The Founding Years

1989-1993 | The Founding YearsGlenn Moor at Troon Village Clubhouse

Faith, fellowship and the future. Those were the powerful magnets that drew a group of Pinnacle Peak residents together in October 1989 to form Pinnacle Presbyterian Church. The charismatic catalyst for the formation of Pinnacle was Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Corbett, associate pastor of Valley Presbyterian Church, who discovered a need, an opportunity and a calling.

The mostly undeveloped area surrounding the distinctive Pinnacle Peak had been annexed into Scottsdale in 1981/82, and by the late 1980s, there were several master-planned golf communities within a five-mile radius of the landmark. The Grand Canyon Presbytery had the foresight in the early 1980s to purchase a five-acre tract on the northwest corner of Happy Valley and Pima Roads for a future church. At the time, the nearest churches were north in Carefree or south along Shea Boulevard. Area residents could also worship ecumenically in a rustic chapel on the grounds of the Cavallieres’ Reata Pass and Greasewood Flat Restaurants. With Valley Presbyterian Church Sr. Pastor Tom Erickson’s blessing, Dr. Corbett organized the inaugural Pinnacle worship service at the Glenn Moor Clubhouse on Happy Valley Road in Troon Village. Twenty-five attended the first service on Sunday, October 1, 1989 -- World Communion Day.

During its first year, Pinnacle was a hands-on/all-hands-ondeck congregation. Members set up and took down the white folding chairs used at each service. The practice of using white grape juice for communion came from the fear of spilling purple grape juice on the beautiful green and blue carpet at Glenn Moor. Communion bread was baked using a 300-year-old recipe from the Kirk of Scotland (similar to shortbread without the leavening). Church School was on the tennis courts, and the church nursery was in the Troon Country Club employee lounge (the chef fixed special treats). Church social events were held at Troon Country Club, which generously offered its facilities. Pinnacle’s first Fall Round-up was held by the clubhouse pool. The Leinwebers hosted the initial youth group meetings in their home. And Joe Larson led a group of volunteers in making luminaria for Pinnacle’s Christmas 1989 service.

1989

Pinnacle held first service on October 1, 1989, World Communion Day

Pinnacle celebrated its first baptisms on November 5, 1989 Katie Leinweber and son, Scott McCloud Leinweber

1990

On Sun., April 22, Pinnacle celebrated Earth Day by planting a saguaro cactus on the five-acre site of the future church

Adopt-a-Family begins at Pinnacle Christmas 1990

President George H.W. Bush inaugurated Earthquake during World Series in San Francisco Berlin Wall torn down

Scottsdale population: 130,069 on 184.2 square miles (AZ population: 3,665,339)

1989-1993 | The Founding YearsGlenn Moor at Troon Village Clubhouse

Valley Presbyterian Church provided much support during Pinnacle’s first three years. Mariner groups took turns ushering at worship; soloists, ensembles and other small musical groups provided special music with no compensation; Valley continued Dr. Corbett’s compensation for three years, decreasing it by one-third annually; administrative support came by allowing Pinnacle to use VPC office equipment. Glenn Moor Developer Doug Kruidenier gave Pinnacle the use of the Troon Real Estate Clubhouse at no charge.

The Founding Committee took care of a myriad of start-up issues, from rattlesnake management in the Glenn Moor parking lot, to toys for the nursery, to financial planning for the future, according to charter member Jim Paisley. “This founding group was congenial, had zero experience in our role, were unknown to each other initially, but developed a vision for our church. And Reverend Corbett kept us on track.”

Dr. Corbett began visiting the sales offices of Pinnacle Peak area home developments and met with real estate agents to let them know about the new church. He also found that having a superb music program was important to charter and prospective members. He and the founding committee soon realized that area residents, who felt a bit isolated living in gated communities, began to gravitate to Pinnacle in order to meet their neighbors in faith and fellowship. Pinnacle began community outreach efforts, adopting families through Vista del Camino during the 1990 holiday season and holding Food Bank Sundays to benefit the Foothills Food Bank. Pinnacle hosted a Potpourri & Home Tour in 1991 and 1992, and an Artists’ Showcase in 1992, continuing the fund-raiser for several more years.

Pinnacle Presbyterian Church was officially chartered by Grand Canyon Presbytery on November 9, 1991 with 109 members. The first meeting of the Pinnacle Session was held in January 1992. Proposed by-laws, written by Bill Bennett, were reviewed. Hazel Smith was appointed first Clerk of Session. At a February congregational meeting, the first Pastor Nominating Committee, chaired by Steve Horrell, recommended that Dr. Lawrence Corbett be called as Pastor; Dr. Corbett was installed in March 1992.

Throughout 1992, momentum built for constructing a permanent Pinnacle campus. In April, the Site Development Committee, chaired by Mark Leinweber,

1991

Pinnacle chartered by Grand Canyon Presbytery on November 9, 1991

1992

After the first elders and deacons were ordained and installed on Sun., Jan. 19, the first meeting of the Pinnacle’s Session was held

Lynne Merkle was hired as Youth Director. She also served as one of Pinnacle’s first pianists

Dr. Corbett was installed as Pastor in March 1992

Desert Storm Gulf War Soviet Union dissolved; Cold War ended Scottsdale Mayor Herb Drinkwater was re-elected to fourth term

presented its recommendation to Session to execute a contract for a topographical survey of the future campus. A committee interviewed three architects who presented their vision for the new church facilities. It was the consensus that the same architect would do the entire campus so it would have a consistent style. While most churches build a multi-purpose building first, it was strongly felt that Pinnacle needed a chapel, offices and classrooms from the beginning. Members of the congregation had major input into the design and functions of their new chapel and campus. In October, architect Jim Roberts presented the Master Plan and first phase of the church building program.

During a March 1993 congregational meeting at the Glenn Moor Clubhouse at Troon, Dale Baker, on behalf of the Pinnacle Stewardship Committee, proposed a plan for financing the Chapel. To date, $352,000 in pledges and $80,000 in cash had been raised, with the balance to be received between 1993 and 1995. Estimated total construction cost was $1.3 million; the congregation voted to authorize. The church decided to sell promissory notes to finance the chapel. Dale Baker wrote the prospectus and handled the sale of the notes. In effect, the congregation borrowed from itself and then paid off the notes.

On April 4, 1993 Pinnacle members attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the 150-seat chapel built on the original five acres of land that had been purchased by the Grand Canyon Presbytery (and repaid by Pinnacle Presbyterian) at Pima and Happy Valley Roads. By its fourth anniversary in October 1993, Pinnacle had grown to 110 members and was over-crowding the Glenn Moor Clubhouse. Relief was in sight!

The first wedding celebrated by Pinnacle was held on May 22, uniting Michelle Ann Stewart and David Pennington in Glenn Moor at Troon Clubhouse

Janet Arbesman began as an intern to complete a requirement for her theological degree. After her internship, she became the assistant pastor and the founding director of the Pinnacle Preschool

1993

Ground broken for Pinnacle Chapel on April 4, 1993 By its fourth anniversary Pinnacle had grown to 110 members and was over crowding the Glenn Moor Clubhouse

AZ voters approve Martin Luther King holiday November 1992 U.S. Conference of Mayors named Scottsdale Most Livable City

President Bill Clinton Inaugurated in January 1st bombing of World Trade Center, NYC