church of the redeemer · pittsburgh, pa 15217 search committee: don o. franklin, chair alison...
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Church of the Redeemer Parish Profile
January 2013
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
5700 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Search Committee: Don O. Franklin, Chair
Alison Brand Oehler, Vice-Chair
Marian Cook
Frances Dannenberg
Wiltrud Fassbinder
Robert Goode
Stephen B Spolar
Church office Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Phone: 412-422-7100
Office Email: [email protected]
Website: www.redeemerpittsburgh.org
Church of the Redeemer
Parish Profile
Contents Overview ............................................................................................................................ 1
The Community .................................................................................................................. 2
History of Redeemer .......................................................................................................... 3
Founding the Congregation – 1900 to 1936 – ................................................................ 3
The Reverends John R Wightman and Robert Nelson Meade .................................... 3
Building the Congregation – 1936 to 1969 – .................................................................. 3
The Reverend Hugh Clark ........................................................................................... 3
A Modernizing Congregation – 1970 to 1994 – ............................................................. 4
The Reverends Stephen McWhorter, William Coats and Roger Ferlo ....................... 4
The Reverend William Coats ...................................................................................... 4
The Reverend Roger Ferlo .......................................................................................... 5
The Current Congregation – ........................................................................................... 5
1994 to Present, with The Reverend Cynthia Bronson Sweigert and our future ........ 5
Worship ............................................................................................................................... 8
Parish Life ........................................................................................................................ 10
Parish Outreach ................................................................................................................ 11
Christian Formation .......................................................................................................... 12
Finance and Membership ................................................................................................. 13
The Church Buildings ...................................................................................................... 14
The Future We Want ......................................................................................................... 15
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Overview As we move forward in our search for a new rector, we are seeking an experienced leader who has
demonstrated excellence in leading a family parish. Specifically, Redeemer seeks a rector who will:
Challenge us with evocative, spiritually and biblically based sermons without dogmatic answers
Lead us in rich liturgical worship grounded in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer
Serve as our spiritual mentor, guiding us as we grow in our faith and ministries
Counsel and comfort us in need
Encourage us as lay leaders and ministers
Encourage us both in service to the broader community and in our active concern for social
justice
Provide capable and caring leadership in overseeing Redeemer’s ministries
Help us expand our congregation, especially families with young children
Continue to help us include those who have traditionally been excluded from congregational
life
Be open to blessing same sex unions when permission is given by the diocese.
The Church of the Redeemer has a rich history of diversity (racial, economic, and sexual). Parishioners
of all ages are active at Redeemer. We are open to all and strive to make everyone welcome. We
support the inclusion of all in full sacramental participation.
Our parishioners are warm, friendly and truly concerned with one another. Our congregation is curious,
questioning, and we value education. The best fit for our parish is a rector who is open and always
learning.
A focus on fiscal responsibility is important. We need to operate in the black and to build our
endowment.
We have a history of social justice and outreach ministries, and we recognize that we need to share our
time, our money and ourselves with others. We would like to expand our outreach program and to
become more systematic in our approach. It is important that we maintain our relationship with our
Jewish neighbors and St. Edmund's Academy, an independent private school which is our closest
neighbor.
At Redeemer, we take the Bible seriously, but not literally. We know that God works within us and
through us, but we are skeptical of emotionalism and impulse. We know that God gave us reason and
we believe that God blesses our use of it. We seek a Rector who can teach us in this spirit, who will
reason with us through our doubts and who will share our joys in God's creation.
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The Community Pittsburgh is a vibrant, diverse metropolis that is annually highly ranked as one of the most livable
cities. Rivers and hills separate our many neighborhoods but many bridges bind our city together. At
the confluence where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers form the Ohio River at the Golden
Triangle, historically and currently Pittsburgh is in a desirable geographic location.
Founded as a frontier settlement for explorers and traders and eventually becoming the nation’s leading
steel producer, Pittsburgh now is a world renowned higher education and medical center. In
transitioning from its industrial heritage, Pittsburgh undertook Renaissance I and II, both civic projects,
to clean the air, revitalize regions of the city, and develop waterways for recreation. The shift from
heavy to service industry was not always smooth, but the city’s revival occurred while still housing the
corporate headquarters for PNC Financial Services, PPG Industries, H. J. Heinz Company, U.S. Steel,
and the American headquarters of Bayer.
Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods connected by bridges and outdoor stairs. The city is composed of
the downtown area and four main areas around it. Downtown hosts government buildings, the
convention center, and a cultural district, which is a 14-block area along the Allegheny River, with
theaters, restaurants and art venues. Recent real estate developments have made the downtown a more
residential area. Major cultural institutions, world class museums, and professional sports enrich the
region. Pittsburgh is home to the world renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera,
Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Carnegie
Museum of Art, Mattress Factory, Andy Warhol Museum, Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional
History Center, the August Wilson Center, City Theater, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens,
as well as the Steelers, the Pirates, and the Penguins.
The Church of the Redeemer is located in Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood approximately four miles from
the Golden Triangle. It is adjacent to the Oakland section of the city, where most of the major
universities and medical centers are located. A mix of residences and business streets, Squirrel Hill is a
vital and energetic neighborhood. Downtown is mere minutes away by bicycle, automobile or public
transportation. Housing in the neighborhood is divided equally between owner-occupied and rental
units. The church property is on the western edge of the Squirrel Hill business district, neighboring a
private K- 8 school and the Jewish Community Center. Well-maintained houses and apartment
buildings along many tree lined streets characterize the area near the church.
The East End of Pittsburgh is a religiously and racially diverse area. There are fifteen synagogues
located in the Squirrel Hill community, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and
Reconstructionist congregations. The East End is also home to a variety of Christian denominations,
including Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Church of God,
and Church of the Brethren. Racial tensions do exist in Pittsburgh, as well as in the East End, and
Redeemer, along with other religious and social service organizations, works to bridge the racial divide.
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History of Redeemer Church of the Redeemer has been blessed with a line of strong rectors who have left a distinctive
imprint on the lives and ministries of our church. Looking back, it is clear we are a congregation that
embraces its traditions while continuing to adapt and change. What has remained constant through the
years is:
the appreciation of and commitment to liturgy and music;
the continuous formation of all parishioners in Christ’s teachings;
a celebration of our diversity in all of its manifestations;
dedication to outreach, and
an empowered lay ministry blessed by a number of dedicated and talented parishioners.
With our history in mind, we begin the search for a rector remembering our past, looking to our future,
and honoring the present.
The Church of the Redeemer is a microcosm of the shifting demographic forces of the Pittsburgh
region and the diminution of mainline churches worldwide. Forces within the diocese and the
congregation have accelerated these changes. As with many congregations, our numbers have
fluctuated since our founding, with a noticeable and precipitous decline since the late 1990s. Today, we
have stabilized as a smaller congregation, focused and energetic in our pursuit of evocative worship,
personal spiritual growth, and Christian living. We need better ways to share this energy with others.
Founding the Congregation – 1900 to 1936 –
The Reverends John R Wightman and Robert Nelson Meade
The Church of the Redeemer was founded in 1900 as a mission in the home of Mrs. Charles P. Smith.
In its first 36 years, it grew to encompass the facilities and grounds we enjoy today. With the success of
Mrs. Smith’s Sunday school, and with the encouragement of the diocese, by 1903 a nucleus of families
had organized a parish, established a building fund, and erected a temporary chapel. With the guidance
of Trinity Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh, the new congregation called The Reverend John R.
Wightman to be the first Rector. The Reverend Wightman led his new congregation in organizing a
church school, choir, Altar Guild, Women’s Guild, and outreach activities, culminating in securing a
new site at our present location on Forbes Avenue and constructing a church. When health concerns
forced Reverend Wightman’s retirement in 1910, the new rector, The Reverend Robert Nelson Meade,
expanded on the solid foundation laid by Reverend Wightman by purchasing the adjoining lot on
Darlington Road, constructing a Parish House, and drawing up plans to rearrange and enlarge the
church.
Building the Congregation – 1936 to 1969 –
The Reverend Hugh Clark
Dr. Meade died in March 1936, just a month before the cornerstone was laid. His successor, The
Reverend Hugh Clark (1936-1969), carried Redeemer into a new phase of our history. Reverend Clark
completed the physical plant construction projects begun under Dr. Meade, and in 1944 directed the
construction of a second floor to the Parish House.
