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Session News

The Session of Covenant PCA holds its Stated Meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the South Educational Building.

Highlights from the Stated Session Meeting of October 14, 2008

Highlights from the Stated Session Meeting of September 9, 2008

Highlights from the Stated Session Meeting of July 8, 2008

Highlights from the Stated Session Meeting of March 11, 2008

• John Johnston attended a portion of the Session meeting, representing the Deaconate.
• The Session tabled discussion on the possibility of amending the Rotation Policy, pending further discussion with the Deaconate.
• The Session passed a motion to reactivate the "Committee of Fun" headed by RE Bill Stuck.
• The Session passed a motion to send RE Wayne Slaikeu to Deacon meetings as the Sessional representative.

Highlights from the Called Session Meeting of February 23, 2008

• The Session approved a list of nominees for WIC office provided by the WIC (Women in the Church).
• The Session approved two members who had volunteered to be substitute youth Sunday school teachers. 

Highlights from the Called Congregational Meeting of February 17, 2008

• MRC: All recomomendations made by the Ministerial Relations Committee (MRC) of the Houston Metro Presbytery have been or are being implemented.  The recommendations were: 1) Receive the resignation of TE Roane (done); 2) Work to add qualified men to the Session and implement a rotation system of service for Ruling Elders (in progress); 3) Invite a member from Presbytery to moderate Session meetings until a new senior pastor is called and installed (done - TE Greco of Christ Chruch Katy is filling this role); and 4) Establish a process for Pastoral Search that is "unrushed, deliberate, transparent and visible to all the members of Covenant PCA" (in progress).
• Pulpit Supply: A pulpit supply committee headed by Andy Edwards will be bringing in qualified Teaching Elders from within Presbytery and also from outside of Presbytery (such as former pastor Joey Pipa) to preach week-by-week after TE Julian Zugg leaves for Belize.
• Worship: Morning and Evening worship services will continue.  A Worship Committee is being formed and needs volunteers and input.  The Worship Committee will be coordinating music and the order of worship for both services.  The overall structure of our worship services will remain very similar to what we have become used to, and the intent will be identical - to draw attention away from ourselves and to focus on our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  However, there will be some small changes, e.g., the services will be led by a Ruling Elder.  The design of the worship services will be to include participation from the congregation and to ensure continuity from week-to-week.
• Christian Education: Youth Sunday school classes will continue.  Current needs include a substitute teacher for 5th/6th grade; a substitute teacher for high school; and a youth Sunday School superintendent.  Please see Scott Baker if you are interested in volunteering.  The Adult Sunday school class will be on "The Peacemaker" by Ken Sande.  All adults are encouraged to attend.
• Bible Studies: The Katy, West Houston, and North Houston Bible Studies meet twice a month and are studying the book of Ephesians.  The Sugar Land Bible Study meets weekly.  A new study - the Ladies Study - begins meeting this week on every Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m.
• Finances: The church ended the 2007 year with a budget surplus of $32,000, praise be to God!  This gives Covenant approximately $117,000 in undesignated funds and over $250,000 in total cash-on-hand when including designated accounts.  The deacons are still finalizing the 2008 budget, but are currently projecting a 30% reduction in giving and therefore a deficit of approximately $60,000.  However, we believe that, if the Lord wills, He can grow the church and wipe out that deficit.  The church is financially strong and will continue to be so, Lord willing.    
• Rotation Policy: In conjunuction with the recommendation from the MRC, the Session adopted a policy for rotation of Ruling Elders at its last meeting on February 12, 2008.  The entire policy is attached here.  In essence, Ruling Elders will be elected for three-year Terms.  At the end of a Term, they may take a 1-year Sabbatical, or continue for another three-year Term.  After serving two successive Terms, a Ruling Elder must take a 1-year Sabbatical.
• Pastoral Search: We have chosen to follow the advice of the MRC and be "unrushed, deliberate, transparent and visible to all the members of Covenant PCA" in our pastoral search.  Before a Search Committee can be formed, preliminary work needs to be done to ensure that we know what we are looking for in our next pastor.  That is the "unrushed and deliberate" piece of the recommendation.  For "transparent and visible," the Search Committee will be a cross-section of the congregation. 
• Web Site: The Session desires to communicate as openly as possible with the congregation, and so this page on the website is now available.

Highlights from the Stated Session Meeting of February 12, 2008

• A Rotation Policy for Ruling Elders was approved by a unanimous vote as recommended by the MRC.  Details of the implementation of the policy still need to be worked out.
• The Session worked on developing and refining the agenda and topics for the February 17 Congregational Meeting.  This discussion took most of the time in the Stated Session meeting.

Highlights from the Called Session Meeting of January 26, 2008

Those in attendance: TE Greco, TE Zugg, RE Baker, RE Hess, RE Slaikeu, RE Stuck, RE Tolsma, Andy Edwards

• Rev. Fred Greco, Teaching Elder of Christ Church Katy, was elected moderator of the Session
• The resignation of RE Kindel from the Session was accepted.
• RE Ted Hess was elected clerk (pro tem).
• Andy Edwards was granted the role of advisor with floor privileges, but with non-voting status.
• The recommendations of the Ministerial Relations Committee (MRC) of the Houston Metro Presbytery regarding reorganization of the Session, including implementing a rotation system for officers, were accepted in principle.  Details of implementation will need to be developed subsequently.
• It was agreed to hold a congregational meeting within the next month for informational purposes.
• It was agreed to hold a Joint Officers meeting in the near future.
• It was agreed that the Stated (standing) meeting of the Session would be on the second Tuesday of each month.
• It was agreed that the Pulpit Supply Committee would consist of Andy Edwards, Vicki Edwards, and Ellen Moore.  The first action of the committee is to draft a list of potential pulpit supply candidates for approval by the Session.
• The Session prepared an initial list of activities required for the ongoing operation of the church.  These activities will be further developed and shared with the congregation at the appropriate time.