2019 Progress Report
FRAN PARK CENTER for FAITH and LIFE
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Table of Contents 2019 PROGRESS REPORT FRAN PARK CENTER for FAITH and LIFE Director's Message
4
Mission and Vision
6
Park Center Staff
8
Park Center Programming Finances
12-15 16
Partners 17 Leadership
18
Moving Forward
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2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 3
Welcome to the Park Center Dear friends, participants, constituents of the Fran Park Center, As we review a year of remarkable programming, learning experiences, and excited vision casting, I remember the passion of our namesake, the late Rev. Fran Park. The high point of Fran’s ministry was several years as Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City, Arizona. Aware of the lack of strong theological education and pastoral training in the Southwest, he established a direct church-seminary link for training in ministry for the unique setting of his senior adults community. During his nine years on the staff at Pinnacle, he brought the same passion--but with an even larger vision. Not just the church, but the whole community is stronger through education, he insisted. And this our gift, and our call, in mission. Pinnacle is the place, and now is the time, he would insist. And so now, these several years later, we work earnestly to fulfill that vision—shaped for the new time we’re living in. 4 | FRAN PARK CENTER for FAITH and LIFE
This past year we’ve made significant progress in strengthening our four pillars of programming, even as we’ve put new stakes in the ground for an overarching vision. You’ll see account of this in these pages. I remain amazed at how much is accomplished by a small group of people. Kelly McGinn’s work is without peer. Mike Hegeman and Allen Hilton continue to provide extraordinary teaching and challenge to us, even though both are part-time with the Center. And our volunteer pool, including so many, add value every day. Tech support comes from in-house staff like Dan Chaney and outside consultants, marketing and graphic support from Shirley Norris, and the whole Pinnacle staff helps assure success. And what we envisioned begins to become reality, by Grace, as people from around the Valley participate in our programs. New folks join Pinnacle Presbyterian because of their contact with Park Center programming. Our reputation spreads nationally as we are contacted by others to learn
about the Center, the number of churches involved goes up, and appreciation grows. The challenges are not little, but the opportunity remains great. As we move into 2020, our priorities shift to concentrate on sustaining the program longterm (financially, administratively, technologically), enhancing our online and production capabilities, developing a strong youth-oriented aspect of our work, expanding our base through marketing, and developing the leadership training aspect of our work. Please take time in this report, share your own thoughts, assist where you can, learn with us, tell others, and watch with us as the Park vision grows. With gratitude,
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Mission & Vision MISSION
To serve the church and community through innovative, inclusive, and transformative education.
VISION
To become a nationally recognized center that provides innovative faith-based educational experiences for people across generations, life circumstances and spheres of theological and political convictions.
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EDUCATION AS EVANGELISM, FORMATION AND BLESSING • to prepare and inform the congregation for the life of faith • to bless the community and region • to raise the level of public discourse regarding faith and life • to develop lay and professional leadership for the local and regional church • to heal the great divides • to restore the great values: commitment to church, world, nation; civility and mutual respect; shared commitment to the common good • promotion of an ethic of sacrifice to meet these values (regaining "communities of obligation" vs "communities of gratification")
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Park Center Staff
The Session of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church continues to affirm the development of Park Center programming as an essential part of Dr. Wesley Avram’s ministry as Pinnacle’s Pastor. Advocating the integration of evangelism, social outreach, faith formation and education in the wider community, he continues to be a national advocate for the Fran Park Center. The Park Center's growing association with Princeton Theological Seminary is one example of the good fruit that comes from this advocacy. Locally, he participated in the teaching of Project: Faith with sessions on Hell, Race, Islam and Citizenship, and Salvation. He led or co-led Courageous Conversations classes, coordinated planning for our 2020 Holy Land Pilgrimage, and assisted in other Park Center programs. Rev. Michael Hegeman, who holds a doctorate in preaching and New Testament Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary, led two sessions of Project: Faith this year. One seven-week class focused on OldTestament perspectives on God’s role in creation as divine architect and the One who delights in all of 8 | FRAN PARK CENTER for FAITH and LIFE
creation. Another five-week course focused on the major themes of the Reformation and what they mean for Christians living five centuries after the revolution in Christian faith, spearheaded by Martin Luther and John Calvin. A key event in Dr. Hegeman’s work at Pinnacle and for the Fran Park Center came with his ordination to ministry of Word and Sacrament in October. Twenty-six years after beginning seminary, Michael looks forward to continuing his educational work for the Park Center with the added dimension of pastoral leadership. In 2019, Rev. Allen Hilton started the year with a twice-monthly trip over to Scottsdale from his home in Austin, Texas. He successfully lead us in our weekly Project: Bible class and the monthly Courageous Conversations. The Park Center found our highest numbers in the most controversial topics last year which has spurred us to push ourselves into more challenging work. We discussed The Bible and Homosexuality, Impeachment, Abortion and Immigration & Asylum Seekers at the Arizona Border. In the summer, Dr. Hilton led us through the book of Corinthians with his second annual Road Trip Series, which is significant to the Park Center, as this was our first
self-sustaining class. Dr. Hilton’s schedule with House United (his own non-profit organization) has amped-up considerably, putting him in Scottsdale once monthly starting in the fall of 2019. This change shifted programming on the ground, but Big Tent Bible gave folks an opportunity to take a weekly online class with this popular teacher. Dr. Hilton wrapped up the calendar year with our first annual Park Center Men’s Friendship Retreat, with nearly 50 attendees. A follow-up to the event is in the works. Kelly McGinn, Executive Administrator, is entering her third year with the Park Center with duties that include program development, strategic planning, public relations and basic administrative tasks. She works closely with other staff to continually evaluate and strategize to make the program successful. She has also provided programmatic and administrative support for Confirmation. Her careful presentation of educational opportunities, comprehensive approach to program-planning, and spirit of hospitality for all participants continues to assure success of Park Center programming.