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Dr. Clark’s ministry at Redeemer focused on visitation and crisis counseling, with an emphasis on
traditional Morning Prayer Service and mission outreach. Some of the fondest memories of Dr. Clark,
as recalled in the Parish Forum on May 6, 2012, involved his charisma and outreach. Current
parishioners recall their meeting at the Canterbury Club organized at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie
Mellon University). Dr. Clark married the couple on June 15, 1954, and they remain active members of
our congregation. Other parishioners recall Dr. Clark’s gift of building relationships. Many recall his
being like the “pied piper” who knew how to connect with people regardless of who they were.
During Dr. Clark’s tenure, in 1940, Robert Izod joined Redeemer as organist and choirmaster. Liturgy
and music flourished, culminating with an active Men and Boys’ Choir. During the early 1950s, in
response to an appeal by Bishop Austin Pardue, the Church of the Redeemer offered space in its Parish
House for a small school initially called Ascension Academy, after the parish church in Pittsburgh
where it originated. The Academy named Robert Izod headmaster and appointed Dr. Clark chaplain. In
late 1952 the school changed its name to St. Edmund’s Academy. In 1955 St. Edmund’s moved all
eight grades out of Redeemer and into the new facility next door. For the next twenty years the two
institutions were closely intertwined. St. Edmund’s continues to hold weekly chapel services and
occasional school activities in the parish hall or in the Church; however, our rector is no longer the
chaplain, as St. Edmund’s now contracts independently with local clergy for religious services.
A Modernizing Congregation – 1970 to 1994 –
The Reverends Stephen McWhorter, William Coats and Roger Ferlo
The liturgical changes in the 1970s are among the most profound memories of many of our
parishioners. They recall how The Reverend Stephen McWhorter (1970-1977) initiated the use of the
“new Prayer Book,” and under his stewardship, the liturgy became more centered in the Eucharist.
During this period, there was a considerable shift in the makeup of both the Redeemer congregation
and St. Edmund’s Academy.
With Stephen McWhorter, Redeemer continued to develop and strengthen the youth and young
people’s program through a small theater group (including a production of “Jesus Christ – Superstar”).
His tenure marked a dynamic transition period for Redeemer as three of our young people sought holy
orders.
During the transition between The Reverends McWhorter and Coats, women were first ordained in the
Episcopal Church with William Coats aiding the process. Several women from Redeemer began
seminary at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1976, where “they saw themselves as comrades in
arms against a forbidding system.” Since 1976, at least ten Redeemer congregants have sought Holy
Orders.
The Reverend William Coats
During The Reverend Coats’ tenure (1979-1986), Pittsburgh was rapidly changing from an old rust belt
steel town to a high tech city focused on service industries. Redeemer’s changing congregation
reflected many of Pittsburgh’s changes. Under the leadership of The Reverend William Coats, St.
Edmund’s developed an identity separate from the church while the parish became distinctive for its
liturgy and outreach. One current parishioner recalled that “we came to Redeemer as lapsed Roman
Catholics, anxious to have a church life again that could be shared with my family. At Redeemer, we
found a church, a spiritual life and a home where we could use our hands, heart and intellect – and
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enjoy the company of others seeking the same.”
In the 1980s, as Pittsburgh’s economy shifted from heavy industry to service, William Coats involved
the congregation in social justice actions such as protesting the steel mill closures, protesting corporate
bankruptcies and the corporate dismantling of the pension funds for retired workers, and helping to
develop the East End Cooperative Ministries (EECM) in 1983. Church of the Redeemer initially
housed EECM when we joined with a consortium of 40 churches and synagogues in the East End of
Pittsburgh, to help those adversely affected by the shifting economies of the region.
The Reverend Roger Ferlo
The Reverend Roger Ferlo (1987-1993) continued the tradition of diversity and inclusion in the
congregation. When he became our rector, he encouraged and strengthened our relationship with St.
Edmund’s Academy, serving as an ex-officio member of their Board of Trustees. Under Roger Ferlo’s
leadership, Redeemer grew in numbers of communicants, commitment to education of youth and
adults, outreach and other activities, and financial stability. We benefited from his intelligent and
inspiring sermons, his gift for encouraging and empowering lay leadership, and his keen sense of
liturgy and music. Our EYC was the largest in the diocese, giving families a reason to come to
Redeemer, and to stay.
