Contact: Kim Fry, Director of Communications, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
2747 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106
(216) 932-5815, kfry@stpauls-church.org
June 23, 2015
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church names the Rev. Jeanne A Leinbach as rector
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights has named the Rev.
Jeanne A. Leinbach as its 16th rector following a 10-month national search.
Leinbach is currently an Associate Rector at Christ Church in Winnetka, Illinois. She was ordained to the
Priesthood in December, 2007. In her previous career, she was a management consultant working with
financial services companies. Leinbach holds a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, an M.B.A. from
Cornell University, and a Masters of Divinity from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. She will
assume her duties at St. Paul’s on September 1.
A search committee comprised of parish members conducted an extensive national search, which
culminated in a unanimous decision for Leinbach based on her abiding faith, excellent business
background and pastoral leadership experience at a similar parish.
St. Paul’s Senior Warden Tami Brown announced the news in a letter to the parish members.
“We were struck immediately by Jeanne’s warmth, authenticity and enthusiasm for everything that St.
Paul's represents and can become,” she said. “These qualities combined with her experience, new ideas,
and vision for building upon the strengths at St. Paul's point to an exciting future for our parish.”
The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth Jr., bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio gave his blessing.
“The thoughtful and thorough work of the search committee has resulted in an exceptional choice in the
Rev. Jeanne Leinbach,” he said. “Among many gifts, her accessible and genuine presence and her wide
leadership experience will make a worthy companion to the parish as it enters this new season in its life
and ministry. I am delighted to welcome Jeanne to the Diocese of Ohio.”
In a greeting to the parish, Leinbach wrote, “Your desire to live faith-filled lives, your hope for the future
and your care for one another and the surrounding communities say volumes about the faith community
you have created and nurtured… I so look forward to getting to know you, to serving with you, to
growing together in faith.”
Leinbach succeeds the Rev. Alan M. Gates, who served St. Paul’s for 10 years before he was elected
Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts in April 2014. While St. Paul’s has had a number of women in
leadership as Associate Rectors, Leinbach will be the first female Senior Rector in the parish’s 169-year
history.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was founded by 45 families in Cleveland in 1846. The parish moved to its
current Cleveland Heights location at the corner of Coventry Rd. and Fairmount Blvd. in 1928.