Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman

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,​​ ​and has served churches in Texas, Georgia, and California. Prior to coming to UCC, 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​ loves speaking with people about the heart-waking, soul-changing God who is capable of turning their lives inside out and the world upside down!

Russ​ is​ ​married ​to​ ​Kelli,​ ​his best friend of over 40 years, and together they have ​ ​a​ ​blended​ ​family​ ​of​ ​four—twins​ ​Jake​ ​and​ ​Ella,​ ​Abigail,​ ​Caroline​,​ ​and​ ​family​ ​dog,​ ​Poppy.​ ​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!