2015 Annual Report

f i r s t p r e s b y t e r i a n c h u r c h o f at l a n ta • A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 5

Pastor’s Letter

Dear Friends, In the pages of this 2015 Annual Report, you will read about some of the ways First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta has participated in God’s mission through our many and diverse ministries.

Even so, this report cannot capture all that God has done over the past twelve months. So much more could be written and said than what you see. I hope you will celebrate the fact that God’s faithfulness in and through this congregation cannot be contained in one document.

As we enter into the next season of our faith and life as a church, one of my major areas of focus for 2016 will be launching and co-facilitating (along with our Executive Pastor, Rebekah LeMon) a Long Range Strategic Planning Process that will, Lord willing, set the direction of our ministry for the next seven years until our 175th Anniversary in 2023. This Strategic Plan will articulate a vision and direction for the future of our congregation, focusing and aligning our different areas of ministry, clarifying criteria to be used in making decisions, and unifying our community around a common purpose and objectives. By the end of this process we will produce:

1

Mission Statement: A statement of the purpose of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta.

2

Vision Statement: A concise and specific statement of what the church will be in 2023.

3

Values Statement: A statement of the core values and convictions that guide the mission and ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta.

4

Goals and Action Plans: Specific, measurable goals for the mission and ministry of First Presbyterian Church and action plans for accomplishing those goals.

5

Measurement Standards: The standards by which we will measure success and evaluate the fulfillment of the Strategic Plan.

6

Strengths Assessment: A statement of our congregation’s unique strengths, qualities and characteristics.

7

Resource Assessment: An assessment of existing resources (financial, human, and capital) and others needed to fulfill the vision articulated in the Strategic Plan.

While we will be forming a small team to work on and present a plan to the Session in the Fall of 2016, this process will require participation from the entire congregation. My hope is that you will participate and share your vision of what is possible in us and through us as a church seeking to bear witness to Jesus Christ and his good news message for all people.

Great days are ahead of us!

Blessings,

Tony Sundermeier

Membership Statistics 2015 Membership, January 1 Total: 1928

Membership, December 31 Total: 1943

Transfers Out: 20 Deaths: 23 Removed: 3 Total Losses: 46

Profession of Faith: Reaffirmation of Faith: Transfers In: Total Gains:

14 22 25 61

CLERK’s LETTER

Last month we celebrated the 168th Anniversary of First Presbyterian’s founding on January 8, 1848 by 19 Atlantans and their Pastor, the Rev. John Simpson Wilson. Since our founding, our congregation has endured a Civil War, a Great Depression, two World Wars, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, a Great Recession, and numerous wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Throughout this turmoil, conflict, and suffering, First Pres has “kept the faith,” focusing on our worship of God and on our brothers and sisters in Christ, serving them locally, nationally, and in various parts of the world. Our church has grown – not just in our membership and our magnificent facilities – but in our relationships with God and with each other. We are a diverse congregation which welcomes others who have different talents, life experiences, and cultures, and we strongly share a core belief that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Key to First Pres’ steadfastness through challenges has been its trust in God’s love and mercy for each of us, regardless of our individual circumstances. In recent years we have been in a period of transition with the retirement of our beloved Pastor George Wirth and with the wise leadership of Interim Pastor Joanna Adams. Now we are the beneficiaries of the strong and capable shepherding of Senior Pastor Tony Sundermeier and the Church’s remarkable Staff. With the transition behind us, we are headed in the right direction with enthusiasm and momentum. Our best years are yet to come under God’s never-failing love.