be
transformed
by the
renewing of your
mind Romans 12:2
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Testimonials Austin Vernon, Director of Discipleship & Missions at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, NC. “Our church is in the process of revamping our adult discipleship program, so we've been looking around at different models in other churches to see what is working. The Fran Park Center for Faith and Life really stood out to us because of its pedagogical diversity and its dual emphasis on faith formation and community engagement.”
Sergio Mazza, Dialogue Institute, Temple University "We are very grateful for the kind and generous welcome that the Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) scholars received from the Fran Park Center. The quality of the conversation, the evident openness to dialogue and the genuine interest displayed made for an outstanding evening that we hope to repeat in coming years."
Phil Branson, Fran Park Center Participant “Sue and I love the Fran Park Center. Continuing education is a critical part of our Arizona lifestyle with an emphasis on challenging Biblical and theological topics. The classes and teachers at FPC are focused on a broad adult program with ecumenical connections. This is a first-class operation.” 10 | FRAN PARK CENTER for FAITH and LIFE
GUIDING PRIORITIES: • Theological education, broadly conceived, should be oriented toward the fundamental questions of what makes for a flourishing life in response to God's presence in the Spirit of Christ. • This orientation relocates the center of theological education into the life of the church, inclusive of efforts unique to worshipping communities. Active engagement between academic and practical contexts of many forms enlivens and deepens theological understanding. • Such education should be accessible, physically and pedagogically, to the very persons for whom it seeks to ask the question of human flourishing. • We believe these goals do four things for our work. 1. They provide a strong justification for our effort. 2. They explain that justification for an academic and ecclesial audience. 3. They remind us of the significance of our experiments. 4. They give hints regarding the questions we should keep in mind.
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Park Center Programming BIBLE
FAITH
• Project: Bible - What do I
• Project: Faith
need to know about the
• Faith and Science Interface
Bible?
• Confirmation
• Big Tent Bible - Online Only Class, 36 weeks to walk through the Bible • Road Trip Series - Summer
• Faith and Wellness • Princeton Theological Seminary Certificate in Theology and Ministries
Online Only class on
Class & Local Weekly Cohort
Corinthians
Gathering
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WORLD
DIALOGUE
• Pilgrimages
• Courageous Conversations
• Calvin University January
• Leadership Academy 2021
Series
Vision & Development
• Out of the Park Podcast Series
• Study of the U.S. Institute for Scholars Gathering
• Special Lectures and Events
• Men's Friendship Retreat • FPC Advisory Group Retreat
I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. ~ Proverbs 4:11, 13
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Testimonial By Rob Tillman: “As a relatively new member at Pinnacle, I’ve been looking for ways to strengthen my faith and do God’s work. Each week as I’ve read the bulletin in church, I’ve been impressed with all of the ways Pinnacle promotes and supports our community of faith, and then I saw the announcement on Princeton’s Certificate in Theology and Ministry Program (CTM). While I knew the program would require a meaningful commitment of time and energy over several months, I jumped right in and have found the program to be wonderfully conceived and delivered. Structured in four modules, the program includes a mix of reading, writing, and interacting with other students through Princeton’s online platform. Each week, the group connects for two hours in sessions led by Princeton’s professors. We also share our perspective on what we’ve read and learned and respond to other students each week through written responses. For me, I’ve been able to engage with the Bible in new and interesting ways. In the New Testament module, I’ve been inspired by the professor’s passion for Luke and the book of Acts, and my understanding of salvation and living in relationship with God has ignited my faith and love for God. In the Old Testament module, I’ve been truly surprised by what I’ve learned, and now I see and appreciate the steadfast love of our God and how Jesus fulfilled his promise to all of us. But just as important, I’ve been inspired to hear and read the passion of my fellow students. Their responses and expressions of support have touched my heart and expanded my view of our community in Christ. For anyone considering CTM, I can wholeheartedly endorse the program. I’ve certainly learned a lot, and more importantly, I feel the Holy Spirit working through the program. I’m truly thankful for the opportunity, and I know that anyone seeking to know God better will greatly benefit from this terrific program! Thank God!
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Special Events & Programming 2019 • The Faith and Science Steering Committee selected January as our field trip month, taking a large group to Kitt Peak Observatory & Tucson Air and Space Museum. • Dr. Nate Stucky was first introduced to the Park Center during our 2018 Pilgrimage to Princeton Theological Seminary when we had the opportunity to visit the Farminary. We invited him to join us as the keynote speaker for a series of Earth Week events on sustainability and recycling. We also held a book launch for his new book: Wrestling with Rest, Inviting Youth to Discover the Gift of Sabbath.
