Peter A. Lillback

Peter A. Lillback, Ph.D., is President of Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, PA, serving also as Professor of Historical Theology. Peter is also President of The Providence Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to using the media to preserve, protect, and perpetuate America’s Judeo-Christian heritage. Serving as Senior Pastor of Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA since 1991, Dr. Lillback has been instrumental in launching two of the church’s para-organizations: The Proclaiming The Word radio program, and The Providence Forum. He has also had a significant role in the successful development of the church’s evangelical and compassion ministries, including Amachi, a faith-based national grass-roots mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents.

Living between Philadelphia and Valley Forge, Dr. Lillback has done much research and study on the founding and Founders of the United States through examination of original source documents in numerous libraries and archives. His books, Freedom's Holy Light: With a Firm Reliance on Divine Providence, and Proclaim Liberty: A Broken Bell Rings Freedom to the World (published by Providence Forum Press), are outgrowths of his research. He is also author of The Binding of God: Calvin’s Role in the Development of Covenant Theology (Baker Book House) and editor of and contributor to The Practical Calvinist: An Introduction to the Presbyterian and Reformed Heritage (Christian Focus). Dr. Lillback is most recently the author of Wall of Misconception: Does the Separation of Church and State Mean the Separation of God and Government? and the national-bestseller George Washington’s Sacred Fire (both published by Providence Forum Press), representing the culmination of over 15 years of primary-source research and scholarship, for which he has received scholarly acclaim, plus national press and media coverage. Peter has also published many articles, including as a contributor to The Washington Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is a frequent lecturer on many world-view issues, and has debated Barry Lynn, president of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. On a worldwide scale, Peter is currently working to coordinate reformed people (individuals, bible colleges and seminaries) into a network of reformed theologians and educators. Peter’s heart is for believers to be in pursuit of kingdom community without being narrow or triumphalistic, yet at the same time authentically work in common purpose with all who lift up the name of Christ. Peter’s desire is to see healing of the racial scars in cities throughout America. He is working on a project that will enable Proclamation Presbyterian Church and Westminster to be agents of that healing. He would like to inspire Westminster and other institutions to provide further pastoral training for urban leaders. He is also interested in developing a communication model that always speaks truth and love without discounting either.

He would like to encourage the country to focus on the historic Christian values that shaped our nation’s history. Subjects of the teaching would include defining marriage, religious expression in the public square, the challenge of maintaining free speech and religious liberty in a nation unwilling to confront Islam’s intolerance of proselytizing and conversion to other religions. Dr. Lillback received his Ph.D. from Westminster Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a B.A. from Cedarville University in Ohio. He has traveled widely for the church and the seminary, and involving other interests in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Peter and his wife, Debbie, live in south eastern Pennsylvania, and have two daughters.