Rev. James Patrick McCracken - Senior Pastor

The Rev James Patrick McCracken was called to serve as Pastor of Park Ridge Presbyterian Church on November 1st, 2000. Jim is a life-long Presbyterian, having grown up in East St. Louis, IL and Fairview Heights, IL, and regularly attended the First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL. Almost from the beginning, he was very active in youth ministries of the church, and eventually served as an adult leader and sponsor. After his 5 year enlistment in the Navy as a computer specialist, he returned to his home church and continued to serve as a youth minister and student pastor in his home church as well as the First Presbyterian Church in Collinsville, IL.

With the GI Bill, Jim attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he earned a BS in Sociology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Psychology, He then went on to Union Theological Seminary in Virginia where he graduated in 1992 with an Masters of Divinity degree.

Jim was ordained in June 1992 in his home church in Belleville Illinois, where his mother still is a member. Jim's first ordained call was at Northbrook Presbyterian Church in Beverly Hills, MI, where he served as Associate Pastor for Youth and Families. In 1995, Jim moved to the First Presbyterian Church of Canton, IL, and served as Pastor/Head of Staff for one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in Illinois. Jim is also a trained Stephen Ministries Leader and has started a Stephen's Ministry Program here at PRPC.  Jim is also currently serving on the Chaplain's Team for the Park Ridge Police Department.

Jim has been married since October 1994 to Amy McCracken, who is a litigation attorney at Duane Morris in the loop. He believes that children cannot be considered our "future", but rather the church has a responsibility to include all of the youth and children into the life and ministries of the church.

Dr. Roger Scanlan - Director of Music

Roger recently retired from the Chicago College of Performing Arts of Roosevelt University where he had been a member of the faculty since 1968.  He served in a number of positions with the University, including Professor of Voice, Chairman of the Voice Department, Director of the Graduate Program in Vocal Pedagogy, and Assistant to the President of the University.  He was a long time member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, serving as President of the Chicago Chapter, Governor for Illinois and Program Chairman of the 1986 National Convention.  Roger is presently an adjunct member of the faculty at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Roger joined our staff as Director of Music in January, 1994.  He directs the Chancel Choir in regular worship services as well as on special occasions such as Music Sunday, Cantata Sunday, and the annual Concert of Remembrance.  He directs the Junior Choir as well in approximately seven appearances in regular worship services per year.

Amy Schaetzlein - Director of Sunday School

Our Sunday School Director, Amy Schaetzlein, has come to the position after spending multiple years educating the youth of PRPC specifically in the area of pre-school education. “Ms. Amy” as her students call her, brings a warm, energetic and vibrant approach to Sunday School and believes that our church thrives when our children are well taken care of and nurtured through their deep understanding in Christ.

Besides her work on our church staff, Amy also is a member of PRPC having joined the church in 2001. She, along with her husband Mark and daughters Maddie and Abby, value the unique opportunities that our families play in the development of our youth.

Amy graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Social Work and has experience working as a counselor for the University of Illinois.  She believes in the power of charity work having volunteered extensively for numerous hospitals, schools and homeless shelters over the years and hopes to incorporate as part of our youth’s Sunday school experience, charity and service work throughout the curriculum.

She is proud to be serving PRPC as the Sunday School Director and we hope that you will find her spirited, student-centered personality a driving force of our successful Sunday School Program.

Aaron Higashi - Director of Youth and Family Ministries

Aaron Higashi joined PRPC in September, 2011.  He grew up in Colorado where he attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and majored in Philosophy.  He fell in love with the study of biblical scripture there, and pursued biblical studies at the masters level at Providence College in Rhode Island.  Most recently, he graduated from  Chicago Theological Seminary with a second masters in theology.  Aaron is now applying for PhD programs in biblical interpretation.  Aaron is  most interested in issues of gender in the Hebrew bible, and in the field of interreligious dialog between Christians and other religious communities.

Aaron is a passionate teacher and a firm believe in religious education.  Aaron's primary task in teaching is to introduce students to religious conversations that are taking place in the community and the world at large, and give students the tools necessary to better articulate themselves.

Aaron teaches the high school bible study on Sunday mornings, adult education on Sunday mornings and some Wednesday evenings, and self-defense on Wednesday evenings.  Soon, Aaron will begin a new college bible study program which will use the teleconference program Skype to connect with PRPC college students all across America.

Church Secretary

Mary Jane Lean