Phillips Names the Rev. Trista Soendker Nicholson as Center for Religion in Public Life Interim Executive Director
The Rev. Trista Soendker Nicholson
Phillips Theological Seminary welcomes the Rev. Trista Soendker Nicholson as interim executive director of the Center for Religion in Public Life. She will begin her two-year term on January 1, 2026.
Soendker Nicholson, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and PhD candidate at Wesley House Cambridge (UK), brings a deep background in public theology, ministry, and advocacy to this role.
She has served as a pastor for several congregations in the Missouri Annual Conference and teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Saint Paul School of Theology. Her teaching includes courses in Wesleyan Theology and History, Preaching, and Hebrew Scriptures.
Soendker Nicholson’s ongoing doctoral research, “More Power, Less Glory: An Analysis of Martin E. Marty’s Writing on Christian Nationalism and Fundamentalism in the Wesleyan Movement,” explores intersections of faith, politics, and public life. She anticipates the awarding of her PhD in 2026.
“Trista’s deep commitment in connecting theology with the pressing issues of our public life makes her an ideal leader for this next chapter of the Center for Religion in Public Life,” said President F. Douglas Powe Jr., PhD. “Her experience as both a pastor and public theologian will help Phillips continue to equip faith leaders for deep learning, faithful leadership and global impact.”
Before entering ordained ministry, Soendker Nicholson worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Ike Skelton, gaining firsthand experience in the legislative process and advocacy work. She later served as a nonprofit advocate and has continued to integrate those skills into her ministry. Her volunteer leadership with Missouri Faith Voices and Missouri Jobs With Justice reflects a long-standing commitment to social justice and faith-based organizing in the community.
The Center for Religion in Public Life at Phillips Theological Seminary serves as a hub for progressive engagement, equipping leaders and communities to respond faithfully to public issues through scholarship, dialogue, and advocacy. The executive director develops and leads this work by teaching courses on religion and public life, fostering partnerships with faith-based and civic organizations, and expanding the center’s effect through public events, research and collaborative initiatives.
“I am honored to join Phillips in this work,” said Soendker Nicholson. “The Center for Religion in Public Life embodies the best of what theological education can offer. It’s a place where faith and public responsibility meet for the good of all. I look forward to partnering with others to advance this mission in congregations and the community.”
Soendker Nicholson succeeds the Rev. Dr. Gary Peluso-Verdend, founding director of the Center, who has served Phillips in a variety of leadership roles, including as president.