In October 2014, the Rev. John Shields accepted a call to join St. Paul’s clergy, part-time, as Priest Associate. John’s ministry includes preaching, assisting at worship services, teaching and pastoral care.

John’s work history includes 10 years as a real estate appraiser, four years as a trainer and consultant in race relations, 15 years as Executive Director of Step One, a substance abuse treatment and prevention agency and nine years as Director of Medicorp Recovery Network, a substance abuse treatment program of Forsyth Memorial Hospital.

John was ordained as a priest in 1986 and served for nine years as Vicar of St. Elizabeth’s in King and Christ Church in Walnut Cove. John’s previous ministry at St. Paul’s Winston-Salem began in 1996 when the Rev. Rod Reinecke hired him as “Temporary Part-Time Assistant to the Interim Rector.” A year later, when the Rev. Don Goodheart was called as Rector, John became a full-time Associate Rector. When Don retired 10 years later, John served as Interim Rector for 18 months. John later served as Interim Rector at Holy Comforter in Charlotte, Holy Cross in Valle Crucis and St. Paul’s in Wilkesboro.