Early Life and Education

Rev. Dr. Philip Joseph Mayher Jr. (born May 8, 1948), affectionately known as Joe, earned a B.A. in English from Drew University in 1969. He later obtained a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Andover Newton Theological School.

Career

Mayher served as Pastor and Teacher at The Congregational Church of Weston, United Church of Christ in Weston, Massachusetts, from approximately 1995 to May 2015. Prior to Weston, he ministered in communities including Wellesley, Walpole, Quincy, and Swansea, Massachusetts. He was an adjunct professor at Andover Newton Theological School, specializing in education and youth ministry.

During his tenure at Weston, the church became an Open and Affirming congregation welcoming all sexual orientations and a Level One Green Justice Congregation. He hosted lectures by figures like Paul Farmer, Chris Hedges, and Joseph Nye, oversaw facility expansions, and published a book of sermons. Mayher co-authored Scripture and Imagination: The Empowering of Faith with William B. Abernethy in 1988.

He received the Rabbi Murray Rothman Award (1995) for Jewish-Christian relations and a national Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCC General Synod. Active in interfaith work, he co-founded initiatives like Camp IF and participated in the Weston-Wayland Interfaith Action Group.

Post-retirement, he planned interim ministry roles, hiking, reading, and completing a book on youth ministry.

Personal Life

Mayher married Cynthia Olmsted (1948-2023), his high school sweetheart, in 1970. They have two children: Aaron Mayher and Jessamyn Stearns Mayher (later Martin). His mother died at age 61 from emphysema after preparing end-of-life documents.

"If you care, you prepare." – Rev. Dr. Philip Joseph Mayher on health care planning.