Reverend Jennifer S. Leath, Ph.D.
Rev. Dr. Jennifer S. Leath is the pastor of Campbell Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, having been appointed by Bishop Clement W. Fugh at the end of August 2016 and is the Assistant Professor of Religion and Social Justice at Iliff School of Theology, where she is also the Director of the Masters of Social Justice and Ethics degree program there. Fulfilling the call upon her life to transformative leadership in both the church and the academy, Rev. Leath was licensed to preach at Mother Bethel AME Church (Philadelphia, PA) in 1999; she was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in 2005 – and an Itinerant Elder in 2007. Most recently, Rev. Leath has served as the pastor of Allen African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church (White Plains, NY). Prior to her appointment as the pastor of Allen, Rev. Leath served as the pastor of Campbell AME Church (Media, PA) (2012-2014) and served on the ministerial staffs of Mother Bethel, Bethel AME Church (New Haven, CT), and First AME Church: Bethel (New York, NY).
Rev. Leath holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies and African American Studies from Harvard University (2003) and a Masters of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (2007). In May 2013 Pastor Leath earned her Ph.D. in Religious Studies and African American Studies with an emphasis in Religious Ethics at Yale University. Dr. Leath was a Women’s Studies in Religion Program Research Associate at Harvard Divinity School (2014-2015), where she taught and worked toward the completion of her first book. Dr. Leath also co-founded the Center on African American Religion, Sexual Politics & Social Justice at Columbia University where she served as a Senior Fellow, Director for Research, and Assistant Director for Research.
Also passionate about the intersection of diverse Christian traditions through ecumenical engagement, Dr. Leath has served as the Co-Moderator of the Joint Consultative Group between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Pentecostal Churches, a member of the WCC youth commission, and a delegate to the 10th Assembly of the WCC.
The daughter of Bishop Jeffrey N. and Dr. Susan V. J. Leath, and sister of Victoria and Jeffrey, II, Rev. Dr. Leath is grateful for the loving support of her family and church homes that have nurtured her, including Mt. Zion (Norristown, PA) and Bethel (Wilmington, DE), that buoy her as she responds to the call of G*d on her life to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with G*d.
Rev. Leath holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies and African American Studies from Harvard University (2003) and a Masters of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (2007). In May 2013 Pastor Leath earned her Ph.D. in Religious Studies and African American Studies with an emphasis in Religious Ethics at Yale University. Dr. Leath was a Women’s Studies in Religion Program Research Associate at Harvard Divinity School (2014-2015), where she taught and worked toward the completion of her first book. Dr. Leath also co-founded the Center on African American Religion, Sexual Politics & Social Justice at Columbia University where she served as a Senior Fellow, Director for Research, and Assistant Director for Research.
Also passionate about the intersection of diverse Christian traditions through ecumenical engagement, Dr. Leath has served as the Co-Moderator of the Joint Consultative Group between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Pentecostal Churches, a member of the WCC youth commission, and a delegate to the 10th Assembly of the WCC.
The daughter of Bishop Jeffrey N. and Dr. Susan V. J. Leath, and sister of Victoria and Jeffrey, II, Rev. Dr. Leath is grateful for the loving support of her family and church homes that have nurtured her, including Mt. Zion (Norristown, PA) and Bethel (Wilmington, DE), that buoy her as she responds to the call of G*d on her life to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with G*d.
Campbell & Pastor Leath in the News
- Leath, Jennifer S. "TCR OP-ED - 'DISCUSS AND DEBATE' - TOWARD A BALANCED CONVERSATION" in The Christian Recorder. 27 May 2016.
- Fields, Jenn. "How Colorado’s faith leaders minister in a divided election season" in The Denver Post. 28 October 2016.
- "WCC and Pentecostals discuss discipleship and formation in California." 11 April 2017.
- Leath, Jennifer S. "Now on Sexuality in the AME Church" in The Christian Recorder. 1 May 2017.
- McGhee, Tom. "Five Points Church Donates $20,000 to Nonprofits." 19 November 2017.
- Leath, Jennifer S. "Equipped Disciples: Embracing the Cross." 3 January 2018.
- Finley, Bruce. "Colorado Honors King in Face of Trump: 'When the Least Get Together, Something New Happens.'" 14 January 2018.