Dr. Farmer was licensed to ministry in 1972. On the advice of a chaplain, he explored helping professions and found Social Work. He has practiced that profession for 48 years. After becoming a Spiritual Director, he felt the call to return to ministry and retired from a local university in July of 2024. In the early Fall of 2024 he received a call to be the Interim pastor of McCary’s Chapel UMC and then was asked to become the pastor in March of 2025.
I grew up in San Antonio and then went off to Waco to attend Baylor University. The rest, is noted above, I became a social worker, received advanced degrees in that field and worked in every part of the social work profession. I am a national HIV /AIDS educator and ran a fedaraly qualified health center. Across all of the years, from San Antonio until now, my heart has called me to be a contemplative. I am also a Lay Cistercian of the Abbey of Gethsemani and lead one of their communities. Being a United Methodist is important to me because of the social gospel and community values that John Wesley taught. All of these things aside, what matters most is that I am deeply honored to be the pastor here at McCary’s Chapel. and do my best to present the gospel as the source of profound grace and peace. I believe we are called to be community and to hold each other in love and grace."
Dr. Phil
