Phil Waite Pastoral Team Leader   As a history and peace studies student at George Fox College in Oregon, Phil “began to see the disconnect between things Christians taught about Jesus and the ways Chris­tians live their lives, especially regarding the teachings of Scripture on issues of peace and justice.” As an adult, Phil discovered peace church traditions, becoming a first-generation Mennonite. He says, “What attracted me to Menno­nites was the emphasis on the teachings of Jesus and their relevance for how we live our lives today.”

Of his call to pastoral ministry, he says, “My call is rooted in a love for God and the church and is nurtured by the Scripture. I have a deep sense of encounter with God when I read the Bible, and my sense of call is sustained by a desire to share the God I find there with others.” Phil received a master of divinity degree from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and a doctorate of ministry in preaching from Chicago Theological Seminary. Phil recognizes the uniqueness of the pastoral team leader model at CMC. Of the team leader role, he says, “I under­stand this role to be a shared model of leadership where pastors work together on the various tasks of ministry. The role of the team leader is to equip and lead.” He adds, “I understand that the Pastoral Team Leader needs to help lay and pastoral leadership, as well as the congre­gation at large, experience clarity about goals, mission, and purpose of the con­gregation.”

As a history and peace studies student at George Fox College in Oregon, Phil “began to see the disconnect between things Christians taught about Jesus and the ways Chris­tians live their lives, especially regarding the teachings of Scripture on issues of peace and justice.” As an adult, Phil discovered peace church traditions, becoming a first-generation Mennonite. He says, “What attracted me to Menno­nites was the emphasis on the teachings of Jesus and their relevance for how we live our lives today.”

Of his call to pastoral ministry, he says, “My call is rooted in a love for God and the church and is nurtured by the Scripture. I have a deep sense of encounter with God when I read the Bible, and my sense of call is sustained by a desire to share the God I find there with others.”

Phil received a master of divinity degree from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and a doctorate of ministry in preaching from Chicago Theological Seminary.

Phil recognizes the uniqueness of the pastoral team leader model at CMC. Of the team leader role, he says, “I under­stand this role to be a shared model of leadership where pastors work together on the various tasks of ministry. The role of the team leader is to equip and lead.” He adds, “I understand that the Pastoral Team Leader needs to help lay and pastoral leadership, as well as the congre­gation at large, experience clarity about goals, mission, and purpose of the con­gregation.”