Carol J. Phipps, Ph.D., creatively combines a wealth of education and experience in Communications.  She has taught college theater classes as well as Creative Arts and Ministry classes on the college level. Since 1979 she has provided performance and the teaching of creative arts and ministry skills for denominational and interfaith groups, and local churches, as well as community and educational groups nationwide.  Phipps offers classes and performances in Storytelling, Clowning, Juggling, and Puppetry, “The Visual Arts and Worship,” "Theology of the Fool," "Humor in the Bible" and other creative, visual, and performance arts. With twenty-plus years experience in acting, Phipps has done commercial work, and appeared on television as a storyteller and clown. Her inspirational monologues have been rerun many times on local Kentucky television.

Dr. Phipps has deepened her perceptions of life through a number of seminars. She studied with the late Drs. Wayne E. Oates (Crisis Counseling) and Henlee Barnett (Ministerial and Medical Ethics). She has had further studies in Medical Ethics at the W.Va. University\Hospital.  She has training in Motivational Interviewing for IMR Clinicians.  Repeatedly since 2001 Phipps has been a conference presenter and participant with the Oates Institute of Pastoral Care On-line Conferences   See:  http://www.oates.org/institute/comments.html .  She has an art gallery at the WEOI on-line Learning Center.

Phipps literary contributions have appeared in denominational and interfaith publications including, The Christian Herald, National Catholic Reporter, SBC Today, Cross and Clown magazine, and in the CCAA On-line Resource Center (Christian Creative Arts Association). Phipps was a contributor to consecutive publishing of, The Clown Ministry Handbook, compiled by Janet Litherland.

Phipps visual art work has been showcased in local galleries including two month long exhibits at the Louisville Free Public Library, and for Worship Arts Exhibits, and special Lenten Exhibits. Two of Phipps collages were part of a September 11, Memorial Exhibit in 2002. She has enjoyed being apprenticed to Clay Architectural Artist, Juliet Eurlich. In 2004 the CCAA published Phipps' work entitled, "Healing, and Faith, and the Visual Arts," an article with photography and artwork highlighting spiritual and physical renewal through the visual arts.


Dr. Phipps received her A. A. degree in Education, and a B.A. in Behavioral Sciences. She has a Master of Arts in Education and Communication; a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies/Social Work; and both a Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Aesthetics. Her doctoral dissertation formulated a profile of a FOOL for God using biblical and historical sources. Dr. Phipps is excited and grateful to be able to equip and encourage individuals and groups for the work of ministry and community service through E.T.S. ministries highlighting, the “Celebration of the Arts and the Creator.”