FPC Session Notes - Stated Meeting - Monday – July 28, 2025

Session conducted its regular business meeting in Room 212 beginning at 5:30pm. The meeting was moderated by Rev. Lou Ann Sellers. Led by Rev. Sellers, Session self-reflected on The Examen, a prayer practice that helps individuals recognize God’s presence in their daily lives and discern God’s guidance using 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. Elder Jonathan Hood opened Session with Prayer.

Session Action Items: 

1. Session approved a request from the Youth and Family Formation Committee to host a Silent 

    Auction fundraiser at the church April 19, 2026.  

2. Session approved a request from College and Adult Faith Formation Committee to grant 

    permission to UKirk to engage in “Yard Flocking” as a fundraising activity to benefit UKirk. 

3. Session approved a recommendation from the Nominating Committee to call a Congregational 

    meeting for the purpose of electing Ordained Elder Sara Kaylor to serve the remaining term 

    of Elder Julia Chancy (’27) upon Julia’s resignation earlier this year due to health concerns.  

    The Congregational Meeting will be called for Sunday, August 10th during the 11:00 am Worship Service.  

4. Session approved Elder Susan Campbell to be the Session Liaison to the FPC Preschool Board. 

5. Session approved a Called Meeting of Session for the purpose of receiving new members on  

    Sunday, August 17th at 10:35 am in the Chapel. 

Finance: Chairman Summerford reported through June, our pledged and non-pledged income is behind our budgeted income by ($92,263). This is actually better than a year ago. Our expenses are running under budget to soften the deficit to ($30,666). See Financial Chart. Our liability insurance portfolio for the church has renewed with Higginbotham Insurance (formerly Fitts Agency) at a premium of $166,238 which includes $23,827 for a wind deductible buydown. A request was approved from the Youth Committee for $3,250 in funds from the Allison Harbin Memorial Designated Fund for improvements to the Youth Wing. 

Endowments: Two new endowments have been created due to the generosity of Shelley Jones in her Will.  $100,000 was gifted to FPC to create the Tom and Shelley Jones Endowment for Music Ministry and the Tom and Shelley Jones Endowment for Children Ministry. Endowment funds were reviewed with Session and the balance on June 30 was $8,797,694.58.

Stewardship: Chairman Danny Potts reviewed the plans for the Stewardship Campaign which will kick off during the month of August.

Fellowship: Chairman Jill Cilimberg announced the Church Picnic will be Sunday, September 21st at the Buddy Powell Pavillion from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. There will be good food, fellowship and fun activities for all.

Children and Family Faith Formation: Beth Curtis informed Session that we had nearly 100 children participate in a highly successful VBS and 70 volunteers to support them.  She further reported we were still short on SS and Logos teachers.

Mission: 125 backpacks were packed with school supplies for Perry County on Sunday. Madagascar mission team continues to prepare for a departure on August 26. 

College/UKirk:  Made more than 40 connections with incoming UA Students during “Bama Bound”.  August 22 UKirk will host a cookout with the intention of recruiting new students to participate in the College Ministry.

Approval of Wedding: Kaylea Hudson and Noah Ohsiek on June 6, 2026.

Approval of Baptism: Elizabeth Plott, daughter of Bill David and Dana, Sunday, September 14, 2025.