St. Philip’s many ministries and programs are organized around a structure called “commissions” based on Jesus’s “Great Commission” to serve God in the world, as well as his “Great Commandment” to love one another. These seven Commissions are Outreach, Stewardship, Worship, Evangelism, Education (Adult Formation, Youth Ministries, and Children & Family Ministries), Pastoral Care, and Mission Support (all functions that support the needs of the physical plant, human resources, and financial management).
Commissioners are lay leaders who nurture, support, coach, and mentor the ministries of St. Philip’s In The Hills to follow our call to be Christ’s image to the world.
- Commissioners facilitate communication to ensure that all ministries are full contributing partners to the parish mission and goals
- Commissioners are ministry advocates to help build strong relationships with the entire parish
- Commissioners coordinate contributions by the ministries to parish-wide emphases
- Commissioners guide and assist the ministries in the general operating budget process
- Commissioners develop, mentor and empower Parish leadership capacity within their ministries to support our mission “to grow in Christ and to do God’s work in the world.”
Commissioners’ names are listed on the back of each week’s Sunday bulletin, but as Shakespeare said “what’s in a name”! Below you can put faces with the names and get to know a little more about some of St. Philip’s commissioners.
Julia Annas, Commissioner for Pastoral Care
I have been a St. Philippian for nearly 30 years, and have become progressively more involved in church life. As well as being Pastoral Care Commissioner, I am a sub-deacon and chalicist. I am a Regents Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona. My research is in ancient philosophy — if you are interested you can find my Very Short Introductions to Plato and to Ancient Philosophy in the Renouf/Nelson Library. I now work also in contemporary ethics of virtue and happiness, and have recently published a book on Intelligent Virtue.
Richard C. Powell, Commissioner for Mission Support
I have been going to St. Philip’s for about 10 years. I am active in the After School Music Program, and serve on the Board. I’m also on the Board of Friends of Music and have served on the Vestry. I’m a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Arizona State University. I am Emeritus Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Professor of Optical Science at the University of Arizona. After a long career as a physics researcher and teacher, I am now retired, spending my time as a consultant on solar energy projects and giving public talks on science. My wife, Gwen, and I spend our summer months in Colorado and visiting our grandchildren.
Tamzin Sawyer Sugiyama, Commissioners for Education (Children & Family Ministries)
I started attending St. Philip’s around 2000, drawn to the amazing amount going on at the church. In 2006 I married Alex Sugiyama (a member of the Vestry) at St. Philip’s, and both of our daughters (Claire and Phoebe) were baptized at St. Philip’s. I am happy to serve as the Commissioner for Education for Children and Family Ministries. It’s been a joy to watch the program grow, and also to watch friendships form between the children and between the parents as well. I have been working at Imago Dei Middle School since 2008 as a reading specialist and 7th grade language arts teacher. In my free time, when I am not chasing around my 4- and 7-year-olds, I scrapbook and read voraciously.
Eric Rau, Commissioner for Evangelism
I became a member of St. Phillips about 10 years ago, but have been attending occasional services here starting in the late 1990s. I’m a native Tucsonan, graduate of Catalina High School, alumnus of Pomona College, and graduate of the University of Arizona — both undergraduate and law school. I work providing indigent criminal defense as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and have previously served on the St. Philip’s Vestry from 2008 to 2011, and as Education co-Commissioner from 2009 to 2011. I’m a 2009 graduate of Education for Ministry (EfM) and 2012 graduate of the Tacheria Interfaith Spirituality Center’s School for Spiritual Direction. In addition to serving currently on the Tacheria Board, I’m also active in the St. Philip’s LGBTQ+A Ministry and can occasionally be seen facilitating a Labyrinth walk by the light of the full moon.
John Waszczak, Commissioner for Stewardship
I was born, raised, and educated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I received my B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers upon receiving my undergraduate degree and honorably discharged as a Captain. I retired from Raytheon Missile Systems in 2010. I have been happily married to the Rev. Deacon Brigid Waszczak for 44 years. Over the years we have lived in Pittsburgh, San Diego, Washington, D.C., London and Tucson. We have four great children and five wonderful grandchildren.
At St. Philip’s I served as the Chairman of the Stewardship Committee for three years and subsequently as the Commissioner for Stewardship for the past two years. I am a member of the Finance, Buildings & Grounds, and Labyrinth Committees. I was just elected this year to serve as a member of St. Philip’s Preservation & Endowment Foundation Board. Having co-led our Reserve Study Team for the past two years with our Treasurer, I am very anxious to see this living document serve as a foundation for St. Philip’s Planned Giving and P&E Foundation fund raising efforts. I enjoy using my background in strategic planning, program management, fund raising, and facilities management to support the mission and ministries of St. Philip’s.
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