Born and raised in small town British Columbia, I grew up in manses as the eldest child of a minister of The United Church of Canada. My education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of BC, the Master of Divinity degree from the Vancouver School of Theology and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. The first year of my Masters studies was spent at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Ordained by the British Columbia Conference of The United Church of Canada in 1980, I served seven congregations in the Minnedosa - Rapid City Wider Area Parish, Manitoba as well as the congregations of Crescent United Church in Surrey, BC and South Arm United Church in Richmond, BC before being called to University Hill Congregation in Vancouver in 1995. While at University Hill I was one of the creators of the Christian Seasons Calendar. In 2015 I received the Doctor of Divinity Degree (Honaris Causa) from the Vancouver School of Theology.
As a pastor my particular calling is to aid in the recovery of the distinctive features of Christian identity in the church. I notice that the mainline church suffers from communal amnesia that regularly leads to anxiety and despair, draining energy and nerve. My passion is to assist in the cultivation of courageous and compassionate congregations that are unashamed in their love of the gospel and of the God who, in Jesus, has called them into existence.
Married, father of four grown children and grand-father of eleven grandchildren, I enjoy walks along the beach and into the forest near our home in Crescent Beach, BC. In 2011 I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis and so joined the company of those living with cancer. In 2020 I experienced a stroke which left me unable to see to my right. After thirty-five years in congregational ministry I retired in 2015. Here is the sermon from my final Sunday - "To the Other Side". In 2023 I was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease and as a result find myself on a challenging, scary journey, In retirement I continue to read theology, history, literature, politics and current affairs as well as to write as I am able, while staying connected with my cherished circle of friends and family.
