North Phoenix Corporate Ministry collection, 1966-1987

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Summary

Creators:
North Phoenix Corporate Ministry
Abstract:
The North Phoenix Corporate Ministry was a group of Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant Congregations in northern Phoenix, AZ who worked together in areas of education, worship, social concern, creative arts, and communication. Included are administrative files, program files, financial records, information on organizations, news clippings, photographs, negatives, slides, audiotapes, and a video.
Extent:
7 boxes 5 linear feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

North Phoenix Corporate Ministry collection, GTU 98-11-02. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection was received from former participants in the North Phoenix Corporate Ministry in 1998. Included are administrative files, program files, financial records, information on organizations, news clippings, photographs, negatives, slides, audiotapes, and a video.

Biographical / historical:

The North Phoenix Corporate Ministry was a group of Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant Congregations in northern Phoenix, AZ who worked together in areas of education, worship, social concern, creative arts, and communication. In 1966, William Smith, the minister of Cross Roads Methodist Church, Samuel Lindamood, the minister of Orangewood Presbyterian Church, and Theodore Knotter, minister of the North Congregational Church of the Beatitudes, began meeting to become better aware of how they could work together. In the same year, Father John Odou, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, had brought together a group of Catholic lay people interested in interfaith activities and ecumenical involvement. Following various joint worship services, discussions, and events, in 1967, clergy and laity of St. Francis and the Protestant congregations joined together to form the North Phoenix Corporate Ministry. Goals and structures were focused around: 1. Prayer, both private and in interfaith services; 2. Dialogue, both casual and professional; and 3. Social Action, churches working together on programs. In 1970, Sister Mary Christine Athans, a participant in the early organizing discussions and meetings, was appointed the Executive Director. From the beginning, both clergy and laity together were involved in the Ministry's development.

In 1968, Rabbi Moshe Tutnauer began working with NPCM and the Beth El Congregation joined the interfaith coalition. In 1970, Rabbi Albert Plotkin and the Temple Beth Israel Congregation, representing Reformed Judaism, became a part of NPCM. Over the next decade, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Shadow Rock Congregational, and Sunrise Presbyterian Church also joined.

The Ministry was deliberate in its purpose beyond services and programs. In "The Purpose of the North Phoenix Cooperate Ministry", 1973, it is agreed that all: 1. Acknowledge that we worship the same God; 2. Emphasize the similarities in our beliefs, and build cooperation and mutual regard; 3. Worship together periodically; 4. Foster knowledge and understanding of each other's beliefs; 5. Promote a willingness to listen to each other; 6. Promote carefully selected joint religious, educational and social action programs and activities; and 7. Become a model of practical interfaith action which can and will be implemented by other corporate groups.

From 1968 until 1986, NPCM put on a Fall School of Religious Studies, a Spring Forum educational series, hosted guest lectures, sponsored local social service efforts (including a food bank, preschool, and clothing bank), produced publications on ecumenism, held art festivals and craft fairs, and sponsored music and drama events. NPCM arranged a yearly interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service and Clergy Exchange between member congregations. NPCM also supported a social service agency, the Interfaith Cooperative Ministries, 1981 - 1985. In 1987, due to a decline in activities and a lack of support from the clergy, the North Phoenix Corporative Ministry was dissolved.

(See NPCM History, 1966 - 1984, Box 1, File Folders 53-54.)

Physical location:
4/B/4-5
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

North Phoenix Corporate Ministry collection, GTU 98-11-02. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley, CA.

Location of this collection:
2400 Ridge Road
Berkeley, CA 94709, US
Contact:
(510) 649-2523/2501
archives@gtu.edu
Website