A Church in Airline Park Since 1955
Parkway Presbyterian Church has stood on Camphor Street in Metairie's Airline Park neighborhood since 1955, proclaiming its calling in a single line: "Loving God and Caring for Our Neighbors." Generations of families have walked into the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, and the congregation has stayed rooted in the same Jefferson Parish community for more than seven decades.
The congregation describes its identity plainly: "a congregation of God's people seeking to be transformed by the Holy Spirit as we minister to our members and our community." Members journey together through individual faith walks, "rejoicing in the diversity of ages and backgrounds, reaching out to share the Good News of Christ with others." Three hungers shape everything the congregation does - growth in love of God, growth in love of neighbor, and growth in love of self as a way of building one another up in Christ.
Sunday Mornings from Sunday School to Potluck
Worship is the rhythm of the week, and Parkway schedules it around three Sunday morning touchpoints. Adult Sunday School runs from 9:30 to 10:15 am, followed by worship at 10:30 am, with fellowship and hospitality stretching from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm.
Inside the service, expect a wide range of expressions. Parkway worship draws from two millennia of Christian tradition, "from formal chanting of the psalms to children's sermons, skits, and special musical offerings," all grounded in the Reformed tradition. The atmosphere is open: "You can feel free to come as you are, or you can dress to the nines - here at Parkway, we care far more about what's on the inside than what we see on the outside!"
Children are built into every service. A Children's Time is part of the 10:30 am worship, and elementary-aged children may stay with their parents or move to Children's Church, where they discuss the lectionary scripture for that Sunday. Childcare is provided for children five and younger.
Traditional Roots, Contemporary Openness
Parkway is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), part of a tradition that traces back to the Protestant Reformation and leaders such as John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and John Knox. The denomination's heritage shapes the church's worship and its commitment to thoughtful engagement with the world.
Parkway's core values give the congregation its everyday vocabulary: Prayer, Respect, Compassion, Integrity, and Nurture. Its bedrock beliefs return the community to its center in times of stress: "God always hears our prayers," "God's grace is made real for us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ," and "God always guides and strengthens us through the Bible and the Holy Spirit."
Parkway also makes clear it does not claim a monopoly on following Jesus. The church describes itself as "a connectional church, connected first to other Presbyterian churches but ultimately to every church that confesses Jesus Christ as Lord" and aims to work with fellow Christians "around the world for the Kingdom of God."
A Music Ministry Built for Generations
Music has long been central to Parkway's identity. The program is led by Dr. Dale Norris, a pianist of five decades who has spent more than thirty years as a church musician and choral director alongside an academic career in music education. His conducting résumé spans Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi's Gloria, Schubert's Mass in G, and Bach's Wachet Auf (Cantata No. 140), and he brings that depth to Sunday mornings.
The sanctuary houses a Kimball grand piano and an organ, both of which support the congregation's worship. Photographs record Dr. Norris performing on the new grand piano and the combined Parkway and John Calvin choir singing together at a shared service.
Hands and Feet Across New Orleans
Parkway names mission as "at the heart of our lives as Christians." The church supports ministries and initiatives in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, including partnerships that reach into New Orleans neighborhoods most affected by poverty and displacement.
Three flagship partnerships anchor the outreach:
- Program of Hope, a ministry developed out of First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans, gathers food, clothing, toiletries, and other essentials for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in New Orleans.
- Okra Abbey, a food and urban farming ministry in the Pigeon Town neighborhood, provides fresh produce through community gardening, a weekly Wednesday meal, and time for coffee and conversation.
- The Labyrinth Cafe, a pay-what-you-can coffee shop and cafe near Tulane and Loyola Universities, hosts Sunday worship and a light supper and relies on congregations like Parkway for meals and resources. It is a joint mission of the United Methodist Church and the PC(USA).
Parkway also lives out its call closer to home. Each Advent, the church runs an Angel Tree Gift Drive with local school administrators to provide Christmas gifts to families in need. A Free Little Pantry on the church grounds is a partnership with local Girl Scouts to keep neighbors fed. Parkway also supports local students through backpack-supply drives and hosts twelve-step, recovery, and support groups seven days a week, 365 days a year in its building. Through it all, Parkway points neighbors to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the PC(USA)'s denominational agency, when broader relief is needed.
Hospitality Around the Table
Food sits at the center of Parkway's community life. Members describe it plainly: "Just as Jesus gathered with his followers around the table, folks at Parkway love to gather with one another, share in the bounty of God's creation, and enjoy times of fellowship, faith-building, and fun."
Sunday fellowship runs from 11:45 am to 12:15 pm after worship. The church holds a monthly combined birthday celebration, and on fifth Sundays the table stretches into "incredible potlucks."
A Building for the Community
Parkway's building is open well beyond Sundays. The Fellowship Hall accommodates 100 guests for parties, fundraisers, receptions, reunions, meetings, and seminars, with an attached kitchen available to rent. The Sanctuary holds up to 300 guests and hosts weddings, funeral services, and concerts. Ample parking is available in the lot off Condon Street, with limited street parking nearby, and mobility assistance devices are on hand so people of all abilities can gather.
Giving is available online through the church's Realm giving page. The office can be reached at (504) 733-1644 or parkwaysecretary4@gmail.com, and the congregation's Facebook group carries the freshest updates.