The Presbyterian Church in Westfield Welcomes New Senior Pastor
“For me, that means meeting people where they are — not just as ‘church members,’ but as people — and being open to questions and doubts.”
Rev. Dr. Aaron Shepherd
The Presbyterian Church in Westfield (PCW) is pleased to announce the arrival of Rev. Dr. Aaron Shepherd as its 21st Senior Pastor. Shepherd begins his ministry at PCW as the historic congregation looks ahead to its 300th anniversary.
A lifelong Presbyterian and member of a family with generations of Presbyterian clergy, Shepherd was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 2019. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Emory University and has spent the past six years serving as Settled Pastor and Head of Staff at Union Congregational Church in Walpole, Massachusetts. He has also taught Philosophy and Religion at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Shepherd is the author of Challenging the New Atheism, published by Routledge in 2021. His academic background reflects his interest in engaging thoughtfully with questions of faith, doubt, philosophy and the role of the church in contemporary life.
“I believe it is the role of the pastor, first and foremost, to ‘equip the saints for ministry, for building up the body of Christ,’” Shepherd said. “For me, that means meeting people where they are, getting to know them not just as ‘church members,’ but as people, being
open to questions and doubts, and providing thoughtful interpretations of the Word of God and the living tradition of our faith for our time and place.”
Shepherd and his wife, Whitney, met while attending a Presbyterian Campus Ministry dinner at the University of Oregon. They have four children and are looking forward to becoming part of the Westfield community.
Beyond his academic and pastoral work, Shepherd brings a variety of interests and unexpected talents to his new role. He is a trained classical pianist, enjoys website design, and coaches his children’s soccer and baseball teams. He also once served as a volunteer shark wrangler — a fun fact that is sure to be a great conversation starter!