August 2023 Session Highlights

August 23, 2023

  • Approved hiring Haily Radnor as Derry’s Nursery Childcare Leader. Derry Discovery Days submitted the following individuals as candidates for open positions: Krissy Leonard, Katie Pieper, Chelsea Kraus, Kelsey Freeman, and Stephanie Crandall. All were approved.
  • Approved the following building use requests: Use of Room 1 during the DDD school year by Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 for speech/language therapy, use of the sanctuary on Thursday, December 28 for the wedding of Kate Valenziano & Bill Parrish, and use of the sanctuary/fellowship hall on Saturday June 8, 2024 for the wedding/reception of Dan Dorty & Sarah Hykes.
  • Transferred the membership of Eric & Kimberly Goetter to South Aiken Presbyterian Church in Aiken, South Carolina.
  • July income again was below budget with expenses also less than budget. Year-to-date actual income continues to be ahead of total expenses.
  • The Personnel Committee requested that the hourly pay rate for Nursery Childcare Workers be raised from $12 to $15/hr to improve Derry’s ability to attract candidates for the position. The Session approved the request.
  • Reviewed updated fee schedules for weddings and funerals, which have not been increased for many years. The Session approved the new schedules as submitted.
  • Rev. Marie Buffaloe and Rev. Brad Bradburn wish to purchase Derry cemetery plots. Since they are not members of Derry, this request was brought before the Session for discussion. The request was approved.
  • The Peace and Global Witness offering will be collected throughout September. Each church retains half of the offering collected and distributes it to a local mission project. This year, Derry’s half will be distributed to the Harrisburg YWCA.
  • The Mission Committee requested that Alaa Haikal be permitted to use the church kitchen for food preparation which she will sell through CWS/Global Marketplace. Alaa is a skilled baker, and her use of the kitchen is supported by Loretta Chubb and will be supervised by the mission committee. The Session approved the request.