Page 41 - PC Winter 2023-24

Connection
PROFILE
The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Spencer
First Resident Director of Crieff
presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2023
PRESBYTERIAN
41
Theological Education by Extension, Malawi
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The Rev. Dr. Robert “Bob” Spen- cer died on June 28, 2021. In his youth, Bob was active in the Pres- byterian Young People’s Society (PYPS) at St. Enoch Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ont. It was here that he met the love of his life, Maureen. And it was also in PYPS where his growing faith in Jesus Christ and his keen interest as a student of scripture was first noticed by church leadership. St. Enoch’s minister at the time, the Rev. Dr. Mariano Di Gangi, asked him if he had considered going into ministry. He hadn’t, but he began to reflect on it seriously, with Mariano as his mentor. Bob sensed a call to the continuation of Christ’s ministry as a Minister of Word and Sacraments while at Camp Iona in Bala, Ont., where he would later spend a few years as Camp Director.
After graduating from McMas- ter University, Bob then went on to Knox College in Toronto. Dur- ing his studies, Bob served as a student minister at St. Enoch, Hamilton and Glebe Presbyterian Church, Toronto. After ordination in 1964, Bob was called to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Assiniboia, Sask., where he served for three years. He was then called to St. Andrew’s, Ar- thur and Gordonville, Ont., where he spent the next 8.5 years. Bob
The blessing of the vestments on Sept. 26, 2021, before the Rev. Blair Bertrand took them to Malawi. Pictured (left to right) are Bob’s eldest son, Mark Spen- cer, Paul Spencer, Maureen Spencer, Barb Di Ilio, the Rev. Blair Bertrand and David Spencer.
The Rev. Dr. Blair Bertrand, PCC mis- sion staff in Malawi, distributed vest- ments and many coloured clerical shirts that once belonged to Bob. In this picture is the Rev. Osward Chiny- ama, a minister in the Blantyre Syn- od (part of the Church of Central Af- rica Presbyterian) and also currently a MTh student at Zomba Theological University. His congregation, Mt. Ol- ive CCAP, is in the commercial capital of Malawi, Blantyre.
was then called to a new type of ministry as Resident Direc- tor of Crieff Hills Community Retreat and Conference Centre, a 250-acre estate in Puslinch, Ont., owned by The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
During his time at Crieff, Bob was also a member of the North American Retreat Directors Asso- ciation, and a representative with the World Council of Churches. This work saw him travel through- out North America, Asia, Europe and Africa. As an example of his well-known tireless energy, dur- ing this time he was also elected and served 11 years as trustee for the Wellington County Public School Board and was chairper- son for two of those years.
In 1999, after 24 years of ser- vice, Bob left Crieff, now that it had a growing complement of staff and volunteers and a rich of- fering of lay leadership programs. During that year, a Minute of Ap- preciation was adopted by the General Assembly of the PCC to acknowledge that: “By the grace of God, Crieff Hills is undoubtedly ‘the place that Bob built.’”
After leaving Crieff, Bob estab- lished a lay leadership training service called Laòs Ministries. He also spent the next 10 years as interim minister to five congrega- tions in transition and that were seeking new guidance or coming to terms with the changing needs of their congregations. At the age of 60, Bob began a Doctor of Ministry program at McMaster University, which he completed. After full retirement, he spent sev- eral years as Minister in Associa- tion at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Guelph, Ont., helping
wherever he could continue to serve.
In addition to being a gifted preacher, Bob loved singing. He became a voice remembered and often celebrated in the many plac- es where he served. His musical gifts added much to the programs at Crieff, as well as to his church ministry. His solos and his duets with Maureen were eagerly an- ticipated. During the late ’70s and early ’80s, he was lead singer and occasional bassist of a Presbyte- rian musical group called “The Lost and Found Department,” made up of seven Presbyterian ministers who toured Ontario, Western and Eastern Canada, and Jamaica. Their theme song was “Amazing Grace.”
Later in life, Bob kept busy as a member of several men’s cho- ruses around Southern Ontario as well as the St. Andrew’s Guelph church choir. Coming to barber- shop quartet singing somewhat later in life, over the past 30 years Bob was a proud member of the Royal City Ambassadors, and later the Tri-City Gospel Chorus, as well as the bass in an award- winning barbershop quartet, Heartland Express.
Bob was the treasured husband of Maureen (nee Linton) for 59 years and beloved father of Mark (Ksenia), Paul (Katie), Barbara Di Ilio (Joe) and David (Cynthia). He was a loving grandfather to nine children.
Bob’s life and his service to God and his community were both heard and felt. He is deeply missed. A service to celebrate Bob’s life was held at St. An- drew’s Presbyterian Church in Guelph in July 2021.
The Rev. Dr. Robert C. Spencer.