It is with great joy that I announce that the Rev. Craig Peterson has been called to serve as Associate Conference Minister for Congregation Development for the Central Atlantic Conference. In this call, Pastor Craig, as he prefers to be called, will provide Search and Call assistance for churches in pastoral transition in New Jersey, Delaware, and Northeast MD, and provide Conference Staff support for the Commissions and the governing Council of the New Jersey Association. He will work with churches and Associations across the Conference to provide resources, training, and assistance in Congregational Development.
Craig currently serves as Senior Pastor of Woodland Hills in Woodland Hills CA. He previously served as Pastor at Mountain View United Church in Aurora CO. He is a graduate of the Iliff School of Theology and has completed a portion of Doctoral work at the Pacific School of Religion. Raised in the United Methodist Church, Craig’s first call was with a church affiliated with that denomination, the Presbyterian Church USA, and the UCC. So as many in our denomination, he comes from a variety of faith traditions. Craig has also served as Moderator of the Metro Denver Association of the Rocky Mountain Conference, and currently serves on the Committee on Ministry of the Central Association of the Southern California Nevada Conference.
Craig was born in Deer Park, WA. He was the youngest of four. He started playing the piano in the fifth grade, and music was his entry into ministry as he started playing for his small church just months after beginning piano lessons. Craig’s first career was in the field of education. He also spent a good deal of time volunteering as a community activist on his path to ministry.
One of Craig’s greatest passions is working to help expressions of church look more like the communities in which they are located. He has a gift for working with diverse communities and helping them bridge their differences. Craig is also a gifted pastoral counselor.
In his free time, Craig loves stimulating conversation with friends over coffee, writing, playing the piano, watching a Houston pro or college game, and spending time with dogs (though he recently lost his rescue black lab, Max).
We hope that Craig will be joining us for the Annual Meeting in October and will begin officially with us in November.
Please join me in welcoming Craig to the Central Atlantic Conference!
