Dave and Judy Atwater

Rev. J. David (“Dave”) Atwater became Antioch’s pastor on March 19, 2006 following a thirty-year career as a Navy chaplain.  He knows both our church and community well, having grown up on a family farm outside Carrboro, attended Antioch throughout his youth, and graduated from Chapel Hill High School back when it was located downtown on Franklin Street.  His professional education includes Mars Hill College (B.A. in religion, 1970), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M. Div., 1973), and Salve Regina College (M. A. in organizational management, 1990). 

Prior to his military career, Pastor Atwater served two churches in North Carolina, including six years as pastor of McDuffie Memorial (now North Chapel Hill) Baptist Church.  His active-duty military experience included a variety of assignments with the Navy and Marine Corps, including Wing Chaplain for the Second Marine Aircraft Wing; Director of Plans, Programs and Policy for the Navy Chief of Chaplains; Force Chaplain for the Chief of Naval Education and Training; and Director of the Naval Chaplains School.  Of all his chaplain duties, however, he says that his favorite was working at a retreat center where he “couldn’t wait to get to work to see what miracles were going to happen today.” 

At Antioch, Pastor Atwater says that he looks forward to helping people to develop and use their own unique gifts and abilities.  When asked about his vision for the church, he replied: