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Eric Camden (Stephen Collins)

Gender: Male

Background

Reverend Camden was raised in New York City by his parents, The Colonel John Camden and Ruth Camden, played by actors Peter Graves and Barbara Rush respectively. Based on the episode "Halloween" (Season 1, Episode 6) it appears that Eric Camden was born in 1954, making him about 52 years old. Rev. Camden attended college for five years and graduated from Kolbel Seminary. Shortly thereafter he married and began a family with Annie Camden (nee Jackson), played by Catherine Hicks. All of these events took place many years before the pilot episode. He also has one sister, Julie Camden-Hastings, who ended up marrying the doctor that delivered Eric and Annie's oldest son Matt and youngest twins, Sam and David.

Pastoral Duties

Reverend Camden has been the pastor of Glen Oak Community Church - in the fictional town of Glen Oak, California for over 25 years. Almost every episode of the series has involved him helping members of the community. Some of these people have been churchgoers, teens in trouble, and friends of the Camden children. Throughout the first six seasons Eric was the only acting minister of the church. During season 7, the church deacons hired Chandler Hampton, a young college graduate played by Jeremy London, as the new Associate Pastor in order to help facilitate church operations following Eric's double bypass surgery. The sudden move was frowned upon by Eric and he left the church for six months, making an inspirational returning in April 2003 as the celebrant of daughter Lucy's wedding to Kevin Kinkirk. For one year Eric and Chandler worked side by side, until Chandler left the church in the Season 8 finale. Beginning in season 9, Lucy took on some duties at the church as the new associate pastor - including teaching a class to young women about sex - while completing college and finishing out her pregnancy. Beginning in the Season 10 opener, Lucy officially joined the church full-time.

Loving Father

Eric is the father of seven children, and grandfather of six (although it would have been eight if Lucy & Kevin had not had a misscarriage of their twins). Over the years he has seen all of the Camden children through their darkest moments. Some of these include Matt's experimenting with drugs, Mary's fast moving relationship with Robbie, guiding a distraught Lucy following the tragic death of a good friend, Simon's sudden interest in promiscuous sex, and trying to keep his eye on the maturing Ruthie. Eric Camden has appeared in every episode of 7th Heaven.

Family

Marital Status: Married to Annie Jackson-Camden.

Parents

Colonel John Camden (father)
Ruth Camden (mother)
Charles Jackson (father-in-law; deceased)
Jenny Jackson (mother-in-law; deceased)
Ginger Jackson (step-mother-in-law)

Siblings

George Camden (brother-adopted)
Julie Camden-Hastings (sister)
Hank Hastings (brother-in-law)
Lily Jackson (half sister-in-law)

Children

Matt Camden (son with Annie; born 1980)
Sarah Glass-Camden (daughter-in-law via Matt)
Mary Camden-Rivera (daughter with Annie; born 1982)
Carlos Rivera (son-in-law via Mary)
Lucy Camden-Kinkirk (daughter with Annie; born 1983)
Kevin Kinkirk (son-in-law via Lucy)
Simon Camden (son with Annie; born 1986)
Ruthie Camden (daughter with Annie; born 1991)
David Camden (son with Annie; born 1999)
Sam Camden (son with Annie; born 1999)

Grandchildren

Charles Miguel "Charlie" Rivera (grandson via Mary; born 2002)
Savannah Kinkirk (granddaugher via Lucy; born 2003)
Unnamed Camden (grandson via Matt; born 2006)
Unnamed Camden (grandson via Matt; born 2006)
Emma Rivera (granddaughter via Mary; born 2006)
Grace Rivera (granddaughter via Mary; born 2006)
Unnamed Kinkirk (grandson via Lucy; miscarried; 2006)
Unnamed Kinkirk (grandson via Lucy; miscarried; 2006)

Nieces and Nephews

Erica Hastings (niece via Julie)