William M. Earnest Clerk of Session

Administration

In 2015, the structure of Session Councils was adjusted to fulfill the vision of the Staff and Program Task Force that completed its work in 2014. The Session now includes 11 councils: Arts, Care, Communications, Community Ministries, Connections, Discipleship, Emerging Generations, Global Mission, Personnel, Trustees, and Worship. The Trustees Council includes six sitting Ruling Elders who serve on the Board of Trustees as well as one of three teams: Finance and Asset Management, Futures, and Property Management. All other councils have 12 members, including three sitting Ruling Elders. Each Ruling Elder chairs a council in his or her third year of Session service. Council members (including Elders) may serve up to two consecutive terms of three years before taking a one-year break in service. This new system of council leadership, succession planning, and defined terms ensures that many members have the opportunity to lead our church.

Other highlights from 2015: • Redesign, re-planting, and refurnishing of the DuPre Garden; • A successful four-week Annual Giving Campaign with the theme “Living Gratitude,” which raised over $3.35 million dollars and was ably led by members Carla and Brant Ferrell; • Welcoming new Legacy Partners who have included FPC in their estate plans; and • Securing the first $1 million in pledges needed to refurbish our magnificent sanctuary organ (work to begin in January 2017).

2015

2015

2016

Expenses Care $200,158 $204,946 Communications $ 402,759 $440,599 Christian Education $405,210 $490,337 Emerging Generations Adult Discipleship Stembler Ministry $74,482 $151,812

$246,114 $500,310 $446,884 $27,050 $164,899

Revenue Actual Budget Budget Contribution Revenue $3,643,999 $3,701,500 $3,586,156 Endowment Income $769,446 $760,541 $757,353 Endowment Income-Stember $103,982 $181,312 $164,899 Other $222,118 $210,500 $285,500 Surplus (2015) $164,547 Total $4,739,545 $4,853,853 $4,958,455

(invitiatives not included in budget)

Church Growth Connections Community Global Mission Stewardship Worship Arts Administration: Property Management Other Management Total Net

$130,508

$388,354 $169,915 $332,324 $593,568 $2,534

$143,312

$421, 776 $254,499 $353,775 $675,801 $10,279

- $226,157 $494,565 $266,620 $321, 682 $530,622 $24,338

$1,141,653 $515,301 $4,356,766 $382,779

$1,182,449 $524,268 $4,853,853 -

$1,231,381 $477,833 $4,958,455 -

ARTS

Sarah Fletcher has been a member of the Chancel Choir and the Carillon Choir since fall 2009. Not only does she sing and ring enthusiastically with us every week, but she also sets up the bells for rehearsals and worship, and serves on the Musica Sacra Guild. Before our Halloween Concert in October, Sarah even spent the dreary Sunday afternoon out on the front steps of the Sanctuary, successfully inviting passers-by from ‘Streets Alive’ to attend the concert!

Like Sarah, many of our volunteers are on double or even triple duty in choir, orchestra, bells, committees and/or councils.

Some of them have been with us for more than four decades, others have joined us only recently; some come every week, others join us whenever their schedule permits it.

The many talents and leadership provided by these volunteers allow us to provide beautiful and uplifting music in Sunday worship, special services and concerts throughout the year.

2015 Highlights • Meg Granum and Rolando Salazar left First Pres at the end of 2014 and 2015 respectively. Allegra Whitney (Interim Director of the Cherub Choir), Katie Patterson (Interim Director of the School of Fine Arts and of the Archangel Choir), Wes Stoner (Interim Director of the Chancel Choir, Director of the Carillon Choir) and Jens Korndörfer (Director of Worship, the Arts, and Organist, and Interim Director of the Orchestra) were appointed as their successors. A search for the new Director of the Choir and Orchestra is currently under way.

• FPC’s first-ever arts festival, ArtSpark, was a great success: concerts, rehearsals, workshops and demonstrations during the third week of July were very well attended.

• The Arts Council hosted Art Gives at Spalding Nix’s gallery in April.

• The auditions for the George Wirth Scholarship of the School of Fine Arts took place in May. The 2015 winners are Anna-Claire Cables, Andrew Stevens and Chloe McClure.