The tradition of pastoral care and inclusion now became a hallmark of Redeemer. Roger Ferlo extended
warmth to all, including those previously marginalized or excluded. From hospital visits in the middle
of the night, to kissing a newborn during communion, to visiting the widowed before interring ashes in
the garden, he was a presence to and for members of our church – both long time members of the
congregation, as well as new members. During Roger Ferlo’s tenure, openly gay members of the
congregation served on vestry and more GLBT members joined the church. Soon, more AA groups
began using the renovated parish hall, and some of their members began attending Sunday services.
The Current Congregation –
1994 to Present, with The Reverend Cynthia Bronson Sweigert and our future
After Roger Ferlo was called to St. Luke in the Fields, New York City, Redeemer called The Reverend
Cynthia Bronson Sweigert, who served from 1995-2011. Cynthia served during a contentious period
for both The Episcopal Church and for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. When she first arrived, she continued
to expand our traditions of inclusivity. But she also needed to negotiate the growing rift that was
dividing the church and the diocese, and her efforts contributed significantly to keeping communication
open among individuals on all sides of the controversy. We are grateful for Cynthia’s personal sacrifice
and her leadership during that turbulent period.
During the first years of her tenure, many people recall the joys of coming to church, the laughter that
was part of the children and youth pageants, and the deeply moving liturgies and memorial services
that she led. In particular, Cynthia developed the “Blue Christmas Service” for those to whom the
advent season is one of loss and not one of celebration; interfaith services among Christians, Jews, and
Muslims, and the Matthew Shepard memorial service that was standing room only following the
tragedy of his murder. Under her leadership, Redeemer continued our eucharistically centered liturgies,
together with our focus on progressive social agendas.
Cynthia also led Redeemer in community outreach through helping to found the Pittsburgh Interfaith
Impact Network (PIIN), increasing involvement with EECM, and developing and extending the
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interfaith dialogues between Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations. When the local Roman
Catholic diocese evicted Dignity (Gay and Lesbian Catholics) from their properties, Cynthia not only
welcomed them to have services at Redeemer, she occasionally provided services for them when they
were without clergy. Under her stewardship, we also began to house La Escuelita Arcoiris, a Spanish
language preschool, and maintained a strong relationship with St. Edmund’s Academy.
During Cynthia’s tenure at Redeemer, we celebrated our Centennial, undertook a successful capital
campaign, and accomplished significant building renovations. We are grateful for the gift of these new
spaces as we move into our future. At the end of 2010, Bishop Price, Provisional Bishop of Pittsburgh,
called on the congregation and Cynthia to undertake a period of discernment for the future of both
Redeemer and Cynthia. This thoughtful process led to our current search.
Redeemer continues to be a welcoming community for those new to Pittsburgh, for those looking for a
new congregation, for those no longer wanting to be unchurched, and for those who want a
congregation that has advocated for GLBT persons in the spiritual life of the church – all of these
groups have found a home at Redeemer. An occasional visitor to family in the Pittsburgh area regularly
comes to Redeemer on her visits; she states “I would not have returned if I had not also been welcomed
to communion (as a non-Episcopalian RC), and if I had not seen gay people welcomed as members.”
Today, our diverse congregation is characterized by a strong and stable core that is open to new
members.
As the divisions in the Episcopal Church began to
emerge, with Pittsburgh at the epicenter, our parish
became the first in the nation to vote against joining
the Anglican Network, set up by our then-Bishop
Robert Duncan. This action was the result of a
unanimous vote at our 2004 Annual Meeting. As
events escalated, we continued to worship together
through the uncertainty, seeking together God's will
for our parish. For some of us, Redeemer is our
only adult experience with church. As one
parishioner noted, “I expected to only attend services when I came here; instead I was invited into a
community of diverse believers. For me, Redeemer feels like 'God', because we care for each other.”
