Pastor's Page

My journey in the ministry actually began years ago when I started singing in church as a kid.  I didn’t think I had any further ministry beyond music until the summer of 2005 when I began to wrestle with the decision of entering seminary.  I did, that fall.  It has been a full and rich ride and a choice I do not regret for a minute.  My journey since that time has taken me to spiritual depths I could scarcely imagine. 

My job in life is not to figure out what I’m supposed to be when I grow up.  Indeed, I doubt we are called to search to great depths of our soul in pursuit of this particular question.  I believe instead, that we are called to discover who we are, what we bring to the table of life, and how we can share that with all of Creation. 

About Rev. Bob Galloway, Pastor Emeritus (retired)

Rev. Bob Galloway received a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Illinois at Carbondale and then pursued Master's level work in Outdoor Education. Prior to receiving the call to ministry, Bob served as the Director of the Judson Collins Methodist Camp in Michigan. He attended seminary at SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary and then received an MS in Counseling from Northern Iowa University. In Detroit, Bob served as Student Clergy under the current Moderator of the Universal Fellowship of MCC, Reverend Elder Nancy Wilson, and then became the Interim Pastor of MCC Detroit. Bob has pastored New Hope MCC in Waterloo/Cedar Falls Iowa and began his ministry at MCC Knoxville from 1985 -1992 and served us again from 2000 until his retirement on March 8, 2011. Bob currently serves at the Prior of the Community of St. Ninian.

Bob has been active in ministry and service throughout his career. In addition to his extensive agricultural knowledge and his love of the great outdoors, his many contributions to service include: Assistant Director to the Wesley Foundation in Northern Iowa, Founding Director of the Northeast Iowa Rural Gay and Lesbian Outreach, advisor for the Gay Student Organization at the University of Northern Iowa, founding board member for the Northwest Iowa Food Bank, co-founder of AIDS Response Knoxville, founding member of Habitat Knoxville, active clergy participant in the formation of The Rock MCC in Chattanooga and interim pastor for MCC Asheville and MCC Tri-Cities, TN. Bob currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee with his partner Rick Sawyer, their two dogs, Nicholas and Dog (pronounced dee-O-gee) and a goose named Lucy.

Rev. Bob was conferred with the title Pastor Emeritus upon his retirement from MCC Knoxville. This title fittingly honors Rev. Bob for his many years of leadership and service to MCC Knoxville and the greater Knoxville community. Emeritus is an honorary title bestowed upon one who has retired from a position (pastor, professor, or other professional position) as a way of honoring the individual's service. In our case, Rev. Bob retains his retired status. It is simply an honorary title which does not include any pastoral duties or responsibilities.

About Metropolitan Community Church

Communal memory takes shape when we share our stories.  In those stories is our longing and yearning for peace, for love, for acceptance, for freedom, equality and justice.  In those yearnings is a search for the truth of Spirit.

If you are looking for a spiritual home, come visit us here at Metropolitan Community Church at Knoxville and listen to the voice of the Holy speak to you through the voices of diversity, community, social justice and prayer.  We welcome people of many beliefs and backgrounds into the holy space of worship, and pray that you will find justice and peace wherever Spirit leads you.