• In October, Kevin Knab (commentary), Katie Patterson (soprano) and Jens Korndoerfer (organ) joined forces for Musica Sacra’s first Halloween Concert. Highlights included excerpts from Lloyd-Webber’s Phantom of the Opera and Bach’s Toccata in d.

CARE

Under the leadership of Rev. Kevin Knab, Rev. Katie Sundermeier, and Ms. Pam Parrish, the Pastoral Care ministry seeks to witness to the love of Christ by attending to the physical, spiritual, and mental concerns of the congregation.

Every week, our Care Team visits hospitalized members, cares for grieving families, and officiates at funerals & memorial services. There were 21 such services officiated by our staff this year. Each week, we reach out to those who cannot make it to church. Our Care ministry also feeds our community-body, mind, and soul.

• Meals on Wheels, under the continued leadership of Sandi Harsh, delivers 60 meals at 9 locations three days a week.

• Church medical professionals are available every Sunday should church attendees need medical assistance.

• A supply of walkers, wheelchairs, medical toilets, and crutches is kept on hand to loan to those in need.

• Julia Brooke, our faithful bus driver, takes residents from three different high rises to the grocery store each week.

The bus ministry also provides transportation to worship on Sundays.

• The Come on Along program, currently led by dedicated member Bruce Gregory, takes older members to museums, places of worship, and other places of interest, sharing meals and fellowship together.

• The Flower Ministry delivers flowers cut from the week’s worship flowers to shut-ins, the hospitalized, or those who are ill each week.

• Stephen Ministers meet regularly with those in times of strife or need. Jim Brown, Kathleen Lewis, Rodrick Glass, Rev. Katie Sundermeier, and Rev. Kevin Knab lead our Stephen Ministry.

Ten new Stephen Ministers were commissioned in 2015.

• The Knitting Ministry, led by Iris Dodge, makes prayer shawls for the sick and suffering.

• An extensive prayer list is prayed over each week by the elders, staff and a group prayer chain.

Communications

In 2015, First Presbyterian Church continued to lead in worship broadcast and communications with the launch of a new mobile app, which provides live streaming of worship services as well as a member directory, online Bible, and connection to events and Sunday School classes with a swipe of a screen.

Our broadcast ministry continues to be supported by our team of youth and adult volunteers, who provide technical support by operating cameras, audio boards and digital switchers to serve our audiences on WSB radio and AIB television.

In addition, the communications team has grown to include Kia Smith as Digital Specialist, who is helping to grow our online audience and develop our new website.

We began the creation of new communication formats for Christian Discipleship’s Theology Matters, a digital education video and podcast series and the Archive Committee’s Living History, a video series which includes interviews with our oldest members.

2015 Highlights: • 654 people downloaded our mobile app; • 23,338 users visited FirstPresAtl.org; • 4,648 viewers streamed worship services 18,568 times; and • 191 new users liked our Facebook page, where we reached 222,652 people and engaged 14,202 users.

Community

Community Ministries experienced several exciting changes in 2015. The Women’s Transition Center (WTC) hired its first case manager, Terresha Anthony. She has successfully helped us achieve the goal of full capacity by housing 12 ladies.

With her guidance, the majority of our guests are employed and they each have set goals that will move them toward selfsufficiency. Community Ministries also hired a new Director, Tricia Passuth. Tricia is a licensed social worker and has a strong passion for our work in Community Ministries.

Community Ministries relies on the help of many faithful and committed volunteers. Our volunteers provided assistance by contributing meals and spending the night in the WTC. They also shop, answer phones, sort mail, meet with clients, serve and generally jump in to help wherever needed.

Although we appreciate all of our faithful volunteers, Adele Shepherd is our standout volunteer of 2015. She has served consistently throughout this year and many others in various areas of Community Ministries. Adele is a consistent shopper and helps serve our guests at our Sunday Morning Prayer Breakfast. She volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and is a substitute tutor with the Whiz Kids program. Additionally, Adele meets with clients weekly and organized Christmas gifts for 135 children. Adele’s dedication and commitment exemplify our mission to serve others in Christ’s name.

