The Ministries Office is pleased to announce that the Revd Dr Phil Wall has been appointed as Head of Ministries Learning and Development for the United Reformed Church.
Phil brings to this appointment a breadth of experience shaped by pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, education and theological reflection, together with a deep commitment to the formation of disciples and the renewing of ministry in changing contexts.
Before entering ordained ministry, Phil worked in a number of settings that reflect both pastoral sensitivity and educational depth, including as a Childline counsellor, apprentice psychotherapist and secondary school teacher. His preparation for ordained ministry included doctoral study, with a PhD exploring theology and teaching within fresh expressions of church, a focus that continues to inform his understanding of how the Church learns, adapts and bears faithful witness in contemporary society.
Following ordination, Phil served for eight years in pastoral ministry in the valleys of South Wales, where he exercised a grounded and relational ministry shaped by local church life, community presence and pastoral care. More recently, he has served as a chaplain in Milton Keynes with young people aged 12–18 in a young offenders setting, ministering among those whose lives are often marked by vulnerability, exclusion and complexity.
Alongside his ministerial work, Phil is a foster carer, an avid film watcher and an occasional runner. Across these varied contexts, he has demonstrated a sustained concern for those at the margins, for thoughtful discipleship, and for the way learning can equip the Church for faithful ministry in demanding times.
Speaking about his appointment, Phil said: “While I will miss my chaplaincy work with young people, I’m looking forward to this next challenge and pray that, with the grace of God, I will wrestle with the complexities of ministry today with compassion, honesty, and hope.”
The Revd Nicola Furley-Smith, Deputy General Secretary (Ministries), said: “What particularly impressed me during the appointment process was Phil’s clear understanding of the needs of the denomination as we look to the future. He demonstrated both theological depth and practical imagination in thinking about how ministry formation in all its breadth must now hold together flexibility, academic rigour, lifelong learning and accessibility, recognising that the future health of the Church depends upon a learning culture that is coherent, courageous and deeply rooted in discipleship.”
She added: “Phil brings a combination of pastoral maturity, educational credibility and strategic understanding that will serve the Church well as we continue to reshape how learning and development support the whole people of God in ministry.”
In his new role, Phil will lead the United Reformed Church’s work in learning and development for accredited, commissioned and ordained ministries, helping to ensure that formation pathways remain accessible, coherent and responsive to the changing needs of the Church.
The appointment comes at a significant time as the denomination continues to reflect on the future of ministry, theological education and lifelong formation, seeking ways to sustain both depth and adaptability in its ministerial life.
The Ministries Office warmly welcomes Phil to this important role and looks forward to the wisdom, creativity and theological care he will bring to this next chapter of the Church’s shared life.