The Church of the Beatitudes recently welcomed new senior minister, Rev. Dr. Anthony Thomas Minear.
Rev. Dr. Anthony Thomas Minear and his wife, Karen, recently came to Phoenix from Collinsville, Ill., so Rev. Minear could take lead at Church of the Beatitudes (submitted photo).
Minear studied theology first at Southern University of Seventh Day Adventists, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theology in 1987. Four years later, he obtained a Master’s of Divinity from Andrews University of Seventh Day Adventists. He then went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies at the University of Toronto, Canada, in 2008.
Minear served as youth pastor, full time pastor and professor of religion in churches and colleges associated with Seventh Day Adventists from 1987 to 2005. Over time, however, he found that his beliefs made a better fit with those of the United Church of Christ, so he made a change.
“I was surprised and pleased to learn and experience the freedom the UCC permits for pastors and those in the pews,” Minear said. “The motto, ‘God is still speaking’ resonates strongly with me. To be free to explore where my mind and the Spirit leads and actually have that valued by a community is refreshing.”
Minear comes to Church of the Beatitudes from St. John Evangelical UCC in Collinsville, Ill. He and his wife, Karen, have two adult daughters.
The community is invited to meet Minear during reservices, 9 a.m. Sundays at the church, 555 W. Glendale Ave.
