2021 Annual Report A YEAR IN THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF IPC
205 933-1830
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www.ipc-usa.org
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3100 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AL
202
FROM REV. KEVIN J. LONG, PASTOR
It has been an eventful year at Independent Presbyterian Church. There was a great deal of change as we made it through a full year of COVID-19 which challenged all of us on many levels. There were multiple staff transitions, including, I hear, a new Senior Pastor. COVID19 limited some of our activities, but this church continued to persevere and find new ways to connect and live out our faith. The generosity of the congregation was on display as we finished the year with a significant budget surplus and had a wonderful response to our stewardship campaign. We continued to serve Jesus by serving the needs of those in our community and beyond in multiple ways.
You all have been incredibly gracious and welcoming to the Long family. As we begin our first full year with you, we do so with a sense of excitement and anticipation for all that God will be doing here in the year ahead and the years to come. Many things are afoot here at IPC. It is wonderful to be on this journey with you as we follow our risen Savior into a future filled with hope.
INSIDE 2
Letter From Our Pastor
9
Community Ministries
3
Life of IPC
10
Music & Fine Arts
4
Life of IPC in COVID-19
11
IPC Day School
5
Adult Ministries
12
IPC Foundation
6
Youth Ministries
13
IPC By the Numbers
7
Children's Ministries
14
Church Leadership
8
2021 Finances
15
Church Staff
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 2
LIFE OF IPC IN 2021
WELCOME
NEW GROUP
FAREWELL
Rev. Kevin J. Long Installation on Sept. 26, 2021
IPC Connect Monthly meetings began in June of 2021
Interim Pastor Dr. Steve Goyer Ended ministry at IPC with last sermon on July 18, 2021
MINISTRY
MISSION
MUSIC
Kick-off for Fall Term on Aug. 15, 2021
Serving God and our neighbors with a Crop Drop on Oct. 18, 2021
Virtual Religious Arts Festival Jan. 31- Feb. 7, 2021
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 3
LIFE OF IPC IN COVID-19
For as wonderful as it is that we can do things online when circumstances require it, it is no substitute for being together as the body of Christ. To live out our faith together in the unique times of 2021, IPC brought back several opportunities for in-person gathering and found new ways to serve God virtually.
2021 AT A GLANCE Fully reopened on Sunday, Feb. 14, with in-person morning worship services in Sanctuary and Table evening worship in Highland Hall Introduced an outdoor coffee hour on Sunday mornings in IPC's Cloister Virtually connected with an "Ask the Pastor" Zoom Sunday School Class Reimagined the traditional: In February, IPC offered a virtual Religious Arts Festival FAREWELL N to E Wthe G Rcommunity OUP Interim Pastor Dr. Steve Goyer IPC Connect In March, IPC's Children's Choir presented our Spring Play to the congregation with a video published on YouTube In December, IPC's Holiday House Committee continued to adapt the format of the annual home tour with an inperson Holiday House Tea at IPC and a virtual tour Began the Season of Lent with the imposition of ashes in the Sanctuary and through an at-home Ash Wednesday Kit Expanded relationship with City Meats in Woodlawn to serve double the amount of people served pre-pandemic by our Food Pantry, while also reducing the number of food stops for those we feed Sustained and improved the livestream of IPC's 11 am worship service Safeguarded IPC's congregation with regular meetings of IPC's Re-Opening Task Force
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 4
ADULT MINISTRIES IPC Connect Group formed in May and met monthly 250+ attending IPC Connect events at top local attractions Lunch Bunch resumed Sunday School 150 adults in Sunday School classes New classes: PW Women's Class Crossroads
Members in the Middle 60 adults participated on Wednesday Nights New opportunities for Weekday Groups, Bible Studies & Book Reviews 150 participating in Grace Groups during Lenten Season and Fall 85 adults in midweek small groups 50 active in PW classes, projects, and Montreat Women’s Conference
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 5
YOUTH MINISTRIES IPC YOUTH IN 2021 Attended Montreat Youth Conference Led the congregation on Youth Sunday High School Seniors recognized on Graduate Sunday Served on Youth Grant Team Volunteered as Tribal Assistants at Bibletimes Marketplace Participated in worship as Acolytes
RECOGNIZING THE 2021 CONFIRMATION CLASS
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 6
CHILDREN AT IPC NEW IN 2021 Kid's Fun Nights Parent's Date Nights
CONTINUED TRADITION Easter Egg Hunt 4th Grade Bible Presentations Vacation Bible School Bibletimes Marketplace Fall Fun Day at Farm Noon Nativity Choir Advent Workshop
ATRIUM Began 2021 with a virtual Atrium format and moved to an in-person format Added a Toddler Atrium Class
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 7
2021 FINANCES
Your pledges coupled with additional church income brought IPC's mission to life in six key areas with a $246,100 surplus remaining at the end of year.
