Pastor Brian Camara

Pastor Brian Camara was born and raised in Glendale, CA. His earliest memories include playing games in the stairwell of Glendale Presbyterian Church during services and has always felt at home in Presbyterian churches. At the age of 16, he felt a calling to vocational ministry and has never deviated from that course.

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In college, Brian dual-majored in History and the Study of Religion at the University of California San Diego and went on to receive a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. During this time, he completed internships at churches in Saratoga, Granada Hill and twice in Burbank. It was then that his life took a drastic change. After graduating from Fuller Seminary in 2009, Brian accepted his first call as solo pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Glidden, Iowa (population 1,100). Life in Glidden was unlike anything he had previously known – but the wisdom of God often appears foolish to humans. Brian thrived in rural Iowa because Glidden gave him the first true opportunity in his life to live into his calling.

 

In Glidden, Brian was devoted to the people he served and he worked tirelessly to strengthen the Presbytery of Prospect Hill. He served as Moderator of Presbytery, a Commissioner to the 222nd General Assembly, Chair of the Bills and Overtures Task Force, among other roles. As a preacher, Brian is passionate about treatment of the under privileged. He once sent a letter to President Obama concerning the Syrian Civil War, refugee resettlement process and American drone strike policy, earning himself a thoughtful handwritten reply from the 44th Commander in Chief.

 

On December 1, 2017, Brian was married to his wife, Abby Stonner Camara. They both agree that Pacifica is a uniquely enticing place to live and they are thrilled to once again live close to a major city. In the next couple of years, Brian plans to complete his Doctorate in Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary.