Phil Sheets, Tax Collector
Term Runs Through: December 2029
Email: psheets@plainfield-township.com
Born at Silver cross in 1951, Phil was raised Catholic and spent ten years studying for the Catholic priesthood. He first got to know the UMC during an ecumenical project in the early 70s and was attracted by the UMC blend of common sense, compassion, and seeing Christian social involvement as a needful part of faithful Christian discipleship. He had also met Mimi Poling (which is still her name) during that ecumenical project.
In 1975 he left Catholic graduate-level seminary, married Mimi, and the following April became a United Methodist at St John’s UMC in Baltimore. He attended Wesley seminary that fall, his courses from St. Mary’s successfully transferred, and by June 1977 he was an ordained deacon and pastor at Idlewylde UMC in Baltimore. He was retired from ordained ministry in 2019.
He and Mimi had their first son Gabe in January 1979, and two years later transferred to the Northern Illinois Conference. Phil served at Irving Park UMC on the northwest side of Chicago for ten years, during which their second son Dan was born in 1989. He pursues little in the way of hobbies, but is interested in cinema, history, science, and computer strategy games.
He and Mimi are married 5o years, and Gabe, Cathy and two granddaughters live in Arlington MA outside of Boston. Dan and his wife Megan have three boys at home with them in Eagle, WI and Phil is proud that his sons have 3 masters’ degrees between them, and that Gabe and Cathy are Harvard University graduates.