TOTAL
ATTENDANCE NUMBERS (live, online and podcasted)
BIBLE
1200 FAITH
770
• It was a privilege to have one of the most influential writers and teachers on Christian ministry of his generation, Bishop William Willimon, join us as the 2019 Francis W. Park Memorial Preacher.
WORLD
810
• Dr. Eric Reiman and a panel of speakers joined us for a night of learning on October 23rd with a lecture on “Music and the Brain” as part of our Speaker Forum Series. The evening was made possible by the generosity of Mary Joy and Jerre Stead.
DIALOGUE
705
• Confirmation - As it reads in our mission statement, the Park Center strives to be a theological resource across generations. With this, we were given Pinnacle's Confirmation program in 2019 to reshape and grow. What a gift! • The Men’s Friendship Retreat was held on December 8th at the Spirit in the Desert with 50 men in attendance as Dr. Hilton led the group in an open discussion of building life-long friendships.
Marti King, Calvin College’s January Series Volunteer
Congregational interest and participation in the January Series lectures has shown significant growth this year. The variety of lectures, the depth of knowledge communicated from the speakers and the commitment of the hearts and minds of the January Series concept have made a significant impact on Pinnacle. 2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 15
Finances PARK CENTER OPERATING FUND • 2019 total operating fund income: $27,926 January 1, 2019 — $161,931 • 2019 total operating fund expenses: $205,641 January 1, 2020 — $15,784 Sources of income into Operating Fund: • programming fees • special pledge • donations • pilgrimage fees
STAND ALONE INITIATIVES Memorial Lecture Fund: Income No new income Expenses $3,256.59 Balance $5,977.42
2020 BUDGET Core 2020 program and personnel budget — $200,000 (to be supplemented by additional funding for additional programming)
F.I.S.H. Foundation Grant for Courageous Conversations: Income No new income Expenses $6,838 Balance $16,250
Additional 2020 initiatives, income and expenses budget: Additional 2020 initiatives, income and expenses budget: Courageous Conversations project, F.I.S.H. Foundation funded - $16,250 Pilgrimages Expenses - to be determined
Faith and Science Grant Fund: Balance $298.16 Pilgrimages Income and Expenses: Pilgrimage funds are passed-through income Technology & Innovations 19%
Supplies & Miscellaneous
Programming 14% Instructional & Administrative Staff 65%
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Gratitude for our Partners 2019
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Leadership As we entered our official fourth year of programming in 2019, we saw the need to bring our Advisory Group together for a day-long retreat to focus on the direction we are heading in 2020 and beyond. On June 1st we gathered twenty of our Advisory Group members at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center to bring each of our strengths to the table. We revised the mission and vision statement. The group unanimously decided that a focus on the youth is pertinent, and we began to envision what our School of Theology would look like as we move forward with online programming. The Park Center is grateful for the commitment of the Advisory Group in furthering our mission. F R A N P A R K C E N T E R A D V I S O R Y G R O U P, 2 0 1 9
Susan Bacon Jim Bacon Phil Branson Sue Branson
Kim Bussey Mike Conklin Ralph Earle Janis Fitch
Beth Johnson Marti King David Schaller Steve Crosby
Kathe Drake Chuck Goldthwaite Mary Goldthwaite Elaine Paul
Diane Ruebling Curt Sorenson Mary Joy Stead Jerre Stead
FAITH AND SCIENCE MINISTRY Kim Bussey David Schaller
Doug Drake Bob Feghali
Kay Henderson Curt Sorenson
S P E A K E R F O R U M TA S K F O R C E Joan Fudala Mary Goldthwaite
Nancy Holloran
Curt Sorenson Mary Joy Stead
Susan Bacon, Fran Park Center Advisory Group Member
“Fran Park Advisory group held a retreat on June 1st. At that time we bonded as a group in a beautiful setting and accomplished three things: we became more familiar with the programs offered and got to better know those who delivered them, brainstormed on programming for the upcoming year and created a sub committee to begin the development of a strategic plan. Fliers about our exciting program offerings can be found weekly in the church bulletin. Each of us who attended left more knowledgeable and looking forward to the next steps.� 18 | FRAN PARK CENTER for FAITH and LIFE
Keep Moving Forward Areas of priority in 2020: • • • • •
Further development of current program areas Online programming development Plans for a long-term sustainability Leadership development Youth initiative
Programs in development: Summer youth leadership program
Leadership Academy 2021 • Development February 2020 • Publicity October 2020 • Launch Summer 2021
Pilgrimage 2021… Civil Rights Tour
Online Learning Platform Development • Theology is Everywhere January 2020 • Publicity Summer 2020 • Launch Fall 2020
Courageous Conversations • Packaging Materials for Re-sale February 2020 • Publicity Summer 2020 • Launch Fall 2020
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Ways to Give Donations Volunteers
a program of PINNACLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 25150 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 480.585.9448 | franparkcenter.org
