LEADERSHIP

WHO'S PASTORING THIS CHURCH?

Roy Bennett is a third-generation Californian with a colorful athletic resume throughout high school and college. He traveled extensively in the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains in his twenties and came to faith in Christ from a ‘new age' background in 1980. Roy met and married Norma, a native Canadian, while preparing for missionary service to the Fiji Islands. Roy was further educated and ordained in Western Canada and served two Evangelical Free churches in Victoria, British Columbia and Lethbridge, Alberta before returning to the United States ten years later. Roy is a graduate of Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He has served as a consultant for R. C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries and is an ordained Teaching Elder of the Presbyterian Church in America. In 1997 Roy was commissioned by St. Paul's Church in Winter Park to establish a mission church in Santa Cruz, California. Four years later He was called to southern California to organize Christ Church Ojai. In January 2006, a second site was established for Christ Church in the City of Ventura where a worshiping community is developing under Roy's leadership. Roy and Norma live in Ojai and have two teenage daughters, Megan and Bronwyn.

Robert Glass is an engineering manager who has been in Southern California since 2003. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University . He has been married to Debbie for 19 years and has 2 teenage children, Kaitlyn and Jamie. Debbie is a personal trainer and coaches high school cross country and track. She also runs and trains others to compete in marathons. The Glasses have been members of the PCA denomination since 1997. Robert was ordained as a Deacon at Hickory Grove Presbyterian Church in Mt. Juliet , Tennessee in 2000. When relocating to west of the Mississippi , Debbie and Robert were commissioned by their church as missionaries to California . After arriving, they connected with Christ Church Ojai and quickly became friends with Roy and Norma, with whom they have worked closely to establish the second worship site in Ventura . Robert was ordained as an Elder in 2006 and is currently the Clerk of Session for Christ Church Ventura. Debbie is the PresWIC president for the Pacific Presbytery.

Roger Phelps was born and raised in California. He has lived and worked in Ojai as an Optometrist for the past 30 years. He is married to Marcia and they have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. He first joined the PCA at the Church Plant in Santa Barbara where he served as Ruling Elder until the particularization of Christ Church Ventura when he transferred to this local session. Roger has been a long time associate member of the Evangelical Theological Society, and has served as Moderator of our local Pacific Presbytery. He currently serves on our Presbytery's Candidates and Credentials committee. In other interests, he is an adjunct assistant clinical Professor of Optometry, and lectures nationally and internationally as a Certified Diabetes Educator on the prevention of blindness from diabetes. For fun Roger enjoys the ocean in scuba diving and lots of fishing. He is also a disc jockey, and occasionally does sound and lighting for a local rock band, as well as public events.

Eric Halvorson grew up in Wisconsin. He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Bob Jones University and received his J.D. degree from Duke University School of Law. He began his career as a certified public accountant and practiced corporate law for twelve years. In 1985 Eric moved to California to work with Salem Communications, a diversified media company targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content.
After leaving Salem Communications in 2000, Eric was Executive in Residence at Pepperdine University for five years, where he taught courses in the undergraduate business division and the Pepperdine School of Law. Eric also served for two years as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Thomas Kinkade Company. He rejoined Salem Communications in 2007 as President and Chief Operating Officer. Eric is an avid reader and golfer. He and his wife Dianne have been married for 37 years and live in Camarillo, close to their two married daughters and one grandson (hopefully there will be many more).