John de Beer is passionate about supporting congregations to strengthen the vocation of all members. This interest in the ministry of the laity has been a constant theme in his own vocation.
John is currently serving St. Marks Episcopal Church, Burlington, Massachusetts, as Rector. Previously he was Rector of St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church in Severna Park, Maryland, together with his wife Tricia de Beer, who is now the Rector at the Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington, Massachusetts. Tricia helped conceive the KLESIS curriculum, contributed to _Connect?_ and substantially revised the current version of _Commit?_ Tricia and John have two sons, Michael and Christopher. Michael helped establish KLESIS, setting up the website and advising on program and marketing. His sudden death in 2006 was a great blow. Christopher lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter.
Prior to moving to Maryland, John served as Congregation Development Consultant for the Diocese of South Florida. For eight years before that he was the Education Director for the Theology Extension Center at the University of the South, where he participated in the development of the Education for Ministry Program.
John was born and ordained in South Africa, where he served as an assistant priest in a parish and on the staff of the Diocese of Johannesburg.
Highlights of his education and writing are as follows:
John’s hobbies are kayaking, reading, movies, scrabble and hiking.
You may contact him at connect.john@gmail.org or at 781-652-1502
