Revd Dr Rick Mearkle
Director of the Living Ministry Programme

Email: rm2024@westminster.cam.ac.uk

Church Background

Rick was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacraments in 1980 by the United Church of Christ, USA, and served churches in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania before moving to the UK in 1994 to be the minister of the United Reformed Church in Maidstone. From 2000 to 2017 he was the Chaplain and the Head of Philosophy and Theology at Caterham School in Surrey. From 2017 to 2021 he was the minister at St Neots United Reformed Church.   In the past Rick served as a Governor of Westminster College and as Convenor of its Board of Studies.

Training History

Rick completed a BA at Ashland University, Ohio, USA and trained for ordination at The Chicago Theological Seminary, Illinois, USA where he gained MDiv and DMin degrees.

Particular Responsibilities

Rick contributes to Cambridge Theological Federation programmes teaching pastoral care and pastoral theology. For Westminster students, he co-ordinates placements and the nine-month Local Ministry Placement for final year students. He also teaches skills in pastoral ministry in the dedicated ‘Life and Service’ modules. Rick has been involved in the United Reformed Church rollout of the Non-Stipendiary Ministry Model 4 and training for those providing pastoral supervision. With other members of Senatus he is engaged also in delivering education and learning events for the United Reformed Church.