2010 MINUTES OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2010 Minutesof theGeneral Assembly

Cumberland Presbyterian Church2010

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2010 MINUTES
General Assembly
Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Vision of Ministry
Biblically-based and Christ-centeredborn out of a specific sense of mission,
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church strives to be true to its heritage:
to be open to God’s reforming spirit,
to work cooperatively with the larger Body of Christ,
and to nurture the connectional bonds that make us one.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church seeks—to be the hands and feet of Christ  in witness
and service to the world and, above all, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church lives out thelove of God to the glory of Jesus Christ.

Priority Goals• Recruit, educate and nurture clergy and laity for their specific ministries.
• Revitalize and equip congregations and presbyteries to fulfill the mission (vision)of the church.
• Establish new congregations.
• For the next 5 years focus on evangelism.

ONE HUNDRED EIGHTIETH MEETINGDICKSON, TENNESSEE***********

NEXT MEETING - SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
JUNE 20 - 24, 2011***********

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010

2010

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vision of Ministry and Priority Goals...............................................................................................Title Page
Program...........................................................................................................................................................4
Commissioners................................................................................................................................................6
Youth Advisory Delegates..............................................................................................................................7
Committees and Abbreviations.......................................................................................................................7
Committee Meeting Rooms............................................................................................................................7
Committee Assignments.................................................................................................................................8
Assembly Meetings and Officers....................................................................................................................9
By Laws of General Assembly Corporation.................................................................................................12
Memorial Roll of Ministers..........................................................................................................................22
Living General Assembly Moderators..........................................................................................................23
Membership of Boards and Agencies...........................................................................................................24
Reports
Moderator...............................................................................................................................................32
Stated Clerk............................................................................................................................................33
Ministry Council Report 1......................................................................................................................40
Ministry Council Report 2......................................................................................................................41
Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits..................................................................................135
Board of Trustees of the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home.................................................148
Board of Trustees of Memphis Theological Seminary.........................................................................154
Board of the Historical Foundation......................................................................................................169
Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel..............................................................................179
Joint Committee on Amendments........................................................................................................181
Permanent Judiciary Committee..........................................................................................................183
Nominating Committee........................................................................................................................186
OUO Committee...................................................................................................................................189
Place of Meeting Committee................................................................................................................191
Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns........................................................................193
Board of Trustees of Bethel College....................................................................................................196
Memorials
From Synod of Great Rivers Concerning Requirements for Potential Candidates for the Ministry....199
From West Tennessee Presbytery Concerning Clergy..........................................................................199
Agency Budgets..........................................................................................................................................201
AuditsAgencies...............................................................................................................................................209
Bethel College......................................................................................................................................252
Children’s Home...................................................................................................................................290
Historical Foundation...........................................................................................................................306
Memphis Theological Seminary..........................................................................................................317
Minutes of the General Assembly...............................................................................................................338
Appendices
Credentials............................................................................................................................................349
Children’s Home/Historical Foundation..............................................................................................368
Higher Education..................................................................................................................................355
Judiciary...............................................................................................................................................349
Program Planning A..............................................................................................................................364
Program Planning B.............................................................................................................................358
Stewardship..........................................................................................................................................366
Theology and Social Concerns.............................................................................................................356
Calendar.............................................................................................................................. Inside Back Cover

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY2010

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Assembly Meetings: Dickson Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Retiring Moderator: Elder Sam Suddarth, Columbia Presbytery
Host:
Nashville Presbytery
Worship Director: The Reverend C. William Jones, West Tennessee Presbytery
Music Director:
The Reverend Chris Warren, Nashville Presbytery
Pianist:			
Janice Bane, Nashville Presbytery

SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2010
Location

Time		
Event

Dickson CP Church
500 Highway 70 E
Dickson, TN 37055

  2:00 p.m.

Dickson Middle School
401 E College Street
Dickson, TN 37055

  2:00 p.m.  4:00 p.m.
  6:00 p.m.

Orientation for Commissioners and Youth Advisory Delegates(Packets may be picked up in the General Assembly Office
before or after the orientation session.)
Orientation for Committee Chairs (Robert Rush)
Setup displays in hallway
Joint Worship with CPCA: Dr. Stan Wood, preacher, Elk River Presbytery
Elder Joy Wallace, liturgist, Brazos River Presbytery(Following the worship service, the reception for Women in Ministry
will be held in the cafeteria.)

FIRST DAY - MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010
Dickson Middle School  8:30 a.m.
-12:00 p.m.
  2:00 p.m.

  3:00 p.m.
		  3:15 p.m.

  5:30 p.m.

General Assembly Committees meet
Opening Worship
The Retiring Moderator’s sermon: Elder Sam Suddarth, preacher,     Columbia Presbytery
Worship Director: The Reverend C. William Jones,     West Tennessee Presbytery
Break for Commissioners to move to Commissioners
Section for business session
Welcome, Pastor Host, Local Officials
Constitution of the General Assembly
Adoption of the Agenda
Report of the Credentials Committee
Election of Moderator
Election of Vice-Moderator
Presentation by the Stated Clerk, Robert D. Rush
Communications
Election of Stated Clerk
Presentation by the Seikyo Gakuen School
Resolutions by commissioners
Corrections to preliminary minutes
Committee Appointments and Referrals
Introduction of Board and Agency Representatives
Break for Dinner
EVENING PROGRAM

Dickson CP Church

  7:30 p.m.

Moderator’s Reception honoring the Moderator and Vice-Moderatorof the General Assembly, the Immediate Past Moderator, the PresidentElect and the President of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s
Convention

2010

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHSECOND DAY - TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2010
(Individual cars may be driven, but only cars with a handicap sticker will be permitted to park at the Shrine.)
Montgomery Bell
   State Park
1020 Jackson Hill Road
Burns, TN 37029

  8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.  3:00 p.m.

Rotunda Room at theRenaissance Center
855 Highway 46 S
Dickson, TN 37055

  5:30 p.m.

Dickson Middle School
401 E College Street
Dickson, TN 37055

  7:00 p.m.  9:00 p.m.

Presbyterial displays setup
Worship/Holy Communion - Dr. Jay Earheart-Brown, preacher,
   Nashville Presbytery, President, Memphis Theological Seminary
Box Lunches served(unless box lunch was reserved persons will have to eat at the lodge or ata restaurant in Dickson)
Devotions in chapel, singing groups, crafts, games, displays
Dedication of monument - The Reverend Geoff Knight   Trinity Presbytery
Bethel College dinner/program

EVENING PROGRAM
General Assembly Committee meetings

THIRD DAY - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2010
Dickson Middle School  8:30 a.m.

Renaissance Center
855 Highway 46 S
Dickson, TN 37055

12:00 noon

Dickson Middle School  5:00 p.m.

Devotions in Committee Rooms
General Assembly Committee Meetings
Memphis Theological Seminary/Program of Alternate Studies Luncheon

Conclusion of Committee Meetings
Dinner BreakEVENING PROGRAM

Dickson Middle School   7:30 p.m.
Bethel University Renaissance will present a revised version of		“Light Along the Cumberland”(a special offering will be received for Bethel University)

FOURTH DAY - THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010
Dickson Middle School  8:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
  9:30 a.m.
12:00 noon
12:30 p.m.
  2:00 p.m.
  5:00 p.m.

Devotional, Youth Advisory Delegate Jamie Sullivan     Murfreesboro Presbytery
Presentation by the Commission on Chaplains (Paul Collins)
Presentation by the Ministry Council (Rickey Page)
General Assembly Business
Lunch Break
Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Luncheon
General Assembly Business
Dinner BreakTake Down Displays

Evening Program
Dickson Middle School  7:00 p.m.

General Assembly Business
Closing Worship: The Reverend C. William Jones     West Tennessee Presbytery(In the event that business is not concluded on Thursday,the closing worship will be at the conclusion of businesson Friday morning.)

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010

COMMISSIONERS
to theONE HUNDRED EIGHTYTH GENERAL ASSEMBLYPRESBYTERYMINISTERCOMMITTEEELDERCOMMITTEE

Andes (2).................................................................................................... Teresa Ramirez........................... PP
Arkansas (2)..................... Millie Ann Holley............. CPCH/HF............... B.A. DeWoody...........................HE........................... Sarah Ann Jeffrey..................TSC.................... James Strickland.........................S/E
Cauca Valley (2)............... Boyce Wallace........................ PP..................... Adriana Ordonez Ruiz................S/E
Choctaw (1)...................... Nathan Scott...........................HE..................... Jimmie Scott...............................S/E
Columbia (2).................... Calvin Lunn...........................TSC.................... Sally Sain.................................... PP........................... Steve Nave................................J....................... Sam Suddarth....................... CPCH/HF
Covenant (3)..................... Dare Aden.................................J....................... Audaine Fennel..........................HE........................... Ray Board..............................TSC.................... Marvin Hancock......................... PP........................... Gary Carlton..................... CPCH/HF
Cullman (1)...................... Jimmy Peyton...........................J....................... Tommy Harris............................. PP
Cumberland (3)................ Kevin Brantley.......................S/E..................... Shirley Bratcher.................... CPCH/HF........................... Don Bruington..........................J....................... Marcella Lucas..........................TSC........................... John Butler............................. PP..................... Terrell Woosley.......................... PP
Del Cristo (3)................... Harry Chapman...................... PP..................... Gary Barricklow...........................J........................... Gerald Hagelin....................... PP..................... Sue Devine........................... CPCH/HF........................................................................... PP..................... Ken Smith...................................HE
East Tennessee (3)............ Melissa Malinoski.................. PP..................... Rita Laymon...............................HE........................... Alfonso Marquez....................S/E..................... Larry Weems................................J........................... W Jean Richardson................TSC
Grace (3).......................... Sherrlyn Frost.........................S/E..................... Morgan Cade................................J........................... Tommy Johnson............... CPCH/HF............... Norris Ray.................................TSC........................... Jan Overton............................HE
Hong Kong (1).................
Hope (1)........................... Gary Carter....................... CPCH/HF............... Jimmy Cassel.............................. PPJapan (1)........................... Kenta Karasawa...................... PP..................... Hiroshi Yoshizaki....................... PP
Missouri (1)...................... John Appling.........................TSC.................... Michael Fare...............................S/E
Murfreesboro (3).............. Mark Barron........................... PP..................... Jimmy McKinney................. CPCH/HF........................... Craig Martindale....................S/E..................... Gregory Sides...............................J........................... Kevin Medlin..........................HE..................... Richard Turner...........................TSC
Nashville (3)..................... Ted Bane...................................J....................... Lisa Collins................................S/E........................... Dean Guye........................ CPCH/HF............... Anthony Jenkins.........................HE........................... Gregory Jones........................TSC.................... Bobby Lee............................ CPCH/HF
North Central (2).............. J. B. Gates...............................S/E..................... Jerry Pataki................................TSC........................... David West....................... CPCH/HF............... Steven Hughes............................HERed River (3).................... James Gilbert.................... CPCH/HF............... Rodney Chilton..........................S/E........................... Leslie Johnson........................HE..................... John Godwin.............................. PP........................... John Lindsay.........................TSC.................... Robert Rowe.................................J
Robert Donnell (1)........... Gary Tubb............................... PP..................... Rickey Dooley............................HE
Tenn./Georgia (2)............. Jennifer Newell........................J....................... Sylvia Hall.................................TSC........................... Buhwan Yang.........................HE..................... Michael McCormick.................. PP
Trinity (2)......................... Charles Smith.........................HE..................... Steve Martin..............................TSC........................... Steve Turner........................... PP..................... Neil McDaniel..............................JWest Tennessee (5)........... R. Tony Janner........................HE..................... Teresa Ferguson............................J........................... Mace Jett................................ PP..................... Ronnie Parks.............................. PP........................... C. William Jones........ (worship director)......... Mary Ann Jones.........................TSC........................... David Lancaster........................J....................... John Powell.......................... CPCH/HF........................... Jimmy Latimer.......................S/E..................... Edith Umbarger..........................HE.

2010

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHYOUTH ADVISORY DELEGATES
to theONE HUNDRED EIGHTYTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY(Each Presbytery is eligible to send two Youth Advisory Delegates)
PRESBYTERYDELEGATECOMMITTEE

Arkansas..........................................................Hannah Jenkins............................................................................ J
Choctaw
Columbia.........................................................Aaron Clifton............................................................................. S/E
Covenant.........................................................Jenna Franklin.............................................................................. J..........................................................Leanne Kerner............................................................................. PP
CullmanCumberland
del Cristo.........................................................Jacqui Anello............................................................................. TSC	.
..........................................................Bethany Kesatie.......................................................................... PP
East Tennessee................................................Savannah Dabney...................................................................... TSC
Grace ..........................................................Erin Swindle............................................................................... HE..........................................................Rebecca Wilkinson....................................................................... J
Hope ..........................................................Chris Cassel............................................................................... HE..........................................................Spencer Letsinger....................................................................... S/EJapan ..........................................................Ribeka Hagiuda........................................................................... PP
Missouri ..........................................................Remington Davis........................................................................ PP
Murfreesboro...................................................Sarah Jo Dixon......................................................................CPCH/HF..........................................................Jamie Sullivan............................................................................. PP
Nashville.........................................................Emily Durham............................................................................ HE..........................................................Amber Swaw.........................................................................CPCH/HF
North Central..................................................Whitney Stinson.......................................................................... PP..........................................................Kayla Williamson....................................................................... S/E
Red River........................................................Karis Chilton.........................................................................CPCH/HF
Robert Donnell................................................Matthew Dillon.......................................................................... HE
Tennessee Georgia..........................................Lindsey Hopf........................................................................CPCH/HF
Trinity ..........................................................Eric Johnston............................................................................... PPWest Tennessee...............................................Laura Heflin............................................................................... HE..........................................................Ricky Kirby............................................................................... TSC

COMMITTEES ABBREVIATIONS AND MEETING ROOMS
Dickson Middle School
ABBREV.
COMMITTEEMEETING ROOM
CPCH/HF.......................................... Children’s Home/Historial Foundation.................... 138
HE .................................................... Higher Education...................................................... 136........................................................... 128
J .................................................... Judiciary
PP #A................................................. Program Planning A.................................................. 126
PP #B................................................. Program Planning B................................................. 114
S/E .................................................... Stewardship/Elected Officers................................... 112
TSC................................................... Theology/Social Concerns....................................... 110

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
1.

CHILDREN’S HOME/HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Chair: Rev. Gary Carlton
Co-Chair: Elder Sue Devine
Ministers: Gary Carter, James C. Gilbert, Dean Guye, Millie Ann Holley, Tommy Johnson,     David West
Elders: Shirley Bratcher, Bobby Lee, Jimmy McKinney, John Powell, Sam Suddarth
Youth Advisory Delegates: Karis Chilton, Sarah Jo Dixon, Lindsey Hopf, Amber Swaw

2.

HIGHER EDUCATION
Chair: Elder Ken Smith
Co-Chair: Rev. Jan Overton
Ministers: Tony Janner, Leslie Johnson, Kevin Medlin, Nathan Scott, Charles Smith, Buhwan Yang
Elders: B.A. DeWoody, Rickey Dooley, Audaine Fennell, Steven Hughes, Anthony Jenkins,     Rita Laymon, Edith Umbarger
Youth Advisory Delegates: Chris Cassel, Matthew Dillon, Emily Durham, Lauren Heflin,     Erin Swindle

3.

JUDICIARY
Chair: Rev. Jennifer Newell
Co-Chair: Elder Larry Weems
Ministers: Dare Aden, Ted Bane, Don Bruington, David Lancaster, Steve Nave, Jimmy Peyton
Elders: Gary Barricklow, Morgan Cade, Teresa Ferguson, Neil McDaniel, Robert Rowe,     Gregory Sides
Youth Advisory Delegates: Jenna Franklin, Hannah Jenkins, Rebecca Wilkinson

4.

PROGRAM PLANNING
This committee will be sub-divided as follows:
Committee A
Chair: Elder John Godwin
Ministers: Mark Barron, Gerald Hagelin, Kenta Karasawa, Steve Turner, Boyce Wallace
Elders: Ronnie Parks, Teresa Ramirez, Terrell Woosley, Hiroshi Yoshizaki
Youth Advisory Delegates: Ribeka Hagiuda, Eric Johnston, Bethany Kesatie, Whitney Stinson
Committee B
Chair: Rev. Melissa Malinoski
Ministers: John Butler, Harry Chapman, Mace Jett, Gary Tubb
Elders: Jimmie Cassel, Tommy Harris, Michael McCormick, Sallie Sain
Youth Advisory Delegates: Remington Davis, Leanne Kerner, Jamie Sullivan

5.

STEWARDSHIP/ELECTED OFFICERS
Chair: Rev. Kevin Brantley
Co-Chair: Elder Lisa Collins
Ministers: Sherrlyn Frost, J.B. Gates, Jimmy Latimer, Alfonso Marquez, Craig Martindale
Elders: Rodney Chilton, Michael Fare, Adriana Ordonez Ruiz, Jimmy Scott, James Strickland
Youth Advisory Delegates: Aaron Clifton, Spencer Letsinger, Kayla Williamson

6.

THEOLOGY/SOCIAL CONCERNS
Chair: Rev. Calvin Lunn
Co-Chair: Elder Sylvia Hall
Ministers: John Appling, Ray Board, Sarah Ann Jeffrey, Gregory Jones, John Lindsay,     W. Jean Richardson
Elders: Mary Ann Jones, Marcella Lucas, Steve Martin, Jerry Pataki, Norris Ray, Richard Turner
Youth Advisory Delegates: Jacqui Anello, Savannah Dabney, Ricky Kirby

7.

CREDENTIALS:
Chair: John Appling
Members: Jimmy Cassell, Rita Laymon
Youth Advisory Delegate: Hannah Jenkins

2010

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH9ASSEMBLY MEETINGS AND OFFICERS
Historical Review of the Stated Meetings and Officers of:
THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERY, 1810-1813

Date		

Place

Moderator

Clerk

Members

1810, February..........................Sam McAdow’s House.........................Samuel McAdow............................... Young Ewing.....................3..................................................Dickson Co., TN
1810, March 20.........................Ridge Meeting-House,..........................Samuel McAdow............................... Young Ewing...................14..................................................Sumner Co., TN.
1810, October 23.......................Lebanon Meeting-House.......................Finis Ewing........................................ Young Ewing...................16
1811, March 19.........................Big Spring, Wilson Co., TN..................Robert Bell......................................... Young Ewing...................19
1811, October 9.........................Ridge Meeting-House...........................Thomas Calhoun................................ David Foster....................23
1812, April 7.............................Suggs Creek Meeting-House................Hugh Kirkpatrick............................... James B. Porter................28
1812, November 3.....................Lebanon, KY.........................................Finis Ewing........................................ Hugh Kirkpatrick.............22
1813, April 6.............................Beech Meeting-House...........................Robert Bell......................................... James B. Porter................34..................................................Sumner Co. TN
THE CUMBERLAND SYNOD, 1813-1828
1813, October 5.........................Beech Meeting-House...........................William McGee.................................. Finis Ewing......................13
1814, April 5.............................Suggs Creek..........................................David Foster....................................... James B. Porter................27
1815, October 17.......................Beech Meeting-House...........................William Barnett.................................. David Foster....................15
1816, October 15.......................Free Meeting-House, TN......................Thomas Calhoun................................ David Foster....................22
1817, October 21.......................Mt. Moriah, KY....................................Robert Donnell................................... Hugh Kirkpatrick.............27
1818, October 20.......................Big Spring, TN......................................Finis Ewing........................................ Robert Bell......................27
1819, October 19.......................Suggs Creek, TN...................................Samuel King....................................... William Barnett...............24
1820, October 17.......................Russellville, KY....................................Thomas Calhoun................................ William Moore................30
1821, Third Tues. in Oct...........Russellville, KY......................................Minutes not recorded
1822, October 15.......................Beech Meeting-House...........................James B. Porter.................................. David Foster....................47
1823, October 21.......................Russellville, KY....................................John Barnett....................................... Aaron Alexander..............48
1824, October 19.......................Cane Creek, TN....................................Samuel King....................................... William Moore................68
1825, October 18  .....................Princeton, KY........................................William Barnett.................................. Hiram McDaniel..............76
1826, Third Tues. in Oct...........Russellville, KY......................................Minutes not recorded
1827, November 20...................Russellville, KY....................................James S. Guthrie................................ Laban Jones.....................63
1828, October 21.......................Franklin, TN..........................................Hiram A. Hunter................................. Richard Beard..................94
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1829-

1829, May 19............................Princeton, KY........................................Thomas Calhoun................................ F. R. Cossitt.....................26
1830, May 18............................Princeton, KY........................................James B. Porter.................................. F. R. Cossitt.....................36
1831, May 17............................Princeton, KY........................................Alex Chapman................................... F. R. Cossitt.....................34
1832, May 15............................Nashville, TN........................................F. R. Cossitt........................................ F. R. Cossitt.....................36
1833, May 21............................Nashville, TN........................................Samuel King....................................... F. R. Cossitt.....................35
1834, May 20............................Nashville, TN........................................Thomas Calhoun................................ James Smith.....................48
1835, May 19............................Princeton, KY........................................Sam King........................................... James Smith.....................42
1836, May 17............................Nashville, TN........................................Reuben Burrow.................................. James Smith.....................43
1837, May 16............................Lebanon, TN.........................................Robert Donnell................................... James Smith.....................49
1838, May 15............................Princeton, KY........................................Hiram A. Hunter................................. James Smith.....................47
1840, May 19............................Elkton, KY............................................ Reuben Burrow................................. James Smith.....................55
1841, May 18............................Owensboro, KY....................................William Ralston................................. C. G. McPherson.............56
1842, May 17............................Owensboro, KY....................................Milton Bird........................................ C. G. McPherson.............57
1843, May 16............................Owensboro, KY....................................A. M. Bryan....................................... C. G. McPherson.............68
1845, May 20............................Lebanon, TN.........................................Richard Beard.................................... C. G. McPherson.............95
1846, May 19............................Owensboro, KY....................................M. H. Bone......................................... C. G. McPherson.............86
1847, May 18............................Lebanon, Ohio.......................................Hiram A. Hunter................................. C. G. McPherson.............71
1848, May 16............................Memphis, TN........................................Milton Bird........................................ C. G. McPherson...........100
1849, May 16............................Princeton, KY........................................John L. Smith..................................... C. G. McPherson.............75
1850, May 21............................Clarksville, TN......................................Reuben Burrow.................................. Milton Bird....................102
1851, May 20............................Pittsburgh, PA........................................Milton Bird........................................ Milton Bird......................71
1852, May 18............................Nashville, TN........................................David Lowry...................................... Milton Bird....................107
1853, May 17............................Princeton, KY........................................H. S. Porter......................................... Milton Bird....................108
1854, May 16............................Memphis, TN........................................Isaac Shook........................................ Milton Bird....................112
1855, May 15............................Lebanon, TN.........................................M. H. Bone......................................... Milton Bird....................101
1856, May 15............................Louisville, KY.......................................Milton Bird........................................ Milton Bird......................99
1857, May 21............................Lexington, MO......................................Carson P. Reed................................... Milton Bird....................106
1858, May 20............................Huntsville, AL.......................................Felix Johnson..................................... Milton Bird....................124
1859, May 19............................Evansville, IN.......................................T. B. Wilson....................................... Milton Bird....................131
1860, May 17............................Nashville, TN........................................S. G. Burney....................................... Milton Bird....................168
1861, May 16............................St. Louis, MO........................................A. E. Cooper...................................... Milton Bird......................51
1862, May 15............................Owensboro, KY....................................P. G. Rea............................................. Milton Bird......................58
1863, May 21............................Alton, IL................................................Milton Bird........................................ Milton Bird......................73
1864, May 19............................Lebanon, OH.........................................Jesse Anderson................................... Milton Bird......................65
1865, May 18............................Evansville, IN.......................................Hiram Douglas................................... Milton Bird......................78
1866, May 17............................Owensboro, KY....................................Richard Beard.................................... Milton Bird....................155
1867, May 16............................Memphis, TN........................................J. B. Mitchell...................................... Milton Bird....................176
1868, May 21............................Lincoln, IL............................................G. W. Mitchell.................................... Milton Bird....................184
1869, May 20............................Murfreesboro, TN.................................S. T. Anderson.................................... Milton Bird....................173
1870, May 19............................Warrensburg, MO..................................J. C. Provine....................................... Milton Bird....................167

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010

Date
Place
Moderator
Clerk
Members
1871, May 18........................Nashville, TN........................................ J. B. Logan............................................... Milton Bird............................173
1872, May 16........................Evansville, IN....................................... C. H. Bell................................................. Milton Bird............................182
1873, May 15........................Huntsville, AL....................................... J. W. Poindexter....................................... John Frizzell..........................165
1874, May 21........................Springfield, MO.................................... T. C. Blake............................................... John Frizzell..........................185
1875, May 20........................Jefferson, TX......................................... W. S. Campbell........................................ John Frizzell..........................169
1876, May 18........................Bowling Green, KY.............................. J. M. Gill.................................................. John Frizzell..........................184
1877, May 17........................Lincoln, IL............................................ A. B. Miller............................................. John Frizzell..........................171
1878, May 16........................Lebanon, TN......................................... D. E. Bushnell......................................... John Frizzell..........................205
1879, May 15........................Memphis, TN........................................ J. S. Grider............................................... John Frizzell..........................143
1880, May 20........................Evansville, IN....................................... A. Templeton........................................... John Frizzell..........................194
1881, May 19........................Austin, TX............................................. W. J. Darby.............................................. John Frizzell..........................187
1882, May 18........................Huntsville, AL....................................... S. H. Buchanan........................................ John Frizzell..........................188
1883, May 17........................Nashville, TN........................................ A. J. McGlumphey.................................. T. C. Blake.............................204
1884, May 15........................McKeesport, PA.................................... John Frizzell............................................ T. C. Blake.............................148
1885, May 21........................Bentonville, AR.................................... G. T. Stainback........................................ T. C. Blake.............................185
1886, May 20........................Sedalia, MO.......................................... E. B. Crisman.......................................... T. C. Blake.............................193
1887, May 19........................Covington, OH...................................... Nathan Green........................................... T. C. Blake.............................187
1888, May 17........................Waco, TX.............................................. W. H. Black............................................. T. C. Blake.............................217
1889, May 16........................Kansas City, MO................................... J. M. Hubbert........................................... T. C. Blake.............................217
1890, May 15........................Union City, TN...................................... E. G. McLean.......................................... T. C. Blake.............................220
1891, May 21........................Owensboro, KY.................................... E. F. Beard............................................... T. C. Blake.............................213
1892, May 19........................Memphis, TN........................................ W. T. Danley............................................ T. C. Blake.............................229
1893, May 18........................Little Rock, AR..................................... W. S. Ferguson......................................... T. C. Blake.............................226
1894, May 17........................Eugene, OR........................................... F. R. Earle................................................ T. C. Blake.............................167
1895, May 16........................Meridian, MS........................................ M. B. DeWitt........................................... T. C. Blake.............................208
1896, May 21........................Birmingham, AL................................... A. W. Hawkins......................................... J. M. Hubbert.........................200
1897, May 20........................Chicago, IL............................................ H. S. Williams......................................... J. M. Hubbert.........................224
1898, May 19........................Marshall, MO........................................ H. H. Norman.......................................... J. M. Hubbert.........................221
1899, May 18........................Denver, CO........................................... J. M. Halsell............................................. J. M. Hubbert.........................181
1900, May 17........................Chattanooga, TN .................................. H. C. Bird................................................ J. M. Hubbert.........................230
1901, May 16........................West Point, MS..................................... E. E. Morris............................................. J. M. Hubbert.........................226
1902, May 15........................Springfield, MO.................................... S. M. Templeton...................................... J. M. Hubbert.........................255
1903, May 21........................Nashville, TN........................................ R. M. Tinnon........................................... J. M. Hubbert.........................247
1904, May 19........................Dallas, TX............................................. W. E. Settle.............................................. J. M. Hubbert.........................251
1905, May 18........................Fresno, CA............................................ J. B. Hail.................................................. J. M. Hubbert.........................249
1906, May 17........................Decatur, IL............................................ Ira Landrith.............................................. J. M. Hubbert.........................279
1906, May 24........................Decatur, IL............................................ J. L. Hudgins........................................... T. H. Padgett..........................106
1907, May 17........................Dickson, TN.......................................... A. N. Eshman.......................................... J. L. Goodknight....................140
1908, May 21........................Corsicana, TX....................................... F. H. Prendergast..................................... J. L. Goodknight....................136
1909, May 20........................Bentonville, AR.................................... J. T. Barbee.............................................. J. L. Goodknight....................142
1910, May 19........................Dickson, TN.......................................... J. H. Fussell............................................. J. L. Goodknight....................144
1911, May 18........................Evansville, IN....................................... J. W. Duvall............................................. J. L. Goodknight....................109
1912, May 16........................Warrensburg, MO.................................. J. D. Lewis............................................... J. L. Goodknight....................119
1913, May 15........................Bowling Green, KY.............................. J. H. Milholland....................................... J. L. Goodknight....................112
1914, May 21........................Wagoner, OK......................................... F. A. Brown.............................................. J. L. Goodknight....................105
1915, May 20........................Memphis, TN........................................ William Clark.......................................... D. W. Fooks...........................116
1916, May 18........................Birmingham, AL................................... J. L. Price................................................. D. W. Fooks...........................125
1917, May 17........................Lincoln, IL............................................ F. A. Seagle.............................................. D. W. Fooks...........................102
1918, May 16........................Dallas, TX............................................. C. H. Walton............................................ D. W. Fooks...........................117
1919, May 15........................Fayetteville, AR.................................... J. H. Zwingle........................................... D. W. Fooks...........................101
1920, May 15........................McKenzie, TN....................................... J. E. Cortner............................................. D. W. Fooks...........................123
1921, May 19........................Greenfield, MO..................................... Judge John B. Tally................................. D. W. Fooks...........................108
1922, May 18........................Greeneville, TN..................................... Hugh S. McCord...................................... D. W. Fooks...........................102
1923, May 17........................Fairfield, IL........................................... P. F. Johnson, D. D.................................. D. W. Fooks...........................105
1924, May 15........................Austin, TX............................................. D. M. McAnulty...................................... D. W. Fooks.............................93
1925, May 21........................Nashville, TN........................................ W. E. Morrow.......................................... D. W. Fooks...........................114
1926, May 20........................Columbus, MS...................................... I. K. Floyd............................................... D. W. Fooks...........................111
1927, May 19........................Lakeland, FL......................................... T. A. DeVore............................................ D. W. Fooks.............................97
1928, May 21........................Jackson, TN........................................... J. L. Hudgins........................................... D. W. Fooks.............................97
1929, May 16........................Princeton, KY........................................ H. C. Walton............................................ D. W. Fooks.............................98
1930, May 15........................Olney, TX.............................................. O. A. Barbee............................................ D. W. Fooks.............................92
1931, May 21........................Evansville, IN....................................... J. L. Elliot................................................ D. W. Fooks.............................98
1932, May 19........................Chattanooga, TN................................... G. G. Halliburton..................................... D. W. Fooks...........................104
1933, June 14........................Memphis, TN........................................ W. B. Cunningham.................................. D. W. Fooks.............................94
1934, June 14........................Springfield, MO.................................... A. C. DeForest......................................... D. W. Fooks...........................103
1935, June 13........................McKenzie, TN....................................... C. A. Davis.............................................. D. W. Fooks...........................104
1936, June 18........................San Antonio, TX................................... E. K. Reagin............................................ D. W. Fooks...........................100
1937, June 16........................Knoxville, TN....................................... George E. Coleman................................. D. W. Fooks...........................109
1938, June 16........................Russellville, AR.................................... D. D. Dowell........................................... D. W. Fooks...........................117
1939, June 15........................Marshall, MO........................................ E. R. Ramer............................................. D. W. Fooks...........................126
1940, June 13........................Cookeville, TN...................................... Keith T. Postlethwaite............................. D. W. Fooks...........................116
1941, June 19........................Denton, TX........................................... L. L. Thomas........................................... D. W. Fooks...........................120
1942, June 18........................McKenzie, TN....................................... George W. Burroughs.............................. D. W. Fooks...........................108
1943, June 17........................Paducah, KY......................................... A. A. Collins............................................ D. W. Fooks.............................94
1944, June 15........................Bowling Green, KY.............................. I. M. Vaughn............................................ D. W. Fooks.............................94
1945, May 31........................Lewisburg, TN...................................... S. T. Byars............................................... Wayne Wiman.......................103
1946, June 13........................Birmingham, AL................................... C. R. Matlock.......................................... Wayne Wiman.......................105
1947, June 12........................Knoxville, TN....................................... Morris Pepper.......................................... Wayne Wiman.......................108

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Date		
Place
Moderator
Clerk		Members
1948, June 17...................... Nashville, TN...................................Paul F. Brown................................................. Wayne Wiman......................105
1949, June 16...................... Muskogee, OK..................................Blake Warren.................................................. Wayne Wiman......................109
1950, June 15...................... Los Angeles, CA...............................L. P. Turnbow................................................. Wayne Wiman........................98
1951, June 14...................... Longview, TX...................................John E. Gardner............................................. Wayne Wiman......................105
1952, June 12...................... Memphis, TN....................................Emery A. Newman......................................... Wayne Wiman......................120
1953, June 18...................... Gadsden, AL.....................................Charles L. Lehning, Jr.................................... Wayne Wiman......................107
1954, June 17...................... Dyersburg, TN..................................John S. Smith................................................. Wayne Wiman......................124
1955, June 16...................... Lubbock, TX.....................................Ernest C. Cross.............................................. Shaw Scates..........................118
1956, June 21...................... Cookeville, TN.................................Hubert Morrow.............................................. Shaw Scates..........................118
1957, June 21...................... Evansville, IN...................................William T. Ingram, Jr..................................... Shaw Scates..........................119
1958, June 18...................... Birmingham, AL...............................Wayne Wiman................................................ Shaw Scates..........................116
1959, June 17...................... Springfield, MO................................Virgil T. Weeks............................................... Shaw Scates..........................120
1960, June 15...................... Nashville, TN...................................Arleigh G. Matlock........................................ Shaw Scates..........................130
1961, June 21...................... Florence, AL.....................................Ollie W. McClung.......................................... Shaw Scates..........................126
1962, June 20...................... Little Rock, AR.................................Eugene L. Warren.......................................... Shaw Scates..........................126
1963, June 19...................... Austin, TX........................................Franklin Chesnut............................................ Shaw Scates..........................117
1964, June 17...................... Chattanooga, TN...............................Vaughn Fults.................................................. Shaw Scates..........................123
1965, June 16...................... San Francisco, CA............................Thomas Forester............................................. Shaw Scates..........................114
1966, June 15...................... Memphis, TN....................................John W. Sparks............................................... Shaw Scates..........................124
1967, June 21...................... Paducah, KY.....................................Raymon Burroughs........................................ Shaw Scates..........................123
1968, June 19...................... Oklahoma City, OK..........................Loyce S. Estes................................................ Shaw Scates..........................115
1969, June 18...................... San Antonio, TX...............................J. David Hester............................................... Shaw Scates..........................116
1970, June 17...................... Knoxville, TN...................................L. C. Waddle.................................................. Shaw Scates..........................116
1971, June 16...................... Jackson, TN......................................E. Thach Shauf............................................... Shaw Scates..........................116
1972, June 19...................... Kansas City, MO..............................Claude D. Gilbert........................................... Shaw Scates..........................110
1973, June 18...................... Ft. Worth, TX....................................Thomas H. Campbell..................................... Shaw Scates..........................101
1974, June 17...................... Bowling Green, KY..........................David A. Brown............................................. Shaw Scates..........................116
1975, June 16...................... McKenzie, TN..................................Roy E. Blakeburn........................................... Shaw Scates..........................120
1976, June 21...................... Tulsa, OK.........................................Hubert W. Covington..................................... T. V. Warnick........................115
1977, June 30...................... Tampa, FL.........................................Fred W. Bryson.............................................. T. V. Warnick........................122
1978, June 19...................... McKenzie, TN..................................Jose Fajardo................................................... T. V. Warnick........................120
1979, June 18...................... Albuquerque, NM.............................James C. Gilbert............................................. T. V. Warnick........................126
1980, June 16...................... Evansville, IN...................................Robert L. Hull................................................ T. V. Warnick........................126
1981, June 15...................... Denton, TX.......................................W. Jean Richardson........................................ T. V. Warnick........................126
1982, June 21...................... Owensboro, KY................................W. A. Rawlins................................................ T. V. Warnick........................124
1983, June 20...................... Birmingham, AL...............................Robert G. Forester.......................................... T. V. Warnick........................127
1984, June 11...................... Chattanooga, TN...............................C. Ray Dobbins.............................................. T. V. Warnick........................125
1985, June 17...................... Lexington, KY..................................Virgil H. Todd................................................ Roy E. Blakeburn.................125
1986, June 23...................... Odessa, TX.......................................James W. Knight............................................ Roy E. Blakeburn.................125
1987, June 15...................... Louisville, KY..................................Wilbur S. Wood.............................................. Roy E. Blakeburn.................125
1988, June 6........................ Tulsa, OK.........................................Beverly St. John............................................. Robert Prosser......................119
1989, June 12...................... Knoxville, TN...................................William Rustenhaven, Jr................................ Robert Prosser........................96
1990, June 25...................... Ft. Worth, TX....................................Thomas D. Campbell..................................... Robert Prosser........................88
1991, June 24...................... Paducah, KY.....................................Floyd T. Hensley, Jr........................................ Robert Prosser......................106
1992, June 22...................... Jackson, TN......................................John David Hall............................................. Robert Prosser......................102
1993, June 21...................... Little Rock, AR.................................Robert M. Shelton.......................................... Robert Prosser......................100
1994, June 20...................... Albuquerque, NM.............................Donald C. Alexander...................................... Robert Prosser......................100
1995, June 19...................... Nashville, TN...................................Clinton O. Buck............................................. Robert Prosser......................102
1996, June 17...................... Huntsville, AL..................................Merlyn A. Alexander...................................... Robert Prosser........................95
1997, April 11..................... Nashville, TN...................................Merlyn A. Alexander...................................... Robert Prosser........................80
1997, June 16...................... Louisville, KY..................................W. Lewis Wynn.............................................. Robert Prosser........................95
1998, June 15...................... Chattanooga, TN...............................Masaharu Asayama........................................ Robert Prosser........................97
1999, June 21...................... Memphis, TN....................................Gwendolyn Roddye....................................... Marjorie Shannon...................96
2000, June 19...................... Bowling Green, KY..........................Bob G. Roberts.............................................. Robert D. Rush.......................96
2001, June 18...................... Odessa, TX.......................................Randolph Jacob.............................................. Robert D. Rush.......................88
2002, June 17...................... Paducah, KY.....................................Bert L. Owen.................................................. Robert D. Rush.......................95
2003, June 23...................... Knoxville, TN...................................Charles McCaskey......................................... Robert D. Rush.......................96
2004, June 21...................... Irving, TX.........................................Edward G. Sims............................................. Robert D. Rush.......................87
2005, June 27...................... Franklin, TN.....................................Linda H. Glenn............................................... Robert D. Rush.......................91
2006, June 18...................... Birmingham, AL...............................Donald Hubbard............................................. Robert D. Rush.......................87
2007, June 18...................... Hot Springs, AR...............................Frank Ward..................................................... Robert D. Rush.......................84
2007, December 7............... Nashville, TN...................................Frank Ward..................................................... Robert D. Rush.......................62
2008, June 7........................ Japan.................................................Jonathan Clark............................................... Robert D. Rush.......................82
2009, June 15...................... Memphis, TN....................................Sam Suddarth................................................. Robert D. Rush.......................86
2010, June 13...................... Dickson, TN.....................................Boyce Wallace................................................ Robert D. Rush.......................88

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BYLAWS
Bylaws of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church General Assembly Corporation
A Non-profit Religious Corporation Organized and Existing
Under the Laws of the State of Tennessee
ARTICLE 1-RELIGIOUS CORPORATION
1.01 Purpose.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a spiritual body comprised of a portionof the universal body of believers confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  As an ecclesiastical body,the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a connectional Church which includes all of the judicatories of
the Church.  The highest judicatory of this ecclesiastical body is the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church (referred to in these Bylaws as “the Church”).  This corporation has been formed toserve and support the Church by holding real and personal property of the Church, employing staff to serve
the Church, and performing other secular and legal functions.
1.02 Ecclesiastical Authority Not Limited by Corporate Powers.   The enumeration in statestatutes or these Bylaws of specific powers which may be exercised by the Commissioners, Board of
Directors, or the officers of the corporation when acting in their corporate capacity shall not limit theirauthority when acting in their ecclesiastical capacity for the Church.
1.03 Church Authorities.  The doctrine of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, expressed in the
Confession of Faith, Constitution, Rules of Discipline, and Rules of Order of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, shall have precedence over any inconsistent provision of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE 2-TERMINOLOGY
2.01 Delegates.  The corporation’s delegates shall be called “Commissioners.”
2.02 General Assembly.  A meeting of the Commissioners shall be called a “General Assembly.”
2.03 President.  The corporation’s president shall be called the “Stated Clerk.”
2.04 Ecumenical Representative.  A person who is not a member of a Cumberland Presbyterian
Chuch or presbytery but who supports the mission of a denominational entity and is elected to a term ofservice on that entity shall be called an “Ecumenical Representative.”
ARTICLE 3-OFFICES
3.01 Location.  The principal office of the corporation in the State of Tennessee shall be located in
Shelby County, Tennessee.  The corporation may have such other offices, either within or outside the Stateof Tennessee, as the General Assembly or the Board of Directors may direct from time to time.
ARTICLE 4–COMMISSIONERS
4.01 Commissioners.  The Commissioners shall have the powers and authority described in thecorporation’s charter and these Bylaws.  Included among them are the power to:a.  Elect the elected members of the Board of Directors.
b.  Approve any amendment to the corporation’s charter except an amendment to delete     the names of the original directors; to change the name of the registered agent, or to     change the address of the registered office;c.  Elect and remove the Moderator, Stated Clerk, and the Engrossing Clerkd.  Fill vacancies on the corporation’s various boards, agencies and committees, and on     the boards of any subsidiaries;e.  Approve the merger or dissolution of the corporation, or the sale of substantially all of     the corporation’s assets; andf.  Transact such other business of the corporation as may properly come before any     meeting of the Commissioners.
4.02 Selection of Commissioners: Number and Qualifications.  Commissioners shall be selectedby the presbyteries.  A presbytery shall be entitled to send one minister and one elder for each 1,250, or
fraction thereof, active members (including ordained clergy) in the presbytery.  Each elder selected as a2010

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Commissioner must be serving as a member of a session at the time of the General Assembly at which
he or she will serve.  A Commissioner shall continue to serve until no longer qualified or until his or her
successor is selected and qualified.  The clerk of each presbytery shall certify the presbytery’s duly electedcommissioners, youth advisory delegates, and alternates to the Stated Clerk in a manner provided by theStated Clerk.
4.03 Youth Advisory Delegates.  Each presbytery may select not more than two youth advisorydelegates who should be from 15 through 19 years of age.  Advisory delegates may serve as members withfull rights on General Assembly committees, but shall not vote as Commissioners.
4.04 Annual Meeting and Notice.  The Commissioners shall meet annually at a date and time
established by the General Assembly.  The meeting shall be continued from day to day until adjournment.  
Written notice of the meeting shall be mailed to the stated clerks of all presbyteries and published in the
Cumberland Presbyterian at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed meeting.
4.05 Special Meetings and Notice.  The Moderator, or in case of the Moderator’s absence, death,or inability to act, the Stated Clerk, may with the written concurrence or at the written request of twenty
Commissioners, ten of whom shall be ministers and ten elders, representing at least five presbyteries, call a
special meeting of the Commissioners.  If warranted by a change of circumstances, a called special meeting
may be cancelled by the Moderator, or in case of the Moderator’s absence, death, or inability to act, theStated Clerk, with the written concurrence of at least ten of the Commissioners who requested or concurredin the call of the special meeting.  Written notice of any special meeting shall be mailed to the stated clerksof all presbyteries, to all Commissioners, and to their alternates at least sixty (60) days prior to the meeting.  
The notice shall specify the particular business of the special meeting, and no other business shall betransacted.
4.06 Place of Meeting.  The General Assembly may designate any place within or outside thestate of Tennessee as the place for an annual meeting.  If the Commissioners fail to designate a place for anannual meeting, or if an emergency requires the place to be changed, the Board of Directors may designate aplace for the annual meeting.  The Moderator or the Stated Clerk, as the case may be, when calling a special
meeting shall designate the time and place of the meeting in the notice of the meeting.
4.07 Quorum.  Any twenty or more Commissioners, of whom at least ten are ministers and tenelders, entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum at any General Assembly.  When a quorum is once present
to organize a meeting, business may continue to be conducted and votes taken despite the subsequent
withdrawal of any Commissioner.  A meeting may be adjourned despite the absence of a quorum.
4.08 Voting.   Every Commissioner shall be entitled to one vote, which must be cast by theCommissioner in person; no proxies are permitted.  All corporate actions shall be taken by majority vote
except as otherwise provided by the corporation’s parliamentary authority.   Voting for members of theBoard of Directors shall be non-cumulative.
ARTICLE 5-BOARD OF DIRECTORS
5.01 Authority.  The Board of Directors shall manage the business and affairs of the corporation
except for any power or authority which is reserved to the Commissioners or delegated to any other agencyof the corporation.  The Board of Directors is authorized to amend the corporation’s charter only to delete
the names of the original directors; to change the name of the registered agent; or to change the address of
the registered office.
5.02 Composition of the Board of Directors.   The Board of Directors shall consist of seven(7) members, who shall be the directors of the corporation.   Six (6) members shall be elected by theCommissioners and the Stated Clerk shall serve by virtue of office.  All members, whether elected or ex
officio, shall have all of the privileges of office.
5.03 Qualification for Election.  Each person elected to the Board of Directors shall be a natural
person who is a person in good standing of a presbytery or local Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  No
two directors shall be from the same presbytery, provided, however, that a director who moves from one
presbytery to another may continue to serve until the expiration of his or her term of office.
5.04 Election and Tenure.  The elected members of the Board of Directors shall serve terms of
three (3) years each.  The terms shall be staggered so that two (2) directors shall be elected each year.  Each
person elected shall serve until his or her successor has been elected and qualified.
5.05 Action of Board in Emergency or By Default.  If, for any reason, the General Assembly fails
to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors at the next General Assembly, then the Board of Directors may
fill the vacancy by majority vote of the members then in office.
5.06 Meetings.  The Board of Directors shall meet annually or more often at such time and place

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as it may set.  Special meetings may be called by or at the request of the Stated Clerk or any three directors
at any place, either within or outside the state of Tennessee.
5.07 Notice.   Notice of any meeting shall be given at least five (5) days before the date of themeeting, except that notice by mail shall be given at least ten (10) days before the date of the meeting.  
Notice may be communicated in person; by telephone, fax, or electronic mail; or by first class mail orcourier.  Except as specifically provided by these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at nor the
purpose of any special or regular meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of themeeting.
5.08 Notice of Special Actions.  Any meeting of the Board of Directors at which one or more of thefollowing actions shall be considered must be preceded by seven (7) days written notice to each memberthat the matter will be voted upon, unless notice has been waived.  Actions requiring such notice are:amendment or restatement of the corporate charter; approval of a plan of merger for the corporation; sale of
all or substantially all of the corporation’s assets; and dissolution of the corporation.
5.09 Officers of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may have such officers of theboard as it may deem appropriate.
5.10 Quorum and Voting.  A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transactionof business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting,it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any of those present.  A meeting may be adjourned despite
the lack of a quorum.  The vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum ispresent shall be the act of the Board of Directors unless a greater vote is specifically required by the Charteror the Bylaws.
5.11 Conference Meetings.  Any or all the members of the Board of Directors or any committee
designated by it may meet by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment
which permits all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other simultaneously.  A member who
participates in a meeting by such means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
5.12 Action by Written Consent.  Whenever the members of the Board of Directors are requiredor permitted to take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting on written consent,
setting forth the action so taken and signed by all of the members entitled to vote,5.13 Emergency Actions.  If the Board of Directors determines by a vote of three-fourths of all its
members that an emergency exists of such magnitude as to threaten the work of the whole Church, or of allboards and other agencies of the Church, and that the emergency requires action before the next meeting of
the General Assembly, then the Board of Directors shall exercise the powers of the Commissioners in such
emergency.
5.14 Compensation.  Members of the Board of Directors shall receive no compensation in theircapacity as members of the Board of Directors.  Members may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendanceat each meeting of the Board of Directors.
5.15 Removal of Directors.  An elected member of the Board of Directors may be removed by theCommissioners for misfeasance or if he or she is no longer qualified to be elected to the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 6-WAIVER OF NOTICE
6.01 Written Waiver.  Any notice required to be given to any member of the Board of Directors
or a Commissioner under these Bylaws, the Charter, or the laws of Tennessee may be waived.  The waiver
shall be in writing, signed (either before or after the event requiring notice) by the person entitled to thenotice, and delivered to the corporation.
6.02 Waiver by Attendance.   The attendance of a member of the Board of Directors or a
Commissioner at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, unless the person attends
a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was
not properly called or convened.
ARTICLE 7-MODERATOR AND VICE-MODERATOR
7.01 Nomination and Election.  At the beginning of each annual meeting the General Assembly
shall elect a Commissioner to serve as Moderator until the next annual meeting.  Nominations for Moderator
shall come from the floor.  One nominating speech, not to exceed ten minutes, shall be permitted on behalfof each nominee.  If there is more than one nominee, the election shall be conducted by written ballot.  A
committee appointed and supervised by the Stated Clerk shall receive the ballots, count them, and certify

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the election.  If no nominee receives a majority of the votes cast, a run-off election shall be conducted.  Only
those leading nominees who together received a majority of the votes cast on the preceding ballot shall be
included in the run-off election.
7.02 Nature of Office.   The Moderator of the General Assembly is the ecclesiastical head of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church during the tenure of the office and a spiritual representative of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church wherever God leads.  The Moderator receives a precious gift and great
opportunity for service in the Church: the freedom to go anywhere and to listen to the mind, heart and spirit ofthe denomination and to speak with and to the Church.  The office of Moderator has great honor and respect,
and the person elected to the Office is a priest, prophet, and pastor of the Church at large.  The Moderator
prays with and for the work of the Spirit of God in the life of the denomination at every opportunity.  TheModerator participates in the life and work of the Church as far as possible, and pays particular attention
to ecumenical relations, especially with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.  Judicatories,
congregations, and others are urged to invite the Moderator, and the Moderator is encouraged to attend
meetings of Church entities and judicatories to observe the life and work of the Church at every level.
7.03 Duties and Privileges of Office.
a.  The Moderator shall preside at all meetings of the General Assembly.
b.  The Moderator shall appoint, with the consent of the General Assembly, such special     committees as are needed;c.  The Moderator shall serve as chairperson of the General Assembly Program Committee     and as a member of the Place of Meeting Committee;d.  The Moderator shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the General     Assembly.
e.  The Moderator shall serve as an advisory member of the Ministry Council during tenure     in office and for the year following tenure.
f.  The Moderator shall observe the places and times God is calling the Church to service,     assess the need for a Denominational response to God’s call, and report items that     concern the General Assembly.
g.  The Moderator shall wear the official cross and stoles of office during the term of office.
7.04 Expenses of Office.  Any allowance budgeted by the General Assembly to offset the expensesof the Moderator shall be administered by the Stated Clerk.  Persons issuing an invitation to the Moderator are
encouraged to agree in advance on arrangements for the payment of travel expenses.  Upon the Moderator’s
retirement from office, a gavel and a replica of the Moderator’s cross shall be presented to the Moderator.
7.05 Vice-Moderator.  The General Assembly shall elect a Vice-Moderator in like manner.  TheVice-Moderator shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the Moderator of the General Assemblyand perform the duties of the Moderator in the event of the Moderator’s disability or absence from office
for any reason.
7.06 Removal.   The Moderator or Vice-Moderator may be removed by the General Assembly
whenever in its judgment the removal would serve the best interests of the corporation.
ARTICLE 8-STATED CLERK
8.01 President.  The Stated Clerk is the principal executive officer of the corporation and shall also
have the titles of “president” and “treasurer”.
8.02 Nomination and Election.  The Nominating Committee may nominate the serving StatedClerk for re-election.  If the Nominating Committee declines to nominate the serving Stated Clerk for reelection, or if the Stated Clerk has vacated the office, resigned, or declined to be re-nominated, then the
Corporate Board shall conduct a search for and nominate a candidate to the General Assembly.  In either
event, further nominations may be made by the Commissioners.  The Commissioners shall elect the StatedClerk by majority vote.
8.03 Term of Office.  The Stated Clerk shall be elected to a term of four (4) years.  The regular termof office begins on January 1 and ends on December 31.  There is no limit on the number of terms which
may be served by an individual Stated Clerk.
8.04 Duties. The Stated Clerk shall be concerned with the spiritual life of the Church and withmaintaining and strengthening a united witness for the Church.   The Stated Clerk shall also generally
supervise and control the business affairs of the corporation and see that all orders and resolutions of theGeneral Assembly are carried into effect.  In fulfillment of these duties, the Stated Clerk shall:
01.  Have responsibility to provide for the orderly governance of the Church in accordance       with the Constitution, Rules of Order and Rules of Discipline.

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2010

02.  Maintain records of the corporation and respond to requests for official records of       General Assembly actions and interpretations of its actions.
03.  Represent the Church when an official of the General Assembly is needed.
04.  Represent the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in establishing and maintaining       relations with other Churches, particulary those of the Presbyterian and Reformed       tradition, and in addressing common concerns.
05.  Sign all documents on behalf of the corporation or the Cumberland Presbyterian       Church.
06.  Represent the corporation or the Church in litigation or other legal matters affecting the      Cumberland Presbyterian Church, including the selection and employment of legal      counsel.
07.  Make suitable arrangements for General Assembly meetings, including researching       possible meeting sites, contracting for facilities, and arranging space for committee       meetings and sessions of the General Assembly;
08.  Provide for printing and other communication needs of the General Assembly while in       session.
09.  Call meetings of the Place of Meeting Committee and the Program Committee.
10.  Prepare and distribute an information form to be completed by Commissioners for the       Moderator’s use in making committee appointments.
11.  Advise the Moderator in the appointment of committees.
12.  In consultation with the Moderator, refer all matters to come before the next General       Assembly; and provide copies of all such referrals to the Commissioners and advisory       delegates before the General Assembly convenes.
13.  Prepare and distribute preliminary minutes and an agenda for General Assembly       meetings which shall provide time for the consideration of any appropriate business,        including memorials from a judicatory or denominational entity delivered to the Stated       Clerk in writing by April 30.
14.  Supervise the recording and publication of minutes and a summary of actions taken by       each General Assembly.
15.  Make copies of General Assembly minutes available to ordained ministers, licentiates,       candidates, commissioners, clerks of sessions, members of denominational entities,       schools of the Church, synod, and presbytery clerks, to the Stated Clerk’s exchanges       and other interested persons in order to encourage lower judicatories and persons in       the Church to implement the actions of the General Assembly.
16.  File the minutes of each General Assembly with the Historical Foundation as a       permanent record.
17.  Maintain and update annually the Digest of the General Assembly actions.
18.  Represent the Church at large on the Ministry Council.
19.  Provide support services for the Moderator and all denominational entities.
20.  Receive and make any appropriate response to communications to the Cumberland       Presbyterian Church or General Assembly.
21.  Maintain a name and address file on congregations, session clerks, pastors, and other       leadership of congregations with statistical information about congregations,       presbyteries, and synods.
22.  Solicit, receive, publish, and disseminate annual reports from churches.
23.  Review reports by denominational entities and assist them in complying with correct       reporting and budgeting procedures and in avoiding duplication of work.
24.  Hold, report annually, and distribute as authorized by the General Assembly or the       Ministry Council the Contingency Fund and all other General Assembly Funds not       entrusted to the care of a denominational entity.
25.  Call the Judiciary Committee into session or by other means secure the advice of the       committee on appropriate matters.
26.  Communicate with presbyteries and synods on behalf of the General Assembly and       attend their meetings from time to time.
27.  Provide training for presbytery and synod clerks and orientations for General Assembly       commissioners.
28.  Generally perform duties as are prescribed in the Constitution or directed by the General       Assembly.

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8.05 Removal.   The Stated Clerk may be removed by the General Assembly whenever in its
judgment the removal would serve the best interests of the corporation.
ARTICLE 9-OTHER OFFICERS
9.01 Secretary.  The chief executive officer of the Ministry Council shall, by virtue of office, be thesecretary of the corporation, and shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of secretary.
9.02 Engrossing Clerk.  The Engrossing Clerk shall be elected by the General Assembly to a termof four (4) years.  The regular term of office begins on January 1 and ends on December 31.  There is nolimit on the number of terms which may be served by an individual Engrossing Clerk.  The Engrossing
Clerk shall serve as Stated Clerk pro tempore during the meeting of the General Assembly in the event theStated Clerk is absent or unable to serve.  The Engrossing Clerk shall perform such other duties as may fromtime to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the General Assembly.
9.03 Additional Officers.  The corporation may have such additional officers as it may from time
to time find necessary or appropriate.
ARTICLE 10-ORGANIZATION AND RELATIONSHIPS
Church:10.01 Generally.  The following are denominational entities related to the Cumberland Presbyterian01.  Subsidiary corporations: Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits of the       Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home;       Memphis Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Ministry       Council of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
02.  Related corporations: Bethel University; Historical Foundation of the Cumberland       Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
03.  Commissions: Military Chaplains and Military Personnel.
04.  Committees: Committee on Nominations; Joint Committee on Amendments; Judiciary,      Our United Outreach; Place of Meeting Committee; Program Committee; Unified      Committee on Theology and Social Concerns.
10.02 Election and Tenure.   The following qualifications and rules relate to service on any
denominational entity.
01.  Unless elected as an Ecumenical Representative, no person shall be qualified to serve       except a member in good standing in a presbytery or local congregation of the       Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
02.  No person who is employed in an executive capacity including Chief Executive, Vice       President, Team Leader, Director, or equivalent in the Cumberland Presbyterian           Church is eligible to serve on a denominational entity.  No employee of a denominational       entity is eligible for service on the same denominational entity.
03.  Each person shall be elected for a term of three years unless elected to fill the remainder       of an unexpired term.  However, if a person elected to serve on a denominational entity      where residence in a particular synod is a qualification for election shall move to      another synod while in office, the term to which he or she was elected shall      terminate at the close of the next meeting of the General Assembly.
04.  Members of the Committee on Nominations may not be elected to a consecutive term.  
       All other persons may serve up to three consecutive terms for a total not to exceed nine      years in office.
05.  A Cumberland Presbyterian who has served on any entity is not eligible to serve on the       same entity (except for an authorized consecutive term) until at least two (2) years have      elapsed since the conclusion of the previous service.
06.  A Cumberland Presbyterian who is serving on any entity is not eligible to serve on       another entity until at least one (1) year has elapsed since the conclusion of the previous      service.
07.  An Ecumenical Representative who is serving or has served on any entity is not eligible      to serve on any other entity (except for an authorized consecutive term on the same      entity) until at least one (1) year has elapsed since the conclusion of the previous      service.

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10.03 Resignation or Removal.
01.  Any person serving on a denominational entity who is no longer qualified or eligible       to serve shall be deemed to have resigned.
02.  Any person serving on an incorporated denominational entity may resign by delivering         written notice of resignation to the secretary or an executive officer of the denominational      entity, who shall promptly report the resignation to the Stated Clerk.  Any person      serving on an unincorporated denominational entity may resign by delivering written      notice of resignation to the Stated Clerk.  A resignation is effective when delivered      unless some other effective date is specified in the written resignation.
03.  No member who continues to meet the standard  requirements for election or       appointment to any denominational entity shall be removed from office except for       misfeasance.  Removal of a person elected by the General Assembly shall be by vote       of the General Assembly.
10.04 Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits.  The corporation shall elect the eleven(11) directors of the Board of Stewardship as provided in its charter.
10.05 Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home.  The corporation shall elect the fifteen (15)directors of Children’s Home as provided in its corporate articles.  The corporation shall elect the directors
in such a manner that, immediately following any election, there shall be at least six (6) directors who aremembers of ecumenical partners of the Children’s Home.
10.06 Historical Foundation.   The corporation shall elect six (6) of the twelve (12) directorsof the Historical Foundation as provided in its charter.  The corporation shall elect the directors of theHistorical Foundation in such a manner that, immediately following any election, there shall be at least one(1) member from each synod and no person shall be elected if the election would cause two directors fromthe same presbytery to be serving simultaneously.  The remaining six (6) directors shall be elected by the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
10.07 Memphis Theological Seminary.  The corporation shall elect the twenty-four (24) directorsof Memphis Theological Seminary as provided in its charter.  The corporation shall elect the directors insuch a manner that, immediately following any election, there shall be at least eleven (11) directors who aremembers of ecumenical partners of the Seminary.
10.08 Ministry Council.
01.  The corporation shall elect the fifteen (15) directors of the Ministry Council as provided       in its charter.
02.  The corporation shall elect the directors of the Ministry Council in such a manner that       immediately following any election, there shall be three (3) directors from each synod;       at least six (6) but no more than nine (9) directors who are ordained clergy; and no more      than nine (9) directors of the same gender.
03.  The Stated Clerk, Moderator, and Immediate Past Moderator shall be designated as       Advisory Members to the board of directors of the Ministry Council.  In addition, the       corporation shall elect three (3) youth Advisory Members who shall be between the       ages of 16 and 19 years of age, inclusive, when elected.
10.09 Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel.  The commission shall consist of three(3) members elected by the corporation.
ARTICLE 11-COMMITTEES
11.01 General.  The corporation shall have the committees provided for in these Bylaws and suchother standing or special committees as the General Assembly may create from time to time.  Except asotherwise provided in these Bylaws, the Moderator, in consultation with the Stated Clerk, shall appoint allcommittees.
11.02 Committees of Commissioners and Youth Advisory Delegates.   Prior to each General
Assembly, the Moderator, in consultation with the Stated Clerk, shall organize the Commissioners andYouth Advisory Delegates into the following committees: Chaplains/Missions/Pastoral Development,Children’s Home/Historical Foundation, Higher Education, Judiciary, Ministry Council/Communications/
Discipleship, Stewardship/Elected Officers, and Theology and Social Concerns.   Each committee shallconsider such matters expected to come before the General Assembly as are referred to it by the StatedClerk.  Any denominational organization the work of which is affected by a matter before a committee shallbe entitled to address the committee.
11.03 Committee on Nominations.

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1901.  The committee shall consist of ten (10) persons elected by the corporation in such a       manner that, immediately following any election, the committee shall have at least one      minister and one lay person from synod.  It is preferred but not required that no two      members shall be from the same presbytery.
02.  Approximately one third of the members of the committee shall be elected each year       by the Genera Assembly and shall serve one term not to exceed three years.
03.  The committee shall meet not earlier than February 15 each year and shall nominate to       the General Assembly qualified persons to fill all vacancies to be filled by vote of the       General Assembly, including vacancies on the Committee on Nominations, unless       another method of nomination is provided in these Bylaws.  The report of the                                    committee shall list the names of nominees, the presbytery if a minister, and the       presbytery and the local congregation if a lay person.  The Committee on Nominations      shall be intentional in nominating persons who represent the global nature of the      Church.
04.  Presbyteries and synods and their moderators and stated clerks are requested to assist        the Committee on Nominations by recommending persons for any position by providing      the name and qualifications of the potential nominees to the Stated Clerk no later than      February 1 on a form to be provided by the Stated Clerk.  Nominations from the                                         floor shall also be in order.
05.  No person shall be nominated for election by the General Assembly unless the nominee      has within the past year given his or her consent to the nomination.
11.04 Joint Committee on Amendments.  The Judiciary Committee shall appoint as many as fiveof its members to act in committee with an equal number of members of the Judiciary Committee of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.  Upon the request of the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church or the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, thisJoint Committee shall prepare for the consideration of both general assemblies proposed amendments to
the Confession of Faith, Catechism, Constitution, Rules of Discipline, Directory for Worship, and Rules ofOrder.
11.05 Judiciary Committee.
01.  The committee shall consist of nine (9) persons elected by the corporation in such a        manner that, immediately following any election, the committee shall have at least       four members (4) who are ordained ministers and at least three (3) members who are       licensed attorneys-at-law.  The Stated Clerk shall be staff liaison to the committee,       attending its meetings and providing resources and counsel.
02.  The committee shall meet at least annually upon the call of its chairperson or the Stated       Clerk.
03.  The committee shall provide advice and counsel to the Stated Clerk.  Upon the written       request of any judicatory or denominational entity made to the chairperson or Stated       Clerk, the committee shall render an advisory opinion on matters of church law or       procedure.  The chairperson shall secure the views of all members of the committee       and write the advisory opinion based on the majority view of the members.  The       committee shall not render legal opinions on matters of civil law nor otherwise engage       in the practice of law.
04.  At least one member of the committee shall attend each meeting of the General       Assembly to advise with its officers and Commissioners on matters of church law or       procedure.  At the Moderator’s request a member of the committee shall be available       to advise the Moderator during the business sessions of the General Assembly.
05.  The committee shall be a commission within the meaning of section 2.5 of the Rules       of Discipline to hear and determine appeals from synods.
11.06 Our United Outreach Committee.
01.  The committee shall consist of five (5) persons elected by the corporation in such a       manner that, immediately following any election, the committee shall have one person       from each synod.  Seven (7) additional members will include a member of the Ministry      Council, a member of the Corporate Board, a member of the Board of Stewardship,      Foundation and Benefits, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Historical      Foundation, and a Cumberland Presbyterian member of the Boards of Trustees of      Bethel University, the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, and Memphis      Theological Seminary.  The executives of the above named denominational entities

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2010      shall serve as non-voting, Resource/Advocacy members.
02.  The Office of the General Assembly will be responsible for the expenses of the       representative of each synod.  The represented denominational entities will be       responsible for the expenses of their representatives and executives.
11.07 Place of Meeting.  The committee shall consist of the Moderator, the Stated Clerk and a
representative of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministries.
11.08 Program Committee.  The committee shall consist of the Moderator, Stated Clerk, Directorof Ministries, Assistant to the Stated Clerk who serves as secretary, the pastor of the host church, four elected
representatives designated by the Ministry Council from among its ministry teams, and one representative
designated by each of the following: Bethel University, Board of Stewardship, Foundation, and Benefits,
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, Historical Foundation, Memphis Theological Seminary, andthe Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry.  The committee will begin planning for two years prior tothe meeting of a particular General Assembly.
11.09 Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns.  The committee shall consist ofeight (8) members elected by the corporation, the Stated Clerk, and the President of Memphis TheologicalSeminary.  At least one member of the committee other than the Seminary’s president shall be a Cumberland
Presbyterian member of the faculty of Memphis Theological Seminary.
ARTICLE 12-INDEMNIFICATION
12.01 Indemnification.  The corporation shall indemnify any director, officer or employee who
is, or is threatened to be, made a party to a completed, pending, or threatened action or proceeding fromany liability arising from the director’s, officer’s or employee’s official capacity with the corporation.  This
indemnification shall extend to the personal representation of a deceased person if the person would beentitled to indemnification under these Bylaws if living.
12.02 Costs and Expenses Covered by Indemnification.  Indemnification provided under these
Bylaws shall extend to the payment of a judgment, settlement, penalty, or fine, as well as attorney’s fees,
court costs, and other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the director or officer with respect tothe action or proceeding.
12.03 Limitation on Indemnification.  No indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of any
person if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to that person establishes his or her liability:
01.  for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the corporation;
02.  for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a       knowing violation of law; or03.  for any distribution of the assets of the corporation which is unlawful under Tennessee       law.
ARTICLE 13-TRUSTEE FOR THE CORPORATION
13.01 Trustee.  The Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, a nonprofit corporation existing under the laws of the state of Tennessee, holds certain real property
and other assets of the Church as trustee for the use and benefit of the Church.  The Board of Stewardshipmay continue to hold such real property and other assets, but after the adoption of these Bylaws, it shall holdthose assets as trustee for the use and benefit of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church General Assembly
Corporation.
13.02 Other Assets.  Other, additional property may from time to time be conveyed to the Boardof Stewardship to be held by it as trustee for the corporation.  All assets held by the Board of Stewardshipas trustee for the corporation shall be held at the pleasure and direction of the General Assembly.
ARTICLE 14-PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
14.01 Designation.  The parliamentary authority of the corporation in all meetings shall be thelatest revised edition of the Rules of Order as set out in the Confession of Faith and Government of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  In matters not provided for in the Rules of Order, the parliamentary
authority shall be Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition.
14.02 Standing Rules.  The following shall be Standing Rules for meetings of the General Assemblyand may be suspended as provided in the parlimentary authority. (see Rules of Order 8.34c)

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Standing Rules
1.  Unless otherwise determined by the General Assembly or by the Stated Clerk in the event of an
emergency, the annual General Assembly shall meet on the third or fourth Monday of June at two o’clockin the afternoon to organize, elect a moderator and transact business, and shall close on Thursday or Fridayof the same week.
2.  Reports of all standing and special committees shall be considered in the order established by theModerator in consultation with the Stated Clerk.  Committee reports may be presented orally or in writing
provided to all Commissioners and youth advisory delegates.  Those presenting committee reports shallhave the opportunity to make remarks and give explanation, such presentations not to exceed ten minutes
unless time is extended by two-thirds vote taken without debate.  All committees recommendations shall be
submitted in writing.
3.  All materials from denominational entities for consideration or action by a General Assembly
shall be submitted to the Stated Clerk at least thirty (30) days before the meeting of General Assembly.
4.   Resolutions and memorials proposed for adoption by individual commissioners rather thandenominational entities or judicatories of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church shall be introduced no later
than the close of business on the second day of a meeting of General Assembly, and, when introduced, shallbe referred by the Moderator, in counsel with the Stated Clerk, to the appropriate committee or committees
for report and recommendations to the Assembly.
ARTICLE 15-REPORTS AND AUDITS
15.01 Congregational Reports.  Annually by December 1, the Stated Clerk shall mail to session
clerks statistical forms for reporting congregational data.  Session clerks shall mail the completed forms
to presbytery clerks by February 1.  The presbytery clerk shall mail the composite statistical report for all
congregations of a presbytery to the Stated Clerk by February 10.
15.02 Institutional Reports.   In order to be considered for inclusion in the General Assembly
budget, all denominational entities shall deliver to the Stated Clerk an annual report including a concise
description of the organization’s work during the previous year and a line item budget for the forthcoming
year.  Financial reports should be condensed as much as possible while conveying all essential informationon the organization’s operations.  All denominational entities except academic institutions on a fiscal year
are requested to maintain their books on a calendar year.
15.03 Reporting Schedule.  An electronic copy and two written copies of the annual report signedby two officers of the organization shall be delivered to the Stated Clerk by March 15 each year.  Organizations requesting funds from Our United Outreach shall submit multi-year program budgets to the Our
United Outreach Committee.
15.04 Audits.   Organizations and operations included in the General Assembly budget shall be
audited annually by a certified public accountant.  Copies of the auditor’s report, including any recommendations for changes in the procedures relating to internal financial controls, shall be delivered to the StatedClerk.  Organizations with total receipts of $100,000 or less are not required to have an audit but shall submit their books and financial statements to the Stated Clerk annually.
15.05 Bonds.  Each organization or person whose financial records are required to be audited shallhave a fidelity bond in an amount adequate to protect all funds held by the organization or person.
ARTICLE 16-AMENDMENTS
16.01 Manner of Amendment.   Except as provided below, these Bylaws may be amended orrepealed only by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes cast in a duly constituted meeting of theGeneral Assembly.  No portion of the Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.  Fair
and reasonable notice of any proposed amendment shall be provided as required by state law.
16.02 Extraordinary Actions.  In order to be effective the following actions must be approvedby (1) the affirmative vote of two consecutive General Assemblies, or (2) a ninety percent (90%) vote of asingle General Assembly.
01.  Terminating the existence of a denominational entity named in Bylaw 10.01
02.  Creating a new denominational entity other than a temporary committee or task force.
03.  Decreasing the Our United Outreach budget allocation to a denominational entity by       more than 40% of the amount distributed to it during the previous calendar year; or
04.  Taking any other actions which would cause a drastic change in the mission or structure       of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

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MEMORIAL ROLL OF MINISTERS
IN MEMORY OF
MINISTERS LOST BY DEATH
NAME............................................PRESBYTERY.......................AGE.................DATE
Alexander, Don Charles..................................East Tennessee............................76........................12/20/09
Atchison, Dean................................................Covenant.................................................................06/26/09
Bartholomew, Harold......................................Arkansas......................................86........................10/23/09
Bates, Robert Harold.......................................Columbia.................................................................12/17/09
Brown, Rosalie................................................North Central..............................91........................06/05/09
Cannon, Chester..............................................Covenant.....................................75........................02/02/09
Dickerson, Andrew Mizel, Jr..........................Murfreesboro...........................................................03/23/09
Hicks, William D............................................West Tennessee...........................69........................09/15/09
Hyden, Lee......................................................Hope .......................................84........................11/26/09
Johnson, David................................................Trinity ...................................................................01/01/09
Leslie, Randall................................................West Tennessee...........................45........................04/05/09
Marsiglio, Roger J...........................................Covenant.....................................79........................07/06/09
Milam, Robert.................................................Cumberland.............................................................06/24/09
Mims, Howell (Gay).......................................Grace ...................................................................11/19/09
Snipes, William Horace..................................Murfreesboro...............................94........................09/20/09
Wallace, Charles..............................................Red River....................................76........................10/18/09
Wright, Joyce..................................................Tennessee-Georgia..................................................06/10/09

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LIVING GENERAL ASSEMBLY MODERATORS
2008—REV. JONATHAN CLARK, 88 Woodcrest Drive, Winchester, TN 37398
2007—REV. FRANK WARD, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016
2006—REV. DONALD HUBBARD, 2128 Campbell Station Road, Knoxville, TN 37932
2005—REV. LINDA H. GLENN, 619 N. 24th Avenue, Humboldt, TN 38343
2004—REV. EDWARD G. SIMS, 2161 N. Meadows Drive, Clarksville, TN 37043
2003—REV. CHARLES MCCASKEY, 679 Canter Lane, Cookeville, TN 38501
2002—REV. BERT OWEN, 7906 Manner Pointe Drive, Louisville, KY 40220
2001—REV. RANDOLPH JACOB, 610 W. Adams Street, Broken Bow, OK 74728
1999—ELDER GWENDOLYN G. RODDYE, 3728 Wittenham Drive, Knoxville, TN 37921
1998—REV. MASAHARU ASAYAMA, 3-15-9 Higashi, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo, JAPAN
1996—REV. MERLYN A. ALEXANDER, 80 N. Hampton Lane, Jackson, TN 38305
1995—REV. CLINTON O. BUCK, 4986 Warwick, Memphis, TN 38117
1993—REV. ROBERT M. SHELTON, 7128 Lakehurst Avenue, Dallas, TX 75230
1992—REV. JOHN DAVID HALL, 109 Oddo Lane SE, Huntsville, AL 35802
1990—REV. THOMAS D. CAMPBELL, 4032 Graham Oaks Court, Memphis, TN 38122
1989—REV. WILLIAM RUSTENHAVEN, Jr., 703 W. Burleson, Marshall, TX 75670
1988—ELDER BEVERLY ST. JOHN, 806 Evansdale Drive, Nashville, TN 37220
1987—ELDER WILBUR S. WOOD, Box 122, Palestine, AR 72372
1985—REV. VIRGIL H. TODD, 3095 Glengarry Road, Memphis, TN 38128
1982—REV. WILLIAM A. RAWLINS, 3100 Cook Lane, Longview, TX 75604
1981—REV. W. JEAN RICHARDSON, 7533 Lancashire, Powell, TN 37849
1980—REV. ROBERT L. HULL, Rt 2, 100 Timberlake Drive, McKenzie, TN 38201
1979—REV. JAMES C. GILBERT, 3720 West Biddison, Ft. Worth, TX 76109
1978—REV. JOSE FAJARDO, 101 Vanderbilt, Waxahachie, TX 75165
1975—REV. ROY E. BLAKEBURN, 111 Park Place, Greeneville, TN 37743
1969—REV. J. DAVID HESTER, 1212 Woodbury Court, Knoxville, TN 37922-6000

IN MEMORY OF:
Moderator of the 164th General Assembly

REV. DONALD C. ALEXANDER
Died December 20, 2009

Moderator of the 139th General Assembly

REV. LOYCE ESTESDied June 9, 2010

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICERS
MODERATOR
THE REVEREND BOYCE WALLACE
CRA 101 NO 15-93
CALI, COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA(352) 443-9560 (Cell)hbwcali@yahoo.com
VICE MODERATOR
THE REVEREND HARRY CHAPMAN
4908 EL PICADOR COURTRIO RANCHO, NM 87124(505) 896-8589
wrightrev@gmail.com
STATED CLERK AND TREASURER
THE REVEREND ROBERT D. RUSH, D.MIN. (thru September 30, 2010)
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016(901)276-4572
FAX (901)272-3913
rdr@cumberland.org
THE REVEREND MICHAEL G. SHARPE (beginning October, 2010)
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016(901)276-4572
FAX (901)272-3913
msharpe@cumberland.org
ENGROSSING CLERK
DR. THOMAS J. CRAIG, JR.
8958 Carriage Creek Road
Arlington, TN 38002(901)382-0428
tjc102@comcast.net

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY CORPORATION(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(2)REV. TERRY HUNLEY, 48 Charleston Square, Jackson, TN 38305(2)MS. GRACE WHITFIELD, 245 Monterey Circle, Gadsden, AL 35901(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(2)REV. MELISSA MALINOSKI, 201 N Main Street, Greeneville, TN 37745(2)MR. JERRY WEATHERSBY, 119 County Road 743, Cullman, AL 35055*Ecumenical Partners     +Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

2010

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

25(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(1)MR. TIM GARRETT, 150 Third Avenue South, Suite 2800, Nashville, TN 37201(2)REV. ROY HALL, 87 Lee Hall Street, Scottsboro, AL 35769

MINISTRY COUNCIL(The Ministry Teams under the Ministry Council are the successors to the program boards.)(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)MS. KAREN BREEDING, 1907 Susan Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129(1)MS. MANDY CLARK, 192 Williams Place, Columbus, MS 39702(1)REV. MICHELE GENTRY DE CORREAL, Calle 3 Norte #12-87, Armenia, Quinido,
COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA(2)REV. IWAO SATOH, 9111 Cedarwood Drive, Pewee Valley, KY 40056(2)MR. ROY SHANKS, 3997 N 100th Street, Casey, IL 62420(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(2)REV. CARLTON HARPER, 8764 Cody Dan Court, Ooltewah, TN 37363(2)REV. RICKEY PAGE, 6845 Old Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209(1)MS. TONI PROSSER, 1021 Old State Route 76, Henry, TN 38231(1)REV. LISA SCOTT (address on file)(1)REV. JOHN SHOULTA, 11504 Mount Carmel Road, White Plains, KY 42464 (resigned)(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)MS. JILL CARR, PO Box 1547, Lebanon, MO 65536(1)REV. TROY GREEN, 105 Cobb Hollow Lane, Petersburg, TN 37144(2)MS. ELIZABETH HORSLEY, 1200 Imperial Drive, Denton, TX 76201(2)MS. GWEN RODDYE, 3728 Wittenham Drive, Knoxville, TN 37921(2)REV. SAM ROMINES, PO Box 127, Lewisburg, KY 42256
YOUTH ADVISORY MEMBERS
MS. EMMA SHOAF, 169 Duffey Drive, Medina, TN 38355 (Term expires in 2011)
MR. RICKY KIRBY, 1413 Flowering Dogwood Lane, Dyersburg, TN 38024 (Term expires in 2012)
MS. MADISON RUSH, 513 Meadowlark Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027 (Term expires in 2013)
ADVISORY MEMBERS:
REV. MICHAEL SHARPE, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016
MR. SAM SUDDARTH, 206 Ha Le Koa Court, Smyrna, TN 37167
REV. BOYCE WALLACE, Cra 101 No 15-93, Colombia, South America

COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY TEAM

(Successor to the Cumberland Presbyterian Board.)(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)MS. B. DENISE ADAMS, 126 Ray, Monticello, AR 71655(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(1)REV. JAMES D. MCGUIRE, 220-2 Southwind Circle, Greeneville, TN 37743(1)MS. JENNIFER JO CLARK WILLIAMS, 3256 State Route 2837, Clay, KY 42404(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(1)REV. JAMES M. CANTEY, 3505 Elmira Drive, Longview, TX 75605(1)MR. PAUL EARHEART-BROWN, 866 N McLean, Memphis, TN 38107*Ecumenical Partners     +Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

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DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY TEAM

(Successor to the Board of Publication and Christian Education, Board of Publication.)(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(2)MR. REESE BAKER, 1175 Rowland Cemetery Road, Fredonia, KY 42411(1)MS. SAMANTHA HASSELL, 504 N Main Street, Sturgis, KY 42459(3)REV. SANDRA SHEPHERD, 38844 US Highway 72, Stevenson, AL 35772(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(1)MS. JOANNA D. BELLIS, 17246 Highway K, Aurora, MO 65605(3)REV. JEFFREY A. GEHLE, PO Box 182, Burleson, TX 76097(3)REV. KIP RUSH, 513 Meadowlark Lane, Brentwood, TN 37027(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)REV. MINDY ACTON, 1413 Oak Ridge Drive, Birmingham, AL 35242(3)REV. TOM MARTIN, 1017 Rivermont Place, Chattanooga, TN 37415(3)REV. VERNON SANSOM, JR., 7810 Shiloh Road, Midlothian, TX 76065

MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM

(Successor to the Boards of Mission, Foreign Missions, Missions and Evangelism,
Missions and Church Erection.)(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)REV. JIMMY BYRD, 718 Vanview Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087(3)REV. STEVE DELASHMIT, 811 Campbell Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42104(1)REV. RICARDO FRANCO, 493 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148(3)REV. JEFFERSON SLEDGE, 241 Long Bow Road, Knoxville, TN 37934(2)MRS. BEVERLY STOTT, 200 East Main Street, Dresden, TN 38225(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(3)REV. R. TONY JANNER, 16835 Highland Drive, McKenzie, TN 38201(3)MRS. ATHALA JARAMILLO, 6248 SW 14th Street, West Miami, FL 33144(3)MRS. ROBIN McCASKEY-HUGHES, 1205 Olde Bridge Road, Edmond, OK 73034(1)MS. SHERRY POTEET, P.O. Box 313, Gilmer, TX 75644(1)MS. MARGIE VANDERLAAN, 5221 Old Mill Cove, Pelham, AL 35124(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)REV. MAKIHIKO ARASE, 3-355-4 Kamikitadai Higashiyamato-Shi, Tokyo, 207-0023 JAPAN(3)MR. MIKEL DAVIS, 102 Willow Wood, Ovilla, TX 75154(1)REV. VICTOR HASSELL, 510 N Main Street, Sturgis, KY 42459(3)MRS. JO ANN SHUGERT, PO Box 67, Trilla, IL 62469(3)MR. SAM SUDDARTH, 206 Ha Le Koa Court, Smyrna, TN 37167

PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TEAM
(Successor to the Commission on the Ministry.)(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(2)REV. DAVID LANCASTER, 426 Fuqua Road, Martin, TN 38237(3)REV. GLENDA MELSON, 634 West Fremont Road, Lebanon, MO 65536*Ecumenical Partners     +Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

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27(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(3)REV. MARK DAVENPORT, 8828 Highway 119, Alabaster, AL 35007(1)REV. LINDA SNELLING, 15791 State Highway W, Ada, OK 74820(2)REV. ROBERT E. SHELTON, 10508 Royalwood Drive, Dallas, TX 75238(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)MS. PAT OWEN, 7906 Manner Pointe Drive, Louisville, KY 40220(1)MS. MICAIAH THOMAS , P.O. Box 863847, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486(3)REV. TOMMY THOMPSON, 9160 Tchulahoma Road, Southaven, MS 38671

GENERAL ASSEMBLY BOARD OF:
I. TRUSTEES OF BETHEL UNIVERSITY(Members whose terms expire in 2010)(1)MS. NANCY BEAN, 3510 Clubhouse Drive, Somerset, KY 42503(1)REV. LARRY A. BLAKEBURN, 230 Heathridge Drive, Dyersburg, TN 38024(3)MR. ROY COOPER, 4981 Sunrise Drive, Chandler, TX 75758(1)MR. LAWRENCE (LADD) DANIEL, 13023 Taylorcrest, Houston, TX 77079(2)DR. JAMES (JIMMY) M. LATIMER, 7621 Richmond Road, Memphis, TN 38125(2)+MR. CLARENCE NORMAN, 145 Jones Street, Huntingdon, TN 38344(3)MR. STEVE PERRYMAN, 2606 N Skyview Lane, PO Box 1499, Ozark, MO 65721(2)*MR. DWIGHT REASONS, 256 State Route 152 W, Humboldt, TN 38343(3)+REV. PERRYN RICE, 537 Edgerowe Court, Cookeville, TN 38506(1)MR. BEN T. SURBER, 1145 Hico Road, McKenzie, TN 38201(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(2)*DR. PAUL COWELL, c/o Whitestone Country Inn, 1200 Paint Rock Road, Kingston, TN 37763(2)REV. LINDA H. GLENN, 619 N 24th Avenue, Humboldt, TN 38343(1)*MR. LYNN HOLTON, 1120 Old State Highway 22, McKenzie, TN 38201(2)*DR. RAY MORRIS, PO Box 924528, Norcross, GA 30010(1)MR. BOBBY OWEN, 1625 Cabot Drive, Franklin, TN 37064(1)REV. ROBERT (ROB) TRUITT, 1238 Old East Side Road, Burns, TN 37029(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(2)*MR. MICHAEL CARY, 181 Angel Cove, Huntingdon, TN 38344(3)MR. BILL DOBBINS, 5716 Quest Ridge Road, Franklin, TN 37064(1)MR. CHARLES GARRETT, 107 Willow Green Drive, Jackson, TN 38305(2)*MS. CHARLENE P. JONES, 137 Moore Avenue West, McKenzie, TN 38201(1)REV. EUGENE LESLIE, 4541 Old Medina Road, Medina, TN 38355

II. TRUSTEES OF CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANCHILDREN’S HOME
(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)+MS. MAMIE HALL, 305 Tiffton Circle, Hewitt, TX 76643(1)REV. YOONG KIM, 8601 Dogwood Road, Germantown, TN 38139(1)*MR. JAMES KING, 2101 Pembrooke Place, Denton, TX 76206(2)REV. NORLAN SCRUDDER, 29688 South 534 Road, Park Hill, OK 74451(1)REV. DON TABOR, 9611 Mitchell Place, Brentwood, TN 37027*Ecumenical Partners     +Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(1)*MS. KAY GOODMAN, 1042 Bobcat Road, Sanger, TX 76266(2)MS. PAT HUFF, 249 Rancho Drive, Saginaw, TX 76179(1)REV. MELISSA KNIGHT, 9799 Savoy Way, Live Oak, CA 95953(2)MS. RUBY LETSON, 2921 Alexander, Florence, AL 35633(1)*MR. BARON H. SMITH, 3401 Hasland Drive, Flower Mound, TX 75022(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)*MR. RICHARD BROWN, 2724 Steamboat Circle, Arlington, TX 76006(2)REV. ALFONSO MARQUEZ, 389 Bethel Drive, Lenoir City, TN 37772(1)DR. ROBERT MCCLURE, 4555 Indian Creek Loop, Owensboro, KY 42303(2)MR. MICKEY SHELL, 2143 Griderfield-Ladd Road, Pine Bluff, AR 71601(3)+MS. JOY WALLACE, 541 Glen Arbor, Dallas, TX 75241

III. TRUSTEES OF HISTORICAL FOUNDATION(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)+MS. EDNA BARNETT, 7 Breezewood Cove, Jackson, TN 38305(3)MS. GWEN McREYNOLDS, 425 Henderson Road, Jackson, TN 38305(1)+REV. RICK WHITE, 124 Towne West, Lorena, TX 76655(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(2)REV. TOMMY JOBE, 807 Rockwood Drive, Nolensville, TN 37135(1)DR. SIDNEY L. SWINDLE, 4407 Swann Avenue, Tampa, FL 33609(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)+MS. VANESSA BARNHILL, 819 King Street, Sturgis, KY 42459(2)MS. PAMELA DAVIS, 5111 County Road 7545, Lubbock, TX 79424(2)+MS. NAOMI KING, 3850 Millsfield Highway, Dyersburg, TN 38024(1)MS. MARY KATHRYN KIRKPATRICK, 149 Roberta Drive, Memphis, TN 38112(2)MS. SIDNEY MILTON, 287 Golden Acres Loop, Calvert City, KY 42029

IV. TRUSTEES OF MEMPHIS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(2)*REV. D. TOM BELL Jr., PO Box 4286, Huntsville, AL 35815(1)REV. DOY DANIELS Jr., 6083 S First Street, Milan, TN 38358(1)MS. PAT MEEKS, 8540 Edney Ridge Drive, Cordova, TN 38016(1)REV. ROBERT M. SHELTON, 7128 Lakehurst Avenue, Dallas, TX 75230(1)*MS. NANCY VERNON, 2612 Fresno Place, Fort Smith, AR 72901(1)+DR. JOE WARD, 2620 Rabbit Lane, Madison, AL 35758(1)*MS. RUBY WHARTON, 1183 E Parkway South, Memphis, TN 38114(3)MRS. MARIANNA WILLIAMS, 947 Troy Avenue, Dyersburg, TN 38024(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(2)*DR. DAVID BOYLE, 4750 St Elmo Street, Memphis, TN 38128(1)REV. KEVIN BRANTLEY, 729 Old Hodgenville Road, Greensburg, KY 42743(2)REV. JODY HILL, 4030 St Andrew Circle, Corinth, MS 38834(2)MS. JAN HOLMES, 5209 87th Street, Lubbock, TX 79424(1)MR. MARK MADDOX, 225 Oak Drive, Dresden, TN 38225(2)REV. J. CRAIG MARTINDALE, 2913 Pellas Place, Murfreesboro, TN 37127*Ecumenical Partners     +Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

2010

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29(1)MR. TAKAYOSHI SHIRAI, 25 Minami Kibogaoka Asahi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa-ken 241-0824
JAPAN(3)*DR. RANDOLPH MEADE WALKER, 2062 Jamie Drive, Memphis, TN 38116(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(1)MR. MICHAEL R. ALLEN, 149 Windwood Circle, Alabaster, AL 35007(3)*DR. CARMICHAEL CRUTCHFIELD, 7 Goldmyth Cove, Jackson, TN 38305(1)MS. DIANE DICKSON, 24 West Rivercrest, Houston, TX 77042(2)*MR. HARVEY G. FERGUSON, 630 Gaines Road, Hernando, MS 38682(2)*MR. DAN HATZENBUEHLER, 1544 Carr Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104(3)*REV. EMILY MATHENY, 1509 Granville Lane, Memphis, TN 38104(2)MR. TIM ORR, 1591 Laura Lane, Dyersburg, TN 38024(2)*MRS. K.C. WARREN, 215 Buena Vista Place, Memphis, TN 38112

V. STEWARDSHIP, FOUNDATION AND BENEFITS(Successor to the Boards of Finance, Trustees, Ministerial Relief,
Tithing and Budget, and the Commission On Educational Endowment.)(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)MR. CHARLES DAY, 9312 Owensboro Road, Falls of Rough, KY 40119(1)MS. SYLVIA HALL, 930 Sherry Circle, Hixson, TN 37343(1)MR. JACKIE SATTERFIELD, 2303 County Road 730, Cullman, AL 35055(2)MRS. DEBRA SHANKS, 3997 North 100th Street, Casey, IL 62420(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(2)MR. JAMES CORDUM, 1469 Gills Chapel Road, Lewisburg, TN 37091(1)MR. ANDREW B. FRAZIER, JR., 107 Doris Street, Camden, TN 38320(2)MR. ROBERT LATIMER, RR 1 Box 123, Miami, MO 65344(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)MR. CHARLES G. FLOYD, 1617 Championship Drive, Franklin, TN 37064(1)MS. SUE RICE, 1301 Brooker Road, Brandon, FL 33511(1)MS. DEBBIE SHELTON, 1255 MG England Road, Manchester, TN 37355(3)REV. MICHAEL WILKINSON, 3515 Highway 14, Millbrook, AL 36054

GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONS:
I. CHAPLAINS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL(3) Term Expires in 2011–REV. CHARLES MCCASKEY, 565 E. Tenth Street, Cookeville,
TN 38501(1) Term Expires in 2012--REV. LOWELL RODDY, 2583 Hedgerow Lane, Clarksville,
TN 37043(3) Term Expires in 2013–REV. PAUL COLLINS, 915 Warms Sands SE, Albuquerque,
NM 87123
These three persons and the Stated Clerk represent the denomination as members of the PresbyterianCouncil for Chaplains and Military Personnel, 4125 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016.
*Ecumenical Partners     +Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES
I. JUDICIARY(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(3)REV. JAMES F. BYRD, 1158 Cornishville Road, Harrodsburg, KY 40330(1)MR. WENDELL THOMAS, JR., 1200 Paradise Drive, Powell, TN 37849(3)REV. DWAYNE TYUS, 903 West Hickory Boulevard, Madison, TN 37115(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(3)REV. HARRY CHAPMAN, 4908 El Picador Court, Rio Rancho, NM 87124(2)MR. CHARLES DAWSON, PO Box 904, Scottsboro, AL 35768(1)MS. KIMBERLY SILVUS, 1128 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)REV. SHERRY LADD, 4521 Turkey Creek Road, Williamsport, TN 38487(1)REV. ANDY MCCLUNG, 919 Dickinson Street, Memphis, TN 38107(2)MS. FELICIA WALKUP, 179 Mary Anne Lane, Manchester, TN 37355

II. JOINT COMMITTEE ON AMENDMENTS
The committee consists of five members of the Judiciary Committee of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

III. NOMINATING(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)MS. ELIZABETH ADEN, 404 Yates Street, Mt Vernon, TX 75457(1)MR. BUDDY HARRIS, 507 Louisiana Avenue, Stevenson, AL 35772(1)REV. AARON MCMILLAN, 8600 Academy NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111(1)REV. RICH SHUGERT, PO Box 67, Trilla, IL 62469(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(1)REV. ANN HOLLEY, PO Box 345, Lockesburg, AR 71846(1)MS. KATHY WOOD-DOBBINS, 5716 Quest Ridge Road, Franklin, TN 37064(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(1)REV. J. DON CLARK, 1601 Lake Ridge Circle, Birmingham, AL 35216(1)MS. DEWANA LATIMER, 1012 Junior Jones Road, Humboldt, TN 38343(1)MS. DIANN PHELPS, 4743 Happy Hollow Road, Hawesville, KY 42348(1)REV. LYON WALKUP, 225 Bertha Owens Road, Morrison, TN 37357

IV. OUR UNITED OUTREACH COMMITTEE(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)MS. SHARON RESCH, PO Box 383, Dongola, IL 62926(1)REV. WILLIAM RUSTENHAVEN III, PO Box 1303, Marshall, TX 75671(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(1)MS. LYNNE LIVELY, 906 Lyle Circle, Greeneville, TN 37745(1)REV. TIMOTHY SMITH, 712 Morningside Drive, Fayetteville, TN 37334(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)MR. RON D. GARDNER, 8668 Wood Mills Drive W, Cordova, TN 38016*Ecumenical Partners     +Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

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V. PLACE OF MEETING
THE STATED CLERK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THE MODERATOR OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
A REPRESENTATIVE OF WOMEN’S MINISTRIES OF THE BOARD OF MISSIONS

VI. UNIFIED COMMITTEE ON THEOLOGY AND SOCIAL CONCERNS(Members whose terms expire in 2011)(1)+REV. EDWARD ANDERSON, 142 Andover Lane, Huntsville, AL 35911(2)+REV. JACKIE LANG, 904  35th Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401(3)REV. STEVE MOSLEY, 1200 North Arkansas, Russellville, AR 72801(1)+REV. NOVALENE SITGRAVES, 3345 Grand Avenue, Louisville, KY 40211+REV. BILLY TRIBBLE, 1202 South Evenside Avenue, Henderson, TX 75654(2)MR. JOHN WILSON, 3705 A Ferndale Avenue, Nashville, TN 37215(Members whose terms expire in 2012)(3)REV. PAUL CRISS, 6813 Salem Road, Lakeland, TN 38002(3)REV. MITZI MINOR, 875 South Cox, Memphis, TN 38104(3)REV. HOWARD RODGERS, 336 County Road 1216, Vinemont, AL 35179(Members whose terms expire in 2013)(2)MS. LEZLIE P. DANIEL, 13023 Taylorcrest Road, Houston, TX 77079(1)+SISTER JIMMIE DODD, c/o Mt. Tabor CPCA, 1798 Campbell Street, Jackson, TN 38301(1)REV. BYRON FORESTER, 2376 Eastwood Place, Memphis, TN 38112(2)REV. JANICE OVERTON, 3320 Pipeline Road, Birmingham, AL 35243(1)+DR. CHARLES E. REESE, 2903 Grand Avenue, Dallas, TX 79215(1)+ELDER JOY WALLACE, 541 Glen Arbor, Dallas, TX 75240
President of Memphis Theological Seminary - Ex-officio Member

OTHER DENOMINATIONAL PERSONNEL
REPRESENTATIVES TO:
American Bible Society:  REV. MICHAEL SHARPE, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN
38016
Caribbean and North American Area Council, World Alliance of Reformed Churches:
STATED CLERK MICHAEL SHARPE, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016(Member whose terms expire in 2011)(1)MS. LAURIE SHARPE, 3423 Summerdale Drive, Bartlett, TN 38133

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THE REPORT OF THE MODERATORMusic has played an important part in my life and ministry, so I borrow a line from one of myfavorites, ‘it took a miracle’ to elect me to be Moderator of the 179th General Assembly.   The othercandidates were qualified and able to be moderator.  I want to thank Robert Rush and Elizabeth Vaughn for
their help in making the year run smoothly, and keeping me aware of the important dates and places that callupon the moderator’s time.  I thank all of those who I called the ‘conspirators’ to get me elected.  I tried mybest to fulfill my promise to give you all my time and efforts.  I apologize to those people and churches that
I was unable to meet with due to time and distance.  The moderator’s job is one that is both fulfilling and at
the same time there is the feeling of regret at not being able to visit everyone in the church.  There just isn’t
enough time.  If one person visited 2 churches every Sunday, it would take 7 years just to visit them all.
My message to churches has been ‘Ordinary People’.  God chooses the most ordinary of people to
do His work.  I believe that we all have jobs to do for God.  Another of my messages has been ‘Why are we
here?’  I tried to get us to look at the spiritual calling on our lives.  We are not here just to fill a pew, when
we feel like it, we are not called to give a token of our time, talents, and money.  We are called in Ephesians
4 to use every thing for the purpose of unity in the body of Christ, so that in our unity we can serve others.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination can do mighty things if we all do our part.
I have visited thriving churches, and struggling ones.  Isn’t that the way of life?  Ever since thefailure in the garden, life has been a struggle.  So…..we must accept that part and deal with it.  We have amuch larger picture in front of us: reaching the lost for Christ!!!!  Oh my!  What do we do now???  Godhas already told us.  ‘Have you not heard?  Do you not know?  What do these stones mean?’  Matthew 6:33
says, ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and He will take care of the rest.
We may think of ourselves as incapable of doing anything for God.  You may think that it is enoughto come to church and give of your money.  God didn’t call you to sit in a pew!  He didn’t call you tohire a pastor to do all the work!  He has work for us all.  Some of you are teachers, prophets, evangelists,
missionaries.  Some of you may only have the gift of ‘helps’.
1 Corinthians 12:28 contains that gift, ‘those able to help others’.  You may think you don’t havemuch if anything to give to the Lord.  The widow with only 2 mites (less than a penny) didn’t have much to
give, but the testimony that she gave has been told for 2,000 years.
In closing, I was (at least in my mind) the least likely candidate to be elected your Moderator.  I still
don’t completely understand why.  I gave it my best shot.  There is a song ‘Ordinary People’ that inspired
my message this year.
Just Ordinary people, God uses ordinary people
He chooses people just like me and you
who are willing to do as He commands
God uses people that will give Him all
No matter how small your all may seem to you
Because little becomes much as you place it in the Master’s hand
Our churches will be stronger if each member does their part, our presbyteries will be stronger if
each church does it’s part.  The Synods can do more if the presbyteries do their part.  There are no limits
to what the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination can do if we ‘give our all’ to the high calling of God
which is in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
RECOMMENDATION 1: Go and make disciples.
YIC (yours in Christ)
Moderator Sam Suddarth, Jr.

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THE REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK
I. THE OFFICE OF THE STATED CLERK
Although the Constitution, the Rules of Discipline, the Rules of Order, and the Bylaws list many
responsibilities for the person who holds the position of Stated Clerk, the primary task is to maintain andstrengthen a united witness for the Church.  The Stated Clerk shall also generally supervise and control thebusiness affairs of the Corporation, and see that all directives of the General Assembly are implemented.
The Stated Clerk, who serves as President and Treasurer of the General Assembly Corporation,
maintains the records of the General Assembly and provides the official interpretation of the actions of theGeneral Assembly.  The Stated Clerk must sign all contracts on behalf of the Corporation.  In the event there
is litigation affecting the Church, the Stated Clerk represents the Corporation and hires legal counsel.
The Stated Clerk makes suitable arrangements for meetings of the General Assembly and theConvention of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry.  The Stated Clerk researches possible meetingsites, contracts for facilities, works with the hotel to assure that there are adequate meeting spaces for all
events.  Providing for printing and communication needs, prior to and during the annual meeting, as wellas throughout the year is an important function of the Stated Clerk.   It is important that the yearbook,preliminary minutes, and the minutes are prepared accurately.   When the General Assembly gives aninterpretation or advisory opinion of Constitutional issues, the Stated Clerk must update the Digest.
The Stated Clerk is the official representative of the Church in many ecumenical meetings.  
Encouraging and cultivating ecumenical involvement with other denominations, especially those of theReformed Faith, is a great opportunity.
Although the Office of the General Assembly is not a program agency, the Stated Clerk must beable to share information about any Church program.  The Stated Clerk provides support services for theModerator and all denominational entities.  The Stated Clerk reviews all reports by denominational entities
and offers assistance in complying with correct reporting and budgeting procedures to avoid duplication ofwork.
Presbyterial and Synodical Stated Clerks are provided annual training at the Stated Clerk’s
Conference.   Commissioners and Youth Advisory Delegates to General Assembly are encouraged toparticipate in an orientation session prior to the meeting of the General Assembly.  Manuals for session
clerks, and Stated Clerks of presbyteries and synods are updated periodically and provided to persons
holding those positions.
When Constitutional Amendments are before presbyteries, the Stated Clerk receives the vote of
the presbyteries and reports to the subsequent General Assembly that the amendment(s) are adopted or not
adopted.  When Constitutional Amendments are adopted, the Stated Clerk must update the Confession of
Faith and provide for a new printing of the Confession of Faith.
The Stated Clerk is grateful to the Church for calling him to serve in this position for the past elevenyears.  The Stated Clerk is indebted to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for entrusting to him many
opportunities for ministry for more than fifty years.  The Stated Clerk appreciates the support of the Church
for the Office and for the person who holds this position.

II. STAFF
Ms. Elizabeth Vaughn serves as the Assistant to the Stated Clerk, which requires that she maintainaccurate records of ministers, probationers, congregations, record income and expenses and to authorize
payment of all items in the Office of the General Assembly budget.  The Church is indebted to Ms. Vaughn
for her dedicated service to the Church.
Dr. Tommy Craig is to be commended for his work in keeping accurate minutes, and his work withcommittees at each General Assembly.

III. TWO HUNDRETH ANNIVERSARY
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is celebrating its 200th birthday, which is a call to renewal.  
In the early history of the Church, the forefathers were enthusiastically proclaiming the Good News to lost
persons.  As a result the Church grew rapidly and expanded with the western frontier.  In the 20th and 21st

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centuries, the Church expends a lot of energy in trying to keep members involved, and this may result inless attention to the uncommitted.
The theme of the 2010 General Assembly is “What Do These Stones Mean?”, using Joshua 4 as
the scriptural basis.  When the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River, one person from each tribe, wasselected to select a stone from the river bed of the Jordan, and to carry the stones to the other side in orderto erect an altar.  The stones served as a memorial to God’s providence in the past, the present and His
challenge to the people for the future.  We rejoice in the grace of God which brought the Church into being,
His leadership through the years, and challenges the Church to respond to the leadership of the Holy Spirit
for the future.
On February 4, 2010, the Senate of the State of Tennessee adopted a resolution to honor the
Bicentennial Celebration of the founding of the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination in Dickson County.  
The House of Representatives also adopted the Resolution on February 8.  The Resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS, it is fitting that this General Assembly should pause in its deliberations to join with its
citizens in celebrating joyous and historic occasions; andWHEREAS, the faithful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination are celebrating
the bicentennial anniversary of its founding; andWHEREAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was founded to meet the tremendous needof religious teaching and guidance to an ever-expanding population in the western frontier of the newly
established United States of America; andWHEREAS, the first synod meeting of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was held at the Old
Beech Meeting House in 1813 in Sumner County; andWHEREAS, Cumberland College (now Cumberland University) was established in Princeton,
Kentucky, in 1826, and was one of the first institutions of higher education in the United States to enroll
both men and women; Miss Ann Harpending was enrolled in the first class; andWHEREAS, the first General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination was held in1829 in Princeton, Kentucky; andWHEREAS, Bethel College (now Bethel University) was established in 1842 in McLemoresville;
and
WHEREAS, slavery, although fiercely debated, was decried as an institution by the Cumberland
Presbyterian General Assembly, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was one of the few national
denominations that did not divide along political lines; andWHEREAS, in 1889, Ms. Louisa Woosley, a Cumberland Presbyterian, became the first woman
ordained in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition; andWHEREAS, the first Cumberland Presbyterian Center opened in Memphis in 1951 to house thevarious agencies of the denomination; andWHEREAS, the 1984 revision of the Cumberland Presbyterian Confession of Faith was one of thefirst inclusive confessional documents in the Reformed tradition; andWHEREAS, the new Cumberland Presbyterian Center moved to the Memphis suburb of Cordova
in 2008; andWHERAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination has over 78,000 members in over 700
churches located in many states throughout the United States, as well as Colombia, South America, Hong
Kong, and Japan; andWHEREAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church currently has twenty-three missionaries inseventeen countries; andWHEREAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is one of the truly home-grown institutions of
the great State of Tennessee, and it is most appropriate that the members of this legislative body should
honor this historic religious institution and its members as they commemorate this significant milestone intheir historic existence; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that wehereby honor and congratulate the members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church upon the denomination’scelebration of the Church’s bicentennial and extend to them our best wishes for continued success, growthand prosperity in their outstanding services to our fellow Tennesseans and the entire world.
Signed by Mark Norris, Senate Majority Leader, Ron Ramsay, Speaker of the Senate; Kent Williams,
Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor Phil Bredesen.

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IV. ECUMENICAL RELATIOSHIPSThe Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church have
one heritage, one Confession of Faith and share in several co-operative relationships such as the HistoricalFoundation, the United Board of Christian Discipleship, youth ministry, Unified Committee on Theology
and Social Concerns.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church also participate with other Reformed bodies in ministry.  Although working through partnerships,
the witness of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
would be greatly enhanced through a union of the two denominations.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has always been involved in ecumenical relationships, theoldest of which is the American Bible Society.   The American Bible Society seeks to make scriptures
available to every person in his/her language.  Support for the American Bible Society helps to fulfill thispurpose.  In order to be able to reach more persons, the American Bible Society works with other Bible
societies, some local and some international.  The Bible can and does change human lives.
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council will be merged
into the World Communion of Reformed Churches, June 18-28.   The World Communion of Reformed
Churches will represent approximately eighty million members of two hundred thirty Denominations fromone hundred seven countries, including Reformed, Congregationalists, Presbyterian and United Churches.  
Ms. Laurie Sharpe and Dr. Robert D. Rush will represent the denomination at the uniting council.  Ms.
Katie Sharpe will attend the Reformed Youth Forum preceding the Uniting Council.
Through co-operative ministries, chaplains for the military and veteran’s hospitals are endorsed,
migrant workers and persons in Appalachia are served, and missionaries are sent into a variety of countries.  
Through ecumenical partnerships disaster relief funds are distributed.  Through working co-operatively
church school and camping materials are developed.   Habitat for Humanity enables many persons
throughout the world to secure better housing.  The Cumberland Presbyterian witness is more effective
through participation with other Christians in these and various other ministries.

V. DECISION OF THE 177TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The 177th General Assembly adopted a no nepotism policy in regard to future hiring practices inthe Denominational Center.  Nepotism is defined as “Nuclear family members of existing Denominational
employees.”  This policy can be over ridden by three fourths vote of the Ministry Council and no current
staff will be terminated for this reason. (Minutes, page 415)  Although the Ministry Council can makedecisions for its own staff, it cannot make choices for other agencies housed at the Center.  A “no nepotism
policy” is not effective if it can be over ridden by any agency.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the 180th General Assembly rescind the action of the 177th
General Assembly which allows the Ministry Council to over ride the “No nepotism policy” by a threefourths vote.

VI. AMENDMENT ON PROPERTY
In 2009 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America amended the Constitution to adopt
the same statements on property used by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.   Prior to 2009, the two
denominations had different statements on property.  The Joint Committee on Amendments prepared theamendment for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.   Section 3.30 reads, “This section isdeclaratory of principles to which the Cumberland Presbyterian Church/Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America and their antecedent church bodies have adhered from the inception of the Presbyterian formof church government.  Sections 3.32, 3.33 and 3.34 need to be amended to add Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America in several portions.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That this item be referred to the Permanent Committee on
Judiciary and the Joint Committee on Amendments to prepare the proper Constitutional Amendments
to present to the 181st General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

VII. THE CORPORATE BOARD

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The 177th General Assembly directed that the agencies at the Cumberland Presbyterian Center
upgrade the computer system.  In order to fulfill this directive the Corporate Board approved borrowing
up to $150,000 from the Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits to pay for the new system.  In
the budget for the operation of the Center, $50,000 is included for technology upgrades and a company tomaintain the system.  $18,000 will pay for the services of the maintenance company, thus leaving $32,000
to pay for the note on the computer system.
The Board approved a quit claim deed to the Trustees of West Tennessee Presbytery for the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Trimble, Tennessee.  In 1890 the Trimble Church was deeded to theBoard of Directors of the General Assembly.  Although the General Assembly has not had a Board of
Directors for a long period of time, the corporate board is the successor.  The city of Trimble was replacing
all sidewalks, and needed an easement from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to complete the project.  
Constitutionally a particular church belongs to the presbytery, thus a quit claim deed had to be prepared todeed the property to West Tennessee Presbytery.  When the Trustees of West Tennessee Presbytery owned
the property, they could grant the easement to the city of Trimble.
The Board established travel reimbursement policies for the board, and all committees, commissions,task forces under the Office of the General Assembly.   For many years, entities housed at the Center
reimbursed board/entity members on the basis of the annual business mileage rate established annuallyby the Internal Revenue Service.  In 2010 the Internal Revenue Service mileage rate is fifty (50) cents per
mile.  Persons serving on board/entities should be reimbursed for travel, however, a reduction in the rate
could save the Church a large amount of money.  The Board determined to pay thirty-five (35) cents permile which is the rate paid by the Ministry Council and the Historical Foundation.  If gas prices escalate,the Board will revisit the reimbursement rate on mileage.  The Board concurs with a recommendation fromthe Center Interagency Team, which consists of the four executives housed at the center, “that when it ispossible persons traveling for the Church are encouraged to rent a vehicle.  If a person opts to drive his/her personal car, he/she will be reimbursed at the rental rate of a car plus gas.  Persons who must fly tomeetings will be reimbursed for coach fare, and parking tolls.  While attending meetings, motels and meals
are furnished.  Each entity will continue to reimburse its members for motels/meals enroute.
In the event that the search committee for a new Stated Clerk does not have a nominee to present
to the General Assembly, the Board will name an interim Stated Clerk effective the date the current StatedClerk retires.  The current Stated Clerk will stay in office through December 31, in the event that a StatedClerk is not elected in June or one has been elected, but cannot assume the office until January.  If theGeneral Assembly passes a proposed amendment to the Bylaws, and a Stated Clerk is not elected in June,
the Corporate Board will assume the responsibility of seeking a potential nominee to present to the 181st
General Assembly.
To conform to the Internal Revenue Service regulations, the Board approved changing the housing
allowance for the Stated Clerk.
The State of Tennessee granted a tax exemption for the Center property retroactive to July of 2008.  
The city of Memphis and Shelby County have refunded the majority of the taxes paid in 2008 and 2009.
The Board has the responsibility of reviewing the budget for the Office of the General Assembly,
thus the proposed budgets for 2010 and 2011 were approved.
As of April 30, the indebtedness is:
New Buildings$262,255.16
Maintenance debt on Union Avenue$248,138.28
Touch the Future$190,652.67
Organizational Task Force$124,848.40
The budget for the operation of the Center includes $54,000 to pay on the maintenance debt for theUnion Avenue Property.  $168,493 per year is being paid on the Touch the Future Debt, which will be paid atthe end of 2011.  Various individuals, congregations, and presbyteries continue to make contributions on thebuilding debt enabling the Office of the General Assembly to make monthly payments, although a definite
amount is not currently designated for note payment.  The Church is to be commended for the response ingiving to the new buildings, and is encouraged to continue to give liberally to pay off the buildings this year.  
No payments have been made on the Organizational Task Force Debt, however, regular payments will bemade beginning in 2012.  All monies are borrowed from the Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits
instead of commercial lenders.

VIII. MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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The 179th General Assembly voted to make the minutes available on a CD, which resulted in a costsaving of over $6,000 over printing minutes and mailing them to persons requesting them.  The Stated Clerk
is aware that not all persons desiring minutes may have access to a computer and that it will take longer
to find information on a disc than in a printed copy.  It is permissible to download and print a copy fromthe website.  The resource center printed a few copies of the 2009 minutes.  The resource center would be
willing to continue this practice.  For information contact Matt Gore, mhg@cumberland.org.

IX. COMMITTEES AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly has renamed committees many different times.  In spite of the titles, it isoften difficult to determine where to refer some reports.  With the reorganization, it was envisioned that
the Program Planning Committee would receive only the Ministry Council report which would include thereports of all the ministry teams.  The Bylaw 11.01 states that the General Assembly will have the following
committees: Children’sHome/Historical Foundation, Higher Education, Judiciary, Program Planning,
Stewardship/Elected Officers, and Theology/Social Concerns.   However, it is always the prerogative of
the General Assembly to amend the Bylaws and create new committees.  In creating new committees, it isimportant that a committee have enough to do to justify its existence.  It is equally important to be aware of
the logistical problems in that the General Assembly and Convention of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s
Ministry will use every available space in the majority of hotels.  If the General Assembly could afford tomeet in a convention center, space would not be a consideration.
This year the program planning committee will be divided with one half of the committee
considering the sections of the Ministry Council Report containing the reports of the Missions and Pastoral
Leadership Development Ministry teams, and the Report of the Commission on Chaplains.  One half of theProgram Planning Committee will consider the balance of the Ministry Council Report which will include
the reports of the Ministry Council, the Communication and Discipleship Ministry Teams.  The committee
may opt to present one report or two reports to the General Assembly.  Although there is only one program
board, perhaps a permanent division of the workload for committees might prove to be a better division oflabor.  The term Program Planning Committee could be deleted, and rename the committees according to
the division this year.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That Bylaw 11.01 be amended by deleting the words Program
Planning Committee and inserting Chaplains/Missions/Pastoral Development Committee andMinistry Council/Communication/Discipleship Committee.

X. 2010 PLANNING COMMITTEE
The 176th General Assembly named the following persons to be the planning committee for the180th General Assembly: Edna Barnett, Army Daniel, Jr., Walter Smith, Theodore Wallace, and Pat Wardfrom the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, and Sandra Boaz, Eugene Leslie, Rosemary Magrill,
Lita Swindle, and Dwayne Tyus, from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the stated clerks of theassemblies as co-chairs.  The Archivist of the Historical Foundation was named to be a resource person.  PatWard resigned for health reasons and was replaced by Vanessa Edmonds.  Rosemary Magrill and Dwayne
Tyus resigned; Tommy Jobe was added to the committee.  Nashville Presbytery added Don Tabor, chair of
the host committee, Robert Truitt, Pastor Host, Lewis Wynn, and Chris Warren, director of music for the180th General Assembly.  Although the committee had only two meetings per year, the various members
had many tasks to complete between meetings.  The General Assembly is indebted to these persons, aswell as several unnamed people who have spent many hours, for planning the 200th anniversary of theDenomination.

XI. STATISTICAL INFORMATION
The annual congregational report forms are mailed to the session clerk on December 1, and due inthe office of the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery on February 1, and all reports are to be in the Office of theGeneral Assembly by February 10.  Each year printing the yearbook is delayed due to congregations andStated Clerks of presbyteries being tardy in sending reports.
In 2010 sixty-five (65) congregations failed to report, thus statistics are inaccurate.  The statistics for

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a non-reporting congregation may be several years old, but it is the latest information available.  The 178th
and 179th General Assembly directed “that each presbytery request that its Board of Missions or similar
agency, as they minister to the needs of the churches within their presbyteries, remind the churches that it
is important that they submit annual reports which are part of our history and offer assistance when neededin preparation of these reports.’  If a congregation fails to receive a report, a duplicate can be requested
from the Office of the General Assembly or one may be printed from the web site (www.cumberland.org),
clicking on the Office of the General Assembly, and going to the section on congregational reports, which
are listed by presbyteries.

XII. CONTINGENCY FUND
Summary of 2009 Activity

Balance Forward 1/1/09

$ 16,612.28

Income:Our United Outreach $11,737.31
Interest			       887.11
			

   12,624.42$29,236.70

Expenditures:
General Assembly Office - 2010 Planning Committee
General Assembly Office - 2010 Planning Committee
General Assembly Office - Cathechism
General Assembly Office - 2010 Planning Committee
General Assembly Office - 2010 Planning Committee$      199.50
1,389.79
400.00175.49   2,986.12$ 24,085.80

Balance 12/31/09
**Restricted		**$ 24,085.80$   4,281.16

In Priority Goals Programming $9,000 was designated for the Pastoral
Development Ministry Team. (Beg. Bal. $9,000 less $4,718.84 spent to doworkshops for presbyterial committees on ministry.)    4,455.44

Catechism Revision Committee (Approved 6/99 - $4,500 less $882.93
spent in 2000, and $699.90 spent in 2002, and $691.18 spent in 2003, and$370.55 spent in 2004. An additional $7,500 was approved in 2003. In
2007, $4,500 was put back in the general fund. The current balance wasdesignated by the 178th General Assembly to print the Catechism in thevarious languages represented in the church. Less $400 spent in 2009.)

    1,000.00

Pastoral Development Ministry Team (Approved 1/03 - Beg. Bal. $15,000
less $9,866.53 used for Ordination Task Force. The Commission requests
that only $1,000 be kept in reserve.)

2,792.45

2010 Program Planning Committee (Approved 6/06 - Beg. Bal. $20,000
less $1,638.79, $714.14 spent in 2006, $6,323.12 spent in 2007, $3,780.60
spent in 2008 and $4,750.90 spent in 2009.)

		$12,529.05**Unrestricted: 11,556.75 12/31/09
		$24,085.80

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The Our United Outreach Committee failed to designate an amount for the contingency fund in
2011.  The Stated Clerk designated $2,316 from the apportionment for the committees/commissions under
the Office of the Stated Clerk.  In previous years a much larger amount was allocated to the contingency
fund.  Amounts actually received by any entity or fund depends upon the amount of Our United Outreach
received each year.
RECOMMENDATION 4: That the United Outreach Committee seek to allocate annuallyto the Contingecy Fund a minimum of one half of one percent (.5) of the total Our United Outreach
allocation.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert D. Rush, Stated Clerk

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THE REPORT NUMBER ONE OF THE MINISTRY COUNCIL
To the 180th General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in session in Dickson,
Tennessee, June 13-18, 2010.
In February, Stated Clerk Robert Rush shared his plans to retire by the end of 2010.   It is the
responsibility of the Ministry Council to present the nominee for Stated Clerk to General Assembly inJune, 2010.  Chair Gwen Roddye named a Search Committee consisting of one Council member from each
synod:  Richard Hughes, convener, Toni Prosser, Roy Shanks, Elizabeth Horsley, and Rickey Page.
The Ministry Council voted to submit the name of Reverend Michael G. Sharpe in nomination forthe position of Stated Clerk of the General Assembly following the retirement of Stated Clerk Robert D.
Rush.
As you will learn from the biographical information included in the Commissioner’s Packet andpreviously distributed to the Church via technology, Reverend Michael G. Sharpe has a wealth of strong
leadership and denominational, global, and ecumenical experience.  The Ministry Council is unanimous in
our support of Reverend Michael G. Sharpe for the position of Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gwen Roddye, Chairperson
Jill Carr, First Vice-Chairperson
Carlton Harper, Second Vice-Chairperson
Elizabeth G. Horsley, Secretary
Edith M. Gholson, Director of Ministries/Treasurer

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THE REPORT NUMBER TWO OF
THE MINISTRY COUNCIL
To the 180th General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in session in Dickson, TN,
June 13-18, 2010.

I. MINISTRY COUNCIL

Edith M. Gholson, Director of Ministries
A. INTRODUCTION
Since reporting to the 179th General Assembly, the Ministry Council has been actively engaged infurther developing a “one team approach” to programming within the areas of ministry.  Collaborations
between and among Ministry Teams, leadership development for non-staff members and the first retreat toinclude the Ministry Council and all four teams have advanced the effectiveness of the “one team approach.”  
Recognizing the need for improved communications with the larger Church, the Ministry Council has taken
steps toward that goal; these include a broader scope of responsibilities for the Communications Team andPastoral Development Ministry Team to include more robust electronic media and new opportunities for
two-way communication.  The Ministry Council opted to use conference call technology as a means of costsaving for its August 2009 meeting.  The Ministry Council adopted a unified image to reflect the work of
the Council and Teams that will identify resources and communications provided by the Ministry Council;
this unified image replaces the four different images used by the four former boards.
The Director of Ministries traveled at the invitation of a number of presbyteries and denominationalgroups to Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, and Colombia, South America.  TheDirector of Ministries is on staff for Presbyterian Youth Triennium 2010. We continue to feel encouraged
about the progress we have made this year, the many affirmations and voices of enthusiastic support thathave been shared in person and “online.”  We are grateful for the continued prayers and support of thechurch as we seek to serve God through the ministries of our denomination.
Each Ministry Team submitted a report to the Ministry Council with information to be included inthis report to General Assembly.  The Ministry Teams’ information and appropriate Recommendations from
the Ministry Council are included in this report in the following order:  II. Communications Ministry Team,
III. Discipleship Ministry Team, IV. The United Board for Christian Discipleship Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, V. Missions Ministry Team, and VI. Pastoral
Development Ministry Team.
B. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. MEETINGS AND ORGANIZATIONThe Ministry Council under the direction of its officers, Chairperson Gwen Roddye, First ViceChairperson Jill Carr, Second Vice-Chairperson Reverend Carlton Harper, and Secretary Elizabeth Horsley,
met four times in regular session since the 179th General Assembly.  Meetings included a regular MinistryCouncil meeting via conference call, a retreat at St. Columba in Bartlett including staff and Elected Team
Members of all Ministry Teams, a regular meeting in Bartlett including concurrent/joint sessions with the
Ministry Teams, and a regular session at the Center.
2. MINISTRY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE
The terms of Jill Carr, Elizabeth Horsley, Gwen Roddye, and Reverend Sam Romines expire in
2010; and all are eligible for re-election.  The term of Reverend Richard Hughes expires in 2010; but since
he moved to a different synod, he is not eligible for re-election.  The Youth Advisory Member terms ofBilly Black and Corey Faulkner expire in 2010, and they are not eligible for re-election.  Reverend Hillman
Moore, Mr. Leo Whinery, and Reverend Wayne Wood have resigned.
The Council expresses appreciation to Reverend Richard Hughes, Reverend Hillman Moore, Mr.
Leo Whinery, Reverend Wayne Wood, Billy Black, and Corey Faulkner for their contributions to the workof the Ministry Council.  The Council expresses sincere appreciation to Reverend Jonathan Clark for his
leadership and participation as a Ministry Council Advisory Member during his two years as Moderator andPast-Moderator of the General Assembly.

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3. MINISTRY TEAM ELECTED TEAM MEMBERS
The Ministry Council, not the General Assembly, is responsible for electing the Team Members
for each Ministry Team.  Current guidelines for electing Team Members were followed for 2010, but theguidelines will be reviewed and possibly changed in the future.
The following were elected to terms beginning after General Assembly:
Communications Ministry Team
Reverend James M. Cantey, Trinity Presbytery, Mission Synod, to a three-year term.
Paul Earheart-Brown, Faith Congregation, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, to a three-year term.
Denise Adams, Rose Hill Congregation, Arkansas Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, to fill the one-year
unexpired term of Joseph Malloy.
Discipleship Ministry Team
Reverend Mindy Acton, Grace Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, to succeed herself for a three-year term.
Reverend Tom Martin, Presbytery del Cristo, Mission Synod, to succeed himself for a three-year term.
Reverend Vernon Sansom, Red River Presbytery, Mission Synod, to succeed himself for a three-year term.
Missions Ministry Team
Reverend Makihiko Arase, Japan Presbytery, Mission Synod, to succeed himself for a three-year term.
Mr. Mikel Davis, Shiloh Congregation, Red River Presbytery, Mission Synod, to succeed himself for athree-year term.
Reverend Ricardo Franco, East Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, to fill the one-year unexpired
term of Milton Ortiz.
Reverend Victor Hassell, Covenant Presbytery, Synod of the Midwest, to a three-year term.
Ms. Sherry Poteet, Elmira Chapel Congregation, Trinity Presbytery, Mission Synod, to fill the two-year
unexpired term of Gaye Wood.
Ms. Jo Ann Shugert, Trilla Congregation, North Central Presbytery, Synod of the Midwest, to succeed
herself for a three-year term.
Mr. Sam Suddarth, Jenkins Congregation, Columbia Presbytery, Tennessee Synod, to succeed himself fora three-year term.
Pastoral Development Ministry Team
Mrs. Pat Owen, Covenant Presbytery, Synod of the Midwest, to succeed herself for a three-year term.
Ms. Micaiah Thomas, Rocky Ridge Congregation, Grace Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, to a threeyear term.
Reverend Tommy Thompson, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, to succeed himself for athree-year term.
4. COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES TO 180th GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Reverend Rickey Page is the Council’s representative to the 180th General Assembly and Rev. Sam
Romines is the alternate.  The Council decided that the representative needs another member present toassist with questions and information and elected Mrs. Elizabeth Horsley to fill that position.  Director of
Ministries, Ms. Edith M. Gholson, will also attend General Assembly.
5. OTHER REPRESENTATION
Reverend Carlton Harper will be our new Representative to the Our United Outreach Committee,
replacing Billy Black.
Mrs. Toni Prosser will be our Representative on the Center Personnel Committee.
6. MINISTRY COUNCIL STAFF
Following the 179th General Assembly, two new ministry Team Leaders joined the staff: Mark
Davis, Communications Team Leader; and Reverend Milton Ortiz, Pastoral Development Team Leader.
The Council expresses appreciation to Reverend Stephanie Scrudder Brown for her work as Pastoral
Development Team Leader through October 2009.
7. GLOBAL MINISTRIES LEADERSHIP TEAM (GMLT)The Global Ministries Leadership Team (GMLT) comprised of the Director of Ministries and the2010

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four Team Leaders meets regularly to provide opportunity for collaboration and to improve efficiencies
among the Ministry Teams.  Minutes from these meetings are disseminated to the Ministry Council, staff
and all elected team members.
8. CENTER INTER-AGENCY TEAM (CIT)The CIT is meeting regularly and working well.  The CIT handles issues relating to running theCenter.   Current CIT members include Robert Rush (General Assembly Office), Robert Heflin (Boardof Stewardship), Susan Gore (Historical Foundation/Archives), and Edith Gholson (Ministry Council) as
Chairperson.  Decisions and actions of the CIT include:a. Shared Expenses
The CIT enthusiastically agreed to adopt a budget of shared expenses, those common to all agencies
at the Center.  This action simplifies the accounting process used in the past whereby each agency was“billed” for items such as utilities, “rent”, etc.  The new process has these common costs, necessary tomaintaining the denominational headquarters, as a separate recipient of Our United Outreach revenue.  
This allows enhanced transparency as to “real cost” of daily operations.  Among the items within Shared
Services is a new full-time staff position, Accounting Supervisor.
b. Personnel Manual
The CIT endorsed and facilitated revision of personnel policies for staff of the four agencies at
the Center, resulting in a new personnel manual that was approved and adopted by the Ministry Council
effective January 1. 2010.
c. Information Technology
CIT in cooperation with the Global Ministries Leadership Team (Director of Ministries and thefour team leaders) and a number of subcommittees that included elected Ministry Council member, Jill
Carr, performed due diligence efforts to research and contract with a software provider with the dual goalof radically improving database management and financial information management.   Internationallyrecognized provider Blackbaud was selected along with local tech support vendor Engineered Management
Solutions to provide a much needed overhaul and update to the systems so heavily used by all four agencies
as well as providing resource information to other denominational entities including Bethel University, theCumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, and Memphis Theological Seminary.  As with any major launchof software, there have been challenges; but positive results are already visible: the Accounting Coordinator
reports financial information is more accurate and more timely.  One aspect that while time-consuming has
already enabled staff to better manage accounts, was the creation of one common chart of accounts.  Theexistence of autonomous boards and unique management perspectives had resulted in subjective assigningof accounts.  Great effort was invested in standardizing one chart of accounts.  Decades old databases that
had been individually managed by four agencies have been “cleaned up” and are being compiled into one
repository of constituents to alleviate duplicate mailings, saving resources both human and material, and tohelp ensure data is current and accurate.
d. Wish List
During monthly meetings, the CIT discusses items that are needed or that might enhance the facility.
Unbudgeted items that have merit and are approved by CIT are placed on a “Wish List” that appears on thewebsite, allowing potential match to interested donors.  As a result of this effort, automatic dishwashers andmicrowave ovens were donated for both buildings.
f. Our United Outreach
The CIT considered and approved action to task the Accounting Supervisor to make OUO
distributions on the basis of $50,000 received rather than $100,000.  Implementation of Financial Edge
software makes this possible as we can set this up as an automated routine.  This action is intended to assist
agencies outside the Center (MTS, CPCH and Bethel U) with cash flow and to enhance service to agencies
within the Center as well.
g. Cost Savings
The CIT considered various methods to reduce expenses and took action on several: services forjanitorial services, waste management and lawn care were all reduced to save money, yet not adversely
impact Center staff or visitors; standards for travel reimbursement were discussed and have been adopted

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by agencies; implement a per diem when expenses are not paid directly by an agency, encourage carpoolingand, as appropriate, shared lodging.
C. MINISTRY COUNCIL LOGO
The new logo to be used by the Ministry Council and all of the Ministry
Teams is similar to the denominational logo but contains a colorful graphic design
reminiscent of a church stained glass window and reflects the innumerable color
combinations from the collaborative efforts of Ministry Teams.  The purpose of thislogo is to present one unified Ministry Council instead of four different ministries.
D. ELECTED TEAM MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIESFollowing the November Retreat, the Council continued to clarify the responsibilities of Elected
Team Members.  The following is the most recent updated list:
Ministry Team Elected Team Member Responsibilities:
1.  Elect Leadership (at least a Chairperson)
2.  Attend Team Meetings—including one Spring joint meeting and one Fall concurrent meetingwith the Ministry Council
3.  Plan, prioritize, and implement the Ministry
4.  Make recommendations to Global Ministries Leadership Team
5.  Follow directives of the Ministry Council
6.  Send a report to the Ministry Council to be included in the Council’s report to General Assembly.
E. PER DIEM POLICY
The Ministry Council adopted and implemented the following policy for non-staff travel expenses
for Council and Ministry Teams effective May 1, 2010.
Transportation:
Car Rental - Any time the choice is between renting a car and using a personal vehicle and the total costof rental plus estimated fuel is less than the cost of driving a personal vehicle.  Ministry Council/Teammembers should use a rental car, and:a.) Choose a rental agency with the lowest fare and with unlimited mileage allowance.

b.) Decline purchase of any of their “extras” or insurance.
Personal vehicle - When travel is by personal vehicle, reimbursement will be at a rate of .35/mile.  If thetotal mileage (round trip) is 225 miles or more and the trip involves two days or less, then comparison withcost of a mid-size rental car with unlimited miles should be made.
Air travel - When it is more economical to travel by air, yet persons choose to travel by private vehicle,
reimbursement will be made in the amount that would equal the lowest available coach fare and related
expenses.  Reimbursement for lodging and food expenses will be made only for the period of time that theywould have been needed if traveling by air.  Exceptions will be made, when necessary, to carry equipment,
meet schedules, make contacts along the travel route, have an automobile at the place of destination, have
two or more traveling together, or if one has a phobia about air travel.
When in doubt or exceptions are needed, Ministry Council elected members will consult the MinistryCouncil Executive Committee; Team members and staff will consult the Director of Ministries.
Lodging: The Ministry Council will pay by direct bill for lodging; typically MC/Team members will nothave to pay out of pocket for lodging.   In the event a member must stay overnight en route to/from arequired Ministry Council/Team event, reimbursement will follow the government per diem rate (GSA) forthat geographic area.  GSA rates are updated annually and may be viewed at:
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=17943
Meals/Incidental Expenses:  The Ministry Council will pay by direct bill for most meals.  When meals areprovided, MC/Team members are asked to participate, i.e., “free” breakfast at the hotel.  When MC does
not pay directly for a meal, reimbursement will not exceed $50/day based on receipts for actual expenses

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incurred.  An example:
Breakfast:  $7.00 (includes tip)
Lunch:     $14.00 (includes tip)
Supper:    $23.00 (includes tip)
Incidental Expenses:  $6.00 (examples include meeting supplies, first aid supplies, batteries, etc.)
Members must turn in a completed expense claim form along with all receipts in order to be
reimbursed.
Members may choose to be reimbursed then donate the sum back to the Ministry Council as a gift
and/or to be eligible for tax credit.  Please consult your accountant for specific details.
F. BYLAWS AMENDMENTWith the Our United Outreach Committee in place, the Ministry Council is no longer responsible
for planning and recommending Our United Outreach apportionments.  The Ministry Council will workwith the Our United Outreach Committee in promotion of Our United Outreach, thus that portion of the
Bylaws of the Ministry Council is applicable.  Central Accounting receives, receipts, and distributes Our
United Outreach in keeping with the apportionments adopted by the General Assembly.  Elinor Brown of
the Discipleship Ministry Team sends thank you notes to congregations for their gifts.
The original ARTICLE 1.B.7.a. of the Bylaws of the Ministry Council read To be responsible for
Our United Outreach by planning, recommending and promoting Our United Outreach income andexpense budgets to the General Assembly, receiving and receipting Our United Outreach income, anddistributing Our United Outreach in accordance with actions and budgets of the General Assembly;
The new replacement to ARTICLE 1.B.7.a. reads: To be responsible for promoting Our United
Outreach in cooperation with the Our United Outreach Committee.
Notification of this proposed amendment was sent out 10 days prior to the vote and was passed byunanimous vote of the Ministry Council.
G. OUR UNITED OUTREACH
Elinor Swindle Brown, Discipleship Ministry Team staff member, is responsible for Stewardship
Education.   In addition to providing resources to the Our United Outreach Committee, she serves withother Ministry Council staff on the Planning Calendar Committee.   This committee selected a theme
highlighting Our United Outreach for 2011 and featuring a number of “OUO Advocates.”  Groundwork has
been done in 2010 to gather photographs and information to educate and invigorate interest in supporting
Our United Outreach.  The 2011 Planning Calendar will highlight congregations who have given regularly
and sacrificially to Our United Outreach over the last ten years.  Nine churches have been asked to answer
the question “Why has it been important for your church to give to Our United Outreach so consistently
and generously?”  Those presbyteries who are overseas and Choctaw will be grouped together to fill theremaining pages talking about what Our United Outreach giving has meant to them.  The calendar will
also highlight some charts that will raise up specific data that might be interesting in regards to Our United
Outreach giving for the last ten years.
Billy Black, Youth Advisory member to the Ministry Council, Elinor Brown, and Edith Gholson,
all serve on the Our United Outreach Committee established by General Assembly.  As did representatives
from other recipient agencies, Black and Gholson presented a request for funding to the Committee.  Detailsof that Committee’s work can be found in a separate report.
H. DIRECTIVES FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1. DIRECTIVES FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY
a.   The 179th General Assembly directed the Ministry Council “That the four representatives
designated by the Ministry Council to serve on the Program Committee be Elected Team Members.”  TheElected Team Members chosen to attend the August Program Committee meeting were: Reverend Kip
Rush, Discipleship Ministry Team; Jo Ann Shugert, Missions Ministry Team, and Tommy Thompson,
Pastoral Development Ministry Team.  A Communications Ministry Team Elected Team Member still needs
to be selected.
b.  The 179th General Assembly directed “That the entire denomination (with the exception of Memphis
Theological Seminary, Bethel University, Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home and the Historical

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Foundation) adopt the branding standards to be developed and maintained by the Communications Team
Leader and to be approved by the Center Inter-Agency Team.”  The Communications Ministry Team section ofthis report defines “branding,” and the Team continues to develop the branding standards for future adoption.
c.  The 179th General Assembly directed “That The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine continue
to be published in its traditional media in addition to expanding into new means or media of distribution.”  
See the Communications Ministry Team section of this report for details on The Cumberland Presbyterianmagazine.
I. CHURCH CALENDAR 2010-2011
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the 180th General Assembly approve the following dates forthe church calendar.
June 20107
Bethel University - First session, registration and classes begin
13
Children’s Sunday
13-18 General Assembly CPC - Dickson, Tennessee
13-18 General Assembly CPCA - Franklin, Tennessee
15
CP Women’s Ministry Regional Report forms due to Missions Ministry Team
16-17 Women’s Ministry Convention - Dickson, Tennessee
17
CPYC Registration Cut-Off
20
Father’s Day
25
Bethel University - First session ends
30
Our United Outreach quarterly report
July 2010
4
Independence Day (USA)4-9
Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference
5
Denomination Center Closed
6
Bethel University - Second session begins, registration and classes begin
6-16 Doctor of Ministry Residency - Memphis Theological Seminary
10
Program of Alternate Studies graduation
10-24 Program of Alternate Studies - Summer extension school
19
Sea Day (Japan)
20
Independence Day (Colombia)
20-24 Presbyterian Youth Triennium - Purdue University
22-24 Women’s Spirituality Conference - Dyersburg, Tennessee
August 2010
1-31 Church Paper Month6
Bethel University - Second session ends
6-7
Ministry Council Meeting
7
Bethel University - commencement
7
Battle of Boyaca` (Colombia - decisive battle for independence)
15
Bethel University - Halls open
16
Bethel University - Fall classes begin
20
Memphis Theological Seminary - New student orientation
20
Bethel University - Last day to register/add classes
22
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
24
Bethel University - convocation
29
Christian Education Season (through Sept. 26)
September 2010
1-26
Christian Education Season (cont. from Aug.)
6
Labor Day (USA)     Denomination Center, Bethel University and Memphis Theological Seminary - closed
10-11
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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

10-11
12		
17-18
17-18
17-18
19
19
20
23
30

Memphis Thelogical Seminary board meeting
Senior Adult Sunday
Historical Foundation board meeting
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home board meeting
Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns meeting
Christian Service Recognition Sunday
International Day of Prayer and Action for Human Habitat
Respect for the Aged Day (Japan)
Autumnal Equinox Day (Japan)
Our United Outreach quarterly report

October 2010
1-31
3
7-10
10
11
11
12-14		
24
30-31
31

Clergy Appreciation Month
World Wide Communion Sunday
Bethel University - Fall break
Clergy Appreciation Sunday
Columbus Day (USA)Sports Day (Japan)
Minister’s Conference
Native American Sunday
Ministry Council and Teams meet in concurrent sessions
Reformation Day (Colombia)

November 2010
Any Sunday Love Loaf Program
1
All Saints Day
3
Culture Day (Japan)
5World Community Day (Church Women United)
5
Memphis Theological Seminary Inquirer’s Day
5-7
Consultant Training Event
7
Commitment Sunday
11
Veteran’s Day (USA)13-16
Youth Ministry Planning Council (YMPC)
14
Day of Prayer for People with Aids and Other Life Threatening Illnesses
17-19
Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel meeting
20-26
Memphis Theological Seminary - Fall break21		
Bible Sunday
23
Labor/Thanksgiving Day (Japan)
25
Thanksgiving Day (USA)25-26
Denomination Center, Bethel University, Memphis Theological Seminary - closed
28
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
28
1st in Advent
28-Dec. 25
Advent in Home and Church
December 2010
Any Sunday Gift to the King Offering
1
Annual Reports mailed to congregations
1-4
Youth Worker Summit at Disney World
5
Bethel University - commencement
9-11
Youth Ministry Planning Council meeting
23-31
Memphis Theological Seminary - Christmas break
24
Christmas Eve
24-27
Denomination Center closed
25
Christmas Day
31
New Year’s Eve_______________________________________________

47

48
January 2011
1
3
3-15
6
9
10
10-11		
14
17
		
21
22
28-29

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

New Year’s Day (USA, Colombia, Japan)
Denomination Center closed
Memphis Theological Seminary - January term classes begin
Epiphany
Bethel University - Residence halls open
Bethel University - Classes begin
Stated Clerk’s conference
Close center books - cut off date for Our United Outreach for previous year
Martin Luther King Day
Denomination Center, Bethel University and Memphis Theological Seminary - closed
Memphis Theological Seminary - New student orientation
Memphis Theological Seminary - Classes begin
Ministry Council and Teams meet in joint sessions

February 2011
1-28
Black History Month1
Annual congregational reports due to presbyterial clerks
3
Memphis Theological Seminary - Opening convocation
4
Denominational birthday
4-5
Judiciary Committee meeting
4-5		
Snow date for Ministry Council
6		
Souper Bowl Sunday
6
Historical Foundation offering
10
Annual congregational reports due in the Office of the General Assembly
18-19
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home board meeting
18-19
Memphis Theological Seminary board meeting20		
Youth Sunday
24
Memphis Theological Seminary - Henry Logan Starks Scholarship dinner
25-26
Historical Foundation board meeting
25-26
Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns meeting
27
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
March 2011
1-31
4
4
6
9
9 - April 24
11-12
13
20
April 2011
15-16
17
17
18-22
21		
22

2010

Women’s History Month
World Day of Prayer (Church Women United)
Memphis Theological Seminary - Inquirer’s Day
Seminary Sunday
Ash Wednesday, the Beginning of Lent
Lent to Easter
Board of Stewardship meetingFirst Sunday in Lent
Spring Equinox (Japan)

24
24
25-29

Ministry Council Meeting
One Great Hour of Sharing
Palm Sunday
Memphis Theological Seminary - closed for spring break
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday     Denomination Center closed
Easter Sunday
March of Missions, Easter to Pentecost (through June 12)
National Farm Worker Week

May 2011
1-8

Family Week

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2
3
5
6
8
8
13-14
14
15
15
22
29
30

49

Labor Day (Colombia)
Constitution Memorial Day (Japan)
Children’s Day (Japan)
May Friendship Day (Church Women United)
Bethel University - commencement
Mother’s Day
Memphis Theological Seminary board meeting
Memphis Theological Seminary graduation
Children’s Home Sunday
CP Women’s Ministry Local Officer’s Report forms due to Missions Ministry Team
Quarterly Mission Emphasis
Memorial Day Offering for the Presbyterian Council on Chaplains and Military Personnel
Memorial Day     Denomination Center closed

June 2011
12
12
12		
15
19		
19
20-24
21-23
30

Pentecost Sunday
World Mission Day
Children’s Sunday
CP Women’s Ministry Regional Report forms due to Missions Ministry Team
Trinity Sunday
Father’s Day (USA)General Assembly, Springfield, Missouri
CP Women’s Ministry Convention, Springfield, Missouri
CPYC Registration Cut-Off

J. FUTURE MEETING DATES
1. FORMULA FOR SETTING MEETING DATESThe Ministry Council established a formula for setting Ministry Council meeting dates with meetings
at the Center, a location close to Cordova, or possibly a retreat setting.  The Ministry Council and Ministry
Teams will meet in concurrent/joint session in October and January.  Teams are encouraged to scheduleother necessary meetings at the same time as the other two Council meetings to facilitate carpooling andsharing expenses.  The Ministry Council plans for four meetings each year between meetings of General
Assembly as follows:First weekend of August (Friday/Saturday)
Last weekend of October (Saturday/Sunday)—Ministry Council and Teams meet in concurrent sessions
Last weekend of January (Friday and Saturday)—Ministry Council and Teams meet in joint sessions
   Snow date:  First weekend of February (Friday/Saturday)
Third weekend of April (Friday/Saturday)
2. MINISTRY COUNCIL MEETING DATES FOR 2010-2011
August 6-7, 2010 (Friday/Saturday)
October 30-31, 2010 (Saturday/Sunday)—Ministry Council and Teams meet in concurrent sessions
January 28-29, 2011 (Friday/Saturday) —Ministry Council and Teams meet in joint sessions
    Snow date:  February 4-5 (Friday/Saturday)
April 15-16, 2011 (Friday/Saturday)

II. COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY TEAMMark J. Davis, Team Leader

A. INTRODUCTION
WHY A COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY?
Even as we celebrate longevity in this bicentennial year, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church

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faces what may be some of the most significant challenges to that longevity we have ever encountered.  In
the United States, our membership metrics have mimicked those of the mainline Protestant denominations
for the last several decades, and a decline in financial support for the ministries of the denomination has
followed that downward trend.  We minister on a frontier of significant shifts in the religious landscape inboth the U.S. and the world, and the ways we adapt and respond to these shifts may well determine our
viability as a 21st century global denomination.
To be sure, these trends and their resultant challenges are not peculiar to the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, but as a small denomination, we are more susceptible to even slight deviations—for good or ill—in
the trajectory of those trends.  While we are certainly not “numbers-driven” in our intent to share the good
news, membership is nevertheless one useful indicator of the effectiveness of our ministries.  The ability tostate clearly who we are and what we believe, to embrace inclusiveness through open and honest discussionof the issues of concern to those currently fleeing mainline Christianity and to support the connectional
nature of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church will become increasingly important as we seek to reverse
any negative trends.
The Communications Ministry Team understands its role in general to be one of facilitation as thechurch seeks to focus and strengthen its abilities in these areas.  We understand the importance of articulatingclearly who we are as Cumberland Presbyterians—what it means to be a Cumberland Presbyterian—and why
we choose to be Cumberland Presbyterians.  We understand the importance of well-defined communication
strategies in strengthening our connectional nature.  We recognize that the world into which the Church is
being called to minister is clearly and profoundly changing—to extents not seen for several centuries.
Within this context, it is incumbent upon the Church in general—and the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church specifically— to adapt quickly and resolutely to the cultural, sociological, political and technologicalchanges that are evolving daily, whether we like them or not.  “Adaptation” need not be a negative concept
for the Church.  It need not and should not mean abandoning our faith or our values.  But it should imply our
willingness to be witnesses to the good news in the language(s) being spoken in the cultural, sociological,
and political communities around us—to communicate in a way that first and foremost is consistent with
our faith, but which also clearly articulates for those interested in what we are about the doctrines that defineus, and which reinforces our connectional nature.
In order to effectively communicate to both our own membership and to the global community
in ways that keep our message relevant, we must consciously and intentionally nurture our Identity, ourConsistency and our Stewardship.
•

Identity:   One of the signature organizational trends of the decade is “branding”.   Branding is
not the same as “marketing”, and need not carry the negative associations that word often carries.  
Work around developing a Cumberland Presbyterian “brand” will be work that aims to:a. improve clarity around and understanding of our mission,b. promote a disciplined approach to ensuring that the myriad activities of the Ministry Councilalign with that mission, andc. establish a clear rallying point and a source of inspiration and information for Cumberland
Presbyterians around the globe.
It is an established principle of organizational dynamics that a clear vision can help motivate
members of the organization to action.  If Christianity is a verb, then having “motivation toaction” as a goal of the Communications Ministry will be a good thing.

•Consistency:   Now that the internet—and specifically, the worldwide web—has become aubiquitous and primary source of information, uniformity, or consistency in “look and feel”, has
become one of the most important principles in effective communications.  A sad but inescapableby-product of the digital age has been a shortened attention span in human beings.  It is importantthat we work to condense and “standardize” our communications—in all their various forms—tothe greatest extent possible and practical, to insure that we are delivering our message in waysthat either satisfy needs quickly, or encourage “persistence” in further study, thought or action.

•

Stewardship:  The call to be good stewards of the gifts we’ve been given is neither new nor oldfashioned.  In fact, perhaps more than ever before, effective stewardship of our resources emerges
not only as a Christian imperative, but as an absolute economic necessity as well.  The Cumberland
Presbyterian Church has become a denomination of many faces.  To many, we are The Cumberland
Presbyterian magazine.  To others, we are the Missionary Messenger.  And to still others, the CP“face” may comprise our presence on Facebook, MySpace, the denominational web site, cumberlist,2010

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CP UPDATES, or any of several other electronic or print media.  To be good stewards, we mustfind ways of avoiding redundancies and taking advantage of opportunities for consolidation.
B. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. ELECTED TEAM MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS(Members whose terms expire in 2010)
Ms. Dana Brantley, Cumberland Presbytery
Ms. Jean Garrett, West Tennessee Presbytery(Members whose terms expire in 2011)
Mr. Joseph Malloy, Presbytery of East Tennessee (resigned)(Members whose terms expire in 2012)
Reverend James D. McGuire, Presbytery of East Tennessee
Dr. Jennifer Williams, Covenant Presbytery
2. STRUCTURE AND STAFF
The Communications Ministry Team is led by Mark J. Davis, who is the sole paid staff member.  
Joseph Malloy resigned his position.  Dana Brantley and Jean Garrett have asked that they not be nominatedto succeed themselves.  The team meets a minimum of twice annually during regularly-scheduled MinistryCouncil meetings.  Any other business is conducted electronically.
3. OFFICE LOCATIONPer the wishes of General Assembly, the Communications Ministry Team office is co-located withthe other Ministry Council offices at 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, Tennessee 38016-7414.
4. FINANCES
The annual financial report of the Communication Ministry Team is included in the report of the
Ministry Council.
5. ENDOWMENTS
Current endowments are as follows:a. Masaharu Asayama/CPWM Endowment
To provide The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine to churches overseas that have an
English-speaking member who can share news with their membershipb. Ky Currie Publishing Endowment
To honor long-time editor Ky Currie and to sustain The Cumberland Presbyterianc. C. Ray Dobbins Endowment
To honor long-time editor C. Ray Dobbins and to provide funding for The Cumberland
Presbyteriand. Dennis W. Kiefer Endowment
To provide funds for writers for The Cumberland Presbyterian
e. Marguerite D. Richards Endowment
To provide funding for The Cumberland Presbyterian
f. Pat White Endowment
To provide funds for writing conferences
C. CURRENT COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY TEAM PROJECTS
1. The Cumberland Presbyterian MAGAZINE
a. Mission
The purpose of The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine is to engage, inspire and unify membersof the Cumberland Presbyterian church.  The magazine is published 11 times per year, with the November
and December issues comprising a combined issue.
b. Editorial policy
The Cumberland Presbyterian is a medium for the communication of the gospel of salvation throughJesus Christ.  The magazine will provide unbiased reporting of news, and will allow for open discussion oftheological, social, cultural and denominational issues.  Signed editorials express the views of the Editor and52

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2010

not necessarily those of the administrative agency, the Ministry Council.  All submissions—both solicitedand unsolicited—will be subject to editing.  Not all submissions will be published.  Photographic images inany form will not be returned, but will be sent to the Archives of the Historical Foundation.
c. Circulation
As of the April 2010 issue, paid circulation averaged around 2,900 per month.  We anticipate thatthe subscriber database will be imported into the new corporate software (BlackBaud/Raiser’s Edge) by
the time of General Assembly.  This will not only facilitate significantly better management of the current
subscriber base, but will allow for the development of innovative promotion programs that are not possible
with the previous software.
d. Subscriptions
Subscription rates have not changed since the last General Assembly and are currently set at:i. $25.00 per year; $45.00 for two years
ii. $22.00 per year when prepaid in groups of five or moreiii. $2.27 per issue for billed subscriptions (minimum of five)iv. $20.00 per year for churches that adopt the New Member Plan, providing a subscription toeach new member family for one year
e. Advertising
Advertisements for open church staff positions will be listed once at no charge to the church
placing the advertisement.   Congregations wishing to print memorials or to advertise items for sale orupcoming events are encouraged to do so for a nominal advertising fee of $5.00 per column inch.  Full-pagecommercial advertisements (e.g., books, events not sanctioned by an agency of the denomination, etc.) are$300.00.  Half-page commercial advertisements are $175.00.  Quarter-page commercial advertisements are$100.00.  And eighth-page commercial advertisements are $75.00.  All commercial advertisements must be
pre-paid.
f. Current status
By the time of the 2010 General Assembly, the editor will have been in his position approximatelynine months.  The editor reports it has been a time of learning, mistakes, joys and frustrations—but never aregret about having answered the call.  For the first several months, the magazine struggled to return to its
normal production schedule.  The editor states the reasons for being off-schedule were various, but the twomost significant reasons were:i. lack of experience on the part of the new editorii. issues with the U.S. Postal Service
While time is helping to address the issue of experience (or lack thereof), it has unfortunately not
been particularly helpful in dealing with the Post Office.  In spite of numerous meetings with local postal
authorities, we are still seeing periods of up to three weeks between the time an issue is delivered to the
Bulk Mail Center at Memphis and the time it reaches its destination.  Geography does not seem to be afactor, as some subscribers several hundred miles from Memphis receive their magazine within three to fourdays, while others—even some who live within the Memphis metropolitan area—do not receive theirs until
two and a half weeks after mailing.  We continue to work with the Post Office to identify ways to improve
service in hope that there will soon be a breakthrough.  Additionally, we have written to our Congressman
seeking help.
On a more positive note, the editor expressed joy in working with so many talented writers andthinkers in the production of the magazine.  There is obviously an extraordinarily deep love of and concern
for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church among our membership.   As we turn to face the challenges
before us (see Introduction), it seems clear that The Cumberland Presbyterian is in a unique position tofacilitate and inspire discussion about how God would have us face those challenges.  To the extent thatthe magazine can be a catalyst for growth—a medium through which we can explore who we are meant
to be and how we can most effectively minister in the 21st century—it will more than justify its existence.
2. DENOMINATIONAL WEB SITE (www.cumberland.org)
The web site is now approximately 15 years old.  Until the recent assignment of specific responsibility
for the maintenance/upkeep of the site to the Communications Ministry Team, these activities have been
conducted on a voluntary basis by multiple resources, and typically, only in response to immediate needs.  
While this approach has kept cost to an absolute minimum, it has also resulted in a site that has become
increasingly difficult to maintain, not intuitively navigable, and lacking in a consistent “look and feel”.  
Each of these qualities—i.e., ease of maintenance, intuitive navigability, and a consistent look and feel—are hallmarks of a well-designed site, and a well-designed site is not only useful to its visitors, but speaks
volumes about the organization it represents.

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Accordingly, we have undertaken a project the goal of which is a complete redesign of thedenominational web site.   Because the content of the entire site comprises several thousand pages of
information only a small percentage of which have been developed in any consistent style, the project
entails a significant effort.
Phase One is currently underway.  This phase involves a “clean-up” of the HTML (Hyper-Text
Markup Language) code underlying the site by moving to a more current coding technology which
separates content from strictly presentational code.  By first recoding current pages using CSS (Cascading
Style Sheets), subsequent phases of the project will be simplified, and ultimately, page maintenance andupdating will be greatly simplified.  The basic layout and visual appearance of the site pages will not change
significantly during this phase.
Phase Two of the project will involve a site audit to identify and address broken links and out-ofdate content.  When such issues are identified, we will be working with page owners to make any changes
as appropriate.
Phase Three, the final phase, will effect an actual redesign of the overall visual and navigational
aspects of the site.  The redesign will require input from and collaboration with all page owners.  It is likelythat we will be working with an outside designer, and are seeking a firm who might be willing to do thiswork pro bono (i.e., for a “charitable” organization).  In any event, one requirement of the redesigned siteis that it be constructed in such a way as to allow for the continued maintenance/updating of each page by
its respective owner.  Numerous technologies that specifically enable this capability are available, severalof which are open source (i.e., “free”).
The result of the project will be a denominational web site that is easier to navigate (making iteasier and quicker for visitors to locate the content they need), easier to maintain and keep updated, andmore consistent in look and feel throughout, which supports the goal of “branding” the denomination in theexperience of site visitors.
3. DENOMINATIONAL NEWS MEDIAOne of the more important ways for a connectional church to maintain and grow its sense ofcommunity is through the sharing of news of relevance to the various levels of the denomination.  For muchof its history, The Cumberland Presbyterian was the best, and often the only medium available for thispurpose.  While sharing news of births, deaths, baptisms, pastoral relocations, and other events in the livesof congregations is obviously an important part of ministry in the connectional church, a monthly magazine
is unfortunately not well-suited to reporting such events.  When the magazine is on-schedule in terms of
production activities and given the issues we’ve experienced with the U.S. Postal Service, for example, an
infant could be almost three months old before an announcement of her birth appears.
Apart from the issue of timeliness, we must also deal with the issues of space constraints andfairness.  Even in a denomination as small as the Cumberland Presbyterian church, noteworthy events in the
lives of our congregations are so numerous that space constraints make it difficult, if not impossible to report
every single item.  In fairness to all, the magazine cannot be put into a position of deciding which events are“worthy” of inclusion and which are not.  As a matter of policy, and because they are “denominational” innature, the Communications Ministry Team has decided that the magazine will report the following events
when we are made aware of them:a.  Deaths:  ministers, elders, leaders of the church (Presbyterial Clerks, Ministry Team members,
denominational agency employees, etc.)b.  Ordinations:  ministersc.  Relocations:  ministersd.  Retirements:  ministers, leaders of the church
Obviously, however, this leaves many other events in the life of the church unaddressed.
To address this situation, we are working to develop a better method for delivering time-sensitive
congregational and denominational news to our membership.  While “CP UPDATES” and “cumberlist” arecurrently used for this purpose, we would like to consolidate the news-delivery function into an instrument
specifically developed for that purpose.  We have established a relationship with an e-mail marketing firm
which will eventually enable us not only to originate e-mailed news bulletins to the entire denomination(i.e., to all for whom we have an e-mail address), but to offer more targeted e-mailing capabilities at thecongregational level for those who are interested.  We have spent the last few months building a databaseof email addresses, and as of this writing have compiled a list of approximately 500 addresses comprisingthose from “cumberlist”, those from “CP UPDATES”, and around 100 more through voluntary opt-ins.  
Recognizing that a small number of Cumberland Presbyterians do not have access to e-mail, we are also
working to devise ways of delivering news in a timely fashion to them as well.

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4. COORDINATION OF DENOMINATIONAL CENTER COMMUNICATIONS
One responsibility of the Communications Ministry Team is to seek ways of maximizing the goodstewardship of our communications resources.  As of this writing, we are working with the Our United
Outreach committee to develop educational brochures and videos for use in talking to congregations andpresbyteries about the importance tithing to the church’s ministry in this way.  We are also seeking ways
to insure we maximize mailings through collaboration—i.e., “piggy-backing” and consolidating mailings
from different Ministry Teams in order to reduce postage costs.
At the direction of the Ministry Council, we have also begun conversations around how the church
might be better served by its two primary publications, The Missionary Messenger and The Cumberland
Presbyterian.  Production costs for these two publications are in excess of $100,000 per year, so we mustask how the two might work together to maximize their effectiveness and their return, eliminating any
redundancies and strengthening the contributions of both to the life of the church.

III. DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY TEAM
Frank Ward, Team Leader

I. INTRODUCTION
A disciple is one who undertakes the discipline of his/her teacher. It is about learning what thatdiscipline is, learning how to follow, to listen to the Story. Discipleship is part education, part mentoring,part apprenticeship, but it goes a step beyond all those. Disciples not only take in what they are taught
and what they learn from being with the teacher, they take it into their core identity, so it defines who theyare. Evangelism is the beckoning, the calling in, and the opened door. Discipleship is the hallways inside.
(Robert Longman, Jr, www.spirithome.com)
The Discipleship Ministry Team is the organ of the Ministry Council that seeks to assist
congregations in their ministry of creating “hallways” for growing and making disciples of Jesus Christ.  
The great commission Jesus gave in Matthew 28:18-20 (CEV) is the undergirding foundation.
18
Jesus came to them and said:  I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19Go
to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you
always, even until the end of the world.”  
In partnership with congregations we affirm the following belief statements in relation to our call:

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Disciple making and becoming is a dynamic, continuous, holistic process for persons of allages, both individually and corporately.
Disciple making and becoming involves struggles with issues of life and leads toward deepened
faith, maturity, personal growth and lifestyles consistent with Christian faith.
Disciple making and becoming requires skilled, motivated, committed leaders; every
congregation has the God-given human resources it needs to fulfill its mission.
Disciple making and becoming must provide and/or make accessible appropriate materialsof highest quality that are consistent with Cumberland Presbyterian theology and utilize
methodologies that enhance spiritual growth and employ cutting edge technology to enrichlearning and living.
Disciple making and becoming is done in a variety of settings and invites all persons to develop
a life-enhancing knowledge and relationship with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, church,
and all God’s creation.

As we seek to fulfill God’s call through the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, we move to the
future in hope and with assurance that God is with us always!
B. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. TEAM MEMBER TERMS
The terms of Mindy Acton, Tom Martin and Vernon Sansom will expire at the 2010 General
Assembly.  Mindy is completing her first term and Tom and Vernon their second term.  All are eligible tocontinue serving on the Discipleship Ministry Team.

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2. STRUCTURE AND STAFF
The Discipleship Ministry Team is responsible for the planning and implementation of ministries
that will assist congregations in helping persons learn, live, and give as disciples of Jesus Christ.  The team,including staff, meets twice annually.
Present staff members are: Elinor Brown with responsibilities for promotion and advocacy for Our
United Outreach and stewardship education; Matthew Gore (who works half time) with responsibilities for
management, promotion, and distribution of Encounter and other Cumberland Presbyterian resources anddesign and management of the Ministry Team’s website; Susan Groce with responsibilities for youth, young
adult and outdoor ministries; Cindy Martin with primary responsibility for children’s and family ministries,
editing and production of resources, and the consultant program; Frank Ward with primary responsibility
for administration, liaison with middle judicatories, coordination of field services, and interdenominational
relationships.  All staff members have leader development responsibilities.  Frank Ward serves as Team
Leader.  Christine D. Tyler is administrative assistant.
The 179th meeting of the General Assembly in 2009 adopted a recommendation “That evaluations
for the Ministry Council staff be conducted on an annual basis” (Minutes, page 377).  By the meeting of
the 180th General Assembly, all members of the Discipleship Ministry Team staff will have been evaluated.  
The evaluation included a self-evaluation and an evaluation by the “supervisor” related to goals andcompetences.  A follow-up meeting provided opportunity for reflection, discussion and exploration of areasthat need attention and areas of strength.  In some cases, job descriptions were reviewed and revised.  A
copy of the evaluations is placed in the permanent files of the respective staff member.
3. PURPOSE
As we seek to fulfill God’s call through the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Discipleship
Ministry Team looks to 2010 and 2011 with the following hopes to:

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Encourage and resource congregations who have not done so to enter into a discernment
process to grasp a vision of ministry;
Work with the newly established Our United Outreach Committee to implement new andcreative ways to promote Our United Outreach (celebrating 25+ years of a 10% tithe ofcongregational ministry budgets);
Provide consultant services to congregations to interpret Our United Outreach and the ministries
enabled by gifts and contributions;
Create new web pages to share stories about Our United Outreach and the various ministriesof the church;
Create an Our United Outreach “infomercial” for General Assembly;
Provide stewardship resources to congregations and work with ecumenical partners to develop
new resources;
Educate congregations on ways to be more effective stewards of God’s creation and create agreening of the church mentality;
Assist in raising funds for current endowments and for establishing new ones;
Initiate a daily devotional online for prayer and meditation at a specified time;
Join with the Youth Ministry Planning Council in evaluating and planning youth ministry
programs;
Plan and implement the Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference for July 2-9, 2010;
Plan and implement the Presbyterian Youth Triennium for July 20-24, 2010;
Partner with the Missions Ministry Team to implement future Youth Evangelism Conferences;
Serve as a contributing member of ecumenical partnerships like the Ecumenical Youth Ministry
Staff Team and the Ecumenical Young Adult Ministry Team;
Provide consultants for leader development events for camp workers, teachers, youth ministryleader, etc.;
Partner with the ecumenical community in planning and implementing the Youth Worker
Summit at Disney World, December 1-4, 2010;
Provide consultant services and resourcing to congregations and leaders in disciple-making;
Further develop and refine the Consultant Program to equip persons to serve as leaders ofleaders;
Plan and implement the Consultant Training Event for November 5-7, 2010;
Publish and distribute the long-standing adult quarterly, Encounter;
Provide for every congregation the publication Bridges— a newsletter-type resource for

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2010

discipleship ministry planners and leaders that is distributed 3 times annually;
Provide a Sunday School Packet for congregations to assist in planning for their new Christianeducation year;
Make available an annotated listing of resources online for children’s ministry, youth ministry,
family ministry and adult ministry;
Publish a children’s book about the beginning of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church;
Assist in the development of new CP publications/products;
Increase marketing web presence;
Increase awareness of goods/services by cross-promoting with The Cumberland Presbyterian
Magazine and potentially other venues;
Plan and implement miniversities for 2011 with the training of leaders in the 2010 Consultant
Training Event;
Plan and distribute a packet of resources for presbytery Christian education and disciplemaking agencies;
Work cooperatively with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America to plan andimplement programs through the United Board for Christian Discipleship.

Human Resources:

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Mindy Acton
Reese Baker
Elinor Brown
Joanna Bellis
Jeff Gehle
Matt Gore
Susan Groce
Samantha Hassell

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Cindy Martin
Tom Martin
Kip Rush
Vernon Sansom
Sandra Shepherd
Christine Tyler
Frank Ward

4. RELATIONSHIPS
Where possible, we work in partnership with other denominations through a number ofinterdenominational and ecumenical agencies.  Participation in these partnerships is an expression of ourunderstanding of the nature and mission of the church.   These partnerships permit us to practice goodstewardship of people resources, to participate in the development of high quality programs and resources
and to realize significant economies.
Ecumenical Stewardship Center (ESC)The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been a member of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center
since its formation. The ESC educates, inspires, and equips stewardship leaders for the ministry oftransforming church communities.  Foundational to the Center is the belief that Christian stewardship is
grateful and responsible use of God’s universe in the light of God’s purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Christian stewards, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to conscious, purposeful decisions.
Stewardship is faithfully living out and telling the Good News and includes: sharing with God in seeking
justice, peace, and the integrity of creation in an interdependent universe; wisely employing God-given
human resources, abilities, and relationships; sharing the material resources with which we are entrusted
and giving them in service, justice, and compassion; providing for future generations; sharing in the life,
worship, and responsible stewardship of the Church and its mission.  Both for the individual and for thecommunity, stewardship is a joyful act for the sake of God’s world.
Ministries in Christian Education, National Council of Churches
This commission includes the Committee on the Uniform Series, which is made up of representativesof denominations in the United States and Canada.   It produces the outlines for the International Bible
Lessons for Christian Teaching (Uniform Series).  These uniform lesson outlines are the basis of Sunday
school study materials used by millions of  persons throughout the United States and Canada, as well as inother parts of the world.  The lessons in Encounter are developed from these outlines. James D. McGuire
represents the Discipleship Ministry Team as a working member of the committee.   Frank Ward is anadvisory member.

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Susan Groce serves as a member of the Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team and the Ecumenical
Young Adult Ministry Team.
Office of Education, World Council of Churches
Publications from the Office of Education help the staff to think globally and to keep informed
about world issues that relate to Christian education.
Institute for Peace and JusticeThis network was formed in 1981 as an association of families who seek well-being, wholeness,peace, and justice in family situations and in the broader community.  Families are challenged to pursue
ways of living that are more cooperative, nonviolent, simple, multi-cultural, global, and prayerful.  Theboard promotes workshops and resources of this association.  Frank Ward is staff liaison.
These Days Partnership
These Days, a devotion resource, is published for the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ, and Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
2010 marks the 40th anniversary of this devotional resource.   Frank Ward is staff liaison.   Cumberland
Presbyterian writers are featured in most all issues.
United Board for Christian Discipleship (UBCD)UBCD is a partnership between the Discipleship Ministry Team of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and the General Assembly Mission Board of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
The United Board is making a transition to become a planning and implementation agency of the two
denominations.  At present six major programs are jointly planned and implemented: Christian Education
Conference, Consultant Training Event, Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference, Youth Ministry
Planning Council, Presbyterian Youth Triennium, and the Young Adult Ministry Council (added in 2010).
Protestant Church-Owned Publishers Association (PCPA)The PCPA is an organization of not-for-profit publishing houses governed by a board elected or
appointed by a Protestant church body that acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Son of God as
revealed in the Bible.  This organization helps staff to keep current on what is going on in the various
denominational publishing houses and develop networks that enhance the publishing of resources.  Frank
Ward relates to PCPA.
Presbyterian and Reformed Educational Partnership (PREP)
PREP is an organization that succeeded the Presbyterian and Reformed Educational Ministries andprovides a partnership for joint educational and discipleship ministries for five denominations: Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, Moravian Church in America, Reformed Church in America, Presbyterian Church in
Canada and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  The major ministry in leader development of PREP is Opening
Doors to Discipleship. In addition, new DVDs on baptism and Holy Communion will be made available in2010.
5. RECOGNITIONS AVAILABLE
A gift of $150 or more to an endowment fund entitles the donor to designate a recipient of theGolden Patron award.  This certificate is in recognition of persons, laity or clergy, who have been involvedin the educational work of the church for fifty or more years.  It recognizes service as an educator, no matter
where that service has been rendered; that is, one’s service need not have been rendered only in Cumberland
Presbyterian settings.
A gift of $100 to one of the endowment funds entitles the donor to designate a recipient of a Patronof Christian Education award.
A gift of $25 to one of the endowment funds entitles a congregation to designate a recipient of a
Teacher of the Year award.
A gift of $100 to one of the endowment funds entitles the congregation to designate a person for the
Christian Educator of the Year award.
A gift of $30 to the Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference Endowment entitles the donor ordesignee to receive a CPYC Perpetual Conferee certificate.
These recognitions are means of expressing appreciation to and providing support for persons who
serve in the educational work of the church.

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6. ENDOWMENT FUNDS
A listing of the endowment funds for the Discipleship Ministry Team follows:
Paul W. Allen Endowment for Christian Education
Grace Johnson Beasley Memorial Endowment
Bennet and Mildred Brown Endowment
Jill Davis Carr Endowment for Leadership Development
Christian Education Mid-Century Fund
Christian Education Season Endowment
Lavenia Campbell Cole Annuity Endowment
Carl Cook Outdoor Ministry Endowment
Consultant Training Fund Endowment
Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference Endowment
H. Harold Davis Endowment for Christian Education
Jack W. Ferguson, Jr. Endowment for Christian Education
Ira and Rae Galloway Endowment for Christian Education
Jean Garrett Endowment for Christian Education
Louise Adams Heathcock Memorial Fund Endowment
John Gilbert Horsley Endowment for Denominational Leadership by YouthDonald and Jane Hubbard Endowment for Christian Education
Into the Nineties for Christian Education Endowment
Reverend Gale J. Keown Endowment for Christian Education
Earl King Memorial Fund Endowment
Virginia Malcom Christian Education Endowment
Wesley and Jackie Mattonen Endowment for Christian Education
David and Mary McGregor Christian Education Endowment
James D. McGuire Endowment for Christian Education
Howell G. and Martha Jo Mims CPYC Endowment
Morris and Ruth Pepper Endowment for Christian Education
Bill and Hazel Phalan Endowment for Christian Education
Claudette Hamby Pickle Endowment for Christian Education
Publishing House Endowment
Dr. and Mrs. E. K. Reagin Endowment for Christian Education
Jodi Hearn Rush Endowment for Christian Education
William “Rusty” Rustenhaven III Christian Education Endowment for Youth Ministry
Jeff and Angie Sledge Endowment for Christian Education
John W. Speer Endowment for Christian Education
Cornelia Swain Endowment for Christian Education
Irvin and Annie Mary Swain Endowment for Christian Education
Jake Tyler Endowment for Children’s MinistryFrank and Linda Ward Endowment for Christian Education
William Warren Endowment for Christian Education
Clark Williamson Memorial Fund Endowment
Helen Wiman Memorial Fund Endowment
Young Adult Ministry Endowment
New endowments may be established at any time by individuals or congregations wishing to honor
or memorialize persons who have lived exemplary lives and rendered significant service.
7. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SEASON OFFERINGThe 151st General Assembly (1981) authorized the Board of Christian Education (now Discipleship
Ministry Team) to receive an offering annually during Christian Education Season.   This offering has
established the Christian Education Season Endowment.  The Discipleship Ministry Team has made bulletin
inserts available electronically to congregations requesting them.  Congregations are encouraged to print
the bulletin inserts and to provide an opportunity for members, not only to be educated about the ministryof Christian education in the denomination, but to give an offering if they desire.

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8. ASSOCIATION OF CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EDUCATORSThe association was established in 1984 with membership open to both volunteer and professional
church educators.   The primary purpose of the association is for members to covenant to offer prayer,
support, and advocacy for the Christian education ministries of the denomination.  Membership fees are $25
per year.  These dues are deposited in one of the Discipleship Ministry Team’s endowment funds.
C. THE DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
The primary mission unit of the church is the congregation.  The Discipleship Ministry Team iscommitted to work with the Ministry Council to enhance, support, and resource the various ministries of
Cumberland Presbyterian congregations.  The following programs and resources reflect that commitment.
1. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT/INTERPRETATION/PROMOTION
a. Church School Curriculum
While the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is limited in the extent to which it can develop
curriculum materials for all age groups, the Discipleship Ministry Team does review, critique, andrecommend resources for consideration by congregations in the implementation of their curriculum plans.
These are included below.
Seasons of the Spirit provides resources for those congregations desiring materials based on thelectionary.  Resources are available for birth-2, ages 3-5, ages 6-8, ages 9-11, ages 12-14, ages 15-18, adult,
and multi-age (ages 5-12).  Seasons of the Spirit empowers all ages to be transformed in Christ as they:
explore meaning and mystery in the Bible; celebrate in worship, sacraments, education, and service; engage
in ministries of love, justice, and witness; and live in inclusive communities of faith shaped and led by theHoly Spirit.  Seasons of the Spirit may be ordered from LOGOS at 1-800-323-7543.
Gather ’Round resources are published by Brethren Press and Mennonite Publishing Network.  This
curriculum is recommended for Cumberland Presbyterian congregations that want Bible-story-centeredresources that seek to: nurture children in their faith formation process; strengthen the connection between
home and congregation; explore what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus in Christian community;
and increase the ease of use and versatility of the curriculum.
Resources are available for preschool (ages 3-4, with tips for 2s), primary (grades K-2), middler(grades 3-5), multi-age (grades K-6, with tips for older students), junior youth (grades 6-8), youth (grades9-12), and parent/caregiver.  Talkabout– a resource for parents and children– will be updated to a CD format
beginning in the fall of 2010.  Only one CD will be needed per congregation.  Permission is given to print
resources from the CD for use with members/families.  Resources may be ordered from: Brethren Press,
1451 Dundee, Elgin, IL 60120, Web: www.gatherround.org, Phone: 1-800/-41-3712, Fax: 1-800-667-8188,
E-mail: customerservice@gatherroundstore.org.
The Present Word is an adult quarterly based on the International Bible Lessons for Christian
Teaching, better know as the Uniform Series.   The Present Word may be ordered from Presbyterian
Distribution Services (PDS) by calling 1-800-524-2612; faxing 1-502-569-8030; ordering from the web at
WebMarketplace: www.pcusa.org/marketplace/index.jsp; or mailing Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), PDS
Prepaid Processing, P.O. Box 643674, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3674.
Encounter is an adult Cumberland Presbyterian quarterly, which is based on the Uniform Series. It
remains a strong option for adult Sunday school classes throughout the Cumberland Presbyterian Churchwith a circulation of around 7,000 copies quarterly.  The following people have or are in the process ofwriting for Encounter: Norlan Scrudder (Spring 2010), Pat Pickett, (Summer 2010), Andy McClung (Fall2010), Don F. Thomas (Winter, 2010-11), Dwayne Cole (Spring 2011), and Cardelia Howell-Diamond(Summer 2011).  A Leader’s Guide written by Randall McGee is also available.  Encounter may be orderedfrom Cumberland Presbyterian Resource Distribution at 1-901-276-4572, ext. 252, or online at www.
cumberland.org/cprc/cpbooks.
b. Vacation Bible School Resources
Ministry Team staff provides a listing of VBS materials that are available and from whichcongregations may select for use.  A Cokesbury catalog with a listing of resources will be sent to eachcongregation.  The catalog includes a chart to help users understand the uniqueness of each publisher’s
resources.
c. New Earth: Christian Resources for the Outdoors Series
New Earth: Christian Resources for the Outdoors will focus on the theme Be A Hero: Living Like
Jesus for the 2010 camping season.  This curriculum is developed by New Earth Publishers, an ecumenicalpublishing partnership, in cooperation with the Committee on Outdoor Ministry of the National Council

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of the Churches of Christ.  The focus of this year’s resource is on persons in the scriptures who followed
Jesus in heroic and amazing ways.  Cumberland Presbyterians may order these materials from the Christian
Board of Publication at 1-800-366-3383 or www.chalicepress.com.
d. These Days
These Days is a daily devotional published four times a year.  Each issue includes a scripture forthe day, daily Bible verse, written message, and prayer.  Recent Cumberland Presbyterians writers are: Sally
Garrett Allen, Jill Carr, Michael Clark, and Sandra Shepherd.
These Days may now be ordered from These Days Subscriptions, 100 Witherspoon Street, Room
2047, Louisville, KY 40202-1396.  You may also call 1-800-227-2872, fax 1-800-541-5113, or visit www.
ppcpub.com.
A single prepaid and a quantity prepaid subscription plan is available.  In addition, a large print
edition is available.  The regular print edition is $7.95 per year (bulk rate of $4.95 each for 5 or more copies
per subscription) and the large print is $8.95 per year (bulk rate of $6.95 each for 5 or more copies per
subscription).  Frank Ward serves on the editorial committee for this devotional resource.
e. Church Membership Resources
The Making of Disciples Called Cumberland Presbyterian by Bob Phelps is designed for thoseleaders who do membership education in the congregational setting.  It is in a loose-leaf notebook format; a
CD accompanies the notebook and permission is granted for congregations to customize, duplicate, or adapt
the activities.  The primary audience is older elementary children and youth who are making preparation
for church membership; adults who are newcomers to a new church development or to a congregation;
and, others who wish to learn more about the meaning of discipleship as Cumberland Presbyterians.  It isavailable from the CP Resource Distribution for $19.95.
About Being Cumberland Presbyterian, a 15-page booklet, is a brief, user-friendly resource to help
persons know about Cumberland Presbyterianism.  It includes numerous simple graphics with formattingthat readily engages the reader with pertinent information about the denomination.  This resource is for
persons who want basic information about the Cumberland Presbyterian Church without doing an in-depth
study.  It will also be a handy piece for congregations (especially new church developments) to purchase inquantity and provide for persons who are unfamiliar with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Available
from the CP Resource Distribution, this resource is $1.50.  For Japanese, Hispanic, and Korean editions,contact the Missions Ministry Team at 901-276-4572.
f. The Family Gathers for WorshipThis 56-session book was written and compiled by Hester Allen with contributions from Donna
Heflin, Jim McGuire, Mary Thompson, and Gayle Wood.   It provides suggestions for weekly times ofworship for family members with children and younger youth.  In addition, there are four special occasion
worship suggestions.  It can be used in a variety of home settings.  It is $9.95 and is available from the CP
Resource Distribution.
g. Planning Guide for the Christian Year
Written by Marty Aden and edited by Bob Phelps, this guide includes planning tips, a detailed
discussion of each season, and suggested activities for each season.  It is available through the CP Resource
Distribution for $5.95.
h. Planning Guide for the Worship Committee
This resource was planned and written by Henry Bradford, Roy Hall, Fran Vickers, and Robert S.
Wood.  It is available through the CP Resource Distribution for $3.95.
i. One Family Under God and Study Guide for One Family Under God
One Family Under God was written by Thomas D. Campbell; a study guide was written by Jack W.
Ferguson and Otis Johnson.  This resource tells the story of the two denominations up to the early 1980s.
Both resources are available from the CP Resource Distribution.  The book is $3.95 and the study guide,$2.95.
j. God So Loves
This video is about the two Cumberland Presbyterian Churches.  It is approximately twenty-fiveminutes in length and presently sells for $19.95.  It may be used in a number of settings: church membershipclasses; newcomer groups; fellowship dinners; individual use in the home; etc.  Because the video is several
years old, plans are underway to update it.
k. Planning Guide for Family MinistryThis guide was written by Timm Glover and is designed for use by Christian education committees,
family ministry committees, or sessions.  It is available from the CP Resource Distribution for $4.95.
l. Searchings: For Third Agers Who Are Seeking Something More
These fifty-three devotions were written by Morris Pepper.   They can be used for individual

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reflections and as devotions in senior citizen groups.  It is available from the CP Resource Distribution for$8.95.
m. Covenant of Grace: A Thread Through ScriptureThis 13-chapter commentary on the 1984 Confession of Faith was written by Dr. Hubert Morrow.
It sells for $8.95 from the CP Resource Distribution.
n. Children in the SanctuaryChildren in the Sanctuary is now available both in video and DVD.   It is designed to involve
children fully in the worship life of a congregation and has an extensive use/study guide with a good listingof additional resources related to worship.  The six segments of the video are: What is Worship?, Promises
Made at Baptism, Opportunities and Challenges When Children Participate in Corporate Worship, Children
Participating in Worship, Children Leading in Worship, and Children Planning Worship. The segments canbe used individually as well as in a series. The cost is $29.95 from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at
1-800-524-2612.
o. Study Guide for the Confession of FaithThomas D. Campbell and Anna Bolling wrote this study guide for use with the 1984 Confession of
Faith.  It is designed in workbook style for individual or group study.  Each participant in a study will needhis or her own copy.  The cost is $ 2.95 from the CP Resource Distribution.
p. Study Guide for the Proposed Catechism
In 2003 the General Assembly approved a recommendation from the Catechism Committee thatthe Board of Christian Education produce a single study guide for the proposed catechism and that theguide contain suggestions for use with children, youth, adults and families.  Staff studied the catecheticalquestions, grouped them into 8 sections, and developed outlines for this resource.
The Study Guide for the Proposed Catechism of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, written by
Sandra Shepherd, is in a notebook format.  There are eight sessions with activities appropriate for children,
youth, adults and families.  The sessions are: Who Is God? Who Are We?; A Covenant Relationship with
God; Jesus Is Christ; The Holy Spirit, Then and Now; What Does It Mean?; Christian Worship; The
Church: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How?; and The Lord’s Prayer. Each session engages learners
in dealing with the questions and answers of the catechism, using scripture and creative activities.  It isavailable from the CP Resource Distribution for $12.
q. Seeing the Face of God
This book includes 41 sermons by H. Harold Davis, long time leader in the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.  It is available from the CP Resource Distribution for $15.95.
r. The Thoughtful Christian
The Thoughtful Christian is an online resource center for adult study materials.  Studies are grouped
into 6 categories: In the News, Bible and Theology, Spirituality, Christian Living, Contemporary Issues,
and Popular Culture.  The Thoughtful Christian may be purchased in these three ways:  Individually – aone-part study is $5, two-session study is $10, three-session $14, and four-session $18; Study Packs –containing five studies of varying length for just $40; or by 12-month subscription for just $350 ($250 for
congregations whose worship attendance averages 100 or less), which allows multiple users and unlimited
downloads.  Renewals are $225 per year.  You may order individual sessions or may subscribe to the service
at www.thethoughtfulchristian.com.
The Discipleship Ministry team is a partner with The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation in The
Thoughtful Christian and receives a percentage of the subscriptions or purchases made by Cumberland
Presbyterians.  The partnership also applies to the new The Thoughtful Christian for Teens.  Cumberland
Presbyterian writers have been invited to contribute to these electronic resources.
s. The Cumberland Presbyterian Handbook
The Cumberland Presbyterian Handbook is the newest publication by the Discipleship MinistryTeam.   This resource was made possible through a partnership with Augsburg/Fortress Press and the
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.  These publishers granted permission for Cumberland Presbyterians
to reproduce the elements of the handbook that are common to Christendom and to the Presbyterian and
Reformed traditions.  The parts of the resource that are uniquely Cumberland Presbyterian were written byMark Brown.  Not only is this resource immensely informative but it is also humorous and entertaining.  
The cost is $22.95.
2. LEADER DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT
a. Evangelism
The 2007 General Assembly established evangelism as a 5-year priority of the denomination.  
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action the Discipleship Ministry Team implemented the following: theme focus of evangelism in Bridges;
resource bibliography distributed in the Sunday School Packet and made accessible on the website; special
emphasis in events like the Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference; resources and activities on
growing as disciples in the planning packets; partnership with the Missions Ministry Team in planning andimplementing the Youth Evangelism Conference, December 27-30, 2009.  In addition, we are joining withecumenical partners through Opening Doors to Discipleship to launch an online course with 12 sessions on
Discipleship.
Opening Doors to Discipleship.  Opening Doors to Discipleship is a series of leadership training
courses for teachers and leaders at the congregational level.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has
joined with the Moravian Church in America, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Presbyterian Church(U.S.A.) and the Reformed Church in America to produce these online courses that can be used for teacher
training.  The three courses online are Basic Teaching Skills, Basic Bible Knowledge, and Basic Tenets of theReformed/Presbyterian Faith.  Each course includes 12 sessions and can be used individually or in groups.
Leaders who complete the entire 3 courses will have a well-rounded foundation for the teaching ministryof the church.  The Bible and the Reformed/Presbyterian Faith can also be used as general studies for older
youth and adults in the church.  Opening Doors to Discipleship is placed under Evangelism because of the
new fourth course presently under development.  At the initiative of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
the partnership has commissioned the development of a course on “Discipleship.”  The primary focus will
be on the church’s mission in calling and growing disciples of Jesus Christ.  This 12 session course will beavailable for use not just with teachers but other church members and groups as well.  The projected launchdate is July 1, 2010.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the General Assembly encourage congregations to takeadvantage of this Cumberland Presbyterian resource for leadership development.
Youth Evangelism Conference.   “WAKE UP!!!!” was the theme of the 2009 Youth Evangelism
Conference that was held December 27-30, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee.  This was the second YEC; thefirst was planned and implemented by the Board of Missions.  This 2009 event was planned by a designteam working with staff of the Missions and Discipleship Ministry Teams.  The YEC was for young people
from grades 7 through first year college.  Two hundred and thirty-six persons participated in this event.  TheReport of the Missions Ministry Team will provide additional information.
Miniversities.  “Keep the Flame Burning— Share the Story” was the theme for the 2009 Evangelism
Miniversities.  The Missions and Discipleship Ministry Teams joined together to plan and implement 20
miniversities in various geographical areas of the denomination.  Track I of these 3 ½ hour events was for
elders, pastors and outreach ministry members.  The focus was on understanding the meaning of evangelism
and experiencing ways to reach out and share the Good News with others in the community.  Track II wasfor teachers and other Christian education leaders and the focus was on the role of the teacher in evangelism
and the calling and growing of disciples.  Consultants trained by the Missions and Discipleship Ministry
Teams provided leadership for the miniversities.   Over 500 persons participated in the 20 miniversities
and overwhelmingly rated the events as extremely helpful.  The design for Track II will be available at theDiscipleship Ministry Team website in the near future.
b. 1st Things First: Come...Live Faithfully — Miniversities 2011.
The miniversities will be held in March and April of 2011 in approximately 20 locations in the
church.  Each event will be 4 ½ hours in length, including 1 hour for lunch and fellowship.  The theme is
1st Things First: Come...Live Faithfully and the supporting scripture is Matthew 14:13-21 (feeding of the
5,000).  The goal is that participants will:• Explore the meaning of holistic stewardship from a biblical perspective that everything is a giftfrom God;• Identify current practices of stewardship in their lives now and explore Christ’s call to faithfulliving; and,• Discover creative, practical, concrete tools and ideas for giving to God through congregational
ministries (understanding a budget, budget planning and raising, other giving opportunities,
spiritual gifts inventory, time budgeting, using non-paid staff, vision implementation, ministryfocused budget, worship and mission resources, non “plate” giving, church inventory).
The miniversities will be especially helpful to pastors, elders, and stewardship “campaign” planners.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That the General Assembly encourage congregations toparticipate in the miniversity program as an important source for leadership development in thearea of stewardship ministry.

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63c. Bridges
Bridges: Building Relational Inroads for Discipleship, Growth, Enrichment, and Service ismailed three times per year in January, May, and September.  It is an eight-page self-mailer with pertinent
information for congregational C. E. planners and leaders.  Bridges is designed to be taken apart for copying
and/or distribution to appropriate persons in the congregation.  Bridges is also available electronically for
those who prefer that format.   Back issues are also available upon request and on the website at www.
cumberland.org/bce.
Cindy Martin coordinates the materials and prepares the piece for the printer.  Other staff members
contribute materials related to their staff program areas.
d. Leadership Resources available from CP Resource Distribution.
A Manual for Church Libraries, $2.95.
Christian Education Plan Book, $ 2.95.
Development of Church Officers in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by Chris Joiner, $19.95.
Designs for Church Officer Training by Paul and Hester Allen, $12.95.
A Climate for Learning: Educational Planning for Your Congregation, $4.95.
Plan Book for the Board of Christian Education: Presbytery and Synod, free.
e. Staff Consulting
Each staff member is available for consultation in-office, on-site, via telephone, and by email.
Consulting takes various forms: recommendations of resource materials; assistance in choosing curriculum;
ideas for leader development; planning for outdoor ministry; leading Christian education planning; etc.
f. Discipleship Team Website
The Staff encourages people to check the Discipleship Ministry Team web page, which may beaccessed at www.cumberland.org/bce.  It contains important information about resources and upcoming
events.  We are especially proud of the new Youth Ministry website that is a one-stop “shopping” site foryouth ministry.  The internet address is www.cumberland.org/cpyouth.
g. Sunday School Packet
A packet was mailed to all congregations in late May.  This packet contained materials helpful tocongregations as they plan for the new church school year.
h. Cumberland Presbyterian Resources (CPR)
Cumberland Presbyterian Resources is the resource distribution agency for the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.   It is lodged under the Ministry Council and functions as a part of the ongoing
ministry of the Discipleship Ministry Team.  CPR makes available to individual Cumberland Presbyterians,
judicatories, and other interested parties uniquely Cumberland Presbyterian materials.  An active customer
base of over 2,000 clients mostly from the Cumberland Presbyterian family but also representing a variety
of other churches and individuals is maintained.   The resources distributed include books and otherpublications by, for, or about Cumberland Presbyterians.  In addition, CPR sells a variety of church record
keeping supplies that are unique to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church or that would be difficult for
Cumberland Presbyterians to otherwise acquire.  Consultant services are also provided to help congregations
and individuals with acquisition of resources not available through CPR.  Assistance is also available tohelp potential Cumberland Presbyterian authors to explore publication possibilities.  Matthew Gore serves
as the manager of Cumberland Presbyterian Resources.
3. YOUTH MINISTRY
a. Youth Advisory Delegates
Susan Groce, the Coordinator of Ministries with Youth and Young Adults, provides leadershipfor an orientation session for youth advisory delegates; this session is scheduled immediately prior to the
opening of each General Assembly.  In addition, she serves as an advocate and a support person for thesedelegates.
b. Souper Bowl of Caring
The 2010 Souper Bowl of Caring was February 7th.  On that Sunday, youth groups all over North
America gathered money at the close of worship to be used for a service ministry in their respective
communities.  Promotional materials for the 2010 event were included in Bridges and on the Discipleship
Ministry Team website.  In addition, a special youth ministry mailing went to congregations; it included
promotional materials for Souper Bowl Sunday.  This special program will be celebrated again on February
6, 2011.
c. Youth Sunday
Youth Sunday was February 21, 2010.  Staff promoted this in Bridges, on the Discipleship Ministry
Team website, and in the special youth ministry mailing.  Youth Sunday will be February 20, 2011.

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d. 30-Hour Famine
This program of World Vision was scheduled for February 27-28, 2010 or April 24-25, 2010.  It was
designed as an educational opportunity on hunger, poverty, and Christian action as well as a fund-raising
event to support people who live in poverty and hunger.  The Staff promoted participation in the 30-Hour
Famine in Bridges, in a special youth ministry packet, and on the DMT website.
e. Youth Packet
A packet of materials was mailed in October 2009 to all Cumberland Presbyterian churches.  Thepacket included promotion of CPYC, Souper Bowl Sunday, 30-Hour Famine, Youth Sunday, Presbyterian
Youth Triennium, Youth Worker Summit, and an annotated listing of youth ministry resources.
4. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY/FAMILY MINISTRY
a. I Have Been BaptizedThis resource, written by James D. McGuire and DeVere Ramsay, includes a booklet, a single sheet
for the pastor/session and a single sheet for parents/caregivers.  It is designed to be given to the parents atthe time of the child’s baptism and can be used in later years to recall the baptism and to better understandthe importance of this sacrament.  It may be purchased from CP Resource Distribution for $4.95.
b. Welcome to the Lord’s Table
Welcome to the Lord’s Table is companion resource to I Have Been Baptized.  It too was written byJames D. McGuire and DeVere Ramsay.  It helps children to understand the sacrament of communion andhas a message to the pastor and session as well as a message to care givers.  It may be purchased from CP
Resource Distribution for $4.95.
c. Children’s Sunday
Children’s Sunday is June 13, 2010.  The spring issue of Bridges offered suggestions for observing
Children’s Sunday.
d. Children’s Ministry Resources
A listing of resources for children’s ministry is on the website and will be available to anyone
asking for assistance.
5. ADULT
a. Young Adult Ministry
A new approach to young adult ministry is underway.  A 12-member Young Adult Ministry PlanningCouncil is being established for the purpose of evaluating and planning ministry with young adults.  Theage-group focus will be on post high-school (age 18 or 19) through age 30.  The Council will meet later thisyear to begin initial planning and programming.
b. Institute for Peace and Justice
The Discipleship Ministry Team maintains a relationship with the Institute for Peace and Justice.  
The Institute focuses on peace education in the home and family and draws upon the scriptures and theteachings of Jesus to affirm and advocate for living in relationships where non-violence prevails.   Theaddress for the Institute for Peace and Justice is 475 East Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63119.  Their
web address is www.ipj-ppj.org.   The phone number is 1-314-918-2630.   Peace-making resources areavailable for all age groups.
c. Divorce Recovery
This guide provides help for divorce recovery groups to meet in six sessions of 1 ½ hours.  Amongthe topics are dealing with losses, letting go of the past, recovering and using self-esteem, and planning forthe future.  The guide is $8.95 and is available from the CP Resource Distribution.
d. Adult Ministry Resources
An annotated listing of resources for ministry with adults is made available through the Sunday
School Packet that is mailed to congregations in May of each year.  This listing is also available on thewebsite.  The Thoughtful Christian courses mentioned above are also made available to congregations whowish to do adult education focused on particular current issues or other topics.
6. STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION
Stewardship Education in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church includes the areas of discernment
as structured by the Touch the Future program, promotion of and education about Our United Outreach, andgeneral stewardship education.
The Touch the Future program, developed in 2000, was originally scheduled to be emphasized
through the year 2010.   Congregations in all presbyteries have, in the past, been invited to begin andcomplete a discernment process.  With most of the churches who have completed the process, it has met

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with success.  A new design for a weekend discernment process has been tested and is available for churches
at this time.  It can be done by a session or small group that will intensely call the group into action after the
weekend is over.
The Coordinator of Stewardship Education has been working closely with the newly established
Our United Outreach Committee.   Letters were sent to congregations that did not give to Our United
Outreach in 2009, encouraging them to give in 2010.  The year 2010 has been dubbed “The Mitey Year” toencourage every congregation to participate in giving to Our United Outreach, offering a gift as the widow
in the temple did.  Jesus declared that her gift was extremely important because she gave what she had backto God. Congregations are also encouraged to contact the committee, inviting a member of the committee
to come and make a presentation about Our United Outreach to sessions, small groups, and the entire
congregation.  Creative plans continue to come out of this committee.
Congregations are reminded that their giving percentage to Our United Outreach is based on their
total income as they report it to the Office of the General Assembly in their annual report.  As the General
Assembly stated in its meeting of 1985 when they accepted 10% as the biblical standard for giving to
Our United Outreach “Because stewardship is not a tax or assessment, no exclusions should be made.
Exclusions are not made for the tithe biblically.  God’s plan is a simple plan.”A stewardship resource packet was sent out in the fall with new resources for congregations.  Thefollowing resources were included:
2010 Theme Bulletin Insert
The 2010 Stewardship Theme is “Leaving Better than When You Came” and the scripture emphasis
is James 1:17-18, 21.  This resource is for your congregation to copy and use as bulletin inserts or handouts
at various settings.  The sheet can be reproduced and cut in half for two inserts per page.
2010 Theme Pledge Card
This resource can be reproduced on card stock to make three pledge cards per sheet.  The card uses
the 2010 Stewardship Theme and allows for the end to be clipped and used as a stub.
New Stewardship Resources on your Computer
Are you looking for stewardship resources on line that will help you with your worship service?
Check out the web site for all these resources and more!
How Old am I in Stewardship Years?
This chart will help your members and church attenders gage where they are in their journey tostewardship maturity.
Green Chart for Your Sunday School Class
You will want to have this chart in every Sunday school classroom so that classes can begin theprocess of making themselves more green.
Green Steps for Your Church
It’s easier than you think for your church to become “green.”  Take a look at these steps and begin
implementing them today.
Endowment BrochureThis brochure highlights the giving opportunities that you and your congregation have in the areaof Christian education.  Consider a gift to one of these endowments as a way to broaden your ministry into
the realm of Christian education.
Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation
Giving magazine is a resource full of stewardship articles and ideas for your congregation.  Between
its covers you will find articles about children and stewardship, book reviews, a stewardship emphasis foryour annual campaign and much more.  The Discipleship Ministry Team is a partner in the Ecumenical
Stewardship Center, which produces Giving magazine.
Most of these resources are now online and can be reached from the main Cumberland Presbyterian
web page.  Staff is available to consult with congregations about their stewardship education program.
Be aware that a new online daily devotion called eVotions will be available from the Cumberland
Presbyterian main web page beginning in September 2010.  The daily devotions will be written by MinistryCouncil and ministry team members and staff, and staff and board members from the Historical Foundationand the Board of Stewardship.
As the 2011 miniversities will focus on stewardship, there will also be stewardship resources
coming out of those events.
D. WORSHIP RESOURCES

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1. BOOK OF COMMON WORSHIPThe Book of Common Worship is provided for development and enrichment of worship.   This
collection of liturgical resources in the Reformed tradition contains the best material from the Supplemental
Liturgical Resources, which have been used in the church for several years.  The Book of Common Worship,
recommended for use by the 163rd General Assembly, also includes lectionaries, a psalter, and otherimportant liturgical resources.  In addition, there is a Book of Common Worship Pastoral Edition and a Book
of Common Worship Daily Prayer.  We also provide the series of seven Supplemental Liturgical Resources:
Service for the Lord’s Day, Holy Baptism and Services for the Renewal of Baptism, Christian Marriage, The
Funeral: A Service of Witness to the Resurrection, Daily Prayer, Services for Occasions of Pastoral Care,and Liturgical Year.  Resources may be ordered from Cokesbury at 1-800-672-1789 or at www.cokesbury.
com.
2. HYMNALS
The Worshiping Church (1990) and Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs (1990) are authorized
hymnals now available.  The Worshiping Church may be ordered from Hope Publishing Company; the toll
free number is 1-800-323-1049.  Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs is the generic Presbyterian hymnal.
It is available from Cokesbury at 1-800-672-1789 or at www.cokesbury.com.
3. RESOURCES
The Planning Guide for the Worship Committee and the Children in the Sanctuary video/DVD
were described under curriculum resources.  Articles, Bible studies, copyright information, an annotatedlisting of worship resources, a workshop design, an annotated listing of hymnals, and a sharing of worshipideas are available on the Discipleship Ministry Team website at www.cumberland.org/bce.
4. WORSHIP BULLETINSWorship bulletin services are available through Dexter at 1-866-563-2425 or Concordia Publishing
House at 1-800-325-3040.  Church supplies may be ordered from Cokesbury by calling 1-800-672-1789 or
faxing 1-800-445-8189.
E. FINANCIAL REPORT
1. AUDIT REPORT
A certified copy of our 2009 audit report that includes the Discipleship Ministry Team as part of
the Ministry Council budget is not available at the time this report is being written.  When the audit iscompleted, two copies will be delivered to the Office of the General Assembly in compliance with Bylaws
15.04.  Relevant portions of the audit report appear in the report of the General Assembly Ministry Council.
2. ANALYSIS OF FUND BALANCES
The 158th (1988) General Assembly asked for itemization and accounting for the fund balances
shown in the annual audit reports.  An agency’s fund balance is theoretically the amount of cash thatwould result if the agency were to liquidate all its assets and satisfy all its liabilities.  Each year the fundbalance increases or is diminished, depending upon a number of factors, including whether the operation
experienced a profit or loss.
During 2009 the endowment corpus increased $106,263.45 by contributions to existing endowments,
establishment of new ones, and realized and unrealized capital gains.  On December 31, 2009, the market
value of all endowments was $1,647,004.55.
Following is the analysis of the Discipleship Ministry Team program fund balances as required byGeneral Assembly.
Discipleship Ministry Team (Program Operation) Fund Balance
December 31, 2009
1.  Investment Loan Program (on deposit with Board of Stewardship)
DMT Office Equipment/Furniture Fund (designated)
Adventures in Family Living (restricted)
DMT Contingency Fund (designated)
Revolving Publication Fund (restricted)
Leader Development Fund (restricted)$42,353$4,512$146,987$31,329$74,526

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Young Adult Conference (restricted)
God So Loves Video Fund (restricted)
Curriculum Fund (designated)
Transportation (designated)
   TOTAL ILP
2.  Accounts  Receivable
3.  Bank Balance (12/31/09)
   TOTAL Assets

67$4,789$5,730$14,347$28,548$353,121$6,573$37,165$ 396,857

F. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
A recent article by Tim Gossett (Copyright © 2010 Different Voice) identified 10 trends in Christianeducation worthy of consideration.  It is shared here as information from one perspective on what might behappening as we move into the future.
   1.

   2.

   3.

   4.
   5.
  6.

   7.
   8.

   9.
  10.

Digital downloads will become expected from curriculum publishers—both printable handouts/
lesson plans as well as associated videos.   Many publishers are already providing extra content
online, but I believe consumers will increasingly expect to print only the pages they want to print tosave money, and they’ll prefer curriculum with downloadable content.
Book Clubs are growing in popularity, and more small groups will focus around fiction/nonfiction
books rather than small group studies.  Two of the many pieces of evidence: Abingdon Press now
offers a series of fiction books, and major publishers (e.g. Harper Collins) are frequently offering
discussion guides online or in the back of religion books by major authors.
Congregation members are increasingly participating in more than one congregation, which has
all sorts of implications for the way a church does Christian education.  A recent Pew Forum study
found that a whopping 35% of us now claim to attend more than one congregation, with about aquarter of those folks reporting they participate in multiple faiths.
Relevance will only continue to grow in importance.  People do not have a lot of extra time, andif something does not appear to be relevant to their lives, out it goes.  A Sunday school class that
doesn’t get to the point is, these days, missing the point for many people.
A theological shift to the margins is underway.  The decline in the number and scope of denominational
publishers is likely to increase, so independent publishers are going to pick up new customers looking
for options.
Christian educators will FINALLY start to embrace technology in a big way.  I foresee a growing,
and even urgent, interest in faith formation-related blogging, the development of secondary church
websites devoted to formation, increased Usage of sites like YouTube in the classroom, ways to use
Facebook or email to extend the classroom experience, and so on.
Parishioners will have a greater expectation of choice within the church.  The church that appears
to offer the greatest number of niche opportunities for faith development will thrive; the church that
continues to offer just one option (e.g. a single adult Sunday school class) will not.
I suspect we’ll start to see churches advertising more “hybridized” staff positions and fewer“traditional” ones.  Churches will seek out people with a broad array of gifts in faith formation,technology, music, etc. who can be involved in a variety of positions rather than individuals who
specialize in children’s ministry or Christian education in general.
We’ll soon see enormous growth in resources, classes, and training for older adult ministry, as
churches seek to find new ways to reach out to and engage an aging but still very active population.
As denominational staff at local and national levels shrink, and as churches who are “on the bubble”
financially look to cut staff, an opportunity will grow for persons interested in being freelance
Christian educators –   i.e. consultants, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, retreat leaders,website consultants, etc., who will work with a variety of churches in their state or around thecountry.  I’ve personally connected with several of these folks in the past year through Facebook,and most of them left full-time ministry within a church in the past two years.

In its February meeting, the Discipleship Ministry Team engaged in Bible study and prayer todiscern God’s call for the church in the area of discipleship ministry.  The following goals emerged:
1. Evaluate and rejuvenate the ministries provided. Evaluate each program and service, weighing
its relative cost – personnel, monetary value, effort, etc. vs. effectiveness (perceived) and need.

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Prioritize ministries and be open to God’s leading into new ventures in order to serve congregations
more effectively.
2. Initiate collaboration and partnerships in ministry, remembering that God’s call is for all disciples
to be doers of the Word in the world, working together to educate and train each child of God.
This emphasis will focus on all judicatories of the church, within the Ministry Council, with otherministry teams, and within the broader ecumenical community, especially those of the Presbyterian
and Reformed Tradition.  An intentional effort will be made to be more global and inclusive of thevarious cultures and languages represented in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
3. Cast a vision of what it means to be a mature disciple by: developing a statement on discipleshipfor consideration by the General Assembly; providing tools and resources through which disciple
growing can occur; developing a discipleship 101 course; encouraging congregations to use
Opening Doors to Discipleship, Course D as a personal and communal resource for learning, living,
and giving as disciples of Jesus Christ.
RECOMMENDATION 4: That the following be approved as the discipleship statement of the
Cumberland Presbyterian church.
Christian Discipleship is the life and practice of following Jesus Christ.
One may know about Jesus and even believe in Jesus as an important historical and spiritual figure.  
However, one becomes a disciple of Jesus by entering into a personal relationship with him and making him
the guiding force of one’s life.  A disciple is not a “Jesus admirer” but a servant who follows faithfully andwillingly.
A disciple is a student—a life-long learner.  Christian disciples devote their lives to the reading andstudying of God’s inspired word as found in the Old and New Testaments, and come to know the teachingsof Jesus through them and through interaction with others who share this identity.  
Prayer, worship, life experiences and God’s grace enable disciples to develop a personal relationshipwith God through Jesus Christ. By being totally committed to Christ, disciples find their primary identity
in him. Their faith is nurtured, shaped, and then expressed in and through the faith community called the“church.”Disciples exhibit joy, peace, humility, self-control, and are guided in all things by love, God’s greatest
command.  Through love, disciples are peacemakers and seek to relate to others with kindness, integrity,
generosity, and patience.
Disciples follow the example of Jesus, and give themselves --- their time, energy, and money---tofurthering God’s kingdom by witnessing to the Good News, ministering to and with persons who are poorand those who are marginalized.
Above all, disciples share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others, inviting them to a new life in
Christ.

IV. REPORT OF THE UNITED BOARD FOR CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIPCUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
A. INTRODUCTION
The 1972 General Assemblies created the Federated Board of Christian Education.  For nineteen
years, the Federated Board of Christian Education served the constituencies of the two denominations as
if the churches were already one body.  The experience has confirmed the truth of the axiom, “Unity is
discovered in mission.”
The 1990 General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America created theGeneral Assembly Mission Board, which continues the work previously done by three program boards.
In the 1999 General Assembly, restructure occurred and the General Assembly Mission Board became
partners in ministry with the Board of Christian Education of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
At the 1991 meeting the Federated Board of Christian Education redefined its identity and mission.
From this effort emerged a new name, the United Board for Christian Discipleship, a cooperative ministry,
which in 2010 spans thirty-eight years.
With the restructure of the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly program agencies in 2008,

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the United Board continues the process of redefining its organization and program functions.  Structure,
however, has never disrupted the strong commitment of both denominations to join in partnership to planand implement programs of discipleship that by their nature should be done together rather than separately.
B. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. MEMBERS, STAFF
Members of the United Board for Christian Discipleship are Mindy Acton, Reese Baker, Joanna
Bellis, Margaret Bennett, Gladys Canty, Jeff Gehle, Gladys Graham, Mamie Hall, Samantha Hassell, Tom
Martin, Nina Phipps, Mary Powell, Kip Rush, Vernon Sansom, Sandra Shepherd, Rhonda Westfield andMichael Wilson.  Program staff members are Elinor Brown, Matthew Gore, Susan Groce, Lynne Herring,
Cindy Martin, and Frank Ward.
2. BOARD MEETINGThe United Board for Christian Discipleship meets once each year.  The 2010 meeting was held in
Memphis on February 5.  The focus of the meeting was on program planning and leadership assignments.
C. JOINT PROGRAMSThe United Board joins together to plan and implement six major programs.
1. YOUTH MINISTRY PLANNING COUNCIL (YMPC)The Youth Ministry Planning Council is the youth ministry planning agency for the United Board for
Christian Discipleship.  The following youth, along with adult members Jill Carr and Nina Phipps and staff
member Susan Groce, currently serve on the Council.  Membership and terms are:Terms to Expire 2010: Morgan Boyd, Nicki Naron, C.J. Cassell, A’Yonnika Rodgers, Christopher
Jerrolds
Terms to Expire 2011: Katie Klein, Ben Sweet, Alan Butler, Rachel Johnson, Andre Harris
Terms to Expire 2012: Natalie Meinzer, Sebastian Phillips, Katie Garrett, Hailey Sutton
The council met December 5-7, 2009, to evaluate existing youth ministry programs, plan the
Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference (CPYC), and brainstorm ways to reach our youth withinformation about CPYC and the Presbyterian Youth Triennium through presbyterial and congregational
events.  The council meeting for 2010 will be November 13-16.
2. CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH CONFERENCE (CPYC)“Let ME do the talking…” was the theme of the 2009 Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference
held at the NaCoMe Conference Center in Pleasantville, Tennessee, July 12-17.  The theme came from Job
42:4 with a focus on listening more intently to God rather than our own voices.  In collation with this theme
and the story of Job participants explored venturing through tough times in their lives with a clear mind set
to discern God’s will be listening for God’s voice.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference is an opportunity for youth from the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America to interact and learn together.  There
were 190 youth and adults in attendance at the 2009 conference.
The 2010 CPYC will be held July 4-9, at NaCoMe Conference Center, Pleasantville, Tennessee.
The theme, “More Than Meets The Eye,” is from 2 Corinthians 4:18.  Daily sub-themes include: Seeing
God in Creation, Seeing God in Others, Seeing God in Ourselves, Seeing God in the Unexpected, Seeing
God in Jesus is Rejoicing in the Eternal.  The registration fee is $325 per person.  Special efforts are being
made to raise money to provide scholarships for Cumberland Presbyterian youth who live outside theUnited States to attend.
3. PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH TRIENNIUM
The 2010 Presbyterian Youth Triennium is July 20-24 at Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana.
This event is for young people (ages 15-19) and adults who work with youth.  It is a unique opportunity
to experience the church in the context of the larger Presbyterian family and to develop friendships withpersons from all over the world.  Participants in past events have affirmed it as a life-changing experiencein terms of their own sense of calling and spiritual development.

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Members of the Design Team from the CPC are: Evan Butler, Whitney Cosby, Rick Gamble, John
Horsley, Ricky Kirby and Morgan Williams.   Members from CPCA are: Wanda Love, Jazzmine Lynk,
and Desean Robinson.  Mark Brown serves as contract staff for community life. Susan Groce and Nina
Phipps serve as staff for the United Board for Christian Discipleship, representing the CPC and CPCA
denominations.
Registrars for each presbytery assisted in the registration process.  The registration fee is $409.00
per person.
4. CONSULTANT PROGRAM
The Consultant Training Program had its beginning in the mind and heart of Virginia Malcom,
who was employed by the Board of Christian Education of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church formore than 27 years.   She dreamed of assembling a corp of persons throughout the church who had acommitment to Christian education and would be trained to function as consultants.  These persons would
have opportunities for continuing education, periodically up-dating their consulting skills to be better able
to provide leadership training.
In 1974, the first such event was held on the campus at Bethel College.  With few exceptions,consultants have gathered annually for the Consultant Training Event.   From these events has come anexperience of community that has fostered a network for the sharing of concerns, ideas, and resources.
In lieu of an event in 2009, consultants were offered grants to attend approved training opportunities
and/or to do a leadership training course in their respective congregations.  The 2010 event will be November
5-7.  One major element of this event will be training consultants to lead the 2011 miniversities.
Cindy Martin is the coordinator of the Consultant Program.
5. YOUTH WORKER SUMMIT
Sacred Space for Youth Workers: Gathering in Hope, Rekindling the Light is the theme for the Youth
Worker Summit being held December 1-4, 2010, at Disney World, Orlando, Florida.  This event will bring
together youth ministry leaders from judicatories and congregations across the country in an ecumenicalsetting to find Sacred Space.  The Summit will include dialogue with youth ministry professionals andvisionaries, worship, skill and awareness development workshops, resource sharing and networking withother leaders.  Something that sets this Summit apart from others is the professional leadership development
seminar led by staff of the Disney Institute.  The seminar will focus on leadership development.
Leadership for this continued education event for youth workers includes: Rodger Nishioka, Phyllis
Tickle, Mark DeVries, Michael Clark, Michelle Thomas-Bush, Andrew Zirschky, Willa Ross, and Hank
Hilliard.  Susan Groce serves as the United Board for Christian Education staff on the design team.
The Summit is sponsored by the Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team, which is a partnershipof youth ministries national staff representing 11 communions: African Methodist Episcopal Church,
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Church of the Brethren
General Board, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Episcopal Church,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, United
Methodist Church.
The cost of the conference is $275 for registration plus the cost of housing at Disney Coronado
Springs Resort.  Housing for three nights is $440 when reserving one to a room, and $220 when reserving
two to a room.  A limited number of scholarships providing up to ½ the registration fee is available for youth
ministry leaders/workers in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America.  Persons may contact Susan Groce (scg@cumberland.org) for additional information.
RECOMMENDATION 5: That congregations and presbyteries be invited to promote theYouth Worker Summit and seek to enable leaders who work in ministry with young people to attend.
6. YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY PLANNING COUNCIL
In an intentional effort to address young adult ministry, the UBCD has established the Young Adult
Ministry Planning Council.  This council will be composed of 12 young adults who will evaluate, plan, anddevelop program for young adult ministry with a focus on immediate post-high school through 30 years-old
young adults.  The council is in the process of being formed and will hold its first meeting in November
2010.  Young adults form the millennial generation and seem to find little to no meaning in the institutional
church.  Yet, there is an evident spirituality in many young adults.  How can the church join in ministry withmillennials?  In what ways may congregations reach out and touch the needs and joys of this age group?  
The council will explore answers to these and other related questions in this new program of the UBCD.

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V. MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM
Michael Sharpe, Team Leader

A. ADMINISTRATION
1. MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM
a. Meetings and Organization
The Missions Ministry Team has met twice since the 180th meeting of the General Assembly.  
Meetings of the elected Ministry Team, along with staff were held November 6-8, 2009 and February 5-6,
2010.
b. Elected Team MembershipElected Team Members whose terms expire at the 2010 General Assembly, with number of terms
served in parentheses, are:  Carolyn Medley (3), Sam Suddarth (2), Mack Arase (1).  Carolyn Medley is the
only member not eligible for reelection.  Gaye Wood has resigned due to health reasons and Milton Ortiz
has resigned due to his employment as Team Leader for the Pastoral Development Ministry Team.  These
resignations have created two additional vacancies that need to be filled.
c. Mission Ministry Staff
The following people served as staff members in 2009: Administrative- Michael Sharpe, teamleader; Marjorie Shannon, Administration and Finance; George Estes, Evangelism and Church Development;
Michael Sharpe and Pam Phillips-Burk, Congregational Ministries; Robert Watkins, Global Missions; andSowgand Sheikholeslami, Communication and Publications; Melody Collins, office assistant; and Joyce
Reeves, secretary.  Field- Boyce Wallace, missionary, Colombia, SA; Lynn Thomas, Cross-Culture Mission
Developer (USA); Part-time consultants – Reverend Yoong Kim, Korean Consultant; Reverend Norlan
Scrudder, Leadership Referral Services; Jo Ann Shugert, Convention Coordinator; Alfonso Marquez,
Hispanic Ministry Coordinator.
2. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Income streams that provide funding for mission ministries and programs include Our United
Outreach, second mile gifts and earnings and contributions to endowments.
Current economic conditions, increased costs for a new structure and facility, increased healthinsurance costs and a drop in OUO have decreased funds available for ministry.
OUO
2nd Mile Gifts
Endowment Earnings

2007$711,276.79$618,243.40$414,368.76

2008$717,467.89$630,672.50$390,731.33

2009$602,615.54$450,691.76$328,064.09

a. Endowments
During 2009 the endowment corpus increased $541,582.49 by contributions to existing endowments,
establishment of new ones, and realized and unrealized capital gains.  On December 31, 2009, the market
value of all endowments was $9,979,810.49.
b. Special Benevolent Funds and Giving Opportunities
Several opportunities to assist in meeting emergency and often critical needs, ordinarily the resultof natural or man-made disasters, are provided for Cumberland Presbyterians through the ministry team.
The Hunger Fund, Disaster Fund, World Emergency Fund, One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), the Loaves
and Fishes program, and special appeals provide the channels for caring support.
Through the Missions Ministry Team in 2009, Cumberland Presbyterians forwarded emergency
and hunger funds to the following areas through Church World Service: Pakistan Earthquake, Indonesia
Earthquake, US Hurricanes, Zimbabwe, Congo Conflict, Beth-El Mission in Florida, Project Vida in Texas,
Choctaw Presbytery in Oklahoma, Lakota Indians, and the Presbytery of Liberia for the Todee Clinic.
The OGHS offerings were forwarded to the OGHS office of Church World Service to be disbursed
around the world, mostly for self-help programs.  On behalf of the church, the team retains 25 percent of
the OGHS offerings for quick response to disasters in the USA and elsewhere.
The Loaves and Fishes offering received in 2009 was designated to provide seed money for the
Nehemiah Foundation in Columbia, South America.   The foundation will seek international grants forministries to combat global problems such as hunger, lack of education, displaced people, and inadequate
health care.

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The formula for dividing the Loaves and Fishes offerings is 25 percent held by local church forcommunity needs, 25 percent retained by the team for emergency hunger needs, and 50 percent sent to a
specific project through World Vision.
All gifts in this section are treated as “second mile” gifts, and the totals are reported in the “Second
Mile Giving” section.
c. Gift to the King
Another Second Mile Giving opportunity is the Gift to the King.  The first Gift to the King offering
was received 80 years ago.  Initiated in 1920 by the women’s organization for the building of two Chinesechurches, one in China and the other in San Francisco, it has had a positive and up building effect on global
missions through the years.  Usually, the offering is for support of a cross-culture project.
The project for 2009 was to assist with a New Church Development project in Nuevo Laredo,
Mexico.
d. Second Mile Giving
The term “Second Mile” technically applies only to contributions from churches and/or churchgroups that give beyond their commitment to Our United Outreach (OUO).   However, for the sake ofreporting, contributions from individuals and presbyterial/synodical Women Ministry groups for missionrelated projects are included.  Actually, all designated gifts are recorded as Second Mile gifts.  The following
report is in the context of the broader meaning of the term.
The total of all 2009 Second Mile Giving through the Missions Ministry Team was $450,691.
This total includes but is not limited to the following gifts to specific projects received during the calendar/
fiscal year: Loaves and Fishes Program, $57,145; OGHS, $26,098; Gift to the King, $30,723; Colombia
Hot Lunch, $27,678; Colombia Nursing Home, $41,059; Other Colombian projects, $69,148; Choctaw
Presbytery projects, $2,000; Partnerships In Mission, $130,684; Convention Offering (Laos Vision School),$12,298; Women’s Ministry Projects/other Second Mile Gifts, $53,858; Builders Fellowship Calls, $41,675.
The fiscal year for Women Ministry projects is September 1 of one year through August 31 of thenext year.  The Women’s Ministry giving above is on the GA fiscal year, which is the calendar year.
3. NEW DATABASE SOFTWARE
During 2009 the Center began an extensive transition in computer software which included new
database and accounting programs (Raisers Edge and Financial Edge).  This involved importing data fromall areas into one database which now includes more than 30,000 records.  MMT staff, as well as staff in allother areas, continues the cleanup of records, merging duplicates and entering codes to help assure that thedata can be retrieved in the many different ways needed.  We are also continuing to modify the set-up anddocumenting the how-to’s in a policies and procedures manual.  We are appreciative of the church at large
understanding during this time and helping us to update names and addresses in the new system.  We feelthat the new software will be very effective and more stable in maintaining the information that is entered.
In addition, Raisers Edge generates acknowledgment letters/receipts for all contributions enteredthrough the program.  MMT staff now sends acknowledgment letters/receipts instead of receipts comingfrom Central Accounting.   Every effort is being made to see that receipts are correct.   Reports that wedrew from the old accounting system are in the process of being rewritten in order to produce the same
information.  Thank you for your patience during this transition.
B. CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRIES
Pam Phillips-Burk and Michael Sharpe, Unit Leaders
1. ECUMENICAL MINISTRIES
Involvement continues in those ecumenical ministries and organizations that have been a part of theteam’s work for many years.  Relationship to these agencies varies.  In some cases, only budget support isprovided while in others budget support is provided along with staff members to serve on the official board.
In all cases, these ecumenical involvements are significant ministries and are tangible means of living out
the ecumenical commitment of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
a. Partnership Ministries in the Appalachian Region of the USA
Presbyterian and Reformed churches have been involved in ministry to the Appalachian region
for more than 100 years.   The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is the third largest Presbyterian bodyin Appalachia, having 170 churches in 54 counties, mainly in middle and east Tennessee.   Of thedenomination’s total membership, 25 percent live in Appalachia.  The main thrust of today’s mission efforts
by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the mountains is through the following ministries.
(1) Coalition for Appalachian Ministry (CAM)2010

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CAM is the agency responsible for coordinating cooperative work in Appalachia for the Reformed
Church in America (RCA), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, theCumberland Presbyterian Church in America (CPCA), and the Christian Reformed Church (CRC).  Thesynods and presbyteries of these communions provide the majority of funds for CAM with some additional
support from national agencies.
CAM’s ministry continues to expand within three primary program areas: CAM Cabin Crafts,
CAM’s Volunteer Program, and various educational offerings, including publications.
Interpretive materials, resources, and portable displays are available from the CAM office at 1329
Wears Valley Road, Townsend, TN 37882 or on the web at:  www.appalachianministry.org.
Cumberland Presbyterians have active representatives on the CAM board from Cumberland, East
Tennessee, Tennessee-Georgia, and Murfreesboro presbyteries, Tennessee Synod, and Missions MinistryTeam.
(2) Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center (AMERC)
The Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center, the largest consortia effort to emerge
in the history of theological education in the US, is an ecumenical program that provides critically needed
specialized education and training for seminarians preparing to minister in the small town and rural churchesof Appalachia and similar areas.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church provided important leadership and participation in thefounding of AMERC in 1985.  The Missions Ministry Team provides annual budget support for AMERC,
which, in turn, has been utilized by AMERC as scholarship assistance to Cumberland Presbyterian students
participating in any of the training seminars.  Lon Oliver continues to serve as executive director.
Information about upcoming seminars and events is available at:  www.amerc.org.
b. Partnership Ministries to and Among Seasonal Farm Workers(1) National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM)
NFWM is a unique ecumenical organization that mobilizes and educates people of faith around theissues critical to farm workers who are organizing for justice.
NFWM sponsors the annual Farm Worker Week, usually observed in April.  Available materials forthis observance include bulletin inserts, posters, worship resources, press release, and a theme paper.
Materials for Farm Worker Week and related resources may be obtained through the website at:www.nfwm.org.
(2) Beth-El Farm Worker Ministry, Inc., Wimauma, FL
The Beth-El Farmworker Ministry (Wimauma, FL) continues to make progress in the expansion of
Beth-El’s ministry with migrant farm-workers in Immakolee and in Arcadia, Florida.
Support for Beth-El is provided through Tampa Bay and Peace River presbyteries (PCUSA), Grace
Presbytery (CPC), and the GA Missions Ministry Team.
Dave Moore serves as executive director and Reverend Ramior Ros serves as pastor.  Additional
information about the ministries available at Beth-El may be obtained at:  www.beth-el.info.
c. Border Ministry
Project Vida, El Paso, TX
Project Vida is a multiple-service ministry that serves thousands of impoverished, medically underserved Hispanics and African Americans along the Texas-Mexico border.   Ongoing ministries available
through Project Vida include an Early Childhood Program, preventative health care and clinic services,children’s reading program, food co-op, thrift shop, computer labs, and environmental projects.
Project Vida continues to integrate public and private providers in a coordinated system ofcommunity health care and the ability to link community leadership with the broader community.
Support for Project Vida is provided by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian
Church (USA).
d. Ministry in Israel
Since 1967 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, through the Church of Scotland, has supported a
Christian ministry in Israel.  Our participation in this ministry is made possible through the interest income
from an endowment established by the late Armin A. Holzer.  The scope of this ministry includes a church
in Jerusalem, a day school in the ancient city of Jaffa, a church of both Hebrew- and English-speaking
congregations in the city of Tiberias, and a Jerusalem hospice that accommodates up to ninety guests.
2. CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN’S MINISTRY
a. Women’s Ministry Convention in June 2009
Gifted to Serve - Women gathered in Memphis, Tennessee to celebrate the variety of gifts thateach one had been given by God to serve both God and others.   New Women’s Ministry officers were74

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installed at the beginning of Convention rather than during the luncheon on Thursday.   The officers –President Mary Lyn Childs; President-elect Martha Chambers; Past President Patricia Long; SecretarySuzi Middleton; and President-elect Peggy West took office immediately upon election and installation
providing inspiring leadership throughout Convention.  Women were given the opportunity to explore theirgifts using a Spiritual Gifts Inventory utilized during the Bible study led by the Reverend Annetta Camp.  Ahighlight of the Convention was a panel of missionaries from around the world talking about their gifts andtheir experiences in ministry using the gifts they had been given by God.  Panel members were Peggy Jean
Craig (Southeast Asia), Kenneth and Delight Hopson (Uganda), Anay Ortega (Colombia and Guatemala),and Glenn Watts (Japan and Hong Kong).  Peggy Jean Craig spoke again during the concluding worshipservice about the Vision School in Southeast Asia, which was the Convention offering.  St. Jude Children’s
Hospital was very visible throughout Convention in many different ways.  Hospital Chaplain, the Reverend
Lisa Anderson, spoke about her work at the hospital.  The hospital was the recipient of the “loose change”
offering during the luncheon, and a group of about 70 women took advantage of a tour of St. Jude Hospital.  
One of the highlights of Convention was the opportunity for those who wanted to reach out beyond
the walls of Convention and use their God-given gifts to serve others.   On Thursday morning womenparticipated in three different off-site work groups:  Memphis Theological Seminary; Dress for Success;and St. Jude Hospital.  There were also three focus groups offered at the hotel on Thursday morning – Giftof Administration, Gift of Servanthood, Gift of Thrift.  The Convention luncheon on Thursday was theconcluding highlight of a very meaningful Convention.
b. Women’s Spirituality Conference
Taste and See… is the theme and focus for the second women’s conference scheduled for July 2224, 2010 in Dyersburg, Tennessee.  Through worship, workshops and study women will taste and see that
the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)  The conference is another way to engage women on a denominational levelin venues other than Convention and work trips.  It is geared for women of all ages and is very appropriate
for teen girls.  Workshops are active and hands-on and include Arts and Spirituality, Yoga, Organization andSpirituality, the Labyrinth, and Prayer Walking.  Registration fee is $90 until July 1, after which it will be$100.  There is a $10 discount for any church registering 8 or more.
c. Women Work Trips
In July 2009, there were two work trips for women, which ran concurrently.  One work trip was in
Mt. Vernon, Kentucky at Christ’s Outreach to the Blind.  Fourteen women (which included two teen girls)
participated in this ministry.  This was the fifth year that a work trip was organized.  Bobbi Logan, as trip
coordinator, provided strong and capable leadership for the 2009 work trip.  The Women’s Ministry of
Holly Grove CP Church (Brighton, Tennessee) will provide leadership for this work trip in the future.  It
will remain a work trip for women and will return to Christ’s Outreach in Kentucky.
The first-ever international work trip for woman included 14 women (which included one highschool teen and two college-age young women).  Team makeup included – Texas (2), Tennessee (6), Florida(2), Alabama (2), and Hong Kong (2).  This group visited 14 CP churches in both Cauca Valley and Andes
Presbyteries, spent one day working and interacting with the residents at Hogar Samaria, visited the Colegio
Americano in Cali as well as other colegios in Andes Presbytery, met and interacted with leaders andparticipants in the Heads of Families program of both presbyteries, ate countless empanadas and built
lasting relationships with Colombian sisters and brothers in Christ.  While this was not a typical “worktrip,” one trip member put into words the feelings of the whole team when she said on the last night inColombia – “the work part of our trip begins when we return home.”  Plans are being developed for another
Women’s Work Trip in 2011, possibly to mission points in either Brazil or the Philippines.
d. Women Clergy
At General Assembly in June 2009, we celebrated the 120th ordination of Louisa Woosley, the firstwoman to be ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  TheReverend Tiffany McClung led a special service of recognition, which included a PowerPoint presentation
and a special blessing on all the clergy women present on Tuesday evening of General Assembly at Faith
CP Church.  This annual time of support, encouragement and fellowship is a collaborative effort by theMissions Ministry Team, Pastoral Development Ministry Team, and Memphis Theological Seminary.
Important ordination dates for 2010 are:Five Years – Sharon Huey, Sherry Ladd, Brenda Laurence, Janeth Yarce
Ten Years – Angela Halford, Tiffany McClung, Linda Snelling
Fifteen Years – Virginia Espinoza, Karen Mosley, Lisa Oliver, Carol Scrivener, Grace Yu
Twenty Years – Sarah Ann Jeffrey
Twenty-Five Years – Linda Glenn, Ann Holley

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Thirty Years – Laura Lewis
Sixty Years – Betty Shirley
3. WEBSITE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONSThe Missions Ministry Team website encompasses almost 900 pages (includes html pages, pdfs,
word documents).  Many of the pages must be updated on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, and evendaily) with new resources and publications like the Missionary Messenger, QMEs, Women’s Ministry
resources, Evangelism Focus resources, Special Observances resources, Opportunity List for Leadership
Referral, etc.)  The website is updated using Dreamweaver software.
In addition to the website, the Missions Ministry Team uses a service called Constant Contact
as another effective means of communication.   The electronic newsletter is published once a month toa subscriber list of 915.   During Advent 2009 and Lent 2010, Missions Ministry Team sent out a daily
devotion with an evangelism focus.  George Estes and other staff members contributed to the daily Advent
devotions.  Elected team members participated in the Lenten series by providing many of the devotionals,
which received high praise.  Our subscriber list grew by 19.5% last year.
4. INDIAN MINISTRIES
Choctaw Presbytery
A larger parish model continues to be the primary strategy for our common mission with Choctaw
Presbytery.  A Presbyterial Council, with representation (both lay and clergy) from each church in thepresbytery, meets quarterly to prioritize needs and implement programs for the work among the congregations
and communities in the presbytery.  Betty Jacob serves as Coordinator of the Council and is employed by
Choctaw Presbytery.  The structure provides the presbytery with greater self-determination.
The primary focus of the council is congregational development and continued development ofstrong, indigenous leadership.  The council is in the process of studying potential sites for a New Church
Development project for the presbytery.   A mission probe in Durant, Oklahoma began last fall.  Reverend
Virginia Espinoza was providing primary leadership.
The Missions Ministry Team provides financial support, guidance and consultation to the presbytery
primarily through the work of the Choctaw Presbytery Council.
C. SPECIAL SERVICES

1. LEADERSHIP REFERRAL SERVICES

Through the Leadership Referral Services (formerly known as the Department of   Professional
Services), assistance is provided to churches searching for pastors and pastors who want, need, or might bechallenged to relocate.  The design of the program is to give each individual exposure to the widest possible
range of opportunities for service within the church, to enable search committees of congregations to haveaccess to information about more people, and to match gifts/skills of clergy/church leadership to particularneeds of the congregation.
Norlan Scrudder continues to serve as the coordinator for LRS.
2. SPECIAL EDUCATION/TRAINING IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN/NEED
a. Small Church and Rural Church Leadership Events
The course, “The Small Church,” is now part of the required PAS curriculum.   The course,
developed and taught by staff of the Congregational Ministries Unit, is offered during the PAS Summer
Extension School.
b. Alternate Pastoral Leadership Models
Small membership congregations engaged in the search process know the difficulty of trying tomaintain a full-time resident pastor.  Many are exploring a number of leadership options (e.g., tentmaking
ministry, parish or yoked ministries, shared ministry as pastor and presbyterial staff, lay leader, clergy
couple, student pastor, and interim pastor) and finding a new commitment to ministry.   New forms ofministry are, in point of fact, a call to journey to fresh ways of nourishing the faith in changing social
contexts.
Presbyteries are encouraged to become familiar with the various models and resources as a way
to assist the small membership churches in securing pastoral leadership and providing effective ministries.
Workshops/seminars on these models by the Missions Ministry Team are offered to presbyteries on thebasis of staff availability.

