Meet our New Pastor - Scott Bullock

Meet our New Senior Pastor and his Family

On Sunday, June 6th, 2010 Pastor Scott assumed his post as Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church. We welcomed him and his family at our morning services at 9:00a and 10:30a in the main sanctuary and at 10:30a in the Fellowship Hall for Veritas.

Scott
I’m passionate about many things among which are jazz piano, swimming, becoming a better husband and father and seeing people catch a vision for Christ’s call in their lives. I look forward to partnering with IPC as we travel into the new opportunities which God has planned for us.

Britta
I was born and raised in southern California, the daughter of German immigrants. I am a graduate of UC Berkeley and Cornell and currently work for a software development firm based in Chicago. I enjoy running and the outdoors. My most important priority is to be a devoted mother and wife. I look forward to seeing us become part of the larger family of IPC.

Ellen (6yrs)
I am a first grader who enjoys swimming, riding my bike and playing with my friends. I am excited to move to California so that I will be close to the beach and Disneyland.

Klara (4yrs)
I am in pre-school and really enjoy gymnastics. I love to do puzzles, cartwheels and help my parents organize. I am excited to move to California because I really want to get a bunk bed!

Lukas (2yrs)
I’m two and I love Thomas The Tank Engine trains and looking at truck books.

Work History
Associate Pastor for Youth & Young Adults, First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown, NJ
Suburban church, 1400 members

Preacher for Generation X Service, Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Tustin, CA
Suburban church, 1200 members

Director of Youth Ministries, First Presbyterian Church, Glen Ellyn, IL
Suburban Church, 1200 members

Formal Education
Master of Theology, New Testament Studies
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ

Master of Divinity
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

Master of Arts, New Testament Studies Wheaton Graduate School, Wheaton, IL

Bachelor of Arts, Biblical Studies
Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

Thoughts from IPC's Pastor Nominating Committee
God taught me that prayer plus patience ends up with answered prayer. The PNC has prayed, laughed, prayed, cried, prayed, read resumes, prayed, listened to sermons, prayed, ate and prayed some more, and the Lord answered our prayers by delivering Scott and Britta Bullock to IPC. We will be blessed by Scott's servant heart, great preaching and teaching and leading us to make disciples of Christ.
Betsy Hewitt

Throughout history, God never gave his people the easy answer – as much as we asked Him to. Our PNC went through several highs and lows as we interviewed candidates, found some we liked a lot, realized they weren’t the right one, and Scott was still there. ‘Maybe this other one is the one? Nope.’ And Scott was still there. I think we had to be disappointed several times before we finally realized that the answer was right there.
Rob Jaques

God has worked through the 11 very different personalities on the PNC, only to show us our similarities are what unite us—faith in our Savior Jesus Christ and a passion to call a strong leader to our church home. God has now spoken clearly to the PNC and to the Bullock family, and we know that Scott’s desire for reaching the brokenhearted will lead us into a new day of fellowship and outreach into the community and into the world.
Holly Clinard

The PNC has taught me a lot about the importance of discernment and the power of prayer. Our weekly PNC prayers got me through my week on many occasions. Amidst all of this, I knew that Scott was the candidate for IPC and that he was going to be a big part of my spiritual development when he and Britta left from their first visit. I can see and feel his passion for the youth and I know that he will not just be the ‘big church’ pastor.
Louisa Raitt

Being on the PNC is such an unique blend of study group, prayer group, and therapy group, and blends in professional hiring skills like resume reading, interviewing, background checks. We used technology to a very large degree to manage the pile of resumes and sermons. But in the end, it is God leading, and us listening. Scott and Britta have heard the same Lord lead them. What a delightful journey!
Norman Gordon

God worked on each of us on the PNC—we came together as a cohesive team. I’ve been deeply blessed as a member of the PNC. What impressed me most is how the “heart” of the PNC and of Scott Bullock became one as we prayed and followed God’s leading. I was personally moved to tears of great joy and praise as our awesome God opened our collective eyes, ears and hearts to His calling of Scott. That was exciting. Thanks be to God.
Paul Van Horn

The process to find a new pastor is a deliberate, exhaustive, investigative, prayer-saturated effort. Scott Bullock came up on our radar fairly early, and he consistently proved himself to have the qualities we were looking for in a Senior Pastor/Head of Staff. I can’t say enough about how the Lord used all the gifts of not only the PNC members, but also the Presbytery, to transparently present the opportunity to Scott in a way that he could ask the Lord for guidance – and he got it. Being on this PNC has been the highlight of my 28 years at IPC.
Jon Dietz

Being on the PNC was an enriching and fulfilling lesson in discernment. As we examined candidates, we quickly saw that Scott had the tools to lead IPC, and from his recorded sermons we knew he could preach well, though I was still waiting for a clear announcement from God that he was the right candidate. For me, that moment came when we saw Scott preach in person in a neutral pulpit. In that sermon, God spoke to me and said, “this is the person I have chosen for IPC.”
Don Bradley

I've heard it said that God's heart has human hands, and I truly saw that in action in the PNC process. God used us, a group of flawed humans, to accomplish His will to bring Scott to be IPC's pastor. We prayed constantly that God's will would be evident to us, and he brought us Scott, who lives his life trusting God.
Melissa Strodtbeck

Two highlights stand out for this yearlong journey we've been on. First, is the unanimity of spirit and purpose we enjoyed. We truly were of one mind on almost every decision. I think proof the Holy Spirit was with us. Second, is God's sense of timing, which is always perfect. Looking back it is easy to see "all the pieces fitting together" as He led us and we trusted Him.
Bud Thoreen

The PNC experience has been a gift of God's tangible grace in a group setting. God's faithfulness led us to Scott and in turn Scott to us. We have felt heard and honored by God's sovereignty and Fatherly care.
Teri Pearce

Thoughts from others on Scott Bullock
Scott would thrive in a church committed to lifting up Jesus Christ and inviting people into the kingdom. He’d desire to be in a place that holds scripture as authority, committed to living in a community of faith, inviting those outside the faith into the faith. Scott is unashamed of the Gospel and his love for Jesus is his best gift.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Miller, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown

Scott has a great amount of love for the Lord, and a strong commitment to the Gospel. He’s a learned pastor-theologian and carries the ability to develop a vision, while drawing in people of all generations.
Joseph Khalil, Princeton ’03, current grad student at the University of Notre Dame

His skill as a preacher is excellent. Scott has the ability to light a spark under people. He’s interested in the congregation as a whole and wants to get people “off the pew” and out into the world!
Jan Amos, Elder, First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown

Scott brings solid spiritual grounding as well as theological sophistication and strength. His professional experience is rich and diverse but above all I love that his identity is so clearly in Jesus Christ, not in his work and accomplishments. Scott’s clarity and integrity give me great hope for the whole Church and for Irvine Presbyterian Church in particular.
Steve Yamaguchi, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Los Ranchos