Ask the Rev. Dr. Rob Hagan about the most important aspects of working with churches and individuals investing and he responds, “what you have learned is as important as what you have earned.” The phrase, borrowed from estate planning guru Susan Turnbull, was a steady guide through Hagan’s ministry with the Presbyterian Foundation as a Ministry Relations Officer.

Hagan’s ministry area was the Northwest, which included Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Sandra Moon has taken the same territory, beginning January 1, 2025.

Coming to Presbyterianism in his late teens in Portland, Ore., Hagan carried his faith to The University of Kansas where he studied journalism and business. He worked briefly as a science reporter in Kansas City before heeding the call to ministry he’d felt during college and enrolling in Fuller Seminary.

Following ordination, Hagan served a congregation in Fresno, Calif., for seven years and then in Kennewick, Wash., for 25 years. During his tenure in Kennewick the church’s budget grew from $174,000 to over $1 million. The south-central Washington congregation also raised nearly $7 million in that period for a variety of projects including a new sanctuary, classrooms and other renovations.

After 32 years in parish ministry, the opportunity to serve as a Ministry Relations Officer (MRO) with the Presbyterian Foundation intrigued Hagan as a way to share his experiences with other churches and encourage them in their giving.

“At first, I tried to find my way in the work I was doing for the Foundation,” he said. “Finally, Stephen [Keizer, MRO lead] told me, ‘Remember, Rob, you are your own entrepreneur. Bring that same spirit to the churches in your region.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I can do that!’”

Hagan said it was difficult at first to participate in worship rather than plan and evaluate worship, but he gradually grew into the role of working with congregations and pastors, both in financial situations and in other areas.

“My heart goes out to pastors and churches as they sometimes deal with difficult circumstances,” he said. “So we’d pray together and talk and listen – help them envision ways to do what they believe Christ’s work is in their communities.”

Rather than calling the Northwest region his territory, Hagan referred to the congregations and presbyteries he worked with his “ministry area.” In the nearly 10 years he served the 550 churches in the area, Hagan estimates he made 300 church visits prior to the COVID restrictions of 2020 and, through presbytery meetings, phone calls, zoom meetings and other gatherings, had touch points with nearly every congregation.

“I told congregations to think of me as an adjunct staff member, paid for by the Presbyterian Foundation, who can come alongside you and work with you,” he said. “That seemed to resonate with churches and also my pastoral background. They knew I had been through stewardship campaigns and that I knew the ups and downs of budgets.”

One of Hagan’s focus areas in his ministry to churches was to provide education and resources around ethical wills, which include estate planning and charitable giving.

“What is the story behind your assets?” he asks. “And what is the story you want to give the next generation and the generation that’s not yet born? There’s very a variety of charitable vehicles, but what I’ve done is to encourage people to endow their pledges.”

He notes the foundation has several tools to help individuals endow their pledge so giving to their faith community can continue in perpetuity.

Hagan credits Keizer with inspiring his ministry over the past decade.

“[Keizer] said the elevator speech for the foundation is ‘Your vision is our vision. Your mission is our mission. We’re here to help you succeed in your vision. We’re Presbyterians helping Presbyterians and we want to glorify Jesus Christ along with you.’” Hagan recalls. “And that seems encapsulate who we are as a foundation. And I I’m deeply indebted to it.”

For his part, Keizer recognizes Hagan’s tenure with Foundation as one of excitement and innovation.

“Rob was extremely dedicated in his service to churches and ministries,” Keizer said. “He had so much energy that was paired well with compassion and an understanding of how churches operate and what pastors and church leaders need. We will definitely miss him on our staff, but his retirement is well deserved.”

As Hagan enters the next chapter of his life, he said he’s looking forward to taking a break from working and is considering engaging in short term missions in addition to coaching.

“I’ve been working since I was nine years old,” he said. “So it becomes part of your life and your identity, but I think I’m ready for it.”