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3. PARK CHAPLAINCYFor a number of years, the Missions Ministry Team has had the responsibility for planning anddirecting a summer chaplaincy program at the Birthplace Shrine in Montgomery Bell State Park.   Thechaplain, in addition to providing a Sunday morning worship service at the chapel, makes contact withpeople who use the camping facilities and/or stay at the Inn, relates to the park staff in whatever ways areappropriate, and shares information about the history of the denomination with visitors to the Shrine.  Thechaplaincy program begins the first weekend of June and continues through the last weekend of August.
Reverend Dana Jett-Rand from West Tennessee Presbytery, served as chaplain during the summerof 2009.
D. EVANGELISM AND CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
George R. Estes, Unit Leader
1. EVANGELISM FOCUS PLAN
The Evangelism Focus Priority, proposed and affirmed by General Assemblies since 2007, arosefrom two primary concerns: first, the concern to be more faithful as a denomination to the mandate of
the Great Commission to make disciples; and second, a concern that the denomination has experienced adecline in membership and congregations over the last several years.
The Evangelism Focus Priority occurred at a time when the General Assembly was consideringother far-reaching matters as well.  The denominational headquarters were being relocated, and a re-structureof the denomination’s program agencies was underway.  It was also recognized that the Evangelism Focus
Priority was, in effect, an extension of three decadal priority goals for the years 2000-2010 adopted by theGeneral Assembly in the late 90s.  In summary, these three goals were: revitalization of congregations andpresbyteries, recruitment and training of clergy and lay leaders, and New Church Development.  Clearly theevangelism emphasis fit well with these three goals as the decade neared an end.  The General Assemblyin 2008 felt that the five-year time frame of the Evangelism Focus was really just the beginning of anemphasis that should characterize the denomination’s ministry in the rapidly changing world of the 21st
century.  With that in view, there is a recommendation at the conclusion of this section of the Missions
Ministry Team report proposing a ten-year strategy for evangelism, mission field expansion, and New
Church Development.
Elements of an evangelism plan could include a theme, Bible text(s), biblical and theologicalfoundations, a working definition of evangelism, and goals/objectives to be addressed by local churches,presbyteries, and the General Assembly, together with recommended resources, time-lines for activities,
and a procedure of accountability.
2. PROGRAM OF ALTERNATE STUDIES AND LEADER DEVELOPMENT
The Missions Ministry Team assisted the Program of Alternate Studies in conducting a Spanish
speaking block for Spanish speakers in June 2009.  There was also a Korean language block at PAS in 2009.
A Hispanic family retreat was held at Montgomery Bell State Park in Tennessee in May 2009, and a Korean
Leaders Conference was held in conjunction with the 2009 General Assembly in Memphis, Tennessee.
3. GENERAL ASSEMBLY GROWTH TRENDS
A statistical summary of the denomination’s membership and related information, tracked overthe present decade and compared with previous ones, will be made available by the Missions Ministry
Team at the General Assembly and on the Missions Ministry Team website: www.cumberland.org/bom/churchgrowth/EvangChDev.htm.
4. EVANGELISM MINIVERSITY AND YOUTH EVANGELISM CONFERENCE
As part of the Evangelism Focus priority, the Missions Ministry Team and Discipleship Ministry
Team worked together to provide two outstanding programs in 2009.
The Evangelism Miniversities, “Keep the Flame Burning – Share the Story,” were conducted inseveral regions around the USA in February and March 2009.  These events featured two tracks, Discipleshipand Missions.   Participants, which totaled over 400, chose between the tracks.   Evaluations from these
events were very positive.  Using DVD film clips, PowerPoint presentations, small group interaction, andhands-on Servant Evangelism activities, the emphasis of the programs was to enable church leaders to share
their faith with greater commitment and confidence.
The second denominational Youth Evangelism Conference took place December 27-30, 2009,
at Nashville, Tennessee.   The 250 conference participants from 35 churches and 8 states resonated to2010

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the theme “Wake Up!” based on Romans 13:11.  The keynote speaker for the event was youth-oriented“cultural evangelist” Gabe Lyon, co-author of UnChristian and founder of the Q Project, a national forum
that brings together leaders from church and society to make a positive impact on today’s society.  Reverend
Nathan Wheeler, young adult minister at Tusculum CPC in Nashville, was the conference preacher.  TheWest Nashville Church served as the host facility for the gathering, providing space for worship, small
group Bible study, meals and recreation.  Conference activities also featured Servant Evangelism ministries
in downtown Nashville, and a Christian rock concert at the well-known Rocketown youth event center.
Evaluations from this event were very positive as well.
5. NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT (USA)The decade plan for New Church Development (NCD) initiated in 2000 has concluded.  With theconviction that church planting remains an essential part of our evangelism effort as a denomination, thissummary of the decade’s activities is offered.  One of the three priority goals for the decade beginning in2000 was to establish 75 new churches, including 50 congregations in the USA – both traditional and CrossCultural -- and 25 congregations in other nations.  During the decade more than 70 new church starts havebeen attempted in the USA, including traditional, cross-culture and provisional congregations.  Twenty-two
were formally organized by their presbyteries as Cumberland Presbyterian churches: 9 English-speaking
congregations, 8 Hispanic churches, 4 Korean congregations, 1 Sudanese African church.  Another twentyeight fellowships continued at some level of development into 2010.  In these new congregations there
are approximately 3,265 members/participants, most of whom are new to the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.  It is also the case that several new fellowships have been discontinued during the decade, which
is disheartening to the congregations, church planters, presbyteries and the Missions Ministry Team.  Butwithout exception, significant ministry for Christ has been undertaken, lives have been touched with thegospel and disciples have been made for the Kingdom.
As envisioned by the decade NCD plan, several different new church “models” have been
attempted.  Among these have been: the traditional solo full-time pastor working to develop an initial
nucleus; tent-maker or bi-vocational pastor; catalyst church planter seeking to initiate multi-site ministries
and provide oversight; specialized NCD serving, for instance, the spiritual needs of disabled persons andtheir caregivers; mother-daughter (sponsoring church); mission probe; cross-culture ministry working
among recent immigrants whose primary language is not English; provisional status for non-Anglo pastors
and congregations coming to the denomination from other traditions.  The “attractional model” of reaching
the community through direct mail, telephoning, flyers, websites and other kinds of publicity -- a modelthat had been very effective in the ‘90s -- seemed less effective in the decade of 2000.  In its place the“relational model” emphasized mobilizing pastor and people to share faith with friends, neighbors and coworkers, building the congregational nucleus in that manner.  The “organic model” of “small group model”
was a variation of this approach.  A third emphasis was identified as the “missional model,” which is theaffirmation that the church is sent into the world on God’s redemptive mission of sharing Good News,making disciples, obeying the Lord and living out Christ’s teachings.  This last is less a “model” of NCD
and more a commitment to ministry priorities which is applicable to established as well as new churches.
Sixteen of the nineteen USA presbyteries were involved in New Church Development during thedecade.  A word of commendation is extended to the presbyterial boards and task forces that have labored so
diligently in behalf of the developing congregations.  Further, without the contributions of the 630 membersof Builders Fellowship throughout the denomination, the building programs of almost 30 new churches
would have been even more challenging than they were.  The church planters and their families are deeply
appreciated for their service.
6. CROSS-CULTURE DEVELOPMENT (USA)
Presently there are 14 Hispanic congregations affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in the USA.  Last year, two more Hispanic missions were organized into Cumberland Presbyterian Churches;
Misericordia CP Church in Lenoir City, Tennessee and Nueva Vida CP Church in Houston, Texas.  It should
be noted that in March 2010 El Redil CP Hispanic mission in Lawrenceville, Georgia will also be organized
as a new Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Many Hispanic New Church Developments were started in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, thelast of these are now being organized into Cumberland Presbyterian Churches.  It appears, based on our
experience starting Hispanic new churches that from the start of the New Church Development (NCD)
until its organization, it takes from 6 to 10 years.  In most cases this does not include the construction of abuilding.  The Hispanic congregations range in size from 250 in attendance to 40.  The average Hispanic
congregation has approximately 60 in attendance in worship.  Most of our Hispanic churches are in shared

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facility arrangements with English speaking churches.  The purchase or construction of worship centers for
our Hispanic congregations will be an on-going challenge.
The 2000 decade emphasis in church planting was helpful in that it established goals and at thesame time staffed the task of establishing new cross-culture congregations in the USA.  The number of
Hispanic New Church Developments initiated that failed to become organized churches should also betaken into account.  Although churches did not materialize from these efforts, many people came to faithin Jesus Christ and were discipled.  As well, many staff hours and resources were used in these outreachefforts.  During the past 10 years there were six Hispanic NCD attempts that were closed that did not resultin organizing a church.  In the majority of these cases it was either the NCD pastor left the field or in one
case was removed from the NCD position by the presbytery for ethical reasons.  The early church planting
plan discussed late in the 1990’s for the 2000 decade contemplated a capital funds drive to give strong
support for the NCD efforts over the 10 year period.  The capital fund campaign did not materialize asplanned.  The new churches planted were the result of Hispanic pastors sacrificially working to establish
these churches.  In many cases they were tent-makers, in other cases they labored with salaries that werevery modest compared to other pastor salaries of full-time pastorates.
During the same decade the Cumberland Presbyterian Korean work came roaring into existence.
The Korean speaking churches went from 1 to over 25 churches in the USA in just a decade.  By mid 2000
it became necessary to secure a Korean consultant to help with this growing aspect of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.   Reverend Yoong Kim, our consultant, has been working closely with Reverend
George Estes of the Missions Ministry Team and Reverend Forest Prosser of Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery
with respect to our Korean work.  As well our Korean work has spread outside the USA to South Korea,
Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Japan and Canada.
In addition to the Hispanic and Korean work, a Sudanese congregation was started and organizedin Gallatin, Tennessee.  They meet in a shared facility arrangement in a Methodist Church.  Two Sudanese
pastors were trained using PAS; unfortunately two years ago one of them died while visiting family in
the Sudan.   The financial challenges of the Sudanese congregation are rigorous, congregational giving
is very low and creates some real challenges.  The MMT continues to provide subsidy for the Sudanese
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The newest non-English speaking NCD is a Japanese speaking NCD in Cumberland Presbytery.
This is a joint effort by Japan Presbytery, Cumberland Presbytery and the Missions Ministry Team.  Reverend
Iwao Satoh was selected by Japan Presbytery to be the NCD pastor in Kentucky.  He and his family will
move to Louisville, Kentucky as soon as the US government grants them a visa.
An important and complementary part of our cross-culture New Church Development has been
pastor training.  The Program of Alternate Studies has provided us with a great tool to prepare non-English
speaking pastors in the USA.   The Cross-Cultural Track of PAS has been adapting over the years toaccommodate our reality.  Presently, the Cross-Cultural Track provides pastor training in the first languageof the student.  We are conducting PAS classes in Spanish and Korean, using Spanish and Korean instructors.
We do have seminary trained instructors that are able to provide competent training.  Reverend AlfonsoMarquez works with PAS to coordinate the participation of the Hispanic participants, Reverend Yoong Kim
is the Korean coordinator for the Korean speaking participants.
Now that the reorganization efforts of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church have become realized,
this is a good time to consider long range New Church Development, evangelism and mission goals.  It
has been proven that concrete goals, staffing to accomplish those goals and funding can result in successful
endeavors.
RECOMMENDATION 6: That General Assembly will move forward with an evangelism
and church planting, and mission field expansion initiative by charging the Ministry Council to namea task force consisting of Ministry Team members experienced in evangelism and church planting
to develop a ten-year global evangelism, missions and church planting plan, providing goals, staffing
expectations and funding estimates to accomplish the initiative. The Ministry Council will present
the completed proposal at the 2011 General Assembly as the decadal evangelism and church planting
initiative.
E. COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICATION
Sowgand Sheikholeslami, Unit Leader
1. INTRODUCTION

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God calls people and congregations to reach beyond themselves in mission and service in the world.  
Cumberland Presbyterians and local churches are finding innovative ways to serve their local communities,
correctly assessing the world beyond the church’s doors as a “mission field.”   It is also true that some
opportunities for service, because of distance or scope of need, require a unified effort by more than one
congregation or presbytery.
This staff person coordinates efforts by the Missions Ministry Team to offer Cumberland
Presbyterians interpretation and education regarding the united effort they are making in ministry.  TheMissions Ministry Team, through communication and publications, seeks to present God’s call in such a
way that people recognize the challenges of and opportunities for ministry in the present age and their power
and mandate to help meet those challenges.  In addition, effective communication and quality publications
are necessary to educate and resource people for ministry and mission.
2. MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM PUBLICATIONS RESOURCES
a. The Missionary Messenger
The Missionary Messenger is a very important tool for inspiring, motivating, and educating
the church for mission.  The publication delivers news on mission-related topics.  It seeks to lift up theministries of particular congregations, recognizing the creativity Cumberland Presbyterians marshal inserving Christ.  The Messenger seeks to acquaint the church with the multitude of ministries in the USA
through ecumenical partners and with presbyterial partners such as New Church Development and migrantfarm worker ministries.
The publication is an eight-page newspaper, published bimonthly in even months and distributed
without charge to every active household in the denomination.  The only responsibility of congregations
that desire the publication without cost to their members is to furnish the Missions Ministry Team with amailing list of all active households and to keep it updated.  Currently, The Messenger is mailed to about
20,000 households.
b. Quarterly MEMO (Mission Engagement Ministry Outreach) Packet
Each quarter the team produces and mails to pastors, clerks, CPWM presidents, and missionscommittee chairs a packet of materials that may be used in planning the congregation’s outreach.  Thepacket includes a variety of flyers and brochures (including a copy of the QME Bulletin) and a descriptionof each team-approved Second Mile project, as well as the project’s financial needs.  It is anticipated thatthe materials will be useful to congregations that want to educate members about missions and, at the sametime, give them an opportunity for additional avenues of service.
c. Quarterly Missions Emphasis Bulletin (QME)
The QME Bulletin is a brief newsletter sent to churches through standing-order subscriptions.  This
one-sheet insert includes mission news in an attractive, easy to read format.  Many congregations use thesebulletin inserts to emphasize missions one Sunday each quarter.  The Missions Ministry Team distributes
24,700 bulletins each quarter.
d. The March of Missions
The March of Missions, celebrated during the weeks between Easter and Pentecost, is intended to bea time when all Cumberland Presbyterian congregations, through special emphasis, grow in understandingof and commitment to missions.  In connection with this Eastertide observance, the Missions Ministry Teamprepares resource material to assist pastors and others responsible for missions planning.
The general theme for the 2010 observance was “Celebrating 200 years of Mission: Past, Present
and Future,” with the hope that by sharing stories from the past and present, and ideas for the future,
congregations might be inspired and challenged anew to mission, concentrating our prayerful consideration
on ministry at the margins of human society.  Resource materials mailed to each congregation included
a bulletin insert with a variety of ideas for church members to try during the March of Missions season.  
Materials were also available online at:  www.cumberland.org/bom.
F. GLOBAL MISSIONS
Robert Watkins, Unit Leader
1. CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN PROJECTS AND PERSONNELThe Cumberland Presbyterian Church is now working in the USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia,
Brazil, Uganda, Zambia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Japan, China, South Korea, Philippines, and Nepal
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2. A FOUR-YEAR PRIORITY PLAN INITIATED SUCCESSFULLY IN CAUCA VALLEY
AND ANDES PRESBYTERIES
Robert Watkins submitted a consultant’s paper to Cauca Valley and Andes Presbyteries in 2009 fortheir consideration and action.  The report established priorities for 2009-2012.  The goals for 2009 were
the deployment of a Colombian missionary to Guatemala and the employment of a half-time employee
to serve as an assessor of church development in the two Colombian presbyteries.  These two goals weresuccessfully initiated.  Reverend David Montoya was employed as Assessor of Church Development, andAnay Ortega was commissioned as a missionary for Guatemala.  The goals for 2010 are the intensification ofa holistic understanding of stewardship and the clarification of the identity and theology of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.
Edith Gholson, Lynn Thomas, and Bob Watkins were in Andes and Cauca Valley Presbyteries fromJanuary 7 to January 21, 2010 to assess ways the denomination can partner creatively to impact the growthof the work in Colombia.  The group visited thirty churches, two presbyterial camps, seven schools, one
seminary, Hogar Samaria, and representative hot lunch programs.
The team held training events on stewardship and Cumberland Presbyterian theology and identity
in Medellin, Pereira, and Cali.  Invigorating conversations were held with Colombian leaders.  Many topics
were discussed that will lead to further programming such as the impact of Pentecostalism in Colombia,
the need for more Cumberland Presbyterian theology in Spanish, the continued opportunity for additional
work groups, the establishment of crisis management teams for both presbyteries, and the need for intensive
English language training.
3. THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANCHURCH OF THE PHILIPPINESThe First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of the Philippines celebrated their second anniversary
on January 11, 2010.  Attendance now runs between 80 and 90.  Missionaries Daniel and Kay Jang report ahigh level of growth.  They have already outgrown their rental space and are investing in the purchase of alot.  A work group from Louisville, Kentucky visited the ministry in 2009.
4. CHURCH PLANT IN CAMBODIA CONTINUES TO GROW
A young missionary has been sent to Cambodia.  The new mission has successfully reached new
believers.  A new mission church, the Cambodian Samaki Church, has been planted.
5. GUATEMALA MISSION
The Cumberland Presbyterian Guatemala Mission consists of a medical clinic that was constructedby Cumberland Presbyterian work teams and donations.  The clinic is located on the property of the Casa
Shalom Orphanage owned and operated by the Church of God of Guatemala.  A shipment container of
medical equipment was donated from the USA and placed in the clinic.  In October 2009 the Missions
Ministry Team deployed Anay Ortega as our missionary to Guatemala.  She is a Cumberland Presbyterian
missionary supported by Cumberland Presbyterian Churches and individuals.   Miss Ortega is from theAndes Presbytery, an elder for more than 17 years, chair of many presbytery committees and moderator of
the Andes Presbytery for two consecutive years.  Her education, experience and training make her ideal forthe clinic administration position.  She is the first missionary ever sent from the Colombian Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.
She has been working diligently attempting to get the medical clinic up and running.  She has had
many meetings with the leadership of the orphanage and Church of God, civil leaders in the area, pastors
and churches.  The goal is to serve the 60 children in the orphanage free of charge, not be a financial burden
to the orphanage and at the same time be a self-sufficient/sustaining clinic that is not an ongoing expense
to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Her work has resulted in some promising possibilities that will
satisfy these ambitious goals.  It is the hope that the medical clinic will be functioning by March 2010.
In addition to her work as clinic administrator, she has been charged to explore where and how toinitiate future church planting in Guatemala.
6. MEXICO NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
The Missions Ministry team has been exploring church planting opportunities over the past 3 years
in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.  This exploration process resulted in the purchase of land in Nuevo Laredo,
Mexico.  In addition to the purchase of land, legal status as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Mexico
has been in process for two years.  Legal status has been approved by the Mexican federal government.
Reverend Alfonso Marquez has been used as a consultant and contact person.  He was once a resident of

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Nuevo Laredo and has also taken several work teams there over the years.
The Missions Ministry Team will employ a Mexican church planter that presently is a candidate
for the ministry and lives in the USA.  Mr. Antonio Mena is an elder, assistant pastor and under the care of
Cullman Presbytery.  He and his family will move back to Mexico and early in 2010 initiate a New Church
Development in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.  The Missions Ministry Team has solicited funds from the Gift tothe King offering and plans to use those funds to start construction on the first phase of our worship center
once the church planter is on the field.  After the first phase is completed, the goal is to use work teams tocontinue the construction of the worship center in Nuevo Laredo.
7. GIFT TO THE KING FOR 2008
The 2008 Gift to the King offering was distributed to the King of Kings Church in Cauca Valley
Presbytery.   Construction is nearly complete.   Veteran church planter, Reverend Fhanor Pejendino, issupervising the project.
8. GIFT TO THE KING 2009
In 1887 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church opened a new mission field and commissioned A.H.
Whatley to Mexico as missionary.  More missionaries were deployed and the efforts expanded into several
churches and schools.  In 1906 all Cumberland Presbyterian mission work in Mexico was absorbed by the
Presbyterian Church.
After 100 years the Cumberland Presbyterian Church has returned to Mexico.  The Cumberland
Presbyterian Church has been planting seeds of opportunity for years through work teams to Mexico andcross-culture ministry in the USA to Mexican Hispanics.  In 2009 the Missions Ministry Team purchased
property in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico for the purpose of establishing a church.  In 2010 work teams fromthe USA will start building our first church.  We will also secure a church planter to begin evangelism
and church planting.  The Gift to the King Offering will be used to help with the expenses of New Church
Development in Mexico.  Nuevo Laredo will provide ample opportunities for Cumberland Presbyterians in
the USA to share their faith, both in proclaiming God’s word and in service to others.  The time of harvest
has come, and we are asking churches to give generously to the Gift to the King offering to help us gather
the harvest.
9. SUMMER MISSIONARY SERVES IN COLOMBIA
A priority of Cauca Valley and Andes Presbyteries is to elevate the level of English usage among its
membership.  This requires a long-term commitment from individuals willing to live and teach English in
Colombia.  Retired persons and English teachers that are free in the summer are encouraged to consider thismission opportunity.  During the summer of 2009, Emily Pierce from Red Bank Cumberland Presbyterian
Church served in Cauca Valley as a media and English facilitator.
10. MISSIONARY UPDATES:
Glenn Watts—Glenn spent 2009 in the USA raising support and attempting to secure a visa
for service in Hong Kong.
·
Kenneth and Delight Hopson—The Hopsons were in the USA during part of 2009 for
deputation.  They are scheduled to return to Uganda in March 2010.
·
RheAnn White—RheAnn White was recruited in 2010 to serve as a Fraternal Missionary toteach English in selected churches of Japan Presbytery.  She was commissioned on March 21, 2010 at the
Brenthaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Nashville and will arrive in Japan in April, 2010.
·
Lawrence and Loretta Fung—Lawrence continues to serve in a partnership with GoInternational coordinating mission outreach in a variety of countries in Southeast Asia.
·
Keishi and Kazuko Ishitsuka serve in Brazil.
·
Daniel and Kay Jang serve in the Philippines.
·
Boyce and Beth Wallace serve in Colombia.
·
Anay Ortega serves in Guatemala.
·
Po Kau Tang serves in Nepal.
·
Peter and Debbie Drypolcher serve in Zambia.
·
Scott and Michal Sullivan serve in the USA as recruiters and short-term team leaders.
·John and Young Sweigart have served as tent-makers in South Korea.  Their pulpit supply to
the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been invaluable.
Four additional families serve in humanitarian ministries in difficult access countries.

·

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11. HOGAR SAMARIA IS DEDICATED
Cauca Valley churches in partnership with Grace Team and many other workers/donors have completed
the first phase of the Hogar Samaria Nursing Home.  It will accommodate 40 senior adults.  The dedication
was scheduled for February 14, 2010.
12. PREACHING ENCOUNTERS IN COLOMBIA
Grace Fellowship Church in San Francisco has worked with Reverend David Montoya to scholarshipa number of lay leaders and pastors for continuing education opportunities in exegetical preaching.  Theprogram has reached approximately 30 people in the Colombian presbyteries and has greatly strengthened
the presbytery’s preaching leadership.
13. VISION SCHOOL IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Lao Vision School reached it maximum capacity of 260 with amount of classroom space available.  
Its name reveals its beginnings and its future.  The school was a dream, a vision, of missionaries serving inSoutheast Asia.  In May, 2008, the missionaries opened up their own home as a place where Lao children
could come and study English.  Now, every weekday children between the ages of 7 and 15 come to learn
English.  The vision is to teach English to these children so that they may have new opportunities, hear the
Gospel, and receive the vision that God has for their lives.
14. TESL MISSIONARIES NEEDED AROUND THE WORLD
There is a growing need in countries where the Cumberland Presbyterian Church works for people
qualified and willing to serve as English teachers.  A number of universities around the USA provide training
for people interested in TESL.  The Colegio Americano in Colombia is not only able to receive TESL
teachers; they also provide stipends for those that can spend a year teaching in Cali, Colegio.  Interested
teachers should contact Bob Watkins at watkr@mac.com.
15. MISSION VIDEOS AVAILABLE
New mission education videos are available for purchase from the denominational center.  They
include:  Global Video 2009, Colombia 2009, Interview with Boyce and Beth Wallace 2009, Brazil 2009,First Year Anniversary Video of the Philippine Mission.

VI. PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TEAM
Reverend Milton L. Ortiz, Ministry Team Leader

A. INTRODUCTION“The office of minister of word and sacrament is unique in the life of the church as to responsibility
and usefulness. God calls persons and sets them apart for this ministry. The persons who fill this officeshould be sound in the faith, exemplary in conduct, and competent to perform the duties of the ministry.
Persons who become ministers of the word and sacrament are due such respect as belongs to their office,but are not by virtue of their office more holy or righteous than other Christians. They share in the same
vocation that belongs to all Christians to be witnesses to the gospel in word and deed. They differ fromother Christians only with regard to the office to which they are called, which is their station in life.”(Constitution 2.61)
1. PURPOSE OF PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY
The purpose of the Pastoral Development Ministry is:  to provide and promote a deeper biblicaland theological understanding of ministry in the church, to nurture and care for ordained ministers andprobationers, to provide resources and events to improve pastoral ministry, to keep God’s call before thechurch as a whole.
2. HISTORY
The original name of the Pastoral Development Ministry Team was the Committee on Literature
and Theology.  In 1962, it was changed to Committee on the Ministry, and in 2007 the General Assembly
voted to restructure the many program boards into one Ministry Council, and the Committee on the Ministrybecame the Pastoral Development Ministry Team (PDMT).
From the beginning it was the task of the PDMT to produce, review and reprint a handbook for thepresbyterial committees.  The first handbook was completed in 1964.  The handbook was revised in 1984,2010

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and in 2010 a new handbook is being presented to the General Assembly for its approval.
Also since 1940, the PDMT has held an annual Minister’s Conference.  The purpose of the Minister’s
Conference is multifold: to provide a source of continuing education for Cumberland Presbyterian ministers;
to make it possible for Cumberland Presbyterian ministers to hear and dialogue with eminent preachers andnotable scholars; to provide an opportunity for the ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church tobond; and to provide an opportunity for ministers to have a few days away from the pressures of their placesof ministry.
Since 1992, the Commission has employed an Executive Director to administrate its work.  These
have been: James Knight (1992-2000), James Searcy (2001-2003), Chris Joiner (2003-2004), Stephanie
Brown (March 7, 2005 - October 30, 2009), Milton L. Ortiz (December 1, 2009 to Present).  With the new
restructure under the Ministry Council the new title of the Executive Director is Ministry Team Leader.
B. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TEAM
The members of the PDMT are the Reverend James Lively, Mrs. Pat Owen, Reverend Tommy
Thompson, Reverend David Lancaster, Reverend Glenda Melson, Mrs. Mary Jo Turner, Reverend Mark
Davenport, Reverend Linda Snelling, and Reverend Bob Shelton.
The PDMT would like to thank the Reverend James Lively for nine years of service and Mrs. MaryJo Turner for eight years of service on the Pastoral Development Ministry Team.  Pastoral Development has
experienced a great deal of change over the past nine years, and we are grateful to James and Mary Jo for
their faithful service during this time.
The Ministry Council replaced Jamie by electing Micaiah Thomas to a three-year term.
The PDMT had a phone conference call on July 8, 2009 and met on November 6-8, 2009 at St.
Columba Conference Center, Bartlett, Tennessee and on February 5-6, 2010 at Faith CP Church in Bartlett,Tennessee.
2. ENDOWMENTS
Pastoral Development Ministry Team Endowments are:
PDMT General Expenses
James & Geneva Searcy
James & Helen Knight$24,082.86$19,016.77

Awards & Encouragement
Awards for CP Ministers & Spouses$18,447.74

Scholarships & Counseling For CP Ministers, Spouses And Families
E. G. & Joy Sims
$16,688.52
Norlan & Ellie Scrudder$15,810.30
Melvin & Naomi Orr$15,410.31
Minister’s Conference$13,877.96
Lyon Walkup$10,450.79
Leonard & Mary Jo Turner$10,229.79
Ministerial$  9,926.91
James Lee Ratliff$  4,846.68
Roosevelt & Ruth Baugh$  2,240.84
LaRoyce Brown (Beth Brown)$  1,027.48
3. RECOGNITIONS
A monetary gift to Pastoral Development is an important way to honor clergy and laity for theirwork in ministry.  There are different levels of recognition:$10 - $100
$101 - $500
$501 - $1,000$1,001 - $5,000$5,000 or more

Clergy Supporter
Ministry Patron
Barnabas Fellowship
Ministry Foundation
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C. WORK OF THE PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TEAM
1. PASTOR’S RECOGNITION MONTH
Clergy Appreciation Month is a special celebration for Pastoral Development and for clergy.  Themonth of October is Clergy Appreciation Month and the second Sunday, October 10, is Clergy Appreciation
Sunday.  We would like to encourage and remind all congregations of the opportunity to honor their clergy.
There are many ways that we can offer to help honor clergy during this month:

•
•
•

•

One way would be for congregations to pay the way for their pastor and spouse to attend theMinister’s Conference, October 12-14, 2010.
Other options would be with gifts to Pastoral Development during Clergy Appreciation Month.  
A popular gift for Clergy Appreciation is a Clergy Ministry Patron award for a gift of $101-500.  
Another appropriate gift would be a donation to one of the existing endowments of Pastoral
Development, or to set up an endowment in the name of a mentor or friend to the congregation’s
pastor.  There have been churches that have established endowments in honor of their pastor
for clergy appreciation; an endowment can be established with an initial investment of $500.
Pastoral Development does provide other ideas for different ways to honor your clergy person.  

2. MINISTER’S CONFERENCES
2009—The conference was held at the Brenthaven CPC, in Brentwood, Tennessee, January 20-22.
The theme of the conference was Ethics.  The lecturer was Dr. Ron Cole-Turner and conference preacher
was Dr. Barbara A. Holmes.
2010—This conference will be held at the First CP Church of Russellville, Arkansas, October 1214.  The emphasis of this conference will be Evangelism and the plenary speaker will be Tony Campolo.
2011—The conference will be held October 11-13, at the Union CP Church, Knoxville, Tennessee.
2012—The conference will be held October 9-11, at Bethel University, McKenzie, Tennessee
3. CLERGY RETREAT
The first Clergy Retreat took place October 20-22, 2009, at Camp Garner Creek Retreat andConference Center near Dickson, Tennessee.  Judith Black, a professional storyteller was the speaker.  We
had about 25 in attendance.  The PDMT has not planned other Clergy retreats.
4. WORK WITH COMMITTEES ON MINISTRY AND CLERGY CARE
It is always our desire to work closely with the committees who help to prepare candidates forministry and those who nurture the ordained clergy.
The Ministry Team Leader, Milton L. Ortiz, will be meeting with presbyterial committees on the
Ministry to introduce himself and to introduce the new 2010 Handbook.
The Committees on Clergy Care will be invited to a training planned by the PDMT and the Missions
Ministry, on Healthy Congregations Initiative: The Pastor/Parish Relations Committee.  The workshop led
by Reverend Dr. Jerry L. Harber, will be in August 2010.
The Pastoral Development Ministry Team continues to give Communion sets to those who are
newly ordained in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Also, as individuals come under the care ofpresbytery and become Candidates, the Pastoral Development Ministry Team gives three books to each
new Candidate; Introduction to Christian Ministry, by Morris Pepper, The Bible and the Calendar Year, byThomas D. Campbell and What Cumberland Presbyterian’s Believe, by E. K. Reagin.  Licentiates also will
receive a book as a way to congratulate them in their journey.
The PDMT encourages Committees on Ministry to inform the Ministry Team Leader about new
candidates, licentiates and ordained ministers.  Also, the PDMT encourages Committees on Clergy Care to
inform the Ministry Team Leader about ordained ministers retiring.
5. HANDBOOKIn September of 2003, the PDMT (known at that time as the Committee on the Ministry) beganwork on a revision of The Handbook for the Committee on Ministry, a publication to aid the work ofpresbyterial committees on ministry/preparation.  It was the attempt to continue the positive work of past
Commissions in offering direction to presbyterial committees on ministry.
The original Committee that produced the 1964 handbook consisted of John E. Gardner, Carl
Ramsey, Raymon Burroughs, George Sparks, Colvin Baird, Warren Mounts, and Morris Pepper.  Theirwork has proven a solid foundation for any subsequent work.  A revised Handbook was reported to the 1984
General Assembly.  Members of the Committee were Raymon Burroughs, Thomas D. Campbell, Franklin
Chestnut, Daniel Freeman, and Tommy Thompson.

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So, we do not break new ground.  Rather, we build on a strong theological foundation that recognizes
the church and the church’s institutions.  And also that the church’s people are dynamic in nature, and thechurch must respond by keeping up with the new ways that people work and interact in the 21st century.
In February of 2010, the team approved that instead of one, two handbooks will be beneficial tothe different committees:  A handbook for Committees on the Ministry or Preparation for the Ministry, andanother for Committees on Clergy Care.
A Handbook for Committees on the Ministry/Preparation is presented to the 180th General Assemblyfor its approval.  Our work is done with the hope that what we do witnesses to the good work done before
us and will enable greater work to be done.  We have developed a Handbook that is modern in its useof language and practice; one that is user friendly and inviting to presbyterial committees on ministry/
preparation as they perform the necessary and important tasks of care, guidance, support, and counselingfor probationers during their journey toward ordination.
The PDMT sends out this new version of the Handbook in hopes that our work will enable
presbyterial committees on the ministry/preparation and their probationers to better manage the processof preparation for the office of minister of word and sacrament, which is the unique work of the ordained
ministry.
A second handbook for Committees on Clergy Care is in process and will be presented to the 181st
General Assembly in 2011.
May God’s blessings continue to go before our endeavors and prepare the way for us to serve in the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church for the glory of God who continues to call and set apart people for service
in ordained ministry.
RECOMMENDATION 7: That the General Assembly approve the 2010 Handbook for
Presbyterial Committees on the Ministry or Preparation for the Ministry as the official CP manualfor presbyterial committees on the ministry or its equivalent.

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Pastoral Development Ministry Team86

UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS FOR
ORDINATIONIn the Cumberland Presbyterian Church

HANDBOOKFOR PRESBYTERIALCOMMITTEES ON THE MINISTRY OR
PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY

2010

2010

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Understanding the Process for Ordination in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church: Handbook for Presbyterial Committees on
the Ministry or Preparation for the Ministry. Entire contents©2010 by the Pastoral Development Ministry Team of the MinistryCouncil of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.

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UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS FOR ORDINATION
IN THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
A Handbook for Presbyterial Committees on the Ministryor Preparation for the Ministry

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface … 4
Introduction … 5
Definition of Terms … 6
I.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBERS
a. Duties and Responsibilities of the Committee Members … 8
b. The Ministry of Mentoring … 9

II.

OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS
a. Nurturing Those God Has Called: A guide for those serving onpresbyterial committees …11
b. Helping Potential Candidates to Understand Themselves … 15
c. Process for Ordination … 16
d. Cross Culture Probationers … 21

III.

GOVERNMENT & THEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
a. How the Church is Governed … 23
b. Ministry in a Litigious Society … 25c. “The Call” in Historical and Theological Perspective … 26

IV.

APPENDIX
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Questions for Ordination Examination … 41
Sample Report to the Presbytery … 44
New Candidate Information Form … 45
Request for PAS Approval Form … 46
New Licentiate Information Form … 47
Ordinand Information Form … 48

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PREFACEYou have been elected as a member of your presbytery’s Committee on the Ministry or
Committee on Preparation for the Ministry. Your presbytery has given you a high honor.
Your participation in the committee’s work and its recommendations will impact not only
the presbytery but also the entire Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Moreover, it will
impact the lives of people for decades to come. I am confident you will approach thisministry with patience, understanding, mature judgment and openness to the leadership ofthe Holy Spirit.
This Handbook is intended to assist you in the committee’s work. Please:• Read through it to familiarize yourself with its contents• Allow it to guide your supervision of probationers toward their ordinations• Return it to your committee chair at the end of your term of service.
Members of the Pastoral Development Ministry Team at the time of this manual’s adoption
are: Rev. James Lively
Ms. Pat Owen
Rev. Tommy Thompson
Rev. David LancasterRev. Glenda Melson
Mrs. Mary Jo Turner
Rev. Mark Davenport
Rev. Linda SnellingRev. Robert E. Shelton
Former PDMT Leader Stephanie S. Brown was also instrumental in the initial efforts on thisproject.
The Pastoral Development Ministry Team serves the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by• Providing and promoting a deeper biblical and theological understanding of ministry
in the church• Nurturing and caring for ordained ministers and probationers• Providing resources and events to improve pastoral ministry and• Keeping God’s call before the church as a whole
Please feel free to contact me.

Rev. Milton L. Ortiz, Team Leader
Pastoral Development Ministry
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
www.cumberland.org
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016
901-276-4572 x 235
MOrtiz@cumberland.org
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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY2010

UNDERSTANDING
THE PROCESS FOR ORDINATION IN THE
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHINTRODUCTION
In the gospel story as told by Matthew,
Jesus gives a command to the disciples
just prior to his ascension. Jesus tells
them to go into every nation proclaiming
the gospel, making disciples, instructing
them and baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of theHoly Spirit. This command belongs toevery person who follows Jesus and longs
to see God’s reign on earth.
Jesus’ command, however, belongs to thechurch in an even more intimate way,particularly where the church isconcerned with the education andoversight of those who have sensed
God’s call into ministry. The church iscommanded to shepherd and care forthose seeking ordination as well as thosealready involved in that work. The
church’s care is lived out with the same
sense of responsibility that Jesus spoke ofin the great command to the disciples.
Oversight, education, preparation, andguidance for ministers and ministerial
candidates fall to the church through thevarious structures of the church’s
organization, but most notably throughthe work of Committees on
Ministry/Preparation within thepresbyteries.
Aware of that presbyterial responsibility
and aware of the greater church’s
responsibility, The Pastoral Development
Ministry Team of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church has developed thishandbook for use by presbyterial
Committees on the Ministry/Preparation.
It is our hope that our collective workwith ministers and candidates forministry will be more fruitful, moreconsistent, and more sensitive to theunique demands that the call to ministry
places upon an individual.
May God’s grace and mercy be upon thework we are all called to accomplish.
May our work bring light and life throughthe sharing of the good news of thegospel of Jesus the Christ.

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The office of Minister of Word and Sacrament is unique in the life of thechurch as to responsibility and usefulness. God calls persons and sets them apartfor this ministry.
The persons who fill this office should be sound in the faith, exemplary in conduct,and competent to perform the duties of the ministry. Persons who become
ministers of word and sacrament are due such respect as belongs to their office,but are not by virtue of their office more holy or righteous than other Christians.
They share in the same vocation that belongs to all Christians to be witnesses to
the gospel in word and deed. They differ from other Christians only with regard to
the office to which they are called, which is their station in life.
(Constitution 2.61)

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Approved graduate school of theology: A
seminary authorized by a presbytery toprovide for the education of thatpresbytery’s ministerial probationers.
Courses and credit hours from nonapproved seminaries may not berecognized by the presbytery.
Bethel University: The
undergraduate/graduate educational
institution affiliated with the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church andlocated in McKenzie, Tennessee.
Candidate: A person in the first stage ofpreparation for the ministry andunder the care of a presbytery.
Committee on Clergy Care: A
presbytery’s agency for the oversightof and support for its clergy members
and their families; names may varywith presbyteries.
Committee on Preparation for the
Ministry: A presbytery’s agency forthe oversight of ministerial
probationers; names may vary withpresbyteries.

6

Committee on the Ministry: A
presbytery’s agency for the oversightof ministerial probationers andordained clergy, unless these
responsibilities are divided between
two committees.
Confession of Faith (1984): The creedal
statement and governmental
standards for the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church and Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America.
Major divisions are:Confession of Faith
Constitution
Rules of Discipline
Directory for Worship
Rules of Order
Constitution: The document, containedin the Confession of Faith, delineating
the government of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church and Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America.
Licentiate: The status of a ministerial
probationer between candidate andordained; licentiates are authorized to

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preach under the supervision of thepresbytery.
Memphis Theological Seminary (MTS): A
graduate school of theology affiliatedwith the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and located in Memphis,
Tennessee.
Minister of Word and Sacrament: A
person who has been ordained into
the ministry of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church or Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America.
Ordained: A person who has been
recommended for ordination as a
Minister of Word and Sacrament.
Ordinand: A person who has been
approved by presbytery for ordination.
Particular church: As used in theConstitution, a congregation of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church or
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America.
Pastor: The title for an ordained minister
who has been installed by thepresbytery to provide spiritualleadership in a particularcongregation. ALSO Associate/
Assistant Pastor: The title for an
ordained minister who has been
installed by the presbytery to assist
the pastor in providing spiritualleadership in a particularcongregation.
Presbytery: The primary governing bodywithin the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/ Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America and consisting of
ordained ministers and elders elected
to represent sessions within a defined
area.

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Probationer: A person preparing for theministry under the care of apresbytery. Probationers may becandidates or licentiates.
Program of Alternate Studies (PAS): A
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
program for the education ofministerial probationers who, in theopinion of their presbyteries, cannot
attend seminary.
Reformed/Presbyterian tradition: refers
to those churches that trace theirroots to John Calvin, a key player in
the Protestant Reformation.
Theologically, these churchesemphasize the sovereignty of God,
the authority of scripture andsalvation by grace through faith. They
follow a representative form ofgovernment led by elders or“presbyters”.
Rules of Discipline: The section of theConfession of Faith setting forthprocedures for dealing withmisconduct or unusual situations
within the church.
Session: The governing body of aparticular church (congregation),
consisting of the pastor and members
elected by the congregation.
Stated Supply: An ordained minister orlay person approved by thepresbytery to serve as minister of aparticular church (congregation). A
stated supply is not an installed
pastor and may perform only thosepastoral functions set forth in theConstitution.
“Under care”: The description of thestatus of a ministerial probationer
under the supervision of a presbytery.

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I. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESOF THE MEMBERS
A. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The following is intended to help
committee members recall the range of
their responsibilities. It would be helpful
if, before each meeting, a member
reviewed the committee's activities
against the list and reported on
responsibilities receiving little or noattention. These duties andresponsibilities may need to beemphasized, and programs developed
accordingly. Also, remember that somepresbyteries may from time to timeassign other responsibilities to thecommittee. 1•

To guide probationers in their
exploration of Christian ministry
and/or vocations in the church.

•

To help those experiencing a call to
Christian service, but not ordination,
to affirm their calling as followers ofJesus Christ and members of thecovenant community.

•

To recommend to presbytery
appropriate actions in the supervisionof probationers.

•

To examine members ofcongregations seeking to be received
as candidates.

•

To keep before the congregations theimportance of the call to Christianministry in the church.

••

To provide appropriate materials andresources to guide those considering
vocations in the church.

To examine candidates and licentiates
as they move through the process
toward ordination.

••

To serve as the presbytery’s standing
committee for supervising andsupporting probationers for theministry.

To stay in close contact withprobationers throughout theirjourney – encouraging, uplifting andguiding them.

•

To encourage and require
probationers to complete educational
requirements in approved colleges
and graduate schools of theology.

•

To recommend to presbytery that a
student be enrolled in the Program of
Alternate Studies if attendance in an

1 Please feel free to contact Pastoral

Development Ministry Team Leader
Milton L. Ortiz, , for resources and/or
assistance. (See the Preface to thisHandbook for contact information)
8

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

approved graduate school of theology
is not a valid possibility.
•

To meet, when directed bypresbytery, with ordained clergy ofother ecclesiastical bodies andrecommend actions concerning theirstatus in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. The procedure
for a presbytery’s receiving an

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ordained minister from anotherdenomination is set forth in detail in
the Constitution, Sections 6.41-6.43•

To work with the Committee on
Clergy Care to ensure that the newly
ordained ministers have designatedmentors for three years after
ordination.

B. THE MINISTRY OF MENTORING
Mentor: a trusted counselorteacherguide
coach
shepherd
Almost everyone can remember a time ortimes when someone, with moreexperience or greater knowledge than we
had, came to our assistance. As a result,
we learned something we needed toknow, avoided making a mistake, gained
new insights or became more proficientin what we were doing. In such instances
we were mentored.
You now have the opportunity, or havebeen asked, to become a mentor to aminister who is newly ordained or new toyour presbytery. Mentoring is notdifficult, but it can be, at times, intense.
Most of the knowledge required of amentor comes from experience rather
than from academic disciplines.

The most important fact in mentoring isthat it isn’t about the mentor; it is about
the learner. Therefore:•

An effective mentor’s goal is tohelp another person to learn,
grow, become. He/she has an
unselfish interest in the good ofothers. Egocentric and controllingpersonalities do not make good
mentors.

•

The effective mentor does notseek to duplicate his/her“successes” in the learner’s
experience. Mentoring is about
helping another discover his/her
method or response.

•

The ultimate goal is to equip thelearner and give him/her the
freedom to act. Good mentors do
not cultivate co-dependent
relationships.

There is no prescribed formula for
mentoring. There is, rather, a process;92010

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH•KNOW Know the other person’s
story and thinking patterns; takethe time to learn him/her. Know
your own strengths, weaknesses
and limits of expertise. And know
community resources if referrals
are appropriate.

•

ASK
Ask questions tounderstand the other person’s
situation or concern.

•

LISTEN Listen carefully to theother person’s thoughts and plans
for a successful solution.

•

SHARE Share out of your life
experiences if pertinent.

•

ALLOW Allow the other person
to craft his/her own method or
response.

•

FOLLOW UP Follow up with aconversation or de-briefing about
the learner’s experiences.

MENTORING IN THE CHURCH IS, INDEED,A HOLY CALLING –A MINISTRY

While the type of ministry most basic to the life of the church is that of pastor,

God has given different gifts to ministers of the word andsacrament and the church recognizes various types of ministry.
Presbytery may authorize ministers to exercise their gifts not only as- pastors of particular churches but as- teachers of religion in various kinds of schools,- editors of religious publications,- chaplains to the military forces and to various types of institutions,- missionaries,- evangelists,- counselors,- administrators of church programs and institutions,- directors of Christian education in particular churches, and as- leaders in other fields of service directly related to the church.
Presbytery shall authorize persons to perform such types of ministry through aservice of worship in which the minister is commissioned to practice his or her
ministry in one of these ways.
In every type of ministry, the minister should seek appropriate ways to performthe duties as pastor, minister, presbyter, evangelist, prophet, priest, preacher,and teacher.
(Constitution 2.64)
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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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II. OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS
A. NURTURING THOSE GOD HAS CALLED:
A guide for those serving on presbyterial committees
Every presbytery has a committee thatoversees the growth of ministerial
probationers. The committee may go byvarious names, but the function is thesame: to walk with probationers throughthe process of ordination, and to ensurethat those called are mentally,
emotionally and spiritually prepared toserve as ministers. Neither thepresbytery nor the committee calls
persons to ordained ministry. God does.
But the committee and the presbytery
are the vehicles by which God’s call isconfirmed.
Our tradition assumes that, once persons
submit to an internal call, they also must
submit to a larger body responsible for
their care and they must prepare forministry. Preparation includes education
at accredited schools, growing in one’s
sense of call, gaining competence inministerial skills, as well as taking up
disciplines that lead to spiritual maturity.
Your committee exists to help
probationers in this process.
Inevitably, probationers face difficulties
as they pursue ordination. Some won’t
receive support from family and friends.
Others will struggle with education
requirements. Many will have periods ofdoubt about their call. Still more will

worry about their finances. Your
committee cannot solve all the problems
a probationer will face. But yourpresbytery will be able to help in someconcrete ways (such as providing grants
for education). And your committee canprovide what those seeking ordination
often need the most: caring, listeningears.
You also help probationers by upholding
the educational standards for ordination.
When persons face difficulties, we often
desire to relieve them. But compromising
the standards of ordination is only shortterm relief. Probationers need as mucheducation as they can get so that they are
well rounded, knowledgeable people who
can do what God asks of them.
Similarly, committee members must notassume that a person is ready forordination simply because they havecompleted their classes in college andseminary. Throughout the process, you
should look for signs of spiritual maturity
and help probationers see areas where
they may need to grow in order to befaithful ministers of the gospel. It’s notfair to probationers or the church to send
them out poorly prepared for thedemands of ordination.

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The responsibilities of your committee
are sobering. But when you do your job
well, the church receives the wellequipped ministers it deserves, and you
will discover that the burden of yourlabor is also a joy.
The Constitution of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church outlines therequirements for candidacy, licensureand ordination (sections 6.10 to 6.30).
The steps below give detail to thatprocess from the perspective of you, thecommittee member.
Step 1: The first meeting with thepotential candidate
Check for the letter from the session. No
one can be accepted as a candidate
unless his or her session has written aletter of recommendation. Those closest
to the candidate should be willing tovouch for his or her sincerity, characterand faith.
Introduce yourself to the candidate, andat the appropriate time ask questions
that allow the candidate to share hisstory. Meeting strangers who will beoverseeing his life can be overwhelming
to a person seeking candidacy. Knowingthat committee members care about him
and are interested in his well-being willbring great comfort.
Ask the candidate about her experienceof the call. It may not be clear to thecandidate yet exactly what her call is.
Expect some ambiguity. But the potential
candidate needs practice reflecting on
her call and trying to articulate what God
wants with her life. She will continue todo this throughout her preparation.
12

Explain what presbytery requires forordination. Before he leaves themeeting, the person seeking candidacy
should know what education is expected;
how often the committee anticipates
meeting with him; when psychologicalinventories will be administered and forwhat purpose; when the next presbytery
meeting will be and what questions will
be put to him in order to enter candidacy;and finally who will serve as thecandidate’s mentor, assuming presbytery
accepts him.
The standard educational requirementfor ordination in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church is a bachelor’s
degree and master of divinity degreefrom accredited schools. In some cases,
persons request to enter the Program of
Alternate Studies (PAS). PAS exists to
educate candidates who might haveextreme difficulty attending college andseminary. Those difficulties might include
limited finances, family constraints orage. PAS requires 60 hours of college
work (course list available from thedirector of PAS) and three full years ofextension school (intense class time,
followed by home assignments). PAS is
not a replacement for seminary, but analternate route for those in extreme
circumstances.
Presbytery alone decides who may takethis alternate route. For anyone to enter
PAS, presbytery must approve by a twothirds majority vote. The presbytery
looks for the committee to make thisrecommendation, if applicable, in its
report.
Your committee should weigh carefully
whether to recommend a candidate for

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

the PAS program. Remember that all
persons will face difficulty in the pursuitof ordination. You must answer thequestion whether a potential candidate’s
circumstances make it nearly impossible
for him to take the standard route.
Pray for the potential candidate at theconclusion of the meeting. You may ask
how the committee can best pray for her
and encourage committee members tokeep these concerns alive in their prayers
between meetings.
Step 2: The meeting of presbytery
Not all committee members are required
to attend presbytery. Most likely, thechair will attend to present the report. (Asample report can be found in the
Appendix.) If you have been assigned as
the candidate’s mentor, your presence atpresbytery can strengthen therelationship. A phone call following themeeting from any committee member
would help the candidate feel supported.
While the committee has examined thecandidate already, the presbytery isafforded that opportunity, also. After the
candidate shares her sense of call, thefloor will be open for questions from thepresbytery. This doesn’t mean yourcommittee’s work is inadequate, butshows that the presbytery has final
authority for those preparing forordination.
If your committee decided that a
particular candidate is eligible for PAS,
make the recommendation as part ofyour report to this meeting of presbytery.
Remind the clerk of the presbytery that arequest for PAS approval must be sent to2010

the Pastoral Development Ministry Team.
(See Appendix for the form.)Also, if appropriate, report thatpsychological inventories have been
administered and reviewed by a trained
psychologist. By no means should theresults of the inventories be shared withthe presbytery. Those matters are
confidential. The inventories are a meansof helping candidates understandthemselves, an essential part of being afaithful, effective minister.
Emphasize attendance at presbytery. All
candidates are required to attend all
meetings of presbytery - not just the one
at which they are received - unless they
are excused upon their request.
Inform the Pastoral Development
Ministry Team when a new candidate
comes under care of the presbytery. (SeeAppendix for form.) The team sends eachnew candidate An Introduction to
Ministry by Dr. Morris Pepper.
Step 3: Subsequent meetings with thecandidate
Meet with candidates no less than once ayear. In those meetings, give candidatesa chance to share any concerns theymight have. Most candidates will havesomething they need to discuss as they
travel down the road to ordination. Your
committee can serve as a sounding
board, offer wise counsel and be like apastor to the aspiring candidate.
Check for progress in the candidate’s
growth through very simple, open-ended
questions: How is the candidate doing inschool? How has the candidate’s sense of13

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

call clarified or changed? Has thecandidate had opportunity to preach,teach or otherwise lead in the church andwhat has that experience been like?
What does the candidate understandabout his or her responsibility to session
and presbytery?

perform more ministerial duties thancandidates, but the title communicatesprogress and a new level of respect due
the person. You should use licensure asan opportunity to affirm the candidate’s
hard work, faithfulness to the task andgrowth.

Committees are beginning to rediscover
the importance of the candidate’s
spiritual formation. Some candidates
won’t have experience with daily prayer,
self-examination or devotional reading.
Encourage candidates to embrace adiscipline, and be willing to ask about
their experiences when you meet. The
goal of such disciplines is the growth ofthe candidate, not the satisfaction ofrules laid down by the committee.
Candidates most need encouragementfrom the committee to develop andmaintain spiritual disciplines.

Licensure takes place at a meeting ofpresbytery upon the recommendation ofthis committee. Again, this affirms
presbytery’s authority over andresponsibility for those preparing forordination. The committee will continue
to meet with the licentiate on at least ayearly basis.

Of course, keeping your own spiritualdisciplines will put you in a better
position to speak about spiritual
formation with the candidate.
Step 4: Licensure
In our system, candidates who show
sufficient growth are licensed to preach.
Candidates are eligible for licensure after
completing their bachelor’s degree or
their required college work for PAS.
However, licensure should be reserved
for those whom the committee feels have
not only met the education requirements,
but also have demonstrated a level ofcompetence that warrants additional
responsibility and authority.
Licensure is a mile marker on the way toordination. Licentiates currently cannot
14

Inform the Pastoral Development
Ministry Team when a candidate has
been licensed by the presbytery. (SeeAppendix for form.) The team sends each
new licentiate a book as a way tocongratulate him/her in his/her journey.

Step 5: Ordination
Upon successful completion of seminary
or PAS course work and upon receipt of acall to a particular ministry, licentiates are
eligible for ordination. The call to aparticular ministry signifies that not only
has the committee and the presbytery
confirmed the licentiate’s call, but thelarger church has as well. Sinceordination is for service instead of status,
the particular call is essential before
presbytery ordains.
A particular call may include a call toserve as pastor, associate pastor or someother position in a local congregation. It
may also include a call to serve as ateacher in a college or university, as a

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

chaplain or in a denominational office.
Your committee will have to decide if acall meets the requirements forordination. Since ordination is reserved
for those called to a ministry of word andsacrament, not all job offers will
necessarily fit the criteria.
Examine the licentiate prior topresbytery. It’s appropriate for acommittee to require an ordination
examination. Sample questions areincluded in the Appendix. Along with awritten examination, the committee
should question the candidate verbally,
ascertaining her readiness for ministry.
Assuming the committee is satisfied withthe particular call and the examinations,
it will recommend to presbytery that thelicentiate be ordained. Again, presbytery
will have the opportunity to examinefrom the floor.

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Often licentiates wish to be ordained intheir home church rather than at a
meeting of presbytery. If so, include inyour report a recommendation that acommission be elected for that purpose.
Include names, as well as the date andtime of the ordination, if known. The
commission must include at least four
members, at least two of which must be
ordained ministers and at least one ofwhich must be an elder active on thesession. As a committee member, you
are not required to attend ordinations,but attendance would encourage the
newly ordained.
Inform the Pastoral Development
Ministry Team of the upcoming
ordination. (See Appendix for form.) The
team will send a portable communion set
to the new minister to mark the occasion.

B. HELPING POTENTIAL CANDIDATESTO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES
Before the committee recommends thata person be received as a candidate forministry, the committee should makeprovision for the administration of
personality/psychological testing and aclinical interview by the tester. The tester
should be a member of the American
Psychology Association.

Instruments used in testing should bechosen from among the following
categories:•

Personality inventories•

Temperament evaluators•

Emotional intelligence indicators•

Career, aptitude and ability
inventories

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The choice of specific instruments shouldbe the tester’s. The report to thecommittee should include a descriptionof the instruments and clinical interview
with findings and recommendations.
A criminal background check should also
be made of each potential candidate.
Members of the supervising committee
should:•Treat psychological reports with thestrictest confidence•

Use the reports only to help guideprobationers•

Relinquish copies of reports to thecommittee chair for disposal when
probationers are no longer undercare, EXCEPT•One sealed copy should be given to
the presbyterial clerk for safekeeping

In no way should this procedure beinterpreted as a substitute for orcompromise to the call of the Holy Spirit.
Quite the contrary, testing of this nature
can be a tool of the Holy Spirit for guiding
those who supervise probationers and forthe probationers’ self-understanding.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

C. PROCESS FOR ORDINATIONThis section of the handbook is primarily
for candidates to help them tounderstand the process for ordination in
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Although all committee members should
be familiar with it, it will help you tounderstand the process through thecandidate’s eyes. You may make copies of
16

So, You’re Sensing a Call (pages 17-20)
and distribute them to those who are justbeginning the process. You may also let
the pastors in your presbytery know thisdocument exists so they can give it toanyone who comes to them sensing a
call.

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2010

SO YOU’RE SENSING A CALL:
Mapping the Journey to Ordination in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
If you’re reading this, you’re probably
thinking about becoming a candidate forministry. Presbyterial Committees on the
Ministry/Preparation will be familiar withthis material, also. But this information is
directed primarily toward you, thepotential candidate. It aims to describe insome detail the process for responding toGod’s call in the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church
believes in an internal call. God moves on
the hearts of persons, drawing them
toward ordained ministry. Yet, thisinternal call needs the external
confirmation of the church. As you movetoward ordination, you will do so in thecompany of others who are charged withoverseeing your growth. These people
will help you discern if ordination is infact your vocation in life. Just as God acts
to call you personally, God acts throughthe corporate body of the church tosupport your work and confirm your call.
So, what do you do when you sense God
may be calling you to ordained ministry?

First, talk with your pastor.
Your pastor will help you navigate theinitial steps in the process. He or she also
can relate to the various questions you
have and the emotions you are feeling.
When the time comes for you to shareyour call with the local session, yourconversations with the pastor will allow

her or him to support you confidently
before the body. If your church does nothave a pastor, you should speak with theminister appointed by the presbytery tomoderate your session. One of the elders
can help you know who this person is.

After informal conversations with the
pastor, you will meet with thesession. It’s the first official step inbecoming a candidate for ministry.
The session has the responsibility toendorse you as a candidate. You must bea member in good standing of a
Cumberland Presbyterian congregation,and you must have the session’s
endorsement before the presbytery
accepts you as a candidate. Your family
knows you best. A recommendation fromthe leadership of your church family
speaks volumes. The local session clerk
will write a letter to the presbytery’s
Committee on the Ministry/Preparation
in your support, provided the session
votes to recommend you. (Constitution
6.14)

The presbyterial Committee on the
Ministry/Preparation will want tomeet with you after they receive thesession’s letter.
Each committee handles its interviews in
its own way. But certainly the members
will want to hear your experience of thecall. Your work with your pastor and17

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

session should prepare you well for thismeeting. Be honest with the committee.
Share with them your fears as well as
your joys as you consider your call. The
more they know you, the better they canhelp you. The more real you are, themore they will want to help you.

The committee has the responsibility
to recommend you as a CANDIDATEat the next meeting of presbytery.
You will attend this meeting. Presbytery
has the responsibility of examining you.
So, persons may ask questions of you
from the floor. You may be asked toshare your sense of call. Then, in keepingwith the Constitution of the church, thefollowing questions will be put to you.
I.

As far as you know your heart, doyou believe yourself to be called by
God to the office of the Christianministry?

II.

Do you promise, in reliance upon thegrace of God, to maintain a
Christian character and conduct,
and to be diligent and faithful inmaking full preparation for theministry?

III.

Do you promise to work with thepresbytery through its committee on
the ministry in matters that pertain
to your preparation for the ministry?

IV.

Do you now desire to be received bythis presbytery as a candidate forthe ministry in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church/Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America?

18

If you answer these questions
affirmatively, and the presbytery sovotes, you will be received as a candidate
under care of the presbytery. You willattend all subsequent meetings ofpresbytery after your acceptance.
Presbytery will care for you through theCommittee on the Ministry or its
equivalent. You will meet with them atleast once a year. The committee
probably will appoint one member toserve as your liaison or mentor. This
person will stay in close contact with you
as you move through the requirements ofordination. But you should always feel
free to contact the committee when you
need help. These persons are charged tosupport you and to struggle with you.
The committee also may provide financial
support for your education. The amountand type of support vary from presbytery
to presbytery.
Some seminaries provide excellent
financial help to seminary students. For
example, our denominational seminary,Memphis Theological Seminary, provides
70% service loans for probationers
pursuing their divinity degree.
Ordained ministry (what we often call theministry of Word and Sacrament or the
Gospel ministry, and what we mosttypically associate with the pastorate)requires a four-year degree from acollege or university. Exceptions are
sometimes made for those whose
circumstances make such an education
almost impossible. In these cases, onlywith presbytery approval, candidates may
enter the Program of Alternate Studies.
The candidate enrolled in PAS is required
to complete a list of college courses

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totaling 60 hours. With the plethora ofcommunity colleges now available, thosecourses are very much within reach.
Preparation for ministry includes morethan formal education. Committees
oversee the development of the whole
person toward ministry. So it is within
their purview to explore a candidate’s
spiritual life, emotional health andgiftedness. Candidates may be asked tosubmit to psychological examination froma trained professional. They may also be
asked to complete spiritual gifts
inventories. Such instruments shall not
be used to decide if a person is called ornot, but will serve to increase acandidate’s knowledge of self (strengths
as well as weaknesses) and to help
identify goals for growth.
As you are moving through candidacy, thecommittee will continue to help you
clarify your call. They will ask regularly if
you feel led toward ordained ministry.

Once you have completed thecollege-level education requirements,
and the committee is satisfied withyour growth and development, youwill be recommended for LICENSURE
by the committee.
The presbytery will examine you on thefloor prior to licensure.
Does being licensed mean you are given
responsibilities you did not have as a
candidate? No, but licensure is a signthat you are making progress and thatthe church recognizes your growth. It’s asignificant mile marker toward the full2010

embrace of your calling. The questions
asked to licentiates are listed below:
I.

Do you believe the scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments to be theinspired word of God, the authority
for faith and practice?

II.

Do you sincerely receive and adopt
the Confession of Faith of the
Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America as containing theessential doctrines taught in the
Holy Scriptures?

III.

Do you promise to promote thepeace, unity, and purity of thechurch?

IV.

Do you promise continued
cooperation with the presbytery
through its committee on theministry as you continue
preparation for ordination, and as
you perform those functions ofministry which pertain to alicentiate, as set forth in theConstitution?

Those licensed are required to completea Master of Divinity degree from anaccredited seminary before ordination. If
you have been accepted in the PAS
program, you must complete a three-year
course of study for ordination. The PAS
program administers these courses
through its director.

Once educational requirements arecomplete and the committee issatisfied with your progress, you will
be eligible for ORDINATION.
To be ordained, you must receive aformal call to ministry from a19

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

congregation, hospital, hospice program,university, etc., and must sustain
examination by presbytery.

church, irrespective of any
opposition that may arise to you onthat account?

If you answer affirmatively andpresbytery so votes, a time and date will
be set for your ordination. At the service
for ordination, you will be asked thefollowing questions:VII. Do you promise to be faithful anddiligent in the exercise of all yourduties as a Christian and a ministerof the gospel, and endeavor to so
conduct yourself both privately andpublicly as not to give offense to
Christ and his church?

I.

Do you believe the scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments to be theinspired word of God, the authority
for faith and practice?

II.

Do you sincerely receive and adopt
the Confession of Faith of the
Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America as containing theessential doctrines taught in the
Holy Scriptures?

III.

Do you approve of and promise to
uphold the government of the
Cumberland Presbyterian
Church/Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America?

IV.

In participating as a minister in the
judicatories of the church, do you
promise to share in a responsible
way in the decisions that are made,to abide by those decisions, and topromote the welfare of the church?

V.

As far as you know your heart, haveyou been induced by the Holy Spirit
to answer the call to the ministryfrom love of God and neighbor anda sincere desire to glorify God andadvance his Kingdom in the world?

VI.

As God may enable you, do you
promise to be zealous and faithful inmaintaining the truths of the gospel
and the purity and peace of the20

Once you have answered the questions
affirmatively, you will kneel. Ministers of
the presbytery will lay hands on you as aprayer is offered. When you rise and thedeclaration is made, you will be an
ordained minister with all the
responsibility and respect that
accompany that title.
Sometimes, a person becomes acandidate, even a licentiate, only to
discover that he or she is not called toordained ministry. If you are faced withthis difficult situation, you should keepthese things in mind. Most ministers
struggle to understand their calling. In
this you are not alone. Neither is there
any shame in removing yourself from thecommittee’s care. It would be muchworse to save embarrassment bycontinuing in a vocation to which God has
not called you. Being honest and openwith the committee as you work throughthe process will lay a good foundation
should you need to change courses
before ordination.
Consult the Constitution of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, section
6.00, for a more formal description of theabove process. The Constitution can befound online at www.cumberland.org.

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2010

D. CROSS CULTURE PROBATIONERSThe 169th General Assembly (1999)
approved an innovative opportunity towiden the Church’s ministry, particularly
among non-Anglos in the USA. NonAnglo ordained ministers from othercommunions desiring to join our Church
may not have had the same opportunity
to acquire the typical educational
credentials called for in our Constitution.
Some may come from nations where
economic or political conditions greatly
limited their capacity for formal training.
Yet they have both expertise andexperience in developing and serving
congregations of their own ethnic
background.
The provisional status for such ministers
enables the individual to become part of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church andto exercise the full privileges andresponsibilities of their ordination while
engaging in a course of study andmentoring over a period of two years.
This provisional period assists both theminister and the presbytery to becomeacquainted and grow in their relationship,
to share mutual concerns, to exchange
ideas and plans for ministry. It allows theministers to become conversant with the“culture” of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, including doctrine, polity, history,
and the range of congregational andjudicatory life and style. At the sametime, it grants members of presbytery
and the Church at-large firsthand contact
with the minister’s ethnicity and/or
culture, and thus enriches, broadens andextends the Church’s witness.

Evaluations of the minister’s progress inwhat is termed the “assimilation process”
are an important part of the provisional
period. When the goals of the provisional
period have been reached, and both theminister and presbytery desire to finalize
the covenant between them, theminister’s ordination is fully recognizedby presbytery and the provisional statusconcluded.
Can a non-ordained ethnic pastor bereceived under the provisional period?
No. A non-ordained ethnic pastor isreceived as a candidate for the ministry,
and the Committee on the
Ministry/Preparation will work with thecandidate as it would any otherprobationer. The same process applies
for an ethnic person who is sensing God’scall to ordained ministry. The Program of
Alternate Studies now has a Multi-Culture
Ministry track to help train cross-culture
pastors.
Should the presbytery receive a crossculture pastor under provisional period if
he/she does not pastor a church or
fellowship and is not involved in arecognized ministry? No. The
provisional period is designed to allow
ethnic pastors the freedom to continue
ministry in which they are alreadyinvolved. However, if the presbytery
plans to develop a ministry to a particularethnic group, and use the ordained ethnic
pastor in this ministry, then the pastor
could be accepted into the presbytery
under provisional status.

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Can an ethnic pastor who is underprovisional status do the sacraments?
Yes. In most cases the ethnic pastor has
been doing the sacraments in his ethnic
community before coming into the CP
church.
Can a presbytery remove an ethnic
pastor from provisional status if theministry the ethnic pastor is working in is
terminated or fails? Yes. The thing thatvalidates a provisional pastor is his/herministry. With no ministry, it is hard tojustify keeping a pastor under provisional
status. However, it is possible that theethnic pastor could be switched to a newor different ministry to his/her ethnicity
and thus continue in the provisional
status.
Can cross-culture pastors and layleadership under provisional status serveon presbytery boards? Yes. Presbyteries
should involve ethnic pastors and layleaders who are under provisional status
in the boards and committees of thepresbytery. Not only does this provide afast way to learn about the church, it also
brings new perspectives, idea and ethnic
sensitivity to the presbytery.

Can a cross-culture pastor continue inthe provisional period for an indefinite
amount of time? No. At some point thepresbytery and/or ethnic pastor have to
make a decision. After a fair amount oftime getting to know each other (thepurpose of the provisional status), bothparties must commit one way or theother.
When an ethnic pastor has been
received under provisional status, should
he/she be asked to receive further
training and instruction? Yes. In somecases this may only involve CP history,
doctrine and polity. In other cases there
may be a need for other training andinstruction. The point is to prepare thepastor, as best we can, with the resources
we have, to reach his/her ethnicity.
After the two-year provisional period,
does the presbytery have to receive theethnic pastor and/or congregation? No.
The two-year term is a minimum amountof time. Provisional status may need to
be extended because specific goals in theassimilation process have not beenaccomplished. To do assimilation well,
the process should take no less than two
years of intentional activities that areplanned and executed by the presbytery.

The person who fills the office of the ministry has in the scriptures different titles,
expressive of various duties: Pastor, minister, elder or presbyter,evangelist, prophet, priest, preacher, teacher.
These titles do not confer privilege in the church nor designate different grades ofoffice but indicate the scope of responsibilities that belong to the office of ministry.
(Constitution 2.62)

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2010

III. GOVERNMENT & THEOLOGICALBACKGROUND
A. HOW THE CHURCH IS GOVERNED“The purpose of church government is to
aid the church in performing its
mission.” 2
The easiest way to understand
Presbyterian church government is tothink back to what you learned in highschool civics. (In fact, our judicial systemis patterned after Presbyterian church
law, also called polity.) In our national
judicial system:•

A federal magistrate acts at thedirectives of higher courts in handlingless serious matters, thus allowing thesuperior courts to focus upon the
more serious•

More serious civil or criminal matters
are heard in district court, which
renders verdicts in these cases•

The court of appeals rules on theregularity of procedure and/or
conformity to law in the decisions of
district courts••

The session of a congregation (calleda particular church in theConstitution). It consists of the pastor
and members elected by the
congregation. (For a list of sessional
responsibilities, see the Constitution
4.5.)

•

The presbytery consisting of theordained ministers and elders electedby sessions to represent
congregations within a specific area.
Presbyteries have oversight ofcongregations, ministers andprobationers within its bounds andhear appeals brought from sessions.
(For a list of presbyterial
responsibilities, see the Constitution
5.6.)

•

The synod consists of at least threepresbyteries within a prescribed area.
Synods have oversight of presbyteries
and hear appeals brought from them.
Some also have program
responsibilities. (For a list of synodic
responsibilities, see the Constitution
8.5.)

•

The General Assembly, the highest
judicatory in the church, has oversightof the entire church, including

The Supreme Court rules on theadherence to the Constitution in thedecisions of the lower courts.

In a general way, the courts—commonly
called “judicatories”—in the Presbyterian2system of government parallel ourfederal court system. Those judicatories
arePreamble to the Constitution,
Confession of Faith, 1984

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

doctrine, polity, discipline, property
and judicatories. It also hears
appeals. (For a list of General
Assembly responsibilities, see theConstitution 9.4.)
A set of checks and balances comes intoplay at each level of church government:•

Sessions elect delegates to presbytery•

Presbyteries have oversight ofministers, probationers and sessions
within their bounds; they also hearappeals from sessions•

Synods have oversight of presbyteries
and hear appeals from presbyteries•

Delegates to synods are elected bypresbyteries•

The General Assembly has oversight
responsibilities for the entire church•

Presbyteries elect commissioners toGeneral Assembly and must approvechanges in the Confession of Faith,
Constitution and Catechism referredto them by the General Assembly.

Each judicatory serves a unique function
and has a specific oversight responsibility.
However, the presbytery is the pivotal
church court. In its oversight ofcongregations and ordained ministers, it
functions as a bishop. Presbyteries also
hold another important balance of poweror responsibility. They elect minister andelder commissioners to meetings of theGeneral Assembly.
Because presbyteries, meeting at statedintervals, do not have the time orexpertise to conduct programs and24

exercise oversight, they assign these
responsibilities to ad hoc or standing
committees and/or commissions (See theConstitution 3.10.) These agencies focus
upon their assigned spheres of ministry
and make recommendations to theirpresbyteries.
Oversight of ministerial probationers(candidates, licentiates, ordinands) andordained clergy may be given by apresbytery to its Committee on the
Ministry. Or these responsibilities may be
divided between a Committee on
Preparation for the Ministry (or similarfunction/name) and a Committee on
Clergy Care (or similar function/name).
Regardless of where a presbytery lodges
these responsibilities, “oversight”
involves both supervision and support.
Stresses upon the ordained clergy andtheir families can be both sharp andacute. It is, therefore, important thatmembers of presbyteries’ committees
charged with oversight of ordained clergy
be aware of these stressors. They should
also convey a spirit of understanding andsupport where needed and impartial
discipline where appropriate.
Oversight of clergy probationers also
requires sensitive, mature judgment andapproachability. Probation is a time of
exploring the nature of God’s call as wellas preparing for ministry. Committee
members must always remember that
their presbyteries ordain not just for theirpresbytery but also for the entire church.
It is important, therefore, that theordination standards contained in theConstitution (6.34) be honored.

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2010

B. MINISTRY IN A LITIGIOUS SOCIETY
Churches and religious organizations canno longer consider themselves immune
from civil suit. We are as vulnerable as anyother organization. Nor are all suitsbrought against churches groundless andfrivolous. Some are brought to correct
wrongs or to seek legitimate compensation
for real damage inflicted.
Moreover, our primary emphasis should
not be upon avoiding suit but upon not
fostering practice harmful to people. In
accomplishing that goal, we also minimize
our risk of suit.
Presbyteries and their agencies should beaware of areas of potential liability. Most
have to do with failure or neglect:•

Failure to investigate a known violent
or antisocial inclination or history
before approving a person forministry•

Negligence in supervision (failure toact after becoming aware of an illegal
or harmful activity)•

Failure to investigate accusations of
misconduct or malfeasance,
particularly of sexual, child or elderly
misconduct or abuse
NOTE: most states require citizens toreport allegations of or knowledge ofchild and elderly abuse to proper civil
authorities•

Complicity (cover up)•

Disclosure of confidential information•

Defamation of character (libel andslander)

WHAT TO DO IF THREATENED WITH SUIT•

Take it seriously; a threatened suit
may change the dynamics of thecommittee’s procedure. Note:presbyteries should consult an
attorney for appropriate action in theevent of allegations of or suspicion of
misconduct and/or malfeasance•

If a suit is filed, it must be answeredand defended•

Tell the presbyterial clerk
immediately; he/she should informthe insurance agent/carrier and Officeof the General Assembly•

Follow meticulously the Constitution,
Rules of Discipline and other written
standards, including pertinent
presbyterial standing rules•

Cooperate with the insurance carrier•

Do not discuss proceedings or the suit
publicly•

Do not talk with the media.
Understand that your presbytery is at
risk of being tried in the court ofpublic opinion.

Each presbytery should have a media
response team, including one person who
understands the media and who, alone,serves as spokesperson for thepresbytery. Any number of books andonline resources provide information
about the church and media.

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

C. “THE CALL” IN HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
A study paper prepared for the Permanent Committee on
Theology and Social Concerns by Jay Earheart-Brown, September 9, 1999

The Call of God
The 1984 Confession of Faith of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Churches
begins with the affirmation that “Godspeaks to the human family.” 3 In various
ways, through many different means, we
confess that “by word and action God
invites persons into a covenant
relationship.” 4 This invitation of God, isthe foundation of any Christianunderstanding of the call. The Christian
life is a life lived in response to the call ofGod. Thus Paul refers to Christians as
those who are “called to be saints” (Rom.
1:7, 1 Cor. 1:2). The Greek word forchurch, while commonly used in the
Greek world for any assembly, is literally,“those who are called out” (ekklesia).
God takes the initiative to call together,to assemble a people and fashion themfor God’s purpose in the world.
The history of Israel as God’s chosen
people was grounded in God’s call to
Abraham and Sarah to leave their
homeland to follow God’s directing.
3

Heading for section 1.00, Confession of
Faith, in the Confession of Faith andGovernment of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church and the Second
Cumberland Presbyterian Church(Memphis: Frontier Press, 1984), p. 1.
Hereafter COF.
4
COF, sec. 1.03, p. 1.

God’s intent for the people was further
intensified in God’s calling of thedescendants of Abraham and Sarah out of
Egypt in the Exodus. Israel is chosen,
called, elected by God not because of thepeople’s righteousness, our power, or any
other intrinsic quality. The nation is called
not to special privilege, but to be a “lightto the nations.” God’s call to Israel, then,is a part of God’s larger intention toreclaim all God’s wayward children.
Jesus’ public ministry began with his
calling of the twelve. They followed Jesus,
according to the Gospel accounts, notfrom their own initiative, but in response
to Jesus’ call to leave their nets (andother occupations) and follow him. In
Jesus’ death and resurrection, thosedisciples became convinced that God was
calling all people, the Jews and gentiles
alike, into covenant relationship. The
preaching and teaching of the earliest
Christians was the means by which thecall of God went out from Jerusalem into
the Greco-Roman world and beyond.
God’s call to all people to salvation andlife, what the Confession refers to, as “thecall to covenant relationship,” is thefoundation of any adequate theology of
the call. This primary call of God is what
the early Puritan theologians referred toas the “general calling.” It is a calling that
all who respond to God in faith hear. It is
common to all Christians. The Confession

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also refers to it as “the call and work of
the Holy Spirit:”
The call and work of the Holy
Spirit is solely of God’s grace andis not a response to human merit.
The call precedes all desire,purpose, and intention of thesinner to come to Christ. While itis possible for all to be saved withit, none can be saved without it.
Whoever will, therefore, may besaved, but not apart from theilluminating influence of the Holy
Spirit. (1984 COF, section 4.03)
All Christians are called to salvation; all
Christians are called to the ministry ofJesus Christ.
The general call of God is also a call to thechurch, the people of God, thecommunity of faith. It is more than an
individual call; it is fully corporate as well.
The church’s task is to ask not only what
God is calling each of us to do, but also
what God is calling the church to be anddo. As the Confession says, “The church iscalled into being and exists to reach out
to those who have not experienced God’s
grace in Christ, and to nourish them withall the means of grace” (1984 COF,
section 5.29).

The Call and Christian Ethics
This invitation, this call, while
fundamentally a call to covenant
relationship with God, is at the same time
all call to a particular way of life. Like
God’s call to Israel, it is not a call to
special favor. It is a call to righteousness,
love and service. The ethical dimensionsof God’s call are raised through2010

considering the question, “What does itmean, in practical terms, to live incovenant relationship with God?” Paul’s
ethical instructions to the early churches
can be summarized in the counsel to“lead a life worthy of the calling to which
you have been called” (Eph. 4:1). God’scall is a call to a specific way of life
patterned after the life and ministry ofJesus. The ethical dimensions of God’scall flow from God’s grace in Jesus Christ,and are incumbent on all who would live
as God’s people in the world.
The task of Christian ethics is to specify
what it means to live in response to God’scall. This task is often difficult. While thegeneral contours of a life lived incovenant relationship with God are clear
from reading the Scriptures, Christians
often disagree on how those contours
inform specific decisions in specificcircumstances. How should Christians
respond to situations the Biblical writers
could not have foreseen? Christians ingood conscience may disagree on how
God’s general calling to the life of faith
may best be demonstrated in specificsituations. But they cannot escape theimperative to live out the call to
discipleship in every sphere of their lives.
A second type of difficulty arises throughcompeting claims on one’s attention andenergy. How does one manage thecompeting callings to be a faithful andloving husband or wife, son or daughter,father or mother, with the calling to be a
responsible employee or employer, andthe calling to responsible membership in
the community of faith? Sometimes thedeepest ethical conflicts arise over how
we are to relate the overlapping callingsand commitments that make up our lives.
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The call to covenant relationship with
God, then, is at the same time a call tocovenant relationship with the people ofGod, in service to the world. It is not a callto privilege or status; it is not a call toindividual salvation apart from thecommunity of faith and the life of
sacrificial service. The one call of God in
Jesus Christ is a call to love God with ourheart and soul and strength and ourneighbors as ourselves.

Particular Callings and the Idea ofVocation
Historically, the people of God have alsointerpreted the call of God to encompass
callings to particular ministries bothwithin and outside the covenantcommunity, and to specific tasks in
specific circumstances. Such particular
calls are given to individuals within thecommunity of faith, but are at the sametime intended to serve the one call of
God to faith and service. One aspect ofthe particular calling of God forindividuals relates to how one earns aliving.
Before the toleration of Christianity in the
Roman Empire, those who responded toGod’s calling to the life of faith in Jesus
Christ and participation in the covenantcommunity were liable to suffer serious
consequences. Those consequences
included disruption of family
relationships, alienation from the Roman
government (including imprisonment andeven death), and, for some at least, achange in occupation. The Apostolic
Tradition of Hippolytus, written around
215 A.D., gives instruction to the28

churches about those who seek
membership:
Inquiry shall be made about thecrafts and professions of those
who are brought for instruction. If
a man is a brothel-keeper, let him
cease or be rejected. If anyone is asculptor or a painter, let them be
instructed not to make idols; letthem cease or be rejected. If
anyone is an actor or gives
theatrical performances, let him
cease or be rejected. He whoteaches children had best cease,
but if he has no craft, let him havepermission. Similarly, a charioteer
who competes in the games, orgoes to them, let him cease or be
rejected. One who is a gladiator orteaches gladiators to fight, or one
who fights with beasts in thegames, or a public official
employed on gladiatorial business,
let him cease or be rejected. If
anyone is a priest, or keeper ofidols, let him cease or be rejected.
A soldier under authority shall notkill a man. If he is ordered to, heshall not carry out the order; norshall he take the oath. If he isunwilling, let him be rejected. He
who has the power of the sword,
or is a magistrate of a city whowears the purple, let him cease or
be rejected. Catechumen or
believers who want to become
soldiers should be rejected,
because they have despised God. 5

5Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition,trans. Geoffrey J. Cuming, as quoted inJames F. White, Documents of Christian

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For the early church, the general call had
specific consequences for the ways
converts earned a living. Some "crafts andprofessions" were consideredappropriate for Christians; others werenot.
With the toleration of Christianity underConstantine, and later the recognition of
Christianity as the official religion of the
Roman Empire, the list of approved
professions changed decisively. For
instance, service as a magistrate or
soldier was no longer prohibited when
the Empire was considered Christian. Still,
all Christians were considered called to
the life of faith and service. The specifics
of what forms of earning one's living
could and could not be allowed asconsistent with the call of God changed
depending on the social context.
Another consequence of Christianity's
adoption as the official religion of theempire was the rise of monasticism. With
the end of persecution, many Christians
felt called by God to demonstrate theirfaith in a manner that would set themapart from the "ordinary" Christian. Oneof the more popular ways of doing so in
the fourth and fifth centuries was fordevout men and women to renounce
family and goods for a life of perpetual
prayer. This monastic movement in the
church led to a limiting of the idea of
vocation (calling) to those who enteredthese intentional communities of men
and women devoted to the life of prayer.
By the time of the sixteenth century
Reformation, Christians were commonly
divided into "the religious" (those who
followed the monastic way, who had aWorship (Louisville: Westminster/John
Knox Press, 1992), p. 151-52.

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call to a religious vocation) and "secular"
Christians. Secular Christians could
participate in and benefit from thedevotion of the religious by endowing
monasteries. But secular Christians (andeven “secular” priests) were often
considered inferior to the “religious”
Christians who truly lived out their faith.

