10/2/2019 - Called Congregational Meeting - 7:20 pm

Moderator: TE David Hina

Clerk: RE Wil Meiners

Purpose: Meeting was called by the Session for the purpose of communicating to the congregation regarding a member who has left the church.

Quorum: Not needed

TE David Hina read from Ephesians 4:25-32.

TE David Hina opened the meeting with prayer.

TE David Hina addressed the fact that Carol Sutton had been subtly pulling back from several things over the past couple of months and recounted his more recent shepherding meeting with her. The day after the meeting, David discovered a letter left on his desk expressing Carol’s intention to leave Providence. The Session requested a meeting with Carol and did in fact meet with her to understand her letter, to understand her meaning behind it, and to call her back in order to deal with the issues she raised. Carol’s concerns included a belief that there was gossip about her and that she was being excluded because of her disability. TE David Hina conveyed that we had encouraged Carol to be willing to communicate these issues with those involved in order to seek resolution and reconciliation. Carol expressed an unwillingness to communicate. Rather, she expressed a feeling that she could not continue at Providence due to her differences as a feminist, a disability rights advocate, and being part Cherokee and thus culturally different. TE David Hina had a phone conversation with Carol on Saturday regarding her willingness to work through things and she made it clear that she was not willing and that she is leaving Providence.

TE David Hina expressed that this is an opportunity to examine our own hearts as to whether we are finding our identity fully in Christ.

A couple of clarifying questions were addressed.

TE David Hina summarized what happens next in this situation. We should not ask as though all is well between Carol and the church. There is a desire for her to return to the church, but with a heart of repentance and a desire for reconciliation.

In response to comments from Jackie Mueller and Rich Carver, TE David Hina expressed the need for us to pray for a change in Carol’s heart, for each member to examine themselves, for unity in God’s church, and for wisdom.

We spent time in prayer.

The meeting concluded at 8:12 pm.