2015 Highlights: • The Venable Food Pantry provided 2,171 households with 55,675 pounds of food.

• The rental assistance program assisted 98 families in avoiding eviction.

• The Georgia Justice Project Prison Visitation provided transportation for 10 families to visit incarcerated loved ones.

• In partnership with the United Way, nearly 50 veterans were referred for the United Way Veterans Housing Program.

• For the first time, interns from the Candler School of Theology served with us through their Continuing Education class.

Connections

2015 brought the implementation of one of the significant changes in the restructuring of Staff and Leadership at FPC with the establishment of the Connections Council. This Council is the updated embodiment of the former Church Growth Ministry, renewing our emphasis on hospitality, leading the new member process now called “On Ramp,� and connecting members with ways to be fed spiritually and also contribute their gifts and talents to different ministries in the church. In response to the eight Session priorities that have been guiding the Staff and the congregation, the Connections Ministry is focused on the following four priorities:

• Create and grow a sense of community within the congregation; • Create a magnetic commitment to mission and service; • Create a system that fosters the engagement and participation of every member; and • Attract new members, welcome the community, and claim our identity in Atlanta.

• The Connections Council will continue to collaborate with the members of the church and the church’s leadership to make sure that visitors feel welcome, information is easy to find, new and long-standing members find ways to get involved in all aspects of the church’s ministries, and that everything we say and do is an expression of the hospitality we strive to offer everyone in our community.

Discipleship

In the summer of 2015, Adult Discipleship was launched as one of FPC’s ministry areas. As a part of FPC’s broader initiative in Christian Education, the lay Council and staff (Ryan Bonfiglio and Allison Cochran) along with the department of Adult Discipleship, seek to support, nurture, and advance opportunities for adults (40 and above) to grow in their knowledge of the Bible and theology and to deepen their fellowship with one another. One offering in this area was the Covenant Bible Study series. One of its 115 participants, Tim English, described the Covenant series as a “boot camp” for Christians who want to deepen their faith and explore their collective and personal relationships with God. Another exciting development was the relaunching and rebranding of the “Lay Academy” series through a program called “Theology Matters.” These four-week courses provide seminary-level education in a format that is accessible, engaging, and relevant to a lay audience.

As part of FPC’s mission to be a leader and innovator in church-based theological education, each Theology Matters course is being made available to our members and other churches as an audio podcast and an online digital course, complete with videos, lecture outlines, and discussion questions. Through these and other initiatives in Adult Discipleship, we hope that FPC continues to be a place where Christian education is nurtured, fellowship is deepened, and a love for God and God’s Word is cultivated. May we continue to journey together in this life-long process we call “discipleship.”

2015 Highlights: • In Lent, 10 small groups met for four weeks to discuss the book “Jesus is the Question” by Martin B. Copenhaver.

• Over 150 members participated regularly in various small groups and weekday Bible studies, including the new “Working Women’s Book Club” and “Moms Seeking More.” Men’s Quarterly Breakfasts, Women at the Well gatherings, and numerous Presbyterian Women’s Circles provided opportunities for fellowship and discussion.

• Eleven different Adult Sunday School classes met weekly. A highlight was the co-lecture on Vivaldi’s Gloria.

During the summer, two church-wide Sunday School classes were offered, one led by Tony Sundermeier and Kevin Knab on the “Gospel According to…” and the other led by Ryan Bonfiglio titled “Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul.”

Emerging Generations

In 2015, “Emerging Generations” – a ministry area focused on folks under 40 – was born.

Besides the creation of our ministry as it is now known, our 2015 highlights include: • Increased participation and momentum in our twenties’ and thirties’ ministry through small groups, Bible studies, social events, retreats, and service projects.