Vocation in Luther and Calvin
At the time of the Protestant Reformationin the sixteenth century, Martin Lutherrejected the restriction of the idea of
vocation or calling to monastic life. Suchdivision of Christians into "secular" and"religious" Luther found flawed on
several counts. First, he had found frompersonal experience that the life ofmonastic rigor could not bring him topeace with God. The attempt to earn
God's favor through renunciation of theworld Luther found to be seriously atodds with the doctrine of God's freegrace in Jesus Christ.
Instead, Luther committed himself to arecovery of the idea of the "priesthood ofbelievers." The general call to discipleshipwas elevated to a place of priority overthe specific calling of God. Whatdistinguishes ordained ministers fromother disciples, according to Luther, is notthat they are called, and lay Christians arenot. Ordained ministers, as a part of theircalling, are set apart for a specificfunction within the life of the community.
The distinction is not hierarchical. Nor is ita distinction of piety, as if clergy are morereligious than lay Christians. The
distinction is one of function. God's gift ofleadership in the church is "to equip thesaints for the work of ministry" (Eph.
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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

4:11-13). All Christians are ministers of
the gospel. Within that one ministry, we
have a variety of gifts for many different
types of service.
While calling into question the two-tiered
piety of medieval Catholicism and theclericalism of the church, Luther did notcompletely do away with the distinction
between clergy and laity, as some of themore radical reformers did. In this, Calvin
and the Reformed tradition followed
Luther. Ordination to a specialized
ministry of preaching and administeringsacraments was retained by Lutheransand the Reformed. But that ordination
was seen as a functional distinction given
by God for the purpose of serving thegeneral calling to ministry of all disciples
of Jesus Christ.
In developing his idea of vocation, Lutherurged all Christians to see themselves as
called, not only to be disciples of Jesus
Christ, but to their particular station inlife. Farmers, merchants, and nurses wereencouraged to see their work as a part oftheir calling to serve God. The "lowest"
domestic servant had a God-given
purpose every bit as important as that ofthe pastor or teacher or magistrate. A
Christian's calling includes doing his or
her duty, in family, society, and church, asa sacred calling. 6
Luther's concept of vocation was
revolutionary in its day. It gave new value
to work, challenging the medieval divisionof the world into sacred and secular. All
work could be done as religious work, if
done in God's service and for the sake of
6

See Gustaf Wingren, Luther on Vocation(Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1957).
30

loving one's neighbor. But Luther's idea of
vocation was also deeply conservative inmany senses. One should not question
one's given place in society, but see it as apart of God's purpose. There was nosense that a person should seek God's
purpose apart from one's given station inlife. The cobbler's son should be content
in the knowledge that by his birth, God
had called him to continue his father'swork, even if that work was infused withnew religious vitality.
At this point, Calvin's doctrine of vocation
presented an advance beyond Luther.
Calvin did not believe that one should
simply accept one's given station in life. A
Christian must actively seek his or her
calling. Calvin agreed with Luther that
God calls persons to many different
occupations, but he refused to limit theconcept of vocation to the occupation
dictated by one's birth. God's calling maylead some Christians to change
occupations or professions. "It would beasking far too much," Calvin wrote, "if atailor were not permitted to learn
another trade, or a merchant to change
to farming."7 A person may feel called by
God to different occupations at different
times in her life. Thus the Reformed
tradition, while agreeing with Luther's
7

John Calvin, The First Epistle of Paul the
Apostle to the Corinthians, Calvin's New
Testament Commentaries, ed. David W.
and Thomas F. Torrance, trans. John W.
Fraser (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960), p.
153. Quoted in Donald K. McKim, "The'Call' in the Reformed Tradition," in Major
Themes in the Reformed Tradition, ed.
McKim (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992),
p. 340.

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

emphasis on the vocation of all
Christians, developed a more dynamic
approach to discerning the call of God on
one's life. 8
Recovering Vocation
The Puritans who settled New England
carried the Reformed tradition’semphasis on vocation with them acrossthe Atlantic. The Puritan work ethic has
been the subject of much debate, butwhatever its limitations or corruptions, itcertainly led Puritan Christians tounderstand their work, in whatever form,
as a part of their religious calling. John
Wesley, who had been deeply influenced
by English Puritanism, counseled his
followers to “Earn all you can; save all
you can; give all you can.” Thus every
form of earning a living could be turnedto the service of God’s purpose in theworld.
In our time, when the concept of vocation
has been divorced from its Christian roots
and secularized, many Reformed
Christians are arguing for a renewal of theconcept of vocation. The word “vocation”
has come in popular usage to be asynonym for “profession” or “job.” Thereis little sense among many Christians of
any connection between the work they
do to make a living and their calling to bedisciples of Jesus Christ. Work and faith
are too often compartmentalized into
different and unrelated arenas of life.

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Ironically, among Protestants today theidea is prevalent that ordained clergy are
the ones who have been called; other
Christians work "secular jobs" to support
the "religious" work of clergy andmissionaries. The medieval division ofwork into secular and sacred has
reappeared as strong as ever.
As Wendell Berry notes, preachers are
the ones we speak of as being in "fulltime Christian service." In his experience,
Berry notes that this term is used
exclusively to refer to the ministry,
thereby at once making of the
devoted life a religious specialty or
career and removing the possibilityof devotion from other callings. Thus
the $50,000-a-year preacher is a"full-time Christian servant," whereas
a $20,000- or a $10,000-a-year
farmer, or a farmer going broke, so
far as the religious specialists areconcerned must serve "theeconomy" in his work or in his failureand serve God in his spare time. The
professional class is likewise free toserve itself in its work and to serve
God by giving the church its ten
percent. 9
For Berry, the consequence of ourmodern clericalism is not only theseparation it creates between clergy andlaity, but more importantly the loss of a
98

See also John H. Leith, John Calvin’s
Doctrine of the Christian Life (Louisville:
Westminster/ John Knox Press, 1989);
and Ronald S. Wallace, Calvin’s Doctrineof the Christian Life (Edinburgh: Oliver &Boyd, 1959).

Wendell Berry, from What Are People
For? (New York: North Point Press, 1990),
as quoted in From Christ to the World:
Introductory Readings in Christian Ethics,
ed. Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D.
Kennedy, and Allen Verhey (Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), p. 525.
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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

sense of calling about our work, whether
we farm or engage in professional workor any other type of employment. The
economy, business, and professional
work are seen as realms outside ourChristian faith and commitment, rather
than areas in which we are to live out ourcalling as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Not all Christians have a deep internalsense of call about their employment. But
some do have as strong a sense of God's
having called them to teach children or
practice medicine or farm or any numberof different means of working as any
ordained minister. Though it may
sometimes be the case that what
distinguishes the call to service
experienced by clergy and laity is theintensity of the sense of call, this iscertainly not always true. Those
Christians who feel deeply a call to someother ministry besides that of ordination
to pastoral ministry should know that
their call is honored by the church, notdiscounted as in any way less importantthat a call to ordained ministry of wordand sacrament. Those whose
employment is not undertaken out of astrong sense of God's call, should be
encouraged to find creative ways to live
out their general calling as Christians
within the context of their work.

Particular Callings within the life of
the Covenant Community
In the epistles of the New Testament,
there is a clear understanding that God
calls members of the community of faith
to particular tasks within the church.
These particular callings are closely
related to what Paul identifies as spiritual
32

gifts. Within the household of faith there
is a great diversity of gifts given so thattogether, the church may grow in graceand faith. "The gifts Christ gave are thatsome should be apostles, some prophets,some evangelists, some pastors andteachers, to equip the saints for the workof ministry, for building up the body of
Christ . . ." (Eph. 4:11-12; see also 1
Corinthians 12:1-31; Romans 12:3-8).
Every gift is given for the sake of building
up the church for its ministry in theworld.
In recent years, many churches haveconducted workshops and conferenceson spiritual gifts, in which members areencouraged to identify their own gifts forthe work of ministry. Once the gifts are
identified, members are encouraged tofind ways to exercise those gifts within
the life of their particular congregationand its ministry. Such spiritual gifts
workshops are one example of an
attempt to recover a focus on theparticular call of God to every Christianwithin the general call to faith andservice. Theologically, this is an emphasisthat lies at the heart of our own tradition
as Reformed Christians.
Those who are gifted by the Spirit forteaching should be encouraged to put
their gift to work for the church and its
ministry. Those who have the gift of
hospitality need to be identified andenlisted in the church’s work of
welcoming strangers into the life of thechurch. Some members have the ability
to oversee the property of the church,and others have gifts for planning, or
generosity, or ministries with the poor or
homeless, or caring for the sick and dying.
The list could go on and on. Within the

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

one call of God to faith and service, there
are also particular callings to specifictasks within the household of faith. It isthe church’s task to assist all its people todiscern their particular calling and how it
can serve God’s larger purpose in theworld.
Within the Reformed tradition there has
been special emphasis on God’s call tothree particular offices within the church:that of deacon, elder, and minister ofword and sacrament. Those who enterone of these offices are called by God,through the voice of the church, toexercise leadership within the communityof faith for the sake of the ministry of thewhole church. While there is muchgreater attention given to the call to theministry of word and sacrament, thechurch should emphasize that every callto one of these offices should be seen asa call from God. The first question toprospective elders and deacons shouldbe, “You have been called by the church
to lead us in our ministry. Do you feelyourself called by God to this office in the
church?”Some particular churches have found thatthe most effective way to recruit
members for various tasks within the lifeof the church is to do so by issuing a“call.” Instead of asking for volunteers,
committees responsible for securing
teachers for the church school, forinstance, consider who in the church has
the gifts necessary to do the work. Then
those persons are issued a “call” to serve.
Those issuing the call are prepared to say
why they think the person’s gifts andtalents are suited to the particular task.
The person is free to accept or reject thecall, of course, but such a call often

2010

prompts persons to serious reflection
about whether or not God is truly callingthem to this ministry within the church.
Such a “call system” is fully consistent
with our theological commitment as
Cumberland Presbyterians to the ideathat all Christians have particular gifts andcallings within the community of faith.

The Particular Call to the Ministry ofWord and SacramentOver forty years ago, H. Richard Niebuhr
proposed that the call to ordained
ministry of word and sacrament includes
in addition to the general call to
discipleship at least three elements:[1] the secret call, namely, that innerpersuasion or experience whereby aperson feels himself [or herself]
directly summoned or invited by
God to take up the work of the[ordained] ministry; [2] theprovidential call, which is that
invitation and command to assume
the work of the [ordained] ministrywhich comes through the equipmentof a person with the talents
necessary for the exercise of theoffice and through the divine
guidance of his [or her] life by all its
circumstances; [3] the ecclesiasticalcall, that is, the summons andinvitation extended to a [person] bysome community or institution of
the Church to engage in the work of
the ministry [of word andsacrament]. 10
10

H. Richard Niebuhr, The Purpose of the
Church and Its Ministry (New York:
Harper & Row, 1956), p. 64.
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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

What Niebuhr said about the call toordained ministry of word and sacrament
could easily be said of the call for all
Christians. In other words, all Christians
should work to discern their secret call.
Each should be challenged to assess theirgifts and the circumstances of life forwhat they may contribute to theirunderstanding of God’s call. Finally, every
Christian should listen to the voice of thechurch and its invitation to specificministries of service. Thus, all of what will
be said about call in this section can beapplies to the particular call of all
Christians. But for now, we turn ourattention to the call to ordained ministryof word and sacrament.
At various times in history, more or lessemphasis has been given to one or
another of Niebuhr’s three elements ofthe call to ordained ministry of word andsacrament. In the early church, there wasrelatively little emphasis on the internalcall. For instance, Augustine, Bishop of
Hippo, intended after his conversion to
Christianity to spend his life in a lay
monastic community, in a life of study
and writing. However, while he wasattending a service in the nearby city of
Hippo, on the North African coast, thelocal bishop and people recognized him.
He had already made something of aname for himself through his writings in
defense of the Christian faith. On thespot, the people of Hippo called
Augustine to be a priest in their city,refusing his protests, unwilling to take“no” for an answer. As Augustine later
recounted, "I came to this city to see afriend, whom I thought I might gain for
God, that he might live with us in themonastery. I felt secure, for the place
already had a bishop. I was grabbed. I
34

was made a priest . . . and from there, I
became your bishop." 11 Against his own
wishes, Augustine agreed to accept thepeople’s call as the call of God on his life,and he settled in Hippo for the durationof his long and distinguished career,
devoting himself to the task of serving as
priest, then assistant bishop, and finallyas bishop. Had he followed his own
desires, Augustine would have preferred
the secluded life of a scholar, but theecclesiastical call overpowered his own
sense of God’s call in his life.
Similarly, John Calvin, the great sixteenth
century Reformer of Geneva, did not set
out to be a public leader of the Reformmovement in Switzerland. He detoured
through Geneva on his way to Strasbourg
because the more direct route from his
native city was blocked by war. In
Strasbourg, he intended to take up a life
similar to what Augustine had envisioned
for himself. Calvin thought his gifts could
best be used as a scholar and writer for
the Reformed cause. But upon hearingthat Calvin was in Geneva, the fiery
leader of the Reform in Geneva, William
Farel, went to the inn where Calvin wasstaying and urged him to settle in the city.
When Calvin refused, Farel threatened
him with the wrath of God. “You aresimply following your own desires. And I
tell you in the name of Almighty God, that
if you refuse to take part in the Lord's
work in this church, God will curse the11Augustine, Sermon 355, 2, as quoted inPeter Brown, Augustine of Hippo(Berkeley: University of California Press,
1967), p. 138. The full account ofAugustine's call to be priest and bishop in
Hippo is recounted in Brown, pp. 138145.

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

quiet life that you want for yourstudies.” 12 Calvin, unable to convincehimself that it was not God’s will that hestay, agreed to help Farel with the reformof the Genevan Church. With the
exception of a three-year exile in
Strasbourg, Calvin would spend the restof his life as a pastor and leader of the
Genevan Church. For Calvin, as forAugustine, the ecclesiastical call preceded
any sense of internal call to ordained
ministry.
By contrast, most Protestant churches in
the United States, at least since the Great
Awakening of the 1740s, have placed amuch larger emphasis on what Niebuhr
calls the "secret call," or , as it is morecommonly designated in the Cumberland
Presbyterian tradition, the "internal call."Gilbert Tennent's 1741 sermon, "The
Danger of an Unconverted Ministry," wasone of the more incendiary tracts of the
Awakening period. In it, Tennent accused
the majority of Presbyterian ministers not
only of not having an internal call toordained ministry, but of being bereft any
true piety. For leaders of the Awakening,
it was essential that one be able tonarrate one's experience of conversion
and call. The Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, as a product of what has beencalled the second Great Awakening,
clearly stands in this tradition of elevating
the importance of the internal call.

12This incident is recounted in Dawn
DeVries, "'The Meaning of Call andOrdination' A Theological Perspective,"
http://www.utsva.edu/copy/newspubs/P
ublications/focusdevries_themeaning.html.

2010

As Joe Ben Irby notes, the Westminster
Confession makes no reference to theinternal call. But the Constitution of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church has
since 1814 instructed its presbyteries totest the "real piety" of candidates forordained ministry and "to examine them
respecting their experimental
acquaintance with religion, and the
motives which influence them to desire
the sacred office. And their internal call tothis important work." 13 Irby concludes
that "Cumberland Presbyterians havefrom the beginning emphasized thenecessity and importance of an 'internal
call' to the ministry. Such a call takes
precedence over an 'ecclesiastical call' . .
." 14
Both the Confession of 1883 and theConfession of 1984 continue theemphasis on the internal call. 15 However,
the Confession of 1984 seems to moveaway from Irby's contention that theinternal call takes precedence over theecclesiastical in the provision that a"licentiate shall be ordained only if he or
she has a call to a church or to a ministry
approved by the presbytery." 16 While thisconstitutional provision has long been a
13
Confession of 1814, Form ofGovernment XII, 2; as quoted in Irby, This
They Believed: A Brief History of Doctrine
in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church(Chelsea, MI: Joe Ben Irby, 1997), p. 546.
Italics added by Irby.
14
Irby, p. 546.
15
References to the internal call can also
be found in the 1883 Constitution,
paragraphs 51 and 56; and in the 1984
Constitution, sections 6.14, 6.15, 6.32,
and 6.36.
16
Constitution 1984, 6.31, p. 48.

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

part of the practice of other Presbyterianbodies, it was new to Cumberland
Presbyterian practice with the Confessionof 1984. It represents a renewed
insistence that the ecclesiastical call betaken into consideration before alicentiate is ordained to the ministry ofword and sacrament.17
Still, Irby’s contention that the internal
call takes priority over all other aspects ofthe call probably continues to reflect thepractice of many Cumberland
Presbyterians and the presbyteries’committees on ministry. Where that isthe case, committees find it difficult toquestion a candidate’s call, and to help
the candidate examine his or her call, totest whether he or she has heard God’scall rightly. A common attitude seems tobe, “If a person claims to be called to theministry of word and sacrament, who are
we to question that call?” Ultimately,such an attitude on the part ofcommittees does no service to those
who, sincerely believing themselves to becalled, do not exhibit the gifts and graces
necessary to the fulfilling of the office ofordained minister of word and sacramentin the church. Such persons, sometimes
after years of preparation for ordained
ministry, may find themselves unable to17

Recent Cumberland Presbyterianauthors who have emphasized theecclesiastical call include Morris Pepper,
An Introduction to Christian Ministry for
Lay and Clergy Persons in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, ed. Mark Brown andJames Knight (1992), pp. 21-22; and John
Ed Gardner, “The Biblical Basis of Call,”unpublished paper presented at the
Cumberland Presbyterian Christian
Education Conference (date unavailable).
36

secure a call to exercise their ministry.
They may rightly wonder why no church
will call them as pastor. They have, after
all, satisfied their committee on ministry.
When a committee finds itself unable toquestion seriously a person’s providential
call, that is, a person’s abilities to do thework of ordained ministry, it canunwittingly set up a candidate for a
lifetime of frustration. The providential
call and the ecclesiastical call need to beconsidered as important to the long term
viability of church leaders as the internal
call.
That does not mean that the internal callis unimportant. It is essential if a person is
to have the spiritual resources for thedemanding work of pastoral leadership.
But the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
has always affirmed that zeal alone,
without education, and without gifts forleadership, will not serve effectively thelarger ministry of the people of God. The
ideal call is one in which the internalsense of call, the gifts for ministry givenby the Spirit, and the church’s
confirmation of the call come together toempower ordained ministers for the workof leading the covenant community in its
response to God’s call to discipleship.
Our near exclusive focus on the internal
call can also lead the church to take apassive approach to identifying potential
leaders for the church. Unlike the churchof Augustine’s and Calvin’s time, we often
wait patiently for persons to hear theinternal voice of God, rather thanidentifying those with gifts for leadershipin the church and challenging them todiscern whether or not they shouldinterpret those gifts and graces, and thechurch’s need of their leadership, as a

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

part of God’s providential andecclesiastical call on their life. Again, thisis not to say that the internal call is
unimportant; only that a person’s serious
consideration of the internal call may attimes be prompted by the external calland challenge of the church.
The variety of experience among those
who hear and respond to God’s particular
call to ordained leadership in the church
is such that no one pattern can cover allcases. Morris Pepper has identified ninedifferent means through with God may
call persons.
The call may come through:1. The life and fellowship of the church
and the influence of the gospel in ourlives. In other words, it arises out of
our own Christian experience whichkindles an interest and a desire to do
more.
2. The suggestions of well meaning
people. They may ask at some timeand place, “Have you ever considered
the ministry?” Thus the idea isdropped into our minds. They may
have observed something about uswhich indicated that we had theability to become a minister.
3. The spiritual atmosphere of thecongregation, a conference, a church
camp, or some other group may have
moved us and brought the call into
focus.
4. God may speak to us through a timeof worship and/or a sermon in which
the idea was born in our minds or the
impression made upon us.

2010

5. The influence of ministers. We may
see something in them which appeals
to us and makes us want to be likethem. They become good models.
They may be pastors or parents
whose children follow in theirfootsteps.
6. A direct confrontation by someperson: “Have you ever considered
the ministry? Can you say you havenot been called?” In the early years ofour denomination such recruitment
was done more than it is today.
7. A recognition on our part of havingsome ability for ministry.
8. A challenge of need and opportunity.
Upon hearing about or observing theneed for ministers, we may bechallenged to consider it.
9. Or, through other means, such as a
crowing conviction over a period oftime that the ministry is God’s will forus. Interviews with a number ofpeople in recent years indicate that
this is the kind of experience many
have had.18
Whatever the internal experience, God is
the one who calls, and the church must
test and validate that call.

Discerning the Call of God
It is seldom an easy task to discern God’s
particular call on our lives. One recent
18 Morris Pepper, An Introduction to
Christian Ministry for Lay and Clergy
Persons in the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, ed. Mark Brown and James
Knight (1992), p. 21.

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

writer has noted that God’s call comes to
us in the place where our deep joys andlongings meet the world’s great need. For
some, finding that place is like stumbling
across a pearl of great value, with little orno effort. For others, a clear call from
God is more elusive. There is always
something of a mystery to the call of God.
Still, there are guideposts to help us in
the work of discernment.
First, discovering God’s call is a task ofspiritual discernment. It requires prayer,
study, and deep self awareness. We must
constantly ask whether we are hearing
God’s call or our own desires. This task of
discernment is not one to be undertaken
alone. It requires the support andcounsel of our brothers and sisters in thecommunity of faith. Selfish motives cancloud our judgment. Trusted guides areneeded to help us listen attentively for
God’s direction. The work of Committees
on Ministry is best seen as one of spiritual
direction for those who are testing theirsense of call to the ordained ministry ofword and sacrament.
Second, it must always be rememberedthat the particular call to such a ministry
is God’s call for the sake of the church.
Ordained ministry exists for the church;
the church does not exist for its ordained
ministers. The particular call, if it isauthentic, always serves the general callof God to the life of faith and service.
Some speak of the call to ordained
ministry of word and sacrament as the“highest calling in the church.” However,
it is easy for such an idea to lead to thekind of hierarchy of callings the Reformed
tradition at its best has always resisted.
There may be no higher calling in the
church, but this is not the same as calling38

ordained ministry the highest calling.
Among Christians, there is no place forspeaking of “higher” or “lower;” all are in
Christ Jesus. The 1984 Constitution
rejects “grades of office” in the church inits description of this ministry:
The office of minister of word andsacrament is unique in the life of thechurch as to responsibility andusefulness. God calls persons and setsthem apart for this ministry. The
persons who fill this office should besound in the faith, exemplary in
conduct, and competent to performthe duties of the ministry. Persons
who become ministers of the wordand sacrament are due such respect
as belongs to their office, but are notby virtue of their office more holy or
righteous than other Christians. They
share in the same vocation thatbelongs to all Christians to bewitnesses to the gospel in word anddeed. They differ from other
Christians only with regard to theoffice to which they are called, whichis their station in life. (1984Constitution, section 2.61)
The distinction is one of responsibility,
not of status. Those who seek leadershipin the church out of a desire for status orprestige have not heard the call of God
rightly. The call to ordained ministry is acall to live as a servant of the servants ofGod.
Often, those who present themselves tothe church as candidates for ordained
ministry have different levels of certainty
about their call. This is to be expected.
The probationary period is a time fortesting the call. As educational and

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spiritual preparation for ordained
ministry progresses, persons will often
have their sense of call confirmed. Of
course, others may decide that their
original sense of call was mistaken.
The experience of Louisa Woosley, thefirst woman ordained to the ministry ofword and sacrament in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church provides aninteresting study of how one person's call
was confirmed through her study andpractice of ministry. Woosley recounts
an internal call to ministry that she
experienced soon after her conversion.
But she knew of no women ministers in
her time, so over time she decided that
she must be mistaken about her sense ofcall. As a young woman, she resolved toget her husband to respond on her
behalf, but he resisted. She resolved to
study the Bible from beginning to end,
hoping to find there an answer to herquestions. At the end of almost a year of
study, she became convinced that the
scriptures did not prohibit women
preachers. Still, she hesitated, knowing
she would encounter opposition in the
church. She literally became sick with her
struggle, and finally resolved to respond
to God’s call. Again, something held herback, but when her daughter was strickenwith an illness and expected to die, shepromised God that she would preach if
God would spare her daughter. The
daughter recovered, and Woosley knew
what she had to do. Still, she did not tellanyone of her sense of call, resolving to
wait for an opportunity to speak in public.
Soon the session of her church called onher to lead the evening service when the
pastor was absent. In the experience ofstanding before the church, she felt the2010

first confirmation of her call, despite theopposition of many of her friends andfamily members. Later that year she
presented herself for candidacy in Nolin
Presbytery, and was ordained in
November 1889. At first, she rarely wascalled to preach, but soon her services asan evangelist and preacher were in great
demand. In that, again, she foundconfirmation of God’s call, despite thefact that the General Assembly refused toseat her and instructed her presbytery todrop her name from the roll of ordained
ministers.19
Louisa Woosley’s call had all three of
Niebuhr’s elements. She had a strong
and persistent internal call. By God’s
providence, she was called upon to speakat her home church, and she obviously
demonstrated gifts for leadership suchthat her own presbytery was willing to
break the unwritten tradition thatwomen could not be ordained to theministry of word and sacrament. Finally,
the churches of her home area called her
to serve them as an evangelist, providing
the ecclesiastical call without which she
could not have served.
The church should be willing to help
those who do not find their sense of callconfirmed to find their call in some otherministry of the church. Jesus’ saying
about “those who, having put their hand
19Louisa Woosley’s eloquent account ofher call is recounted in the last chapter ofher book, Shall Woman Preach, Or the
Question Answered (Caneyville, KY,1891); reprinted by the Cumberland
Presbyterian Board of Christian Education(Memphis: Frontier Press, 1989), pp. 96101.
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to the plow, turn back” is not directed toministers of the word and sacrament. It
is directed to those who turn back fromthe call to discipleship.
It is to them that Jesus directs thewarning about not being fit for God’s
kingdom. A minister of the word andsacrament who feels called to give up hisor her office in the church should not be
shamed. On the other hand, the church
must always take care to see that those
who have responded to this particular callare encouraged and supported in theirministry as long as that ministry promises
useful for the life of the church.

The Call to Particular Persons as
Pastors
Any discussion of the call would beincomplete without a brief discussion of
our call system for matching ordained
ministers with particular churches.
Churches with Presbyterian government
have long cherished the call system.
Churches, through their sessions, callwhom they will to serve as their pastor.
Pastors are free to accept or decline callsfrom particular churches. At its best, oursystem values the desires and needs ofboth pastors and people, rather thandepending on a system of appointment
for assigning pastoral leadership tochurches.
One of the liabilities of the call system,
however, is that if often fails to serve theneeds of both pastors and churches.
Rural churches often find it difficult to
attract candidates for pastor. Many
pastors, especially women and oldermen, find it difficult to get churches to40

consider them for a call. What many
have spoken of recently as a “crisis in
pastoral leadership” in our church is notdue to a lack of ordained pastors. We
have many pastors who are underemployed because they do not fit the
profile of what churches are looking for in
their “ideal” pastor. While there are noeasy answers to the difficulty we areexperiencing in this matter, churches andpastors should be challenged to examine
whether their idea of call is grounded inGod’s will. The task of spiritualdiscernment in this area of the call is as
critical as in any other.
Some churches need to be educated tounderstand the difference between
calling a pastor and hiring a chief
executive officer. The call to a person to
be pastor of a particular congregationmust be undertaken in the spirit of God’s
general call to the church to be a faithfulwitness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. At
the same time, pastors should have aclear sense of the difference between
entertaining a call and climbing a career
ladder.
God’s call to us as Cumberland
Presbyterians in the 21st century
demands that we look and pray for theleaders God is calling us to recognize.
Sometimes those leaders will not be theones we had previously envisioned. LikeDavid’s father Jesse, we should be
prepared that we may often be surprised
at who God calls. May God help us tolook beyond the appearances, to theheart, both our own, and that of theleaders God graciously continues to sendus, and calls us to recognize, equip, andsupport in our service of the one call of
God in Jesus Christ.

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IV. APPENDIX
A. QUESTIONS FOR ORDINATION EXAMINATIONPERSONAL FAITH AND GROWTH
1. Describe your faith pilgrimage interms of your relationship to Christ
and the church.

8. Why is it important to know the timeframe and authorship of the books of
the Bible?
9. What do you understand by the term
“biblical criticism?”

2. What is your understanding of theplace of prayer in one’s relationshipwith God?

10. In what ways do the synoptic gospels
differ from each other? From thefourth gospel?

3. Have you grown in your faith since
you have been under the care ofpresbytery? In what ways?

11. What is meant by the phrase“comparing scripture withscripture?” Why is it important? Or,
what’s wrong with proof texting,anyway?

CALL TO MINISTRY
4. Describe your sense of call. Has itchanged since you responded to it?
In what ways?
5. How do you interpret your calling inlight of what Cumberland
Presbyterians believe that all
Christians are a “called” people? How
is your calling different? How is it thesame?

HOLY SCRIPTURES
6. What do you understand by thephrase: “…the inspiration of thescriptures?”12. Briefly describe the picture of Jesus
presented in the Gospel of Mark.
13. Briefly describe the unity anddiversity of the Bible.
14. Briefly comment on Christianity’s
indebtedness to Judaism in thefollowing areas: understanding thenature of God, the covenant, law andgrace.
15. What do Cumberland Presbyterians
mean by the “authority of
scripture?”

7. What do you understand by thephrase: “…the infallible rule of faithand practice?”41

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THEOLOGY
16. Describe your thoughts about
Cumberland Presbyterian theology.
Describe your feelings.
17. What are some of the principal
elements of Cumberland
Presbyterian theology?
18. Discuss some of the different“theories” of the atonement.
19. What is your definition of thefollowing: sin, repentance,
forgiveness, reconciliation, covenant,grace, faith, and works?

Presbyterian Church within the
Reformed family of churches.
28. Briefly describe the social, politicaland religious conditions just prior to(l) the Great Awakening and (2) the
Second Great Awakening.
29. Name some of the contributions of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
to Christianity, both nationally andinternationally.
30. Briefly discuss the development ofmajor theological movements in the20th and 21st centuries.

20. What does Cumberland Presbyterian
theology say about the preservationof believers?

PASTORAL CARE

21. What does Cumberland Presbyterian
theology say about the Holy Spirit?

32. Why is confidentiality important in
the pastoral role?

22. Discuss the Cumberland Presbyterian
theology of both sacraments: theLord’s Supper and baptism.

33. Discuss the pastor’s role incounseling as related to advantages,
limitations, referrals and balancewith other pastoral responsibilities.

23. What is the importance of theresurrection for the Christian’s life
and the Christian faith?
24. Why are the following important to
the development of Christiantheology (selectively chosen):
Augustine, Martin Luther, John
Calvin, John Knox, Huldrych Zwingli
and John Wesley.

CHURCH HISTORY
25. Discuss the growth of the earlychurch as related in scripture.
26. What issues led to the Protestant
Reformation?
27. Discuss the development of the
Presbyterian/Reformed churches andthe place of the Cumberland

42

31. Describe the pastor’s role as“shepherd” to the congregation.

34. What are your personal guidelines
for conduct when visiting in a
hospital?

PREACHING AND WORSHIP
35. Is the sermon important? Why or
why not?
36. What goes into making a sermon?
What are its goals? What is theplace of the Bible in preaching?
What makes a sermon prophetic?
37. Describe your method of preparation
and approach to sermon planning,
preparation and preaching.
38. Name of the most commonly usedlectionary. Do you use a lectionary?
Why or why not?

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39. What is your opinion of traditional
worship, blended worship andcontemporary worship?

50. Discuss the accountability ofministers and probationers to thepresbytery.

40. How do you plan for worship? What
resources do you use, if any?

51. Discuss the accountability of sessions
to the presbytery.

NURTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

52. Discuss the Constitution’s statements
relating to congregational property.

41. Among other roles, a minister is ateacher. Briefly describe yourfeelings about this role.

53. What is the purpose of discipline, as
defined in the Rules of Discipline?

42. What are the attitudes and aptitudes
needed to be an effective
administrator of church programs
and ministries?

THE CHURCH IN MISSION
43. What does the Confession of Faith
say about the church in mission?
44. What is a “healthy” congregation?
Describe some characteristics.
45. Describe the unity and diversity of
the church.
46. What have your experiences beenwith connectional and independent
congregations? Why have you
chosen to do ministry in aconnectional church?

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANCHURCH
47. What are the responsibilities of thesession, as outlined in theConstitution?
48. What are the responsibilities of thepresbytery, as outlined in theConstitution?
49. What are the responsibilities of theGeneral Assembly, as outlined in theConstitution?

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B. SAMPLE REPORT TO THE PRESBYTERYCOMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY
To the Presbytery of Catawba
Date)
Presbyters:
The committee has met twice since the last stated meeting of presbytery. A quorum waspresent at both meetings.
PROBATIONERS: The committee interviews probationers annually in person or by conference
call. In addition, committee members serve as liaisons to assigned probationers and are incontact with them at least once more annually. All probationers have been interviewed in thelast six months, except one.
The following is a list of probationers (candidates and licentiates), with notations of theircurrent status and pertinent personal information:
INCOMING CANDIDATE MARY MARGARET MATURE, a member of the Sacred Harp
congregation, has been endorsed by her session. She has been interviewed by the committee.
Psychological testing and an interview and a criminal background check have been conducted.
Ms Faithfull holds the MBA degree and has her own market consulting firm. She plans to enroll
in Memphis Theological Seminary in the fall and to continue a limited consulting schedule.
Recommendation 1: that she be received as a candidate for licensure and ordination
after she has shared her faith journey, received testimonials upon her behalf andsuccessfully sustained the presbytery’s examination.
LICENTIATE CARL ZUCK has graduated from Memphis Theological Seminary with a Master ofDivinity degree. He has been called as Associate Pastor of the Sinking Springs congregation,
Seminole Presbytery. The committee recommends:
Recommendation 2: that, upon his successfully sustaining the presbytery’s examination,
Mr. Zuck be approved for ordination, to take place at the Sinking Springs congregation;
andRecommendation 3: that a commission be appointed for the purpose of ordaining Mr.
Zuck.
Respectfully submitted,
Wesley Leatherhead, Chair

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Pastoral Development Ministry TeamCUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

New Candidate Information Form
Presbytery: ________________________________________________________________Name of New Candidate: _____________________________________________________
Address: __________________________

City: _____________ State: ____

Zip: ____

Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________________Day of candidacy: ____________

Send completed form to:
Cumberland Presbyterian Center
Pastoral Development Ministry Team
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

Upon receiving this form, the PDMT will send the new Candidate for the Ministry a copy of Dr.
Morris Pepper’s book, An Introduction to Christian Ministry and Dr. Tom Campbell’s book, The
Bible and the Calendar.

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131

Pastoral Development Ministry TeamCUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHREQUEST FOR PAS APPROVAL FORM
Presbytery: ________________________________________________________________Day of presbyterial meeting: ____________Name of Candidate: _________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________

City: _____________ State: ____

Zip: ____

Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________________
Circumstances that make it nearly impossible for this candidate to take the standard route:

Send completed form to:
Cumberland Presbyterian Center
Pastoral Development Ministry Team
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

Upon receiving this request, the PDMT will send a letter of approval to the presbytery, thecandidate and to PAS.

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Pastoral Development Ministry TeamCUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

New Licentiate Information Form
Presbytery: ________________________________________________________________Name of New Licentiate: _____________________________________________________
Address: __________________________

City: _____________ State: ____

Zip: ____

Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________________Day of Licensure: ____________

Send completed form to:
Cumberland Presbyterian Center
Pastoral Development Ministry Team
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

Upon receiving this form, the PDMT will send the new Licentiate for the Ministry a book as away to congratulate him/her in his/her journey.

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133

Pastoral Development Ministry TeamCUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Ordinand Information Form
Presbytery: ________________________________________________________________Name of Person to be Ordained: _______________________________________________
Address: __________________________

City: _____________ State: ____

Zip: ____

Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________________Day of Ordination: ____________
Ordination Service to be Held at:Name of Congregation: ______________________________________________________
Address: __________________________

City: _____________ State: ____

Zip: ____

Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________________
If a member of the PDMT cannot be present for the ordination service to present the portablecommunion set, we will send it to a person in the presbytery who we will ask to be responsible
for making the presentation on behalf of the PDMT. Please list the name of a designatedperson below.
Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________

City: _____________ State: ____

Zip: ____

Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________________

Send completed form to:
Cumberland Presbyterian Center
Pastoral Development Ministry Team
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, TN 38016

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D. CONCLUSION (PDMT)The Pastoral Development Ministry Team is committed to the vision of ministry and programs
articulated above.  We covet the prayers of the assembly as we work together to strengthen the ministry of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Reverend Stephanie Scrudder Brown resigned as team leader in 2009.  The team appreciates her
years of dedicated service.  Reverend Brown brought stability to the office, the previous leaders having
short tenures for different reasons.  Reverend Brown kept before the team and the denomination the needfor clergy care and worked to provide structures to that end.  She led the commission to consider different
venues and dates for annual conferences so that ministers in various regions of the church would havebetter opportunity to participate.  She worked hard to build collegial relationships with presbyteries andcommittees on the ministry charged with the oversight of probationers.  She was instrumental in starting
the new handbook for those who serve on presbyterial committees on the ministry.  Reverend Brown also
embraced our new denominational structure and helped the team move toward participating in the new
design.  With regret, her resignation was received.  The current team and its leader, Reverend Milton L.
Ortiz, pray God’s blessings on her new ministry with the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home.

VII. MINISTRY COUNCIL CONCLUSION
We wish to express our gratitude to the Ministry Teams and Team Leaders who have worked
so faithfully together in this time of transition.  We are pleased with the cooperation and collaborationthat is taking place.  The benefits of having unified ministries are becoming more evident as we develop
programs and standardize budget and planning processes.  We remain committed to serving God throughthe Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and we ask that the church remain in prayer for our work.
Respectfully Submitted,
Gwen Roddye, Chairperson
Jill Carr, First Vice-Chairperson
Carlton Harper, Second Vice-Chairperson
Elizabeth G. Horsley, Secretary
Edith M. Gholson, Director of Ministries/Treasurer

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135

THE REPORT OF THE
BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP,
FOUNDATION, AND BENEFITS
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. BOARD MEETINGS AND ORGANIZATIONThe Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits under the direction of its officers, President
Charlie Floyd, Vice-president Rob Latimer, Secretary Debbie Shanks, and Treasurer Robert Heflin, met two
times in regular session.
B. BOARD MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE
Members whose terms expire at the 2010 General Assembly, with their years of service, are as
follows: Al Davis, nine years; Charlie Floyd, three years and Theresa Martin, three years.  Al Davis is not
eligible to be reelected.  We are grateful for his time on the Board.  Charlie Floyd and Theresa Martin are
eligible for reelection, however, Theresa Martin chose not to be reelected.
C. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE TO THE 180TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The board's representative to the 180th General Assembly is Charlie Floyd.
D. STAFF
Kathryn Gilbert Craig serves as Administrative Assistant, Mark Duck serves as Coordinator of
Benefits and Robert Heflin serves as Executive Secretary.  In addition, there were three Planned Giving
Coordinators.  Carolyn Harmon served the Presbytery of East Tennessee.  Dara Jones served Tennessee
Synod (the presbyteries of Columbia, Murfreesboro, and Nashville).  Gaye Wood served the presbyteries ofArkansas, Missouri, Red River and Trinity Presbytery.  In June 2009, Gaye Wood suffered a stroke whileat the General Assembly meeting in Memphis, Tennessee.  While she continues to recover from the stroke
she believed it best to resign from her position.  Dara Jones was employed by Tennessee Synod.  Having
served several years, visiting many of the churches of Tennessee Synod, her contract was not renewed in
May 2010.  The Board appreciates the work of the planned giving coordinators in educating numerous
congregations of the legacy ministry that can be accomplished as individuals make planned gifts to theirlocal congregations.
E. 2011 BUDGETThe 2011 line-item budget has been filed with the Office of the General Assembly.
F. 2009 AUDIT
Certified copies of the 2009 audit reports from Fouts and Morgan will be filed with the Office of theGeneral Assembly in compliance with Bylaws 15.04.  The 2009 audit will be printed in the audit section of
the 2010 minutes.

II. FINANCIAL FOUNDATION DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
A. PURPOSE
One area of the work of the board is in financial foundation development and management. The
purpose of this program is as follows:
To secure a firm financial undergirding for the ongoing ministry of congregations and the agencies

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of presbyteries, synods, and the General Assembly as they bear witness to the saving love of God, the graceof our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit.
The Financial Foundation Program is reported in this section in general terms and more specificallyunder the headings III. Endowment Program, IV. Cash Funds Management Program, and V. Property andCasualty Insurance.
B. THE YEAR 2009
While in financial terms the year 2009 was better than 2008 there remained uncertainty in themarket.   While we have seen some improvement in the world economies and market conditions there
remains anxiety among investors.   Both domestic and international real estate markets continue to lag.
Though consumer confidence and some areas of the economy have improved, we are hopeful that 2010 will
be an improvement upon 2009.  The Endowment Program's Growth Income Fund received contributionsof $410,021 and provided interest and dividend income of $1,315,214.  The Growth Income Fund also
experienced $411,304 in realized gains and $1,606,377 in unrealized gains.  The Endowment Program’s
Total Return Fund received contributions of $109,086 and $271,628 in income.  The Total Return Fund
recognized $73,978 in realized gains and $1,356,473 in unrealized gains.   The CPC Investment Loan
Program, Inc. paid out $503,797 to the churches and agencies having funds in the program.  Throughout
2009 the interest paid to account holders was consistently higher than the rates received from most "ondemand" money market accounts for the year.  The interest rate paid to account holders varied from 4% to
5%.
C. BOARD OF STEWARDSHIPThe Board of Stewardship ended 2009 with an unrestricted deficit of $40,034.   The Board of
Stewardship incurred additional expenses while receiving less income from Our United Outreach.
D. MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS
During 2009 Endowment Program Growth/Income Fund portfolio was under the co-management ofWedge Capital Management, Victory Capital Management, Metropolitan West Asset Management, RREEF
America II and Templeton Institutional Foreign Equity Fund.  The portfolio for the Endowment Program
Total Return Fund was under the co-management of Wedge Capital Management, NewSouth CapitalManagement, Victory Capital Management, RREEF America II, Templeton Institutional Foreign Equity
Fund and Pacific Investment Management.  The funds of the Retirement Program were co-managed by
Wedge Capital Management, NewSouth Capital Management, Victory Capital Management, Metropolitan
West Asset Management, Pacific Investment Management, RREEF America II and Templeton Institutional
Foreign Equity Fund.
The church loan portion of the endowment portion of the endowment portfolio and the investmentsof the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Investment Loan Program, Inc. were under the management ofboard staff.   Gerber/Taylor Associates continues to provide independent analysis and evaluation of theperformance of Victory, MetWest, PIMCO, RREEF America II, NewSouth, Templeton and Wedge Capital.

III. ENDOWMENT PROGRAM
Since 1836, the board and its corporate predecessors have sought to be faithful trustees of thefunds given into their hands to provide a permanent financial foundation for the work of congregations,presbyteries, synods, and General Assembly agencies.  The work of the Endowment Program is the oldest
responsibility of the board and fulfills a portion of that task to which all Cumberland Presbyterians arecalled: "Christian stewardship acknowledges that all of life and creation is a trust from God, to be used for
God's glory and service."—Confession of Faith for Cumberland Presbyterians 6:10.
A. COMMUNICATIONThe Endowment Program report for 2010 will be distributed to all endowment program participants,
general assembly board members, churches, and individual contributors.
Agencies, other participants, and interested parties received quarterly detailed reports on the

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137

postings to all their endowments.  With the addition of names supplied by the agencies during the year, thenumber of persons receiving these reports continued to expand.  In addition, special reports were made asrequested.
B. ASSETS, INVESTMENT MIX, AND PERFORMANCE
1. Assets and Investment Mix — Growth/Income FundThe assets of the Endowment Program's Growth/Income Fund totaled $33,013,770 for 2009 at
market value.  The following table provides a breakdown of the investment mix:

    1.3%
  24.1%
  11.1%
  57.2%		    6.3%		
100.0%

Growth/Income Investment Mix
Securities & Investments
Cash/Cash Equivalents$     434,151
US Equities$  7,954,810
Real Estate Investment Trusts $  3,649,643
Fixed Income$18,868,309
International Stocks		$  2,106,857
Total$33,013,770

2. Assets and Investment Mix — Total Return FundOn October 1, 2004, the Endowment Program initiated a new Total Return Fund to provide an
option for certain endowments that are not restricted to expenditures of realized interest and dividend
income.  The assets of the Endowment Program's Total Return Fund totaled $8,978,623 for 2009 at market
value.
The following table gives a breakdown of the investment mix of the total assets:    2.1%
  46.5%
    7.9%
  23.6%
		  19.9%
100.0%

Total Return Investment Mix
Securities & Investments
Cash/Cash Equivalents$   187,297
US Equities$4,173,532
Real Estate Investment Trusts $   710,795
Fixed Income$2,117,706
International Stocks		
$1,789,293
Total$8,978,623

3. Performance of Growth/Income Fund
The Endowment Program Growth/Income Fund generated $1,546,259 in income during 2009.
Contributions were 410,021.  Net realized gain was $411,304 and net unrealized gain was $1,606,377.
Growth/Income Fund investment management fees totaled $156,469 for 2009.   Other expenses
were $13,531 for a total of $170,000.
Growth/Income earnings paid and payable to agencies totaled $1,136,256 for 2009.  When comparing
the performance of the Endowment Program with other funds it is important to keep in mind the various
components included in the reported rates: interest and dividend income, realized capital gains/losses, andunrealized capital gains/losses due to the difference between the current market value of investments andtheir original cost or market value in previous reports.
Investment funds typically report their total rates of return.  A total rate of return includes the effectof the fluctuation in market value of the various investments together with all realized/accrued income andcapital gains/losses generated as investments are sold for more/less than their original cost.  Because of the
impact of fluctuation in market value, the total rate of return for any given year may be positive or negative.
Such total rates of return are important indicators of a fund's overall performance.  However, the rate of
crucial importance for the Growth/Income Fund relates to the amount of income (interest and dividends)
which it generates since for the endowments in this fund only income is available for support of the various
ministries for which these endowments are established.  This Rate of Income Paid Out is distinct from Total
Rate of Return.
4. Rate of Income Paid Out by Growth/Income FundThe rate at which income was paid out to participants in the Growth/Income Fund for 2009 was
3.79% compared to 4.03% for 2008, 4.19% for 2007, 4.05% for 2006, 4.20% for 2005, 4.01% for 2004,

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4.40% for 2003, 4.45% for 2002,  4.60% for 2001, 4.82% for 2000, 4.67% for 1999, 4.77% for 1998, 5.07%
for 1997, 4.81% for 1996, 5.44% for 1995, 5.22% for 1994, 5.53% for 1993, 6.09% for 1992, 6.38% for1991 and 7.78% for 1990.
5. Total Rate of Return for the Growth/Income FundThe following table gives the annualized rates of return as contained in the report from Gerber/
Taylor Associates for year end 2009:					One Year					
Period							01/01/09
					12/31/09
Growth/Income Portfolio
12.0%

Five Year
Period		01/01/04
12/31/09
4.0%

Since
Inception
09/00/81
12/31/09
10.4%

6. Performance of Total Return Fund
The Endowment Program Total Return Fund generated a gain of $1,811,164 in total return consistingof $271,628 in interest/dividends, $1,356,473 in unrealized gain on investments, $73,977 in realized gain
on investments and $109,086 in contributions.
Total Return Fund expenses including fees paid to the investment managers totaled $65,108 for2009.  Total Return Fund payments made and payable to agencies totaled $339,251 for 2009.  (An additional$453,427 was withdrawn from the various endowments in accordance with the trust agreements.)
The total rate of return on this fund includes the effect of the fluctuation in market value of thevarious investments together with all realized/accrued income and capital gains/losses generated as
investments are sold for more/less than their original cost.  Because of the impact of fluctuation in market
value, the total rate of return for any given year may be positive or negative.  Such total rates of return areimportant indicators of a fund's overall performance.
7. Total Rate of Return for Total Return Fund
Gerber/Taylor provides the report on the total return of the Endowment Program Total ReturnFund.  The following table gives the annualized rates of return as contained in their report for year end
2009.  (Note: the numbers for the five-year and ten-year periods will be provided as the fund reaches these
periods in its existence):					One Year					
Period							01/01/09
					12/31/09
Investment Managers
22.30%

Five Year
Period		01/01/04
12/31/09
N/A

Since
Inception
09/01/04
12/31/09
6.00%

C. ENDOWMENT PROGRAM LOANS
Historical Review
Through investing up to 40% of the assets of the Endowment Program in the witness of the Church,
the message of good news concerning Christ is strengthened both in the United States and overseas.  A
recent survey of old files in the Historical Foundation and in the vault of the Board of Stewardship reveals
the important role played by this aspect of the investment policy.  Over the past fifty-six years from 1944 to
2000, 783 loans were made to congregations, presbyteries, and synods.  Through these loans, $27,270,128
has been provided in financing for expansion of facilities and extension of witness.
A look at the different periods during which loans have been made provides a picture of growing
endowments (and of post World War II inflation!).
		PERIOD
1944-49
1950-59
1960-69
1970-79
1980-89
1990-00

LOANS
35
171
208
166
101
102

TOTAL LOANED$     145,755
    1,360,441
    3,056,891
    3,609,084
    4,349,120
  14,440,837

AVERAGE$   4,164     7,955
    14,697
    21,741
    43,061
  141,577

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Down through the years, donors to endowments found satisfaction in the knowledge that the prudent
investment of their gifts strengthened not only the work of the particular churches, institutions, and causes
which they designated to receive the income but also the broader witness of the Church.
D. OTHER CHURCH LOANS
Although not a part of the Endowment Program, there are two other sources available to the board
for investment in loans to churches.
1. Revolving Church Loan FundThis fund was established through gifts to the "Into the Nineties" Capital Gifts Campaign and allinterest earned by the loans is added to the fund to increase the amount available for loans.  There were
sixteen loans from the Revolving Church Loan Program at the end of 2009 totaling $135,998.   In therevolving church loan account, there was also cash in the amount of $216,639, bringing the total of the fundto $352,637.
The rate of interest for revolving loans made during 2009 was based on the loan rate establishedby the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Investment Loan Program at the beginning of each quarter.  Themaximum available for a single loan is $35,000, amortized over five years.
2. Cole Church Loan FundThis fund was established through the generosity of Lavenia Campbell Cole, a member of the
Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth, Texas.   The purpose of the fund is to provide
loans at low interest rates to Cumberland Presbyterian churches “that have the potential for growth anddevelopment by increasing their ministry to the community in which they reside through the availability ofadditional money.”  Applications are available upon request.
Loans from the fund must have the approval of both the Board of Stewardship and the Board ofMissions.  There is no established limit for the amount that may be loaned.  Loans must, however, be repaid
within five years.  Currently there is no Cole loan in effect as of year end 2009.  There is $299,627 in cashin the fund.
E. REGIONAL PLANNED GIVING COORDINATORS
1. History
In 1993, the 163rd General Assembly commended the Board of Stewardship for “its vision indeveloping a program of planned giving in local congregations” and urged congregations “to be open to thisnew program and to take advantage of the assistance being offered” by the Board.
Further, it adopted recommendations to:Approve a church-wide annual emphasis on planned gifts as a complementary part of the observationof the Family Week focus provided by the Board of Christian Education during May of each year; andUrge each congregation to recognize the importance of promoting planned gifts as a part of its
overall nurture of Christian stewardship among its members.
In response to the 1993 action, staff of the Board of Stewardship have made presentations to morethan 130 congregations on the need to develop congregational endowments and encourage planned givingby church members.
In 1997, the 167th General Assembly approved the recommendations of the General AssemblyCouncil to designate $30,000 in Our United Outreach funds to aid the Board of Stewardship in partneringwith the presbyteries of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to implement Regional Planned Giving
Coordinators.
At year end 2009, there were two Regional Planned Giving Coordinators: Carolyn Harmon, anelder in the Cedar Hill Church, Greeneville, Tennessee, serving the Presbytery of East Tennessee and Dara
Jones, an elder in the Hillsboro Church, Hillsboro, Tennessee, serving the Tennessee Synod (presbyteries ofColumbia, Murfreesboro, and Nashville).  Gaye Wood, a member of the Calico Rock Church, Calico Rock,Arkansas, was serving the Presbyteries of Arkansas, Missouri, Red River and Trinity.  In June 2009, Gaye
Wood suffered a stroke.  Her recovery continues, however, she felt it best to resign her position as a resultof her stroke.
Through these regional coordinators education concerning the stewardship opportunities in planned
giving has been made readily accessible to many churches.  Often times the results of their work is not

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easily measured.  It may be several years before their work bears fruit.  The regional coordinators use theirpresentations to plant the seeds which may bear fruit immediately or years down the road.  What is ofutmost importance is that the seeds are being planted.
Regional coordinators are employed and their salaries paid by their respective presbyteries or by
the Board of Stewardship.  They are the living links of a partnership between the General Assembly andtheir presbyteries and they join in the semi-annual meetings of the Board of Stewardship and the biennial
meetings of the North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy.  In this partnership, the cost of theirmaterials, travel, and continuing education opportunities are paid by the Board from Our United Outreachfunds specifically designated for the purpose.
Beginning with the 2000 budget year, the Board of Stewardship allocated an additional $15,000 forplanned giving.  This budget allocation was made on the strength of a new endowment received as a resultof a bequest from Lavenia Campbell Cole, an elder in the Trinity Church, Fort Worth, Texas.  Lavenia was
a firm believer that church members should be encouraged to give generously of all their resources so that
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church might grow in its ministry of love and service to all the world.
These additional funds are being used in a variety of ways.  One specific use is to bring pastors of
newly formed churches to the North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy in order to further the
General Assembly's priority goal of developing new congregations.
It is our prayer that God will bless the work of encouraging Cumberland Presbyterians to give
generously to enhance the future ministry of all our churches.
2. Planned Giving Restricted Funds
The activity in the Planned Giving Restricted Fund for the year 2009 was as follows:
Beginning Balance			Our United Outreach
ExpensesEnding Balance$183,732$  13,959$(13,680)$184,011

VII. CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHINVESTMENT LOAN PROGRAM, INC.
In 1976, the board began a program to provide opportunity for flexible investment of current
temporary cash assets of congregations and agencies of the church.  The primary purpose of the programis to provide income to participants as a foundation for ministry.  As of January 1, 2001, the assets of theoriginal program, Cash Funds Management, were transferred to the new Cumberland Presbyterian Church  
Investment Loan Program, Inc.
At year end 2009, the assets for the Investment Loan Program were $13,876,825.   There wereapproximately 250 individual, congregation and agency accounts.  Deposits on account totaled $12,837,269.
For 2009, the corporation complied with the regulatory requirements in the states of Tennessee andKentucky and was able to offer investment opportunities to individual Cumberland Presbyterians in thestates of Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, and New Mexico.
The board of directors is composed of the following: Rob Latimer, president; Charlie Floyd, vicepresident and Debbie Shanks, secretary.  Robert Heflin serves as Treasurer and Executive Secretary.  During
the past year, the board met twice in regular session.
During 2009, the corporation closed one loan: $148,000 to Red Bank Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In order to simplify administration and focus on the strengths of the Investment Loan Program, theboard took action to limit the offering of notes and depository accounts to “ready access accounts.”  All note
holders (individuals) and depository account holders (churches and church agencies) with funds invested
in these “on demand” accounts participated in the $457,911 which the program paid in interest.  For 2009
the  interest rate was between 4% and 5%.  As a result there has been renewed interest for congregations toopen new accounts because the interest paid out is higher than current CD rates.  The interest rate paid on
accounts can change quarterly, depending on the amount of income received from the investment income.
The table below provides a breakdown of the investment mix.

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    1.54%
  28.99%
		  69.47%
100.00%141

Investment Loan Program
Securities & Investments
Mutual Funds$   108,125.16
Cash Equivalents$2,032,702.69
Taxable Fixed Income $4,871,523.49$7,012,351.34

At the end of 2009 there were 17 loans to congregations made through the Investment Loan
Program.  The total loans were $8,067,805.  Since January 1, 2010 there have been an additional 5 loans
made which totaled $2,579,000.

VIII. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION AND RESEARCH
A. PURPOSE
The second of two broad program areas of the work of the board is in employee benefits
administration and research.  The purpose of this program is as follows:
To support the lay and ordained employees of the church as they venture to be faithful under thecall of Christ and the Church to the daily demands of providing leadership to congregations and Church
agencies who are the incarnation of the Body of Christ, the family of God at work in the world.
Employee benefits are reported in detail under headings IX. Retirement Program, X. Ministerial
Aid Program, and XI. Insurance Program.
B. VISION
The board has a vision of uniform benefits for all Cumberland Presbyterian clergy, including grouphealth insurance, group long-term disability coverage, and participation in the General Assembly's pension
plan.  Ministers would then know what to expect when they are called to another church.  No longer would
some ministers have to do without what is considered in the secular world to be basic employee benefits.
No longer would these ministers and their families have to settle for being relegated to second class status.
The reality is, as several General Assemblies have recognized, that this is possible if we work together inmuch the same manner that we send out missionaries and do a lot of other ministry.  Good employee benefit
plans are in place and they would be healthier and stronger if used and supported by all employees of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

IX. RETIREMENT PROGRAM
Since 1952, the board has provided a retirement program open to all church employees.   Theprogram gives opportunity for churches and their employees to provide a source of retirement income
based on voluntary contributions.  In 1987, a new Cumberland Presbyterian Retirement Plan No. 2 wasestablished as a qualified 403(b) defined contribution plan.
A. PLAN AMENDMENTS
As new needs arise or deficiencies in the original plan document for Cumberland Presbyterian
Retirement Plan No. 2 become apparent, the General Assembly has the authority under Article IX Section
9.01 of the Plan to amend the same. Amendments were last made to the Plan by the 1999 General Assembly.
Since that time the need for no additional changes has surfaced.
B. YEAR END REPORTOn December 31, 2009, there were 441 participants in the Retirement Plan.  Of these, 379 were
contributing to their accounts and 11 were receiving direct monthly payments as a result of their elections
under Plan 1.   In addition to these 467 participants, there were 16 persons who were receiving annuity
payments purchased through the Plan and for whom the Plan issues 1099-R's.
During 2009, $2,661,506 was dispersed to or for participants, an increase of 4% over 2008s

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010$2,553,165. Contributions totaled $865,861 and were up 5.6% over 2008s $820,016.  Investment expenses
totaled $121,997 a decrease of 10% over 2008s $135,281.  Realized and unrealized gain on investments
totaled $2,929,958  an increase over 2008s loss of  $6,448,789.  The rate of return credited to the accounts
for the year was 20.5%   compared to a loss of 22.8% for 2008.   (Comparative annual rates of return
for: previous three years—+.4%, previous five years—+4.6%, and from the beginning of professional
management in March, 1982—+9.9%.)
The professionals managing the retirement fund were: Victory Capital Management, an equity
manager with a growth stock emphasis; Metropolitan West Asset Management, a bond manager; PIMCO, abond manager; Wedge Capital, a  manager of large capitalization equities ; NewSouth Capital Management,a manager of small capitalization equities; RREEF America II, a private real estate investment trust (REIT)
manager; and the Templeton Institutional Foreign Equity Fund.

X. MINISTERIAL AID PROGRAM
A. MINISTERIAL AID
1. Full Benefit Recipients
As of March 2010 there are an equivalent of 5 Cumberland Presbyterian Church recipients of thefull benefit of $300 per month (increased from $260 on April 1, 2008).  The monthly total of these payments
is $1,500.00; annually, $18,000.00 is paid.  The equivalent of benefits for four participants at $260, or$1040 per month,$12,480 annually, is sent to Cauca Valley Presbytery in Columbia.  The payments aredesignated for specific individuals but are distributed by the presbytery as it sees fit.  Each recipient also
receives The Cumberland Presbyterian and Missionary Messenger.
In October 2005, the board decided to distribute 75% of the previous year’s surplus to the remaining
recipients.  This distribution was made in December 2009 with the 4 state side recipients receiving $5,860.54
for a total of $23,442.15.
2. Basic Requirements.
The General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church has set the following basic
requirements for receiving aid from the Ministerial Aid Program.
a.
Minimum age 65.
b.
Minimum years of service to the church - 15.
c.
Cannot be a participant in the Cumberland Presbyterian Retirement Plan.
d.
Physical and/or mental disability (doctor's statement required) at any age, however, aminimum of ten years service is required if less than 60 years of age.
e.
Individuals income cannot exceed $600 monthly (effective 01-01-2003).
f.
Couples income cannot exceed $750 monthly (effective 01-01-2003).
(The GA Board of Stewardship is authorized to look at each case in light of unusual
financial hardship; thus, application may be made even if income levels exceed the ceiling.)g.
Presbytery obtains information and approves (approval can be given by the committee
or board charged by presbytery with this responsibility); certification of approval is sent to the General
Assembly Board of Stewardship.
h.
Surviving spouse is eligible if above items 2, 3 and 4 have been met.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church applicants must submit to the board a listing of assets andliabilities so the net worth can be determined.   The board urges presbyteries to maintain contact withpersons under the Ministerial Aid Program who live within their bounds.  Should there be serious unmet
needs, the presbytery is urged to contact the board so that it may determine how the Ministerial Aid program
can be of assistance in meeting those needs.
A committee was formed in March 2009 and has reported back to the board in March  2010 as torecommended changes to the basic requirements for receiving Ministerial Aid.  Below are the recommended
changes the committee has submitted for approval.
Revised Basic Requirements.
Full Benefit revised to $500 a month for State Side Recipients
1.

Minimum age is full retirement age set forth by the Social Security Administration.

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.

143

Minimum years of service to the church - 15.
Can qualify for aid if a participant in the Cumberland Presbyterian Retirement Plan
if income is below poverty level as established by the US Census Bureau.
Physical and/or mental disability (doctor's statement required) at any age, however, aminimum of ten years service is required if less than 60 years of age.
Individuals income can not exceed federal poverty guidelines set forth for the year by the
US Census Bureau.  Poverty level is $10,830 a year or $902.50 a month for 2009.
Couples income can not exceed federal poverty guidelines set forth for the year by the US
Census Bureau. Poverty level is $14,570 a  year or $1214.17 a month for 2009.
(The GA Board of Stewardship is authorized to look at each case in light of unusual
financial hardship; thus, application may be made even if income levels exceed the ceiling.)
Presbytery obtains information and approves (approval can be given by the committee
or board charged by presbytery with this responsibility); certification of approval is sent to
the General Assembly Board of Stewardship.
Surviving spouse is eligible if above items 2, 3 and 4 have been met.

**Note:  Recipient is responsible to verify if receiving Ministerial Aid would effect his or her, SSI,
Social Security or other benefits.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the Revised Basic Requirements to receive Ministerial Aid
be adopted.
3. Supplemental Retirement Benefits.
There is now only one Cumberland Presbyterian Church individual receiving supplements to theirretirement benefits from the Ministerial Aid Program as a result of a one time action of the Board on August30, 1987.  The monthly payment is the amount needed to bring their retirement income up to $60.  Themonthly total of this payment is $13.96; or $167.52 annually.
4. Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
The CPCA now has 3 participants who receive monthly payments at the originally agreed upon
amount of $109 per month.  Benefits for these recipients total $327.00 per month and $3,924.00 annually.
The CPCA normally pays its share in June or July following their General Assembly.
5. Ministers in Overseas Presbyteries.
Payments for ministers serving in overseas presbyteries (presently, a total of $12,480 annually) arebeing made to Cauca Valley Presbytery and administered through its budget.
B. RETIREMENT RESERVE
Under Retirement Plan No. 1, retirees whose benefits fell below $150 per month could receive a
supplement from the Special Reserve Retirement Fund Endowment to bring their benefits up to this level.
Spouse's of retirees are eligible to continue receiving this benefit after the retiree's death.  These payments
will eventually cease because no new persons are being added.  One individual now receive $150 a month  from this fund.  Annually, $1,800.00 is paid to the recipient.  This endowment had a balance of $1,018,338 at
December 31, 2009, an increase of $50,141 over the previous twelve months.  The 1996 General Assembly
approved the Board's recommendation to use the excess income from this endowment for Ministerial Aid
payments.  This has freed the Lowrie endowment to be used to meet other ministerial needs.

XI. INSURANCE PROGRAMS
The insurance programs of the board have been assigned by the General Assembly beginning in the
middle of the previous century.  Long term disability is the newest, begun in 1988.  Property and casualty
insurance is the oldest, begun in 1951.  While all of the insurance programs are important, group life andhealth insurance, begun in 1961, touches many lives in a personal way and often at times of deep anxiety.
In all, about 407 men, women, and children depend on this program to meet their health care needs.
A. PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE144

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY2010

The Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits secures property and casualty insurance
coverage against accidental loss for the General Assembly Corporation, Board of Stewardship, Discipleship
Ministry Team, Missions Ministry Team, Ministry Council, Communications Ministry Team, Pastoral
Development Ministry Team, Memphis Theological Seminary,  and Historical Foundation.
Effective January 1, 2004, the property and casualty insurance for the Center and Memphis
Theological Seminary was secured through General Insurance Underwriters, representing Church Mutual
Insurance Company.  This change resulted in a premium savings of nearly 38%.
The various agencies enjoyed a very good relationship with Church Mutual Insurance Company.
However, with the changing insurance industry our agent, General Insurance Underwriters, was approachedby Philadelphia Insurance Company, Inc.  They expressed an interest in providing our property and casualty
insurance.  Our agent contacted the staff and the staff gave permission to pursue the opportunity.
After some negotiations, Philadelphia was able to increase our policy limits while passing on
a 22.5% savings in the premium.   The Executive Committee of the Board agreed to change insurancecompanies from Church Mutual to Philadelphia Insurance Co and also the broker was changed to Lipscomb
and Pitts of Memphis, Tennessee.  The change was effective January 1, 2008.
B. GROUP LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE
The presbyteries of Arkansas, Columbia, Covenant, Cumberland, del Cristo, East Tennessee,
Missouri, Murfreesboro, Nashville, North Central, Red River, Robert Donnell, Trinity, West Tennessee  and The Center have now established non-contributory long term disability programs insured by
UNUMPROVIDENT.  This leaves only five stateside presbyteries (Choctaw, Cullman, Hope, Grace andTennessee Georgia) without a program.  The quarterly rate applied to participant's salaries is 1.50 per $100
of salary.
There are three primary reasons for ministers to want the coverage and for presbyteries to want toprovide the protection.  The group rate is significantly lower than individual policy rates (especially after theJanuary 1, 1997, rate reduction) and does not require a large cash outlay to cover all full-time ministers in apresbytery; housing allowance and/or the fair rental value of a manse is included in the definition of salary
for ministers; and, there is no medical qualification requirement in order to enroll.  These advantages overindividual policies make this coverage very attractive, especially to those who have previously purchased
their own policies.  In addition, a provision was negotiated with UNUM by the Board's consultant, whereby
ministers, upon leaving a participating presbytery to serve in a non-participating presbytery, may continue
the coverage if he or she so desires.  The new employing church is then billed for the quarterly premium.
There are now five ministers and one employee who have taken advantage of this provision.  There areapproximately 222 participants.
C. GROUP ACCIDENT INSURANCE
This policy provides twenty-four hour coverage on "named employees" for accidental death,dismemberment, or loss of sight.  The maximum benefit is $50,000 and there is also a $1,000 medical
benefit.  The annual premium is $60 per covered employee.  All GA level boards, institutions, and agencies
participate in this program.  This policy is purchased through the Sinclair-Whitely Company.
D. FIDELITY BOND
As of October 1, 2009, the fidelity bond is no longer available through the Board of Stewardship,
Foundation and Benefits.  Those needing coverage should contact their local agent for this coverage.
E. GROUP HEALTH & LIFE INSURANCE
The board has used a fully-insured, managed care approach to provide group health insurance
for Cumberland Presbyterian clergy and lay employees since March 1, 1999.  As of January 1, 2010 our
insurance provider is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.  Blue Cross of Tennessee is an independent,
not-for-profit, locally governed health plan company that insures more than 5 million people nationwide.
With an extensive network, Blue Cross is able to effectively service the employees of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.  In 2010 two plans were offered, a $1,000 deductible and a $3,000 deductible for theemployee.  Spouse and Family deductibles are twice the amount of the employee only product.  We have

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

145

also acquired the services of Lipscomb & Pitts, a Memphis based insurance company, as our insurance
broker.
1. Loss Ratio.
A comparison of paid medical premiums and claims is made in order to calculate a loss ratio.
The table below contains monthly and cumulative figures for the calendar year of 2009.  For 2009, 105%  
of the medical premiums paid to UniCare were used by UniCare to pay claims and stop-loss premiums.  
This compares to a loss ratio of 98% for the same period in 2008, 112% for 2007 and 84% for 2006.  This
calculation does not include UniCare's retainage nor any increase in the medical reserves it is holding.
Under the contractual agreement with UniCare, annual deficits or surpluses are retained by them and won't
affect subsequent years.
MEDICAL EXPERIENCE REPORT       MONTHLY    CUMULATIVE                       MEDICALPAID
LOSS
MEDICALPAID
LOSS
PREMIUM
CLAIMSRATIO		PREMIUM
CLAIMS
RATIO
215,771
317,329
147%
   215,771
   317,329
147%
225,077
113,512
  50%
   440,848
   430,841
  98%
179,798
184,501103%
   620,646
   615,342
  99%
181,840
125,980
  69%
   802,486
   741,322
  92%
167,836
  94,509
  56%
   970,322
   835,831
  86%
168,137
145,634
  87%
1,138,459
   981,465
  86%
171,520
158,774
  93%
1,309,979
1,140,239
  87%
162,927
181,181111%
1,472,906
1,321,420
  90%
162,187
236,210146%
1,635,093
1,557,630
  95%
175,610
221,672126%
1,810,703
1,779,302
  98%
166,083
177,432
107%
1,976,786
1,956,734
  99%
168,007304,519
181%
2,144,793
2,261,253
105%

		
MONTH
Jan, 2009
Feb, 2009
Mar, 2009
Apr, 2009
May, 2009
Jun, 2009
Jul, 2009
Aug, 2009
Sept, 2009
Oct, 2009
Nov, 2009
Dec, 2009

The previous table shows that we did not have a good year when you compare the claims paidby UniCare with the premiums they received.  The table below shows that for the months of March 2009
through December 2009, 13 claims amounted to 60% of the claims paid by UniCare.  For the  time period
March through December in 2008 we also had thirteen high cost medical claims that resulted in 61% ofclaims paid.
   Number of Claims
  13399			
412

Total Group Medical Claims
Percentage of Total Claims
Amount Paid Percentage of Total
    3% High cost claims$   932,122
  60%
  97% All other claims$   611,448		   40%100% Total Claims$1,543,570
100%

2. Premiums.
In 2009, Brian Sinclair-Whitely of Sinclair-Whitely Associates was the health insurance broker for
the Cumberland Presbyterian Health Insurance Program.  Throughout the year, Brian Sinclair-Whitely kept
the staff informed of the medical claims experience.
In 2009, the health insurance program participated in a HRA, health reimbursement agreement,
where we were able to reduce premiums thus saving participants and presbyteries $420,641 in premiums
compared to same time period under the traditional health plan.  While participants recognized a lower
premium, the health insurance program was also funded by the PSR (Premium Stabilization Reserve).  
Our expenses funded by the PSR, which were $392,121, exceeded Unicare’s estimates and thus during the
September 2009 meeting, the Board of Stewardship formed a committee to examine the change back to a
traditional style plan that was affordable, and offered comprehensive coverage as well as hire a broker that
could service our needs as it relates to billing issues and participant concerns.  In addition to the Board of
Stewardship health insurance committee, representatives from Trinity, Red River, West Tennessee, Memphis
Theological Seminary as well as Cumberland Presbyterian Center agencies were invited to participate with
the Board of Stewardship insurance committee and staff to help evaluate the choices that were presented.
Wells Fargo, Sinclair-Whitely, and Lipscomb & Pitts were invited to present their recommendation of
insurance providers as well as to present services provided by their firms.   Wells Fargo choose not to146

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010

present any quotes from providers but offered their services to help evaluate plans.  Quotes were received
from  Sinclair-Whitely and Lipscomb & Pitts from various insurers, which included Aetna, Cigna, Coventry
Health Care, Humana, Principal Life, Trustmark  Insurance, United HealthCare, Unicare  and Blue Cross ofTennessee.  Aetna, Humana, Principal Life were not competitive, Trustmark did not respond and Coventry
Health could not provide adequate coverage for the large area our group covered.   In December 2009,
with the approval of the Board of Stewardship, Blue Cross of Tennessee was chosen to provide health careservices and Lipscomb & Pitts is now our broker for the health insurance program.
With the advent of offering two plans, premiums for Option 1, $1000 deductible for an employee,increased a modest 2.5% and decreased 16% for the Option 2, $3,000 deductible over 2009s HRA premiums.
Families saw a 45% increase in premiums for Option 1, $2,000 deductible and a 19% increase for Option 2$6,000 deductible.  As of 3/1/2010 there were 58 participants who had chosen option 2 and 154 participants
who had chosen option 1.
In the summer of 2010, for the 2011 renewal of the Denominational health plan, the staff of theBoard of Stewardship will again invite members from the largest presbyteries and agencies to meet anddiscuss options and alternatives for the program.  This group will also discuss timing issues as it relates to
how changes are made within the health plan as well as the dissemination of information to the presbyteries
in a timely fashion, allowing presbyteries and its members to properly budget for any changes in the cost of
the health plan.
3. Participation.
In October 1998 employee participation reached a high of 333.  Over the next two years, enrollment
continued to hover around the 325 level.  As of February 1, 2010, 407 people depend on the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church Health Insurance Program.  A breakdown of family units by size at February 1, 2010is listed below.
FAMILY UNITS BY SIZE
Number of
		
Units
Total
Emp. only115    115
			Spouse only		
1		
1
E&1
    6
      12E&2
    1        3E&3    2        8E&S
  42      84
Families of 3
  10      30
Families of 4
  25
    100
Families of 5    7      35
Families of 6
    2      12
Families of 71		7
			Total			212		 407The following table shows the enrollment figures from March 2009 to January 2010.  As one
can see the numbers do fluctuate from month to month.  From March 2009 to January 2010 there was a
reduction of 14 participants.
MONTHLY GROUP INSURANCE ENROLLMENT
		EMPLOYEE COVERAGE
DEPENDENT COVERAGE
TOTAL
09-Mar		129				111			24009-Apr		114				109			22309-May		115				107			22209-Jun112
106
218
09-Jul117
102
219
09-Aug112
104
216
09-Sep		112				106			21809-Oct112
106
218
09-Nov
111
106
217
09-Dec111
107
218
10-Jan115
102
217

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4. Premium Stabilization Reserve (Formerly Emergency Reserve)
The reserve is invested in Endowment Program Total Return Fund account which had a balance of$846,599 on December 31, 2009.  The Emergency Health Insurance Reserve was established in compliancewith the 1992 General Assembly directive to be used in "emergency" situations to match presbyterial
emergency fund disbursements.  The 1998 General Assembly approved the Board's recommendation toallow the Board to use the Emergency Reserve to maintain the stability of the group health and life insurance
plan.  This allows these funds to be used for purposes outside of the original scope of the reserve.
5. Dental and Vision Insurance
On December 1st 2008, we began offering Dental and Vision insurance for anyone working atleast 30 hours or more for any Cumberland Presbyterian Church, its agencies, boards, and institutions on a
voluntary basis.  Brain Sinclair-Whitely brokered the insurance through Guardian Life Insurance Company
and as of January 2010, Peter Whitely is the agent of record.  At present there are 78 participant employees,
an increase of 14 over 2008-2009 totals.
6. Jessie W. Hipsher Health Insurance Endowment
The Jesse W. Hipsher Health Insurance Endowment was created as the first step in the board’s
goal to raise $10,000,000 in endowments for the support of the Cumberland Presbyterian Health and Life
Insurance Program.  The endowment was established on March 6, 2004.  At its establishment $11,450 had
been raised.  The balance of the endowment as of December 31, 2009 was $27,666.
7. Health Education/E-Mail Newsletter
To further educate participants in matter concerning health care participants have recently begun
to receive a monthly newsletter entitled, TopHealth, published by Oakstone Publishing.   The monthly
newsletter is full of health related tips that can be easily implemented by readers.  The two page newslettercan be read within a matter of minutes.   It is hoped that the newsletter is the beginning of a wellness
program designed to improve the health of all participants.  Also initiated in 2008 is the E-Mail newsletterthat is designed as an information tool to help the participants of the Health and Retirement programs stay
on top of happenings within the Board of Stewardship.
8. Wellness Program
In an effort to improve the health of all participants in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Health
Insurance Program, in the Spring of 2006 meeting, the Board approved a wellness program that helps
participants to take a more active role in healthy living.  The Board has approved an incentive program thatencourages participants to exercise, stop smoking and improve their lifestyle.
With their Well+Wise program, Blue Cross offers health coaching to help make positive lifestylechanges to improve health and wellness, provide support and answer any questions about medical conditions
or surgical procedures and treatment decisions.  A preventive health guide is also available and has been
sent to all participants in the CP health program.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlie Floyd, President
Robert Heflin, Executive Secretary

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THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S HOME
I. OVERVIEW
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home (CPCH) directly served over 900 children, teens, parents
and families in 2009.  CPCH helps children and families in residential and non-residential programs.  In its
residential programs, CPCH served 40 children and 11 single parents.  More than 850 additional children
and families were served through over 450 counseling sessions or classes in our non-residential programs.
In addition to that, CPCH fielded almost 600 calls for service, which were either handled internally or
referred to other agencies.
CPCH is one ministry with three programs:•
Residential Care protects children and teens who need a safe place to live.
•
Single Parent Family sustains families working toward self-sufficiency.
•
Family Outfitters equips communities for success through educational programming andsliding fee scale counseling.
CPCH’s 17-acre campus in Denton includes three residential cottages for children and teens andseven apartments for single parents.   Other features include the Parr Family Resource Building, whichhouses the Library and Technology Center, therapy rooms, meeting facilities and staff offices and theGilbert-Parr Activities Building, which houses CPCH’s recreational facilities.
A. MISSION.
As an ecumenical ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in response to Christ's loveand example, the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home exists to provide a safe and wholesome
environment for the development of children and to bring healing and hope to children and their families.
Hope and healing looks different in different people’s lives; however, regardless of the shape ittakes the goal is for children and families to learn to live in a healthy way that allows them to deal creatively,by the grace of God, with the challenges of their lives.
B. MESSAGE.
CPCH has adopted 2 Corinthians 5:17 as our theme verse.
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has
become new!”Once a young person or family comes to CPCH, we want them to see that a new, healthy way ofliving is possible.  Hope for the future is unique, as is each individual and family we serve.
CPCH is a strength-focused agency, meaning that we help our clients identify their strengths andbuild on them to successfully face the challenges in their lives.
C. PRAYER.
When you think of CPCH throughout the year, please pray with us:“Almighty God, you call us your children. Jesus calls us his sisters and brothers. Through yourlove and grace, we are all grafted into your family. In the same way, make CPCH a place of family for all
who live there, for all who work there, and for all who need help. Teach us to look for the gifts of strength
within each other and ourselves, and give us the grace and courage to serve you by serving others. Amen.”
D. GUIDING VALUES.
We categorize our guiding values under the headings of faith, agency, care, and excellence.
Faith: In response to the gift of life given to us by Jesus Christ and the ministry entrusted to us, weserve God by serving others.
Agency: Agency is the active force by which change happens; we serve others by helping themdevelop the agency for change in their own lives.

Care: Our service to others is framed by a positive, strength-focused approach to all our
relationships.

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Excellence: In our service to others, we strive for excellence, efficiency and professionalism
in all that we do.
E. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.

Because our mission calls us to a ministry of service, we have adopted the following“Pyramid of Support” as an organizational structure.  Rather than organizing from the top down,
we wish to follow in Christ’s example of servant leadership.  We place the people we serve, bothin residential care and in non-residential care, at the top of the pyramid.

