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DATE: April 6, 2016 TO: Commissioners to the Special Meeting (April 2, 2016) FROM: David Hamilton, Stated Clerk SUBJECT: Minutes You will find the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Presbytery of Des Moines held on April 2, 2016 at the Cottage Grove Presbyterian Mission Center following this letter. The Minutes may also be downloaded from the Presbytery web site: http://dmpresbytery.org/resources/stated-meetings . If you see additions, deletions, or corrections that need to be made, please send them to me at the Presbytery office, either by email ([email protected] ) or by phone. I need to remind you that we still need host churches for our Stated Meetings on August 20th and November 8th. If you feel this is a way that you could help the Presbytery, let me know and we will work with you as preparations are made for these meetings. REMEMBER – The Call for the May 17, 2016 Presbytery Meeting will be emailed and posted on the Presbytery’s Website at: www.dmpresbytery.org about 10 days prior to the meeting.

http://dmpresbytery.org/resources/stated-meetings

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.dmpresbytery.org/

S p e c i a l M e e t i n g – A p r i l 2 , 2 0 1 6 P a g e 2

The Presbytery of Des Moines of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) held a Special Meeting on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at the Cottage Grove Presbyterian Mission Center in Des Moines, Iowa. The meeting was called to order with prayer by Moderator RE Maurice Dyer at 9:30 a.m.

FORMATION OF THE ROLL The following commissioners and members were registered for this meeting (Present, Absent, Excused): CHURCH MINISTER P/A/E COMMISSIONER Adair, First Bob Zirkelbach E A Allerton, United Melanie Halferty, CRE A Bill Homann Ankeny Eric Pasanchin E Lola Peters Atlantic, First United Suzanne Gorhau E Bev Schelling Audubon, First Roger Claxton P A Bedford, United VACANT - A Brooklyn, First John Reynolds, Jr. A A Carlisle, Scotch Ridge Christopher (Kip) Harris P Mitch Lacquement Centerville, First VACANT - A Chariton, First Sarah Keyser, CRE A A Clive, Heartland P. Alex Thornburg P Joyce Hoffman Corning, First Ken Rummer E Gary Badgett Creston, First James Woodworth E A Creston, Platte Center Dolores Doench P Chuck Erickson Dallas Center, First Adam Smith A Ryan Coon Deep River, United Michelle Williamson A A Des Moines, Central (2) Wallace Bubar E Susan Stroope Des Moines, Central - - Louise Gately Des Moines, Douglas Avenue Richard Harbart P A Des Moines, First Ken Stuber P Midge Slater Des Moines, First Arabic Ekram Kachu, CRE P Jam Duany Des Moines, Fort Des Moines Greg Smith (HR) E A Des Moines, Highland Park Robert D. Cook A A Des Moines, Park Avenue VACANT - Jeanne Burnett Des Moines, Union Park John W. Gilmore E Joyce Rash Des Moines, Westminster (3) Scott Paczkowski P Judy Gardner Des Moines, Westminster Ken Arentson A Tom Daft Des Moines, Westminster (PA) Dick Kiefer (HR) E Ted Coppock Des Moines, Westminster (PA) Bill Ekhardt A - Dexter, First David Kincaide P Doris King Diagonal, United Ed Shields A A Earlham, First Robert Waldron, CRE A A Gibson, First Hans Cornelder P A Greenfield, First David Kincaide P Pam Kincaide Grimes, First Jessica Wietzke A Linda Wong Grinnell, First Kirsten Klepfer P Marta Miller Guthrie Center, First Denis R. James, Sr. A A Hartford, Community United Nathan Lamb P Ann Polito Indianola, Trinity United David Endriss P Heather Pinamonte Johnston, St. Paul Bill O’Connell P W. Brent Johnson Knoxville, First Ramona Wink, CRE A A


CHURCH MINISTER P/A/E COMMISSIONER Lenox, United Tim Maxa P A Leon, First VACANT - A LeRoy, First Dale O’Connell (HR) E A Lucas, First VACANT - A Malcom, First United John Reynolds, Jr. A A Monroe Ann Johnson P A Mount Ayr, United Mike Maddy A A New Sharon, First VACANT - A Newton, First Meghan Davis P Gary Parsons Newton, United Donald Freeman A A Oskaloosa, First Donald Stribling E Sharon Falck Ottumwa, East End Jane Martinez A A Ottumwa, First David Klanderman A A Ottumwa, Westminster Jane Martinez A A Perry, First VACANT - A Sharpsburg Tim Maxa P Kiley Sherwood-Pollard Sigourney, First Jim Stout A A West Des Moines, Covenant Jan Scott E Jean Caster Windsor Heights, Windsor Shamaine Chambers King E Ron Grohe Winterset, First United VACANT - Sheryl Puderbaugh

