Heard completed his clinical pastoral education at Oregon State Hospital's Forensics Unit.
In July 2003 he was called to serve as associate rector at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Menlo Park, California.
Heard was called as Vicar of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dallas, Oregon in January 2015[2] and retired in June 2022.
Over the years Heard served as a branch manager of Bernard Haldane Associates and was a member of both Menlo Park's and Salem's Kiwanis Club.
During Covid he Co-facilitated a Zoom discussion on racism, and he provided online services for his St. Thomas' congregation while the church was closed.
[2] Heard was married to Adair for 57 years, and together they had a son Frederick, and twin daughters Heather and Robin.