Meet The Pastor
Pastor Leah B. Meador
We welcome The Reverend Leah B. Meador, as our part-time Pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church. Pastor Leah was born in Birmingham, Alabama but moved with her family at the age of six, when they relocated to Orlando, FL. She grew up on a lake in a pre-Disney, pre-Interstate central Florida world; slow moving, and much more of a small town atmosphere than now. At the time the family moved into the area, and also when Leah left for college, there were only three high schools there; now there are 21 – just an example of the difference in the Orlando area from the time Leah and Larry grew up there and now!
Pastor Leah received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. Her first job was as a Researcher and then as Author and Editor of Publications written to analyze and articulate the research findings at the Center for Social Change at Emory University, Atlanta, GA. During the ensuing years she continued to pursue her interest in sociological research and analysis. Following a move out of the Atlanta area, she worked as executive secretary for both large and small corporations.
After having moved back to the Orlando area, Leah experienced a life-changing spiritual encounter and blessing and she responded to God’s call to serve His Church in various capacities: secretary, youth director, educator and elder. In 1985, she and her son moved to south Florida where she accepted a position as Church Educator at a Presbyterian Church in Palm Beach Gardens. While there, she pursued her Master of Divinity studies as the South Florida Center for Theological Studies, Miami, FL. Following completion of her studies, she accepted the offer of Chaplain Residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in WPB. After this training Leah served as a chaplain with Hospice of Palm Beach County and later with Hospice of the Treasure Coast, where she directed the spiritual care department.
Pastor Leah was ordained in the PCUSA as a Minister of the Word and Sacraments, as well as receiving training both as a bereavement facilitator and as an interim minister. She has served both small and large Presbyterian churches as their interim minister and provided pulpit supply to many south Florida churches including Ascension. Leah has served on a variety of Presbytery committees both in central Florida and Tropical Florida Presbyteries and has taught the required clergy misconduct training for the Presbytery on behalf of the Committee on Ministry for over 10 years. She looks forward to the great things God has in store for our ministry at Ascension.
Leah and her husband Larry enjoy the quiet and rustic surroundings of their Jupiter Farms home, at the northern end of the county. They enjoy their two “his and hers” grown sons, Cole and Geoff. They have welcomed their newest addition, a rescue dog aptly name Sassy, who has already trained them well to let her rule the roast!