People We
ServePrimary Support
youth care workers, caseworkers,
counselors

Secondary Support
supervisors, maintenance, administrative,
accounting

Directors
chaplain, clinical, operations, advancement
executive

Board of Trustees

General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church

F. CORPORATE ENTITY AND GOVERNANCE.

CPCH is a non-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas.  CPCH
is tax-exempt under IRS Code section 501(c)(3).   The General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church is the only member of the corporation and has the power to appoint andremove all Trustees of the corporation.  CPCH is governed by a board of 15 Trustees.  The CPCH
Board of Trustees hires an Executive Director to manage the agency.
G. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

All of the financial reporting for 2009 is taken from our unaudited financials.  Our audited
financials will not be ready until after we receive our year end statements from the Board of
Stewardship.
CPCH spent approximately $1.4 million bringing healing and hope to children and families.
Expenses.
Residential Childcare
58%
Single Parent Family
19%
Family Outfitters
11%
Administrative  6%
Fund Raising
  6%

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6%

6%

Residential Childcare
Single Parent Family

11%

Family Outfitters

58%

19%

General & Administration
Fund Raising

Income.   In 2009 CPCH was blessed by several estate gifts that helped strengthen our
long-term viability.  Without these estate gifts, for which we cannot plan, CPCH would have ended
the year with $80,000 in deficit spending.  Because of these estate gifts, we now have a healthy
Operating Reserve which we did not have before.  Our income came from the following sources:
Estates
Gifts
GrantsInvestment Income
Service Compensation
Denomination
Special Events/Other

40.05%
18.94%
13.20%
11.85%
11.58%
  3.49%
  0.89%Special Events/Other
1%

Denomination
3%
Service Compensation
12%

Estates40%
Investment Income
12%

Grants
13%

Gifts
19%

Estates
Gifts
GrantsInvestment Income
Service Compensation
Denomination
Special Events/Other

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II. PLANNED GIVING
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home exists today because of planned giving.   Inher will, Miss Victoria Jackson of Bowling Green, Kentucky, left her home to the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church for the creation of a home for widows and orphans.  Her final act of generosity
has allowed thousands of lives to be touched by this ministry for the past 105 years.
Throughout CPCH’s history, many faithful people have blessed CPCH with their estate
gifts.  It is a fact that some of these gifts kept the ministry going through lean economic times, suchas the one we are experiencing now.
Planned giving is an important part of CPCH’s operating budget.  We are grateful this year
for the planned gifts from the following estates and trusts:
		
A.L. “Pete” Bates
		Dorothy Britt
		Anne Burtis
		James Willard Mayes Estate in memory of Nancy Carolyn Mayes		
Virginia Ekiss		
Mary Harting		Virginia and Stokes Long
		Gladys Nichols
		
Irene P. Schieszer
		Lela Stricklen
		Mary M. WrightIII. THE ENVIRONMENT
A. NATIONAL SITUATION AND TRENDS

Children and families in the United States need help. Our federal, state and local governments
offer some help to families, but it is not enough.  In this decade, there have been almost 20 million
reported cases of child abuse in the U.S.  In 2007, there were 721,646 confirmed cases of childabuse in the U.S.  Sixty percent (60%) of these children did not receive proper food, clothing,shelter, hygiene, education, medical care or protection.  Over half of all abuse cases were related tothe alcohol or drug abuse by the child’s parent.  Of these confirmed cases of abuse in 2007, 1,760
of them resulted in the death of the child.  That is an increase of about 35% more deaths than 2001.
Ministries that care for those who have been injured by abuse and ministries that work to prevent
abuse and neglect are part of the church’s responsibility to our communities.
In addition to the physical and emotional costs of child abuse, the direct financial costs
are astronomical.  Researchers estimate that the hospitalization, mental health care, child welfare,and law enforcement costs of child abuse are $90,688,498 per day.  The indirect financial costs ofspecial education, juvenile delinquency, adult criminal justice, and loss of productivity to society
could be as high as $190 million per day, and it continues to grow.  As people of faith, we must
help children and families.
B. LOCAL SITUATION AND TRENDS

Texas spends only $37.26 per capita on our child welfare support system.  That amount puts
Texas 43rd out of 50 states.  The top states average almost 5 times that amount.  To put it another

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way, for every dollar the top states spend on child welfare, Texas spends 20 cents.  The children
and families of Texas, like many other states, need support and protection from somewhere otherthan the government.
C. REAL PEOPLE AT CPCH

1.  A story from the children’s residential program
Shortly after J.D. moved into Currie-Long Cottage, we asked all of the young men there
to express something about themselves on paper.  They could tell us about their favorite book or
movie, or they could draw a picture.  J.D. chose to write a poem.  J.D. was 15 when he wrote this.
The spelling and syntax are exactly how he wrote it.  J.D.’s vivid picture of his life is a reflectionof the national and local statistics above.
				My LifeMy moma left me when I was 2 years old
It didn’t kill my body but it killed my soul.
My dad, sister and me lived all alone
For 4 long years we all lived in a broken home
Then my dad met a mean old girlHe thought he loved her and it tore my world
Next 2 years later it all went wrong
He went to jail and our family was like a broken songThat’s when she beat me with a paddle and a broom
Then she started locking me in my room
I ran away a million times
But when I came back she’d beat me another time
Finnaly she gave me away
To CPS and my life went another way
Now I’m here and I have no friends
I have to start my life over again.
2.  A story from the single parent program
L’s car had been sick for a quite a while, but it finally died right after she was accepted into
our Single Parent Family program with her two beautiful twin daughters.  That car, however, hadlimped along just long enough to carry her and the twins safely away from a very bad marriage.  With
very limited help from anyone, L’s cross-country trip demonstrated her courage and determination
to build a new life for her family.
That same courage and determination are the characteristics that empower her to continue
her journey toward a new life.  Unlike the trip that brought her to Denton -- on this part of thejourney -- she has help.  At CPCH, L gets counseling, parenting classes, budgeting workshops, andmentoring help from our staff.  She and her girls get to live in a safe place and grow as a family.
Now, as L journeys toward her dream of becoming a school teacher and a great mom, she is notalone.
L is grateful for the old car that got her to CPCH, but she doesn’t think about it muchanymore.  In the same way, we don’t want her to dwell on how she got to CPCH.  Instead, at CPCH
we want her to concentrate on her strengths that will continue to open up unlimited possibilities for2010

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her future.  As the apostle Paul says, “in Christ . . . old things pass away, and everything becomesnew”.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That May 15, 2011, be designated as Cumberland PresbyterianChildren’s Home (CPCH) Sunday and that General Assembly encourage congregations to emphasize
the importance of this offering as a significant source of funding for CPCH.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That General Assembly encourage each congregation to set aside
one Sunday each month to pray for children and families, especially remembering the children andfamilies served by CPCH.

Respectfully submitted,
Richard A. Brown, J.D.,President of the Board of Trustees
Reverend Dr. Kevin R. Henson, Executive Director

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THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEESOF MEMPHIS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Introduction
Memphis Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is the only seminary of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.   Our history is traced back through the Cumberland Presbyterian
Theological Seminary in McKenzie to the organization of two graduate schools of theology, one at
Cumberland University and the other at Bethel College, in 1852.  Those two graduate schools of theology
continued the legacy begun in the work of founder Finis Ewing, who educated candidates for the ministryin his home, and many other ministers, who trained young candidates in homes, churches, and on the
trail.  For one hundred fifty-seven years, Cumberland Presbyterians have been providing formal theologicaleducation for the church’s ministers.  For almost two hundred years, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
has valued the importance of an educated ministry.
With the denomination’s decision to move its seminary to Memphis in 1964, Memphis TheologicalSeminary began to serve a larger student body.  Though students from other denominations were admitted
during the McKenzie years, the move to a major metropolitan area opened the opportunity to attract
more students from more denominations.   Today, Memphis Theological Seminary has one of the mostdiverse student populations, in terms of denomination and race, of any seminary in the United States.  This
theological and denominational diversity provides a rich environment for educating pastors, chaplains,
Christian educators, and other leaders for the church of Jesus Christ.  The sign on our campus that faces
Union Avenue reads: “Memphis Theological Seminary: an Ecumenical Mission of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.”  Every Cumberland Presbyterian can be proud of the mission our seminary fulfills of
educating our own church leaders, and leaders from more than 25 other denominations.
We, the trustees and administration of Memphis Theological Seminary are privileged to be a part ofthis legacy, born out of and guided by the ecumenical and evangelical spirit of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.   We look forward to what God has in store for our ministry in the future.   With gratitude for
God’s grace, guidance and provision in the past year, we make the following report to the 180th General
Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, meeting in Dickson, Tennessee.  We warmly invite allcommissioners and visitors to the Assembly to attend the MTS Luncheon scheduled for Wednesday, June
16th, at the Renaissance Center located on Highway 46 South of Exit #172 off Interstate 40.

I. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A. OFFICERS
The following officers were elected by the Board of Trustees to serve during the past academic
year: Moderator – Mr. Chester Dickson (Cumberland Presbyterian elder, Houston, Texas); Vice-moderator– Reverend Emily Matheny (United Methodist minister, Memphis, Tennessee); Secretary – Mr. William
Nelms (Cumberland Presbyterian elder, Murfreesboro, Tennessee); Treasurer – David Canon (VicePresident of Operations and CFO, MTS).
B. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. Chester Dickson, elder of First CPC of Houston, Texas, was elected to serve as the Board’s
representative to this meeting of the General Assembly.
C. MEETINGSThe Board has met twice since the last meeting of General Assembly: September 11-12, 2009, andFebruary 26-27, 2010.  It is scheduled to meet one more time before the meeting of General Assembly,
on May 14-15, 2010.  In addition to full Board meetings, standing committees meet on a regular schedule
between Board meetings, usually by conference call.
Members of our Board of Trustees devote significant time and resources to their work on behalfof the seminary.  By rule of the General Assembly, thirteen of the twenty-four members are Cumberland
Presbyterians.  The other eleven members of the Board represent six different denominations.

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D. EXPIRATION OF TERMS
The terms of eight of twenty-four members of the Board of Trustees expire each year.  Six of theeight whose terms expire this year are eligible to succeed themselves and have agreed to serve another threeyear term: Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield (Christian Methodist Episcopal, Jackson, Tennessee); Mr. Harvey
G. Ferguson (United Methodist, Hernando, Mississippi); Mr. Dan Hatzenbuehler (Episcopal, Memphis,
Tennessee); Reverend Emily Matheny (United Methodist, Memphis, Tennessee); Mr. Tim Orr (Cumberland
Presbyterian, Dyersburg, Tennessee); and Mrs. K. C. Warren (Presbyterian U.S.A., Memphis, Tennessee).
All six have served faithfully and contributed greatly to the life of the seminary.  We are grateful for their
willingness to continue serving if re-elected.
Two trustees have completed three terms and are not eligible to succeed themselves: Mr. Chester
Dickson (Cumberland Presbyterian, Houston, Texas), and Dr. Rebecca Salisbury (Cumberland Presbyterian,Murfreesboro, Tennessee).   Mrs. Meredith Schroeder (Cumberland Presbyterian, Paducah, Kentucky)
had to resign for personal reasons before attending her first meeting.  Mr. William Nelms (Cumberland
Presbyterian, Murfreesboro, Tennessee), has submitted his resignation because of illness.  Mr. Mark Davis
resigned due to becoming team leader of the Communication Team.  Ecumenical representative, Reverend
Amy Howe submitted her resignation just prior to General Assembly.  Each of these trustees have served
faithfully and well.   We give thanks to God for the service these five trustees have given to Memphis
Theological Seminary.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the General Assembly express its gratitude to Mr. Chester
Dickson, Dr. Rebecca Salisbury, Mr. Mark Davis, Mr. William Nelms and Reverend Amy Howe for
their faithful service to Memphis Theological Seminary and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
E. WORK OF THE BOARD
The trustees continue to develop their administrative procedures and practices to provide the best
possible governance to the life of the seminary.  For the past three years, we have had 100% participation
by trustees in giving to the Annual Fund, and in participating actively in the work of MTS.
The Board takes its governance role seriously, and is focusing its attention in the year ahead on
issues of strategic long range planning and fiscal health.   In the past year, the Board conducted a selfassessment which was useful in planning for the work of the Board.
F. PRIORITY FOCUS ON EVANGELISM
The 177th General Assembly approved a resolution establishing a priority focus for the denomination
for the next five years.  That priority focus is “to be evangelism, with an emphasis on leading congregations
in how to do and to do personal evangelism that is appropriate to the congregation’s cultural context.”  In
addition the GA recommended that “every agency and institution of the church adjust its overall mission to
support this five year priority focus by identifying how it can help the church accomplish this and report to
GA each year of its activities in support of” this focus (page 426, Minutes of the General Assembly, 2007).
Every Master of Divinity student at MTS is required to take a core course in Evangelism andMission.  As a part of that course, students learn how to share their faith and engage in the work ofevangelism personally, and as the leader of a congregation.  In addition, courses have been taught in thepast year on New Church Development and Revitalizing the Local Church, both of which have importantelements of evangelism as a part of the course.  Dr. Angel Santiago-Vendrell, Assistant Professor of Mission
and Evangelism, began his work at MTS in the fall of 2008.  He has developed and taught several courses
on the mission of the church that address the importance of mission to and with persons of a variety ofcultures.
In the January 2009 term we focused our course offerings around the theme of “Evangelism andMission,” offering several new courses in this field.  Two of those courses were taught by Cumberland
Presbyterian adjunct professors.  Dr. Michael Qualls (Pastor of Faith CPC, Bartlett, Tennessee and D.Min.
in Evangelism from Columbia Theological Seminary) taught “REvangelism: Retooling, Refueling,
Reconsidering, and Reclaiming the Church’s Disciple-making Directive.”  Dr. Charles McCaskey (Pastorof Cookeville First CPC, Murfreesboro, Tennessee and D.Min. in New Testament, Louisville Presbyterian
Theological Seminary) taught “Evangelism and The Short-Term Mission Imperative” to teach students how
to plan and lead short-term mission trips for the local church.  We continue to seek new opportunities to156

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teach our students the evangelistic imperative of Christ: that we make disciples of all nations.  The Spring2009 edition of The Lamp focused on evangelism and mission and its central role in the life of the church.
Early in 2009, the President met with members of the Foundation for Evangelism board to begin
discussions about funding for an additional faculty position in Evangelism for MTS.  We are in the initialstages of developing a proposal for the Foundation that we believe holds promise for this new venture.
In fall 2010, MTS is planning a major lecture series and conference around the theme of Evangelism.
We have been working with George Estes of the Missions Ministry Team to plan this event.  The lecturer
will be Dr. H. Stanley Wood, Ford Chair Associate Professor of Congregational Leadership and Evangelism
at San Francisco Theological Seminary, one of the leading voices in Evangelism among Presbyterians.
He is the editor of Extraordinary Leaders in Extraordinary Times (Eerdmans, 2006), a major study of
pastors who have established or led churches that are successful at reaching unchurched people.  Alongwith the lectures, there will be workshops geared toward local and presbyterial leaders who are interested
in revitalizing evangelism in the church.

II. ADMINISTRATION
A. PRESIDENT
Daniel J. (Jay) Earheart Brown, Ph.D., became the seventh President of Memphis TheologicalSeminary August 1, 2005.  Jay had served on the faculty of MTS since August, 1997, having previously
served as a pastor in Nashville, Tennessee, and Lexington, Kentucky.   He is a life-long Cumberland
Presbyterian and son of a Cumberland Presbyterian minister.  He is a graduate of Bethel College (B.A.),
Memphis Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA (Ph.D.).  He
will complete his fifth year in this position at the end of the current academic year.
B. ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT
The Board of Trustees conducted its annual evaluation of the President at the February 2010
meeting.  Members of the evaluation task force sought input from faculty, administration and staff, students,
and all Board members, as well as the President.  The review resulted in an action plan for the President’s
ongoing professional and personal development in the office.
C. VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS/DEAN
Barbara A. Holmes, Ph.D., was elected to serve as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean inMay, 2005, following a national search.  Dr. Holmes had previously served MTS as Professor of Ethics andAfrican American Studies, having joined the faculty in 1998.  She was ordained to the ministry in the Latter
Rain Apostolic Holiness Church, and has privilege of call (her ordination is recognized) in the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ).  She is a regular participant at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in
Memphis.
At the February 2010 Board meeting, Dr. Holmes submitted her resignation from the Dean’s office.
The Board approved a sabbatical year for Dr. Holmes, after which she intends to return to MTS in ateaching role with At the River: Theology and Arts Institute.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the General Assembly express its appreciation to Dr. Barbara
A. Holmes for her five years’ service to Memphis Theological Seminary as Vice President of Academic
Affairs and Dean.
The Board of Trustees appointed a search committee in its February meeting and intends to present
a candidate for the VPAA/Dean position to the Board in its May, 2010 meeting.
D. VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT
In January 2007, Mrs. Cathi Johnson began work as Vice President of Advancement, coming to
MTS after over six years as Development Director for The Baddour Center, a residential home for adults
with mental disabilities.

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Cathi brings to her work at MTS a proven track record of non-profit fundraising, a commitment
to the mission of MTS, and the ability to manage and build on the efforts of those who have gone before
her. She is a United Methodist laywoman, active in her local church in Collierville, Tennessee, a Memphis
suburb.  There she sings in the choir and takes an active part in all the programs of the church.  Cathi’s skills
and experience have been a great asset to the seminary over the last two years.
E. VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS/CFO            Mr. David Canon began work with MTS in July 2007 as interim Chief Financial Officer, following
the resignation of our previous CFO.   David is a certified public accountant and active layman in theEvergreen Presbyterian Church in midtown Memphis.  In January 2008 the “interim” was removed, andDavid was named Vice President of Operations/CFO.  Under Mr. Canon’s leadership MTS has received
unqualified audits from our independent auditors the past three years.

III. INSTRUCTION
A. DEGREE PROGRAMSMemphis Theological Seminary continues to offer three degree programs and one certificate
program through the Program of Alternate Studies.  The Master of Divinity is the basic degree programfor persons preparing for ordained ministry in many denominations.  It continues to be our largest degree
program, with over 70% of students enrolled.  The M.Div. requires 87 semester hours and takes three yearsof full-time study to complete.
The Master of Arts in Religion degree has three tracks: a lay professional track for persons seeking
to increase their knowledge and skills for lay leadership or Christian Education ministry in the church, anacademic track for persons who want to teach but do not seek ordination, and a deacon’s track designed forUnited Methodist students preparing for diaconal ministries in that denomination.  The M.A.R. requires 48
semester hours and takes two years of full-time study to complete.
The Doctor of Ministry degree is a professional degree designed for pastors and other ministers
who have at least three years of full-time work in ministry after their M.Div. and who want to engage infurther theological reflection on the practice of ministry.  The D.Min. is designed around five two-weekresidencies, in January and July, and the implementation of and report on a major project in ministry.
At Commencement in May of 2009, Memphis Theological Seminary awarded the M.A.R. degree
to nine persons.  Forty-three persons were awarded the M.Div. degree, and five were awarded the D.Min.
degree.  Of these fifty-seven graduates, nine were Cumberland Presbyterians.
Cumberland Presbyterian Master of Divinity Graduates were:
Chris Fleming, Nashville Presbytery
Sam Magliolo, Jr., W. Tennessee Presbytery
Joshua Murray, Arkansas Presbytery
Wonder Ndoro, W. Tennessee Presbytery
Gregory Stefan, W. Tennessee Presbytery
Cory Williams, W. Tennessee Presbytery
Brent Wills, Murfreesboro Presbytery
Cumberland Presbyterian Master of Arts in Religion Graduate was:
Sherry Henson, W. Tennessee Presbytery
Cumberland Presbyterian Doctor of Ministry Graduate was:Michael Clark, Red River Presbytery
B. FACULTY
For the current academic year, Memphis Theological Seminary has thirteen full-time teachingfaculty and four administrative faculty members who teach part-time.  In addition, the seminary curriculum
is greatly enhanced by the work of twenty-five to thirty adjunct professors, most of whom are active inpastoral or other ministries.  As finances allow, the Board and Administration are committed to increasing
the size of the faculty to meet the demands of our growing student body.
Due to budget constraints, we have put the search for a faculty member in the field of Church

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History on hold.  Courses in this area are being taught by adjunct professors.
Members of the MTS faculty continue to publish books and articles both for the academy andthe church.  Many faculty members preach in area churches on a regular basis, deliver lectures for local
churches and judicatories, deliver papers at academic conferences, and write articles for a wide range ofreaders.
Under the leadership of VP/Dean Holmes, the faculty is currently engaged in a major curriculum
review and revisioning process.
C. ENROLLMENT
Total enrollment in Memphis Theological Seminary for the fall term was 352.  January and summer
term enrollment continues strong as more courses have been offered during those shorter terms over the
past three years.  The largest number of students comes from the United Methodist Church, with about 30%
of total enrollment.  Cumberland Presbyterians are the second largest denomination in the student body thiswith about 13% of all students (46 out of 352).
The following table presents a picture of the growth in the student body at MTS since 1990.  Thefigures are based on fall semester enrollment.  Figures included are for total enrollment, enrollment in eachof our three degree programs, and enrollment of Cumberland Presbyterian Students.
		Total enroll		
M.Div.		
M.A.R.		
D.Min.		
CPC
1990		140		114		12		-		37
1991		189		126		22		14		40
1992		198		130		23		21		37
1993		227		155		23		24		37
1994		238		175		27		18		37
1995		268		181		29		24		40
1996		287		184		37		29		421997		282		191		32		34		47
1998		266		177		34		28		40
1999		286		197		26		26		34
2000		282		201		31		25		37
2001		323		212		45		32		39
2002		326		211		50		34		39
2003		349		230		58		30		38
2004		351		240		51		27		42
2005		346		236		57		24		37
2006		332		236		44		26		42
2007		305		218		38		26		39
2008		313		206		41		34		432009		352		234		40		35		46
In the twenty years represented on this table, total enrollment has grown by 212 (151%).  At thesame time, there has been smaller growth in the number of Cumberland Presbyterian students (24%).  Thegrowth among students from other denominations has meant that Cumberland Presbyterian enrollment has
fallen from 26.4% of total enrollment to 13.1%.  We are working to recruit more Cumberland Presbyterian
students from across the denomination, and ask all Cumberland Presbyterians to encourage their probationers
to give serious consideration to MTS for their theological education.
Noting the decrease in overall enrollment from 2004-2007, the administration acted in August 2007
to employee a new admissions associate, Reverend Debra Matthews.  Reverend Matthews is an ordained
minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.  Since she began her work with Dr. Barry
Anderson and Mrs. Janet Cupo in the Admissions office at MTS, enrollment, inquiries, and applications
have all seen a significant increase.
D. PROGRAM OF ALTERNATE STUDIESThe Program of Alternate Studies (PAS) continues to serve the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,following in the footsteps of earlier programs that have provided alternative approaches to ministerial education

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in the church since at least 1896.  The present program was created in 1984 and succeeded the Home Study
Course/Ministers In-Service Training School that went from the 1940s through the early 1980s.
Dr. Thomas D. Campbell has been Director of PAS since August 1, 1994.  Earlier directors were
Dr. William Rustenhaven, who served from 1984 to 1990, and Reverend Norlan Scrudder, who was director
from 1990 to 1994.  Karen Wilson has been Assistant to the Director since January 2, 1996.
In December 2009, Dr. Campbell announced his intention to retire from his position at the end of
2010.  The Board of Trustees has appointed a search committee that has begun its work to select and call thenext Director of the Program of Alternate Studies.  The Seminary/PAS Luncheon event at this meeting ofGeneral Assembly will honor Dr. Campbell for his years of faithful service to the church and the seminary.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That the General Assembly express appreciation to Dr. Thomas
D. Campbell for the faithful service he has given to the preparation of ministers in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church through the Program of Alternate Studies.
The 2009 PAS Summer Extension School (SES) will be held July 10-24 on the campus of BethelCollege in McKenzie, Tennessee, with three five-day schools (Blocks): July 11-15; July 16-20; and July
21-25.  In addition to our “regular” courses in Block I, we will again have a “Hispanic Block” as well as a
“Korean Block.”  Classes will be held in the Spanish and Korean languages.  Translators will enable us toenjoy morning devotionals and morning worship together.  The partnership of PAS/MTS with the Missions
Ministry Team of the denomination regarding cross-cultural ministries continues as we work to provide partof the education and nurture for cross-cultural students.
Other students attending Block I in order to take Cumberland Presbyterian-related courses in
History, Polity, and Theology, will include several seminary graduates coming into the denomination who
need those courses, as well as some current seminary students.
Fees are $250 per course. Room and board at Bethel costs $21 a day ($9 for the room; $3 forbreakfast; $4 for lunch: $5 for dinner).  The PAS office bills the presbyteries of candidates and licentiates.
Lay persons are not financially supported by presbyteries, but there are scholarships available.
The PAS Summer Extension School welcomes lay people, Seminary graduates, PAS graduates,and others to the July sessions to audit classes, for $100 a course.   Ordained ministers can check with
their respective presbyteries regarding Continuing Education Units earned from auditing one, two, or
three courses.  Persons are invited to call the PAS office (901) 334-5853; e-mail the office tcampbell@memphisseminary.edu; or write to us at 168 East Parkway South, Memphis, Tennessee 38104.
Graduation exercises will be held on Day One of Block I, Saturday, July 10 at 10:45 A.M. in
Bouldin Auditorium within the Dickey Fine-Arts Building on the campus.
Enrollment in PAS continues to be around 45-50 regular students at any given time.  In order for a
Presbytery to direct a candidate or licentiate to PAS, a two-thirds vote of the Presbytery is required.
The PAS Advisory Council meets with the Director once a year to provide advice and counsel on
the program and its implementation.  Members of the Advisory Council include three administrators ofMemphis Theological Seminary: Jay Earheart-Brown, Barbara Holmes, and Stan Wood.  It also includes
the Director of the Pastoral Development Team, Milton Ortiz.   At-large members, who can serve as
many as two three-year terms, are: Cliff Hudson, Cleveland, Tennessee (Chair); Linda Glenn, Humboldt,
Tennessee (Secretary); Amy Blake Hearn, Milan, Tennessee; Geoff Knight, Houston, Texas; Yoong S. Kim,
Germantown, Tennessee; and Mindy Acton, Birmingham, Alabama.
The PAS Director reports to the Board of Trustees through the President and the Vice President of
Academic Affairs/Dean of the Seminary.
E. NEW ACADEMIC INITIATIVESIn February 2009, the Board approved a partnership between MTS and the Center for Youth Ministry
Training of Brentwood, and agreed to work toward a MA in Youth Ministry degree at MTS.  Beginning in
the fall of 2009, students admitted to CYMT and MTS in the Youth Ministry certificate program will earnseminary level credit for their course work.  We are enthusiastic about the prospects for this new partnershipto create a certificate, and future degree program focused on Youth Ministry.
In Fall 2010, we will begin offering courses toward a certificate in drug and alcohol addiction
counseling.  This new program, led by Cumberland Presbyterian minister and counselor Dr. Johnie Welch,promises to meet an important need in our society and in our region.
We are recruiting students for a new D.Min. track in Korean for Korean and Korean-American

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pastors.  This track will be added to our existing programs in Leadership in Ministry, and Faith and Health.
The administration and faculty continue to explore the possibility of distance education through online delivery of courses.  Our first on-line course was offered in the spring of 2010 with eighteen students
enrolled.  We continue to explore avenues for expanding our mission through this method.
F. ACCREDITATIONMemphis Theological Seminary holds dual accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools
in the United States and Canada (ATS), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Every ten years, member schools go through an extensive process of re-accreditation review.
Our last accreditation visit occurred in 2008, at which time we were fully affirmed for the next ten
years by both accrediting bodies.

IV. FACILITIES
A. LEADERSHIP
Since the fall of 2006, our facilities and safety department has been ably led by Mr. John Vaughn anda dedicated staff of facilities technicians.  Mr. Vaughn is a member of the Faith Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in Bartlett, Tennessee, and has more than twenty years experience in the construction industry,
many of those years in management.
B. PURCHASE OF PROPERTY
Thanks to the support of the 177th General Assembly, we have been given approval to purchaseadditional properties within the bounds of our long range campus plan.  Because of the recession we havenot purchased any properties in the past 18 months, and do not intend to borrow any more money for thispurpose.
In April of this year we announced a $4.2 million capital campaign to improve our property,
complete our expansion into Hilliard Hall and construct a new chapel on campus.  We expect to complete
this campaign over the next 18 months as the economy recovers.
C. COMMUTER HOUSING
MTS began to convert its student housing from individual rentals to commuter housing in the 1998.
Currently, MTS provides commuter housing, with very reasonable nightly rates, for almost 100 students
each week of the regular term.  The need for such commuter housing has continued to grow, as has income
from such rentals.  Our ability to serve students from about a 250 mile radius around Memphis, throughblock scheduling of classes and provision of affordable commuter housing, has had a significant impact on
the growth of the student body over the past ten years.
D. CAMPUS WORK GROUPS
We have been blessed in recent years by adult and youth work groups who have come to MTS
during the summer months to help repair and maintain our campus housing.   Groups have come from
Trilla, Illinois; Greeneville, Tennessee; Florence, Alabama; Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Collierville,
Tennessee to volunteer their time in a variety of areas.  We encourage work groups who would be willingto help the seminary in this way to contact Mr. John Vaughn in the Facilities Office, or Mrs. Cathi Johnson
in the Advancement Office of the seminary.
E. SAFETYThe Office of Safety of MTS continues to explore ways to enhance the safety of our students inthe context of our urban campus.  Through the use of lighting, security officers, secure locks, and wellarticulated safety plans, the seminary seeks to provide a safe environment for students and visitors to our
campus.

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In the past two years, MTS has contracted with a local security company to provide regular patrols
around our neighborhood.  This additional safety measure has been well received by our students and by
our neighbors.  We continue to seek ways to provide a safe environment for our campus community.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many schools have begun to review their emergency preparedness
plans.  We are in the process of reviewing our procedures and enhancing our plans to continue operations of
MTS in the wake of a natural or man made disaster.  This process includes stockpiling emergency supplies,
backing up computer records and other vital data, and having communication plans clearly articulated in
the event of a disaster.

V. ADVANCEMENT AND FINANCE
A. BUDGETOur Board of Trustees will approve a budget for the 2010-2011 academic year at its May meeting.
Copies of that budget will be provided at the meeting of General Assembly.
The budget for the current year represents a five percent decrease in expenditures, to $4.58 million.
In order to accomplish this decrease, salaries and benefits have been reduced, travel expenses curtailed,and other expenses cut to the bone.  In the current economic climate, we have taken measures to be asconservative as we can with next years’ budget in order to be good stewards of the resources entrusted tous.  Next year’s budget will be in the range of $4.2 million, another 8.3% reduction from the current year.
B. ATS FINANCIALLY STRESSED SCHOOLS PROJECT
In the fall of 2009, MTS was one of fifteen theological schools in the United States and Canada
selected to participate in a grant program announced by the Association of Theological Schools.   Theproject provides two years of consulting to schools that are under financial stress to develop a sustainablemodel for fiscal viability.  As a part of our participation in that project, MTS is working with a consultant
to assess our current financial position and make any necessary changes to strengthen us for the future.  A
copy of the initial report prepared for the project is appended to this report.
C. SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
We continue to cultivate relationships with foundations whose mission closely aligns with ours.  
The following grants for scholarships and other projects have been received in recent years:
1.  The Henry Luce Foundation (2009-2011)
To support At the River: Theology & Arts Program at MTS. The Henry Luce Foundation has granted$75,000 payable over 3 years.  The Luce Foundation is located in New York City and funds programs likethese on a large scale across the country.  It is a sign of the value of this emerging work that a foundation ofthis caliber is willing to provide financial support.
2.  The Varnell Artist-in-Residence
For two years, Mr. and Mrs. Henry and Jeanne Varnell, long-time friends of MTS, have provided
financial and practical support for the Artist-in-Residence of At the River: Theology & Arts program.  In
January 2010, they hosted an event at their penthouse home overlooking the Mississippi River in Memphis.
3.  The Wilson Family Foundation
The Wilson family, founders of the Holiday Inn hotel chain and great philanthropists in Memphis,has renewed their funding of the Wilson Scholarships at $15,000 x 3 years, which provides scholarshipsupport for 3 Wilson Scholars each year.
4.  The H.W. Durham Foundation
The Memphis-based H.W. Durham Foundation has renewed its gift of $5,000 to provide 5 $1,000
scholarships for students who are 55+ years of age.  These Durham Scholars will represent much of ourstudent body who are second-career students.
5.  The McCloy Faith & Health Faculty Series
Dr. and Mrs. Randy and Linda Kay McCloy have funded the faculty series for the Faith & Health

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Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program at MTS for three years.  Their generous gift has enabled us to bringin quality instructors for this specialized program, enhancing the overall value of the degree.
6.  The Thomas W. Briggs Foundation
In honor of the Director of the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation, Dr. Kenneth Robinson, a gift of$10,000 has been given to MTS for tuition support for one deserving individual in the 2009-2010 academic
year.
The Briggs Scholar is Lula Marie Martin, a first-year student out of the African Methodist Episcopal(AME) Church.  Martin writes in her application essay, “I believe I am worthy of the Thomas W. Briggs
Scholarship because I possess the intelligence, perseverance, spiritual commitment and charisma to pursue
the Master of Divinity Degree at MTS.  In addition, my life experiences have instilled in me the qualities
that make me a more compassionate minister and counselor.”  She believes that “the study of ministry isdesigned to help pastors and spiritual leaders serve God’s people in this present age.”
7.  The Chatlos Foundation
The Chatlos Foundation has provided a generous gift of $15,000 to support the Formation for
Ministry (FFM) program at MTS.
8.  Charles Hubbard Honorarium
In specific recognition of Dr. Aliou Niang, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Memphis
Theological Seminary, for his outstanding scholarship and teaching, and as encouragement for all MTS
faculty to continue toward teaching excellence, Dr. Charles H. Hubbert has given a gift f $10,000 to support
the Professional Development for MTS faculty members.
C. ENDOWMENTS
1.  The Baird-Buck Chair of Cumberland Presbyterian Studies
Dr. Clinton Buck, Professor Emeritus of Christian Education at MTS, knowing the need for more
focused teaching in CP heritage, has converted an existing endowment that was originally begun with thehopes of endowing a chair in Christian Education. Subsequent to Dr. Buck’s decision, Mrs. Thalia Baird,
widow of former President and Professor Dr. Colvin Baird, also decided to convert an endowment they had
designated for general operations.  Together with The Reverend J.T. Buck Scholarship Endowment Fundestablished in 1979 to provide scholarship assistance for Cumberland Presbyterian students at Memphis
Theological Seminary, also converted, the new endowment has been established with an initial principalbalance of approximately $112,000.
The purpose of this endowment is to strengthen the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by establishingan endowed professorship with a primary focus of teaching Cumberland Presbyterian history, theology,
church administration and the practice of ministry that is particular to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  
The goal is $1.2 million, and over the next 12 months, CP Heritage Meetings will be held in CP communities,
as well as personal visits with those who understand the value of this new Chair and wish to support it.  
Over the past year, several Cumberland Presbyterian trustees of the seminary and other individuals andchurches have made generous contributions to this endowment.
2.  The Matt Miller Endowment
Matthew T. Miller, age 25, student at MTS and United Methodist minister serving at Propst
Memorial United Methodist Church in Millport, Alabama, died on January 16, 2010, in a boating accident
while on a duck hunting trip in Arkansas with his father.  Matt was a graduate of both Hoover High School
and the University of Alabama, and expected to graduate from Memphis Theological Seminary in May
2010.  Friends of Matt established this endowment to provide scholarship support to a United Methodist
Student from North Alabama.
3.  The Charles H. Hall Endowment
The Reverend Charles W. Hall was an excellent pastor in every sense of the term.  Ordained by
Birmingham Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on April 13, 1969, he served the Church
faithfully for 38 years.
Reverend Hall answered his call to ordained ministry on March 28, 1965, Easter Sunday, at Hopewell
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bessemer, Alabama.  Prior to ordination, he served the Spring Creek

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CPC (‘65-‘68) and Union CPC (‘68-‘71).  Most of his ordained ministry was spent at two churches: WestEnd CPC (‘71-‘73) which would later become Hueytown CPC (‘75-‘00), and Mt. Vernon CPC (‘73-‘75)
which was later yoked with New Bethel CPC (‘00-‘07).  As a testimony to his being an excellent pastor,
both the West End and Mt. Vernon churches called him to return for a second pastorate.
Reverend Hall was known to pick up strangers, visit prisoners, provide groceries for families in
need, and, more than anything else, sit at the bedside of the sick and dying.  He loved the members of
his congregations as family and they loved him.  He balanced scholarship, piety, and justice and was an
example to many others of how to be the best pastor a person can be.  He died on August 18, 2007.
In memory of Charles W. Hall, beloved husband, father and grandfather, the Hall Family has
established an endowment to enable Memphis Theological Seminary to continue to sustain excellence
among pastors.  It is a testament to his legacy as a pastor and to their desire to help MTS help others be
excellent pastors as well.
4.  The Randy Leslie Endowment
An existing endowment named in honor of Reverend Randy Leslie has been transformed to focus
on student needs.  The original endowment was established in 2006 to fund the purchase of trees for the
MTS campus.  But after Randy passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, April 5, 2009, at age 48, his wifeof 30 years, Cheryl King Leslie, modified the original endowment to have a different focus – one whichhelps Cumberland Presbyterian students at Memphis Theological Seminary with incidentals such as books,
lunch, travel, etc., based on selected guidelines.  Gifts to this endowment in memory of Randy Leslie arewelcome.  The family is always notified of memorial gifts
D. NAMED LECTURE SERIES AND FACULTY CHAIRS
1.  The Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Lectures in African American Studies
With a desire to strengthen the future of the church by helping to prepare theologically educatedclergy, MTS alumnus Reverend Sam Mickens established an endowment to fund the annual lecture series at
MTS during Black History Month (February), and renamed the lectures in honor of the seminary’s current
and first African American dean, Dr. Barbara A. Holmes.  The inaugural lecture held in February 2009
featured Dr. Cornel West. The 2010 lecturer was noted poet Dr. Nikki Giovanni.
2.  The Edward G. Humphreys Professor of Theology (2008-2010)
Mr. Jimmy Humphreys established this three-year named professorship to help strengthen
the ties between MTS and the Presbyterian Church (USA), and to encourage ministerial candidates toattend seminary in the Mid-South.  He named it in honor of his father, Edward G. Humphreys.  Tenured
Associate Professor of Theology, Dr. Matthew T. Mathews, B.A. M.Div., Ph.D., is serving as the Edward
G. Humphreys Associate Professor of Theology.
3.  The Rev. Marlon and Sheila Foster Professor of Pastoral Theology and Homiletics (2008-2010)
An anonymous donor established this three-year named professorship to encourage ministerial
candidates to attend Memphis Theological Seminary, in support of the great need for training in pastoralcare, and in honor of the designees.  Reverend Marlon Foster is a recent graduate of MTS.  Tenured Professorof Pastoral Theology and Homiletics, Dr. G. Lee Ramsey Jr., B.A., M.Div., Ph.D., is filling this role.
4.  The Dr. James L. Netters Chair in New Testament Studies (2009-2011)
Memphis Theological Seminary is dedicated to becoming the premier seminary in the country for
those who are devoted to racial reconciliation under the banner of the gospel.  Working together with agroup of pastors and lay leaders, the Elders for Education have established a named professorship that will
signal to the local and global community that we at MTS are serious about working toward the fulfillmentof peace and justice.  It is named in honor of beloved pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church – Westwood in
Memphis, Dr. James L. Netters.  Dr. Aliou Niang, B.R.S., M.A., Ph.D. is filling this role.
F. ESTATE GIFTSMTS has received word of two estate gifts during the current year.  We don’t yet know the amount ofthese gifts, but are deeply grateful for the generosity of Mrs. Anna Belle Harris of Charlotte, Tennessee and Mrs.
Elizabeth Dannelly of Jefferson, Texas who remembered the seminary in their wills.  We give thanks for the life

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and witness of these women, and encourage others to remember the ministry of MTS in their estate planning.
G. SEMINARY SUNDAY
In this current fiscal year, the following churches have already held a Seminary Sunday and sent
gifts to support the mission of MTS:
Cumberland Presbyterian – 34 churches, $9,181
Other denominations – 7 churches, $3,104
Individual gifts – 6, $825
We know that other churches are planning to hold a Seminary Sunday throughout the year.
H. ANNUAL FUND
Memphis Theological Seminary could not operate without the faithful contribution of its alumni
and friends.  Annual Fund contributions help us keep the cost of tuition down, so that students do not leaveseminary with a large burden of debt to have to pay during their early years in ministry.  Annual Fundcontributions have grown steadily over the past fifteen years, as income from Our United Outreach has
remained relatively steady.
In some respects, the income we receive from OUO puts us in a better position than many theologicalseminaries, whose income from denominational sources has declined significantly over the past twenty
years.  Our income from OUO has remained relatively steady and over that time period.  However, as apercentage of our total income, OUO has fallen from almost 20% to about 4% of our operating budget.  We
are grateful for the commitment of Cumberland Presbyterians to the ministry of MTS, and all our common
ministries, expressed so tangibly through giving to Our United Outreach.
At the same time, we do not expect income from denominational contributions to increasesignificantly in the future.  This means that we are required to put more time and energy into fund raisingthan ever before.  We are grateful for the many alumni who have made a financial contribution to our
ministry this year.  We are also grateful for all the faithful laypersons who have given to the Annual Fundbecause they know the importance of an educated ministry to the life and health of our denomination.
I. AUDIT REPORTThe auditing firm of Zoccola Kaplan, P.C. is auditing the books of Memphis Theological Seminary
for the 2008-2009 fiscal year and will be issuing its report before the meeting of General Assembly.  Copiesof that report will be filed with the office of the Stated Clerk as soon as they are available.

VI. SUSTAINING PASTORAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
Memphis Theological Seminary was the recipient of a $1.9 million grant from the Lilly Endowment,
Inc. in 2003 to implement a program called Sustaining Pastoral Excellence through Scholarship, Piety, andJustice.  The SPE program is designed to support excellence in ministry through education, prayer, mutual
support and accountability.   Sixty-eight pastors from ten different denominations began the program in
August 2004.  They were organized into six colleague groups who met monthly except in the summer andin December.  One of the original participants had to drop out of the three-year program this year, but theremaining sixty-seven participants continued to meet regularly for study, prayer, and service.  Nine of theparticipants were Cumberland Presbyterians.
SPE encourages the development of a balanced life among clergy participants.  Each of the colleague
groups develops a covenant through which clergy commit themselves to taking care of their mind, body,and spirit.  Colleague groups provide accountability as pastors seek to develop healthy life practices andhealthy relationships with parishioners and family members.  In addition, the program provides resourcesand education for spouses and children of clergy, and retreats for lay leaders of congregations served byparticipating pastors.
The SPE program has had a significant impact on the pastors who participated, generating a renewed
commitment to ministry and a deepening of spiritual resources for ministry.  In the last year of the program,each participant was given a sabbatical leave from their place of ministry.
We were informed by the Lilly Endowment that a smaller amount of funding would be madeavailable for continuation grants.  MTS was invited to apply for one of those continuation grants in order
to expand the program beyond the initial participants.  We applied in November 2006 for an additional

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In March of 2007 Lily informed us that our proposal was awarded the full $960,000 to begin thesecond round of SPE programming.  The grant will run for three years, from 2007-2010.  Forty participants
are engaged in the second SPE program, including six Cumberland Presbyterians.  While we had planned tohave funding in place to continue this program indefinitely beyond this grant period, the current economic
climate makes that dream unattainable.
We are working to develop a Center for Lifelong Learning and Leadership at MTS using what wehave learned from the SPE program.  More details about the new program will be available by next year’s
General Assembly.
Respectfully submitted,
Chester Dickson, Moderator of the Board of Trustees
Daniel J. Earheart-Brown, President
Memphis Theological Seminary
Report on the Financial Condition of Memphis Theological Seminary
For the Institutional Viability Program Association of Theological Schools
Edited February 3, 2010
Overview of MTS
Memphis Theological Seminary is the only seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church(CPC), a small denomination (80,000 members) born out of the great revival on the frontier in 1810.
Leaders of the new denomination were supportive of the revival movement, dissented from the Westminster
Confession’s implied “fatalism,” and sought to adapt theological education to the needs of the frontier.
MTS is the continuation of two predecessor schools, both founded in 1852 – the School of
Theology at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, and the Department of Theology at BethelCollege in McKenzie, Tennessee.  After 1906, assets from both schools were consolidated in McKenzie
under the name Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  In 1964 the denomination relocated theseminary to Memphis, Tennessee, to take advantage of a larger population center.  With the move, leadersof the seminary intentionally sought to recruit a more ecumenical and diverse student body.  The General
Assembly approved a recommendation from the Board of Trustees that the school be renamed Memphis
Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
After the move to Memphis, enrollment at MTS grew steadily, incorporating students from a broad
spectrum of Protestant Christianity.  The commitment of seminary leaders and the church to civil rights in
the 1960s led to increasing enrollment from African American students from Baptist, Methodist, and othertraditions.
MTS became an unaccredited member of the American Association of Theological Schools in 1942,
and was accredited by ATS in 1973.  In 1987 the seminary received formal approval from the University
Senate of the United Methodist Church to educate UM clergy, and in 1988 the school was awarded fullaccreditation by the Southern Association of College and Schools.
MTS awards three degrees: the Master of Divinity, the Master of Arts (Religion), and the Doctor of
Ministry.  It is governed by a twenty-four member Board of Trustees. Members are elected by the General
Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Thirteen members must be members of the CPC, andeleven are members of other constituent churches.
Today MTS enrolls approximately 350 students from approximately 30 different denominations.
The largest single denomination represented in the student body is the United Methodist Church.  At any
given time 35-40% of students are United Methodist.  About 15% of the students come from the CPC, ourparent denomination. In the fall of 2009, 46% of students were African American.
In the early 1990s, MTS shifted to a block schedule, where classes are taught once a week inthree-hour blocks.  This move has made attendance at MTS easier for commuters and part-time working
students, which make up a significant percentage of the student body.  Currently, students commute weekly
to campus from about a 250 mile radius around Memphis.
The Environment
Memphis, Tennessee, is the nineteenth largest city in the United States by population (669,651 by
US Census Bureau 2008 estimate), and the 41st largest metropolitan area (just under 1.3 million, USCB).
The Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area is poised to become the first major metropolitan area in the

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nation with a majority African American population in the 2010 census or soon thereafter.
Three accredited theological seminaries are located in the Memphis area.   In addition to MTS,
Mid-America Theological Seminary is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church, and Harding Graduate
School of Religion is affiliated with the Churches of Christ (conservative wing of the Stone-Campbell
movement).  Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, offers a few courses in Memphis
through a partnership with the Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies.  We rarely compete directlyfor students with the other seminaries in our city because of the theological differences in outlook between
MTS and these other schools.
MTS has been able to provide quality, affordable theological education to students from Arkansas,
Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri because of its location in the heart of the MidSouth.  The commitment of MTS to provide theological education to men and women of all races andcultures has helped make us the primary choice for many mainline Protestants and some Evangelicals who
do not want to relocate to attend a seminary of their denominational tradition.
In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of non-denominational students and students
who are preparing for non-traditional ministries.  We have been working to identify potential students forcertificate and degree programs who may not be interested in our traditional Master of Divinity degree.
Sources of Funding
MTS’ primary funding sources are 1) tuition and fees, 2) gifts and grants, 3) investment income,and 4) auxiliary enterprises.  For the past ten years, income from tuition and fees, net of scholarships, hasgrown steadily, from just over $1 million, to $1.76 million in the most recently completed fiscal year, which
ended on July 31, 2009.
Income from gifts and grants has grown, but at a more irregular rate.  The numbers fluctuated overthe past ten years in part because of estate gifts, and in part due to two large grants received in the past ten
years from the Lilly Endowment ($1.9 million received in 2003, and $950,000 in 2008).  The expenses
related to those grants have been paid out over intervening years, even though the income was received at
the beginning of the time for which expenses were incurred.
One of our largest gifts each year comes from the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly
through its unified giving program for congregations, called Our United Outreach (OUO).  The contribution
from this source is approximately $235,000 per year, an amount that has remained fairly static for the past
20 years.  In 1990, income from OUO was 19% of the operating budget.  In the most recently completed
fiscal year, that gift amounted to about 5% of the operating budget.  Anticipating that such gifts will continue
to be static, MTS has put most of its efforts into cultivating gifts from individual major donors.
Investment income is received from endowment funds established by donors and by the Boardof Trustees over the history of MTS.  The value of MTS’s endowment has grown steadily over the past
twenty years, until the severe market downturn of 2007-2009.  The following list details the balance in theendowment fund as of the end of the fiscal year shown (our fiscal year runs August 1 – July 31).
1990 $3.00 million.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
1995 $3.75 million.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
2000 $6.26 million
2001 $6.57 million
2002 $7.02 million
2003 $7.49 million
2004 $8.72 million
2005 $10.00 million
2006 $10.24 million
2007 $10.98 million
2008 $10.66 million
2009 $9.16 million (projected)
In fiscal year 2008-2009, we budgeted for $600,000 in income from investments, and instead
realized a loss of approximately $1.5 million on the value of our endowments.  This situation led us to use
a significant portion of our unrestricted endowment to fund current operations.
Income from auxiliary enterprises comes primarily from student and non-student rental properties.
This income is limited by our lack of food service, bookstore, and other revenue-producing enterprises

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on campus.  In the past year, we have contracted with an online bookstore to provide textbooks for ourstudents.  MTS realizes a 3% return on all books sold through our online bookstore.
MTS currently holds a $400,000 line of credit with a local bank that we have been unable to pay
down for the past 18 months.  The Board of Trustees has had some discussion about taking unrestrictedinvestments to pay off the line of credit, but has not taken action to do so at this time.
Long-term debt currently stands at $2.25 million dollars in notes payable to the Board of Stewardshipof the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, all related to purchase of property within the bounds of our longrange campus development plan.
The following table lists total income for the ten year period, segmented by source.

Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Tuition& fees$1,001,268$1,026,833$1,230,657$1,281,134$1,371,149$1,503,241$1,651,420$1,646,248$1,629,682$1,762,131

Income from all Sources 2000-2009
Investment
Gifts
Auxiliary
income& grants
enterprises
Total$274,694$616,538$407,747$2,300,247$676,035$1,467,519$80,212$3,250,599$57,870$1,181,763$122,828$2,593,118$677,994$3,277,745$95,513$5,332,386$658,647$2,936,297$117,849$5,083,942$564,538$1,454,110$205,328$3,727,217$872,660$1,281,152$134,474$3,939,706$1,809,697$2,124,715$265,358$5,846,018$-160,056$3,734,533$361,800$5,565,959$-1,500,000$1,335,372$282,789$1,880,292$39,519,484

Total lessSPE grants$2,300,247$3,250,599$2,593,118$3,432,386$5,083,942$3,727,217$3,939,706$5,846,018$4,615,959$1,880,292$36,669,484

Expenses
For the past ten years, expenses have increased significantly, from $2.34 million a year to a high of$4.57 million in fiscal year 2007 (excepting SPE grant-funded expenses), and were $4.27 million in 2009
(excepting SPE).
The table that follows identifies expenses by year.   The final column lists expenses with the
Sustaining Pastoral Excellence expenses, funded by two major grants, removed.  There were significant
increases in 2005 and 2007, in part due to increasing staff and faculty levels to meet past growth; in partdue to administrative reorganization to provide a higher level of service to students.  Clearly, the growth in
expenses was larger than revenue sources could sustain through difficult economic times.

Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Educational
Program Serv.
$1,370,651$1,450,107$1,526,410$1,410,548$1,785,122$2,206,778$2,295,994$3,058,964$2,576,706$2,666,627

Admin.
Support$347,731$349,464$346,310$408,394$494,880$721,283$672,005$1,041,703$1,017,788$673,194

Expenses 2000-2009
DevelopFacilities
ment
operation$249,696$368,041$258,205$426,673$215,258$439,953$188,039$559,206$227,900$665,040$233,242$704,583$248,470$796,388$335,467$904,371$404,581$1,093,424$403,296$828,613

Total$2,336,119$2,484,449$2,527,931$2,566,187$3,172,942$3,865,886$4,012,857$5,340,505$5,092,499$4,571,730$35,971,105

Total
minus SPE
$2,336,119$2,484,449$2,527,931$2,550,782$3,018,988$3,511,804$3,674,101$4,567,386$4,777,254$4,266,045$33,714,859

For the current fiscal year, most employees took a reduction in salary (4% - President; 3% Vice
Presidents; 2% Faculty and Director level administrators; 1% other salaried employees; no change –hourly employees).   In addition, we took steps to cut other discretionary spending, reducing travel formany employees, and delaying non-necessary purchases.  These steps, we project, will result in savings ofapproximately $250,000 over last year’s expenses.
We have not laid off any employees to-date, but we have delayed hiring one full-time faculty
position, and have left other positions that have come open unfilled where possible.

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How did the current financial position develop?
The current financial position has developed largely because of failure to plan for the recession.
Though we believe we are in a position to be able to survive the effects of last year’s huge deficit, we musttake steps now to reduce expenses and increase income in the event that the weakness in the economy lasts
for an extended period of time.
During the current year, the executive team is reviewing all programs for their fiscal contribution
or drain on seminary operations so that if further cuts become necessary we will know which programs arecost effective and which are not.
In our budget planning for next year, we are examining every avenue to reduce expenses withoutcompromising the quality of educational experience for students at MTS.
What steps have been taken?
1.  Increased focus and attention on fundraising.  The Advancement Department has been increased
in size over the past four years, adding capabilities in donor research and grant writing.  This has enabled us
to receive grants from new local and national sources.  In addition, recruitment for membership on the Boardof Trustees has focused on identifying and cultivating persons with ability to contribute personally and help
cultivate major donors for the seminary.  The Advancement Department has also initiated a renewed focus
on planned gifts.  The President is committing more time to cultivation of major donors than in the recent
past.
2.  We identified a significant drain on institutional resources from a decision made three years ago
to outsource our Information Technology services to a local contractor.  That contract has been terminated,
and a new Director of IT has been employed who is providing a higher level of service at a more reasonable
cost to MTS.
3.  Cost cutting measures.  As mentioned earlier, employees received modest salary reductions.  In
addition, there has been a decrease in benefits offered, including the reduction of MTS matching contribution
to 403-B plans from 5% to 2 1/2%.  Employees were also asked to assume a larger percentage of healthinsurance premiums.
4.  Serious investigation of alternate forms of delivery for educational content.  A new partnership
was developed in 2009 to provide education for youth ministers through the Center for Youth Ministry
Training.   This new certificate program will generate a positive cash flow of about $30,000 – $40,000
during the current fiscal year.  We are also investigating off-site locations, additional certificate programs indrug and alcohol addiction counseling, and a Korean language Doctor of Ministry.
5.  We have investigated the potential of renting space in our historic Founders Hall for events,
but have been slowed in that process by requirements from the state Board of Equalization to avoid being
assessed property taxes on the portion of the building used for such purposes.
Other steps that may be necessary
For next fiscal year, we are considering an increase in tuition and reduction of scholarships that are
not funded.  We know that some targeted reductions in work force may be necessary, since a significant
portion of the budget goes to fund salaries and benefits.  Though enrollment has remained stable, we havebeen working to identify more effective recruitment strategies, and have called on our base of alumni forgreater support in gifts and referrals.
We have begun to ask questions about our current faculty teaching load (five courses per year) andfairly generous sabbatical policies.
Areas in which we need additional insight
We need guidance on the cost effectiveness of satellite sites for instruction, and in the area of online delivery of courses.  We are fairly confident that there is a market for these innovations, but want tomake sure that we are able to maintain quality of instruction in those programs.  We are also exploring thepossibility of offering more lay and certificate education programs.
We need guidance about the feasibility of other sources of income from enterprises like a campus
bookstore, campus food service, and other potential revenue generators.
Submitted by Jay Earheart-Brown, Ph.D.
President and Professor of Theology
Memphis Theological Seminary

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THE REPORT OF THE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
February 4, 2010, holds special significance for Cumberland Presbyterians.  Indeed, the year 2010itself is something of a milestone for our denomination.  It is not that the date or the year are somehow inand of themselves more hallowed than any other year and date but, for Cumberland Presbyterians, with asense of their heritage, they represent 200 years of collective witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ by
the People called Cumberland Presbyterian.  More than that, however, they represent the drive and staminaof those generations of unnamed Cumberland Presbyterians.  Our own significance is meager comparedto their collected witness.  It is not for ourselves that we celebrate but for all those who went before us toprepare our way.

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD
The officers of the board are as follows: Gwen McReynolds, president; Rick White, vice-president;
Sidney Milton, secretary.  Susan Knight Gore is the director of the Historical Library and Archives andtreasurer.
B. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE TO THE 135TH CPCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The board's representative to the 135th General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America (CPCA) is Rick White.  The alternate is Edna Barnett.
C. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE TO THE 180TH CPC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The board's representative to the 180th General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church(CPC) is Gwen McReynolds.  The alternate is Tommy Jobe.
D. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
The board is currently composed of the following members: from the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America—Edna Barnett, Vanessa Barnhill, Naomi King, and Rick White, from the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church—Pam Davis, Cliff Hudson, Tommy Jobe, Gwen McReynolds, Sidney Milton, andSidney Swindle.
The Board of Trustees met, September 18-19, 2009, in Dickson, Tennessee and February 26, 2010,
in Cordova, Tennessee.
E. MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE
The first terms of Pam Davis and Sidney Milton expire with the 2010 meeting of the Cumberland
Presbyterian General Assembly, and they are eligible for reelection.   The second term of Cliff Hudson
expires with the 2010 meeting of the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly, and he is eligible forreelection.   The first terms of Vanessa Barnhill and Naomi King expire with the 2010 meeting of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly, and they are eligible for reelection.
F. STAFF
Susan Knight Gore serves as the Archivist of the Historical Foundation.  Reverend Missy Rose is
the archival assistant for the Foundation.
G. EVALUATION OF ARCHIVISTAt the direction of the General Assembly, the board conducted the annual evaluation of the archivist,
Susan Knight Gore at its February 2010 meeting.

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H. CHARTER
Under the counsel of attorney, Jamie Jordan, the Foundation requested that he restate our charterto incorporate several amendments.  At its meeting in February 2010, the board of trustees approved thefollowing restated charter:
Amended and Restated Charter of the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
State of Tennessee Control Number 000152518
Pursuant to Sections 48-60-105 and 48-60-106 of the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act, the corporation
adopts the following amended and restated charter.
1.
The name of the corporation is: Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
2.
The corporation is a nonprofit religious corporation and a public benefit corporation.
3.
The corporation shall be authorized to engage in any lawful business and to exercise any
power permitted by law.  The corporation was formed to collect and preserve the materials of, and to promote
the knowledge of the history of, the churches, institutions, and people of the Cumberland Presbyterian
denomination; and to establish and maintain a library, archives, and museum for the acquisition and care ofsuch material and records.
4.
The corporation shall have one member, which shall be Cumberland Presbyterian Church
General Assembly Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the Tennessee Nonprofit
Corporation Act.
5.
The corporation shall have a board of directors consisting of not less than three (3) nor morethan twelve (12) directors, each of whom shall be elected by the member or the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America as provided below.   The member of the corporation may elect up to six (6) of thedirectors serving on the board at any one time.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America may electup to six (6) of the directors serving on the board at any one time.  A normal term of office shall be three (3)years, but the terms may be staggered so that not all terms expire simultaneously.  The duly elected directors
at any given time shall constitute the board.  The member may remove any director elected by it, with orwithout cause, by giving written notice of the removal to the director and to the president of the corporation.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America may remove any director elected by it, with or withoutcause, by giving written notice of the removal to the director and to the president of the corporation.
6.
The corporation shall not, without the prior written consent of the member: (1) merge withanother corporation; (2) dissolve; or (3) sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of all, or substantiallyall, of its property.
7.
This charter shall not be amended without the prior consent of the member.
8.
The registered office of the corporation shall be in Shelby County, Tennessee. The nameand address of the registered agent is:
Susan Knight Gore
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, Tennessee, 38016
9.
The principal office of the corporation is:8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, Tennessee, 38016
10.
The corporation is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious
and charitable purposes.  No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any
individual.  No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be attempting to influence legislation
through propaganda or otherwise.  The corporation shall not participate in or intervene in any political
campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
11.
The assets of the corporation shall be dedicated to the religious purposes of the corporation.
Upon the dissolution of the corporation, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities,
the assets of the corporation shall be distributed to Cumberland Presbyterian Church General Assembly
Corporation if it shall then qualify as an exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (or corresponding section of any future United States tax code), and if it does not so
qualify, then to one or more organizations which do qualify as an exempt organization described in Section
501(c)(3).

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12.
The directors of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation formonetary damages arising from any breach of the director's fiduciary duty as a director except with regard
to:a.
A breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation;b.
Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or aknowing violation of law; orc.
Unlawful distributions of the corporation's assets.
13.
Historical information.  The 150th General Assembly in 1980 changed the name of theHistorical Committee to "Trustees of the Historical Foundation" and authorized its incorporation.  A charter
was filed with the State of Tennessee and corporate status granted on November 3, 1980.  The first boardof trustees consisted of John William Sparks, Alfred Bennett, Virginia Sue Morrow, Ruth Morgan Parham,
and Bobbie E. Oliver. Richard Magrill was the first secretary/treasurer.
In September 1985, the Historical Foundation and its Library and Archives moved from the Memphis
Theological Seminary to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Center, 1978 Union Avenue, Memphis,
Tennessee.  In August 1994, with the approval of the general assemblies of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, the name of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America was added to the name of the corporation.   In September 2001, the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church General Assembly Corporation became the sole member of the corporation.  Each ofthese occasions required amendments to the original charter.
In 2010, the corporation approved this Amended and Restated Charter to update the charter, tobring it into compliance with all requirements of state law, and to gather the applicable provisions of theoriginal charter and all amendments into a single document.
This Amended and Restated Charter was approved by the board of directors and dated this 26th day
of February, 2010, to become effective as provided in the attached Certificate and the laws of the State ofTennessee.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the General Assembly approve the above Charter of theHistorical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America.

II. ASSEMBLY REPORTING
As a matter of official structure, relative to the CPC, there is a Board of Trustees composed ofeleven members from both the CPC and CPCA, and relative to the CPCA, there is a committee composed ofmembers from the CPCA.  Continuing previously established practice, we respectfully request the General
Assembly of the CPCA to receive this report as that of its Historical Committee.

III. PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIESA. HISTORY INTERPRETATION AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
1. The 1810 Circle
In order to enlist the financial support of interested members of our churches in the work of theFoundation, the 1810 Circle was created.  Membership is based on a financial contribution of $25 or more
per year.  Income through such gifts enables the Foundation to meet expenditures and is vital to the continued
work of the Foundation. Members making such gifts were: Juanita Butler Benson (Camden, Arkansas),
C. G. Bridges (Clarksville, Tennessee), Clinton Buck (Memphis, Tennessee), Gordon & Forda Campbell(Springfield, Missouri), Michael & April Fare (Nixa, Missouri), Dr. & Mrs John Gam (Auburn, Alabama),
James & Freda Gilbert (Fort Worth, Texas), Matthew & Susan Knight Gore (Bartlett, Tennessee), Jo Ann
Hall (Bowling Green, Kentucky), J. David Hester (Knoxville, Tennessee), Tom Hunter (Hendersonville,
Tennessee), Annelle Jones (Nashville, Tennessee), Helen Shelton Knight (Bartlett, Tennessee), Robert& Jane Little (Dyersburg, Tennessee), James & Louelle Lively (Benton, Kentucky), Rose Mary Magrill(Marshall, Texas), James & Maribeth Smith McGuire (Greeneville, Tennessee), Jimmie McKinley(Longview, Texas), Osborne McMillan (Warrensburg, Missouri), D. L. & Martha Moody (Russellville,
Arkansas), Alvin Richards (White, Georgia), Jean & Regena Richardson (Powell, Tennessee), Robert &Olene Rush (Bartlett, Tennessee), Edward White (Tampa, Florida), Grace Whitfield (Gadsden, Alabama),

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and Clare Wiseman (Winchester, Tennessee).
We appreciate the support given to the Foundation by all members of the 1810 Circle and encourageother members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America to join this donor group.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the General Assembly, through its minutes and summary ofactions, make congregations and presbyteries aware of the 1810 Circle and encourage new members
to support this endeavor annually.
2. Patrons
Persons who contribute $100 or more to one of the endowments of the Historical Foundation
become patron members and receive a certificate.  Patron memberships may also be given in honor or inmemory of an individual.  New patrons of the Foundation include: Lita C. Swindle.
3. Heritage Churches
Congregations contributing a minimum of $1,000 to an endowment of the Historical Foundation
become Heritage Churches and receive a framed certificate.  There are six categories of recognition andchurches can move from one level to another.
Heritage Church          $1,000 - $4,999
Silver Heritage Church          $5,000 to $9,999
Golden Heritage Church          $10,000 to $24,999
Platinum Heritage Church          $25,000 to $49,999
Diamond Heritage Church          $50,000 to $99,000
Jubilee Heritage Church          $100,000 and up
Golden Heritage Church:
Longview, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Longview, Texas (Trinity Presbytery)
Silver Heritage Church:
Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Midlothian, Texas (Red River Presbytery)
Heritage Churches:
Elmira Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Longview, Texas (Trinity Presbytery)
Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Sharon, Tennessee (West Tennessee Presbytery)Jerusalem Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Murfreesboro Presbytery)
4. Presbyterial Heritage Committees/Presbyterial Historians
To promote interest in the work of the Foundation and to nurture the work of history on thepresbyterial level, the Historical Foundation seeks to work cooperatively with the Presbyterial Heritage
Committees/Presbyterial Historians of both general assemblies.  The brochure, Suggestions for Heritage
Committees and Presbyterial Historians, is available from the Foundation.   The board expresses its
appreciation to the presbyteries that have Heritage Committees/Presbyterial Historians.
The foundation expresses gratitude to Covenant Presbytery, Presbytery del Cristo and West
Tennessee Presbytery for completing the task of producing a Presbyterial Directory and depositing copies
in the archives.   They join the following presbyteries who have completed this important preservation
project: Andes Presbytery, Cauca Valley Presbytery, Columbia Presbytery, Cumberland Presbytery, Japan
Presbytery, Missouri Presbytery, Presbytery of East Tennessee, Red River Presbytery and Robert Donnell
Presbytery.
5. Denomination Day Offering
In January, congregations received bulletin inserts, for the project: 200th Anniversary of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  This project helped provide funds to erect a bicentennial monument at
the Birthplace Shrine located within Montgomery Bell State Park outside of Dickson, Tennessee.
The Foundation expresses appreciation to congregations and others groups who received special
offerings for the work of the Historical Foundation on Denomination Day.  This special offering provides
an opportunity for congregations to directly contribute to the support of the Historical Foundation as well as
the Foundation supplying educational materials to each congregation.  In 2010, $6,834.41 was generously
donated by individuals, congregations, and presbyteries for this special project.

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RECOMMENDATION 3: That congregations be encouraged to have a special offering on the
Sunday designated as Denomination Day to help support the programs of the Historical Foundation.
B. PUBLICATIONS
1. Pamphlets
The Historical Foundation maintains a supply of promotional pamphlets which describe its purpose
and work, the various means of financially supporting this work, and listings of available publications
and prints for sale through the Foundation.  There are two pamphlets in this series: Historical Foundation
Patrons and The 1810 Circle.
These pamphlets may be ordered in bulk or singly from the Foundation office by indicating the title
or titles of pamphlets needed, the number needed, and the mailing address for their delivery.
2. Publication Series
The Foundation has a number of titles and prints available for purchase.  Income from the sale ofthese items goes into the Historical Foundation Trust, a permanent endowment supporting the Foundation'swork.  In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
Cumberland Presbytery has funded the reprinting of History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, by
B. W. McDonnold, originally published in 1888.  Additional titles available are the 1883 Confession of
Faith (CPC), the 1895 Cumberland Cook Book, Cumberland Presbyterianism and Arminianism Compared/
Contrasted on Selected Doctrines by Joe Ben Irby, Faith Once Delivered; Some Indispensable Doctrinesof the Christian Faith, by Joe Ben Irby, Family of Faith: Cumberland Presbyterians in Harrison County[Texas], 1848-1998 by Rose Mary Magrill, History of East Side Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
Memphis, Tennessee, Life and Thought of Milton Bird by Joe Ben Irby, Life and Thought of Rev. Finis
Ewing by Joe Ben Irby, Life and Thought of Reuben Burrow by Joe Ben Irby, Life and Thought of Robert
Verrell Foster by Joe Ben Irby, Life and Thought of Stanford Guthrie Burney by Joe Ben Irby, Life andTimes of Finis Ewing by F. R. Cossitt , Soundings by Morris Pepper, This They Believed by Joe Ben Irby,
Theological Snippets by Joe Ben Irby, What Cumberland Presbyterians Believe by E. K. Reagin, and printsof the Samuel McAdow Home and the First Meeting of Cumberland Presbytery.  These items are available
for sale from Cumberland Presbyterian Resources.
3. Denomination Day Resources
All the Past is but the Beginning of Beginning (Denomination Day resource) is available on theFoundation’s web site under the Resources section: http://www.cumberland.org/hfcpc/resource/.  It includes
eight dramas intended to present the birth of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America.  A hard copy may be requested from the Foundation office.
C. HISTORICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
1. Award in Cumberland Presbyterian History
The Foundation encourages the writing and publication of papers on all aspects of the history of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  One means ofpromoting such writing is the Historical Foundation Award in Cumberland Presbyterian History.  A $300
prize is awarded to the author entering the best paper on any CP or CPCA history subject which meets inform and content the requirements set by the Board of Trustees and judged by the board appointed awardscommittee.  All manuscripts submitted to the competition become property of the Foundation and are added
to the Historical Library and Archives.
The contest follows the calendar year, and entries for the 2010 competition are encouraged.  Allentries will be accepted through December 2010 for this year's contest.  Any entries received following thedeadline of December 31st will be automatically entered in the 2011 competition.
Guidelines and entry forms for submitting manuscripts to the competition are available from theFoundation office as well as on the internet, http://www.cumberland.org/hfcpc/Awards.htm.  The HistoricalFoundation appreciates the participation of past and future CPCA and CP historians in this program.
2. Awards of Recognition
Awards of recognition are certificates given to organizations or individuals in recognition of historic
events or contributions to the preservation of our heritage as Cumberland Presbyterians.   Appropriate

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applications for the award are: particular churches celebrating anniversaries of their organization; any
judicatory or agency celebrating publication of a written history; celebrations of history or historic eventin a creative or unusual manner; individuals who have provided continued service for 60 years or moreas members of a local congregation or presbytery; individuals who have served for 40 years or more in acontinuing leadership role (including pastors) within a local church.  Individuals, churches, or presbyterial
heritage committees may make application for the issuing of an award by contacting the Foundation office.
Application forms are supplied by the Foundation office as well as the internet, http://www.cumberland.org/
hfcpc/Awards.htm.
Recipients of Awards of Recognition:Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Charleston, Tennessee) October 25, 2009, for its successful
renovation of its original historical 1864 sanctuary.
Reverend Charles A. Hendershot, April 5, 2009, for 60th anniversary of ordination and 20 years service as
pastor of Whitney Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
D. RELATIONSHIPS
Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest
The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest is an agency of The Synod of the Sun,
Presbyterian Church (USA) and Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
and Texas.  In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church the 32nd annual
meeting was held March 5-6, 2010, in Memphis, Tennessee.  Members of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church who serve on the board of this organization are Reverend Norlan Scrudder and Dr. Rose Mary
Magrill.

IV. HISTORICAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES
A. RESEARCH SERVICEThe Foundation's main research commitment is to the agencies, local congregations, and membersof the Cumberland Presbyterian Churches.   Since the Historical Library and Archives of the HistoricalFoundation serves as the official repository for the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assemblies, this is
our focus.  Although the separation of research into two types designated by their mode of access has been
rapid and dramatic, both the traditional and “cyber” mode contribute to and enhance the other.
1. Traditional/Physical Access
Hands on access to primary source material remains the vital heart of historic and theologicalresearch.  Rather than being diminished by increased electronic resources, traditional research has broadened
due to heightened awareness of primary sources in an expanding information age.  The Foundation receives
research requests by personal visitors, mail, email, and telephone.  As time permits, requests are researched.
Responses are sent to the requestor, as well as pertinent information on ministers, congregations, presbyteries
and synods being placed on our website for future researchers.
2. Electronic Access
The Foundation's website continues to expand in order to provide greater access to the materials in
the Historical Library and Archives.  As well as being a research tool, the internet provides an invaluable
and inexpensive means of promotion for the physical collections of the Historical Library and Archives,
the activities of the Historical Foundation, and for the greater community of faith called Cumberland
Presbyterians.  Information at the site includes: general information about the Foundation, entire texts ofimportant historical documents, historical information on particular congregations, ministers, presbyteries,and synods.  The gateway URL to the Foundation’s website is http://www.cumberland.org/hfcpc/.  Presently,
the Historical Foundation maintains approximately 800 individual web pages.  These pages are grouped
into twenty-five main sections each containing multiple sub pages and numerous graphics.  Many of theseweb pages are the equivalent of hundreds of "pages" of printed text.  The main sections are: Home Page (1);Assembly Meetings & Officers (20); Awards (5); Birthplace Shrine (1); Books Online (21); Books Needed(1); Collection Development (1), Congregations (278); Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (105);
Curriculum (18); Endowments (1), Heritage Churches (1); Historical Library and Archives (4); Lay Leaders2010

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175(17); Ministers (806); Opportunities for Giving (2); Patron Memberships (1); Periodicals (8); Presbyteries(154); Publications and Prints for Sale (1); Resources for Denomination Day (1); Schools (34); Sermons(3); Stated Clerks (1); Synods (58); Union of 1906 (1).
B. ACQUISITIONSThe Historical Library and Archives regularly receives items published by the two denominations,
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Preliminary Minutes of theGeneral Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Yearbook of the General Assembly of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, The Cumberland Presbyterian, Missionary Messenger, Minutes of theGeneral Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, Preliminary Minutes of the General
Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, and The Cumberland Flag. Synods andpresbyteries deposit four copies of their printed minutes in the Historical Library and Archives.  In addition,
books, pamphlets, theses, dissertations, records and publications of general assembly, boards, agencies,
institutions, and task forces; records and publications of synods and presbyteries, session records andother materials of particular churches, biographical material of Cumberland Presbyterian and Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America ministers, photographs, audiovisual materials, and museum items wereamong the accessions received. The 2009 Accession List closed with 87 accession groups.
Some of the highlights added to the collection in 2009 include:
Books
Bagby, Larry. The Perils of the Parson and the Grieving Church, 2009.
Guin, Larry Braxton. Features From the Bible: Truth in Scripture-Old Testament, 2009.
Merritt, Joyce. Naked Before God: A Journey Into Light & Life, 2008.
Munday, Lurania A. H. Acacian Lyrics and Miscellaneous Poems. St. Louis: Printed at the Office of the
Cumberland Presbyterian, 1857.
Shupe, Bob G. The Little Brown Church in the Vale...When Did the Lights Go Out? A Look at the Dying
Twenty-first Century Denominational Movement and Maybe its Only Hope, 2008.
Wilson, Joseph M. The Presbyterian Historical Almanac, and Annual Remembrancer of the Church.
Volume seven, 1865.
Museum Items
Bullet Pencil. Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House, 117 Eighth Avenue, South Nashville, Tennessee
Printers, Publishers C. C. Brock, Gen. Mgr.
Monogrammed Calling Card Case. Reverend Robert G. Forester.
Monogrammed Dishes. Petersburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Petersburg, Illinois.
Pin. 23rd Young People’s General Assembly. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Ovoca, Tullahoma,
Tennessee. June 25-July 2, 1946.
Trivet. Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Memphis, Tennessee. 20th Anniversary, 1953-1973.
Newspapers
Banner of Peace. Princeton, Kentucky. 1840-1841.
Cumberland Presbyterian. Uniontown. Pennsylvania. 1848-1849
Other Church Records
Big Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Izard County, Arkansas. Deeds.
Cleveland Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Cleveland, Tennessee. Church Directory. 1918.
Pine Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Henderson, Texas. Orders of Worship. 20042006.
Pleasant Plain Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Troup, Texas. Orders of Worship. 2005-2008.
Periodicals
Our Church Helper. Official Organ of Indiana Synod. 1905-1907.
Sunday School Gem. Nashville, Tennessee. 1881, 1884, 1893.
Photographs
Reverend William Burgess Cunningham (1883-1943)
Reverend Robert Peel Keathley (1901-1943)
Reverend Young Whitfield (1876-1958)
Union City Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Union City, Tennessee)
Postcards
Clinton Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Clinton, Missouri)
Lawrenceburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Lawrenceburg, Tennessee)
Oliver Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Oliver Springs, Tennessee)

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Paragould Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Paragould, Arkansas)
Sugar Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Glenarm, Illinois)
Presbyterial Records
Birmingham Presbytery. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Minutes. 1905.
Madison Presbytery. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Minutes. 1902.
New Hope Presbytery. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Minutes. 1900-1901, 1905..
Sermons
Reverend Walter L. Chesnut
Reverend Samuel Uriah Leinbach (1868-1936)
Reverend James Polasky Russell (1834-1915)
Session Records
Special recognition is given to congregations who have deposited their session records in the Historical
Library and Archives. They include:
Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church. DeKalb County, Alabama. 1868-1905.
Brentwood Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Brentwood, Tennessee. 1987-2003.
Clark’s Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Maryville, Tennessee. 1910-1955, 1967-1986
Clinch View Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Lenoir City, Tennessee. 1995-2008.
East Gadsden Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Milligan’s Chapel). Gadsden, Alabama. 1912-1964.
Elkton Cumberland Presbyterian Church Elkton, Kentucky. 1868-1988
Hickory Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Beaver Dam, Kentucky. 1955-1986.
Lebanon/Kimlin Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Casey, Illinois. 1933-1975.
Lockesburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Lockesburg, Arkansas. 1961-1970.
Lytle’s Creek /Mount Tabor Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 1868-1906, 19162008.
Mount Pleasant/Sand Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Utica, Kentucky. 1844-1919, 1926-1973.
Pineville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Pineville, Arkansas. 1913-1979, 1982-1988.
San Antonio, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. San Antonio, Texas. 1922-1931, 1945-1958.
Spring Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dunnegan, Missouri. 1911-1964, 1971-2006.
Union City Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Union City, Tennessee. 1950-1957, 1971-2005.
Synodical Records
Columbia Synod. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Minutes. 1875-1876.
Mississippi Synod. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Minutes. 1899, 1902-1905.
Texas Synod. Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Minutes. 2001, 2003
Texas Synod. Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Program. 1999-2000, 2004-2005.

V. BIRTHPLACE SHRINE
The Birthplace Shrine located at Montgomery Bell State Park near Dickson, Tennessee wasdedicated June 18, 1960.  This site consists of the Memorial Chapel and a replica of the Reverend Samuel
McAdow's log house.  Since 1994, the Foundation has been responsible for the preservation of the Birthplace
Shrine.  Four endowments provide funds for maintenance and repairs: the Grace Johnson Beasley Birthplace
Shrine Fund, the Birthplace Shrine Fund, the Henry Evan Harper Endowment for Cumberland Presbyterian
History, and the P.F. Johnson Memorial Endowment. Gifts to these endowments provide for the continued
preservation of the Birthplace Shrine.  Interested donors are encouraged to contact the Foundation office.
Another means of support are the wedding fees collected from couples who use the chapel for their wedding
ceremony.  These funds are added to the Birthplace Shrine Fund and earnings are used for maintenance andspecial projects.  The Board encourages individuals and groups to visit the Birthplace Shrine as an act ofremembering our heritage and envisioning our future as Cumberland Presbyterians.
Groups and individuals are encouraged to contact the Foundation to set up work days and special
projects.   The Foundation thanks the Heritage Committee of Nashville Presbytery and the Charlotte
Cumberland Presbyterian Church for their continuing volunteer upkeep of the property.

VI. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2009
The financial statements for 2009 are in the process of being audited by Fouts and Morgan, Certified
Public Accountants, and copies of these statements with the auditor's opinion will be deposited with the
CPC Office of the General Assembly and the Stated Clerk of the CPCA.

