The Author
Bob Flanagan | Author, Educator, PriestBob has always loved teaching and has a gift for connecting with children and teenagers. He’s a father of two children, now young adults. For many years, he volunteered for Junior Achievement teaching financial skills to high school, middle school, and kindergarten students.
As Associate Rector at St. Matthew’s Church in Bedford, New York, Bob helped oversee a Church School with 250 children. He taught middle school Confirmation classes and helped lead the high school youth group. From 2008 – 2013, Bob returned to his high school alma mater to be School Minister and Chair of the Theology Department. He worked to build the spiritual intelligence of more than 350 students, and he and his wife were dorm parents to 40 boys each year.
In addition to spiritual leadership, Bob has coached rowing for nine seasons with several boats winning medals at the New England rowing championships. Whatever church he is at, Bob works to build up the confidence of young people—the future of the church.
PURSUING GOD’S CALL
In his mid-thirties, Bob had all the trappings of a successful life in America. He had a thriving insurance and financial planning practice with Northwestern Mutual. He and his family made their home in Rye, New York. He was a board member of several local and regional charities, and regularly attended church.
One evening, however, Bob asked himself to what point was of chasing after the good life. It was God stirring his soul. Months later, having never considered it, Bob was perplexed when his priest suggested the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. Bob likened the time leading up to the conversation with his priest to the Francis Thompson poem “The Hound of Heaven.” He returned home from his meeting with the priest and discussed the possibility of the priesthood. Within an hour, he and his wife agreed, if it’s God’s will then it will happen.
In the following years, Bob continued to discover a tremendous amount of fulfillment making a difference in the quality of people’s lives and discovering God’s promise within daily life.
EDUCATION
Bob Flanagan was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. At the age of 13, he left home for a life-changing experience and education at Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire. Next, he attended Brooks School, graduating with high honors in Classics and honors in Music. At Trinity College, he majored in English with a focus on writing poetry. He also rowed for the Trinity Crew team for four years and was a captain twice. While an insurance and financial representative, he earned his Charter Life Underwriter and Charter Financial Consultant designations. At 37, Bob began his Master in Divinity degree at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in Alexandria, Virginia. Among the various programs Bob has attended as a priest, he was selected to attend the National Security Seminar at the Army War College in 2009. In 2013, he started his Doctor of Ministry degree at VTS, specializing in Christian spirituality, leadership, and outreach to the churchless.
