History
Shadow Rock was founded in August 1973 by Rev. William O. Smith as contemporary church – innovative, experimental, and intentional. Without a church building, worship services and events were held at Thunderbird High School. In 1973, Shadow Rock joined the North Phoenix Corporate Ministries and in March 1974 Shadow Rock was officially recognized as a member in good standing of the United Church of Christ denomination (The Church of the Beatitudes was our sponsoring church). Later in 1974 the Shadow Rock Preschool opened with Eileen Hoard as its first director. In 1976, Rev. Robin Kreider was ordained. Also that year- ground was broken for the first building (now known as the Education Building). The first worship service in the new building was December 24, 1976.
The 1980’s began with the opening of the Shadow Rock Center for the Performing Arts (under the direction of David Wo), to be followed by the beginning of the Shadow Rock Epi-Center (offering education classes to the community), and then being the first church to partner with Rebuilding Together (formerly known as Christmas in April). In 1982 a two-year building project began in which four classrooms, a commercial kitchen, bathrooms, and two meetings rooms were added to the Education Building. Ground was broken in 1986 for the Sanctuary and the first worship service was held on December 6, 1987. In 1989 the Festival Garden (a columbarium) and a Celebration Wall were added.
In 1990 Rev. Smith and the Shadow Rock congregation established A Stepping Stone Foundation. Four years later Rev. Smith retired. Rev. Hal McSwain served as Senior Minister for six months, and Rev. Don Heinrich served as interim Senior Minister for the year following. Rev. David W. Ragan was called as Senior Minister in 1995. Shadow Rock led efforts to establish Family Promise (formerly known as The Greater Phoenix Interfaith Hospitality Network) and also built a house through Habitat for Humanity. In 1998 Shadow Rock celebrated twenty-five years of ministry and the tile mural wall in the parlor of the Education Building was completed. In 1999, Shadow Rock became an Open and Affirming church and partnered with Borderlinks to address justice issues on the Mexico/United States border.
In 2002 Action Reflection Ministries were created and Rev. Gene LeFebvre traveled to Israel with a peacemaking delegation. In 2003 Rev. Lefebvre and Rev. Ragan traveled to Colombia with Witness for Peace. In 2004 Rev. Lori J. Souder was called as full-time Associate Minister. Also that year Shadow Rock became instrumental in the No More Deaths movement. A Justice Worker Program was instituted in 2005 to support those working for justice in various parts of our world, and three new relational groups were formed. In the spring of 2006 Rev. Ragan resigned. Rev. Gil Fauber served as Interim Senior Minister for one year ending in November 2007. Rev. Souder resigned in January 2008, and Rev. Thomas J. Hall began as Interim Senior Minister in February 2008.
On May 18, 2008, Rev. Kenneth Heintzelman was called to be Shadow Rock’s Senior Minister, and he began with us in July 2008.