relating to missions. Attend Hope for the Holy
Land (hosted in partnership with World Vision) on Monday, November 3, at 7 PM in the
Community Center. Speakers will promote a pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, pro-justice and
pro-Jesus perspective.
Music & Worship
No action.
School of Ministry/Re: New Homes
No action. New house parents, Doug and Alayna Hunter, start November 10.
Young Adult Ministry
No action.
New Business
An Executive Session was held at 9 PM.
The next Regular Meeting of Session will be November 24, 2014 in room S150 at 5:45
PM.
The meeting was closed in prayer at 9:45pm.
Scott Dudley, Moderator
Linda Mauzy, Clerk