Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman

Senior Minister

Russ began as the Senior Minister of University Christian Church on the first Sunday in Advent in 2017.

Russ’s​ ​education​ ​includes​ ​receiving​ ​his​ ​Bachelor​ ​of​ ​Arts​ ​degre​e​ ​f​rom​ ​our​ ​neighboring​ ​Texas​ ​Christian University​ ​(1990),​ ​​Master​ ​of​ ​Divinity​ ​degree​ ​from​ ​San​ ​Francisco​ ​Theological​ ​Seminary​ ​(1994),​ ​and Doctor​ ​of​ ​Ministry​ ​from​ ​Columbia​ ​Theological​ ​Seminary​ ​(2004).

Russ​ ​was​ ​ordained​ ​in​ ​199​5,​​ ​after​ ​serving​ ​as​ ​the seminary​ ​intern​ ​at​ ​Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian​ ​Church​ ​of​ ​Lafayette,​ ​California​ ​(1991–1995).​ ​​He​ ​returned​ ​to​ ​Texas​ ​and​ ​served​ ​at​ ​Highlands Christian​ ​Church​ ​of​ ​Dallas,​ ​Texas,​ ​​as​ ​the​ ​Minister​ ​of​ ​Education​ ​and​ ​Youth​ ​(1995–1996).​ ​Russ​ ​then accepted​ ​a​ ​call​ ​as​ ​Associate​ ​Minister​ ​at​ ​Sandy​ ​Springs​ ​Christian​ ​Church​ ​of​ ​Atlanta,​ ​Georgia​ ​(1996–2005). He served​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Senior​ ​Minister​ ​to​ ​First​ ​Christian​ ​Church​ ​of​ ​Concord,​ ​CA (2005–2017),​ ​​the​ ​church​ ​where​ ​he​ ​was​ ​baptized​ ​as​ ​a​ ​youth.

Russ​ ​focuses​ ​his​ ​ministry​ ​on​ ​preaching​ ​and​ ​has​ ​taught​ ​a​ ​homiletics​ ​​course​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Pacific​ ​School​ ​of Religion​ ​in​ ​Berkeley,​ ​California.​ ​He​ ​currently​ ​serves​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Administrative​ ​Committee​ ​of​ ​the​ ​General Board​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Christian​ ​Church​ ​(DOC). Locally, he’s a part of the Compassionate Fort Worth task force and on the Faith Based Workgroup of Read Fort Worth.

Russ​ is​ ​married ​to​ ​Kelli,​ ​with​ ​a​ ​blended​ ​family​ ​of​ ​four—twins​ ​Jake​ ​and​ ​Ella,​ ​Abigail,​ ​Caroline​,​ ​and​ ​family​ ​dog,​ ​Bella.​ ​Beyond​ ​his​ ​commitment​ ​to​ ​ministry,​ ​Russ​ ​is​ ​an​ ​avid​ ​runner, cyclist​,​​ ​and​ ​swimmer.​ ​In addition to finishing 8 marathons and dozens of half marathons, Russ​ has competed​ ​in​ ​triathlons​ and completed an ​Ironman​ ​​in​ ​2016​​​.​ ​He​ ​also​ ​enjoys​ ​yoga,​ ​golf,​​ ​and​ ​being​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​​overall​ ​fitness.​ ​Last​ ​but​ ​not least,​ ​Russ​ ​is​ ​an​ ​avid​ ​TCU​ ​Horned​ ​Frog​ ​fan!