Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Annual Report
Download the report (including photos) in PDF format (5.8 MB).
PCPC people...
long to worship God together
Worship remains our highest calling at PCPC, and this past year we were led to the very throne of God every Sunday morning and evening as our Lord and King was glorified in our times of praise, confession, prayer, musical offerings, fellowship, and the preaching of the Word of God. Our Chancel Choir spent much of the year planning a mission trip to the UK. Reports from members who went on the 10-day outreach in August are glowing with excitement at the way the Lord was pleased to use their gifts for His glory.
know and live the Word of God
Women’s Bible studies continue to be a thriving outreach, with over 600 women participating in one of the many classes scheduled through the year. Every Thought Captive, an e-mail devotional, has a growing subscriber list of over 2,100 since beginning in September, 2008. Pastor Patrick Lafferty writes this penetrating short essay each week which highlights the scripture from the prior Sunday’s sermon. Our Children’s Ministry has been enhanced this year with the appearance of Leo the Lion who engages the children in learning the Word in fun and lasting ways. The 350 children at Vacation Bible School last June sported superhero capes as they learned about the true Superhero, Jesus, and that they have it in them—by the power of the His Holy Spirit—to be THRPPGEW kids (Philippians 4:8).
pray boldly and dependently
The 24/7 Prayer Ministry was begun in the summer of 2009 so PCPC members and friends would have a constant source of support. Teams of elders and deacons are on call around the clock. Women gather at Pray First before church one Sunday a month to pray for our church, city, and world, and members are available after every Sunday morning worship service to pray with any who come to the Parlor with a request. The congregation has been encouraged to pursue deeper prayer lives through a series of summer sermons and a recommended list of books to read. On the first Monday of each month, the day is set aside for Pastors’ Day of Prayer. Our pastors gather to spend the day in fellowship and prayer for the needs of our body, community, and world.
tell stories of rescue
DivorceCare has become a significant outreach to both members and passersby. Last year two non-members attended DivorceCare after seeing a banner on our building and came to faith in Christ while receiving His healing help through the group. Hundreds of men learned more about what it means to be a true man of God in Men’s Fraternity and took their changed hearts home to become spiritual leaders and encouragers in their families. As the men finished up the year, they delighted in sharing with one another how the Lord continues to transform their lives, marriages, families, and more through the study of God’s Word in honest, transparent relationships with one another.
want to change the world
Our people love to serve. Given the opportunity, they show it! The Urban Ministries conference in January prompted over 1,200 people to show up for Beyond Ourselves in February to serve in West Dallas. Hundreds of volunteers serve throughout the year with one of our 12 urban ministry partners. In 2008, nearly a dozen PCPC short-term mission trips sent over 160 people to every continent except Antarctica. PCPC is now connected with 12 Reformed University Fellowships (RUF), and PCPC, working with the Southwest Church Planting Network and world missions partners, has now been involved in planting 86 churches. Not only does our Youth Ministry reach out to teens in our community, but it also takes the gospel to the world. Twenty-seven students journeyed to Hong Kong to teach high school and middle school students at an English camp where they shared the gospel by integrating its truth in their classroom curriculum and by befriending students and sharing how the Lord has personally changed their lives. Our third Arts Festival reached out to our community, inviting artists to explore biblical themes in their artistic expressions and for those messages to be “seen” by the hundreds who viewed the exhibit.
Financial Report
July 1, 2008–June 30, 2009
Income & Expense Summary*
Expenses
Primary Cost Savings
Personnel
No salary increases were given for the year and 50% of retirement contributions for five months were eliminated, contributing to a savings of $239,763 or 37.8% of overall cost reductions.
Spiritual Life
Deferring planned special events in women’s, adult, spiritual formation, outreach events, and new member initiatives provided $90,142 in cost reductions.
Outreach
Operating funds normally reserved for future church plants were not required. Other mission trip savings and unneeded Good Sam funds contributed to a reduction of $93,398.
Support Ministries
Deferred planned technology upgrades and significantly reduced facilities costs totaled $150,844 in savings.
Officers and Leadership
Reductions in session and staff-related planning and meeting expenses and other contingency spending lowered costs by $75,954.
2009-2010 Budget
Expenses
Variances from 2008-2009 Budget
The relocation of the church offices from Hampton Court to the church campus is expected to provide a savings of $450,000 annually. In January, the Session approved the use of $600,000 in capital funds to be used for the project, so that operating funds would not be required for the relocation. The project was finished on time and on budget with capital funds utilized for space renovations, work stations for 37 staff members (who previously had private offices), required city building code improvements, related maintenance expenses, and significant enhancement of our children’s education space that includes an indoor playground.
An interesting note: The 2009–2010 budget is very close in size to PCPC’s 2004-05 budget, but we will accomplish, by God’s grace, much more ministry for the same amount five years later.
* unaudited statement; annual audit to be completed in November 2009
