Fr. Geoffrey Ward
Fr. Ward is Rector of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, River Hills WI (February 2017). He presently serves the Diocese of Milwaukee as Board President of Trustees of Funds and Endowments, and is also Board President for The DeKoven Center, an Episcopal Retreat and Archival Center in Racine, WI. Broader church involvement includes serving as CREDO Financial Faculty for The Church Pension Group (CPG).
Previous calls include a new church plant in Eagle River WI, (resultant from a congregational departure to ACNA), and Priest Associate of Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford CT. Fr. Ward’s missional background features urban feeding, open-air church, immediate need-fulfillment, wellness, literacy, employment facilitation and arts ministries.
Prior to full-time parochial ministry, Fr. Ward served as non-stipendiary clergy, holding a secular position as Chief Executive of the Pension Resource Centersm (a MetLife Company), with oversite of 17,000 qualified retirement plans. As subject matter expert on ERISA regulatory matters, his responsibilities included collaboration with the firm’s Government Affairs Group in Washington D.C., sitting on committees and discussion panels of industry trade organizations, including ASPPA and SIFMA.
His financial professional credentials included Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), Certified Financial Planner (CFP©) and FINRA Registered Principal. (Series 7, 24). Fr. Ward also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Viterbo University, Master of Fine Arts Degree from Trinity University, and Master of Theological Studies from Seabury-Western.
Other interests include fishing, canoeing, cross country skiing, and Wisconsin sports teams – Brewers, Packers, and Bucks. He and wife, Valerie have six children, five grandchildren, two yorkies (Banjo and Suzanna), and a new labradoodle puppy named Shadow.