R. Scott Sheldon, Parish Resource Center President

The Parish Resource Center welcomed R. Scott Sheldon as President, effective January 2, 2012.  Scott joins us from San Francisco Theological Seminary, where he served as interim Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

Sheldon, who earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, returned to his alma mater from 1997-2005, serving as program director for the Center of Continuing Education and then working as director of development for four years.

Scott is an ordained Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister. Before his interim role at SFTS, Sheldon served as director of gifts and grants at D&R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, N.J., an accomplished nonprofit that has protected over 15,000 acres of land.

Sheldon’s ties to the PC(USA) and theological education run deep. His ancestors settled in southern New Jersey in the 1680s and were instrumental in founding several churches. Sheldon grew up in a new church development of the PC(USA) in which his father was the first installed pastor. Following an earlier career in architecture, Sheldon was associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Northport, N.Y., in the 1980s. After nearly a decade at Princeton, Sheldon was chief development officer at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut.

He served the Association of Theological Schools from 2002-07, providing leadership as chair of its Development and Institutional Advancement Program. He was also a key member of the PC(USA) General Assembly Mission Development Resources Committee from 1995-98 and served as its chair. Sheldon has been an active board member at Partners for Sacred Places, serving on its Development Committee and as chair of its Program Committee. With offices in Philadelphia, Chicago and Fort Worth, Partners helps congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older and historic sacred places.

Scott was executive presbyter and stated clerk of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse (1993-97) and associate executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Long Island (1989-93) in New York. He enjoys working with congregations and will be working to forge deeper relationships with our subscribers.

Please stop by the PRC to meet and talk with Scott. It would be wise to call ahead so he can set aside time for conversation.

Steve Fetrow
PRC Board Chair