The Reverend Doctor Julia Leeth has served Covenant Community Church in Vacaville since September 2015. Before serving here she served the Lord in many capacities.
Pastor Julia earned a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and completed all the coursework for her Doctorate of Ministry in Marriage and Family Counseling at Denver Seminary. She received a Doctorate of Ministry, from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, in Leadership in a Changing Church Context. Her dissertation was focused on helping people live out the covenant together, as they seek the shalom of God.
Pastor Julia is a life-long learner and strives to be equipped to be able to say yes as God calls.
She tries to be a good steward of her gifts and improve her ministry as well as the ministry around her. She serves in the Church but also intentionally serves in the communities in which she lives - in order to build relationships across a broad spectrum of people. She’s been a chaplain with two local police departments, served on a YMCA board plus chaired and served on a variety of committees and commissions.
Julia tries to make a kingdom impact where God places her.
In her free time she is a passionate but inconsistent golfer, a slightly above average cook, a sold-out disciple for Jesus Christ, and favorite Auntie Ju Ju to the coolest niece and nephew on the planet.
Pastor Julia is asked to speak with different community groups. She leads workshops, leadership and women’s retreats. One of her passions is coaching pastors, elders and disciples of Christ. She counts it as a blessing to have served as a consultant for a few struggling churches.
Pastor Julia loves us and wants to serve us. This is demonstrated in all her actions and validated by her being constantly on the move.
Pastor Julia’s answers to some often asked questions -
• What’s your vision for Covenant?
We will be a church rooted in orthodoxy (Biblical foundation) so that we will be the church within the walls and out in the community.
• Where do you see our church in 3 to 5 years?
Thriving church that makes a difference for the community. We will be a people who are growing in our experience of the transformative work of Jesus Christ. We will be a people who love the Lord and love others.
• What's your typical week like - in general?
Visits people in the hospital, home and coffee shop, study, prayer, meetings.
• Besides golf, what's your favorite activity? Yes, we know - world traveler.
YES! Spending time with people I love exploring a new place.
• Do you have a favorite (non Christian book) author?
No, I read a lot in leadership as I am working on my dissertation for my Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership in a Changing Church Context.
• Your favorite kind of movies?
Love movies in general- ones that move, inspire and challenge me. Don’t like scary movies at all!
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Additional Background on Pastor Julia
She was Transitional Head of Staff at Central Presbyterian Church in Merced where she was called to serve after the death of their beloved pastor. She accepted that call with the hope of leading people of that church in a time of unexpected transition and facilitate grief work with the staff and congregants.
Before her time in Merced, Julia was the first called Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Stockton, where she pastored pastors and resourced congregations. It was busy and fulfilling work but as churches were dismissed from the PC (USA), it became apparent that Julia was no longer representative in her ministry values of the membership of the changing presbytery, who desired to remain PC (USA).
She has served as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lompoc, CA, as an associate pastor at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, CO, and as associate pastor at Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church in Lakeside, CA.
Pastor Julia has always been involved in leadership of the presbyteries, synods and general assembly where she served. She chaired the Committee of Ministry for five years, served on the Permanent Judicial Commission for five years, served on the Youth Ministry Commission for four years, served as a Synod commissioner for two years, served as a General Assembly commissioner for one term, served on presbytery council for several years. She stood for moderator of the General Assembly and placed second out of six nominees.
