About Rob Lee
Here is a rare thing—Rob Lee gives testimony from and to his generation… Rob refuses to give up hope for his church. — Bishop William H. Willimon, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke University Divinity School, Bishop (UMC), Retired
The Rev. Canon Dr. Robert Wright Lee, IV (Rob) is an author, activist, commentator, and preacher. His work has been covered by MTV, the View, The New Yorker, CNN, the New York Times, NPR, and countless others. That may sound like a mouthful, so Rob is often found just telling stories with friends in his hometown. Speaking of that, Lee is a native of Statesville, North Carolina and graduate of Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. He received his Master of Theological Studies in May of 2017 with a focus in practical theology and homiletics. He was an endowed scholar while at Duke University. Lee completed his undergraduate work in Religious Studies and Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University where he met his wife, Stephanie. Though he flies to New York, Boston, Chicago, and all kinds of other places—the red clay of the Piedmont of North Carolina is in his bones. He completed his doctoral work through Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California in 2023. His dissertation is on the faith traditions and practices of the American Presidents. He currently serves as Canon Theologian at Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Rob believes preaching and writing are his native languages and expressions of the abundance of God. He has written extensively for both secular and religious news outlets. Rob's work has appeared in outlets such as NPR’s Weekend Edition, All Things Considered, and multiple appearances on WUNC’s The State of Things. He has regularly appeared on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon and other national news outlets, and has a popular podcast, Beloved Journal. He has written for Ministry Matters, the Methodist Federation for Social Action, the Huffigton Post, the Common English Bible: Student Edition, and the Washington Post. He has preached from notable churches such as the Historic Ebenezer Church in Atlanta, the American Cathedral in Paris, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel in Chicago, First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., and the Old North Church in Boston. He has a special affinity and working relationship with Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.
Rob is a collateral descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and has been engaged as an activist in the field of racial reconciliation. He participated in the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards and was on ABC’s the View where he spoke about the need to confront white supremacy and white privilege in white churches. He has partnered with Dr. Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. to advance these causes. Bernice wrote the foreword for one of his books. In July of 2020 he testified before the United States Congress on H.R. 970, a bill to remove a statue of his ancestor at the Antietam battlefield and on Capitol Hill. After working with the Biden-Harris campaign to stump for them in the 2020 campaign, in January of 2021, Rev. Lee participated in the Inaugural Interfaith Prayer Service for President Joe Biden and has regularly written devotionals for Dr. Jill Biden. On July 4th, 2024, Dr. Lee gave the invocation at the White House to kick off the national 4th of July celebrations at the invitation of President and Dr. Biden. Dr. Lee served as a spiritual resource to the First Family and their team during the Biden Administration (2021-2025).
Rob’s first book was titled “Stained-Glass Millennials” (Smyth and Helwys 2017), his second book “A Sin by Any Other Name” was released in April of 2019 by Penguin Random House. “The Pulpit and the Paper” is Lee’s third book and was released in November 2020 by Smyth and Helwys, Chelsea Clinton wrote the foreword for that book. In 2022 Lee edited a prayerbook for foster and adoptive families titled “Fostering Hope” published by Smyth and Helwys. In early 2024, Dr. Lee released his fifth book, “Night Owl Prayers: A Prayerbook.” Later that year, in October of 2024, Dr. Lee released his first children’s book that he co-authored. “You are Mine and I am Yours” by Lee and the Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford adapts the Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition for children. In 2022 he was named to the College of Ministry’s Board of Preachers, an auspicious honor given by Morehouse College.
Rob was baptized, raised, and attends a United Methodist Church, and is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA—that said, he cherishes the wealth of traditions he’s been afforded to journey with including the Episcopal Church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He's an avid autograph collector too.