The Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley met for a Stated Meeting February 1st, 2011 at Lakeland Presbyterian Church in Flowood, MS.

The meeting was convened at 9:00am being opened with prayer by RE Doyle Moorhead. Ruling Elder Bill May was elected to serve as moderator.

The Stated Clerk, TE Roger Collins, gave his report, taking at that time a moment for personal priviledge to discuss his writing of a letter to Mississippi Valley Presbytery in early January concerning the RUF work in Mississippi. The theme of the RUF work in Mississippi certainly was the big issue of the day.

TE David Gilbert, the former moderator, led in worship preaching from Mark 7. Communion was served.

Following lunch, TE Matt Giesman was examined and was approved for transfer from North Texas Presbytery having received a call as Assistant Pastor at Providence Presbyterian Church in Clinton, MS.

Dr. Bruce Baugus, a professor at RTS Jackson, was examined and licensed by the presbytery.

Mr. Wilson Shirley was examined for ordination and had his call approved to serve at Highlands Prsebyterian Church as an Assistant Pastor.

However, as stated before the main topic of the day was certainly to come under the Mission to North America report and its recommendations concerning RUF in Mississippi, especially considering the Mississippi Joint Committee on Campus Work (MJCCW). (Editor’s note: background of this event can be found at: http://bit.ly/eGrybw)

Having heard that RE Bebo Elkin, Cooridinator of MJCCW, submitted his resignation, Mississippi Valley Presbytery voted to ask the MJCCW to prayerfully reconsider their acceptance of RE Elkin’s resignation.

Also, a motion was brought to the court asking that MVP’s MNA committee be asked to undertake bringing together the MNA committees of Grace, Covenant, and MVP together with MJCCW in order to seek reconciliation and a way forward from this point.

After this the first nominee for moderator of the next stated meeting was made for TE Scott Reiber, which will be held Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson.

Andrew Barnes is a Teaching Elder and member of Mississippi Valley Presbytery and is Pastor-elect of Christ Presbyterian Church of Kansas City, Missouri.