About Shadyside Presbyterian Church

Located at the corner of Amberson Avenue and Westminster Place in Shadyside, an urban community of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , Shadyside Presbyterian Church was founded in 1866 and has enjoyed a long history of local, national, and global recognition for its outreach and service. Shadyside's global ministry includes a recent mission to Ecuador and an ongoing joint ministry with the Soche Presbyterian Church in Malawi.

We Have a Vision

Shadyside Presbyterian Church maintains a clear devotion to the grace of God, understanding that God is forgiving and gives each of us what we need, and that there is traditional comfort in formality, vitality, energy, and spirit. More than a Pittsburgh ministry, Shadyside understands ministry in terms of four foundational pillars:

Worship & Music
Education
Congregational Care, including Fellowship
Outreach Mission

As a congregation challenged, comforted, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we believe our mission is to reflect God's unconditional love, as we proclaim and celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ, and strive to be a welcoming, serving, and reconciling community.

Our Three-year Developmental Goals

In the spirit of welcome, service, and reconciliation, Shadyside has set forth a three-year plan to further develop its stated goals:

Participation Growth: Shadyside strives to expand upon its integral activities and increase participation of individual members, and to welcome new participants in Worship, Outreach, Fellowship, Study, and Stewardship.
Communication Strength: God calls us to hear and share His Word. Shadyside seeks to improve and strengthen internal and external communications so that we may talk about Jesus Christ and our faith; our internal and external congregations; our call to ministry; and progress toward meeting our goals.
Ministry Development: To support and empower church members in ministry, Shadyside endeavors to assess its spiritual and ministerial gifts; identify specific needs and opportunities, and prioritize them; and provide training, support, and guidance in ministry.
Planning Uniformity: In order to accomplish our goals, Shadyside is developing and implementing a more uniform planning process by defining measurable goals; establishing definitive action plans; and writing formalized procedures to assess our progress.

Leadership & Staff

A member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Shadyside Church is governed by its Session consisting of elected Elders and Ministers of Word and Sacrament. Deacons and Trustees are also elected to serve in their respective capacities. Much church work is led by Session committees, supported by various staff resources. Shadyside pastor, Reverend Dr. M. Craig Barnes, is also the Meneilly Professor in pastoral leadership at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

The Church Architecture

The Shadyside church building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a prime example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Tim Engleman maintains a link to his slideshow tour highlighting church architectural features, including the wealth of symbol and history in its details.

For More Information

Shadyside Presbyterian Church is a member of the Pittsburgh (PA) Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which offers an excellent summary of Presbyterian history and beliefs.