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VII. FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND 2010 BUDGETS
A. BUDGETS
The 2010 line-item budget of the Historical Foundation has been filed with the CPC General
Assembly Office.
The 2010 line-item budget of the Historical Foundation Committee has been filed with the Executive
Committee of the CPCA General Assembly.
B. ENDOWMENTS
1. Endowments Listing
Below is a list of the endowment funds for the Foundation with new funds in boldface type.
Anne Elizabeth Knight Adams Heritage Fund
Rosie Magrill Alexander TrustPaul H. and Ann M. Allen Heritage Fund
Grace Johnson Beasley Birthplace Shrine Fund
Birthplace Shrine FundJames L. and Louise M. Bridges Heritage Fund
Sydney and Elinor Brown Heritage FundCentennial Heritage Endowment
Walter Chesnut Heritage Fund
Lavenia Campbell Cole Heritage Fund
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America Heritage Fund
Cumberland Presbyterian Women Archival Supplies Endowment
Samuel Russell & Mary Grace (Barefoot) Estes Endowment
Family of Faith Endowment
Gettis and Delia Snyder Gilbert Heritage FundHenry Evan Harper Endowment for Cumberland Presbyterian History
James C. and Freda M. Gilbert Heritage FundJames C. and Freda M. Gilbert Trust
Mamie A. Gilbert Trust
Ronald Wilson and Virginia Tosh Harper Endowment
Historical Foundation Trust
Donald and Jane Hubbard Heritage Fund
Cliff and Jill Hudson Heritage Fund
Robert and Kathy Hull Endowment
Into the Nineties Endowment
Joe Ben Irby Heritage Fund
P.F. Johnson Memorial Endowment
Irene A. Kiefer Endowment
Chow King Leong Endowment
Dennis Lawrence & Elmira Castleberry Magrill Trust
J. Richard Magrill Heritage Fund
Joe Richard and Mary Belle Magrill Trust
Jimmie Joe McKinley Heritage Fund
Edith Louise Mitchell Heritage Fund
Lloyd Freeman Mitchell Heritage Fund
Snowdy Clifton and Lillian Walkup Mitchell Heritage Fund
Virginia Sue Williamson Morrow Heritage FundAnne Elizabeth Swain Odom Heritage Fund
Martha Sue Parr Heritage Fund
Florence Pennewill Heritage Fund
Morris and Ruth Pepper Endowment
Publishing House Endowment
Mable Magrill Rundell Trust
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Paul and Mary Jo Schnorbus Heritage FundRoy and Mary Seawright Shelton Heritage Fund
Shiloh CPC Ellis County Texas Endowment
Hinkley and Vista Smartt Heritage FundJohn William Sparks Heritage Fund
Irvin Scott and Annie Mary Draper Swain Heritage Fund
F. P. Waits Historical Trust
2. Endowment Donors
Endowment income provides important support for the activities of the Historical Foundation.
Establishing an endowment provides a permanent means to honor or memorialize a person or persons
important to the heritage of any community of faith.
The Foundation expresses its thanks to the following for their gifts to endowments: Beverly Pepper
Brown (Memphis, Tennessee), Mark & Elinor Swindle Brown (Memphis, Tennessee), Jeff & Kathleen
McGuire Cheatham (Clermont, Florida), Walter Chesnut (Greeneville, Tennessee), James & Freda Gilbert(Fort Worth, Texas), Matthew & Susan Knight Gore (Bartlett, Tennessee), Don & Jane Hubbard (Knoxville,
Tennessee), J. Michael Hull (Stamford, Connecticut), Helen Shelton Knight (Bartlett, Tennessee), Dewana
Alexander Latimer (Humboldt, Tennessee), Rich & Tammy Shelton Mackesey (Dallas, Texas), Virginia
Mauck (Clarksville, Indiana), James & Maribeth Smith McGuire (Greeneville, Tennessee), Anne Elizabeth
Swain Odom (Smyrna, Tennessee), Rick & Shirley Pryor (Madisonville, Kentucky), Robert & Olene Rush
(Bartlett, Tennessee), Cornelia Swain (Memphis, Tennessee), Sidney & Lita Swindle (Tampa, Florida),
Cumberland Pioneers (Paducah, Kentucky), Covenant Presbytery Fellowship, Leitchfield Cumberland
Presbyterian Church (Leitchfield, Kentucky), Longview Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Longview,
Texas), Short Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Falls of Rough, Kentucky)
C. GIFTS FROM CHURCHES, PRESBYTERIES & SYNODSEl Paso Cumberland Presbyterian Church (El Paso, Texas), Holly Grove Cumberland Presbyterian
Church (Brighton, Tennessee), Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (Dyersburg,
Tennessee), Lubbock Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Lubbock, Texas), Milan Cumberland Presbyterian
Church (Milan, Tennessee), Pleasant Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Columbia, Tennessee),North Central Synod.
Respectfully submitted,
Gwen McReynolds, President
Susan Knight Gore, Archivist

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THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON
CHAPLAINS AND MILITARY PERSONNELThe Commission on Military Chaplains and Personnel represent the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church on the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel.  The Commission does its workthrough that Council which has it’s headquarters in Washington, DC and represents also the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian
Church.  At this time, the Council is expanding to include the Korean Presbyterian Church in America.  TheCumberland Presbyterians who are members of the Commission for the Cumberland Presbyterian Churchand hence the broader group known as the PCCMP include Paul Collins, Lowell Roddy, Charles McCaskey,
and Stated Clerk Robert Rush.

I. REPRESENTATION
The term of the Reverend Paul Collins expires in 2010 and he is eligible for reelection.
Paul Collins will represent the Commission at this meeting of the General Assembly.
The PCCMP staff director is Dr. Edward Brogan and Revrend Thomas Chadwick is the Associate
Director serving part time.

II. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

To provide ecclesiastical endorsement for chaplains of the Armed Forces on active duty and in the
Reserves/National Guard and for chaplains of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
To provide pastoral support for chaplains and their families.
To provide a unified and influential voice for the member denominations to the national government
in matters relating to the ministry and welfare of Presbyterians serving in the Armed Forces andVeterans Affairs Medical Centers.
To provide representation to denominational agencies and ecumenical bodies in their concerns withmatters pertaining to military personnel, veterans and their families.
To consider other duties as may be requested by the member denominations.
To promote closer communications between chaplains and their judicatories.

III. DEPLOYMENTMost of our chaplains are deployed to Southwest Asia for actions regarding Iraq and Afghanistan.  
Our chaplains suffer the same hardship as other military and their ministry is often in harm’s way.  TheCouncil seeks to help them in their stressful time and upon their return and give them all the support wepossibly can.  Presbyterian Chaplains have been deployed to warzones up to 4 times.  At least two have beenwounded.  Several have PTSD diagnoses.  Chaplains and their families, and their congregations have served
well and are strained and tired from this long war.  Ever since 9-11, reserve and National Guard Chaplains
have been mobilized in large numbers.  That continues today with at least 41 Presbyterian Reserve andNational Guard chaplains mobilized from 2008-2010.  For the most part, their families do not live near
military bases where they can receive much needed support and assistance.   Cumberland Presbyterians
who live near these husbands, wives, children, mothers and fathers are urged, where appropriate, to offer
assistance and support.  With many forces deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Djibouti, and the region,
the tempo of reserve components utilization may remain high for years.  Approximately 58 of our active
duty chaplains were deployed into Southwest Asia for actions regarding Iraq and Afghanistan from 2008 –2010.
The chaplain’s ministry is well received and supported by each denomination.  From each candidate,a collection of application, transcript, presbyterial approval, and letter of reference is required.  After the
documents are gathered, we interview the candidates to determine if they should be endorsed for Active
Duty or service with the Reserve/National Guard.
The PCCMP maintains sound working relations with the Chief of Chaplains Offices for each of the
branch of the military and the VA.  Keeping this ministry vital with adequate funding has been difficult attimes.  The Council receives its financial support from the four (soon to be five) denominations, individuals,
judicatories and churches.

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IV. MEMORIAL DAY OFFERINGThe Cumberland Presbyterian Church receives a special offering for the PCCMP on the Sunday
nearest Memorial Day each year to remember all men and women who serve their country.  The offerings
are sent to the General Assembly Stated Clerk and are then forwarded to the Council for its work.  TheCommission would like to express its deepest appreciation to all churches that received the offering during
2009.  All Cumberland Presbyterian Churches are urged to consider receiving this yearly offering.

V. CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHAPLAINS
Currently the Cumberland Presbyterian has 12 chaplains on Active Duty, 3 chaplains in the Reserve
and National Guard, 1 Part-time VA and 2 chaplains in the Civil Air Patrol.  Please pray for members of
the Reserve, National Guard and Active Duty troops serving, and their families.  The names and addressesof these military chaplains in included in the 2009 Yearbook of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  
Presbyteries and churches are encouraged to keep in constant contact with these chaplains who represent
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in service to our country.
Anyone wishing more information can check our website: www.pccmp.org or call our office inWashington DC – 202-244-4177.
Respectfully Submitted,
Paul Collins
Lowell Roddy
Charles McCaskey
Robert D. Rush

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THE REPORT OF THE
JOINT COMMITTEE ON AMENDMENTS
I. ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The 179th General Assembly requested that the Joint Committee on Amendments prepare aconstitutional amendment to change the ratio by which the presbyteries elect Commissioners to the General
Assembly.   Currently a presbytery may elect one   minister and one elder commissioner for each 1,250
active members or portion thereof.  By lowering the number to one minister and one elder commissioner
for each 1,000 active members or portion thereof, the membership of the General Assembly would increaseby twenty-two commissioners.  In order to accomplish this, the following Constitutional Amendments will
be necessary.
9.2a Delete 1,250 and insert 1,000 making the amendment to read “A presbytery having
an active membership (including ordained clergy) of 1-1000 shall be entitled tosend one minister and one elder;
9.2 b Delete 1251-2500, and insert 1001-2000 making the amendment to  read, “A
presbytery having an active membership (including ordained clergy) of 1,001 to
2,000 shall be entitled to send two ministers and two elders.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the above Constitutional Amendments be approved andreferred to the presbyteries.

I. RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTThe Judiciary Committees of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church have been asked to develop a process by which ministers in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church could have dual membershipwhile temporarily serving in either denomination.   The Constitution 5.3 provides for dual membershipif a reciprocal agreement has been adopted by both denominations, therefore the Joint Committee on
Amendments proposes that a reciprocal agreement be adopted by the General Assemblies in their respective
meetings in 2010.
RECITALS: The Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America are governed by the same Constitution which provides for the reception of ministers of otherecclesiastical bodies on a reciprocal basis.   The Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America desire to enter into a reciprocal agreement to provide for the reception ofministers of each ecclesiastical body by the other.
Now, therefore, in recognition of their respective interests, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America enter into the following agreement:
1. RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT.  In accordance with Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of theConstitution, each of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America (referred to as a “Receiving Body”) agree that
duly ordained ministers of the other body (The “Ordaining Body”) (a) may be
invited and approved for temporary service in the Receiving Body and (b) may be
invited and installed for ministry in the Receiving Body, all on the terms andconditions of this Reciprocal Agreement and in accordance with the Constitution.
2. TEMPORARY SERVICE.  A minister of the Ordaining Body may be invited andapproved and installed for  temporary service in a Church of the Receiving Body;a.
An invitation for service is extended to a minister of the Ordaining Body
by the supervising judicatory of a Church in the Receiving Body;b.
Upon presentation of proper credentials from the Ordaining Body, theReceiving Body may approve temporary ministerial service in a

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c.

d.
e.

f.
g.

2010

Congregation of the Receiving Body;
The Presbytery of the Receiving Body approves temporary ministerial
Service by the minister in the Church of the Receiving Body and grants
to the minister temporary membership or participation in the presbyteryof the Receiving Body, along with any temporary rights and privilegesof such membership; including the right to serve as a commissioner tothe General Assembly of either body, serving on boards and agencies
of various judicatories, however, the minister may not be elected to theposition of Moderator or Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of theReceiving Body.
The minister accepts temporary membership or participation in the
Presbytery of the Receiving Body for the duration of the service;
The minister remains a member of the Presbytery of the Ordaining Body, andis subject to the jurisdiction and discipline of the Ordaining Body,
and willingly subjects him/herself to the disciplinary process of theReceiving Body; (e.g. The Receiving Body must approve and dissolve
the service of a minister in a particular church, (7.06), however, only the
Ordaining Body can remove the minister’s credentials through the proper
disciplinary process)Although it has jurisdiction over the minister, the presbytery of the Ordaining
Body does not have jurisdiction of the Church of the Receiving Body inwhich the temporary ministerial service is performed.
If the temporary ministerial service requires the minister to live outside the boundary of
the presbytery of the Ordaining Body in which the minister
is a member, in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Constitution, theminister must have the consent of the Synod in which such presbytery is
located. (6.52)

3. INTERPRETATION. This Reciprocal Agreement shall be interpreted and implemented in amanner that is consistent with the Constitution.
4. ADOPTION; EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION. This Reciprocal Agreement
Shall be effective when approved and adopted by both the General Assembly of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America, as evidenced by the minutes of each such body, andupon receiving such approval and adoption.  Each of the General Assemblies of thethe Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America shallhave the unilateral right to terminate this Reciprocal Agreement byappropriate action by their General Assembly.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the 180th General Assembly approve this reciprocal
agreement with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
Respectfully submitted,
James F. Byrd
Dwayne Tyus

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THE REPORT OF THE
PERMANENT JUDICIARY COMMITTEEThe Judiciary Committee met February 12, 2010 in Huntsville, Alabama.   Present were James
Byrd, Harry Chapman, Charles Dawson, Geoff Knight, Kimberly Silvus, Dwayne Tyus and Wendell
Thomas.  Also attending were legal counsel, James Jordan, and Robert D. Rush, Stated Clerk of the General
Assembly.  Sherry Ladd and Felicia Walkup were excused.

I. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEEJames Byrd was elected the chairperson and Dwayne Tyus was elected the secretary.

II. INTEREPRETATIONS AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
The 179th General Assembly replaced the General Regulations with new Bylaws.  The Stated Clerk
requested the Judiciary Committee to determine if Bylaws can be set aside similar to General Regulations
or Standing Rules.  It is the opinion of the Committee that the Bylaws can be amended, but cannot be set
aside.  In Bylaw 14.02 the Standing Rules which deal with the time of meeting and the order of reports may
be set aside by a two-thirds vote.
The Bylaw 10.02 states that “no person who is employed in an executive capacity in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church is eligible to serve on a denominational entity”.  In response to the question “Is a ministry
team leader considered an executive?”, the Committee is of the opinion that some of the responsibilities
of a team leader are the same as “executives”, especially in planning and monitoring budgets.  In order toprovide clarification for the future, the committee is of the opinion that Bylaw 10.02 should be amended
by adding (“including Chief Executive, Vice President, Team Leader, Director, or equivalent) to the current
wording.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the Bylaw 10.02 be amended by adding “including Chief
Executive, Vice President, Team Leader, Director, or equivalent to the current wording, thus making
10.02 to read “No person who is employed in an executive capacity including Chief Executive, Vice
President, Team Leader, Director, or equivalent, in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is eligible toserve on a denominational entity. No employee of a denominational entity is eligible for service on thesame denominational entity.”
The 177th General Assembly approved merging the program boards into a ministry council withthe members of these boards to be considered as advisory members.  The 178th General Assembly renamed
the advisory members to ministry teams.  The General Regulations listed the numbers on each ministryteam, as well as any special requirements for being elected to the teams.  Although the General Assembly
voted in 2007 to merge the program boards into the Ministry Council, the merger was not completed
until 2009.  The 179th General Assembly replaced the general regulations with Bylaws, which do not list
the ministry teams.  By action of the 177th General Assembly the Ministry Teams report to the MinistryCouncil, which is accountable to the General Assembly.  The Stated Clerk requested an interpretation on therole of the Nominating Committee in regard to the selection of personnel for the ministry teams.  Although
the Judiciary Committee is aware that the 177th General Assembly had approved the ministry teams being
elected, the same General Assembly approved the plan of reorganization which merged the program boards
into a Ministry Council.  It is the opinion of the committee that the ministry teams are now task forces orcommittees under the Ministry Council.
The Judiciary Committee is well aware that an incorporated board has the prerogative of determining
its own structure.  Although the members of the Ministry Council are elected by the General Assembly, it is
the opinion of the Committee that the Ministry Team members are to be appointed by the Ministry Council.
The Ministry Council requested the Committee to determine if every position listed in the Bylaws
must be filled annually or could positions be left vacant for a year in order to search for persons withparticular skills to serve on a board or agency.   The Bylaws 10.04-11.03 lists the boards/commissions/committees of the General Assembly and states the number of persons who shall be on each entity at theconclusion of each General Assembly.  It is the opinion of the Committee that vacant positions must be

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filled annually.
One of the tasks of the General Assembly Council was to determine Our United Allocations forboards and agencies.  When the Ministry Council was established, the responsibility for allocating Our
United Outreach was transferred to it.  Upon recommendation of the Ministry Council, the 179th General
Assembly approved the establishment of an Our United Outreach Committee, thus the Ministry Council nolonger has the task of allocating Our United Outreach Funds.  The Bylaws need to be changed to reflect thischange.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That Bylaw 15.03 be amended by deleting the words “MinistryCouncil” and inserting the words “Our United Outreach Committee, thus making the final sentence
to read to read “Organizations requesting funds from Our United Outreach shall submit multi-year
program budgets to the Our United Outreach Committee.”
The Bylaw 8.02 states that the Nominating Committee may nominate the serving Stated Clerk for
re-election.  If the Nominating Committee declines to nominate the serving Stated Clerk for re-election,or if the Stated Clerk has vacated the office, resigned, or declined to be re-nominated, then the MinistryCouncil shall conduct a search for and nominate a candidate to the General Assembly.  The 179th General
Assembly designated the “Board of Directors of the General Assembly Corporation as the agency toperform the oversight function of the Stated Clerk’s Office. This would include a performance evaluationin odd numbered years, establishment of the salary for the position, and review of the budget for theoffice.”  Although the Stated Clerk is employed by the General Assembly, and the Corporate Board has the
responsibility of oversight of the office, it seems logical that the Corporate Board should be responsible forsearching for a nominee to present to the General Assembly if the serving Stated Clerk is not going to be reelected.  If the Office of Stated Clerk is vacant for any reason, the Corporate Board has the responsibility ofnaming an interim Stated Clerk to serve until the General Assembly elects a new Stated Clerk.  The Bylaw
8.02 needs to be amended by deleting the words “Ministry Council” and inserting the “Corporate Board”.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That Bylaw 8.02 be amended by deleting the words “MinistryCouncil” and inserting the words “Corporate Board”, thus making the second sentence to read, “If
the Nominating Committee declines to nominate the serving Stated Clerk for re-election, or if the StatedClerk has vacated the office, resigned, or declined to be re-nominated, then the Corporate Board shallconduct a search for and nominate a candidate to the General Assembly.”

III. REFERRAL FROM THE 179TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The 179th General Assembly denied a memorial from Cullman Presbytery in regard to property
and the nature of connectionalism, but referred the memorial to the Committee for study.  The Committee
affirms the connectional nature of the Church in regard to property (Constitution 3.30-3.35)  In 1960 theGeneral Assembly affirmed that “Church property should be deeded to the trustees of the local presbytery
for the benefit and use of the local church, which local trustees will be in complete charge so long as thechurch remains organized.”  In the Digest, page 38b, the General Assembly adopted a clause recommended
for use in all deeds for local congregations, institutions, and boards acquiring property.  The Committee
reaffirms that all deeds should be written to reflect the property statements in the Constitution.
The Memorial from Cullman Presbytery also listed as a resolve, “that we even become open,
accommodating and even intentional in the face of the rulings of the courts against connectional churcheswith respect to property ownership, so our connectional missions and vision will give us an advantage to
receive other non Cumberland Presbyterian Churches, who share our vision as they now have rights in theownership of their property.”  Such an arrangement is not Constitutional under the property statements of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

IV. MEMORIAL FROM WEST TENNESSEE PRESBYTERYWest Tennessee Presbytery is memoralizing the General Assembly to create a “Clergy Crisis Fund.”  
The Committee has considered the memorial, affirm that it is constitutional and in order to be considered by
the General Assembly.

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V. ACTION ON AN APPEAL`The Judiciary Committee met in called sessions on September 12, 2009 for the purpose of acting upon an
appeal filed by the Reverend Rebecca Salisbury against the decision of Mission Synod which denied an
appeal of an action of Trinity Presbytery.  The 179th General Assembly designated the Judiciary Committee
to act as a commission to act on an appeal according to the Rules of Discipline 2.5.  The Rules of Discipline
4.002 does not permit members of a judicatory whose actions are being appealed to serve on a commission
to decide an appeal, thus Geoff Knight and Harry Chapman, members of presbyteries within the bounds ofMission Synod, recused themselves from the commission.
The hearing was conducted according to 4.208 Rules of Discipline.  The Commission determinedthat the appeal was properly and timely filed.  The Reverend Rebecca Salisbury was unable to attend thehearing, but did communicate and responded to questions from the commission via a conference telephone
conversation.  The Reverend Jimmy Brassell responded to the appeal on behalf of Mission Synod, then was
excused.
The Commission reviewed the minutes of Mission Synod.  In light of 4.002 Rules of Discipline,
the Commission had concern about the role of the members of Trinity Presbytery in making the decision
at Synod.  Although the minutes reflect that members of Trinity Presbytery were not permitted to vote on
the appeal, there was no definitive answer in regard to their participation in the meeting of Mission Synod.  
After careful deliberation, the Commission denied the appeal and confirmed that Mission Synod acted
properly.

VI. REVIEW OF SYNODICAL MINUTES
The synods of the Midwest and the Southeast met in 2009.  The Committee found that the Minutesof the Synod of the Midwest were in good order.  The Minutes of the Southeast was not available for review.  
The Synod of Great Rivers, Mission Synod and Tennessee Synod meet only in even numbered years.

VII. APPRECIATION
Appreciation was expressed to Geoff Knight for his nine years of service on the Committee.

VIII. REPRESENTATIVE TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Dwayne Tyus was elected to serve as the representative to the 180th General Assembly.  James F.
Byrd was elected as the alternate representative.
Respectfully submitted,
James F. Byrd
Dwayne Tyus

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THE REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEEThe Nominating Committee consists of a minister and a lay person from each synod, preferably fromdifferent presbyteries.  Members may serve a three year term, but cannot succeed themselves.  Cumberland
Presbyterian members of any board or committee can be re-elected to the same board after a two year
absence.  Ecumenical representatives may be re-elected to the same board after a one year absence.  With
the exception of the Nominating Committee any person elected to serve on a denominational entity may
serve three consecutive terms.  Filling an unexpired term counts as one term, thus members of any entity do
not always serve nine years before completing eligibility on a board/agency.
The members of the various Ministry Teams are no longer elected by the General Assembly, but are
to be appointed by the Ministry Council.
*Ecumenical Representative+Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America

The Committee submits the following list of nominees:

I. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GENERAL ASSEMBLY CORPORATION
Mr. Tim Garrett, Woodbine Congregation, Nashville Presbytery, Tennessee Synod for a three year term.
Reverend Roy Hall, Robert Donnell Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, to succeed himself for a three year
term.

II. MINISTRY COUNCIL
Ms. Jill Carr, White Oak Pond Congregation, Missouri Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers to succeed herself
for a three year term.
Reverend Michele Gentry de Correal, Andes Presbytery, Mission Synod, to fill the one year unexpired termof Mr. Leo Whinery.
Reverend Troy Green, Columbia Presbytery, Tennessee Synod, for a three year term.
Ms. Elizabeth Horsley, Denton Congregation, Red River Presbytery, Mission Synod, to succeed herself fora three year term.
Ms. Gwen Roddye, Beaver Creek Congregation, Presbytery of East Tennessee, Synod of the Southeast, tosucceed herself for a three year term.
Reverend Sam Romines,Cumberland Presbytery, Midwest Synod, to succeed himself for a three year term.
Reverend Lisa Scott, Missouri Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, to fill the two year unexpired term ofReverend Wayne Wood.
Reverend John Shoulta, Covenant Presbytery, Midwest Synod, to fill the two year unexpired term ofReverend Hillman Moore.
Mr. Ricky Kirby, Youth Advisory Member, Dyersburg Congregation, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod ofGreat Rivers, for a two year term.
Ms. Madison Rush, Youth Advisory Member, Brenthaven Congregation, Nashville Presbytery, Tennessee
Synod, for a three year term.

III. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S HOME
*Mr. Richard Brown, an ecumenical representative, to succeed himself for a three year term.
Reverend Alfonso Marquez, Presbytery of East Tennessee, Synod of the Southeast, to succeed himself fora three year term.
Dr. Robert McClure, Leitchfield Congregation, Cumberland Presbytery, Midwest Synod, for a three year
term.
Mr. Mickey Shell, Shell Chapel Congregation, Arkansas Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers to succeed
himself for a three year term.
*Mr. Barry Smith, an ecumenical representative, to fill the two year unexpired term of Mr. Darrell Thompson+Ms. Joy Wallace, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, to succeed herself for a three year term.

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IV. TRUSTEES OF THE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Ms. Pamela Davis, Lubbock Congregation, Presbytery del Cristo, Mission Synod to succeed herself for athree year term.
Ms. Mary Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Marshall Congregation, Trinity Presbytery, Mission Synod, for a three year
term.
Ms. Sidney Milton, Highland Congregation, Covenant Presbytery, Midwest Synod, to succeed herself fora three year term.

V. TRUSTEES OF MEMPHIS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Mr. Michael Allen, Alabaster Congregation, Robert Donnell Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, for a threeyear term.
Reverend Kevin Brantley, Cumberland Presbytery, Synod of the Midwest, to fill the two year unexpired
term of Ms. Meredith Schroeder.
*Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, an ecumenical representative, to succeed himself for a three year term.
Reverend Doy Daniels, Jr., West Tennessee Presbytery, to fill the one year unexpired term of Mr. William
Nelms
Ms. Diane Dickson, Houston Congregation, Trinity Presbytery, Mission Synod, for a three year term.
*Mr. Harvey Ferguson, an ecumenical representative, to succeed himself for a three year term.
*Mr. Dan Hatzenbuehler, an ecumenical representative, to succeed himself for a three year term.
*Reverend Emily Matheny, an ecumenical representative, to succeed herself for a three year term.
Ms. Pat Meeks, Faith Congregation, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, to fill the one year
unexpired term of Mr. Mark Davis.
Mr. Tim Orr, Dyersburg Congregation, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, to succeed
himself for a three year term.
Ms. Judy Vernon, an ecumenical representative, to fill the one year unexpired term of Reverend Amy Howe.
*Ms. K.C.Warren, an ecumenical representative, to succeed herself for a three year term.

VI. BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP, FOUNDATION AND BENEFITS
Mr. Charles Floyd, Brenthaven Congregation, Nashville Presbytery, Tennessee Synod, to succeed himself
for a three year term.
Ms. Sue Rice, Hope Congregation, Grace Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, for a three year term.
Ms. Debbie Shelton, Manchester Congregation, Murfreesboro Presbytery, Tennessee Synod, for a threeyear term.
Reverend Michael Wilkinson, Grace Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, to succeed himself for a three year
term.

VII. COMMISSION ON CHAPLAINS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL
Reverend Paul Collins, Presbytery del Cristo, Mission Synod, to succeed himself for a three year term.

VIII. COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Reverend Sherry Ladd, Columbia Presbytery, Tennessee Synod, to succeed herself for a three year term.
Reverend Andy McClung, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, for a three year term.
Ms. Felicia Walkup, Bates Hill Congregation, Murfreesboro Presbytery, Tennessee Synod, to succeed
herself for a three year term.

IX. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Reverend J. Don Clark, Grace Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, for a three year term.
Ms. Dewana Latimer, Jackson Congregation, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, for a threeyear term.
Ms. Diann Phelps, Dukes Congregation, Cumberland Presbytery, Midwest Synod, for a three year term.

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Reverend Lyon Walkup, Murfreesboro Presbytery, Tennessee Synod, for a three year term.

X. OUR UNITED OUTREACH COMMITTEE

Mr. Ron Gardner, Faith Congregation, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, to succeed
himself for a three year term.

XI. UNIFIED COMMITTEE ON THEOLOGY AND SOCIAL CONCERNS
Ms. Lezlie Daniel, Houston Congregation, Trinity Presbytery, Mission Synod, to succeed herself for a threeyear term.
Reverend Byron Forester, West Tennessee Presbytery, Synod of Great Rivers, for a three year term.
Reverend Jan Overton, Grace Presbytery, Synod of the Southeast, to succeed herself for a three year term.
Respectfully submitted,
Nominating Committee

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THE REPORT OF THE
OUR UNITED OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The 2009 General Assembly established a denominational Our United Outreach Committee tobe made up of 12 voting representatives, one from each Synod and the rest from the church programs
and institutions.  Executives from the church programs and institutions participate on the Committee asadvisory members.  This Committee has met two times since the 2009 General Assembly.
Meeting in November, 2009, the Committee elected officers and defined its purpose andresponsibilities.  The first goal set by this Committee was that ALL churches participate in Our United
Outreach 2010 – the 200th birthday of our denomination.  To accomplish this, it was determined that amember of the Committee would speak at each of the 19 presbyteries and tell the story of Our United
Outreach during the spring or fall, 2010.
The second goal of the Committee was to endorse the idea of 2010 as being a “mitey” year and thiswould help accomplish the Committee’s goal of all churches participating in Our United Outreach even if
the participation was a “mite”.
The second meeting of the Our United Outreach Committee was March 19, 2010, and progress wasevaluated.  Presentations had already commenced at presbyteries; a script had been prepared; a letter sent
to the 230 non-participating Our United Outreach churches with 15 financial responses.  Brochures were
presented to the Committee for approval; one emphasizing the “Mitey Year” giving and the other a general
purpose of Our United Outreach participation.  Plans were made for a display at General Assembly and apresence on the Cumberland Presbyterian website.
With 230 of our Cumberland Presbyterian Churches having zero giving to Our United Outreachand the majority of our other churches giving at a less than 10% level, the Committee decided to recognize
those Churches who give at the   8% or above level.  As the Committee members present information
at presbyteries, representatives from churches giving at this 8% level or above level are asked to comeforward and receive a certificate.  Public recognition is given; churches that participate at a lower level aresent the certificates.
Another purpose of this second meeting was the allocation of Our United Outreach funds for the2011 year.  The Our United Outreach allocation basis for 2011 is $2,600,000 which is reduced from the 2010
allocation basis of $2,874,427.  If more than $2,600,000 is raised, each agency will receive the increased
amount according to the percent of their apportionment.  Although the $168,493 Touch the Future Debt
amount is included in the total of $2,600,000, the percentage is not included as it will be taken out firstleaving $2,431,507 as the actual allocation basis.
RECOMMENDATION 1: we ask that the following allocation for incoming 2011 Our United
Outreach funds be adopted.
Ministry Council Combined
Bethel University
Children’s Home
Board of Stewardship
Office of General Assembly
Memphis Theological Seminary/     Program of Alternate Studies
Historical Foundation
Shared Services
Commission on Chaplains
Judiciary Committee
Theology/Social Concerns     Committee
Nominating Committee
Contingency Fund
*Touch the Future Debt

$1,215,754
    121,575      72,945
    145,890
    194,521

(50%)
(5%)
(3%)
(6%)
(8%)

    170,205      72,945
    413,356       8,500       8,000

(7%)
(3%)
(17%)
(.35%)(.33%)

       3,000       2,500       2,316
    168,493$2,600,000(.123%)(.103%)(.095%)

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The permanent committees plus Contingency Fund equal 1% of the $2,431,507 or $24,315; each of
those is a fractional percentage of that 1%.
From the agencies listed above, all should be self-explanatory except maybe Shared Services.  
Maintenance, utilities, mowing, trash pick-up, pest extermination, and custodial are all examples of Shared
Services for agencies sharing the Cumberland Presbyterian Center.
The Our United Outreach Committee members are enthusiastic in their approach to the developmentof total participation in this program of the Church.
A. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE 180TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Mr. Ron Gardner will be the representative to the 180th General Assembly.
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Gardner – Chairperson
Sharon Resch – Secretary
and the Our United Outreach Committee

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THE REPORT OF THE PLACE OF MEETING COMMITTEE
The Place of Meeting Committee consists of the Moderator, a representative of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and the Stated Clerk who serves as the chairperson.  The representative of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry is the Convention Coordinator.
The 165th General Assembly, “authorized the committee to select meeting places up to five years
in the future and that preference be given that keeps, insofar as possible, the General Assembly and theConvention of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and guest rooms in one facility.  It is recognizedthat these places are hard to find and may cost some additional monies.  The place of meeting committee
will use its best judgment.”  The 173rd General Assembly approved exploring the use of college campuses
and very large conference centers in addition to hotels/convention centers.  When the Office of the General
Assembly receives an invitation from a congregation or a presbytery, the Stated Clerk makes a site visit.  If
adequate facilities are discovered, a follow up visit is made by the Stated Clerk, the Assistant to the StatedClerk, and the Convention Coordinator of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry.
Unless the General Assembly sets aside Bylaw 14.02 Standing Rules 1 to allow for a different
meeting time, the annual meeting is the third or the fourth week of June.
Commissioners, delegates to Conventions, and visitors are encouraged to stay at the General
Assembly/Convention hotel, to assure meeting the contracted room block.  Hotel contracts also include acommitment on food and beverages, thus it is important for boards/agencies to continue to sponsor special
meal functions.  The luncheons/dinners provide opportunities for the sponsoring agencies/boards to keep
the church informed about their respective programs, thus enhancing support.

I. INFORMATION ABOUT FUTURE GENERAL ASSEMBLIESThe 176th General Assembly accepted the invitation of the Springfield, Missouri Congregation for
the 181st General Assembly to meet in Springfield.  The University Plaza Hotel/Convention Center will be
the place of meeting.  The rate is $114. for single to quad occupancy; suites are $139.
The 178th General Assembly accepted the invitation of Hope Presbytery for the 182nd General
Assembly to meet in Florence, Alabama.  Cullman and Robert Donnell will assist in hosting responsibilities.
Murfreesboro Presbytery has extended an invitation to host the 183rd General Assembly.
Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery has issued an invitation to host the 184th General Assembly.  The Convention
Coordinator of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, the Moderator and the Stated Clerk havemade site visits and have determined that there is adequate facilities in both Murfreesboro and Chattanooga.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the 180th General Assembly accept the invitation of
Murfreesboro Presbytery to host the 183rd General Assembly June 17-21, 2013.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the 180th General Assembly accept the invitation ofTennessee-Georgia Presbytery to host the 184th General Assembly June 16-20,2014.

II. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES
181st
182nd

Springfield, Missouri
Florence, Alabama

June 20-24, 2011
June 17-22, 2012

III. FUTURE INVITATIONSThere are no invitations on file for hosting the General Assembly/Convention after 2014.   It isessential to continue scheduling a few years in advance of the meeting to assure that adequate hotel/
convention space is available.  If a congregation or a presbytery is interested in hosting the General Assembly/
Convention, the Office of the General Assembly will provide information on hosting responsibilities.  
Hosting the General Assembly/Convention is a service to the Church, allowing the Church to celebrate
the good ministries occurring within a particular presbytery, and provides persons within a presbytery theopportunity to participate more fully in the annual meeting.  Sometime in the future Trinity University in
San Antonio would be pleased to host a General Assembly/Convention as it is appreciative of its heritage
on being founded as a Cumberland Presbyterian Institution.

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In the event that no invitation is received in a particular year or a situation arises requiring a change
of venue for a particular year, the Corporate Board will be responsible for selecting a place of meeting.

IV. SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS BY PRESBYTERIESThe following schedule shows the annual meetings and the year that the General Assembly last met
in the bounds of a particular presbytery.
Nashville
2010
Cumberland
2000
West Tennessee
2009
Tennessee-Georgia
1998
Japan
2008
Robert Donnell
1996
Arkansas
2007
Nashville
1995
		Grace			2006		North Central		1980
Columbia
2005
Missouri
1972
Red River
2004
Trinity
1969
East Tennessee
2003
Hope
1961
Covenant
2002
Murfreesboro
1956
		del Cristo		2001		
Respectfully submitted,
Robert D. RushJo Ann Shugert
Sam Suddarth, Jr.

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THE REPORT OF THE UNIFIED COMMITTEE ON
THEOLOGY AND SOCIAL CONCERNS
I. MEETING AND OFFICERS
The permanent committee met at the denominational center of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
in America on September 18, 2009 and March 12, 2010.  Officers of the Permanent Committee for 20092010 have been Steve Mosley, Chair; Robert Greenwell, Vice Chair; and Jacqueline Lang, Secretary.  Dr.
Robert Rush, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, met with thecommittee at both of their meetings.  Dr. Jay Earheart-Brown, President of Memphis Theological Seminary
met with the committee in September.  Also meeting with the committee in March was Debbie Marston of
Bethany Christian Services and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

II. EXPIRATION OF TERMS
The Permanent committee notes that the term of the Reverend Lanny Johnson expires in 2010 andhe will not be serving another term.  Reverend Johnson has faithfully served the committee.  The General
Assembly owes a debt of gratitude for his work.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly be requested
to write a letter of appreciation to the Reverend Lanny Johnson and his family for his time andcommitment to the Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns.

III. GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVESThe Committee will be represented by Steve Mosley at the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.  It should be noted that due to circumstances, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America could not participate at the committee’s last meeting.

IV. ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. LET’S NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT CATASTROPHE
Mrs. Debbie Marston met with the committee to share the work she is involved with Bethany
Christian Services.  She reported on the plight of orphans globally.  The committee presents the following
report from Debby Marston:
According to UNICEF, an estimated 163 million children are orphans.  Of that number, some 14
million under age 15 have been orphaned by AIDS alone, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.  Children arebeing armed for war and are forced into child prostitution.  A common response of citizens of western andindustrialized nations has been to step up intercounty adoptions and donate funding to establish residential
care for orphaned children.  However, building institutions to house orphans does not operate in children’s
best interests.  The implications of raising children in institutions are troubling.  Adoption professionals
spend much of their training hours preparing prospective adoptive parents to deal with the difficult
adjustment a child will have transitioning from institutional care to family life.  The regimentation andstrict routine necessary to provide care for large numbers of children are very different from the affectionate
nurture families afford.  Attachment issues abound, brought about by the inevitable neglect children sufferwhen there are too many children and too few caregivers.
According to The Orphan Foundation, fewer than half of the orphan population in Eastern Europe
will survive to their 20th birthdays.  Fifty percent of those that do live to age 20 will become involved inorganized crime, prostitution and drugs.  In the United States, many young adults continue to live in theirparents’ homes until age 24, while approximately 25,000 foster children age out of the system each year,with no permanent family to turn to in times of need.  The orphan crisis is worldwide, impacting children
in every country on the globe.

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The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was signed by participating
nations on September 2, 1990.   Previously, the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924
indicated, “the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care,including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth.”  The CRC obligates us to assume
the rights and duties of parents in order to protect and care for orphaned children.   More significant toChristians is God’s call to care for these vulnerable little ones.
Throughout Scripture, we are admonished to take care of the weak and helpless members of oursociety.  In Zechariah 7:9-10, we find, “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice;show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or thepoor.  In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’”  Isaiah 1:16 states, “Learn to do right!  Seek justice,encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”  In Psalm 82:34 we find, “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Finally, in James 1:27 we read, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
There is a clear call from God to care for the less fortunate, the most vulnerable of whom must be children.
Several Christian organizations are collaborating in order to mobilize churches in proactively
reaching out to orphans.  Focus on the Family, Hope for Orphans and Show Hope are partnering in an effort
to recruit Christian families as adoptive parents for children without permanent families.  Bethany ChristianServices, the largest licensed child-placing agency in the United States is embarking on a campaign todevelop a network of orphan advocates in churches throughout the U.S.  Bethany also partners with theChristian Alliance for Children in Zambia.  Through donations, CACZ provides infant formula, prescription
drugs and social work support to children and families in need.
According to Bethany, “[CACZ’s] Milk and Medicine program is a community-based, familycentered intervention designed to save children under the age of 2 who are at risk of abandonment,
institutionalization, or death.”  With the HIV/AIDS pandemic infecting 14% of Zambia’s population of
11.9 million, 800,000 children have lost one or both parents.  The Milk and Medicine program helps care forthese orphans and allows them to stay in the care of extended family members rather than in an institution.
It is possible to look at the statistics – the vast numbers of vulnerable children around the world –and wonder what can possibly be done to save them.  Christian agencies such as Compassion Internationaland Bethany Christian Services offer opportunities for caring individuals to sponsor specific orphans andvulnerable children through monthly donations.  Intercountry and domestic adoption provides couples andindividuals the chance to make a difference in a child’s life.  There are literally millions of children waiting
to become part of permanent families.  Additionally, governments and social service agencies are beginning
to recognize that children have the right to grow up in their country and culture of origin, in intact families.
Citizens of countries like China, Colombia, Russia and Korea, just to name a few, are being encouraged toadopt domestically.  Family reunification efforts are growing.  Programs like Zambia’s Milk and Medicine
allow children to stay with a single father after a mother’s death, or with grandparents or aunts or uncles.
There are many opportunities for one person to make a difference.  Perhaps it is possible to save the world– one child at a time.
Eleven years ago, a newborn baby girl was abandoned on the streets of a city in China.  She wasfound and taken to a nearby police station.  Her parents could not be located, so she was taken to the local
orphanage.  She was found to be healthy.  Although other girls in her orphanage were placed for adoption
with Western families over the next two or three years, for some reason she was passed over, until she
was considered to be too old to be adoptable.   Bethany Christian Services, partnering with The China
Centre for Adoption Affairs, held a Hope Camp for the children of the orphanage in which this little girl,now 11, resided.  Each child was interviewed, with the help of an interpreter, and allowed to perform at atalent show.  Each child was videotaped.  The videotapes and medical information were made available toapproved and waiting families.  One family, formerly only interested in an infant or toddler, spoke with theirsocial worker about what they could do to speed up their adoption process, as they had already been waiting
over two years for a placement.  The social worker shared information about this healthy 11 year old girl,and the family agreed to pray about and for her.  They became convicted that she was their daughter andrequest matching with her.  She arrived in the U.S. in early 2010 and is now living happily with her foreverfamily.  The fact that she had been taking English classes in her school in China has helped her transition
tremendously.
A 3 year old boy, born with severe special medical needs, was adopted six years ago.   He is
profoundly deaf, has one kidney, has no speech, and had to have surgery on his hands, as he was born withsome of his fingers fused together.  He communicates with sign language.  Despite his limitations, this childis described by his parents as one who “lights up a room.”  His joyful, mischievous nature wins the heartsof everyone he meets.

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Another boy, now almost six years old, was born with multiple special needs, including serious
heart problems.   His prospective adoptive family learned of him from the family that adopted his bestfriend.  Now these little friends will be able to be reunited, as the two families have become friends throughtheir parallel adoption journeys.
“Ted” was 13 years old when he attended one of Bethany and CCAA’s Hope Camps.   He wasdescribed as handsome, intelligent, healthy, athletic, and good natured.  China will not allow children to be
adopted once they reach age 14, so there was much urgency felt among the adoption social workers who
were advocating for a family for Ted.  Sadly, no family was found before time ran out, and Ted was removed
from the list of waiting children.
Not all adoption stories have happy endings.  Just as Jesus prophesied that the poor would always
be with us, it seems that orphans will always wait, needing parents who never come to take them home.
For this reason, Christians must answer God’s call to take care of the fatherless – those orphaned due tocircumstances over which they have no control.  We are called to make a difference by caring for orphans,
whether through adoption, sponsorship programs, or support of organizations that help keep families intact
in their own country and culture.  We, who are called, must respond in faith, that even a small effort by one
individual can make a difference in the life of a child.
“Once a man was walking along a beach.  The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.  Off inthe distance he could see a boy going back and forth between the surf’s edge and the beach.  Back and forth
this boy went.  As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sandas the result of the natural action of the tide.
The man was stuck by the apparent futility of the task.  There were far too many starfish.  Many ofthem were sure to perish.  As he approached, the boy continued the task of picking up starfish one by one
and throwing them into the surf.
As he came up to the boy he said, “You must be crazy.  There are thousands of miles of beachcovered with starfish.  You can’t possibly make a difference.”  The boy looked at the man.  He then stooped
down and picked up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean.  He turned back to the man and said,“It made a difference to that one.”

V. VIOLENCEThe Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns has been wrestling for years with a way
to address the issue of violence in our world.  Violence is a critical issue, and we know this.  Violence is also
an issue that is very difficult to narrow down in discussion.  The committee believes there is a theologicalapproach that is simple and is something we all can do.
The theological premise of an approach to violence is the belief in life.  For the next several years
we will offer simple steps toward living nonviolently.  The following was approved by the committee.  We
are Resurrection people living in a world that knows too much about violence and the death it generates.  
The Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns offers the following as a means of bearing
witness to God as God of Life in a world that is violent and dying:  A modest step to affirm life and begin
to oppose violence.  Cumberland Presbyterians will not speak violently to one another.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That this be approved as a way for Cumberland Presbyterians tobegin to work against violence.

VI. WORKS IN PROGRESS• Come Let Us Disagree Together, Being Faithful in the Midst of Conflict(Hopefully, we will have a paper ready to present to the next General Assembly)• Review of papers from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches• The Future of Cumberland Presbyterian Worship• Religious Persecution• Evangelism
Respectfully submitted,
Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns

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THE REPORT OF BOARD OF TRUSTEESOF BETHEL UNIVERSITY
God has blessed and is working through the Cumberland Presbyterian ministry of Bethel University.  
More than three thousand students are being served by this ministry founded by the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, shaped by Cumberland Presbyterian ideals, lead by Cumberland Presbyterians and bound to the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the strongest bond possible, a covenant bond.
On August 1, 2009, Bethel College became Bethel University.   This change occurred because
the tremendous growth and increased diversity of Bethel called for a different management structure.  Auniversity structure implies the existence of colleges.  Bethel in the past few years has developed vibrantand growing graduate programs and adult programs in addition to its traditional residential liberal arts
program.  Thus, Bethel formed three colleges under one university umbrella:  The Bethel University Collegeof Liberal Arts, The Bethel University College of Professional Studies and the Bethel University Collegeof Graduate Studies.  Each of these colleges has a faculty and an administration responsible for operations.  
President Robert Prosser, who had announced plans to retire, was asked by the Board of Trustees to stay on
to assist Bethel in weathering the economic downturn the United States was experiencing and transitioning
from a college management structure to a university management structure.  A transition team was formed
and a commitment was made to continue Bethel’s growth, progress and achievement through a time of
economic downturn and organizational development.
The need was too great to slack off.  Ignorance has not gone on vacation because the economy wasin a recession.  Young men and women and older men and women had not stopped growing and maturing
a developing.  They needed to be educated from a Christian perspective.  The number with such need was
growing not diminishing.  Bethel’s call was clear – to do more not less.
Your university stepped out in faith, trusting that God would provide the resources after the actof faith rather than before.  The command is to walk by faith not by sight:  Bethel’s ministry has foundsupport – the thirteenth year of balanced budgets, the Ray and Linda Morris Science Complex completed
and paid for, a new residence hall nearing completion and to be ready for occupancy in August, countless
improvements to the McKenzie campus.  All this follows rather than precedes launching out in faith.
Below is a description of the three Bethel University colleges, their primary audiences and programsand their enrollment numbers as of the fall of 2009.
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Audience: Primarily young adults
Programs•
Liberal Arts Academic Programs with a core Liberal Arts curriculum and 24 major areas of study.
•
Residential life facilities, programs and activities•
Full time chaplain•
Athletic programs in a wide variety of sports of student interest•
Performing Arts programs in vocal, instrumental and drama•
Bachelor Degree
Enrollment- 1,118
COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Audience: Adults, primarily working adults
Programs•
Major in Organizational Development•
College Start for completion of liberal arts core and electives•
Student services program to facilitate professional attention to all student life needs and issues•
Part time and designated minister chaplain services•
Facilities in six Tennessee cities
Enrollment 1,726
COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Audience : Port and Professional degree
Programs•
Master of Education

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

197•
Bethel’s oldest graduate program•
On site and on line.
Enrollment 135 plus 100 new
Master of Physician Assistant Studies•
Prepares mid level medical providers•
Prepares graduates for certification as Physician’s Assistants•
Training in a rural area qualifying graduates for service to rural areas
Enrollment 21 plus 30 new
Master of Business Administration•
Highly Acclaimed innovative program•
State of the art delivery system•
The largest or nearly the largest MBA program in Tennessee
Enrollment 302
How does a small Cumberland Presbyterian college become one of the most exciting higher education
stories to be found anywhere?
The story starts with mission – something worth doing.   In 1842, when there were no higher
education enterprises in west Tennessee and not many anywhere on the frontier, some Cumberland
Presbyterians became convinced, or more properly convicted, that combating ignorance (and all its
destructive consequences) was something they should be doing.  Seeing the destructiveness of ignorance,these pioneering spirits set out to combat that destructive force.  Bethel has held true to that mission as a
Cumberland Presbyterian Ministry for one hundred sixty eight years.
Some 15 years ago Bethel fell on exceptionally hard times.  In danger of closing, Bethel was losing
a million dollars a year.  For a four million dollar a year enterprise, that was unsustainable.  The Cumberland
Presbyterian denomination, had reached the limits of its ability to keep the enterprise afloat.  Something had
to change.  This change led to a new beginning.
The first change was to reconceptualize the mission.  The original mission was to combat ignorance
and its destructive consequences.   The way of doing that was to form a private, residential liberal arts
college.  But many other colleges were subsequently formed and soon scarce resources were spread thin
and as is too often the case institutional survival supplanted combating ignorance as the reason for being – aclassic case of mistaking means for ends.
Reconceptualizing, for Bethel meant looking for areas of unfilled higher education need, consideringresource generation as an essential to success and making it happen no matter what.
One of Bethel’s first initiatives in this reconceptialization of her mission was Bethel’s SUCCESS
program, a program to help working adults complete their degree.  On average throughout the nation, morethan half of the people who start college don’t finish college.  Bethel looked at this tremendous number ofpeople and saw educational need.  But, traditional ways wouldn’t work.  These people could not quit theirjobs, move into a dormitory, take 3 courses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 2 courses on Tuesday
and Thursday and finish their degree.
They also had a different need.  They weren’t growing up they had grown up.  They weren’t trying
to find themselves so much as equip themselves.  Home life not campus life was the center of their world.
Resources were available.  Employers, seeing the need for a more educated workforce were paying
for employees to get more education.  And if this was not a possibility for a student, loans were available.  
The studies Bethel has done have shown that loans taken out to complete a degree with Bethel have been
paid back on average within three years by salary increases either from promotion or from a new job.
Bethel saw an area of tremendous educational need and thus opportunity, and Bethel saw resources
available to support the enterprise.  All that is left was to make it happen.  This meant breaking away fromold patterns.  Bethel still celebrated the old pattern for the purpose it served but also established new patterns
for the new reality.  Bethel made a conscious decision both to grow the traditional residential program andestablish and grow a new reality.
The mission of combating ignorance was too important to let it be held hostage to a one size fits all
pattern.
Bethel already had a residential college with a history and an area of service.  That part of theenterprise just needed some updating and some new approaches.  Its purpose was certainly worthy.  That
purpose is summed up in a phrase heard over and over again “without Bethel, I would never have had an
opportunity to get an education.”  Bethel delights in giving people an opportunity.  And Bethel deliberately

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010

does this in a broad spectrum community.  Yes, Bethel has as students the brightest of the bright and those
whose social advantages are second to none but neither these nor the disadvantaged are well served by amonolithic experience whether it be the isolation of the disadvantaged or the isolation of the elite.
The egalitarian motive became the guiding principle for one of the major big steps Bethel took as
it broke out of the traditional mold.  Bethel included in its tuition a state of the art laptop computer for all
students.  No advantaged or disadvantaged.  All were equal.
In this Bethel was being true to her mission but other important benefits accrued.  First, Bethelredefined herself.  No longer could Bethel be thought of as a sleepy little college in an out of the way placethat time had passed by.  Bethel was, after all, the first and only IBM ThinkPad University in the state ofTennessee.  Something must be going on there.  Students began to consider Bethel.
Secondly, Bethel immediately moved from a position of scant library resources to a position ofunimaginable learning resources with a worldwide library that never closed.
Thirdly, Bethel met its technology need, moving from almost zero to becoming one of the top
twenty schools in the nation technologically speaking, according to Wired magazine.
Fourthly, by standardizing computers and programs, Bethel eliminated the need to provide elaborate
training.  Two realities come into play in this regard especially on the traditional campus.  First, the young
will outdo the older nine times out of ten when it comes to new technology.  They take to it like a duck towater.  The older generation has to work at it.  So by standardizing student A can help student B figure itout.  And the problem is most likely to develop at 11:00 o’clock at night.  The help desk is closed, but thecomputer whiz in room 17 is awake.
It is likely that Bethel became the first college or university to meet its Southern Association
learning resources standard primarily through technological resources.
Next, Bethel’s liberal arts campus began to embrace athletics anew as a legitimate student interestand said “If we are going to do it, let’s do it well.”   Gradually, Bethel began to be a player, someone to be
reckoned with.  A national championship in men’s soccer came Bethels way as did a loss at the buzzer tothe number one team in the nation, this disappointed so much in one way, but showed that Bethel could playwith the best of the best and make a game of it.
All this came as a result of valuing student interests and recruiting toward those interests with adetermination to make every experience a learning experience and to not accept a “can’t do” attitude. Bethelwants to have a “can do” attitude and “make it happen” rather than have things happen to it.
The attitude of respect for student interest led to another Bethel initiative. The question was asked,“What if Bethel offered scholarships and provided leaders for music like we did for athletics?”  Out of
this idea was born the Bethel Renaissance Program, one of the most unique music programs anywhere
because it respects all kinds of music from classical to soul, from rock to gospel.  Evidence of this is that
Renaissance has already had a member turn pro in bluegrass, has won a national championship in southerngospel and had a more classical oriented group sing in Carnegie Hall.  Bethel secured leaders who wereamong the best of the best.
Bethel also determined to make her mark with innovation in graduate programs.
The first of these new programs was a Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies.  This program, oneof only 125 in the nation, through creative use of technology trains people in a rural area to serve a rural area
need.  Almost all the other programs train Physician Assistants in cities.  These graduates usually practice
medicine in cities.
Bethel began an MBA program two years ago.   This innovative program in which the leading
textbook authors are the lead professors is now the largest or near the largest MBA program in the state ofTennessee.  It teaches business ethics – something not done in all business schools.
Bethel is now retooling the Master of Education program to utilize an online format.  And Bethel isin the process of putting a Masters degree in Conflict Resolution in place.
Bethel has instituted a university structure to better provide for the administrative needs of dynamic
programs.  Bethel has grown at a rate of 20% per year for the past few years and fully expects that growth
pattern to continue because ignorance is still doing damage in people’s lives.
Bethel is so very fortunate to have a tremendous number of committed people working very, very
hard on behalf of Bethel’s mission.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly should bepleased with their work.

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH199

MEMORIALS
I. MEMORIAL FROM SYNOD OF GREAT RIVERS
CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FORPOTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY
WHEREAS, there seems to be some great discrepancies between presbyteries in the requirements for
accepting and enrolling potential candidates for the ministry; andWHEREAS, some presbyteries require a letter from the local church session to enroll a candidate or present
him/her to the presbytery and some presbyteries do not appear to require such a letter, and
WHEREAS, in fulfilling our responsibility in oversight of the presbyteries within our bounds, we needmore clarity in regard to what is constitutionally mandated and what is presbyterial prerogative ineach step of the process toward ordination,
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Synod of Great Rivers requests the General Assembly to answer thefollowing question:
Is it a constitutional requirement that a person have a letter of recommendation from their local church
session in order for them to be accepted by the Committee on Probationer Care and/or be recommended topresbytery for candidacy?
I attest that the Synod of Great Rivers adopted this memorial meeting in regular session on April 10, 2010.
Signed:Michael Qualls, Clerk, Synod of Great Rivers

II. MEMORIAL FROM WEST TENNESSEE PRESBYTERYCONCERNING CLERGY
WHEREAS, according to the Constitution “The office of minister of word and sacrament is unique inthe life of the church as to responsibility and usefulness. God calls persons and sets them apartfor this ministry. The persons who fill this office should be sound in the faith, exemplary in
conduct, and competent to perform the duties of the ministry. Persons who become ministers of theword and sacrament are due such respect as belongs to their office, but are not by virtue of theiroffice more holy or righteous than other Christians. They share in the same vocation that belongs
to all Christians to be witnesses to the gospel in word and deed. They differ from other Christians
only with regard to the office to which they are called, which is their station in life.” (Constitution,
Article 2.61); and,
WHEREAS, ordained ministers are members of presbyteries and as such are subject to the oversight, careand guidance of that body; and,
WHEREAS, the responsibilities of the office of minister include: counseling, worship, preaching,evangelism, administration, session leadership, visitation, community involvement, teaching,visioning, serving as a responsible presbyter, etc.; and,
WHEREAS, not unlike others, ministers may at times because of circumstances, weighty demands or otherreasons find themselves facing challenging crises due to unemployment, family or marital issues,
sickness, emotional stress, burnout or other factors; and,
WHEREAS, ministers may not have the accessible support needed to sustain them and their families during
these times, especially if they are without charge or unemployed; and,
WHEREAS, supporting, encouraging, praying for and enabling healthy ministers can more effectively
sustain a healthy and viable church; and,
WHEREAS, ministers are more often care-givers rather than care-receivers; and,
WHEREAS, the church working together denominationally can more effectively provide resources toaddress some of the unexpected needs of clergy persons than can a congregation or, a presbytery;
THEREFORE, be it resolved that West Tennessee Presbytery memorialize the 180th General Assembly
meeting in Dickson, Tennessee, June 13-18, 2010, to establish theyearof2011 as the “Year of the
Clergy” in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and,200

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY2010

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a Clergy Crisis Fund be established and managed through the Boardof Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits and under the direction of the Pastoral Development
Ministry Team of the General Assembly Ministry Council; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the purpose of the Clergy Crisis Fund is to provide financial support
to clergy who are in crisis and in need of support and care; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Pastoral Development Ministry Team of the General Assembly
Ministry Council be charged with the responSibility of: setting up this program; establishingguidelines for potential recipients from the Fund; working with the respective presbyteries indetermining needs and appropriate responses; ascertaining the abilities of the respective presbyteries
to also provide financial assistance (perhaps on a matching basis) and exploring any need forcounseling or additional support; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that congregations, presbyteries, Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s
Ministry, the General Assembly and other organizations within the church be invited to set a special
time for prayers of thanksgiving, blessing and intercession for ordained ministers and to take aspecial offering during 2011 to support clergy through the Clergy Crisis Fund; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Assembly Ministry Council develop promotional andsupportive resources to assist congregations and presbyteries in celebrating the Year of the Clergy
and to raise awareness to and advocate for this special emphasis in 2011.
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Memorial adopted by West Tennessee Presbytery
in regular session at the Olivet Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Tennessee, October 3, 2009.
Signed by:
Earl Phelps
Stated Clerk, West Tennessee Presbytery

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201

GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENCIES
I. OFFICE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
A. GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICE
                 Revised     Proposed					2010		2011
INCOME
Our United Outreach$163,825 $194,505
Endowments/Interest
13,00013,000Interest on Cash Funds Management
1,100
500
Sales of yearbook/digest
200
200
Our United Outreach Committee
7,000
7,000
TOTAL INCOME			$185,125 $215,205
EXPENSEECUMENICAL RELATIONSWorld Communion of Reformed Churches
CANAAC
Ecumenical Travel
Sub-Total		
LIAISON WITH CHURCH
General Assembly Meeting
Preliminary Minutes
GA Minutes/Mailing
Yearbook/Mailing
Travel/Moderator
Travel/Stated Clerk & Staff
Sub-Total		
OFFICE
Computer Supplies
Equipment/Supplies
Postage
Sub-Total			PERSONNEL
Salaries/Housing
FICA (Asst to Stated Clerk)
Retirement
Health Insurance
Disability Insurance/Worker’s Compensation
Sub-Total			
Liability/Earthquake Insurance
STATED CLERK’S CONFERENCE/BOARD EXPENSE/
COMMITTEE EXPENSE
Legal Fees / Clerk’s Conference
Corporate Board Expense
Our United Outreach Committee		
Sub-Total			
TOTAL EXPENSE			
From Reserves$    5,000
1,500      1,500$    8,000$    5,000
    1,5000$    6,500$  8,000
7,500
1,000
8,500
7,100
  7,100$ 39,200$    4,000
    8,500
    1,000
    9,000
    7,200
    7,200$ 36,900$   1,000 $    1,000
2,500
    2,500
  7,000		   8,000$ 10,500 $   11,500$135,938
4,160
5,947
  31,956      1,000$179,001$135,938
    4,160
5,947
  32,000
    1,000$179,045300

300$    1,000 $    1,000      2,500
    2,500
      7,000		
    7,000$  10,500 $  10,500$251,592 $248,345$- 66,467 $ -33,140

B. GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEESINCOME
Contingency
Nominating Committee
Commission on Chaplains
Judiciary Committee
Theology and Social Concerns Committee
TOTAL INCOME		$           0
4,091
8,416
7,264
     4,346$ 24,117

$

2,316
2,500
8,500
8,000
    3,000$ 24,316

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY					
EXPENSE
Contingency
Nominating Committee
Commission on Chaplains
Judiciary Committee
Theology and Social Concerns Committee
TOTAL EXPENSE		

2010

Revised
Proposed2010		2011$         0 $       2,316
4,091       2,500
8,416       8,500
7,264       8,000
    4,346		
       3,000$24,117$ 24,316

II. MINISTRY COUNCIL
INCOME
Our United Outreach
Endowment Earnings
Interest Earnings
Sales (resources, advertising)/Fees
Opening Doors
Curriculum Resources
Publications/OtherTOTAL Sales/Fees
Gifts/Donations
Program Events
CP Youth Conference
Miniversities
Pres. Youth Triennium
TOTAL Program Events$1,397,713
453,136
66,405$1,300,000
   457,055     63,944

5,871       8,871
2,000              0100,000
   115,000
  112,800		
   113,000$220,671$ 236,8710       2,000

42,358     47,358
49,000     49,000
13,200     13,2000		
0$104,558 $   109,558

Grants				Reserves-Xferred
TOTAL INCOME			0		
0298,010		 316,620$2,540,493 $2,486,048

EXPENSE
Salaries/Benefits
Salaries
Retirement
FICA
Health Insurance
Disability Insurance
Staff Resources/Cont. Ed.
TOTAL Salaries/Benefits$1,149,501     $1,079,624
59,464     53,564
29,992     37,439
191,480
   224,7440          400      12,038		     10,338$1,442,775     $1,406,109

Publications/Curriculum
Miss. Messenger - Printing
Miss. Messenger - PostageMiss. Messenger - Mailing Service
Mission Ed - various
Bridges
These Days
Resource Packets
Opening Doors
Curriculum Resources
Publications/Other
Printing/Reproduction
Magazine Printing

36,53730,0006,500
35,000
3,600
500
500
2,000
35,00025,000450
46,000     36,537     30,000       6,500     35,000       2,000          200          500       0     38,000     20,720           0     48,000

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THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

					

Revised
Proposed2010		2011

Magazine Postage
TOTAL Publs/Curriculum   13,500		
    27,600$232,587$245,057

Ministries
Partnerships
   Church Dev Subsidies
   Church Paper Sunday
   Colombia S.A. Missionary Council
   Missionaires Office   China Field Budget
   Choctaw Field Budget
   Choctaw Ministerial Scholarships
   Missionary Support: Short Term
   International GA Commissioner
Volunteers in Action			   Presbytery Partnership Min.
   Presbytery Chairs’ Meeting
TOTAL Partnerships

325,000
  325,000
2,000      
0117         1171,174      1,174
12,000    12,000
50,000    50,000
3,000      3,000
3,288      3,288
5,000      5,000
587		
587
2,000
      1,000     3,000		      4,800$407,166      $ 405,966

Ecumenical Partnerships
   Church Women United
   National Farm Worker
   Project Vida
   Coalition-Appalachian Min.
   Beth-El Farm Worker
   Ecumenical Stewardship Center   Cooperative Uniform Series
   Protestant Church Owned Pub. Assoc.
   Pres. & Reformed Educational Partners
TOTAL Ecumenical Partnerships

1,300      1,300
2,200      2,200
8,500      8,500
11,500    11,500
45,000    45,000
4,000      4,000
1,000      1,000100         1000		0$73,600$  73,600

Program Events
   Women’s Convention
   Church Growth Conf/NCD Pastors
   CPWM Leadership Dev
   Birthplace Shrine Chaplaincy
   Rural Church Dev
   New Program Iniatives
   CE Conference
   GA Meals
   Consultant Program   Miniversities
   CP Youth Conference   Young Adult Ministry
   Youth Ministry Planning Council
   Stewardship Ed
   Youth Triennium   Planning Calendar
   Promotion   Ministers’ Conference   Ministers’ Awards & Encouragement
   Seminary Student Nurture
   Clergy Appreciation & Retreat
TOTAL Program Events

1,000             011,022
    11,022
12,779
    12,779
1,714      1,714
6,000      6,000
2,994      2,994
8,000
    11,000
1,000         5003,212      3,000
7,700      7,500
14,200    14,000
50,000    50,000
3,500      4,000
2,500      2,500
11,000      9,000500         500400             03,100         80010,000    12,000
5,100      4,800
700             0     1,200		
0$157,621$154,109

203

204

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2010

					

Revised
Proposed2010		2011

TOTAL MINISTRIES$638,387

Office Expense
Computer Equipment/Supplies
Supplies
PostagePhone
P & C Insurance
Organizational Expense
Memberships
TOTAL Office Expense0         5,376
27,309       30,709
14,195       20,985
11,000       11,0000         1,539
0            100     1,000		         2,550$  53,504$     65,244

Other Expenses
Board/Agency Expense
TravelVehicle Ins. & Maint.
Conferences/Cont. Ed.
Employee Recognition
Employee Events
Board/Agency Recognition
Misc				TOTAL Other Expense0       46,359
87,845       86,100
7,146         7,243500         2,8000            5000         1,0000            300     2,500		         1,500$159,365$   144,302

TOTAL EXPENSES			     Surplus/(Deficit)$2,578,735		
$2,494,387($38,242)    ($  8,339)$   633,675

III. BOARD OF STEWARDSHIPINCOME
Our United Outreach
Endowments
Management Fees
Interest
Gifts				TOTAL INCOME
		$150,000 $     145,890
62,053       65,472
57,000       59,000
21,000       22,000600		         2,000$290,653$ 294,362

EXPENSE
Salaries/Housing
Health, LTD, Dental & Vision Insurance
FICA
Retirement
Sub-Total			$173,102
62,8368,494      8,707$252,689$     182,844       68,437         8,135        9,142$   268,558

2,500         3,000

Other Insurance
Office & Computer Expense
Postage
TravelLegal Fees
Board Expense
Miscellaneous				
Sub-Total			

4,464		4,1042,000         2,000
2,500         2,500
1,500            50011,500       12,200500		 500$    22,464		$     21,804

Planned Giving      13,000		       1,000

TOTAL EXPENSE			$ 290,653$ 294,362

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205

IV. THE CHILDREN’S HOME					INCOME
Breakfast/Lunch Program
Unrestricted Contributions
CPS Revenue
Denominational Support
Family Support/Social Security
GrantsEndowment Interest
Other Income on Long-Term Investments
Interest and Investments
Other Income
Special Events
TOTAL REVENUE		

EXPENSES
Incentives
Assistance to Individuals and Families
Board Expenses
Building/Grounds R&M
Children’s Expenses
Children’s Activities and Recreation
Clothing & Hair Grooming
Education
Food and Dining Out
Gifts
Medical and Psychological
Supplies				
TOTAL CHILDREN’S EXPENSES

Revised
Proposed2010		2011$    12,000 $              0500,000
   500,000
365,802
   400,000
160,000
   150,000
1,000              0300,000
   350,000
180,000
   250,000
50,000		
032,000     15,000
72,000     80,000      15,000     25,000$1,687,802 $1,770,000$       4,000
3,600
13,00065,000$            0       3,600     12,000     66,000

19,20015,0006,000
40,0001,200
2,000
  20,000
109,400

   113,000

Computer Expenses
Internet
Maintenance
SoftwareWebsiteTOTAL COMPUTER EXPENSES

2,500
6,000
3,500
   3,000
15,000     15,500

ConsultationCounseling & Contract Therapy
Equipment Repairs
Food and Dining Out-Staff

12,0006,000
26,0006,000     12,000       6,000     27,000       6,000

Fund Raising
Postage
Promotions
Public Relations
Publications and Printing
TOTAL FUND RAISING

13,00014,0001,500
  18,000
46,500     48,000

Furniture and Fixtures
In-Home Care
Insurance
Licenses and Fees: Professional/Audit
Parent Education

12,0002,400
50,00018,0001,200     12,000              0     60,000     14,000              0206MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY					Payroll
Employee Benefits - Health, Life, Disability & Retirement
Housing: Executive Director
Payroll Expenses
Payroll Taxes
Salaries				
TOTAL PAYROLL

Revised
Proposed2010		2011
95,44936,0001,000
97,900    890,000
1,120,349

1,153,959

6,100
1,800
4,000
3,000
1,200
16,00016,60025,000110,000
22,000    6,810       6,300       2,200       2,400       4,000       3,000     19,000     17,500     20,000
   120,000     30,000         8,000

Permits and Fees: Operating
Property Taxes
Scholarships and Aftercare
Spiritual Life
Staff Recruitment
Staff Training, Memberships & Development
Supplies - Campus
TravelUtilities
Vehicle Expense
Volunteer Recognition
TOTAL EXPENSES
    Surplus/(Deficit)

		

2010

$1,722,959 $ 1,781,459($35,157)      ($11,459)

V. HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
A.  BASIC  SERVICESINCOME
Our United Outreach
Endowments1
Gifts
Denomination Day Offering
TOTAL INCOME

		

EXPENSE
Board Expense
OfficeAuditing
Legal Fees
Memberships
TravelSupplies Postage
Sub-Total		
Personnel
Salaries
FICA / Retirement
Health Insurance
Employee Recognition
Sub-Total			
Historical Library & Archives
Equipment & Supplies
Publications (ILP)
Acquisitions
Photography / Framing
Records (ILP)$   79,743 $    72,945
36,000    36,000
9,000      9,000       5,000		      5,000$ 129,743 $  122,945$     7,000$      5,000$        900
1,000
670
3,000
       3,000$      8,570$             0             0         670      1,000      3,000$      4,670$    73,314 $    73,314
12,374
    12,374
6,820      6,923
300		 300$    92,808 $    92,911$      3,000 $      2,855
2,200      2,200
1,500      1,500500         500       2,600		
      2,600

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207

Revised
Proposed2010		2011

Sub-Total			$    9,800$      9,655

Birthplace Shrine
Insurance (ILP)
Travel & Maintenance (ILP)
Interpretation & Publicity (ILP)
Sub-Total			$     1,100
2,302       2,302$     5,704$      1,100$      2,302      2,302$      5,704

Denomination Day
Materials / Postage
Project
Sub-Total			
TOTAL EXPENSE$     1,000       4,000$     5,000$ 128,882$      1,000      4,000$      5,000$  122,945

VI. MEMPHIS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Revised
Proposed2010		2011

					REVENUE
Student Tuition Fees
Investment
Gifts and Grants
Other Revenues
TOTAL REVENUE$			

$2,148,670
466,560
1,700,000     296,340$4,611,570

EXPENSES
Business OfficeDean’s Office
Chapel
Educational Development Committee
Associate Dean’s Office
Advancement Office
Doctor of Ministry
Facilities
Faculty
Summer Classes
January Classes
CYMT
Financial Aid
Information Technology
Library
President’s Office
Admissions & Student Services
Registrar & Institutional Research
Public Relations
Student Housing
Certificate & Continuing Education
Student Government
Theology & Arts
Scholarships
Program of Alternate Studies
TOTAL EXPENSES			
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets$   222,282$  223,147
221,259
    205,334
20,571      29,352
18,625        6,272
86,711               0289,062
    281,711
60,700      49,539
632,378
    563,639
918,112
    830,178
41,500      34,300
12,000      11,760
0    139,111
66,351      65,024
156,073
    120,876
319,288    288,173
214,223
    199,596
159,799
    155,684
116,741
    112,652
136,155
    132,138
329,182    297,564
18,800               03,500        3,000
123,140      44,100
269,640
    269,500     140,111		     106,521$4,576,203$4,149,170
35,367           255,870$ 2,455,040
    475,000
1,200,000
    275,000$ 4,405,040

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VII. SHARED SERVICES					REVENUE
Our United Outreach
TOTAL REVENUE$			
EXPENSES
Salaries
Health Insurance
Retirement
FICA
Workers Comp
Insurance/Disability
Audit
Payroll Service
Accounting Coordinator
Office Supplies
Bank Charges
Technology System Consultants - EMS
Technology System Consultants - Blackbaud
Building & Maintenance
Pest Control
Lawn & Ground Maintenance
Lawn Treatment
Utilities - Building 1
Utilities - Building 2
Janitorial Service
Security System Monitoring
Trash Collection
Telephone/Internet
Heating & AC Repairs
Building & Maintenance Debt - Union
Depreciation Expense
Office Equipment
Office Equipment Maintenance
Computer Equipment
Computer Maintenance
Computer Software
Computer Supplies
Office Supplies
Postage
Employee Events
P & C Insurance
Future Maintenance FundTOTAL EXPENSE
Surplus/Deficit

Revised
Proposed2010		2011$   304,000$ 304,000$     57,000
18,300
2,850
4,361
300
468
12,00010,2608,700
60011,82018,00025,5006,300
600
17,3043,450
22,20018,408
7,500
960
1,800
14,4006,000

    413,356
413,356$$    96,000               0               0               0               0               0      12,000        9,600        4,000      18,000      18,300      18,000           600      12,400        3,450      22,200      14,800        7,200           960        1,800      14,400        6,000      54,000
65,292      65,6520               010,500        9,600
0               05,700      12,000600               00               03,000        3,000
7,200        7,200
1,000        1,000
7,750        7,750
    10,000		   10,000$ 362,373$  429,912$  (58,373) $  (16,556)

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The
Proceedingsof theONE HUNDRED EIGHTIETH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
of theCUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
session held in

DICKSON, TENNESSEE
June 13 - 18, 2009

CELEBRATING 200 YEARS
1810-2010
FIRST DAY - SUNDAY - JUNE 13,2010
PRE-ASSEMBLY WORSHIPIn the facilities of the Dickson Middle School, Dickson, Tennessee, the one hundred eightiethGeneral Assembly, the one hundred thirty-sixth General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America, the Convention of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and visitors shared inworship.  The worship director, the Reverend C. William Jones, Jr.,West Tennessee Presbytery, presided
in worship assisted by the Reverend Chris Warren, Nashville Presbytery, the assembly music leader, and
Ms. Janice Bane, Nashville Presbytery, the assembly pianist.  Elder Joy Wallace, Brazos River Presbytery,
served as liturgist.  The anthem, “Upon This Rock,” was presented by the Nashville Presbyterial Choirunder the direction of the Reverend Chris Warren.   Ms. Gayle Wood, directed the choir of the Green’s
Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, Elk River Presbytery, in three gospel selections.  
The Reverend R. Stan Wood, Huntsville Presbytery, acting Dean of Memphis Theological Seminary, read
Joshua 4:1-7 which referenced the General Assembly theme, “What Do These Stones Mean?”  Reverend  Wood delivered a dynamic sermon titled, “Looking Back with Gratitude, Moving Forward by Faith.”  TheReverend Harry Johnson, Elk River Presbytery, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, pronounced
the benediction.
RECEPTION FOR WOMEN IN MINISTRY
Following the worship service, the Missions Ministry Team, Memphis Theological Seminary,and the Pastoral Development Ministry Team, sponsored a reception for Clergy Women and those who
support them in their ministry.  The varied ministries and anniversaries of ordination of clergy women in the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, were celebrated.

SECOND DAY—MONDAY—JUNE 14, 2010
Committees convened from 8:30a.m. to 12:00 noon due to the scheduled celebration on Tuesday of
the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
THE ASSEMBLY BEGINS IN WORSHIP

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At the appointed time of 2:00p.m. the one hundred eightieth General Assembly, the Convention of
Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and visitors shared in worship.  The assembly worship director,
the Reverend C. William Jones, Jr., West Tennessee Presbytery, presided and was assisted by Elder Mary
Lyn Childs, Missouri Presbytery, President of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Convention,
liturgist; music director, the Reverend Chris Warren, Nashville Presbytery; and pianist, Ms. Janice Bane,
Nashville Presbytery.  Under the direction of the Reverend Chris Warren, the Nashville Presbyterial Choir,presented the anthem, “Ain’a That Good News.”  The Retiring Moderator, Elder Sam Suddarth, Columbia
Presbytery, read John 14:26 and Acts 1:4,5 and 8, then delivered the sermon titled, “We Have the Power.”  
The benediction was pronounced by the Reverend Jones.
THE ASSEMBLY IS CONSTITUTEDCALL TO ORDER
The Moderator, Sam Suddarth, called the assembly to order.
WORDS OF WELCOME
The pastor host, the Reverend Robert Truitt, Nashville Presbytery, welcomed the assembly to
Dickson and made necessary announcements.
Reverend Truitt introduced the Mayor of Dickson County, the Honorable Mr. Robert Stone, whoshared his Cumberland Presbyterian heritage and welcomed the assembly to Dickson.  Mayor Stone asked
for God to bless the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on its historic 200th anniversary.
Reverend Truitt introduced the President of the Dickson County Ministerial Association, theReverend Mike Jennette, who recognized the birth of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dickson
County.  Reverend Jennette welcomed the assembly and expressed his best wishes for a successful assemblyand prayed the opening prayer asking God’s blessing on the 180th General Assembly.
THE REPORT OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEEThe Reverend John Appling, Missouri Presbytery, Chairperson of the Credentials Committee,
presented the report of the Credentials Committee certifying the list of commissioners.  At 2:00p.m. fortyfive (45) ministers and forty-three (43) elders, making a total of eighty-eight (88) commissioners were
present, thus a quorum was affirmed.  The report was concurred in, marked Appendix “A” and filed.
ASSEMBLY BUSINESSThe agenda was adopted.
The Moderator, Elder Sam Suddarth, declared the floor open for nominations for the office ofModerator of the one hundred eightieth General Assembly.
Elder Ken Smith, Presbytery del Cristo, nominated the Reverend Harry Chapman, Presbytery del
Cristo.
Elder Adriana Ordonez Ruiz, Cauca Valley Presbytery, nominated the Reverend Boyce Wallace,
Cauca Valley Presbytery.  The nominations were closed.
Elder Ken Smith, Presbytery del Cristo, gave the nominating speech for the Reverend Harry
Chapman.  The Reverend Boyce Wallace opted not to have a nominating speech.
Both nominees were given the opportunity to address the assembly.  Ballots were collected and theCredentials Committee was instructed to canvass the vote.
PRESENTATIONSThe Moderator, Sam Suddarth, presented a plaque to Elder Steven Hughes, North Central Presbytery,in recognition of North Central Presbytery’s participation and support of the Hogar Samaria Nursing Homein Cauca Valley Presbytery, Colombia, South America.
The Reverend Melissa Malinoski, Presbytery of East Tennessee, and a member of the General
Assembly Corporate Board of Directors, presented a plaque to the retiring Stated Clerk, the Reverend
Robert D. Rush, with the following resolution recognizing his service to the Cumberland Presbyterian

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Church as Engrossing Clerk and Stated Clerk.  The General Assembly gave Reverend Rush a standing
recognition of appreciation.
A RESOLUTION HONORING THE SERVICE OF
THE REVEREND DOCTOR ROBERT D. RUSH
TO THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WHEREAS, Robert D. Rush has faithfully served as Stated Clerk of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church since he was elected in 1999; andWHEREAS, Robert was elected Engrossing Clerk of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at the
1979 General Assembly and served that role faithfully until he was elected Stated Clerk; andWHEREAS, Robert has served our Lord, Jesus Christ, as a minister of word and sacrament of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church since his ordination by Ewing-McLin Presbytery on August 18, 1954;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the 180th General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church hereby honors and praises
The Reverend Doctor Robert D. Rushfor his outstanding service to our Lord, Jesus Christ, and to His people and for Robert’s many years ofservice and dedication to the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination.
This the 14th day of June, 2010.
The Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D. Rush, addressed the assembly and expressed his gratitude
to the Church for allowing him to serve.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D. Rush, made necessary announcements.
Appreciation was expressed to Ms. Elinor Swindle Brown, for making the banner with the theme“What Do These Stones Mean?” and to Mr. Dan Knight for creating the design on the banner.
RESIGNATIONS
The resignations of Mr. Mark Davis, Mr. William Nelms, Ms. Meredith Schroeder, and the Reverend
Amy Howe, Memphis Theological Seminary Board of Trustees; Reverend Wayne Wood, Reverend Hillman
Moore, and Mr. Leo Whinery, Ministry Council; and Mr. Darrell Thompson, Cumberland PresbyterianChildren’s Home Board of Trustees, were accepted.
The resignation of the Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D. Rush, was accepted and to be effective  
September 30, 2010.
ASSEMBLY BUSINESSThe Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D. Rush, made necessary corrections to the preliminary
minutes.
A MODERATOR IS ELECTEDThe Reverend John Appling, Missouri Presbytery, chairperson of the Credentials Committee,
reported the vote for the Moderator as follows:
Reverend Boyce Wallace
56 votes
Reverend Harry Chapman
29 votes
The retiring Moderator, Elder Sam Suddarth, declared that the Reverend Boyce Wallace is the duly
elected Moderator of the one hundred eightieth General Assembly, then presented Moderator Wallace thegavel and the Moderator’s Cross.  Moderator Wallace addressed the assembly and asked God for strength
for the upcoming year and the assembly for their help and prayers.  Moderator Wallace asked the assemblyand visitors to bless each other and to seek out the Holy Spirit to move and work among the assembly andthe Church.
A VICE MODERATOR IS ELECTED

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The Moderator, the Reverend Boyce Wallace, declared the floor open for nominations for the officeof Vice Moderator.   Elder Ken Smith, Presbytery del Cristo, nominated the Reverend Harry Chapman,
Presbytery del Cristo.  Nominations were closed and the Reverend Harry Chapman was elected the vicemoderator by acclamation.
PRESENTATIONS BY THE STATED CLERKThe Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D. Rush, presented to the retiring moderator, Elder Sam
Suddarth, a gavel representing the one used in the one hundred seventy-ninth General Assembly and a
replica of the Moderator’s cross.
The Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D Rush, read the following resolution adopted by the Stateof Tennessee Senate on February 4, 2010, and was later adopted by the House of Representatives.  It issigned by the governor and all members of the legislature.
WHEREAS, it is fitting that this General Assembly should pause in its deliberations to join with its
citizens in celebrating joyous and historic occasions; andWHEREAS, the faithful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination are celebrating
the bicentennial anniversary of its founding; andWHEREAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was founded to meet the tremendous need ofreligious teaching and guidance to an ever-expanding population in the western frontier of the newly established United States of America; andWHEREAS, the first synod meeting of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was held at the Old
Beech Meeting House in 1813 in Sumner County; andWHEREAS, Cumberland College (now Cumberland University) was established in Princeton,
Kentucky, in 1826, and was one of the first institutions of higher education in the United States to enroll
both men and women; Miss Ann Harpending was enrolled in the first class; andWHEREAS, the first General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination was held in1829 in Princeton, Kentucky; andWHEREAS, Bethel College (now Bethel University) was established in 1842 in McLemoresville;
and
WHEREAS, slavery, although fiercely debated, was decried as an institution by the Cumberland
Presbyterian General Assembly, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was one of the few national denominations that did not divide along political lines; andWHEREAS, in 1889, Ms. Louisa Woosley, a Cumberland Presbyterian, became the first woman
ordained in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition; andWHEREAS, the first Cumberland Presbyterian Center opened in Memphis in 1951 to house thevarious agencies of the denomination; andWHEREAS, the 1984 revision of the Cumberland Presbyterian Confession of Faith was one of thefirst inclusive confessional documents in the Reformed tradition; andWHEREAS, the new Cumberland Presbyterian Center moved to the Memphis suburb of Cordova in
2008; and
WHERAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination has over 78,000 members in over 700
churches located in many states throughout the United States, as well as Colombia, South America, Hong
Kong, and Japan; andWHEREAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church currently has twenty-three missionaries in seventeen countries; andWHEREAS, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is one of the truly home-grown institutions of thegreat State of Tennessee, and it is most appropriate that the members of this legislative body should honor
this historic religious institution and its members as they commemorate this significant milestone in their
historic existence; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, that we hereby
honor and congratulate the members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church upon the denomination’scelebration of the Church’s bicentennial and extend to them our best wishes for continued success, growthand prosperity in their outstanding services to our fellow Tennesseans and the entire world.
Signed by Mark Norris, Senate Majority Leader, Ron Ramsay, Speaker of the Senate; Kent Williams, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor Phil Bredesen.

