Rev. Dr. Phil Covert retired United Methodist Pastor was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from James Caldwell High School, Drew University with a BA degree in Economics, Methodist Theological School of Ohio with a Master of Divinity Degree and from Drew University with a Doctor of Ministry degree. While at Drew, as an undergraduate, he attended the London School of Economics minoring in the International Monetary Fund. In 1968, he was ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church. Additional education included 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education.

Dr Covert served in the United States Naval Reserves as a Chaplain to the Reserve Mobile Seabees Battalion 19 for 14 years retiring with the rank of LCDR. He also was a hospital chaplain at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ and at St. Francis Hospice, Colorado Springs.

Dr. Covert has served churches in Ohio, New Jersey, Iowa, Colorado, Utah, and Pennsylvania. He was trained as a New World Missioner, New Life Missioner, Key Event Herald by the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. He has consulted, preached, and taught throughout the United States, Fiji, Kenya, England, Ireland, and Russia. While in Russia, he, twice, was the Conference speaker and teacher at the Northwest Conference of the Eurasia Methodist Church. He helped to start new churches in Novgorod and Archangels, Russia and led continuing education events for both lay and clergy. He and his wife, Sue, were missionaries to Haiti in the summers of 1970, 1971 and 1972 working at Grace Children’s Hospital. While a pastor at Grace United Methodist Church, Davenport, Iowa, he taught a course, “Holistic Health,” at the Quad-Cities Communiversity.

He chaired the Northern New Jersey Conference Board of Evangelism; served on the Northeast Jurisdiction Board of Evangelism. While serving in Iowa he led the Spencer District New Life Mission Emphasis. In Colorado he served on the Conference Board of Stewards as Director of Church Redevelopment. He chaired the Board of Trustees for the Samaritan Counseling Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado. For 12 years in the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, he served as a member of the Conference Response Team, helping churches recover and heal from leadership infidelities and unethical practices. Currently, he is the Chairperson for the governing Board of the Evangelical Environment Network, a Christian advocacy ministry focusing on Creation and climate care.

Dr. Covert is married to Sue. They have 3 children, Tim, Andy, and Kris and 9 grandchildren and two great-grandsons. They currently live in York, Pennsylvania.