Meet the Pastor
Pastor William Parrish
Pastor William Parrish began his service at Covenant United Methodist Church on November 1, 2014. He has lived a full life before coming to Covenant and has many life experiences that will help Covenant grow in Christ.
Pastor Bill is a graduate of Lehigh University and earned degrees of BA and BSIE. After college, he served in the U.S. Army and commissioned a second Lieutenant in Field Artillery. He then transitioned into the secular business world and served in a variety of leadership positions from industrial engineer to chief executive officer.
At age 36, he gave control of his life to Christ and participated in over two dozen Lay Witness Missions in seven different states with his wife, Connie. Together, they also set up and coordinated five Lay Witness Missions in churches they were attending, including one at First United Methodist Church in Schuylkill Haven two days after the church burned to the ground. He attended Lay Academy in 1985 and became a certified lay speaker (now referred to as a Christ Servant Minister). He kept this designation until becoming a licensed local pastor in July of 2011. Other leadership roles he held in his career are co-lay leader with his wife at Zion United Methodist Church, Akron, PA, chairman of Pastor Search Committee and Moderator for a Federated Church in Sturbridge, MA, Minister of Visitation for First United Methodist Church in Schuylkill Haven, PA, from 2009 to 2011, and taught weekly Bible Study with his wife for over two years at Tower South in Schuylkill Haven, PA.
Pastor Bill was appointed as Pastor of Salem United Methodist Church in Shoemakersville, PA, on July 1, 2011. During his time at Salem, he helped build the church through his various projects, receiving of members, help with improving the accessibility of the church to all members, and bringing the church into the technology age with web sites and social media.
Covenant United Methodist Church is excited to have Pastor Bill at the pulpit. We are anxious to see what God has sent to us and how his gifts will help enhance our congregation and community.
