The Rev. Dr Robert K. N. McLean
1965-1972
Rev. Dr. Robert K. N. McLean
Robert Kenneth Noble McLean was born in the village of Waskada, Manitoba on January 1, 1922 and was educated in the four-room village school, where he showed a remarkable aptitude for the piano.
He attended United College in Winnipeg where he became involved with the Student Christian Movement, and a group of welcoming students and staff who changed his life. These young men and women were deeply involved in theological matters, justice concerns and human relationships.. During his undergraduate years, he served several student charges in the winter months. He was ordained in June of 1946 and he spent time in Winnipeg as Assistant at Knox United Church, then as Dean of Men at United College and SCM Secretary. That was followed by a year of study and preaching in Edinburgh then a call to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. he was granted another fellowship to study at Harvard University. However Bob realized that parish ministry was most important to him, and accepted a Call to Cambridge Street United in Lindsay, Ontario in 1957. A call from Chalmers United Church in Kingston tempted Bob, and a decision to move was made in 1965.
The years in Kingston found the church in transition with new theological thrusts and much social upheaval, however, Bob’s ministry prospered and seven and a half memorable years were spent in Kingston..
In 1978, the General Council approached Bob to act as staff officer of a national task Force designed to study and report on all aspects of ministry in the United Church, with Anne Squire as committee chair. This was a two-year enterprise named Project Ministry. In 1980, when the report was finished,, Bob was invited to teach Practical Theology at Queen’s and was delighted to move back to Kingston, but in March of 1983, he was suddenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and died on September 23, 1983.
