Rachel Cooley Shawler

The Rev. Rachel Cooley Shawler is a pastor, sister, sometimes-yogi, spouse, youth mentor, chaplain, and new mother. She claims New Mexico as home but grew up all over the US and lived a few years in Germany growing up with a dad in the Air Force. She grew up in Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ communities, including DOC church camp in New Mexico every summer as a spiritual & relational home. 

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Fascinated by culture & peoples, Rachel majored in Sociology and English Literature during college in San Antonio, before serving as an Americorps member in a high-need, low-income school there. The challenges of that service plus a major loss in her family led Rachel to deeper church engagement, and she experienced a call to ministry in a Presbyterian (PCUSA) community there. 

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Rachel attended Vanderbilt Divinity School—where students from diverse backgrounds study theology in service of justice—and lived in the Disciples Divinity House—where folks often become beloved friends while chatting theology & practice in intentional community. Rachel has served 4 DOC & UCC churches of varying sizes in Texas, Tennessee, and Florida, supporting youth programs, leading in worship, and fostering inclusive community.

Rachel's move to San Diego for her spouse Evan’s medical residency invited hospital chaplaincy training, yoga teacher training, and Compassion Practice experience. She served a United Church of Christ congregation there as Associate Minister of Youth & Community Building, with a stint filling in as lead pastor & another as minister to Children & Families. She loved the creativity of the kids, honesty of the teens, and dedication of the parents there, focusing on relationships as the cornerstone from which to build programs. 

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Rachel & Evan moved to Baltimore for Evan’s medical fellowship in June, and welcomed their son Julian in July. Rachel loves to read, dance, play sous chef to Evan, and chat with friends all over.