Our recent efforts toward discernment of what our future should look like included a number of
activities to invite the congregation into dialogue with the vestry. We conducted several parish forums
beginning in early 2011 in which the vestry and parish worked closely together to identify areas of
strength, as well as those needing improvement, in our common life together. We also participated
together in mid-week worship, entirely lay-initiated and led, focusing on our needs for healing during a
difficult transition between rectors. In the forums, we collected a rich abundance of data from the
whole parish's responses to questions focused toward our future. (This data is available for review.) In
addition to the thoughtful input generated, the forums also provided us with valuable time together,
sharing both our memories from our past as well as our dreams for the future. In particular, many rich
stories were shared about our memories of important moments in Redeemer's past.
We are currently a small but committed congregation, who although challenged with fluctuating
leadership, have combined our efforts to ensure Redeemer's lively presence in our lives. We've
struggled with questions of programming and scheduling priorities, with part-time interim clergy and
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volunteer parishioners who are stretched thin. But we have emerged with a strong sense of the
important place Redeemer holds in our lives, and we have continued to work together with the Rev.
Diane Shepard, to maintain and improve our abilities to meet each other's needs, while still reaching
out to the community around us.
Our current Interim Rector, Diane Shepard, has served the congregation in the past, has a long history
with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and will continue to serve during the search and transition period for
Redeemer.
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Worship The congregation strongly believes that worship is the heart of Redeemer's life – it brings our family
and church lives into one as we celebrate the liturgy, the word, and the sacrament together. When these
combine, under one roof, it is a powerful and positive experience. For us, liturgy is a corporate
experience, with few pew sitters but many who are
actively engaged in various worship ministries.
The parish celebrates the Eucharist twice on Sunday, at
8:00 a.m., and at 10:30 a.m. (the principal service).
Rite II is the parish norm, especially at the principal
Sunday celebration, with Rite I being used at the 8:00
a.m. service and at other times on a seasonal basis.
Redeemer also offers midweek worship in the parish,
as well as weekly services at Heritage Shadyside, a
multi-level care facility in the neighborhood.
The liturgy at Redeemer is permeated by a spirit of
genuine friendship and welcome, but is marked by a deep respect for the Holy and the heritage of the
Church. Sunday services include both a formal Gospel Procession, and the casual return of the children
from Church School, and both have a place. While individuals have varying favorite memories or parts
of the service, nearly everyone acknowledges that the Sign of Peace connects all other experiences in
worship. New members relate how the sharing of the peace, which could have isolated and excluded
people, was instead a truly welcoming experience. The quote “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”
was nearly a universal refrain of new members. The amazement and wonder of the sheer number of
people welcoming each other to church was joyful. For long time members, the peace is a time to
reconnect us with each other.
Sermons at Redeemer reflect the intellectual curiosity of the congregation. We have been blessed by
preachers who weave together the texts from the Lectionary, the riches of the Prayer Book, and the day
to day experience of our people. A harmony of intelligence, realism, and heritage echoes in our
preaching and is a goal of our common life. But we also welcome sermons that unsettle us, and cause
us to question how we should behave as
Christians.
Redeemer has a strong tradition of liturgical
music, which the congregation wants to continue.
Parishioners sing and play instruments willingly
and enthusiastically, and our volunteer choir is
small but mighty. The choir, under the gifted
leadership of our part time organist choirmaster,
has built up a significant repertory of hymnody
and service music from the Hymnal 1982 and With One Voice. In addition to introducing new music
into our services and leading our congregational singing, the choir performs choral works from a wide
historical range. To honor Redeemer’s centennial, we commissioned a new hymn.
Many have answered the parish’s call to serve in particular ministries. Lectors, chalice bearers,
greeters, and members of the Altar Guild all contribute to the fullness of Redeemer’s worship.
Parishioners of all ages and sexes serve in each role. As a group, the liturgical ministers are
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representative of the congregation. At Redeemer, the liturgy is truly “the work of the people.”
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Parish Life Ours is a parish that adheres to tradition while respecting each
other’s broad differences in background, belief and lifestyle.
There is a combination of formality and intimacy that can be
felt in the church building itself and in the congregation which
gathers there to participate in liturgies as we share our lives
together as an Episcopal family. With Carlow University,
Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, and the
University of Pittsburgh all nearby, students and faculty from
these institutions attend and often join our parish. Ours is an
academically and intellectually curious congregation.