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ELECTION OF THE STATED CLERK
Moderator Boyce Wallace opened the floor for nominations for the positions of Stated Clerk.  TheReverend Sam Romines, Cumberland Presbytery, Representative of the Ministry Council, presented Report
Number One of the Ministry Council placing the name of the Reverend Michael G. Sharpe, Red River
Presbytery, in nomination for the two year unexpired term of the Reverend Robert D. Rush.  Nominations
were closed and the Reverend Michael Sharpe was elected the seventeenth Stated Clerk, by acclamation.
The Reverend Michael Sharpe addressed the assembly and thanked the Church for allowing him
the privilege of serving as Executive of the former Board of Missions, as team leader of the Mission
Ministry Team and for the new opportunity to serve the Denomination.
PRESENTATIONThe Reverend Robert Watkins, Director of Global Missions for the Missions Ministry Team,
presented a video on the work of the Seikyo Gakuen School in Osaka, Japan.  The school was a result of thework of the Reverend A. D. Hail, a Cumberland Presbyterian missionary to Japan in the late 1800’s.  While
there are no current Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in the area at this time, the school is proud of andclaims their Cumberland Presbyterian heritage.  Reverend Watkins introduced Mr. Noboru Nakayama andMr. Hajime Mori who serve on the Board of Directors of the school.  The assembly expressed appreciation
for the work of the school, and for participating in this year’s meeting.
RESOLUTION BY COMMISSIONERThe Reverend Sherrlyn Frost, Grace Presbytery, presented a resolution asking that the governing
bodies use computer/video/simulcast technology for conducting meetings.  The resolution was referred to
the Committee on Judiciary.
BOARD/AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCEDThe Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D. Rush, introduced the following board and agency
representatives:
Commission  on Chaplains
Paul Collins
Children’s Home
Ruby Letson
Historical Foundation
Gwen McReynolds
Judiciary
Dwayne Tyus
Memphis Theological Seminary
Chester Dickson
Ministry Council
Sam Romines
Our United Outreach Committee
Ron Gardner
StewardshipCharles Floyd
Theology and Social Concerns
Steve Mosley
REFERRALS TO COMMITTEES
Referrals to the Committee on Children’s Home and Historical Foundation
PageReport
146 The Report of the Board of Trustees of the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home     Except Recommendation 1 which is referred to Program Planning, committee B
167 The Report of the Board of Trustees of the Historical Foundation     Except Section H which is referred to Judiciary
Referrals to the Committee on Higher Education
Page Report
152 The Report of the Board of Trustees of Memphis Theological Seminary
194 The Report of the Board of Trustees of Bethel University

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Referrals to the Committee on Judiciary
Page Report
168 The Report of the Board of Trustees of the Historical Foundation, Section H
179 The Report of the Joint Committee on Amendments
181 The Report of the Permanent Committee on Judiciary
34 The Report of the Stated Clerk
     Sections V, VI and IX
198 The Memorial from Synod of Great Rivers regarding Reguirements for Potential Candidates		for the Ministry
Referrals to the Committee on Program Planning
Page Report
40 The Report of the Ministry Council referred to Sub Committee B     Except Section V and VI which are referred to Sub Committee A and Section F which is          referred to the Committee on Judiciary
69 The Report of the Ministry Council Section V and VI are referred to Sub Committee A
151 The Report of the Board of Trustees of the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home     Recommendation 1 referred to Sub Committee B
177 The Report of the Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel referred to Sub Committee A
189 The Report of the Place of Meeting Committee referred to Sub Committee B
198 The Memorial from West Tennessee Presbytery regarding Clergy referred to Sub Committee B
Referrals to the Committee on Stewardship/Elected Officers
Page Report
31 The Report of the Moderator
32 The Report of the Stated Clerk
     Except Sections V, VI and IX which are referred to Judiciary
133 The Report of the Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits
198 The Report of the Our United Outreach Committee
200 Line Item Budgets Submitted by General Assembly Agencies
Referrals to the Committeeon Theology and Social Concerns

Page Report
191 The Report of the Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns
PRESENTATION
The assembly recognized Elder Beverly St. John, Nashville Presbytery, the Moderator of the one
hundred fifty-eighth General Assembly.  Ms. St. John introduced the Reverend Sam R. Estes, Jr., Presbyteryof del Cristo, and stated that both were members of the Board of Foreign Missions when the moderator
and his wife were commissioned to go to Colombia, South America.  Ms. St. John and Reverend Estes
expressed their congratulations to Moderator Wallace and assured him of their prayers and support in the
coming year of service.
Ms. Beth Wallace, wife of Moderator Boyce Wallace, was introduced.  Ms. Wallace addressed theassembly and requested support and prayers for their work.
ADJOURNMENTThe Moderator, Boyce Wallace, declared the General Assembly adjourned until 8:30a.m. on
Thursday.  The General Assembly, Convention of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and visitors
will participate on Tuesday in a celebration at Montgomery Bell State Park.  Committees will meet Tuesday
evening and Wednesday.

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THE EVENING PROGRAM
The General Assembly, the Convention of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and visitors
participated in a reception at the Dickson Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to honor the immediate past
Moderator, Elder Sam Suddarth; the newly elected Moderator, the Reverend Boyce Wallace; the newly
elected Vice-Moderator, the Reverend Harry Chapman; the President of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Women’s Ministry, Ms. Mary Lyn Childs; and the President-elect of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s
Ministry, Ms. Martha Chambers.

THIRD DAY - TUESDAY - JUNE 15, 2010
A DAY OF CELEBRATION OF THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING
OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
gathered at the Birth Place Shrine in Montgomery Bell State Park for the 200th anniversary of the foundingof the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  A service of worship began at 10:00a.m.  The assembly worshipdirector, the Reverend C. William Jones, Jr., presided in worship.  Special music was presented by choirs
from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.   TheReverend Daniel J. Earheart-Brown, Nashville Presbytery, President of the Memphis Theological Seminary,
read Luke 19:36-40, then delivered a sermon titled “The Stones Will Cry Out.”  The worship leader, theReverend C. William Jones, Jr, West Tennessee Presbytery, and the Reverend Theodis Acklin, Huntsville
Presbytery, were co-celebrants for the service of Holy Communion.   Reverend Acklin pronounced thebenediction.
Presbyterial displays were set up, singing groups were performing in various areas of the park,
various crafters demonstrated 1810 crafts, and 1800 style games were enjoyed by many.
The following persons presented brief devotionals in the Chapel: the Reverend Kenta Karasawa,
Japan Presbytery; the Reverend Willie Monteaque, New Hopewell Presbytery; Elder Adriana Ordonez Ruiz,
Cauca Valley Presbytery; Elder Sallie Sain, Columbia Presbytery; the Reverend Nathan Scott, Choctaw
Presbytery, and the Reverend Buhwan Yang, Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery.
At 3:00p.m. the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America held a dedication service for a monument erected in honor of the 200th
anniversary.  The two large granite markers, located between the chapel and the log cabin, contains the nameof each congregation and each presbytery within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America.  The Reverend Geoff Knight, Trinity Presbytery, led the service of worshipassisted by Ms. Venessa Edmonds, Huntsville Presbytery, liturgist; Mr. Billy Black, West Tennessee
Presbytery, who wrote and prayed the opening prayer; Mr. Matthew Gore, West Tennessee Presbytery, whoshared some of the history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church as recorded by R. W. McDonnold; theReverend Thomas D. Campbell, Missouri Presbytery, who prayed the prayer of dedication; Doctor Army
Daniel, Jr., Huntsville Presbytery, read Joshua 4:1-7.  The song, “We Are an Offering” was composed by theReverend Dwight Liles, Columbia Presbytery.  The songs, ‘McAdow’s Prayer” and “Silent Stones” werecomposed by the Reverend Geoff Knight, Trinity Presbytery.  The prayer of dedication was written by Ms.
Rose Anne Knight, Trinity Presbytery.  Reverend Knight gave the charge and pronounced the benediction.
THE EVENING PROGRAM
The evening was devoted to committee work.  There were forty-three (43) ministers, forty-one (41)elders, and twenty (20) youth advisory delegates present.

FOURTH DAY - WEDNESDAY - JUNE 16, 2010
Committees met and began the day with devotions.  There were forty-two (42) ministers, fortythree (43) elders, and twenty-four (24) youth advisory delegates present.  The entire day was devoted tocommittee work.
THE EVENING PROGRAM

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The General Assembly, the Convention of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, and visitors
were inspired by a revised version of “Light Along the Cumberland” presented by the Bethel University
Renaissance group.  The assembly commends Bethel University and Mr. Brian Hill for their presentation.  
An offering in excess of $5,000 was received for Bethel University.

FIFTH DAY - THURSDAY - JUNE 17,2010
The General Assembly and visitors began the day in worship.   The assembly music director,
the Reverend Chris Warren, Nashville Presbytery, sang the prelude, “I Need Thee Every Hour.”  Youth
Advisory Delegate, Chris Cassel, Hope Presbytery, led the call to worship.   Reverend Warren led thesinging accompanied on the guitar.  Youth Advisory Delegate, Aaron Clifton, Columbia Presbytery, prayed
the invocation and led in the prayer of confession.  Youth Advisory Delegate, Jamie Sullivan, Murfreesboro
Presbytery, read I Corinthians 3:10-13, and delivered the message, “The Church’s One Foundation.”
CALL TO ORDER
The Moderator, Boyce Wallace, called the assembly to order and led the opening prayer.  There
were fourty-three (43) ministers, fourty-one (41) elders, and twenty-four (24) youth advisory delegatespresent as of 9:00a.m.
ASSEMBLY BUSINESSThe Stated Clerk, the Reverend Robert D. Rush, made the necessary announcements.
Elder Audaine Fennel, Covenant Presbytery, was recognized on the occasion of her 80th birthday and her
seventy years of service to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Ms. Fennel began playing the piano at
the age of ten for her church.
The Reverend Jimmy Latimer, West Tennessee Presbytery, presented the following resolution of
thanks:The 180th General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church wishes to express its thanks
to Almighty God who has indeed blessed us with the opportunity to assemble in the name of our Lord andSavior, Jesus Christ to transact the official business of His Church on this momentous occasion of ourdenomination’s 200th Anniversary.
A special thanks is extended to Nashville Presbytery within whose bounds the Assembly convened,
and to the Dickson Cumberland Presbyterian Church for providing such warm-hearted hospitality throughtheir ministry to us and to their beloved pastor, Reverend Robert Truitt, whose unparalleled dedication has
guided us through these wonderful days together.
We also express our gratitude to those who ministered to us in Word and worship. These include:
Reverend Chris Warren, Music Director; Reverend C. William Jones, Jr., Worship Director; and Dr. Stan
Wood, Dr. Daniel J. Earheart-Brown and Mr. Jamie Sullivan for their messages.
An untold debt of gratitude is owed to our outgoing Moderator, Elder Sam Suddarth, Jr., our new
Moderator, Reverend Boyce Wallace, and Vice Moderator, Reverend Harry Chapman.
Stated Clerk, Reverend Robert D. Rush and Engrossing Clerk, Doctor Tommy Craig, were also
invaluable in their planning and assistance, along with their staff and volunteers. Credit should also go to
the General Assembly Program Committee for their dedicated service.
We also express our thanks to the many sacrifices made by the families of these volunteers andleaders.
And last but not least, we deeply appreciate the kindness and welcome shown to us by the entire
Dickson community. This word of thanks is especially extended to the Dickson County School Board for theuse of their facilities for our Assembly.
The state of Tennessee is also to be commended not only for the beautiful and timely commendation
given to us by the State Legislature and the Governor, but also to the State Park Commission for theirassistance at the Montgomery Bell State Park Birthplace Shrine.
The resolution was adopted.
PRESENTATIONSThe Reverend Paul Collins, Presbytery del Cristo, and the representative of the Commission on

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Chaplains, introduced the Reverend Tom Chadwick, the Associate Director of the Presbyterian Council on
Chaplains and Military Personnel.  In appreciation for his ten years of service to the Council, the Reverend
Chadwick presented a plaque to the Reverend Robert D. Rush.  Reverend Collins addressed the assembly
challenging youth advisory delegates, persons entering seminary, and younger pastors to be open to God’scall to the chaplaincy.   Reverend Collins encouraged the assembly and visitors to identify the twelve
Cumberland Presbyterian chaplains serving at this time, to pray for them, and to send correspondence tothem.
The Reverend Sam Romines, Cumberland Presbytery, and representative of the Ministry Council,
introduced the Reverend Milton Ortiz, Team Leader of the Pastoral Development Ministry Team, andMr. Mark Davis, Team Leader of the Communications Ministry Team.  Reverend Romines shared somebiographical information on the two new team leaders.
The Reverend Frank Ward, Discipleship Ministry Team Leader, announced the publication of “First
They Prayed,” a booklet for children on the founding of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Reverend
Ward introduced a new DVD on “The Sacraments” and showed the section, “Baptism-A Time of Promise.”  
Reverend Ward also announced that there is a “Miniversity Informercial” on YouTube and the online
leadership courses which are available to Cumberland Presbyterians.
COMMISSIONERS/YOUTH ADVISORY DELEGATES EXCUSEDThe Reverend Gary Carter, Hope Presbytery; the Reverend Jimmy Peyton, Cullman Presbytery;the Reverend Jimmy Latimer, West Tennessee Presbytery; Youth Advisory Delegates Remington Davis,
Missouri Presbytery; and Sarah Jo Dixon, Murfreesboro Presbytery were excused.
PARLIAMENTARIAN APPOINTEDThe Moderator Boyce Wallace, named the Reverend Daniel J. Earheart-Brown as the parliamentarian.
ASSEMBLY BUSINESSElder Ronnie Parks, West Tennessee Presbytery, and chair of the Nominating Committee, presented
the Report of the Nominating Committee.  The report was received, thus placing the names in nomination.
The floor was opened for additional nominations to the various boards/agencies.  There were no additional
nominees, thus the slate presented by the committee was elected.
The Report of the Committee on Judiciary was read and divided to consider each section separately.
Sections I and II were concurred in.  Section III A. was concurred in and its recommendations adopted by
the necessary two thirds vote.  Section III B. was concurred in and its recommendations adopted by thenecessary two thirds vote.  Section III C. was concurred in and its recommendation adopted.  Section III
D. which included a proposed amendment to the Constitution was concurred in and its recommendations
adopted unanimously.  Section III E. was concurred in and its recommendation adopted.  Section III F.
was amended to approve the resolution and its recommendation was adopted as amended.  The report wasmarked Appendix “B” and filed.
RECESS DECLARED
The Moderator declared a recess until 1:30p.m.  The assembly reconvened at the proper time andsang “God is so Good.”  The Reverend Steve Turner, Trinity Presbytery, led in prayer.
EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION
The assembly expressed its appreciation to Mr. Larry Street, a member of the Dickson Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, for operating the sound system, moving it to Montgomery Bell State Park on Tuesday,and setting up the air conditioning in the auditorium each day.
ASSEMBLY BUSINESSThe Report of the Committee on Higher Education was read.  Elder Ken Smith, Presbytery del Cristo
and chair of the Committee on Higher Education, led the assembly in prayer for those persons completing
their service to Memphis Theological Seminary.  The report was concurred in, its recommendations adopted,

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marked Appendix “C” and filed.
The Report of the Committee on Theology and Social Concerns was read, concurred in, its
recommendations adopted, marked Appendix “D” and filed.
The Report of the Committee on Program Planning B was read, concurred in, its recommendations
adopted, marked Appendix “E” and filed.
VICE MODERATOR ASSUMES CHAIR
The Vice Moderator, the Reverend Harry Chapman, assumed the chair.
The Report of the Committee on Program Planning A was read, concurred in, its recommendations
adopted, marked Appendix “F” and filed.
The Report of the Committee on Stewardship/Elected Officers was read, concurred in, its
recommendations adopted, marked Appendix “G” and filed.
The Report of the Committee on the Children’s Home/Historical Foundation was read, concurredin, its recommendations adopted, marked Appendix “H” and filed.
MODERATOR ASSUMES CHAIR
The Moderator Boyce Wallace assumed the chair.
READING OF THE MINUTESThe printed minutes of the first four days were reviewed.  The minutes of the fifth day were read,and the minutes were approved as a whole.
SPECIAL PRAYER
The Reverend Daniel J. Earheart-Brown, President of Memphis Theological Seminary, led theassembly in prayer for Mr. William Nelms, who resigned from the Board of Trustees for health reasons, andfor the Reverend Rebecca Salisbury, retiring trustee and spouse of the Reverend Loyce S. Estes, Moderatorof the 138th General Assembly, and for the additional members of the Estes family on the death of Reverend
Estes.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE MODERATORThe Moderator Boyce Wallace, announced that he and Vice Moderator Harry Chapman would be
sharing the moderator commitments due to his residing in Colombia, South America.  Moderator Wallace
expressed his appreciation to all who would be assisting them in the coming year and asked the assembly
to continue to remember in prayer the work being done in Colombia, South America.
RECESS DECLARED
A twenty minute recess was declared to prepare for the closing worship.
CLOSING WORSHIPThe assembly music director, the Reverend Chris Warren, presided in worship assisted by pianist,
Ms. Janice Bane.  The Reverend Warren asked the assembly to be in prayer for the wife of the assembly
worship director, Reverend C. Williams Jones, Jr., Mrs. Pat Freeland-Jones, who suffered an apparent heart
attack on Wednesday and is in St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.  The Reverend Warren read thefollowing 2009 memorial roll of ministers:
Reverend Don Charles Alexander, Presbytery of East Tennessee
Reverend Dean Atchison, Covenant Presbytery
Reverend Harold Bartholomew, Arkansas Presbytery
Reverend Robert Harold Bates, Columbia Presbytery
Reverend Rosalie Brown, North Central Presbytery

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Reverend Chester Cannon, Covenant Presbytery
Reverend Andrew Mizel Dickerson, Jr., Murfreesboro Presbytery
Reverend William D. Hicks, West Tennessee Presbytery
Reverend Lee Hyden, Hope Presbytery
Reverend David Johnson, Trinity Presbytery
Reverend Randall Leslie, West Tennessee Presbytery
Reverend Roger J. Marsiglio, Covenant Presbytery
Reverend Robert Milam, Cumberland Presbytery
Reverend Howell (Gay) Mims, Grace Presbytery
Reverend William Horace Snipes, Murfreesboro Presbytery
Reverend Charles Wallace, Red River Presbytery
Reverend Joyce Wright, Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery
Reverend Warren led the prayers of the people, then read Joshua 4:1-7 and delivered a sermon
titled, “What Do These Stones Mean?”
ASSEMBLY BUSINESS
Ms. Martha Chambers, President of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, addressed
the assembly.  Ms. Chambers requested prayer for the work of the Women’s Ministry and reviewed theConvention highlights for this year.  Ms. Chambers led the assembly in prayer.
INVITATION FOR THE 181st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Reverend John Appling and Elder Michael Fare of Missouri Presbytery extended an invitation
to attend the 181st General Assembly in Springfield, Missouri.
ADJOURNMENTThe Moderator Boyce Wallace, declared the assembly adjourned at 4:00p.m. to meet June 20-24,
2011 in Springfield, Missouri.  Moderator Wallace pronounced the benediction and blessing.

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APPENDICESREPORT OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE(Appendix A)
The Credentials Committee certifies the list of commissioners on pages 6 and 7 of the Preliminary
Minutes with the following changes.
On the part of the Elder Commissioners, Elder Jessie Dunnaway, Grace Presbytery and Elder Velta
Riley, Presbytery of East Tennessee will not be attending.
On the part of the Youth Advisory Delegates, Youth Advisory Delegate Jennifer Ciocan, Red River
Presbytery will not be attending.
Enrollment as of 2:00p.m. is certified as forty-five (45) ministers, forty-three (43) elders, andtwenty-five (25) youth advisory delegates.
Respectfully submitted,
John Appling, Chair
Jimmy Cassel, Rita Laymon, Hanna Jenkins

REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY(Appendix B)
I. REFERRALS
Referrals to this committee are as follows: The Report of the Board of Trustees of the HistoricalFoundation Section H, The Report of the Joint Committee on Amendments, The Report of the PermanentCommittee on Judiciary, The Report of the Stated Clerk Section V, VI and IX, The Memorial from Synod ofGreat Rivers, and The Resolution from Reverend Sherrlyn R. Frost, Commissioner from Grace Presbytery.

II. PERSONS OF COUNSEL
Appearing before this committee were:  Reverend Robert D. Rush, Stated Clerk; Reverend Dwayne
Tyus, representing the Permanent Committee on Judiciary; Ms. Susan Knight Gore, Archivist, Historial
Foundation; and Ms. Gwen McReynolds, representing the Historical Foundation.

III. CONSIDERATION OF REFERRALS
A. REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK
1.  NEPOTISM
The current policy forbidding nepotism in Denominational Center hiring (adopted by the 177th
General Assembly) may be overridden by a three-fourths vote of the Ministry Council.  We concur with theStated Clerk’s observation that this override provision undermines the effectiveness of the “no-nepotism”
policy.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That Recommendation 1 from the Report of the Stated Clerk,that “The 180th General Assembly rescind the action of the 177th General Assembly which allows the
Ministry Council to over ride the “No nepotism policy” by a three-fourths vote,” be adopted.
2.  PROPERTY OWNERSHIPIn 2009, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America adopted the same statements regarding

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property as those already in place for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.   In light of this change,
language in sections 3.32, 3.33, and 3.34 of the Constitution needs to be updated to include the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That Recommendation 2 from the Report of the Stated Clerk,that “This item be referred to the Permanent Committee on Judiciary and the Joint Committeeon Amendments to prepare the proper Constitutional Amendments to present to the 181st General
Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,” be adopted.
3.  PROGRAM PLANNING COMMITTEE
The committee work at General Assembly can be overwhelming for some committees.  In particular,
the Program Planning committee bears a heavy load of responsibility in diverse ministry areas.  Dividing
this committee into two separate committees would make the workload more manageable and would ensurethat all those ministry areas which currently report to Program Planning receive the careful attention they
deserve.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That Recommendation 3 from the Report of the Stated Clerk,that “Bylaw 11.01 be amended by deleting the words Program Planning Committee and inserting
Chaplains/Missions/Pastoral Development Committee and Ministry Council/Communication/
Discipleship Committee,” be adopted.
B. REPORT OF THE PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
1.  “Executive” Status Clarified
Bylaw 10.02 forbids denominational “executives” from serving on denominational entities.  
Many people serve in an “executive” capacity but may not necessarily hold an “executive”-sounding
title.  The Permanent Judiciary Committee suggests that those who oversee planning and budgeting within
denominational agencies are, in fact, “executive” employees, regardless of the “title” they may hold.
RECOMMENDATION 4: That Recommendation 1 from the Permanent Judiciary Committee,that “The Bylaw 10.02 be amended by adding “including Chief Executive, Vice President, Team
Leader, Director, or equivalent to the current wording, thus making 10.02 to read “No person who is
employed in an executive capacity including Chief Executive, Vice President, Team Leader, Director,
or equivalent, in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is eligible to serve on a denominational entity.
No employee of a denominational entity is eligible for service on the same denominational entity,” beadopted.
2.  OUO OversightIn light of changes already approved by the 179th General Assembly and enacted by the MinistryCouncil, it is necessary to update the Bylaws so they reflect current policy regarding oversight of OUO
funds allocation.
RECOMMENDATION 5: That Recommendation 2 from the Permanent Judiciary Committee,that “Bylaw 15.03 be amended by deleting the words “Ministry Council” and inserting the words“Our United Outreach Committee, thus making the final sentence to read to read “Organizations
requesting funds from Our United Outreach shall submit multi-year program budgets to the Our
United Outreach Committee,” be adopted.
3.  NOMINATIONS FOR STATED CLERK
Since the General Assembly Corporate Board already oversees the work of the Stated Clerk, it
makes sense that the Corporate Board be tasked with finding a qualified candidate for the office of StatedClerk any time that position cannot be filled (for whatever reason) by re-election of the current Stated Clerk.
RECOMMENDATION 6: That Recommendation 3 from the Permanent Judiciary
Committee, that “Bylaw 8.02 be amended by deleting the words “Ministry Council” and inserting thewords “Corporate Board”, thus making the second sentence to read, “If the Nominating Committee
declines to nominate the serving Stated Clerk for re-election, or if the Stated Clerk has vacated theoffice, resigned, or declined to be re-nominated, then the Corporate Board shall conduct a search for2010

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and nominate a candidate to the General Assembly,” be adopted.
C. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONWith the help of legal counsel, the Historical Foundation has restated its charter.  After discussion
with Ms. Susan Knight Gore, archivist, and Ms. Gwen McReynolds, Historical Foundation Board
Representative, the Judiciary Committee is satisfied that the changes made were both necessary anddesirable.  The Board of Directors of the Historical Foundation has approved the following charter.
Amended and Restated Charter of the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America
State of Tennessee Control Number 000152518
Pursuant to Sections 48-60-105 and 48-60-106 of the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act, the corporation
adopts the following amended and restated charter.
1.
The name of the corporation is: Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
2.
The corporation is a nonprofit religious corporation and a public benefit corporation.
3.
The corporation shall be authorized to engage in any lawful business and to exercise any
power permitted by law.  The corporation was formed to collect and preserve the materials of, and to promote the knowledge of the history of, the churches, institutions, and people of the Cumberland Presbyterian
denomination; and to establish and maintain a library, archives, and museum for the acquisition and care ofsuch material and records.
4.
The corporation shall have one member, which shall be Cumberland Presbyterian Church
General Assembly Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act.
5.
The corporation shall have a board of directors consisting of not less than three (3) nor morethan twelve (12) directors, each of whom shall be elected by the member or the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church in America as provided below.   The member of the corporation may elect up to six (6) of thedirectors serving on the board at any one time.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America may electup to six (6) of the directors serving on the board at any one time.  A normal term of office shall be three (3)years, but the terms may be staggered so that not all terms expire simultaneously.  The duly elected directors
at any given time shall constitute the board.  The member may remove any director elected by it, with orwithout cause, by giving written notice of the removal to the director and to the president of the corporation.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America may remove any director elected by it, with or withoutcause, by giving written notice of the removal to the director and to the president of the corporation.
6.
The corporation shall not, without the prior written consent of the member: (1) merge withanother corporation; (2) dissolve; or (3) sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of all, or substantiallyall, of its property.
7.
This charter shall not be amended without the prior consent of the member.
8.
The registered office of the corporation shall be in Shelby County, Tennessee. The nameand address of the registered agent is:
Susan Knight Gore
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, Tennessee, 38016
9.
The principal office of the corporation is:8207 Traditional Place
Cordova, Tennessee, 38016
10.
The corporation is a nonprofit corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious
and charitable purposes.  No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any
individual.  No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be attempting to influence legislation
through propaganda or otherwise.  The corporation shall not participate in or intervene in any political
campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
11.
The assets of the corporation shall be dedicated to the religious purposes of the corporation.
Upon the dissolution of the corporation, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities,
the assets of the corporation shall be distributed to Cumberland Presbyterian Church General Assembly
Corporation if it shall then qualify as an exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal

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Revenue Code of 1986 (or corresponding section of any future United States tax code), and if it does not so
qualify, then to one or more organizations which do qualify as an exempt organization described in Section
501(c)(3).
12.
The directors of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation formonetary damages arising from any breach of the director’s fiduciary duty as a director except with regard
to:a.
A breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation;b.
Acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or aknowing violation of law; orc.
Unlawful distributions of the corporation’s assets.
13.
Historical information.  The 150th General Assembly in 1980 changed the name of theHistorical Committee to “Trustees of the Historical Foundation” and authorized its incorporation.  A charter
was filed with the State of Tennessee and corporate status granted on November 3, 1980.  The first boardof trustees consisted of John William Sparks, Alfred Bennett, Virginia Sue Morrow, Ruth Morgan Parham,
and Bobbie E. Oliver. Richard Magrill was the first secretary/treasurer.
RECOMMENDATION 7: That Recommendation 1 from the Report of the Board of Trusteesof the Historical Foundation that, “The General Assembly approve the above Charter of the HistoricalFoundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in
America,” be adopted.
D. REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON AMENDMENTS
1.  ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Although we understand that increasing the number of commissioners at General Assemblyincreases costs, we affirm the value of increased participation in the life of the Church at the General
Assembly level.  Since both the additional cost and potential benefit of increased representation will affect
Presbyteries, the following constitutional amendment will allow Presbyteries to decide whether a change inthe ratio for representation at General Assembly is desirable.
9.2a Delete 1,250 and insert 1,000 making the amendment to read “A presbytery having
an active membership (including ordained clergy) of 1-1000 shall be entitled tosend one minister and one elder;
9.2 b Delete 1251-2500, and insert 1001-2000 making the amendment to  read, “A
presbytery having an active membership (including ordained clergy) of 1,001 to
2,000 shall be entitled to send two ministers and two elders.
RECOMMENDATION 8: That Recommendation 1 from the Report of the Joint Committeeon Amendments that, “The above Constitutional Amendments,” be adopted and referred to thepresbyteries.
2.  RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT WITH CPCA
The Constitution (5.3) alludes to the possibility of a reciprocal agreement with another denomination.  
As yet, however, no reciprocal agreements exist between the CPC and any other denomination.  A reviewof the proposed reciprocal agreement finds this proposal to be very thoroughly prepared.  We feel that suchan historic agreement with our sister denomination is both appropriate and desirable.
Now, therefore, in recognition of their respective interests, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America enter into the following agreement:
1. RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT.  In accordance with Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of theConstitution, each of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America (referred to as a “Receiving Body”) agree that
duly ordained ministers of the other body (The “Ordaining Body”) (a) may be
invited and approved for temporary service in the Receiving Body and (b) may be
invited and installed for ministry in the Receiving Body, all on the terms andconditions of this Reciprocal Agreement and in accordance with the Constitution.

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2. TEMPORARY SERVICE.  A minister of the Ordaining Body may be invited andapproved and installed for temporary service in a Church of the Receiving Body;a.
An invitation for service is extended to a minister of the Ordaining Body
by the supervising judicatory of a Church in the Receiving Body;b.
Upon presentation of proper credentials from the Ordaining Body, theReceiving Body may approve temporary ministerial service in a
Congregation of the Receiving Body;c.
The Presbytery of the Receiving Body approves temporary ministerial
Service by the minister in the Church of the Receiving Body and grants
to the minister temporary membership or participation in the presbyteryof the Receiving Body, along with any temporary rights and privilegesof such membership; including the right to serve as a commissioner tothe General Assembly of either body, serving on boards and agencies
of various judicatories, however, the minister may not be elected to theposition of Moderator or Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of theReceiving Body.
d.
The minister accepts temporary membership or participation in the
Presbytery of the Receiving Body for the duration of the service;e.
The minister remains a member of the Presbytery of the Ordaining Body, andis subject to the jurisdiction and discipline of the Ordaining Body,
and willingly subjects him/herself to the disciplinary process of theReceiving Body; (e.g. The Receiving Body must approve and dissolve
the service of a minister in a particular church, (7.06), however, only the
Ordaining Body can remove the minister’s credentials through the proper
disciplinary process.)f.
Although it has jurisdiction over the minister, the presbytery of the Ordaining
Body does not have jurisdiction of the Church of the Receiving Body inwhich the temporary ministerial service is performed.
g.
If the temporary ministerial service requires the minister to live outside the boundary of
the presbytery of the Ordaining Body in which the minister
is a member, in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Constitution, theminister must have the consent of the Synod in which such presbytery is
located. (6.52)
3. INTERPRETATION. This Reciprocal Agreement shall be interpreted and implemented in amanner that is consistent with the Constitution.
4. ADOPTION; EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION. This Reciprocal Agreement
Shall be effective when approved and adopted by both the General Assembly of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in America, as evidenced by the minutes of each such body, andupon receiving such approval and adoption.  Each of the General Assemblies of thethe Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America shallhave the unilateral right to terminate this Reciprocal Agreement byappropriate action by their General Assembly.
RECOMMENDATION 9: That Recommendation 2 of the Report of the Joint Committeeon Amendments that, “The 180th General Assembly approve this reciprocal agreement with the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America,” be adopted.
E. THE MEMORIAL FROM SYNOD OF GREAT RIVERSREQUIREMENTS FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY
A Memorial from Synod of the Great Rivers asks whether potential ministerial candidates must havea letter from their Session.  The Judiciary Committee refers the Synod to section 6.14 of the Constitution,
which affirms that a letter from Session is indeed required before a person may be considered as a candidate
for ministry.

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RECOMMENDATION 10: That the Memorial from Synod of the Great Rivers concerning
requirements for potential candidates for ministry which states, “WHEREAS, there seems to be somegreat discrepancies between presbyteries in the requirements for accepting and enrolling potential
candidates for the ministry; andWHEREAS, some presbyteries require a letter from the local church session to enroll acandidate or present him/her to the presbytery and some presbyteries do not appear to require sucha letter, and
WHEREAS, in fulfilling our responsibility in oversight of the presbyteries within our
bounds, we need more clarity in regard to what is constitutionally mandated and what is presbyterial
prerogative in each step of the process toward ordination,
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Synod of Great Rivers requests the General Assembly
to answer the following question:
Is it a constitutional requirement that a person have a letter of recommendation from theirlocal church session in order for them to be accepted by the Committee on Probationer Care and/or
be recommended to presbytery for candidacy?
I attest that the Synod of Great Rivers adopted this memorial meeting in regular session on April 10,
2010.
					
Signed:					Michael Qualls, Clerk, Synod of Great Rivers,” be denied.
F. THE RESOLUTION FROM REVEREND SHERRLYN FROST OF GRACE PRESBYTERYUSE OF TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE MEETINGSThe Committee engaged in extensive discussion regarding the advantages and disadvantages of theresolution brought to the floor regarding “computer-aided” attendance at Presbytery meetings.  This is a
far more complicated issue than simply purchasing cameras and turning on computers.  We are concernedthat adequate technology is not readily available in all rural areas, and that poor technology will hamper,
rather than aid, communication.  In discussion with Reverend Dwayne Tyus, we realize that the resolution
has far-reaching Constitutional ramifications as well.   Although this may be desirable and workableat some point in the future, we are concerned that most churches and Presbyteries are not equipped toparticipate fully or equitably in such a manner.  After also considering prior GA action (CP Digest 5.8 p.
244, 1982-telephone conference not legal for presbyterial meetings), the Committee at this time offers thefollowing recommendation:
RECOMMENDATION 11: That the resolution brought to the floor of General Assembly by
Reverend Sherrlyn Frost, Grace Presbytery which states,“WHEREAS discussions have come forth from time to time regarding the use of technology
to facilitate participation and efficiency in the workings of meetings of presbyteries and their boards
and agencies, and
WHEREAS similar discussions have been offered at meetings of General Assembly and its
boards and agencies, and
WHEREAS the use of technology, while requiring initial installation and setup costs, has
proven to save extensive travel and ministry dollars with time and usage,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT this General Assembly take action that would
allow for the use of technology in conducting meetings of presbyteries and its boards and agencies.
SPECIFICALLY, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT these governing bodies along with their boards
and agencies be allowed to conduct meetings by means of computer/ video/simulcast technology insuch a way that those who are noted as present at remote locations, who through technology can hearand see business being conducted by said entities and who are likewise visible to the other members(specifically moderators, stated clerks and/or chairs of said entities) by means of same technology, beconsidered present and accounted for with full rights of discussion and voting privileges as attributed
to those who physically and locally attend such meetings.
		
Respectfully submitted,
		
Reverend Sherrlyn R. Frost, Commissioner from Grace Presbytery,” be denied. (Thiswas amended to delete “denied” and insert “be adopted.”)Respectfully submitted, Committee on Judiciary

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION(Appendix C)
I. REFERRALS
Referrals to this committee are as follows: The Report of the Board of Trustees of Memphis
Theological Seminary  and The Report of the Board of Trustees of Bethel University.

II. PERSONS OF COUNSEL
Appearing before this committee were: Reverend Jay Earheart-Brown, President Memphis
Theological Seminary; Mr. Chester Dickson, board representative for Memphis Theological Seminary;Reverend Robert Prosser, President Bethel University; Mr. Bill Dobbins, chairman of the Board of Trusteesof Bethel University; Mr. Keith Priestley, Assistant to the President for Financial Affairs of Bethel University
and Mr. Walter Butler, Executive Vice-President of Bethel University.

III. CONSIDERATION OF REFERRALS
A. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF BETHEL UNIVERSITY
The committee celebrated with the administration and staff that Bethel College has now become
Bethel University.  Bethel University has over 3,000 total enrollment including undergraduate and graduate
studies.
Dr. Prosser reported that the university’s growing pains have created a building boom on campus.  
Ground was broken last summer on a new science building which was recently completed debt-free.  A new
dormitory is now under construction to house the influx of students.
Bethel has grown at a rate of 20% per year for the past few years.  One reason given for the growing
number of students could be the fact they are given a new laptop computer to assist them in their studies.  
The number of students attending classes on-line is a second reason for growth.   Many books used by
the students are now on-line instead of printed and the university subscribes to a 24-hour on-line library
supplying these materials.
New programs that have recently been implemented at Bethel include the Master of Physician
Assistant Studies, one of only 125 in the nation, and the Master of Business Administration, which is oneof the fastest growing MBA programs in the State of Tennessee.
One of the most visible programs at Bethel is the Renaissance program in the arts.  Through thisprogram, the name of Bethel University is carried nationwide.
We, the committee, wish to commend Dr. Robert Prosser and his leadership team on their visionand farsightedness in leading Bethel into a new era from a college that was doomed to close its doors to avital, thriving entity.  Dr. Prosser stated that “Ignorance has not gone on vacation because the economy wasin a recession,” and he led the university into the fastest growing private university in the state of Tennessee.
B. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MEMPHIS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Dr. Earheart-Brown reported that, although the budget has been cut about $500,000.00 to about$4.1 million due to the poor economy, causing some faculty and administrative positions to be eliminated,
enrollment continues to stay strong.  This past year enrollment was over 350 students, who came from
25 different denominations making Memphis Theological Seminary a truly ecumenical school of higher
education.
Mr. Chester Dickson and Dr. Rebecca Salisbury have completed their three terms and are noteligible to succeed themselves.  Mr. William Nelms has resigned due to health reasons.  Mr. Mark Davishas resigned to become the Communications Team Leader and the Reverend Amy Howe has given her
resignation.

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RECOMMENDATION 1: That Recommendation 1 of the Report of the Board of Trusteesof Memphis Theological Seminary, that “The General Assembly express its gratitude to Mr. Chester
Dickson, Dr. Rebecca Salisbury, Mr. Mark Davis, Mr. William Nelms and Reverend Amy Howe for
their faithful service to Memphis Theological Seminary and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,”be adopted.
Because of the poor economy, focus has been increased on fund-raising.
New programs at Memphis Theological Seminary include education for youth ministers throughthe Center for Youth Ministry training, the drug and alcohol addiction counseling program beginning fall of
2010, and a Korean Doctor of Ministry program under consideration.
Dr. Barbara Holmes, the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean, who served as professor of
Ethics and African American Studies, submitted her resignation, but the Board instead approved a sabbaticalyear for Dr. Holmes who will then return in a teaching role at Memphis Theological Seminary with At theRiver: Theology and Arts Institute.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That Recommendation 2 of the Report of the Board of Trustees ofMemphis Theological Seminary, that “The General Assembly express its appreciation to Dr. Barbara
A. Holmes for her five years’ service to Memphis Theological Seminary as Vice President of Academic
Affairs and Dean,” be adopted.
Enrollment in the Program of Alternate Studies continues to be 45-50 regular students at any given
time.   Dr. Earheart-Brown stated Director of Program of Alternate Studies, Dr. Thomas Campbell, hasannounced his intention to retire as director effective December 31, 2010.   The Board of Trustees has
appointed a search committee that has begun its work to select and call the next Director  of the Program of
Alternate Studies.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That Recommendation 3 of the Report of the Board of Trusteesof Memphis Theological Seminary, that “The General Assembly express appreciation to Dr. Thomas
D. Campbell for the faithful service he has given to the preparation of ministers in the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church through the Program of Alternate Studies,” be adopted.
Memphis Theological Seminary holds dual accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools
in the United States and Canada (ATS), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  
Every ten years, member schools go through an extensive process of re-accreditation review.  Memphis
Theological Seminary’s last accreditation visit occurred in 2008, at which time they were fully affirmed forthe next ten years by both accrediting bodies.
The committee would like to commend Dr. Earheart-Brown, the faculty and the Board of Trustees
in their far-sightedness in leading Memphis Theological Seminary in being a truly ecumenical institution
which serves not only the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, but twenty-four additional denominations
around the world.
The committee would like to urge all commissioners to return to their home presbyteries andencourage the local churches to participate in Seminary Sunday and to continue their support for Bethel
University.
Respectfully submitted, Committee on Higher Education

REPORT OF THE UNIFIED COMMITTEE ON
THEOLOGY AND SOCIAL CONCERNS(Appendix D)
I. REFERRAL
Referral to this committee is as follows: The Report of the Unified Committee on Theology andSocial Concerns.

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II. PERSONS OF COUNSEL
Appearing before this committee was: Reverend Steve Mosley, representative of the Unified
Committee on Theology and Social Concerns.
A. APPRECIATION TO REVEREND LANNY JOHNSON
The term of the Reverend Lanny Johnson expires in 2010 and he will not be serving another term.  
Reverend Johnson has faithfully served the committee.  The General Assembly owes a debt of gratitude forhis work.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That Recommendation 1 of the Report of the Unified Committeeon Theology and Social Concerns, that “The Stated Clerk of the General Assembly be requested towrite a letter of appreciation to the Reverend Lanny Johnson and his family for his time and commitment to the Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns,” be adopted.
B. ADOPTION
The committee calls attention to the paper “Let’s Not Wait For the Next Catastrophe”and makes thefollowing recommendations.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the General Assembly commend Ms. Debby Marston on her
writing of “Let’s Not Wait For the Next Catastrophe.”
RECOMMENDATION 3: That “Let’s Not Wait For the Next Catastrophe” be communicatedto each Presbytery and each commissioner of General Assembly is strongly encouraged to take ithome and share it with each of their own congregations.
RECOMMENDATION 4: Churches seek ways to minister to orphans around the world
and that they also seek to strengthen families through supporting the Cumberland PresbyterianChildren’s Home.
C. VIOLENCE
LIVING IN A SPIRIT OF PEACEThe Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns approved the following statements.  “Weare Resurrection people living in a world that knows too much about violence and the death it generates.  
The Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns offers the following as a means of bearing witness to God as God of Life in a world that is violent and dying:  A modest step to affirm life and begin to
oppose violence: Cumberland Presbyterians will not speak violently to one another.”
RECOMMENDATION 5: That Recommendation 2 of the Report of the Unified Committeeon Theology and Social Concerns, that “This be approved as a way for Cumberland Presbyterians tobegin to work against violence,” be denied.
The committee submits the following statement in place of the above statements:
WHEREAS violence both afflicts and affects our world and
WHEREAS Cumberland Presbyterians are followers of Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace and
WHEREAS we have been commanded to love our enemy, (Matthew 5:44) and
WHEREAS we have been told to do unto others as we would have done to us (Matthew 7:12) and
WHEREAS we have been commanded to live at peace with everyone as far as it is possible (Romans 12:18)  
and
WHEREAS the Savior has told us that all men will know that you are my disciples by your love for one
another, (John 13:35) and
WHEREAS we are told that we will be required to give an account of  every careless word (Matthew 12:36)
THEREFORE, the Committee On Theology and Social Concerns believes that a first step to witnessing ourcommitment to following  the Prince of Peace is to continue to examine our thoughts, words, and deeds,

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ensuring  they conform to scripture and show love to both our enemies and to ourS fellow brothers andsisters in Christ.
RECOMMENDATION 6: That this be approved as a way for Cumberland Presbyterians towitness to our faith and oppose the spread of violence in the world.
Respectfully submitted, Committee on Theology and Social Concerns

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
PROGRAM PLANNING B(Appendix E)
I. REFERRALS
Referrals to this committee are as follows:   The Report Number Two of the Ministry Council
Except Section V and VI which are referred to Committee A, The Report of the Board of Trustees of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home Recommendation 1, The Report of the Place of Meeting
Committee, and The Memorial from West Tennessee Presbytery.

II. PERSONS OF COUNSEL
Appearing before this committee were: Ms. Edith Gholson, Director of Ministries; Reverend Sam
Romines, representative of Ministry Council; Reverend Frank Ward, Discipleship Ministry Team Leader;and Mr. Mark J. Davis, Communications Ministry Team Leader.

III. CONSIDERATION OF REFERRALS
A. REPORT NUMBER TWO OF THE MINISTRY COUNCIL
1.  MINISTRY COUNCIL LOGO
It is the committtee’s concern that the use of the Ministry Council logo, which is similar to thedenominational logo, may cause unwarranted confusion.
2.  CHURCH CALENDAR 2010-2011
The committee finds that all dates are suitable.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That Recommendation 1 of the Report Number Two of the
Ministry Council, that “The 180th General Assembly approve the following dates for the church
calendar,” be adopted.
June 2010
1
Bethel University - First session, registration and classes begin
13
Children’s Sunday
13-18 General Assembly CPC - Dickson, Tennessee
13-18 General Assembly CPCA - Franklin, Tennessee
15
CP Women’s Ministry Regional Report forms due to Missions Ministry Team
16-17 Women’s Ministry Convention - Dickson, Tennessee
17
CPYC Registration Cut-Off
20
Father’s Day (USA)28
Bethel University - First session ends
30
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July 2010
4
Independence Day (USA)4-9
Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference
5
Denomination Center Closed
6
Bethel University - Second session begins, registration and classes begin
6-16 Doctor of Ministry Residency - Memphis Theological Seminary
10
Program of Alternate Studies graduation
10-24 Program of Alternate Studies - Summer extension school
19
Sea Day (Japan)
20
Independence Day (Colombia)
20-24 Presbyterian Youth Triennium - Purdue University
22-24 Women’s Spirituality Conference - Dyersburg, Tennessee
August 2010
1-31 Church Paper Month6
Bethel University - Second session ends
6-7
Ministry Council Meeting
7
Bethel University - commencement
7
Battle of Boyaca` (Colombia - decisive battle for independence)
15
Bethel University - Halls open
16
Bethel University - Fall classes begin
20
Memphis Theological Seminary - New student orientation
20
Bethel University - Last day to register/add classes
22
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
24
Bethel University - convocation
29
Christian Education Season (through Sept. 26)
September 2010
1-26
Christian Education Season (cont. from Aug.)
6
Labor Day (USA)     Denomination Center, Bethel University and Memphis Theological Seminary - closed
10-11
Board of Stewardship meeting
10-11
Memphis Thelogical Seminary board meeting
12		
Senior Adult Sunday
17-18
Historical Foundation board meeting
17-18
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home board meeting
17-18
Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns meeting
19
Christian Service Recognition Sunday
19
International Day of Prayer and Action for Human Habitat
20
Respect for the Aged Day (Japan)
23
Autumnal Equinox Day (Japan)
30
Our United Outreach quarterly report
October 2010
1-31
3
7-10
10
11
11
12-14		2430-31

Clergy Appreciation Month
World Wide Communion Sunday
Bethel University - Fall break
Clergy Appreciation Sunday
Columbus Day (USA)Sports Day (Japan)
Minister’s Conference
Native American Sunday
Ministry Council and Teams meet in concurrent sessions

November 2010
Any Sunday Love Loaf Program
1
All Saints Day
3
Culture Day (Japan)

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5
5
5-7
7
11
13-16
14
17-19
20-26
21		
23
25
25-26
28
28
28-Dec. 25

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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World Community Day (Church Women United)
Memphis Theological Seminary Inquirer’s Day
Consultant Training Event
Commitment Sunday
Veteran’s Day (USA)Youth Ministry Planning Council (YMPC)
Day of Prayer for People with Aids and Other Life Threatening Illnesses
Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel meeting
Memphis Theological Seminary - Fall break
Bible Sunday
Labor/Thanksgiving Day (Japan)
Thanksgiving Day (USA)
Denomination Center, Bethel University, Memphis Theological Seminary - closed
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
1st in Advent
Advent in Home and Church

December 2010
Any Sunday Gift to the King Offering
1
Annual Reports mailed to congregations
1-4
Youth Worker Summit at Disney World
5
Bethel University - commencement
9-11
Youth Ministry Planning Council meeting
23-31
Memphis Theological Seminary - Christmas break
24
Christmas Eve
24-27
Denomination Center closed
25
Christmas Day
31
New Year’s Eve_______________________________________________
January 2011
1
3
3-15
6
9
10
10-11		
14
17
		
21
22
28-29

New Year’s Day (USA, Colombia, Japan)
Denomination Center closed
Memphis Theological Seminary - January term classes begin
Epiphany
Bethel University - Residence halls open
Bethel University - Classes begin
Stated Clerk’s conference
Close center books - cut off date for Our United Outreach for previous year
Martin Luther King Day
Denomination Center, Bethel University and Memphis Theological Seminary - closed
Memphis Theological Seminary - New student orientation
Memphis Theological Seminary - Classes begin
Ministry Council and Teams meet in joint sessions

February 2011
1-28
Black History Month1
Annual congregational reports due to presbyterial clerks
3
Memphis Theological Seminary - Opening convocation
4
Denominational birthday
4-5
Judiciary Committee meeting
4-5		
Snow date for Ministry Council
6		
Souper Bowl Sunday
6
Historical Foundation offering
10
Annual congregational reports due in the Office of the General Assembly
18-19
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home board meeting
18-19
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20		
24
25-26
25-26
27

Youth Sunday
Memphis Theological Seminary - Henry Logan Starks Scholarship dinnerHistorical Foundation board meeting
Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns meeting
Quarterly Missions Emphasis

March 2011
1-31
4
4
6
9
9 - April 24
11-12
13
20

Women’s History Month
World Day of Prayer (Church Women United)
Memphis Theological Seminary - Inquirer’s Day
Seminary Sunday
Ash Wednesday, the Beginning of Lent
Lent to Easter
Board of Stewardship meetingFirst Sunday in Lent
Spring Equinox (Japan)

April 2011
15-16
17
17
18-22
21		
22
24
24
25-29
May 2011
1-8
1
3
5
6
8
8
13-14
14
15
15
22
29
30
June 2011
12
12
12		
15
19		
19
20-24
21-23
30

361

Ministry Council Meeting
One Great Hour of Sharing
Palm Sunday
Memphis Theological Seminary - closed for spring break
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday     Denomination Center closed
Easter Sunday
March of Missions, Easter to Pentecost (through June 12)
National Farm Worker Week
Family Week
Labor Day (Colombia)
Constitution Memorial Day (Japan)
Children’s Day (Japan)
May Friendship Day (Church Women United)
Bethel University - commencement
Mother’s Day (USA)Memphis Theological Seminary board meeting
Memphis Theological Seminary graduation
Children’s Home Sunday
CP Women’s Ministry Local Officer’s Report forms due to Missions Ministry Team
Quarterly Mission Emphasis
Memorial Day Offering for the Presbyterian Council on Chaplains and Military Personnel
Memorial Day     Denomination Center closed
Pentecost Sunday
World Mission Day
Children’s Sunday
CP Women’s Ministry Regional Report forms due to Missions Ministry Team
Trinity Sunday
Father’s Day (USA)General Assembly, Springfield, Missouri
CP Women’s Ministry Convention, Springfield, Missouri
CPYC Registration Cut-Off

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3.  COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY TEAM
We commend and recognize the work of Mr. Mark J. Davis as he begins his work with theCommunications Ministry Team.  Mr. Davis shared his visons and hopes for the future work of this ministry.
4.  DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY TEAM
a.  Leadership Development
The committee is pleased with the ecumenical resources that have been produced at this time,such as the “Opening Doors to Discipleship” and “Gifts of God-The Sacraments.”   It is our hope thatcongregations take advantage of theses resources.
Recommendation 2: That Recommendation 2 of the Report Number Two of the MinistryCouncil, that “The General Assembly encourage congregations to take advantage of this Cumberland
Presbyterian resource for leadership development,” be adopted.
b.  Miniversities
We feel that the miniversities are a helpful education resource to the denomination.  It is our hopethat the miniversities will have many participants.
Recommendation 3: That Recommendation 3 of the Report Number Two of the MinistryCouncil, that “The General Assembly encourage congregations to participate in the miniversity
program as an important source for leadership development in the area of stewardship ministry,” beadopted.
c.  Discipleship Statement
The committee is greatful for the work of the Discipleship Ministry Team in the formation of thediscipleship statement.  The committee encourages the Discipleship Ministry Team to continue to refine thediscipleship statement of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
RECOMMENDATION 4: That Recommendation 4 of the Report Number Two of the MinistryCouncil, that “The following be approved as the discipleship statement of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church,” be adopted.
“Christian Discipleship is the life and practice of following Jesus Christ.
One may know about Jesus and even believe in Jesus as an important historical and spiritual figure.  
However, one becomes a disciple of Jesus by entering into a personal relationship with him and making him
the guiding force of one’s life.  A disciple is not a “Jesus admirer” but a servant who follows faithfully andwillingly.
A disciple is a student—a life-long learner.  Christian disciples devote their lives to the reading andstudying of God’s inspired word as found in the Old and New Testaments, and come to know the teachingsof Jesus through them and through interaction with others who share this identity.  
Prayer, worship, life experiences and God’s grace enable disciples to develop a personal relationshipwith God through Jesus Christ. By being totally committed to Christ, disciples find their primary identity
in him. Their faith is nurtured, shaped, and then expressed in and through the faith community called the“church.”Disciples exhibit joy, peace, humility, self-control, and are guided in all things by love, God’s greatest
command.  Through love, disciples are peacemakers and seek to relate to others with kindness, integrity,
generosity, and patience.
Disciples follow the example of Jesus, and give themselves---their time, energy, and money---tofurthering God’s kingdom by witnessing to the Good News, ministering to and with persons who are poorand those who are marginalized.
Above all, disciples share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others, inviting them to a new life in
Christ.”d.  Youth Workers Summit
The committee feels that this is a valuable resource for the education of youth leaders.   Thecommittee was pleased to learn that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church had the largest representation at
the last Youth Workers Summit.

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RECOMMENDATION 5: That Recommendation 5 of the Report Number Two of the
Ministry Council, that “Congregations and presbyteries be invited to promote the Youth Worker
Summit and seek to enable leaders who work in ministry with young people to attend,” be adopted.
B. THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANCHILDREN’S HOME
The committee is thankful for the work of the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home andencourages the denomination’s support.
RECOMMENDATION 6: That Recommendation 1 of the Report of the Board of Trustees of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, that “May 15, 2011, be designated as Cumberland
Presbyterian Children’s Home (CPCH) Sunday and that General Assembly encourage congregations to emphasize the importance of this offering as a significant source of funding for CPCH,” beadopted.
C. THE REPORT OF THE PLACE OF MEETING COMMITTEE
The committee notes and is thankful that the 181st General Assembly will be meeting in Springfield,
Missouri and that the 182nd General Assembly will be meeting in Florence, Alabama.   The committee
is grateful for the invitations from Murfreesboro Presbytery to host the 183rd General Assembly and forTennessee-Georgia to host the 184th General Assembly.  Conversations have begun with Andes Presbytery,
Cauca Valley Presbytery, and Colombia, for the possibility of hosting the 185th General Assembly in 2015.
RECOMMENDATION 7: That Recommendation 1 of the Report of the Place of Meeting
Committee, that “The 180th General Assembly accept the invitation of Murfreesboro Presbytery tohost the 183rd General Assembly June 17-21, 2013,” be adopted.
RECOMMENDATION 8: That Recommendation 2 of the Report of the Place of Meeting
Committee, that “The 180th General Assembly accept the invitation of Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery
to host the 184th General Assembly June 16-20,2014,” be adopted.
D. THE MEMORIAL FROM WEST TENNESSEE PRESBYTERY
The committee feels strongly that there is a great need for clergy crisis care and believes that theyear of the clergy is appropriate.  There has never been a year of the clergy and the current funding forministers in crisis is minimal.  Much of crisis care is placed in the hands of presbyteries who also do nothave adequate funding.  The committee agrees with the memorial that the Pastoral Development Ministry
Team should be charged with the responsibility of creating and implementing this program.
RECOMMENDATION 9: That the Memorial from West Tennessee Presbytery concerning
clergy which states,“WHEREAS, according to the Constitution “The office of minister of word and sacrament is
unique in the life of the church as to responsibility and usefulness. God calls persons and sets themapart for this ministry. The persons who fill this office should be sound in the faith, exemplary in
conduct, and competent to perform the duties of the ministry. Persons who become ministers of theword and sacrament are due such respect as belongs to their office, but are not by virtue of theiroffice more holy or righteous than other Christians. They share in the same vocation that belongs to
all Christians to be witnesses to the gospel in word and deed. They differ from other Christians onlywith regard to the office to which they are called, which is their station in life.” (Constitution, Article
2.61); and,
WHEREAS, ordained ministers are members of presbyteries and as such are subject to theoversight, care and guidance of that body; and,
WHEREAS, the responsibilities of the office of minister include: counseling, worship,preaching, evangelism, administration, session leadership, visitation, community involvement,teaching, visioning, serving as a responsible presbyter, etc.; and,
WHEREAS, not unlike others, ministers may at times because of circumstances, weighty
demands or other reasons find themselves facing challenging crises due to unemployment, family or

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marital issues, sickness, emotional stress, burnout or other factors; and,
WHEREAS, ministers may not have the accessible support needed to sustain them and theirfamilies during these times, especially if they are without charge or unemployed; and,
WHEREAS, supporting, encouraging, praying for and enabling healthy ministers can more
effectively sustain a healthy and viable church; and,
WHEREAS, ministers are more often care-givers rather than care-receivers; and,
WHEREAS, the church working together denominationally can more effectively provide
resources to address some of the unexpected needs of clergy persons than can a congregation or, apresbytery;
THEREFORE, be it resolved that West Tennessee Presbytery memorialize the 180th General
Assembly meeting in Dickson, Tennessee, June 13-18, 2010, to establish theyearof2011 as the “Year of
the Clergy” in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a Clergy Crisis Fund be established and managed
through the Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits and under the direction of the Pastoral
Development Ministry Team of the General Assembly Ministry Council; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the purpose of the Clergy Crisis Fund is to provide
financial support to clergy who are in crisis and in need of support and care; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Pastoral Development Ministry Team of the General
Assembly Ministry Council be charged with the responsibility of: setting up this program; establishingguidelines for potential recipients from the Fund; working with the respective presbyteries indetermining needs and appropriate responses; ascertaining the abilities of the respective presbyteries
to also provide financial assistance (perhaps on a matching basis) and exploring any need forcounseling or additional support; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that congregations, presbyteries, Cumberland Presbyterian
Women’s Ministry, the General Assembly and other organizations within the church be invited to set
a special time for prayers of thanksgiving, blessing and intercession for ordained ministers and to
take a special offering during 2011 to support clergy through the Clergy Crisis Fund; and,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Assembly Ministry Council develop
promotional and supportive resources to assist congregations and presbyteries in celebrating theYear of the Clergy and to raise awareness to and advocate for this special emphasis in 2011.
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the Memorial adopted by West Tennessee
Presbytery in regular session at the Olivet Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Savannah, Tennessee,
October 3, 2009.
				
Signed by:				Earl Phelps, Stated Clerk, West Tennessee Presbytery,” be adopted.
Respectfully submitted, Committee on Program Planning, Committee B

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
PROGRAM PLANNING A(Appendix F)
I. REFERRALS
Referrals to this committee are as follows: The Report of the Ministry Council Section V and VI
and The Report of the Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel

II. PERSONS OF COUNSEL
Appearing before this committee were: Ms. Edith Gholson, Director of Ministries; Reverend Sam
Romines and Ms. Elizabeth Horsley, representatives of Ministry Council; Reverend Mike Sharpe, Missions
Ministry Team Leader; Reverend Milton Ortiz, Pastoral Development Ministry Team Leader; Ms. Adriana

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Ordonez Ruiz, Elder Commissioner, Cauca Valley Presbytery, and Reverend Paul Collins, representative of
the Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel.

III. CONSIDERATION OF REFERRALS
A. REPORT OF THE MINISTRY COUNCIL
1.  Missions Ministry Team     a.  Evangelism & Church Development
RECOMMENDATION 1: That Recommendation 6 of Report Number Two of the MinistryCouncil, that “General Assembly will move forward with an evangelism and church planting, andmission field expansion initiative by charging the Ministry Council to name a task force consisting of
Ministry Team members experienced in evangelism and church planting to develop a ten-year global
evangelism, missions and church planting plan, providing goals, staffing expectations and funding
estimates to accomplish the initiative. The Ministry Council will present the completed proposal at
the 2011 General Assembly as the decadal evangelism and church planting initiative,” be adopted.
2.  English language teacher in Colombia
Due to the importance of English-speaking skills in Colombia, both to help students at the Colegio
Americano and to assist English-speaking church workers and visitors, a summer intern position and a
one-year mission position for the purposes of teaching English are of great importance.  The rectora of theColegio specifically wishes to fill the positions with Cumberland Presbyterians.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That the ministry council use all available means to advertise thesummer missionary position in Colombia and the teaching English as a second language position at
Colegio Americano.
B. REPORT OF THE PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY TEAM		
The committee supports the creation of a handbook for use by presbyterial committees on theministry, and applauds the work of the Pastoral Development Ministry Team.  However, the committee
identified some substantive concerns with the handbook as drafted including:1) a lack of definition and clarity regarding the term “provisional”
2) an inaccurate definition of “ordained”
3) lack of clarity regarding the committee’s responsibility on page 184) lack of clarity that the elder serving on an ordination commission should be a member of presbytery inaddition to the church session5) several typographical and grammatical errors that can be taken care of by a professional editor.
This committee did not have the authority to make changes to the proposed handbook.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That Recommendation 7 of the Report Number Two of the MinistryCouncil, that “The General Assembly approve the 2010 Handbook for Presbyterial Committees on
the Ministry or Preparation for the Ministry as the official CP manual for presbyterial committees on
the ministry or its equivalent,” be denied.
RECOMMENDATION 4: That the proposed handbook be referred back to the Pastoral
Development Ministry Team to clarify areas of concerns, including those listed above, and that theteam bring a revised handbook before the 181st General Assembly.
C. REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON CHAPLAINS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL
chaplains.

The committee noted the need for prayers and other support for the men and women serving as

Respectfully submitted, Committee on Program Planning, Committee A366

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
STEWARDSHIP/ELECTED OFFICERS(Appendix G)
I. REFERRALS
Referrals to this committee are as follows: The Report of the Moderator, The Report of the StatedClerk Except Section V, VI and IX which are referred to Judicary, The Report of the Board of Stewardship,
Foundation and Benefits, The Report of the Our United Outreach Committee, and the Line Item Budgets
Submitted by General Assembly Agencies.

II. PERSONS OF COUNSEL
Appearing before this committee were: Reverend Robert Heflin, Executive Secretary and Mr. Mark
Duck from the Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits; Mr. Charlie Floyd, board representative
for Board of Stewardship, Foundation and Benefits; Stated Clerk Robert D. Rush; Retiring Moderator Sam
Suddarth; Mr. Ron Gardner, board representative for Our United Outreach Committee; and Moderator
Boyce Wallace.

III. CONSIDERATION OF REFERRALS
A. REPORT OF THE MODERATOR
Retiring Moderator Sam Suddarth, Jr. spoke of the message he has tried to deliver this past year in
his travels as Moderator.  He emphasized the basics as the people of God and spoke about the abilities ofordinary people.  He highlighted Matthew 6:33, “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God.”RECOMMENDATION 1: That Recommendation 1 of the Report of the Moderator, “Go andmake disciples,” be adopted.
B. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP, FOUNDATION AND BENEFITS
The board staff presented information on the Endowment funds, the Investment Loan program
and the Retirement program.  The Health Insurance program and the reasoning and benefits of changing
from Unicare to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee was discussed.  The revisions of the Ministerial Aid
requirements are printed below with the original criteria in bold print.
Revised Basic Requirements.
Full Benefit revised to $500 a month for State Side Recipients (previously $300 a month)1.
Minimum age is full retirement age set forth by the Social Security Administration.
		(previously age 65)
2.
Minimum years of service to the church - 15. (no change)3.
Can qualify for aid if a participant in the Cumberland Presbyterian Retirement Plan
if income is below poverty level as established by the US Census Bureau.
		(previously could not participate in Retirement Plan now can if income below poverty		level)
4.
Physical and/or mental disability (doctor’s statement required) at any age, however, aminimum of ten years service is required if less than 60 years of age. (no change)
5.
Individuals income can not exceed federal poverty guidelines set forth for the year by the
US Census Bureau.  Poverty level is $10,830 a year or $902.50 a month for 2009.
		
(previously could not exceed $600 a month)6.
Couples income can not exceed federal poverty guidelines set forth for the year by the US

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7.
8.

367

Census Bureau. Poverty level is $14,570 a year or $1214.17 a month for 2009.
(The GA Board of Stewardship is authorized to look at each case in light of unusual
financial hardship; thus, application may be made even if income levels exceed the ceiling.)(previously could not exceed $750 a month)Presbytery obtains information and approves (approval can be given by the committee
or board charged by presbytery with this responsibility); certification of approval is sent to
the General Assembly Board of Stewardship. (no change)
Surviving spouse is eligible if above items 2, 3 and 4 have been met. (no change)**Note:  Recipient is responsible to verify if receiving Ministerial Aid would effect his or her, SSI,
Social Security or other benefits.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That Recommendation 1 of the Report of the Board of Stewardship,
Foundation and Benefits, that “The Revised Basic Requirements to receive Ministerial Aid,” beadopted.
C. REPORT OF THE OUR UNITED OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Mr. Ron Gardner discussed the formation of an Our United Outreach committee for strengthening
the understanding of the importance of the giving to OUO.  OUO is the tithe of the individual church to thedenomination.  This year’s focus is “A Mitey Year.”  100% participation is hoped for in our 200th birthday
year.  Funds go to things such as the Confession of Faith being printed in Spanish, meals to children in
Colombia, new church development, ministerial development and much more.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That Recommendation 1 of the Report of the Our United Outreach committee, “We ask that the following allocation for incoming 2011 Our United Outreachfunds,” be adopted.
Ministry Council Combined
Bethel University
Children’s Home
Board of Stewardship
Office of General Assembly
Memphis Theological Seminary/     Program of Alternate Studies
Historical Foundation
Shared Services
Commission on Chaplains
Judiciary Committee
Theology/Social Concerns     Committee
Nominating Committee
Contingency Fund
*Touch the Future Debt

$1,215,754     121,575       72,945     145,890     194,521

(50%)
(5%)
(3%)
(6%)
(8%)

     170,205       72,945     413,356         8,500         8,000

(7%)
(3%)
(17%)
(.35%)(.33%)

         3,000         2,500         2,316     168,493$2,600,000(.123%)(.103%)(.095%)

D. LINE ITEM BUDGETS
The committee accepts the line item budgets of the General Assembly agencies as printed.
E. REPORT OF THE STATED CLERK
Reverend Robert Rush spoke of the importance of the Tennessee state legislature adopting a
resolution on February 4, 2010, concerning the 200th birthday of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  
He spoke about our ecumenical relationships and encouraged support to the American Bible Society.  He
spoke about the existing debts of the denomination and emphasized that all funds were borrowed from thedenomination.  He also spoke of the need of funding for the Contingency Fund through OUO.

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2010

RECOMMENDATION 4: That Recommendation 4 of the Report of the Stated Clerk, that
“The United Outreach Committee seek to allocate annually to the Contingecy Fund a minimum of
one half of one percent (.5) of the total Our United Outreach allocation,” be denied.
Clerk.

We recommend the following substitute for the Recommendation 4 of the Report of the Stated

RECOMMENDATION 5: That the Our United Outreach Committee seek to allocate
annually to the Contingency Fund a minimum of one half of one percent (.5) of the total of Our
United Outreach allocation beginning in the calendar year 2012.
We commend Reverend Dr. Robert Rush for his many years of service to the Office of the General
Assembly.
Respectfully submitted, The Committee on Stewardship/Elected Officers

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
CHILDREN’S HOME AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATION(Appendix H)
I. REFERRALS
Referrals to this committee are as follows: The Report of the Board of Trustees of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Children’s Home Except Recommendation 1 which is referred to the Committee on Program
Planning committee B and The Report of the Board of Trustees of the Historical Foundation Except Section
H which is referred to Judiciary.

II. PERSONS OF COUNSEL
Appearing before this committee were:   Reverend Kevin R. Henson, Executive Director of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home; Ms. Ruby Letson, member of the Board of Trustees of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home; Reverend Stephanie Brown, Director of Pastoral Care of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home; Mrs. Susan Knight Gore, Executive Director of the HistoricalFoundation; and Ms. Gwen McReynolds, member of the Board of Trustees of the Historical Foundation.

III. THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEESOF THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S HOME
The Children’s Home staff and board are to be commended for their dedication and work.  Amongthe benefits of the capital campaign are the following:  1) the construction of the chapel on campus which
will be incorporated in the activity building, 2) construction of a duplex for single parents, and 3) the
creation of a two year part-time position of Director of Pastoral Care position.
RECOMMENDATION 1: That Recommendation 2 of the Report of the Board of Trustees of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Childrens Home, that “General Assembly encourage each congregation
to set aside one Sunday each month to pray for children and families, especially remembering thechildren and families served by CPCH,” be adopted.

IV. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEESOF THE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION

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In order to enlist the financial support of interested members of our churches in the work of thefoundation, the 1810 Circle was created.  Membership is based on a financial contribution of $25 or more
per year.  Income from such gifts enable the Foundation to meet expenditures and is vital to the continued
work of the Foundation.
Churches should be encouraged to send their original session records to the Archives as well asother items (specially designed t-shirts, mugs, plates, etc.)  The archives provide an environment conducive
to maintaining documents.  Most churches do not have such capabilties.
Some of the funds collected from the special offering on Denomination Sunday will be used to
install an audio system at the birthplace so that people may hear about the heritage of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, while being in the McAdow home.
The committee was very impressed with the presentation.  We commend the staff and board fortheir passionate dedication on such an important part of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
RECOMMENDATION 2: That Recommendation 2 of the Report of the Board of Trusteesof the Historical Foundation, that “The General Assembly, through its minutes and summary ofactions, make congregations and presbyteries aware of the 1810 Circle and encourage new members
to support this endeavor annually,” be adopted.
RECOMMENDATION 3: That Recommendation 3 of the Report of the Board of Trusteesof the Historical Foundation, that “Congregations be encouraged to have a special offering on the
Sunday designated as Denomination Day to help support the programs of the Historical Foundation,”be adopted.
RECOMMENDATION 4: That the GA to recognize work of the Historical Society and thosecommittees and individuals and State Park officials for the success of the celebration on Tuesday,June 15, 2010 and the dedication of the new markers with the list of all our churches.
Respectfully submitted, Committee on Children’s Home/Historical Foundation

CHURCH CALENDAR 2010-2011
JULY 2010
4-9 Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference
5
Denomination Center Closed
6
Bethel University-Second session
Registration/Classes begin
6-16 Doctor of Ministry Residency - MTS
10Program of Alternate Studies graduation
10-24 Program of Alternate Studies - Summer extension school
20-24 Presbyterian Youth Triennium - Purdue University
22-24 Women’s Spirituality Conference - Dyersburg, Tennessee
AUGUST 2010
1-31 Church Paper Month6
Bethel University - Second session ends
6-7 Ministry Council Meeting
7
Bethel University - commencement
15
Bethel University - Halls open
16
Bethel University - Fall classes begin
20
MTS - New student orientation
20
Bethel University - Last day to register/add classes
22
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
24
Bethel University - convocation
29
Christian Education Season (through Sept. 26)
SEPTEMBER 2010
1-26 Christian Education Season (cont. from Aug.)
6
Denomination Center, Bethel University & MTS - closed
10-11 Board of Stewardship meeting
10-11 Memphis Thelogical Seminary board meeting
12
Senior Adult Sunday
17-18 Historical Foundation board meeting
17-18 CP Children’s Home board meeting
17-18 Theology & Social Concerns meeting
19
Christian Service Recognition Sunday
19
International Day of Prayer & Action for Human Habitat
30
Our United Outreach quarterly report
OCTOBER 2010
1-31 Clergy Appreciation Month
3
World Wide Communion Sunday
7-10 Bethel University - Fall break
10
Clergy Appreciation Sunday
12-14 Minister’s Conference
24
Native American Sunday
30-31 Ministry Council and Teams meet in concurrent sessions
NOVEMBER 2010
Any Sunday Love Loaf Program
1
All Saints Day
5
World Community Day (Church Women United)
5
Memphis Theological Seminary Inquirer’s Day
5-7 Consultant Training Event
7
Commitment Sunday
13-16 Youth Ministry Planning Council (YMPC)
14
Day of Prayer for People with Aids andOther Life Threatening Illnesses
17-19 Presbyterian Council for Chaplainsand Military Personnel meeting
20-26 Memphis Theological Seminary - Fall break
21
Bible Sunday
25-26 Denomination Center, Bethel University, MTS - closed
28
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
28-Dec. 25 Advent in Home and Church
DECEMBER 2010
Any Sunday Gift to the King Offering
1
Annual Reports mailed to congregations
1-4 Youth Worker Summit at Disney World
5
Bethel University - commencement
9-11 Youth Ministry Planning Council meeting23-31 Memphis Theological Seminary - Christmas break
24-27 Denomination Center closed

JANUARY 2011
3
Denomination Center closed
3-15 MTS - January term classes begin
6
Epiphany9
Bethel University - Residence halls open
10
Bethel University - Classes begin
10-11 Stated Clerk’s conference
14
Close center books - cut off date for
Our United Outreach for previous year
17
Denomination Center, Bethel University & MTS - closed
21
MTS - New student orientation
22
Memphis Theological Seminary - Classes begin
28-29 Ministry Council and Teams meet in joint sessions
FEBRUARY 20111-28 Black History Month1
Annual congregational reports due to presbyterial clerks
3
Memphis Theological Seminary - Opening convocation
4
Denominational birthday
4-5 Judiciary Committee meeting
4-5 Snow date for Ministry Council
6
Souper Bowl Sunday / Historical Foundation offering
10
Annual congregational reports due in GA office18-19 CP Children’s Home board meeting
18-19 Memphis Theological Seminary board meeting
20
Youth Sunday
24
MTS - Henry Logan Starks Scholarship dinner25-26 Historical Foundation board meeting
25-26 Theology & Social Concerns meeting
27
Quarterly Missions Emphasis
MARCH 2011
1-31 Women’s History Month
4
World Day of Prayer (Church Women United)
4
Memphis Theological Seminary - Inquirer’s Day
6
Seminary Sunday
9
Ash Wednesday, the Beginning of Lent
9 - April 24 Lent to Easter11-12 Board of Stewardship meeting
13
First Sunday in Lent
APRIL 201115-16 Ministry Council Meeting
17
One Great Hour of Sharing
17
Palm Sunday
18-22 Memphis Theological Seminary - closed for spring break21
Maundy Thursday
22
Good Friday / Denomination Center closed
24
Easter Sunday
24
March of Missions, Easter to Pentecost (to June 12)25-29 National Farm Worker Week
May 2011
1-8 Family Week
6
May Friendship Day (Church Women United)8
Bethel University - commencement
13-14 Memphis Theological Seminary board meeting
14
Memphis Theological Seminary graduation
15
Children’s Home Sunday
15
CP Women’s Ministry Local Officer’s Report forms due
to Missions Ministry Team
22
Quarterly Mission Emphasis
29
Memorial Day Offering for the Presbyterian Council on
Chaplains and Military Personnel
30
Memorial Day / Denomination Center closed
June 201112
Pentecost Sunday
12
World Mission Day
12Children’s Sunday
15
CP Women’s Ministry Regional Report forms due toMissions Ministry Team
19
Trinity Sunday
19
Father’s Day (USA)20-24 General Assembly, Springfield, Missouri
21-23 CP Women’s Ministry Convention, Springfield, Missouri
30
CPYC Registration Cut-Off