Dr. Jack Harnish announced in June of 2006 that the Staff Parish Relations Committee approved the recommendation to name Rod Quainton as our Senior Associate Pastor. The Committee wrote: “...this is an acknowledgement of the significant leadership role you play in the life of this church. The high regard with which both staff and congregation hold you makes a very compelling case for this recognition. May your ministry continue to be strong and faithful.”

Previously, he was affiliated with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, where he was the Administrative Director of the Center for Ethics and Values. He has an MBA from Harvard, an M. Div. from the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas, and a BA from Yale. After a 15-year career with the First National Bank of Chicago in Tokyo, New York and Houston, he served churches in Texas and Florida.

Rod is an Episcopal priest and is married to Nanci Priest, a licensed clinical social worker with an MSW from the University of Chicago as well as a Masters in Theological Studies from McCormick Presbyterian Seminary in Chicago. Rod has a stepson, Drew, and three young adult children, Sarah, Andrew and Jennifer. Rod is a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts. His interests include baseball, movies, art and he has climbed Mt. Fuji and made the cover of Business Week Magazine!

As Director of Programs and Adult Education, he has inspired innovative offerings such as Jesus at the Oscars, Reading With Rod, Fresh Perspectives (for persons in job and career transitions) and the D. A. D. S. (Dialoguing About Dad Stuff) group for stay-at-home dads. Rod also teaches Jesus in the Gospels and the Disciple Series Bible study classes.