PERSONNEL COMMITTEE 

 The members of the Personnel Committee for Calendar Year 2007 were Ruth Bershok, Diane Flynn, Ronald Hartsock and Richard Richardson, Chairman.  Pastor Hamilton, of course, was an active an influential member of this committee. The committee met on a monthly basis plus a few special called meeting for various reasons. This committee was hard working and accomplished much for the Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church. We tempered our actions by what we thought was best for Jesus Christ and the local church. The following paragraphs will describe our accomplishments.

 Peggy Shannon announced she had been offered and would accept the position of Pastor at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Eighty-Four, PA.  It was necessary to redistribute her work load, to oversee any financial changes and to assure every member of the congregation had opportunity to express their love for Peggy as she left our family. We then had the opportunity to bring Douglas Barrett on board as the Director of Leadership Development, after which we added to his duties the realignment and oversight of the Administrative Staff which will be of great benefit to CUPC. Carol Stewart retired from the Office Staff after 20 plus years of faithful service.  We will miss her quiet and cheerful personality as well as the many things she did for the Church. Again opportunity was given for everyone to express their appreciation to Carol. We are currently in the process of hiring a person who has high technical knowledge and abilities working with modern office equipment. That person should be “on board” and working prior to the end of 2007. We have worked with the Master’s Plan Committee to prepare for many changes that may take place as a result of the Master’s Plan activities. Doug Kearns and Zac Morton, Seminary students, have been hired on a temporary basis to give them personal experience opportunities in operations of a Presbyterian church. The committee is currently working with the Worship and Music Committee to determine how best to improve the end product from our audio and visual equipment.

 The Personnel Committee has been busy implementing a program where all adults working with children at our church are given a security clearance. This is accomplished by having each person’s background checked through the Pennsylvania State Police and with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Child Abuse Registry. The committee has also developed and is working with Session to implement a program for handling any complaints that may arise concerning discrimination, harassment or abuse of any kind related to Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church or any of its activities. It is our desire to have this program in place before the end of 2007.  Church membership is assured there have been no such instances taking place here but in view of what has happened in other places throughout the nation, Session believed it advisable to have procedures developed and in place before this type of problem might arise.