SOURCES OF FUNDING 2021 ACTUAL: $5.5 MILLION Designated Gifts 10% Children's Fresh Air Farm 8%
Endowments 9%
Pledges & Offerings 52%
Restricted Fund Transfers 5%
Other Income (includes Day School) 16%
EXPENDITURES
2021 ACTUAL: $5.3 MILLION Congregational Care 10% Worship & Music 12%
Member Support 15%
Faith Formation 24%
Church Facilities 15%
Community Ministries 24%
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 8
COMMUNITY MINISTRIES Provided support for our vulnerable, food insecure, and temporarily unhoused neighbors
2021 OUTREACH First Light Shelter for Homeless Women & Children Habitat for Humanity Home Build Inaugural Crop Drop Blessing Boxes Food Ministry Harvest for Hunger Campaign Sack Lunches with Highlands United Methodist Church Buy a Meal, Share a Meal partnering with Rojo & Bogue's Food Vouchers for families in need via City Meats Meals for Food For Our Journey (FFOJ) Summer Learning Program/Lift Off
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 9
MUSIC & FINE ARTS 2021 RELIGIOUS ARTS FESTIVAL January 31 - February 7, 2021 | Comfort, Connection, and Healing The 50th Annual Religious Arts Festivals brought world-class services, programs, and artists to enjoy from the comfort of homes during the virtual week-long program.
2021 SPRING CONCERT March 28 | 4 PM
2021 CHORAL EVENSONGS May 16 | September 26 | October 31
2021 NOVEMBER ORGAN RECITALS Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov.
7 David Enlow 14 Colin Lynch 21 Stephen Buzard 28 Katelyn Emerson
Since 1965, this organ series has continued to attract people to IPC from the Birmingham community and beyond. Free concerts are held every Sunday in November in the Sanctuary. It features the Joseph W. Schreiber Memorial Organ built by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders Ltd.
2021 CHRISTMAS CONCERT December 12 | 4 PM 2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 10
IPC DAY SCHOOL FAREWELL TO ONE OF OUR FINEST IPC is forever grateful to Kathy Leaver who retired from the Day School after more than eight years of service as the Director of the Day School.
A BRIGHT FUTURE The IPC Day School began the 2021-2022 school year by welcoming Dr. Kay Roller as its new Director.
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 11
IPC FOUNDATION 2021 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS: $79.9 MILLION ASSETS IPC FOUNDATION TOTAL RETURN | YTD 12/31/21
Beeson
Unitized
Composite
Benchmark
10.15%
10.43%
10.23%
10.43%
2021 YEAR IN REVIEW Grantmaking Committee Conducted the annual IPC Foundation grants cycle. Reviewed 103 applications (18 from new applicants) and awarded 95 grants for $2.0 million. Managed a Youth Grant team of about 14 junior and senior high school students charged with researching and recommending distributions totaling $20,000. Approved 32 grant requests for small grants totaling $163,000. Approved 6 emergency grants for 33,200 to assist with natural disasters in Alabama, Kentucky, and Haiti and to provide financial relief to organizations struggling from the pandemic. Approved distributions from 35 Unitized Funds totaling $695,000, benefiting mostly IPC but includes funding to other organizations such as STAIR, Kirkwood, SOZO, and The Wellhouse. Finance Committee Met quarterly with the Foundation’s investment advisors and reviewed investment performance compared to benchmark, monitored asset allocation, reviewed manager performance and fees, and