In Memory of Rev. Robert A. Macdicken (July 22, 1940 − December 27, 2025)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Robert “Bob” A. MacDicken, who died on December 27, 2025, at the age of 85.

Bob was born on July 22, 1940, in Tacoma, WA, to Robert W. and Nancy (Gustavson) MacDicken. He was the oldest of three children, raised in a Baptist home, and took on the role of the responsible older child. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma in 1958, received his Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Psychology, and Sociology from the University of Redlands, CA, in 1962, followed by a Master of Divinity from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in 1967. He was ordained as an American Baptist minister that same year.

From 1967 to 1976, Bob served as a part-time or volunteer minister for churches across multiple denominations. During this period, his internal theological understanding evolved, and over time, he found that the evangelical framework of his upbringing no longer aligned with his evolving beliefs. He rejected the exclusive claims of his fundamentalist youth, and his sense of ministry as defined by conventional pastoral work began to fade. After years of reassessing his vocational direction, he eventually stepped away from traditional pastoral roles. He joined the War on Poverty, first serving as a community action agency director, and later as a trainer of community action leaders. Over the next fifteen years, he trained people to coordinate and manage federally funded social programs.

In 1982, Bob joined the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA, where he remained active for eighteen years–his longest association with a single church. This community helped shape his growing commitment to Unitarian Universalism. By the late 1990s, he came to believe that he could be of greater service to the UU faith if he were to be accepted into a fellowship as a UU minister.

From 2001 to 2005, Bob and his wife Eileen became members of the UU Fellowship of Hendersonville, NC. During this time, Bob contributed to the Hendersonville Fellowship in many ways, including singing in the choir, helping with canvass and canvass plays, preaching and leading worship on occasion, starting a small group ministry/covenant group program, and serving on the Ministers as Members Advisory Group. He participated thoughtfully as a lay person and as a practicing minister, deepening his commitment to Unitarian Universalism.

In 2002, Rev. McMicken accepted a call from the UU Church of Catawba Valley, Hickory, NC, and became their half-time minister. After receiving a Fellowship with the UUA in 2005, he continued his ministry with the congregation until his retirement in 2016. Under his leadership, the congregation constructed a church building, establishing a permanent home for worship. He worked to strengthen the adult RE program and was known for the sermons that balanced spiritual depth with intellectual stimulation, encouraging members to search for their own spiritual fulfillment, clarity of expression, and articulation. His leadership fostered more effective and collaborative boards and committees, creating a healthier and more productive congregational environment.

The Rev. MacDicken’s ministry emphasized deep listening, mutual understanding, and opportunities for interfaith engagement, including programs such as Building Bridges and Neighboring Faiths. He also contributed to the wider denomination serving as a treasurer of the Southeast UUMA Chapter (2006–2009) and as a UUMA chapter leader. In addition to his ministry, he was active with the Human Relations Council of Henderson County, NC, working for equality and justice for all people. He was an officer in Kiwanis and a member of the Board of Directors at Park Ridge Health in Hendersonville, NC.  He served in theatre productions such as “Don Quixote” in many communities.

In his leisure time, Bob enjoyed playing golf and tennis, attending the theater, concerts, basketball games, and movies. He had a deep appreciation for the arts, wrote and performed his own poetry, and found joy in creative expression. He wrote a short book called “Love and Breath”, which is musings and poetry about his family.

Bob is survived by his wife, Eileen Ross; his children from his first spouse, Carolyn MacDicken (born Johnson): Mark (April), Nathan, Eric (Caroline), and Tabbitha (Gregory); his stepchildren, Rachel and Joshua (Samantha); his grandchildren, Ripley, Tulia, Wyatt, Gemma, Jonathan, and Galen; and his brother, James (Janet).

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Land of the Sky United Church of Christ, 15 Overbrook PI, Asheville, NC 28805. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain, 503 W. State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711. 

Notes of condolence may be shared here.