Session Updates
Leaders in our church participate in Session meetings to discuss the current realities of the church, as well as dream about where God is calling us towards in the future.
September 2026 Update
During your Session’s September meeting, we started with Pastor Bubar’s report. He reported new partnerships with 1500 Trees, and gave us an update on the Chase Bank mobile unit. He also provided information about the Nursery being open on Sunday mornings, and the upcoming Stewardship campaign.
We were joined by guests from the Presbytery Council that is involved with planning for the next 3-5 years (Reverend Kathy Nice, Executive Presbyter; Connie Moneypenny, and Alice Karen Hite). Session had held discussions for our visions and dreams for the future and we shared those ideas with the council members. Key themes discussed included investing in young families and younger generations, reimagining use of our space now that the HVAC project is completed, strengthening our connections with Denison students, the future of music in our church, building a more diverse and inclusive congregation, and mission. As we shared our hopes for the future, the council members offered advice and suggestions to help make those ideas a reality.
We were then joined by members of the Welcome and Inclusion Task Force (Jack Burriss, Karen Cowie, Philip Everingham, Barb Martin, Jacob Palmer, Rick Scott, and Christie Vargo). The task force had prepared a report detailing what they had accomplished over the past several months, and it was brought to life through personal experiences and stories shared by members of the task force. Their reflections highlighted the importance of listening, understanding the experiences of youth and families, recognizing the impact of church hurt on some in the LGBTQ community, and creating a welcoming environment where people feel supported in their faith journey. The discussion highlighted the thoughtful and deeply personal work of the task force and the strong engagement of the congregation throughout the process. Overall, the conversation reflected FPC of Granville’s opportunity to continue building a welcoming, supportive, and faith-centered community for all. Chairperson Christie Vargo shared a proposed welcome statement and invited the Session to take up discussion of the welcome statement at their meeting in October.
—Kathy Craig, Clerk of Session