Inspiring Future Leaders | 2024 Legacy Campaign

On April 14, The Foundation of San Marino Community Church will be launching our 2024 Legacy Campaign. Established in 1958 to serve as an active steward of the church’s endowment, The Foundation exists to hold and invest donations in perpetuity so that annual disbursements may be made to provide ongoing stability for the church’s finances, particularly in season’s of change.

Our 2024 Legacy Campaign theme this year, "Inspiring Future Leaders,” was chosen for our focus on augmenting the O’Grady Theology & Culture Fund. Established in 2021 in honor of Rev. Jeff & Lynn O’Grady’s retirement from ministry at SMCC, the fund enabled Community Church to launch an innovative and highly coveted pastoral residency program for new graduates of Princeton Theological Seminary who are ordained and ready to receive their first call.

Currently in its inaugural year with Rev. Beth Putney, the program is overseen by Pastoral Residency Advisor, Rev. Dr. Tom Tewell, and leads residents through seven units of study taught by SMCC clergy and staff. The program uniquely focuses on engaging entrepreneurial skills in pastoral ministry, equipping residents to engage adaptive leadership skills, and exercising them in an innovative, west coast context.

In addition to providing this incredible educational experience for future leaders within the PC(USA), Community Church is blessed to receive two years of full-time ministry from one of Princeton Theological Seminary’s best and brightest young ministers. Since her arrival, Rev. Putney has proven to be a talented and dedicated colleague to the clergy and staff, leading a Monday night small group, serving as a leader in the Youth Group, regularly teaching the Circle of Women weekly Bible study, preaching in Sunday services, and spearheading the recent “Making Like a Christian” collaborative project and exhibition. Unlike many churches nationwide, who are dealing with waning attendance, Community Church continues to be blessed with new growth, strong attendance, and remarkably vibrant Children and Youth ministries. As we seek to strengthen and expand our ministry offerings to meet these growing needs, the opportunity to have a skilled and energetic practitioner serving alongside our clergy and staff is both an abundant blessing and critically important.

To contribute to this campaign, you can give online here (be sure to indicate Legacy Offering) or you can pick up materials from the Church Office during open hours (9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.)