Rev. Lea Matthews

Lea (she/her) is the Associate Pastor at St. Paul & St. Andrew in New York City. Lea has been called and is committed to doing her part of the intentional and intersectional work of actualizing our collective liberation. As an ordained deacon, her ministry focuses on growing souls, building inclusive and supportive community, and expanding and deepening faith-life beyond worship. Lea is the Founder and Director of Miracle Mondays, a weekly resource fair and respite center for immigrants and new arrivals.  She is a Co-Founder and on the Leadership Team of Sacred Court Support, a collaborative training and accompaniment program to immigration court and ICE check-ins.  She is also a consultant with the Interfaith Center of NYC, working collaboratively with faith leaders from diverse houses of worship to support refugees and asylum-seekers in the city.

She serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry of the New York Annual Conference, as well as the Metropolitan District Committee on Ministries. She is Co-Chair of the Standing Commission on Queer Equity, Inclusion, and Celebration for the Conference.  Outside of the Methodist Connection, she serves on the board for Village Campus Ministry, which supports progressive, ecumenical campus ministries in Manhattan. And since 2016, she has worked at Union Theological Seminary, supporting students professionally and pastorally in peer groups.

Lea received her Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, with a concentration in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Care.  She holds a Master of Education from Lehman College and a Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University, where she studied literature and human sexuality. Lea taught English Language Arts in the Bronx Public Schools for a decade, before entering the ministry. She lives in the Bronx, with her wife, Rachel, and their teenage daughter, Nora, with their beloved dog and dismissive cat.

Lightning Round:

• • Favorite Food: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and collard greens, y’all!
  • Little Known Fact: I’ve fallen in love with my Hobonichi Daily Journal
  • Unwinding Activity: Reading queer romance novels
  • Words to Live By: “Do justice, love kindness & walk humbly with God.”