Pastoral Cohorts are made up of six pastors. They meet three times a year for a day and a half. The cohort cycles through five skills through facilitated discussion. The goal is to not only for pastors to engage with one another for mutual growth, whereby members of the cohort develop friendships to sustain pastoral health. These five skills are the result of a seven-year study on resilient pastoral ministry, the results of which are detailed in the book Resilient Ministry. The skills are: Spiritual Formation, Self Care, Emotional and Cultural Intelligence, Leadership and Management, Marriage and Family.

• Justin Buzzard, Lead Pastor, Garden City Church, San Jose – Justin grows disciples through prayer, preaching, pastoring, and leading the elder and staff teams at Garden City. Justin dreams of God’s name becoming the biggest name in Silicon Valley. He treasures his marriage with Taylor and the joy of raising three sons together. A 5th generation Californian, you can find Justin running on Bay Area trails, surfing Bay Area waves, dating his wife, doing CrossFit with the Garden City staff, and hanging out with friends old and new.
• Rob Hall, Lead Pastor, New North Church, San Francisco – A Hayward native, Rob worked as a youth pastor and campus pastor in Las Vegas before returning to the Bay Area several years ago. He is the primary communicator to the church body, sharing the vision and engaging with people from all backgrounds to genuinely get to know them. He almost never forgets a face or name! Rob is a self-proclaimed coffee snob and an avid admirer of the 1965 Ford Mustang. He is an adventurous bibliomaniac who loves his wife, three kids, his church, and Jesus.
  
• Nate Levering, Lead Pastor, Sierra Bible Church, Sonora – Raised in Sonora and educated at Sonora High, The Master’s University, and Tozer Seminary. Sonora High because I had to go to school so that I could play basketball. Master’s to earn a BS in Biology so that I could help God save the earth (minus all the land use requirements). Tozer Seminary while working and raising a family because I finally realized that I could love people better with a little more help. Kathy and I served with YoungLife in Moscow, RU, for a couple of years after marriage prior to filling the role of Youth Pastor for 14 amazing years at Sierra Bible Church. I then had the privilege to serve as the Pastor of Connections and Compassion for 9 years before transitioning into the Lead Pastor role summer of 2022. I’m a husband of 25 years. Dad to four crazy rad kids (two bio daughters and 2 adopted sons). I’m a cancer survivor, mountain biker, water skier, dirt bike rider, builder, teammate, missionary, leader, and lover of God’s Church — in whom I have great hope!
• Travis Marsh, Teaching Pastor, Canyon Creek Church, San Ramon – A Bay Area native, Travis oversees the ministries at Canyon Creek and has been serving there since he started in Student Ministries in 1995. Travis is married to Adriane and has twin boys who are his pride and joy.
• Mark McGovern, Lead Pastor, Experience Church, San Francisco – In 2006, Mark and his wife, Amanda, “college sweethearts” began to dream about starting a church in the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up in the Midwest, they decided to do something crazy — leave all they knew behind and follow God out west to start a new chapter of life with a fresh purpose. Their passion is creating community for people to get closer to Jesus. There is never a dull moment in the McGovern home with their three children: Max, Jack Jones and Maddie, and their Goldendoodle, “Champ”.
• Kevin Snead, Teaching Pastor, Central Peninsula Church, Foster City – Kevin Sneed served as a CPC Pastoral Resident, Generations Pastor, and is now the Teaching Pastor. Kevin loves his wife and two kids, books, over-priced single-origin coffee, the Giants and the Warriors. If you enjoy Mario Kart, compete against Kevin! He is the master and rarely loses! Kevin tells us that most people would be surprised to learn that his parents are barely taller than five feet! He towers at over 6 feet tall! Kevin is known for his love of good conversation and his readiness to laugh.
• Paul Taylor, Teaching Pastor, Peninsula Bible Church, Palo Alto – Immediately upon coming out to the Bay Area from Texas for college in 1995, Paul decided that he never wanted to leave. PBC became his church home two weeks later. After getting a degree in engineering, Paul worked in software development for seven years before going to seminary. In 2007 he became a pastor PBC. His wife Rachel and Paul have five children: three born to them and two adopted.