Rev. Peter Billings

Director of Family & Community Ministries

An ordained PC(USA) pastor, Peter joined Hilltop as the Director of Family & Community Ministries in March of 2025, responding to his call to work directly with youth, children, and their families. Peter spent the previous 6 years living in the Appalachian mountainous of south-central Pennsylvania in a town called McConnellsburg, where he served as the pastor of two small UCC churches. Peter enjoyed the beautiful mountains, the charms of small-town living, and his first few years of ministry. He is thrilled to be back in New Jersey, though, and focusing on youth and family ministry, the work he feels called to do. Peter lives in Frenchtown where his wife, Emily, is the pastor of the local Presbyterian church. (She is also Pastor Scot’s daughter!) Peter and Emily are especially happy to be back home near family because they now have two wonderful daughters of their own: Rosie Joy, and Sybil Grace.

Peter loves to meet people and explore new places, and loves teaching, and fellowship—especially among young people. He studied psychology and education at The College of New Jersey, graduating in 2011. His sense of call to ministry is tightly bound with his positive experiences in youth group and mission at his home church, The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, NJ. Peter was formed and fed by a variety of opportunities to volunteer there, including service as a youth leader, deacon, session member, Vice President of their mission organization, and Interim Youth Director. That church’s ongoing mission to Haiti was particularly influential, ultimately leading him to live there for two years working as a classroom science teacher. After returning from Haiti, he earned an MDiv at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2017.

On his down time, Peter likes to hike, bike, play games, watch movies, and he recently began blacksmithing! Of course, these days most of his time is happily spent with his growing family. He is thrilled to be sharing this exciting time in his life with the friendly community of Hilltop Church.