About Rev. Phil
Rev. Phil Has Been Married for 40 Years
At the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, he was a political science major. It was there that he met Jesus, met the woman who would become his wife, and first had the desire to be a pastor.
When they were engaged, he was not yet a minister. He spent all of 10 minutes helping his then fiancé plan out the ceremony. “Yes, dear” or “Whatever.” Pam is now insanely jealous that he spends hours helping couples plan their ceremony.
In June of 1984, he married the love of his life and his best friend (which is still true) — Pamela. They got married on a hot day in an un-air-conditioned church in Antioch. The reception was at her parents’ huge back yard near Fox Lake.
When you Zoom with Rev. Phil, he will show you a photo from their wedding.
Now, Phil and Pam’s favorite activity is conversation and wine outside (in their small backyard or front porch) or in front of the gas fireplace. (Did you know that Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine – at a wedding?!)
In this photo, Pam is holding a Madison James Flyaway Stick. To Phil and Pam, it is the scent of summer – and keeps mosquitoes at bay.
Rev. Phil enjoys:
- reading two newspapers a day on his iPad – the N.Y. Times and Chicago Tribune
- outdoor concerts at the Chicago Botanic Garden
- watching the Bears
- watching all the movies nominated for Oscars
- being very involved in their church.
What were his parents thinking? If you combine his names, “Phil” and “Landers” you get “philander” which Merriam-Webster dictionary defines as “to be sexually unfaithful to one’s wife” — an adulterer. He has been faithful to his wife all these years. But it is an ironic name for a wedding minister, isn’t it? (He was named after his two grandfathers — one was Philip and the other was John.)
Rev. Phil is a Real Minister
Rev. Phil is a 3rd generation minister – like his grandfather (Phil) and dad.
He has a Master of Divinity degree – a 4 year, post-college, professional degree – from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. He earned it in 1990.
He was a pastor. Now all he does is weddings. He has married over 1300 couples!
Your ceremony will be as religious (or not) as YOU want it to be. Rev. Phil wants your wedding to reflect you, not him. The complete script in advance will prove that to be true.
To know more about his faith, check out the website Peace With God.
‘Meet’ Rev. Phil for a FREE unhurried consultation. He will take time to get to know you.
You will get an email with dates to Zoom.
If he is not available, he will refer you someone on his team who is.
If Style #3 might be for you, then he will get and share the beginning of your love story when you ‘meet’! No other officiant does that.
