About Bob

A Ministry of Transformation and Caring

As an Episcopal priest since 2003, Bob has worked in various ministry areas, engaging in unique experiences. He helped two churches rebuild after Hurricane Katarina devasted the Gulf Coast in 2005. Bob was an on-call chaplain at an acute care psychiatric facility for several years. He has led big and small churches through leadership transitions. He also has overseen several schools, one with more than 250 children.

In 2018, Bob began a new journey, teaching seminary students at General Theological Seminary in New York City. This vocation has led to other positions, the spring 2021 Dean's Scholar and a Dean's Teaching Fellowship at Virginia Theological Seminary. Bob is also the Dean's Advisor for Partnership at VTS, and in 2022, he became the Chaplain at General. Starting August 2024, Bob will be the Acting Associate Dean of the Chapel at VTS through January 2025.

Through it all, his passion for writing continued, and he continues to pen new works.
 

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. In 2018, he completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at VTS, specializing in Christian spirituality.