Rev. Abigail A. Henrich, CEO and Pastor

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Abby is the pastor and chief evangelist at Grace Community Boston. But mostly she is just a fellow traveler wondering how to live faithfully and follow Jesus in the 21st century. She loves God, has been claimed by a guy named Jesus even though she tried to resist, and is passionate about the emergent progressive christian church.  

Abby is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and Colgate University. She is married to the theologian below, is the mother of three, and spends a great deal of time doing dishes and sorting lunch boxes. She is a collector of stories, a baker, and a terrible knitter.



Rev. Jon Paul Sydnor, PhD, Theologian in Residence

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Jon Paul is resident theologian at Grace Community Boston. But really, everybody at Grace is a theologian, and everybody’s opinion counts, and no one is expected to tow any party line. Jon Paul is just the member who thinks about God professionally. "It’s fun and challenging to do theology in a community where experience is a lot more important than belief, and where feeling the spirit is more important than thinking the right thoughts."

Jon Paul is a graduate of the University of Virginia, Princeton  Seminary, and Boston College. He teaches world religions at Emmanuel College in Boston, and he happily includes what he learns from other faiths into his Christian practice. When not teaching or writing or unloading the dishwasher he spends as much time as possible with his beloved family. He is also obsessed with his netflix queue and soccer. 

David Leach, Jazz Pianist

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David is a pianist, composer, poet, and educator. The son, grandson, and great-great grandson of presbyterian ministers, David grew up in the church, where he developed a deep appreciation for the power of music to energize people and transform lives —in or outside of a worship service. David has broad musical interests, having studied and performed jazz, rock, hip-hop, folk, blues and classical music, to name just to name a few. ​

A Roslindale, MA native, David graduated with a B.A. in Creative Writing and a B.M. in Jazz Piano Performance from Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, OH. In 2017 he received an MFA in poetry from Boston University. He currently lives in Roslindale with his wife and frequent musical collaborator, violinist Julia Connor. 

Kathy Schlecht, Spiritual Companion in Residence

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Kathy is a retired school Social Worker, who has a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Cardinal Stritch University, and San Damiano House of Prayer.

Kathy delights in being an active and involved member at Grace, and in accompanying people on their spiritual journey. She has a deep history in social action, facilitating groups and retreats, and an eclectic practices of prayer. In her semi retirement, she looks forward to offering group discussions, on coping with our current world, and where God, Community, and our individual journeys intersect.

Kathy enjoys cooking, knitting, swimming, traveling with her wife Sue, and spending time with friends and family. She also delights in kid's antics or all ages;  without knowing it  she has become the community's go to for parenting questions.