Leslie Callahan

Contact information

Field of Study: Prophetic Preaching

Department :Ministry

On May 17, 2009, the historic St. Paul's Baptist Church (Philadelphia,PA) called Reverend Dr. Leslie D. Callahan (from Gary, West Virginia) as the church’s first female pastor. She was installed on September 27, 2009.

Dr. Callahan, who began the public proclamation of the gospel at age 19, earned the Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Harvard University/Radcliffe, the Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Religion from Princeton University. She was ordained in 1997 at Judson Memorial Church and served as Minister of Christian Education at the First Baptist Church of Princeton, New Jersey. She also served as interim pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

A gifted professor, Dr. Callahan, has served on the faculty of New York Theological Seminary (NYTS) as Assistant Professor of Modern Church History and African American Studies. Prior to her time at NYTS, she was a member of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania as assistant professor of religious studies.

In addition to her ministry and scholarly pursuits, Dr. Callahan enjoys traveling, golfing, reading, movies, and sports. She is also an active member of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Callahan’s chief joy is that she is the proud mother of Annabelle Inez.

Dr. Callahan's favorite scripture is Psalm 27:4: One thing have I desired of the LORD; that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to seek God in God's temple.