Getting to know… Eric Heinekamp

We’re getting to know presbytery leaders from around the synod.  This month, meet Eric Heinekamp! He fills a lot of roles in Blackhawk Presbytery.

Tell us about your current call.

My current call is to Blackhawk Presbytery as Transformational General Presbyter and Stated Clerk.  It’s two jobs combined, and they work well together. I’ve been in this role for nearly 3 years. I previously served part-time as a pastor for one of the churches in Blackhawk and part-time as Treasurer for Presbytery of Chicago (and for a short stint, part-time as Associate Clerk for Blackhawk). I’m also serving part-time as Treasurer for Blackhawk until we find someone to do that work. I like having lots of plates spinning at one time.

The work I do is always interesting because no two days are the same. Some of my work is on presbytery matters like planning assembly gatherings or attending committee meetings. Much of my time is spent coaching our 68 congregations on strategic matters, connecting churches and pastors, and providing guidance on all sorts of topics. I appreciate the opportunity to preach regularly and really enjoy leading training sessions and events that inspire and bring church leaders together.

Where are you seeing innovation and hope for the church?

I am a second career pastor and many of my previous jobs were in product development and business innovation. A core theme of dynamic innovation is moving past the tendency to simply improve what we currently have or do. True innovation is creating something no one has done before. Innovation rarely happens by accident and I believe we need to be intentional in finding new ways to be church and share our faith. We need to experiment and learn to fail. The pandemic challenged many churches to step out of their comfort zone — and that is good.

What’s a resource that you’ve discovered that you’d like to recommend to stated clerks and other presbytery leaders?

There is such a wealth of resources available on the PC(USA) website (even if it is hard to navigate) and the websites of presbyteries in the synod and across the country. I recently finished a series of 5 books by Andrew Root on the future of the church in the secular age. Books like these introduce fresh observations on where the broader church might be going.

What do you like to do outside of work and church?

I stay busy with big remodeling adventures around the house. The current project is gutting and rebuilding a master bathroom which means lots of trips to the hardware stores. I’ve been married to Patty, my high school sweetheart, for 43 years and we are fortunate to see our 3 adult children and 5 grand kids regularly. We love good music from “back in the day” and just saw the band Chicago for the 3^rd time. I’m always reading at least 3 books simultaneously (especially spy novels and biographies) and I always have a jigsaw puzzle in progress. My newest interest is Tai Chi, which I do almost daily.

What are your plans for the summer?

My wife has had some significant health challenges over the past 18 months so we have stayed close to home. She is doing much better so we are taking a relaxing vacation to northern Michigan in July and more time away in the fall.