About the Center for Pastoral Formation
The Center for Pastoral Formation serves as a resource and networking center for conferences, Ministerial Education and Guidance Boards (MEGs), instructors, Free Methodist educational institutions (AFMEI), and John Wesley Seminary Foundation (JWSF) affiliate schools to provide robust theological and practical training platforms to equip the next generation of ministry leaders, track their progress, and uphold standards for ministerial credentialing.
Based at Greenville University in Greenville, Illinois
About US
Our Story
The center’s establishment at Greenville is made possible by the Bastian Family Fund for the Center for Pastoral Formation. The university already has been home to the Donald N. and Kathleen G. Bastian School of Theology, Philosophy and Ministry, which honors the ministry of Bishop Emeritus Donald Bastian and his wife, Kathleen (pictured to the left).
“The Bastian family is deeply committed to both the Free Methodist Church and, with eight Greenville graduates in our extended family, to Greenville University. All of us are deeply interested in a stronger tie and deeper relationship between the FMC and GU/all of the AFMEI institutions,” wrote Dr. Robert W. Bastian, one of the couple’s children and a physician who serves on Greenville’s Board of Trustees, in an email interview with Light + Life. “We have applied funds God has put into our hands to strengthen the FMC-GU relationship in several exploratory directions across at least a decade, looking for a way to accomplish this deeper connection.”
at LightandLife.fm, the digital magazine of the Free Methodist Church USA
STAFF
Our Staff
Director
Rev. Dr. Steve Tungate
Steve began serving as the director of the Center for Pastoral Formation in February of 2021. Before assuming this role, Steve served in full-time pastoral ministry for 23 years in the Free Methodist Church serving in rural, urban, and suburban churches including one multi-lingual/multi-ethnic congregation in the state’s capital city. He taught as an adjunct instructor at Spring Arbor University for ten years and is teaching courses at Greenville University beginning in fall 2022. He has served on MEG Boards under five superintendents in two conferences and has been involved in mentoring several ministerial candidates from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In addition to being an ordained elder, he is endorsed by the FMCUSA as a chaplain to law enforcement.
Steve just completed his Ph.D. studies at the University of South Africa as a Polycarp Fellow at Southern Methodist University and Baylor University under the tutelage of the late Billy Abraham. He holds a D.Min. in Christian Spirituality from Fuller Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary, a B.S. in biology from Michigan State University, and is currently completing a Flourishing in Ministry coaching certificate at Azusa Pacific University.
Steve enjoys spending time with his wife, Rachel, and two daughters. He loves learning, painting, traveling, nature, and watching March Madness basketball.
Steve has a passion to raise up the next generation of ministry leaders who are theologically trained, deeply in love with God, and competent ministers of the Good News of Jesus.
Administrator
Rev. Jennifer Wilson
Jennifer Wilson is the administrator for the Center for Pastoral Formation. Since 1993, she has served congregations in Indiana and Michigan as well as nationally for the Church of God movement based in Anderson, Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Anderson University and Masters of Divinity from Anderson University School of Theology.
Prior to coming to the Center for Pastoral Formation, Jennifer worked for the Greenville University Office of Advancement managing multiple projects, assisting donors, alumni, and students. She and her family reside in Greenville, IL, and attend the Greenville Free Methodist Church. Her husband Scott is Assistant Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach at GU.
Jennifer loves God, her family, and the church. She is passionate about creating healthy systems and helping people ask good questions and seek truthful answers as they pursue the call of God.
education coordinator
Rev. Dr. Tyler Boyer
Tyler brings with him a breadth of ministry experience with more than 25 years of pastoral service while concurrently teaching a wide variety of courses at the college, university, and ordination levels. He has served on his conference’s Ministerial Education and Guidance board for nearly eight years and mentored women and men as they launch into ministry. His publications include a series of prayer books and articles for Light & Life. Tyler has the heart of a pastor, the mind of a professor, and the passion of a practitioner who builds up the people who serve God’s Kingdom.