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Our new pastor will preach his first sermon at Spring Woods on June 10, 2007, and we are looking forward to hearing his message. He comes to us from Westbury United Methodist. Here is some biographical information to help you become further acquainted with him.
Married: Cheryl White Phillips
Children: James D. Phillips, Jr.
Born: April 26, 1945—Houston, Texas
Education:
Brite Divinity School-TCU Doctor of Ministry—1974
University of Texas at Arlington-Master of Arts—1972
Perkins School of Theology-SMU Master of Theology—1970
Huston-Tillotson College, Bachelor of Arts—1967
Current Commitments:
Southwest Ministerial Association
Westbury Improvement Corporation, Advisory Board
Ministerial Advisory Board to the Mayor of the City of Houston
Appointments:
Westbury UMC, Houston, Texas 1996 to present
Aldersgate UMC, Arlington, Texas 1991 to 1996
St. Andrew UMC, Killeen, Texas 1987 to 1991
Professor of Sociology, 1977-1987
Tarrant County, Jr. College, Fort Worth, Texas
Eastwood UMC, Fort Worth, Texas 1971 to 1975
Dr. Phillips has served as a delegate (Central Texas) to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, and the General Conference in 1995. Westbury UMC is his third cross-racial appointment. Westbury continues to grow as one of the most diverse churches in the world representing some 25 cultures. Its membership of 1700 has over 500 attending worship each week. The budget has grown from $641,000 (with an additional budget for the Day School of $277,350) in 1996 to $1,114,538.00 (with an additional Day School budget of $643,980) for 2005.
Dr. Phillips sees four major issues facing today’s church:
1) How to maintain an effective connectional church while affirming unique congregational ministries
2) How to grow diverse congregations while focusing on making and keeping Christian disciples, not being distracted by social and political issues nor personal idiosyncrasies
3) How to strengthen the connection between the local church and the general church
4) How to support the General Board of Global Missions to put their faith in God on Jericho Road to help others in need instead of trusting financial institutions on Wall Street to sustain the Church’s ministry
Dr. Phillips says he doesn’t have any dominant hobbies. He enjoys riding his bicycle, listening to all types of music from classical to jazz to gospel, reading and spending time with his family. |
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