The parishioners at Redeemer are a varied group that includes
"cradle Episcopalians" of all ages as well as many who were
raised in other denominations, all of whom have found
Redeemer to be a place for those who question and search for
individual meaning in their faith. It is a place where gay and
lesbian members are welcome, a teenager serves on the Vestry,
men serve on the Altar Guild, and there is a long history of
supporting and encouraging both female and male parishioners
who seek the priesthood. As part of our commitment to social justice, we have congregants serving on
the diocesan Commission on Racism, diocesan Social Justice Committee, and the Commission on
Ministry.
Any description of parish life would be incomplete without mentioning the special place that children
have at Redeemer. The Church School and teen activities have
provided a central focus for the children and young people in our
church family. While the number of youth participants has fallen,
the spirit of participation found at Redeemer is evident in the
enthusiasm and involvement of the adults who teach, organize and
interact with them.
Because we like to be together and eat together, we have a long
tradition of parish brunches, picnics and Home Eucharist dinners.
The scene at coffee hour after the 10:30 service is noisy, mildly
chaotic and reflects the sense of pleasure at being together. While
animated discussions take place over coffee and bagels, the
children play underfoot and are unobtrusively tended by all the
adults present. This sense of vibrant community is an essential,
valued and carefully nurtured quality of our parish life.
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Parish Outreach Because Parish outreach and social concerns are vital to the Church of the Redeemer and are integral to
our mission and the call of Christ to help those who are the least among us, our Outreach Ministry has
had three components:
personal involvement
opening church facilities to outside groups
monetary gifts
As the congregation has aged, our outreach has shifted from personal involvement to monetary gifts,
and even this has decreased in recent years. We would like to see more involvement and a better
balance between personal and pocketbook involvement. And as we restrike this balance, we need to
establish clear priorities, perhaps by following the General Convention resolutions on social justice.
Ultimately, we need to organize parish outreach in a systematic, prioritized manner. At this time, social
justice activities have dimmed, but the spark remains to be re-energized.
Our most enduring outreach program is with East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM), dating back to
1983, when Redeemer joined a consortium of 40 churches and synagogues in the East End of
Pittsburgh. Today, EECM is a large and vibrant organization, currently building its own facility. Our
congregation remains actively involved, and one Sunday a month Redeemer parishioners prepare and
serve a hot meal for the approximately 40 guests in EECM’s men's shelter. In addition, we collect food
and dry goods for the EECM Food Pantry. As a congregation, Redeemer participates regularly in a
wide range of anti-hunger campaigns. In addition to our work at EECM, we also serve as a water
station for the CROP Walk Against Hunger, participate in the diocesan hunger race campaign and help
repack food at the local food bank.
Discovering that Heritage Shadyside had limited spiritual or religious services, we began to offer a
midweek service at the facility. Heritage is a residential health care facility for people who no longer
require hospitalization but need 24-hour nursing and other personal care services. We currently
provide a weekly Wednesday Eucharist or prayer service for residents. This outreach is shared by a few
licensed lay ministers under the direction of the rector.
Redeemer accepts and embraces those in alternative relationships – gay and lesbian committed couples
and unmarried committed couples who share in our community. We house Dignity services, we have
hosted regional and national Integrity speakers, we held a special memorial service for Matthew
Shepard, and we annually participate in Pittsburgh Gay Pride Celebrations.
Part of Redeemer’s history that connects to our present is the use of our building for Alcoholics
Anonymous and other recovery group meetings. Redeemer encouraged these groups and offered
meeting space long before they were welcome elsewhere.
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Christian Formation For both adults and children, the intentional and ongoing education of our congregation – our minds
and souls – has been a keystone binding our community together since 1900. But recently education
has waned, especially for adults. Most of the parishioners responding to parish surveys feel that issue-
oriented, Episcopal, Bible-centered education for adults has not been truly vibrant since the mid-1990s.
The Rector's involvement in church school for the children, aside from confirmation and communion
classes, has varied with the particular interests of our rectors. Our efforts to provide our children with
an appreciation of Christian tradition and opportunities for individual spiritual growth have been
primarily guided by lay men and women. The current diocesan focus on youth engagement is helpful
for our young people; but parish surveys indicate a strong desire for more formal adult programming.