• Youth mission trips, a youth musical, a confirmation retreat, the start of middle school Friday night fellowships, family bowling nights, a new children’s ministry curriculum, a new Sunday schedule for elementary schoolers, and the continuation of beloved traditions like our Children’s Christmas pageant and Hanging of the Greens.

“Mission trips and musicals are very impactful because they allow people to become connected with communities around the world, make new friendships within the church community, and further their faith in God.” – Allie Benson “I appreciate that the Emerging Generations/Young Adult ministry at First Presbyterian is inclusive, not exclusive. It is a welcoming environment where people with diverse backgrounds and experiences converge around a common set of ideals and values: passion and commitment to building relationships, growing faith, enjoying life, and helping others to do the same!” – Andrew Riechel

“We have enjoyed getting increasingly involved at FPC. The people we have met are friendly, and we have been impressed at the diversity within the church. It has been a blessing to get to know people our age who are devoted to being God’s hands and feet in the world, which is something that we strive to live out as a husband/wife team. While the past few months involved getting various pieces ‘off the ground,’ we look forward to taking some of these ministries further in the coming months, such as the couples group.” – Cody & Julianna Morelock “The Family Ministry at First Presbyterian has embraced our family – and especially our children – making church a warm, welcoming, happy place to be. Our children look forward to coming to church, where they feel safe and loved and part of a community. It is a place filled with laughter and hugs, where friendships are quickly formed and run deep (for our children and for us, too).” – Ashley & Steve Cummings

“It’s been gratifying to watch our five-year-old daughter develop a fondness for coming to church, from those first weeks of timid curiosity and anxiety about new faces to what is now a genuine excitement to go into her classroom and see her friends and teachers. She loves choir and doing activities with her Sunday School teachers and classmates.

We have loved some of the more casual activities – watching the holiday parade, Hanging of the Greens, church picnics and Maundy Thursday communion. And of course the pageant, which has been such a wonderful way for us to anchor the holiday with the story of Jesus’ birth, starting with the songs like Away in a Manger when she was 3 and then this year reading the story from the Bible and helping her to understand what it means to ‘fear not’ and to celebrate the blessing of great joy, which is for all of us! – Emily Beard

“Since I moved here I had expected it to be a church with a commitment to outreach, and I have not been disappointed as far as that goes.

What has been pleasantly unexpected is how quickly it became a place I call home.” – Eli Carter “First Presbyterian Church has, without a doubt, a special place in my heart. The community and experiences continue to help me grow and learn, and I am thankful for the many avenues I have been able to take to get involved. The young adult ministry has been gaining momentum, and I cannot wait to see what 2016 holds for us. I am thrilled to have Ann-Henley as a friend, leader, and pastor, and I am especially grateful for our new young adult book club, couples gatherings, retreats, and more.” – Lauren Meyer

First Presbyterian Preschool

As the oldest preschool in Georgia, First Presbyterian Preschool embraces the principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment. The interest of the individual child guides the Reggio Emilia Project approach that is enhanced by a research-based curriculum which prepares the child for the next level of their education.

2015 Highlights: • Enhancement of the science lab physical space and improvement of science and gardening program; • Successful completion of the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) five year accreditation process, which resulted in one of the highest evaluations possible; • Finalizing the search for new Preschool Director. JoAnn Regruto, who joined the school in July, 2015; and • Initiating partnerships with area cultural organizations including the Woodruff Arts Center, MODA, and Center for Puppetry Arts.

GLOBAL MISSION

In 2015, our church continued to strengthen our mission partnerships. Seven FPC members spent a week doing Hurricane Katrina reconstruction in New Orleans with Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans (RHINO). In partnership with Hillside Presbyterian Church and New American Pathways, FPC helped to settle a refugee family from Afghanistan.

FPC supported local partners AMIS, Childspring International, and Villa International with both funding and care for international students and patients. 2015 highlights: • Brazil: FPC continued in its relationships with the Pacajus Church, Messejana community, and PRECE program, funding micro-credit and technology for education.

