Dr. Julia Wharff Piermont - A Brief Introduction

Enthusiasm for Christian faith began early for Julia Wharff Piermont, especially through children’s and youth choir participation in Presbyterian churches where her family lived in Illinois and Iowa.  Her sense of theological curiosity emerged early, too:  she recalls a time in first grade, when her teacher noticed Julia had written in ink on her arm.  The teacher gently but firmly stated, “Julia, we write on paper, not skin: that’s why God made paper,” at which Julia puzzled, “God made paper?”  Her interest in Bible study grew throughout high school and college.  In her senior year at Luther College (Decorah, Iowa, where she earned her B.A. in music magna cum laude), encouraged by adults at college and church, she recognized her curiosity and passion for sharing the Good News and for praising God in worship as signs of a call to pastoral ministry.

Julia was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA) on October 28, 1990.  She earned her M.Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois, in 1990, receiving awards for preaching, theology, and highest excellence in the M.Div. program. She also completed a full-year, full-time pastoral internship at Mosher Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, Omaha, Nebraska. 

Before her call to serve Christ Church of Longboat Key, Julia served four churches: five years as associate pastor for First Presbyterian Church of Junction City, Kansas; two years as interim pastor for West Side Presbyterian Church of Lawrence, Kansas; seventeen years as pastor for Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church of Kettering, Ohio (suburban Dayton); and nine years as senior pastor for Worthington Presbyterian Church of Worthington, Ohio (suburban Columbus).  These churches varied in size from 125 to 1200, yet each of them were strong in their commitment to enthusiastic worship, mission, and fellowship. While serving Sugar Creek, Julia earned a D.Min. from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ.

Highlights of her service to the larger church include: serving on leadership council/coordinating team in two presbyteries; serving on Committee on Ministry in two presbyteries (including chair for 3 years); and participating in two General Assemblies as commissioner and two as overture advocate.  Highlights of community service include board leadership for community agencies and spiritual leadership for community ceremonies.

In 2010, Julia married New York City native Dennis Piermont, a ruling elder whose first career (35 yrs) was in landscape architecture and second career (10 yrs) was in presbytery executive leadership in southwest Ohio.  With marriage came an instant family:  daughter Anna Piermont (business strategy consultant for Accenture in New York City); son Evan Piermont PhD (economics professor, University of London, England); and son Dr. Hunter Piermont (dentist), daughter-in-law Alison and grandsons Jackson and Charlie (Holly Springs, NC).

Julia is an avid musician, playing piano and French horn and enjoying many genres of music. She enjoys reading, nature, easy to moderate hiking, and playing with houseplants. Some of her favorite adventures have been hiking the Grand Canyon, riding the 300-mile Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, viewing via personal tour the pages of the St. John’s Bible, walking the pilgrimage on the Isle of Iona, and mucking out homes for families recovering from Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. Her time in Kansas made her a KU Basketball fan; Ohio immersed her in Buckeye football; and, as part of her marriage vows, Julia roots for the New York Yankees.

Statement of Faith

                I believe in God,

                              Exquisite Creator of all that is, has been, and will be,

                              Inexhaustible Source of all good.

                              With abundant love and passion for righteousness,

                                             our God ever seeks our companionship.

                              This God gives joyful, purposeful living.

               I believe in Jesus Christ.

                              His birth embodies God’s care for humanity.

                              His life reveals God’s creative will for men and women.

                              His passion and resurrection accomplish God’s victory

                                             over death and the powers of sin and evil.

                              In Christ we are reconciled to God.

                              In this reconciliation we are called to join Christ’s

                                             ministry of reconciliation and righteousness.

               I believe in the Holy Spirit,

                              God moving among all God’s people.

                              By the Holy Spirit

                                             we receive new life,

                                                            borne through the waters of baptism,

                                             and we participate in the new covenant,

                                                            nourished by the Eucharistic meal.

                              By the Holy Spirit

                                             we are called into creative conspiracy with God

                                                            as the Body of Christ,

                                                            the Company of the faithful.

               In the name of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit,

                              this body, the Church,

                              reads the Scriptures,

                              proclaims the gospel,

                              celebrates the sacraments,

                              and in every way seeks to do justice,

                                             love loyalty,

                                             and walk wisely with our God.

               Soli Deo Gloria.