The Rev. Dr. Robert P. Hines, Jr. is the Pastor and Head of Staff at Oakland Presbyterian Church.  Pastor Bob came to Oakland in 2002, after an 18 year ministry at Calvin Church in Ellwood City, PA.

Born and raised in Beaver, Pennsylvania, Pastor Bob went to MaryvilleCollege, at the foothills of the Smokey Mountains.  He majored in history and graduated Magna Cum Laude.  It was while at Maryville that he met his wife, Pat. 

After graduating from Maryville College, Pastor Bob and Pat moved to New Jersey, where he got his seminary degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.  While at Princeton, he received a preaching scholarship and won the Jagow Prize in preaching his senior year. 

His first call took him to eastern Ohio, where he worked with the Rev. Bill Hudson at the Cadiz Presbyterian Church.  During his four years there, Pastor Bob also served the Jewett Presbyterian Church as its part-time pastor.  His next call took him back to Pennsylvania, where he served until being called to Oakland. 

While serving in Ellwood City, Pastor Bob received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.  His focus was on stewardship.  During his ministry at Calvin Church, he helped the congregation develop a multi-million dollar endowment.

Pastor Bob is the author of the book, Buying Swamp Land for God, a book of sermons based on Old Testament readings for the lectionary.

Over the years, Pastor Bob has served the Presbyterian Church in many ways, such as chairing various committees of Presbytery and serving as a commissioner to the General Assembly.  In his spare time, he likes to read, watch movies, and officiate high school football.

He and his wife have two children.  Their son, Chris, lives in New York City, and their daughter, Erin, lives in Virginia.