"The world needs Christian leaders who are spiritually and emotionally healthy; ‘gifts’ are important, but they are not enough for sustainable, effective ministry. I am deeply committed to helping our students answer the Spirit's call into a journey of spiritual transformation, and engaging them as they learn to integrate their personal transformation with their growth as leaders. I want them to become ‘whole persons’ who know what it is to ‘do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.’”

Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker is a preacher, teacher, consultant, retreat leader, and singer. Founder and Principal of Word&Wisdom, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations (particularly clergy and congregations) to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of change and shalom in the world. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Clergy & Congregational Wellness, a nonprofit organization that empowers ministry leaders to facilitate health and wholeness in themselves, their ministry contexts, and their adjacent communities.  In addition, she serves as Affiliate Professor in Leadership & Formation Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, where she teaches in the Seminary’s Masters and Doctoral programs, as well as in the University's Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral program. Her 20-plus years of pastoral ministry experience includes serving in both large and small congregations, and she has more than 30 years’ experience in management, community relations, communications and marketing, and program and organizational development. She earned a Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer), a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Transformation from Northern Theological Seminary and has done clinical training in marriage and family therapy at the Council for Relationships. 

Dr. Blocker’s most recent professional affiliations have included serving on the boards of the Transforming Center, in Wheaton, IL, which equips leaders to guide their churches and organizations to become spiritually transforming communities; and Grace & Race Ministries, Inc., which provides racial reconciliation ministry, conflict resolution, leadership development and educational opportunities. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International, the Spiritual Caregivers Network of American Baptist Home Mission Society, and the Steering Committee for the Inter-Seminary Initiative of Interfaith Philadelphia. A guiding verse for her life is Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”