Paul Atwater is the founding pastor of North River Church in Pembroke MA, a role he has held since 1989. He has been married to his best friend, Susan, since 1981. They have two adult daughters, one son-in-law, and a cute little dachshund named Copper. Paul is a graduate of Wheaton College (B.A.) and Denver Seminary (M.Div.), where he is currently a D.Min. candidate. He has served on the Wheaton College Leadership Council, the board for New Hope Correctional Ministry, and was a contributing editor for Leadership Journal. He has been a monthly speaker at the Thursday Morning Men’s Breakfast in Boston for more than a decade.
Paul loves going on long walks, hikes and traveling with Sue. He gets excited when sharing the gospel of God’s grace with people who have lost hope or who never realized how profoundly God loves us.
He believes that the local church is still God’s primary tool for delivering the hope, love and grace of God that transforms lives. He is motivated by the growing opportunity that Posture Shift has in helping pastors and church leaders discover how to be faithful to Scripture in regard to marriage and sexuality while radically loving LGBT+ people in the church.
His favorite quote comes from Dr. Tim Keller: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful than we ever believed, and we are more loved and accepted than we ever dared believe.”
Dr. Raymond Pendleton served as Posture Shift’s board chairman from its inception until 2021 and has played an integral role in growth of the ministry.
Dr. Pendleton is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Massachusetts Psychological Association. He currently serves as Assistant Rector, Director of Pastoral Care and Healing Ministry at Christ the Redeemer Church in Danvers, MA. He recently retired after 44 years as a full time faculty member at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. During his tenure he served as Senior Professor of Pastoral Care, Director of the Mentored Ministry Program, and with colleague Dr. Pablo Polischuk established the seminary’s Master of Arts in Counseling Program.
Dr. Pendleton spends much of his time with his wife of 61 years, Jan, their two daughters and four grandchildren. He also enjoys golf, music and cooking.
Bill is founder of Posture Shift, author of Guiding Families, and creator of Youth Belong. He has served as President since founding our missionary organization in 2006.
Posture Shift offers a credentialed, biblically-sound missional training curriculum on LGBT+ inclusion and care. Over 300,000 pastors and leaders around the globe have been trained.
Guiding Families is one of the most comprehensive and highly endorsed care plans available. Over 50,000 copies of the book have been sold in multiple editions and languages.
Youth Belong Digital is our latest resource with a focus on protecting gender minority youth.
Bill previously served as a board member of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He has taught Posture Shift at Denver Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
“I formed Posture Shift after witnessing the impact of mistreatment and trauma in the lives of countless LGBT+ youth. I am passionate about fostering safe churches and homes. It is a privilege to train and consult church leaders around the world – as well as serve LGBT+ people of all ages and offer thoughtful guidance for their families. The gospel calls us to faithfully honor God – and importantly, to radically love LGBT+ people.“
Our board, advisory council, and teaching staff hold to a traditional biblical view.
Bill enjoys family time, photography, hiking, adventure travel, and staying healthy. Bill and his wife Kang have two grown children. Anna is a registered nurse, and Andrew is a junior in college studying marketing and finance.
Paul Organ serves as the Director of Operations at Posture Shift, where he helps the ministry thrive through thoughtful systems, behind-the-scenes coordination, and practical support for the team. He works to equip the staff with the best tools available so that trainings, events, and resources reach churches, schools, and families with clarity and excellence.
Paul holds a bachelor’s degree from Cedarville University and brings a decade of experience volunteering in youth ministry, mentoring and discipling teenagers in both church and theater environments. His time walking with young people through questions of faith, identity, and belonging informs his deep commitment to Posture Shift’s mission of creating safer spaces for LGBT+ youth.
“I’ve often felt that most pastors and churches are under-equipped to navigate the presence of real-life LGBT+ people who are seeking belonging in our faith communities. Posture Shift is working to fill that gap by offering resources and guidance to churches and families—teaching them how to dignify the person while still honoring historic Christian teaching. It’s my honor to contribute to this work.”
More about Paul: He lives in Ohio and enjoys board games, disc golf, and many other activities that bring people together to talk, laugh, and live in community.
Noah Armbruster serves as the Director of Events and Social Media at Posture Shift, bringing years of experience in missions, advocacy, and organizational leadership. With a background in full-time ministry across the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, Noah has worked to bridge the gap between faith communities and LGBTQ+ individuals, fostering spaces of understanding, dignity, and care.
His journey has been shaped by both deep faith and personal resilience. Having navigated the complexities of faith, sexuality, and community, Noah is passionate about ensuring that churches become places where LGBTQ+ individuals feel seen, valued, and supported in their spiritual walk. He has worked extensively in pastoral care, event coordination, and communications, equipping church leaders to engage with grace and humility in conversations around gender and sexuality.
Beyond his work with Posture Shift, Noah has served in medical non-profits and the addiction recovery field, emphasizing holistic care and compassionate leadership. He is deeply committed to walking alongside those who feel caught between faith and identity, offering a perspective rooted in love, integrity, and unwavering trust in Christ.
Outside of work, Noah has a love for aviation and travel, enjoying the opportunity to explore new cultures and connect with people worldwide. Having lived in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand, he brings a global perspective that shapes his passion for hospitality and community. He also has a deep appreciation for food and wine, always eager to discover new flavors and experiences. Whether visiting a vineyard, trying a new restaurant, or boarding a plane to a new destination, Noah finds joy in the richness of life’s journey.
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