Paul Petersen is a native of Lexington, Massachusetts, growing up one mile from the Battle Green where the first shots of American Revolution were fired.  The church of his youth is the historic Park Street Church on the Boston Common. Paul received his education from Wheaton College, Illinois (B.S.), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Massachusetts (M.Div) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania (D.Min.)  He was ordained into the Presbyterian Church on September 30, 1984.  Paul and Jane were married August 5, 1978.  They have two daughters, Emily and Lauren. Emily is married to Michael Allen.  Emily and Michael live in Pompano Beach, Florida.  Emily is a stay at home mom, expecting their first child in early 2010. Michael teaches Theology at Knox Seminary in Fort Lauderdale. Lauren is married to Ryan Issakainen and they live in Syracuse, New York.  Lauren is primary care giver to Paul and Jane’s granddaughter, Abigail Grace, and grandson, Joshua Ryan. Ryan works for First Trust Portfolios as an Analyst.  Paul has served Presbyterian churches in Moline, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, Aurora, Illinois, and moved to Spartanburg in 2001.