Keynote – The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade

The Rev. Dr. Leah Schade, ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America,Luce 2018 - Keynote The_Rev_Dr_Leah_Schade_headshot earned both her MDiv and PhD degrees from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). She completed her dissertation focusing on homiletics (preaching) and ecological theology (caring for God’s creation).  Her book Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit (Chalice Press, 2015) is available at https://www.creationcrisispreaching.com/.

Prior to coming to Lexington Theological Seminary, Dr. Schade served as the pastor of three different churches: Reformation Lutheran Church in Media, PA (2000 – 2009), Spirit and Truth Worship Center in Yeadon, PA, (2009 – 2011); and United in Christ Lutheran Church in rural Lewisburg, PA (2011 – 2016).  She has also served as an adjunct religion and philosophy instructor at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA, and Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA, teaching courses on ethics, religion, gender and ecology.

Dr. Schade’s current research and book project titled, “Preaching in the Purple Zone”:  Ministry in the Red/Blue Divide, draws on the concept of conversational preaching and suggests using this approach in tandem with a process known as “deliberative dialogue” in order to enter the Purple Zone within the perceived red-state-blue-state divide.  Visit  https://www.thepurplezone.net/  to learn more.

Dr. Schade writes a blog entitled “EcoPreacher” for Patheos that explores religion, politics, ecological justice, women’s issues, and culture: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ecopreacher/.

Dr. Schade is also a professional harpist and her CD, Shall We Gather, is available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ldschade. She and her husband Jim (a jazz drummer and percussionist) live in Lexington with their children Rachel and Benjamin.

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