Laura Shearer joined the Church Street staff as associate pastor in June 2005 after serving as pastor to three churches in Cleveland, TN, for two years. She was ordained an elder in full connection in the Holston Conference in June 2006.

Laura’s time in ministry is divided between general pastoral ministry at Church Street and the Pastoral Counseling Center for the Holston Conference, serving the counseling needs of clergy families. She serves the congregation in preaching and teaching and has special interest in liturgical arts; prayer and other spiritual practices; helping people grow as Christian disciples; and mission. Laura assists the pastoral staff with pre-marital counseling and is available to Church Street members for short-term counseling and referrals.

Laura earned a master of divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She also holds a master of education degree in community counseling from Augusta State University in Georgia. Her bachelor’s degree is in advertising and public relations from the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism. Laura has several years’ experience in mental health counseling and is a National Certified Counselor and a member of the American Counseling Association. She is under supervision for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Tennessee.

Laura enjoys watercolor painting, especially flowers and still life, and enjoys gardening and growing roses. She is married to John Shearer, a published writer and social studies teacher. Her family also includes grown sons, Robert (married to Michelle), Chris (married to Sofia), and Ben Whitelaw, and granddaughters, Maggie and Peyton.