Personal

Family:

I’ve been happily married for 48 years. We have a son and daughter who are both married. Thanks to their combined family efforts we have seven grandchildren.

Education:

Bachelor of Science: Olivet Nazarene University; Kankakee, IL
Master of Divinity (Cum Laude): Nazarene Theological Seminary; Kansas City, MO.
Doctor of Ministry: Grace Theological Seminary; Winona Lake, IN.

Ministry

I’ve invested nearly 40 years of my life serving successfully as a lead pastor in churches located in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

Towards the end of my ministry career I spent seven years serving as a professional interim pastor providing assistance to people and churches in transition. In that role I’ve served in Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, and New Jersey, Alaska, and Ohio.

I also consider photography to be one of the great joys of my life. Check out my photography page HERE.

I have served as a contributing writer for the Huffington Post, The Good Men Project, and as a featured contributor on Sixty and Me.

In July 2016 my book Tom’s List: 50 Commandments to Transform Your Life became published. It is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and select bookstores.

In 2022 I was put on a church trial for “teaching doctrine contrary to the Church of the Nazarene.” The charges resulted from an article I published on this website about changing my mind regarding the LGBTQ+ community. I felt that they should be fully affirmed by the church. The trial failed to reach a “guilty” verdict and I am still an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene.

Play

I like to work but I also like to play. My hobbies include: book binding, collecting rare books illustrated by Gustave Dore, and selling books on eBay. See? I’m a real person!