OTHER MEMBERS OF PRESBYTERY (MINISTERS) Present: Robert Burnett (HR); Marcy Campbell (At-large); Donald Elly (HR); Michelle Leaverton (At-large); David Madsen (HR); Jeffrey Means (At-large); Craig Palmer (At-large); Roger Todd (HR); and Sue Tomlinson (At-large). Excused: Kim Alten (HR); Philip Barrett (HR); Jay Basler (HR); John Beran (HR); Ross Blount (HR); Goanar Chol (At-large); Tom Conrey (HR); Robert C. Cook (HR); Carl Cooper (HR); Jack DePond (HR); Ane Fitzgerald (At-large); Nancy Gorsuch (HR); Bob Houser (HR); Calvin Hsu (HR); Claude Jones (HR); Elizabeth Knott (HR); Aaron Koskamp (HR); Bill LeMosy (HR); Dawn Linder (At-large); John McElroy (Australia); Linda O’Connell (HR); Sara Speer Palmer (HR); Katherine Pater (El Salvador); Marvin Potter (HR); Elizabeth Sandy (HR); Kay E. Steddom (HR); Patricia Summers (HR); Barbara Tooker Todd (HR); Russell Tomlinson (HR); Ron Van Heukelom (HR); Erasmo Vélez (HR); Joan White (HR); Lynn Williams (HR); and Francis Younkin (HR). Absent: David Braak (At-large); Pete Brantner (At-large); Bruce Giese (At-large); Jim Howland (At-large); Mary Beth Mardis-LeCroy (At-large); Barbara Nish (At-large); Kristin Pike (At-large); and Sarai Schnucker Rice (At-large);

LAY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL Present: Mary Lou Briles (Des Moines, Park Avenue); Maurice Dyer, moderator (Indianola, Trinity United); David Hamilton, stated clerk (West Des Moines, Covenant) and Jon Kimple (Dallas Center, First).

VISITORS Ray Peters and Sandy Wagener (Ankeny); Jim Hoffman and Kathryn Roblee (Clive, Heartland); Ginny Hancock (Des Moines, Central); Harold Eklund (Des Moines, Douglas Avenue); Mary Lou Aspengren and Kathy Smith (Des Moines, First); Magdy Komi, Lucia Macor, Flora Oromo, James Anaal, and


Mukhtar Mukhtar (Des Moines, First Arabic); Lisa Whitmarsh Peterson (Des Moines, Park Avenue); Joanne Page and Will Page (Des Moines, Union Park); Jan Davison and Polk Davison (Des Moines, Westminster); Rebecca O’Connell (Johnston, St. Paul), Turning Point Counseling Center; Stephanie Cornelder (Oskaloosa, First); Marcella Phillips and Pam Rees (West Des Moines, Covenant); Jennifer Hines, Cottage Grove Presbyterian Mission Center; Jeff Dodge, Josh Moklestad and Andy Norris, Cornerstone Church – Ames; Tony Colacino, Bradshaw Law Firm; Betty Dyer (Indianola, Trinity United) and Nancy Lister-Settle, (Dallas Center, First), Presbytery staff.

MINISTERS (98 on roll) ELDER COMMISSIONERS AND OTHERS Present: 26 Present: 51 Excused: 47 Excused: 0 Absent: 25 Absent: 30

QUORUM STATEMENT A quorum was present and declared so by the Moderator.

ADOPTION OF DOCKET The Presbytery VOTED to adopt the Proposed Docket as printed and distributed in the Call to this meeting.

READING AND EXPLANATION OF THE CALL Dave Hamilton read and explained the following call for this special meeting:

The purpose of the meeting is to act on a report by the Nominating Committee concerning election of members of the Property Committee and election of a Ruling Elder Commissioner and a Youth Advisory Commissioner to the May Synod meeting, to act on a recommendation from the New Sharon Administrative Commission to reaffirm their formation (since we do not seem to be able to find any record of their original formation), and to reconsider our ministry plans for the Cottage Grove Presbyterian Mission Center. An offer has been received from Cornerstone Church of Ames to purchase the property. The Cottage Grove Covenant Council is requesting that Presbytery accept this offer to purchase the property and consider a proposal for the distribution of the proceeds from the sale.

