The Rev. Brian McVey is the rector of the historic Episcopal Church of Advent in Nashville, TN. Brian and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of seven children: Sarah, Amanda, Nathan, Robbie, David, Hannah, and Joshua, all of whom you may see engaged in various ministries around the church. Brian came Advent after 8 ½ years in Davenport, Iowa and a briefer stint in East Liverpool, OH.
Brian received his Bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from Hamden-Sydney College in 1990. Brian completed the coursework for a PhD in Classical Philosophy at the University of Dallas’ Institute of Philosophic Studies, though he did not finish his dissertation on eros in Plato. He received his Masters of Divinity from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in 2006. Brian also studied at St. Anne’s Oxford as an undergraduate and at Wycliffe Hall Oxford as a seminarian. Prior to being ordained, Brian spent fourteen years in the brokerage industry, serving several years as Branch Office Manager of regional brokerage firms.
Before coming to Advent, Brian was named an Episcopal Church Fellow in 2011 for his work raising public and church awareness of and fighting human trafficking (slavery), of which he first because aware in 2006/7, and was the only priest invited by the Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury to participate in the Rome Consultation, an ecumenical Christian effort fighting human trafficking around the world. Brian continues to serve the wider Church lecturing and training on the issue of human trafficking.
Brian is active in the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee. Currently, he serves on Bishop & Council, the Constitution & Canons Committee, the Youth Steering Committee, and was the co-chair of the Task Force called to lead the diocese in its discussion of issues surrounding same sex marriage.
Brian has strong evangelical leanings, always encouraging Adventers to live the Gospel in their mission fields during the week, but he also recognizes the need for and power of the Sacraments of the Church to help recharge and re-energize the disciples of Christ to do the work that He has given them all to do. Though Brian is most comfortable with “broach church” worship, visitors may encounter high Eucharists, Morning Prayer ante Communion, and Healing services, in his effort to feed the flock.