We are currently working on extending our adult education offerings with an adult Bible study and
more small group discussions. A more intentional and focused program for adult education and
spiritual formation is needed.
Redeemer has approached Adult Education and Christian Formation in a number of ways. For a time,
the Rector led the adult education offerings at Redeemer. Most recently this group has been led by a
parishioner who is a retired seminary professor. The group has studied a variety of subjects such as
scripture, contemporary issues, spiritual writings, feminist theology and spirituality. These discussions
provide a safe environment in which to share and to develop Christian community. In addition, a lay
initiated and led Book Group is a powerful part of some individuals' Christian formation.
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Finance and Membership Currently our parish has 65 adults and 11 children among our pledging units. Our average Sunday
attendance in 2011 was 70. Our Easter attendance for 2011 (for all services) was 174, including
parishioners who attended all services as well as guests and family members. Our current head count
(based on recent directories and people frequently at church) is 87. Our church has a small endowment
generating limited interest income, but we have had to occasionally use both the interest and part of the
principal in the past ten years to help cover operating costs. To help bridge the gap between operating
costs and pledge/plate income—and to preserve our endowment as much as possible—the congregation
launched a number of fundraising initiatives in 2003. These included monthly hoagie sales, a series of
coffee house/cabarets, and an annual community auction, now in its tenth year. On average, these
activities have raised approximately $13,000 annually. The church buildings have been well maintained
and are in good condition thanks to strong lay leadership.
*2007 numbers reflect the updating of membership lists which had not been previously conducted
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The Church Buildings The Church of the Redeemer and its adjoining parish hall sit well back from Forbes Avenue, both
anchoring the neighboring houses and cottages to the heart of Squirrel Hill, and shielding them from
the encroachment of burgeoning institutions. Built in 1936-37 according to the designs of E. Donald
Robb of the Boston architectural firm of Frohman, Robb and
Little, the buildings are modest, Early English Gothic in style,
clad in dressed stone and roofed in slate. A square bell tower
crowns the chancel, and the nave is a simple hall with a
coffered ceiling supported on hammer beams where the light is
softened by the many stained glass windows. The
congregation raised funds and added a second floor to the
parish hall in 1940, not long after the completion of the
rectory, a stone cottage designed by Lamont Button. In
recognition of the church’s unique features, Pittsburgh History
and Landmark Foundation have designated the church a
historic landmark. To help generate income, the rectory is
being rented during our transition, but it has traditionally been
inhabited by the
rector and is
available,
depending on
the needs and
interests of our
next rector.
Perhaps the most fitting description of Church of the
Redeemer may be found in Landmark Architecture of
Allegheny County by James D. Van Trump, published in
1965. He writes:
Extremely simple in design, the church has a fineness of scale and proportion and an
amiable forthrightness of aspect that make it one of the best things of its kind in
Pittsburgh. The appointments of the church are well designed and executed with a proper
regard for material and workmanship; typical are the handsome stained glass windows,
all designed by the late Howard Wilbert, a parishioner of the church.
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The Future We Want We want to be a loving community growing in Christ that is
vital and creative
an empowered lay community
united with the Episcopal community
a growing congregation
of service to our neighbors – especially the community of suffering.
While retaining and enhancing the Eucharist-centered
Episcopal liturgy that is at the core of our common
worship experience, we envision an enlivened and
energized congregation of all ages participating in
Christian education and spiritual formation. In addition to
moving forward in the process of diocesan and national
church healing, we seek guidance in how best to serve our
neighborhood and fulfill the role God wants us to play in
the broader Pittsburgh community.
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Clergy and Staff
Interim Rector:
The Rev. Diane Shepard
Organist and Choirmaster:
Nathan Carterette
Seminarian:
William L. Ogburn
Parish Administrator:
Helen Short
Church School Coordinator:
Dyane Coyne
Treasurer:
Michael Coyne
Vestry
Senior Warden: Susan Krouse
Junior Warden: Lou Camerlengo
Chelsea Biefeld
Barbara Curlee
Frances Dannenberg
Pat Edgar
Ken Esch
Julie Smith
Steve Spolar
‘Becca Stallings
Many thanks to Jason Campbell for the photographs used in this profile