• Cuba: The water filtration system FPC furnished and helped to install at the Perico church in 2014 draws people who come for water and stay for fellowship. The church is delivering more meals to the elderly and shut-ins at the church and by bicycle. An FPC group went to Perico in 2015 to build relationships, have children’s activities, share in worship, and do vision testing (giving away 900 pairs of eyeglasses). Two FPC members attended the 2015 Cuba Partners Network in NOLA. • Haiti: In 2015 an FPC team of 10 traveled to Nouvelle Cité on La Gonâve to worship with our partner congregation, hold VBS, and provide support with school lunch and student health assessments. Our partnership focuses on the Community Clean Water Project, microfinance, agricultural/irrigation/Goat Project Assessment efforts, medical support through the Bill Rice Clinic, and the Children’s Nutrition Program. In April, Haitian Priest Pere Vil visited Atlanta and our church. FPC members also attended the annual La Gonâve Haiti Partners meeting in Hickory, NC.

• Honduras: Partnered with Calvary Chapel, 12 FPC youth and 14 adults built a home for a local pastor and his family—the sixth home in the village of Colonia in Roatan.

• Jamaica: FPC and Hillside Presbyterian continued in our partnership with the United Church of Jamaica by providing financial support for students’ educational needs and a much-needed bus for the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home.

• Kenya: In 2015, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our Kenya partnership. Three FPC members traveled to Kenya in September, renewing friendships and sharing the fruits of partnership with the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church for the Tumaini Children’s Home, Hawa Boys’ Home, and the Muteero Church- Project Joshua. We also continue to support scholarships and micro-finance at Mount Kenya Academy, Chaka Church and the Grace Chapel at MKA. Some of our Kenyan partners helped to lead worship at FPC on World Communion Sunday.

Personnel

2015 was a year of transition for many of our dedicated staff members at FPC. Staff transitions by department included: • Administration: Rebekah LeMon was ordained and installed as Executive Pastor.

• Care: Rev. Kevin Knab became our Associate Pastor for Care and Rev. Katie Sundermeier joined the staff as Parish Visitor.

• Communications: Kia Smith was hired to be our Digital Specialist, handling the church’s web and social media needs.

• Community Ministries: Terresha Anthony became the Case Manager for the Women’s Transition Center, our church celebrated Mary Joe Dellinger’s years of service on the occasion of her retirement, and Tricia Passuth was hired to be our next Director of Community Ministries.

• Connections: Stephanie Lane became Director of Connections and Katie Law was hired as Assistant to the Pastor and the Director of Connections.

• Discipleship: Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio joined the staff as Stembler Scholar and Director of Biblical and Theological Studies.

• Emerging Generations: Rev. Ann-Henley Saunders was called and installed as our Associate Pastor for Emerging Generations and Young Adults. Lauren Patrus left FPC to be a full-time seminarian, and Margaret Evans took on the responsibilities of all elementary and family and ‘tween’ ministry at First Pres. Emily Miller became Director of the Parents’ Morning Out program. Our community celebrated with Allison Per-Lee as she was ordained and left FPC to accept a call to serve as Interim Pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Snellville. Jay York joined our staff as Director of College and High School Ministries.

• First Presbyterian Preschool welcomed new Director JoAnn Regruto.

• Global Mission: Rose Emily Bermudez retired after many years of service at First Presbyterian and Childspring International. Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett joined the staff as Director of Global Mission.

• Worship and the Arts: Director of Music and Arts Rolando Salazar left First Pres to serve in a full-time role with the Atlanta Opera and Jens Korndoerfer assumed the position of Director in addition to his responsibilities as Organist.

Staff singer and Carillon Choir conductor Wes Stoner stepped into the position of Interim Conductor of the Choir and Orchestra.