discussed industry outlook. Ended the year with blended net return of 10.23%, slightly shy of the benchmark return of 10.43% Reviewed and set spending policy for 2021 – reaffirmed 4% for all Funds. Received the annual financial audit, which had no findings. Development Committee Published the 2020 Annual Report Held five lunch and learns in person and/or via zoom (HICA!, i3 Academy, Community on the Rise, Hope International, and PARCA.) Governance Committee Nominated 2022 officers and proposed new directors to replace those whose terms end in 2021
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 12
IPC BY THE NUMBERS 1,803
50
TOTAL MEMBERS
NEW MEMBERS includes 27 Confirmands
BAPTISMS
IN MEMORIAM
JOHN FOSTER ALSPAUGH
ROLLA EARL "REB" BECK
WILLIAM KNIGHT BECK
HELEN NORMANN BOLVIG
HARRISON BOWMAN
DAVID MITCHELL COMFORT
HARRY FISHER CORNELIUS
ELIZABETH GREENE CRAIG
CHARLES HENRY DEER II
ELEANOR SAMPLE CUSHMAN
BENNETT FLETCHER
WILLIAM RICHARD DEMARAY
CHARLES FLETCHER
BETTY JEAN BROWN GLASS
HENRY GRAHAM III
JUDY KAYE SASSE HAISE
FRANCIS HAMRE
BETTY BOND HIGGINS
EMMETT GOLSON HARTZOG
BETTY AMIDON KESMODEL
CLAIRE HAMPTON HILL
ROGER TIMOTHY LEWIS
SPENCER DALE MADDOX
KENNETH EARL LITTLE
LOUISE MARGARET MCBRAYER
JOHN LONDON V
HENRY GRAHAM MILLER
BARBARA GAIL EVANS MACLEOD
ROSEMARY IRIS MOODY
ELIZABETH BENNERS MARBURY
ROSEMARY PRUM
VIRGINIA MORTON MCCORMICK
WILLA REDMOND
MARK LYLE MILLER
STELLA PENELOPE RICHARDS
NANCY GRAVES O'FLINN
MICHAEL LAWRENCE SHULTS
WILLIAM ALEXANDER POGUE
MARGARET ALEXANDRA SIBLEY
ROBERT WYLIE SHEPHERD
OLIVIA PAGE SIBLEY
THOMAS EMERSON SIMPKINS, JR.
DOROTHY SORABELLA JULIE SORABELLA HARRY WALKER SULLIVAN
CONGREGATIONAL CARE
CALVIN TRIMMER WILLIAM BURR WEATHERLY, III BLAKELY WURM
200 Deacon Board deliveries, calls, and photos taken 200 Shephard Team meals, home visits, and calls 100+ Pastoral Calls 1000+ Prayers by Intercessory Prayer Team
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 13
2021 CHURCH OFFICERS SESSION (ELDERS)
DEACONS
CLASS OF 2021 Burton, John Bussian, Jim Darby, Caroline Edmonds, Bryson Graham, Mike Long, J. Matthews, Judy Reeves, Martha Simmons, Paul Spencer, Ivy Waters, Kate Williams, Ellen Walthall, Helen (youth elder)
CLASS OF 2021 Brignac, Drew Chambliss, Rebecca Glass, Brandon Halbleib, J. Michael Morrow, William Northrup, Ken Pringle, Catherine Roth, Kathleen Sutherland, Fairy Tribble, Dara Waters, Jimmy Williams, Sonny
President of the Congregation 2021: George Taylor III Vice President of the Congregation 2021: Beth Hillhouse
CLASS OF 2022 Albright III, Carl Cooley, Andrew Cowart, Lydia Lane, Jessica Brooks McRoberts, Rich Miller, Georgia Moore,Becky Polson, Kim Rediker, Michael Walthall, Ann Ward, David Cobbs, Ivy (youth deacon) Donovan, Hattie (youth deacon)
CLASS OF 2022 Adams,Scott Alexander, Bruce Brunstad, James Casey, William Cheney, Lydia Deer, Alan Feagin Jr., John Hamilton, Terry Higgins III, John Horton, William McCain, Amy Ort, Janet Scholl, Kara Taylor III, George Albright, Bibb (youth elder) CLASS OF 2023 Abbott, Susie F. Allen, Wendell F. Butts, Aly Cobbs, Margaret Cooley, Jim D. Donovan, Anna Kate Hill, Robert Lyons, Matt Monk, Jeanne P. Pless, Gail S. Rediker, Julie J. Thomson, Tommy Vanlandingham, Emily Walthall, Kennon
CLASS OF 2023 Carrol, Justin T. Dexter, Ian H. Hartzog, Anna James, II, Clarence W. Kopecky, Diane Mather, Kate Murphy, Susan E. Posey, Grace J. Turner, Jay Wells, Jr., Thomas L. Woodruff, Kathleen A.