No other business may be conducted at this meeting.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT The Committee placed the following names in nomination:

PROPERTY COMMITTEE Moderator-2016 RE Dennis Day (Grinnell, First)

Class of 2016 RE Ron Grohe (Windsor Heights, Windsor), CPA & Church Property

Class of 2017 RE Ranney Ramsey (Clive, Heartland), Commercial Real Estate

Class of 2018 RE Dennis Day (Grinnell, First), Attorney RE Michael Kleene (Indianola, Trinity United), Architect


The fifth position on this committee is intentionally being left open at this time while the nominating committee searches for a female representative. The area of expertise for each individual nominated are listed following their name.

There being no further nominations from the floor, Presbytery VOTED to elect these individuals.

SYNOD ELDER COMMISSIONER

Class of 2015 RE Ted Coppock (Des Moines, Westminster)

Completing unexpired term that ends after May, 2016 meeting There being no further nominations from the floor, Presbytery VOTED to elect Ted.

NEW SHARON ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION It was VOTED to reaffirm the creation of an Administrative Commission with the charge to advise and assist the First Presbyterian Church of New Sharon, Iowa in the process of dissolving the congregation.

Members of the Commission are: Mickey Van Baale, moderator (Newton, First) Rev. Don Freeman, (Newton, United) Rev. Claude Jones, HR Joyce Rash, (Des Moines, Union Park) Rev. John Reynolds, Jr, (Brooklyn, First/Malcom, First United) John Sprole (West Des Moines, Covenant) Linda Van Wyk (Monroe)

COTTAGE GROVE PRESBYTERIAN MISSION CENTER COVENANT COUNCIL REPORT A PowerPoint presentation of the Cottage Grove Story was presented outlining the history of the building and ministries conducted in and from the church (Appendix 1). A handout describing the history of the First Arabic Presbyterian Church (Appendix 2) was included in the meeting packet provided to commissioners. Rationale for the proposed sale of the building was presented, main points of the sale agreement were explained, and the process used to arrive at a sale price was described. Presbytery VOTED to place a limit of three minutes per speaker for those speaking for or against motions relating to the sale of the Cottage Grove Presbyterian Church real property. It was moved and seconded that the Presbytery of Des Moines approve the sale of the Cottage Grove Presbyterian Church real property now owned by the Presbytery to Cornerstone Church of Ames, IA, or its assignee, for a purchase price of $240,000, and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase Real Estate and Acceptance dated March 17, 2016, executed by Cornerstone as buyer and by the Presbytery as Seller. The Offer is subject to Presbytery approval. Further, the Moderator/President and the Stated Clerk/Secretary or other officers of the Presbytery are authorized to execute such documents and take such further action as they deem necessary and appropriate to facilitate the closing of the sale, with advice from legal counsel and from the Cottage Grove Operations Team. After discussion by members of Presbytery it was VOTED to end debate and move to a vote on the motion. It was then VOTED to approve the motion to approve the sale.


Representatives of Cornerstone Church of Ames, IA shared their vision for ministry to Drake University and to the neighborhood surrounding Cottage Grove. Ginny Hancock acknowledged the contributions made by those involved over the years in the life of Cottage Grove church, by volunteers who have participated in maintenance projects at Cottage Grove over the past few years, and by the operations team of the Cottage Grove Covenant Council. It was then moved and seconded to allocate proceeds from the sale of the Cottage Grove Mission Center building in the following manner:

• Pay back to the Knox Knolls fund the dollars spent on the Mission Center. • Pay back to the Presbytery's Operating Budget the Mission Center dollars spent from the

2015 budget and the first four months of 2016. It was moved and seconded to amend this motion so that the first bullet point reads as follows:

• Pay back to the Knox Knolls fund the $100,000 borrowed from it for support of the Mission Center from money remaining in the Money Market Fund established to hold the borrowed money and from proceeds of the sale of the Cottage Grove Mission Center building.

After discussion by members of Presbytery it was VOTED to end debate and move to a vote on the amendment. It was then VOTED to approve the amendment. Presbytery then VOTED to approve the amended motion. It was then moved and seconded that the Presbytery Leadership Council shall appoint a committee to recommend to the Presbytery how to use the remaining funds from the sale of the Cottage Grove Mission Center for the missional purposes of the Presbytery at the August meeting of the Presbytery. After discussion by members of Presbytery it was VOTED to approve this motion. A closing prayer was offered by Ekram Kachu, Commissioned Ruling Elder for the First Arabic Presbyterian Church. The meeting was adjourned with benediction by Maurice Dyer at 11:20. Respectfully Submitted, David Hamilton, Stated Clerk

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