About Our Pastor - Rev. Dr. Phillippa Phaneuf
Rev. Dr. Phillippa Faye Phaneuf Is an ordained Elder in the Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. Following graduation from East Syracuse-Minoa High School and saying goodbye to her high school sweetheart, Liz, she began her musical education studies with an emphasis on vocal performance at Houghton University (A Wesleyan Methodist School in upstate NY). Pursuing ministry efforts more than music teaching,
“Phil” transferred and completed her BA in Religion/Philosophy at Roberts Wesleyan University (A Free Methodist School in Rochester, NY). Experiencing some reversals in life, Phil moved away from pursuing the pastoral call within fundamentalist evangelicalism and instead moved toward a teaching degree, which she completed as an MS in Education from the University of Rochester.
With the education degree, Phillippa delved into the world of teaching adults how to work with the latest office and graphic design apps as both an Adobe Certified Expert and Microsoft Office User Specialist.
The call to serve in ministry within the United Methodist Church began in 2006 as a youth pastor at Asbury First UMC in Rochester, NY. Immediately beginning seminary at the same time, Phil completed her M.Div. at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in 2010 as well as being commissioned as a candidate for ordination as an Elder.
Her love for continuing education drove her to beginning Doctor of Ministry Studies at Northeastern Seminary immediately following the M.Div. Her dissertation on hybrid discipleship models helped to earn her the D.Min. degree in 2018.
Phillippa was ordained in 2018 as well. Rev. Dr. Phaneuf (fa-nuff) is currently serving in her 7th year as the pastor of North Chili UMC (next door to Roberts Wesleyan University), in Rochester, NY.
Phil is a diehard Phillies Phanatic and Eagles fan as well (Phil used to live in Delaware, near Philly), loves jokes, eclectic taste in music, and dabbles in Celtic calligraphy and the Irish flute/whistle.
