Phil Wood (Philip Bertolo Wood) was first appointed as Senior Pastor on July 1, 1996. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Whittier, California, he attended Cal State Fullerton, the Iliff School of Theology (University of Denver), the Claremont School of Theology, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. First ordained in 1972, his appointments prior to Arcadia include Huntington Beach, Oxnard, Chula Vista, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, and Glendale.
His ministry has two focuses; the first is in being the pastoral partner with strong lay leadership in revitalizing this Church to be the Biblically-based center of Compassion, Generosity, and Sacrifice following the example of Jesus Christ, in this area, and the second is to spread the Good News, from lessons learned and experienced here, by every means possible to the world, which is our parish. Phil and his wife, Elsa, are the parents and step-parents of four children.
Steven J. Wilson, Associate Pastor
Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Arcadia welcomed its new Associate Pastor, the Reverend Stephen J. Wilson, on Sunday, July 4 at the Church, and was commissioned as a United Methodist minister on June 20, 2010, in Redlands, CA, Steve joined the staff at Good Shepherd on July 1. Prior to his appointment, he served as a full-time chaplain for Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles for three years, ministering to families in both English and Spanish.
Born in Peru and the son of a missionary, Steve spent his early years in Peru, Panama and the Dominican Republic before his family settled in the United States when he was 13 years old. He graduated from Temple City High School and taught English at Crescenta Valley High School for 10 years while attending Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena part-time.
Steve, his wife Nora, and their three children have been active members of Good Shepherd for the past 14 years. During this time Steve has served as a Sunday school teacher, a Stephen’s Minister Leader, and has led the church’s annual ‘Mexico Medical Mission’ for the past three years.
