May Open Session Meeting Notes
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Faith Classroom
Attendees: Pastor Doug Sasser, Beth Fite (Chair/Lay Leader), Gene Jones, Audrey O’Donald (Associate Lay Leader), Liz McAuley, Mike LaRock, Carol Loyer, Jimmy Porter, Sarah Wright, Jessica Grau, Larry LaRue, and Debra Hockey (Secretary)
Welcome and Opening Remarks: The meeting began with Breakthrough Prayer.
Spiritual Formation, Kennis: Psalm 139: 23-24. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Sometimes our prayers can become repetitive. We also need to be patient in terms of answers from God. His timing is perfect.
Leadership Equipping: Handout titled Who Is Coming Next. Perspective on who is pursuing divinity and theological education today. Next generation of church leadership will not look like the last. The church has always adapted methods for carrying the gospel: printing press, radio, TV, internet. Important question is not how we keep things the same, but how we faithfully prepare for who God is calling next?
Guests: Brady Shrieves to provide update and thank you, Don Jackson to discuss sales in Narthex/Lobby, Dale Best with ideas for church finances. Decision to uphold prior board rule not to allow sales of any kind in narthex/lobby. Signs may be posted in there to direct folks to another location for cookies, bake sales, ticket sales, t-shirts, etc.
Ongoing Business: In terms of partnership with Anglican church renting chapel, conversations continue and we reviewed draft agreement. Changed board requested be made: start time on Sunday is 9:45, safe sanctuary language to be added, term is 90 days with full year if no notice of termination. Storage of their liturgical items will be in the chapel by the piano. Time to deploy message to congregation about this partnership, which will begin in June.
Financials: Monthly giving is in each bulletin, for the previous month. General fund balance increased slightly, around $500.
Closing Prayer
Next Meeting: 7/21 at 6:30 (no meeting in June as Annual Conference is that week)
