September 4 Today in OPC History

Stephen and Jeanne Phillips were married on this day in 1965. Stephen is the eldest son of the late Orthodox Presbyterian pastor Henry Phillips, Jr., and his wife Phyllis. Steve and Jeanne met while both were in concert band at Wheaton College. He graduated from Wheaton (1963), earned his masters of divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary (1966), and was ordained as an OP pastor--all just like his father before him. Steve and Jeanne’s third son, David, also was ordained as an OPC minister in 2005.

After seminary in 1966, Steve assisted the Stratford OP Church in Stratford, New Jersey, then was ordained and installed as their pastor in March 10, 1967. In 1976, Steve and Jeanne moved to Rochester, New York, where he served as pastor of Memorial OPC for the next twenty-four years. In 2000, Steve became chaplain at the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community where numerous OP pastors, their wives, and other members reside in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. He retired in 2017.

Steve’s denominational service includes a dozen years as a member and president of the Trustees of the OPC, president of the Committee on Coordination, moderator of the 59th General Assembly (1992), and assistant clerk of the GA for over twenty years. He also served on the Committee to Expedite General Assembly Business which set the standard rules for how to handle advisory committees. At the end of some assemblies, Steve’s wit is appreciated when he sings his hand-written ditties about the General Assembly, including crooning a revised version of “Danny Boy” when Danny Olinger was moderator.

Using her own writing skills, Jeanne wrote many biographies for the Presbyterial Times of the New Jersey OPC. Jeanne also has shared her musical gifts as an organist whenever needed. They enjoy spending time with their three sons, two of whom are married, and their four grandchildren.

Picture: From left to right, Henry and Phyllis Phillips, Stephen and Jeanne Phillips, and Jennie and Herman Lutz.