Our Staff
Ministers:
Rev. Paul Mullen (Bio)
Judy Chapman (Bio)
Music Directors:
Susan Woodward
Elizabeth Paynter
Coordinator:
Jill Newman
Office Administrator:
Mela Becker
Caretaker:
Cindy Clark
Paul Mullen
Paul offers a wealth and depth of work and life experiences within the United Church. A native of Alberta, Paul has over 25 years of successful team ministry experience gained in serving a diversity of congregations in this province. His most recent appointment as ordained minister was with Sunnybrook United Church in Red Deer and he previously served Kirk and Knox Metropolitan United Churches in Edmonton, First United Church in Wetaskiwin and Spirit River Pastorial Charge in Spirit River. He has a strong association with the Calgary Presbytery having been a Pastoral Counsellor and Family Life Educator with the Pastoral Institute in Calgary, an institution his father, also an ordained minister of the United Church had founded.
Ordained in 1977, Pauls credentials include a Master of Divinity (equiv.) from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California, a Master of Religion in Counselling and Christian Development from the School of Theology in Claremont, California, completion of Basic Pastoral Education at the Pastoral Institute in Calgary, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Alberta at Calgary (now University of Calgary). In addition Paul is a life long learner having completed courses in the areas of congregational development, worship, multiple staff ministry, and asset mapping.
Paul has chaired many and diverse committees and divisions within the larger United Church of Canada, at the presbytery level, the conference and national level including the Red Deer Presbytery Communications Committee, the Edmonton Presbytery, the Alberta and Northwest Conference Ministry Personnel and Education Committee, the Alberta and Northwest Conference as President, and the National Manual Committee. Paul is not scared of uncertainty, enjoys group faciliation and prefers to lead from within.
Paul is well read, contemplative and articulate and thoroughly enjoys preaching. His sermons are engaging, contemporary, and both thought provoking and pastoral. He is experienced and interested in including and involving children and youth in worship and church life, and ensuring that music and liturgy is inclusive, relevant, healing and challenging. At an interpersonal level Paul is warm, puts people at ease, and he has a keen sense of humour (there was much good laughter during our conversations).
His skills and passion lie in resolving interpersonal conflicts and nurturing positive human relationships which he believes are paramount in reducing social injustices. Paul is currently the Vice President of the Central Alberta Diversity Association which works to combat all kinds of discrimination through programs including workshops in schools and businesses and organizations, community celebrations of diversity, an annual public service announcement competition, and drum circles.
He is a strong supporter of the Emerging Spirit Campaign and knows that reaching out requires an openess on all parts to communicate honestly and respectfully to allow for growth to occur.
Judy Chapman
Judy has been serving as a Diaconal Minister in a team ministry at Scarboro
United Church since 1994. Originally called to a ministry of education,
Judy's position now includes the whole range of pastoral duties, including
pastoral care, preaching, funerals and weddings.
Prior to coming to Scarboro, Judy worked for ten years as a Christian Education
Director at McDougall United Church in Calgary. During the last five years
there she trained in the Western field-based program for Diaconal Ministry
through St. Stephen's College in Edmonton. As well as doing her field placement
in education, Judy also worked with a group of immigrant women establishing
a Neighbors Program at McDougall.
Before having her children and before being called to Ministry, Judy worked
as an Interviewer in the Personnel Department of A.G.T. Within the church
she has been involved in the Ministry Personnel and Education (MP&E) network
for many years, previously chairing the Division of MP&E and the Conflict
Resolution Task Group, and currently serving as a Presbytery Pastoral Relations
Convenor, a Settlement Representative, and a member of the Alberta and
Northwest Conference Interview Board.
Judy continues to find satisfaction sharing her faith and the stories of
faith with children, youth, and adults, and in walking with them on their
life's journey.
Judy is married to David, a retired engineer, and they have three adult
children. |
Our History
Scarboro United Church grew out of the union of Bankview Methodist Church
and Bankview Presbyterian Church, both founded in 1908. Our present church
building dates back to 1929. As a community of faith, we celebrate and
draw upon this history in order to become actively engaged in our wide
range of contemporary religious and social issues. We welcome everyone
into our fellowship.
Our Character
Scarboro United Church is a caring community or risk-takers, adventurers,
and explorers in contemporary Christian living. Working from a traditional
base, we seek new ways of understanding the meeting of the human and
the divine. We are a liberal, open-minded congregation, welcoming doubters,
seekers, questioners, believers, and those of other faith experiences.
 Our Congregation
A recent survey of our congregation uncovered where we are, and where
we want to go. Some highlights of the survey are:
Member Demographics
- One half of congregation have one or more university degrees.
- Generally affluent, but with a small, significant group of low-income
people
- who worship regularly
- 7 out of 10 are congregational members.
- Over one half have attended Scarboro for over ten years; three quarters
for at least three years.
Reasons for Coming -- and Staying
- Desire to find a supportive Christian community in which they can
grow spiritually and enjoy good music.
- Many have had a previous Christian background.
- Quality of the worship service, meaningful, excellent music, and
sermons which address them personally.
Worship Service -- Now and in the Future
- 9 out of 10 like the worship service as it is.
- Congregation divided on traditional vs. informal style of communion.
- Almost everyone wants the church facilities used more for non-profit
outreach programs
- A third would like the worship experience enhanced by meditation
or silence. Some want opportunity to discuss the sermon.
- Some would like an opportunity to greet those around them during
the service.
- Of those new to congregation in the last three years, just over one
half found the congregation welcoming and inclusive, while just under
one half found the congregation friendly but relating mostly to people
they know.
The Future
- 9 out of 10 want variety in worship, emphasizing contemporary music,
drama and the involvement of children and youth.
- 9 out of 10 want Scarboro to work with community organizations and
other churches to minister to the community -- emphasizing social justice
and making space in the church available for more outreach programs.
- If more ministerial time were available, the congregation would like
the time devoted to educational programs for adults and young people,
outreach to new members and social justice issues.
- Over two-thirds would like to hold adult education programs at the
weekday supper hour, half would like a weekday mid-morning time and
half the Sunday lunch hour.
What We Expect -- and Value
- Sermons that teach, provide emotional and spiritual uplift and have
a strong message.
- Leading edge of theological understanding.
- 9 out of 10 want Scarboro committed to outreach and social action.
- The importance of education and the building-up of the church community.
- Strongest factors influencing our mission/covenant with the future
are the economy (especially the global economy, the gap between rich
and poor nations and child poverty), social issues, including homelessness,
social justice and the marginalized, and person issues including social
indifference individual isolation and changing morality.
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