Clancy's Bio

Clancy Nixon - Rector, Lead Pastor 

 Pastor Clancy grew up in a secular home and came to Christ as a teenager at Calvary Camp in Conneaut, Ohio. However, he was not discipled at that time, and he walked away from Christ when he went to college. He spent nine years living a secular life until he came back to Christ at age 26. In 1992, while a layman and volunteer youth leader at Church of the Apostles in Fairfax, Clancy sensed that God was calling him to be a church planter.  In 1998, he was ordained, and began to serve at Truro Church in Fairfax.  He and his wife Ginger began CHS in their living room with ten people in 2000 to start Church of the Holy Spirit in 2001.

Why did Clancy start Church of the Holy Spirit?  "I have a heart for secular people, because I was one for so long. God’s love changed me.  In the Lord Jesus, I found the fulfillment of my heart’s longing.  Through His Church and The Holy Spirit, I found healing, true friends, and supernatural power for living.  I also have a heart for discipling believers, patiently demonstrating to them how to become more like Christ  through close relationships for many years.  As an adult I have had great role models and disciplers, including Pastors Ron Soderquist and David Harper, and Bishops Martyn Minns and John Guernsey. I love to see people healed and empowered for ministry with many spiritual gifts.  Our Church is a fellowship of friends who love God, love one another, and serve the King of Kings. Our people are talented, enjoyable and committed. God's Kingdom is breaking in with miracles and supernatural love. This is great fun!”

Clancy married Ginger in 1986. "Everybody loves Ginger's contagious kindness; what a privilege to be her husband."  Their sons Will and Sam were born in 1989 and 1992.  In his leisure time, Clancy enjoys watching Sam play soccer and football for Briar Woods; visiting Calvary Camp with Will; dates with Ginger; reading great books (C.S. Lewis is his favorite); caring for his lawn and garden; and vacations at the beach and mountains with family.   

Clancy was born in 1957 and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied modern history and graduated cum laude from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1980. He was an editor of the Law Review at University of California, Davis [J.D., 1983]. He practiced business and finance law in the Washington DC area for fifteen years. He was an associate at the Washington office of Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft, and senior counsel at Freddie Mac in McLean.  He focused on Biblical studies and church planting at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria [M.Div., cum laude, 1998]. Currently, he is a pastor, church planting coach, and conference speaker in the USA and abroad. He serves on the ADV Synod Council, as chairman of the ADV Church Planting Committee, and as Vice President of the Titus Institute for Church Planting.   

Email:  clancy@minister.com