Trustee Council Report

Trustee-Elders for 2015 are Mary Claire Allvine, Bobby Candler, Chair, Tommy Hills, Jeff Irby, Ginger Jeffries and Gary Shell.

Trustee-Elders are responsible for managing, investing, and disbursing funds from the Church’s Endowment Fund and making recommendations to the Session regarding real property of the church. In the new council structure the Board of Trustees leads three new teams: The Finance and Asset Management Team (formerly the Stewardship Council) (1) works with Councils to build the annual operating budget and (2) reviews quarterly revenues and expenditures and makes recommendations regarding needed adjustments.

The Property Management Team oversees and makes day-to-day decisions to manage all church property.

The Futures Team plans for capital expenditures, capital improvements, and capital campaigns.

The Legacy Giving and Investment Committees also report to the­­Trustee Council.

The Endowment Fund is in good shape thanks to gifts and bequests from members and the excellent work of ALESCO Advisors of Pittsford, NY, under the leadership of Jim Gould, which continues to meet the goals of our investment policy.

As of December 31, 2015, the market value of the Endowment Fund is $ 16,107,251. This represents a -3.52% return for the year.

The Futures Team helped with the negotiation of the Organ Renovation contract and corresponding three-year funding campaign. The organ work will begin in January 2017. The team also engaged Terracon Consultants to perform a thorough Property Condition Assessment of the church facilities. The assessment gives a 15 year timeline for necessary maintenance and expected repair and replacement. That report found the main buildings to be in good shape and will help the Futures Team identify potential capital needs. The report also found some immediate needs in the Peachtree Street parking deck. The Trustees authorized these repairs, to be paid for with the Parking Deck Reserve Fund within the Endowment. This work will begin in early 2016.

WORSHIP

Looking Back…Looking Ahead Toward the end of 2013, the Session voted to eliminate a worship service from our Sunday morning schedule. We went from three services per Sunday (8:15 a.m. chapel with communion; 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. sanctuary) to two services per Sunday (8:30 chapel with communion and 10:45 a.m. sanctuary). The hope was that by moving to one sanctuary service the space would feel more full, creating a robust and energetic worship experience. That goal has been realized. The average attendance at the 10:45 a.m. service throughout the year – including summertime – was about 520 people. The sanctuary’s capacity is around 700 so, on average, we are at about 74% capacity. Conventional wisdom says that once you reach 80% capacity in a room/space (in our case that would be 560 worshippers; we experienced that 22 times in 2015) the room/space is full. The 8:30 a.m. chapel and communion service averaged around 55 people per week with a handful of Sundays seeing worshippers spill out into the hallway. The chapel seats 70, which means we are, on average, about 79% filled.

Any time a church eliminates a worship service from its schedule, there will be a decrease in overall attendance simply because an option was eliminated. Since our change, we have declined by 4.5% in total attendance. We have, however, realized what we had hoped for: a single, relatively full and energetic sanctuary worship experience. The challenge ahead of us revolves around our capacity to increase worship attendance in our current format. With a regularly full chapel service and only one late morning sanctuary service, the Worship Council and Session will continue to discern how to structure a schedule that encourages growth while maintaining what we have gained in the full and energetic sanctuary experience.

2015 Highlights: • Rebekah LeMon was ordained and installed as our Executive Pastor (3/22); Allison Per-Lee was ordained as a Teaching Elder (8/30); and Ann-Henley Saunders was installed as our Associate Pastor of Emerging Generations and Young Adults (10/18).

• We had several sermon series:

Jesus is the Question – February 15 through April 12

Rooted in Tradition, Open to the Spirit – May 3 – May 24

Marriage – May 31 – June 7

An Aegean Summer: Ephesians – June 21 – August 23

Jonah (a two-voice sermon with Tony Sundermeier and Joel LeMon) – September 13 – October 4

Living Gratitude – October 25 – November 22 • Brian Blount, President of Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, preached for our Stembler Weekend, April 19, and Jonathan Miller, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Moorestown, NJ, preached for our Legacy Giving Sunday, April 26.

