Bishop Todd Hunter has appointed The Rev. Rob Patterson of Redeemer Santa Cruz to succeed the Very Rev. Ed McNeill as Regional Dean of Northern California, as Ed pursues his call to church planting in Hawaii. We caught up with Rob before his upcoming installation to talk about his new role and what he’s looking forward to most.

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What Is a Regional Dean?

Regional Deans are key to the success of C4SO, sharing in Bishop Todd’s leadership of mission and pastoral care in each of our six Deaneries.

Among the Dean’s responsibilities:
– Developing and sharing a regional vision for ministry
– Helping Bishop Todd oversee and care for the Deanery
– Providing supportive and collaborative leadership for mission and ministry in the Deanery
– Convening a Clericus (a monthly gathering of the Deanery’s clergy)
– Conducting other Deanery meetings and events

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Q: As a busy church planter, why did you want to take on these extra responsibilities?

Rob Patterson: I’m really interested in helping our diocese. When Bishop Todd asked me to do this, I wanted to support him and be a good team player. As a church planter, I’m willing to do this because I believe the mission of making more and better disciples of Jesus is worth it. My life is about starting churches, helping churches grow, and supporting the Deanery. If I can be a support to other churches, of course I want to do that. I feel like I’m ready to help the folks I’ve learned to love in the last few years, and that our Deanery is ready to receive from me in this way. I’m looking forward to hopefully serving them well.

Q: What has equipped and prepared you for this role?

RP: I feel like I have a strong administrative gift. I’ll also be able to draw on my experience starting a church within a church, planting a non-denominational church, and then planting Redeemer Santa Cruz.

More importantly, I have a background as a worship leader, which is what led me to being a priest in the first place. I was seeking to learn how to be a better worship leader, and I stumbled onto the liturgy. When it dawned on me that liturgy is how the church worships, it made me want to lead worship as a priest. Being a worship-leading priest will hopefully facilitate a culture in our Deanery that’s all about worship. If we start with the “why,” the answer is always because we’re worshipping the Lord. At Clericus, I hope we can worship and pray together, as well as when we gather our congregations together.

Another unique piece is that I was born and raised here. I get the culture. I genuinely love the Bay Area. I have always loved its quirkiness and peculiarity, and none of the bizarre liberal artistic communities feel weird to me. They just feel like home. I am one of the weirdos and I love that.

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NorCal Deanery Churches

Eucharist Church
San Francisco, CA
Led by the Rev. Ryan Jones

Igbo Anglican Church
San Jose, CA
Led by the Rev. Innocent Umunna

Redeemer Anglican Church
Santa Cruz, CA
Led by the Rev. Rob Patterson

St. James Anglican Church
San Jose, CA
Led by the Very Rev. Ed McNeill / the Rev. Cindy Stansbury

St. John’s Anglican Church
Orinda, CA
Led by the Rev. Jeffrey Still

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Q: What’s your vision for the NorCal Deanery?

RP: Right now I’m spending time with the rectors and all the clergy on the phone, asking them what they think. I’m not coming in with a grand vision. I’m coming in wanting to listen and see what God is doing, and notice the commonalities so we can major on something we’re already passionate about. Then, we can figure out what that says about where we want to go.

Q: What are you looking forward to most?

RP: I’m really looking forward to forming our collective identity. We have a mission as C4SO, but I’m excited to see the regional flavor of that mission come into its own. I would love to see us develop a sense of being together, our own identity and mission, and be able to pursue our goals together.

Q: What do you believe is so important about Clericus and building community as a Deanery?

RP: I’ve experienced so many good things in that arena. Prior to becoming an Anglican, I was part of a group of Santa Cruz clergy from all different denominations. It was super important to me. We would gather once a month—Lutheran, Pentecostal, non-denominational, Baptist, Presbyterian. For me, it was crucial having camaraderie in the midst of leading a church, as it’s often a lonely or not-totally-understood thing. We did a yearly retreat to pray for each other. I went to these pastors saying, “I think the Lord is calling me to plant an Anglican church.” They said, “We think that’s a great idea!” They laid hands on me and commissioned me. Whenever I was in a sticky situation at the church and needed advice, I talked to another pastor who shared how to handle those things.

Clericus is great for coaching, friendship, camaraderie, encouragement in scripture, and prayer times together. I’m excited to experience that in the NorCal Deanery. I want us to grow a greater sense of belonging to one another, and I don’t want anyone to feel like they’re on their own, doing this by themselves. In the Bay Area it can feel like nobody is near us, that we don’t have a lot of Anglican support. Continuing to be there for each other relationally is huge.

Q: How can we pray for you?

RP: Time management is my biggest thing. In addition to being Dean, I’m leading a church. I’m teaching part-time. I’m finishing Nashotah House studies, and trying to be present for my wife and kids. Please pray that I can manage my time well. My desire is to serve in a way that will be helpful.

The Rev. Rob Patterson will be officially installed as Dean of the NorCal Deanery on the evening of October 1 (time TBD) at St. James Anglican Church in San Jose.