The Reverend

Jeff Rock
Born1983 or 1984
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
EducationMcGill University
ReligionChristian
ChurchMetropolitan Community Church (2017-2023)
United Church of Canada
Congregations served
Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto

Jeff Rock (born 1983 or 1984)[1] is a Canadian clergyman, who succeeded Brent Hawkes as the pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto in fall 2017.[2]

Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, he came out as gay in high school.[3] He studied microbiology and immunology at McGill University, initially with the career goal of becoming an HIV/AIDS researcher, although he decided during his studies that he instead wanted to become a minister.[3] After completing his seminary studies, he became the pastor of Gaetz Memorial United Church in Red Deer, Alberta,[4] where he worked with organizations such as the Central Alberta AIDS Network, the local Truth and Reconcilaition Commission, the Urban Aboriginal Voices Society and the Red Deer Interfaith Network.[2] He ran as a Liberal Party of Canada candidate for the electoral district of Red Deer—Lacombe in the 2015 election, against incumbent MP Blaine Calkins.[1]

He gave his first sermon to Toronto's MCC congregation on July 9, 2017, at a service dedicated to the memory of former Toronto City Councillor Pam McConnell.[1] He officially succeeded Hawkes on October 1.[1] Resigned from his position on January 18, 2023 after a two month leave of absence.

Electoral record

2015 Canadian federal election: Red Deer—Lacombe
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeBlaine Calkins43,59970.71-6.72$75,006.35
LiberalJeff Rock9,23514.98+11.41$16,605.92
New DemocraticDoug Hart7,05511.44-2.85$5,541.40
GreenLes Kuzyk1,7732.88-1.84–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 61,662100.00 $224,841.10
Total rejected ballots 1760.28–
Turnout 61,83871.40–
Eligible voters 86,609
Conservative hold Swing -9.07
Source: Elections Canada[5][6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Rock moves on to take up new ministry in Toronto". Red Deer Advocate, July 14, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Rev. Jeff Rock to lead Toronto LGBTQ congregation" Archived 2017-07-19 at the Wayback Machine. RDNews Now, July 13, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Meet Jeff Rock, the scientist who became a Toronto pastor". The Globe and Mail, July 14, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Local church embraces LGBTQ community". Red Deer Advocate, March 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Red Deer—Lacombe (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2020-02-02.


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