2021 IPC ANNUAL REPORT | 14
CHURCH STAFF AT END OF 2021
CLERGY Rev. Kevin J. Long, Pastor Rev. Susan Clayton, Associate Pastor Rev. David Seamon, Associate Pastor
IPC DAY SCHOOL Kay Roller, Director Natalie Anderson, Assistant Director Susan Edmonds, Administrative Assistant
COMMUNITY MINISTRIES Rev. Melissa Self Patrick, Director of Community Ministries Evelyn Puckett, Social Services Coordinator Lisa Holloway, Community Ministries Coordinator
ADMINISTRATION & OPERATIONS Stephanie Heupel, Director of Operations Lea Anne Hardy, Executive Assistant to Pastor Brian Hagan, Manager of Technology Nick Mathes, Technology & Operations Assistant Sandra Putman, Executive Assistant Andre Asberry, Facilities Manager Gary Cohill, Maintenance Fred Matthews, Maintenance Cynthia Miller, Housekeeping Vanessa Woods, Housekeeping Alma Gutierrez, Housekeeping Kim Martin, Director of Food Services Alejandra Trejo, Kitchen
CHILDREN'S FRESH AIR FARM Catherine Goudreau, Children's Fresh Air Farm Program Director CONGREGATIONAL CARE & COUNSELING Rev. Susan Clayton, Associate Pastor, Congregational Care Stacy Pulliam, Engagement & Assimilation Coordinator Cindy Shaw, Asst. Engagement & Assimilation Coordinator Connie Logan, Executive Assistant Rev. Dr. Stewart Jackson, Counseling Associate Dr. Kenneth Wade, Counseling Associate MUSIC & FINE ARTS Dr. Jeff McLelland, Director of Music & Fine Arts Beth Middleton, Assistant Director of Music & Fine Arts Rosalynn Fairless, Executive Assistant of Music & Fine Arts COMMUNICATIONS Lindsay Jones, Director of Communications FAITH FORMATION (CHRISTIAN EDUCATION) Rev. David Seamon, Associate Pastor, Faith Formation Rev. Susan Clayton, Associate Pastor, Adult Faith Formation CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES Catherine Goudreau, Director of Children and Youth Emma Stewart, Assistant Director of Children's Ministries Enid Athanas, Assistant Director of Catechesis Kenya Glasco, Nursery Coordinator YOUTH MINISTRIES Catherine Goudreau, Director of Children and Youth JD Tyler, Director of Youth Faith Formation Susan Dukes, Youth Logistics Coordinator Grace Daniels, Youth Intern FINANCIAL/IPC FOUNDATION Denise Moore, Executive Director of Finance & IPC Foundation Beth Grauel, Accountant Patricia Harper, Development Manager, IPC & Foundation
STAFF CHANGES IN 2021 IPC welcomed Rev. Kevin J. Long and his family to IPC, and Rev. Long’s service of installation was held on Sept. 26. Dr. Steve Goyer concluded his call to serve as IPC’s Interim Pastor in July. Congratulations to Marsha Harbin who retired from IPC in March after 35 years of service. Patricia Harper was hired in March to serve as Development Manager for IPC and its Foundation. Jay Wilkins concluded his role as Interim Associate Pastor of Congregational Care in April. Rev. Susan Clayton transitioned into a new pastoral role to serve as Director of Congregational Care and Adult Faith Formation. Rev. Melissa Self Patrick was hired as the Director of Community Ministries and Outreach in April. Congratulations to Kathy Leaver who retired from IPC after 8 years of serving as the Director of IPC’s Day School. Dr. Kay Roller was hired as the new director and transitioned out of her role as Director of Catechesis to start the 2021 school year in August. Congratulations to Alynn Leberte who retired from IPC in November after 9 years of serving as the Executive Assistant to the Pastor. Lea Anne Hardy took Alynn’s place transitioning from her previous position as Administrative Assistant for Faith Formation. Stephanie Heupel was hired as the Director of Operations in November. Her new position replaces Bill McKelvey, Director of Operations and Administration, who left IPC at the end of August. Nick Mathes returned as a full-time IPC employee in November. He serves as Technology & Operations Assistant and replaced Linda Jolley who retired from her role as Administrative Assistant also in November. Emma Stewart was named Interim Director of Children’s Ministries and Catechesis transitioning from her previous position as Assistant Director of Children’s Faith Formation. Cammie Ashworth was announced as Director of Youth Ministries at the end of 2021. JD Tyler, who served in the role in 2021, returned to Princeton Theological Seminary.
A 2021 REPORT TO THE
Congregation