Rob Shearer, ec (he/him)

Rob is a Jesus-follower who is amazed by grace and has worked in vocational Christian ministry for the last 25+ years. He was first ordained as clergy in 2018 and was recently admitted to The United Church of Canada. 

With roots in the Pentecostal, Baptist and Anglican traditions, Rob brings a love for Jesus that is married to a passion for inclusion, justice and connecting people to the transcendent through liberating tradition. 

He sometimes describes himself as an 'Anglican-leaning Methodist' and loves the witness and spirituality of the Wesleys (Susanna, John and Charles).

Rob is the Regional Minister for Church Planting with the Pacific Mountain Regional Council of the United Church of Canada. He helped to start The Emmaus Community and The AbbeyChurch.

Before moving to the west coast in 2012, Rob was part of The Jeremiah Community (New Monastic) and he lived for 5 years in Zacchaeus House, a Catholic Worker community house of hospitality.

Rob served as music director at the campus-based Wine Before Breakfast, was National Youth Coordinator with Primate's Fund, directed the the Nidus Festival with the Canadian Council of Churches in 2006.

He worked in campus and congregational ministry in various denominations and ecumenical movements and was involved for over a decade at Parkdale Neighbourhood Church (a Baptist ‘street church’ in Toronto now called “The Dale”). 

Rob has been involved in non-violent civil disobedience to oppose wars of agression and ecological destruction.  He is also a regular attendee of a monthly listening group of survivors and allies of the United Church-run Alberni Indian Residential 'School'.

He has a passion for declonizing land by developing more shared 'common' spaces - and using cooperative housing and land trusts to foster deeper community in the face of the 'polycrisis' we find ourselves in.

Rob has co-owned an organic bakery, made all kinds of music (electronic, worship, folk), loves collecting vinyl (especially African-American gospel and 80's alternative), hiking, watching and reading Nordic Noir mysteries, brewing beer, cooking and coffee.

Most importantly, Rob is a dad to twin teenagers who teach him about life, music and hope.