• We celebrated 22 baptisms, 21 memorial services, and 21 weddings.

• Our average worship attendance for the 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services (combined) in 2015 was 596 people per Sunday.

• 61 households per week participate in our 10:45 a.m. service via Live Streaming online.

• 1,843 people attended Easter Sunday worship at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.

• 1,724 people attended Christmas Eve Worship services at 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 11:00 p.m.

Church Staff (as of 1/29/16)

Care

Communications

Rev. Kevin Knab,

John Kabashinski,

Senior Pastor

Associate Pastor

Director

Katie Law,

Rev. Katie Sundermeier,

Lee Barrineau,

Associate Pastor

Assistant to the Pastor

Parish Visitor

Director of Publications

Tricia Passuth,

Accounting

Pam Parrish,

Kia Smith,

Director

Administrative Assistant

Digital Specialist

Lincoln Simpson,

Director

Julia Brooke,

Tim Haney,

Logistics Coordinator

Bus Driver

A/V Technician

Granvette Matthews,

Sandra Harsh,

Pam Smith,

Director, Meals on Wheels

Communications Coordinator

Director, WhizKids Program

Pastor’s Office

Rev. Dr. Tony Sundermeier,

Peggy McCurdy, Pamela Carver, Assistant Director

Administration

Rev. Rebekah LeMon, Executive Pastor

Sheila Daniely, Manager of Administration and Executive Assistant

Community Ministries

Rev. Connie Lee,

Terresha Anthony, Case Manager, Women’s Transition Center

Kacy Brubaker, Sharon Hawkins, B.J. Jackson, Shelter Assistants

Connections Stephanie Lane, Director

Discipleship Ryan Bonfiglio,

Stembler Scholar and Director of Biblical and Theological Studies

Allison Cochran, Director, Small Groups and Bible Studies

Emerging Generations

Rev. Ann-Henley Saunders, Associate Pastor for Emerging Generations and Young Adults

Jay York, Director of College and High School Ministries

Margaret Evans, Director, Children’s Ministry

Emily Miller, Director, Parents’ Morning Out and Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Dottie Hitchcock, Administrative Assistant

Global Mission

Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett, Director

Music and the Arts Jens Korndörfer,

Director, Worship and the Arts and Organist

Katharine Hamer,

First Presbyterian Preschool JoAnn Regruto, Director

Linda Touart, Assistant Director

Music and Arts Administrator

Ilgin Ak,

Allegra Whitney,

Preschool Teachers

Director of Cherub Choir

Katie Patterson, Director of the School of Fine Arts and Director of Archangel Choir

Wes Stoner, Interim Conductor of the Choir and Orchestra and Director of the Carillon Choir

Office Manager

Rena Bell Catherine Brock Taliba Broomfield Morgan Burgess Jane Dear Lauren Dutro Shannon Fahey Julie Grant-Brown Lori Beth Green Elizabeth Harkey Shelby Heagy Jennifer Hughes

Darlene Karnis Shama Khan Karen Kristensen Sherri Lisenby Maki Manning Bobby McNish Amanda McSeveney Kristen Mullin Deborah Riddick-Seals Alison Roby Ashley Salome Jenna Scanling Kijuanna Stevens Megan Surette Nikki Teeple Jeni Thompson Cecilia Underwood Linda Wise

VT Services (Griffin) Craig Anderson,

Facilities Director

Jack Yeager, Maintenance Technician

Carolyn Bridges, Custodial Supervisor

David Booker, Custodian

Bennie Crawford, Custodian

Michael Smith, Custodian

Roger Stewart, Custodian

CORPS Security James Oates, Captain

Pokhyia Powe Travis Smith Fred Thorpe

1328 Peachtree Street NE • Atlanta, Georgia 30309 • 404-892-8461 • www.firstpresatl.org