Commencement 2019 Speaker Announced

This is the message from Wesley President David McAllister-Wilson announcing our speaker for our 137th Commencement, May 13, 2019 at the Washington National Cathedral.

I am pleased to announce that we have a most distinguished speaker for Commencement 2019 - University of Cambridge scholar, religious broadcaster and Wesley House Principal The Rev. Dr. Jane Leach.

Dr. Leach has served as Principal of Wesley House, Cambridge, since 2011. She is a friend of Wesley and we have enjoyed a strong partnership with Wesley House in Cambridge, England, since 2015, when it became our home base for our Doctor of Ministry Cambridge track. Many D. Min. students and graduates have enjoyed the warm hospitality of Wesley House, opened in 1921 on the grounds of Jesus College, University of Cambridge. We are happy to return that warm welcome to Dr. Leach when she joins us at the Washington National Cathedral in May.

In addition to her role at Wesley House, Dr. Leach is a Fellow-Commoner (or faculty member) of Jesus College at the University of Cambridge. She is an ordained minister (or “presbyter”) of the British Methodist Church, and has served in both local ministry and theological education. Dr. Leach has earned advanced degrees from the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and the University of Nottingham. A lecturer in the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Divinity, Dr. Leach is a scholar of practical theology. She supervises and examines doctoral students on topics relating to ministry, supervision and psychology/theology.

A founder-chair of the Association of Pastoral Supervision and Education in the UK, Dr. Leach is a leading author, speaker and consultant in the area of pastoral supervision, both in Britain and internationally. Dr. Leach is also a religious broadcaster, and is featured regularly on Thought for the Day on Radio 4, a national radio network in Britain. Her broadcasting work is an expression of her abiding interest in communicating the Christian faith in the public square.

I know you join with me in anticipation of Dr. Leach’s Commencement address and join me in holding our graduating students in prayer.

David McAllister-Wilson, President

Wesley Theological Seminary