UU Principals and Purposes have guided Phil in his work as a teacher, counselor, community organizer, and minister.

After graduating from Thomas Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA in 1989, Rev. Schulman began community ministry. Phil led support groups, spirituality classes and workshops at conferences throughout the U.S. and in cities in Canada and Europe.  In 98 under the auspices of the Mental Health Association in Essex Co., NY, he created the "Crisis Alternatives Program," a hospital diversion program that serves people in crisis by providing peer support alternatives.  The program was designed to end the use of force and violence in the county's mental health crisis response.

In 2001, Phil began parish ministry.  He has served the Lakeland UU Fellowship in NJ and the St. John UU Fellowship in the USVI. In 2004, he began serving CUUC in San Antonio. While there he founded the 10 Tree Challenge.  Many UU congregations have taken or surpassed the challenge- resulting in some 4000 trees planted. In the process, UUs have spread hope, and creatively expressed our spirituality. If you are a member of another UU congregation, take this challenge with you.

In April of 09, Phil began serving our congregation as Consulting Minister.  His efforts are intended to help us thrive as individuals and as a congregation. Phil leads study/ practice groups in Compassionate Conversations. (see sidebar) Additionally, Phil is licensed in TX as a Massage Therapist, specializing in trigger point and deep tissue massage. Phil also enjoys working with couples to plan weddings that reflect and express their values.

Do you have an open mind and a generous spirit for religious matters? Are you willing to learn from many sources as you grow in self-acceptance and expand your faith? Are you willing to commit energy to self-actualization? to learn to live out chosen values rather than mindlessly acting out habits and conditioned responses? Are you willing to take responsibility for your belief system, your spirituality, your happiness and your engagement of this world?  If yes, we think you will enjoy and appreciate our minister.  

Says Phil "One reason I'm enthusiastic about UU congregations in the 21st century, is that we are inviting members and friends into a spirituality that asks us to do inner and outer work simultaneously. We are emphasizing personal spiritual growth AS we strive to make the world a better place. "

NWCUUC is proud to have him with us. Join him and us for services, classes and other activities designed to bring UU spirituality to life in NW Houston.                         Email Pastor Phil minister@nwcuuc.org.