Jessica Lynn Anschutz

Reverend Dr. Jessica Lynn Anschutz is passionate about revitalizing congregations and creating fresh expressions of ministry. As part of this calling, she co-founded 43:19—an umbrella organization for new ministries, such as Coffee, Kids and Chaos and Theology on Tap. 
 
Rev. Dr. Anschutz holds a Bachelors Degree in Religious Studies from Rhodes College, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Wesley Theologial Seminary. In 2011 she was ordained an elder in full connection in the New York Annual Conference (NYAC) and currently sits on the NYAC Board of Ordained Ministries and serves as the secretary of the Board of Directors for Alliance Africa.  
 
Rev. Dr. Anschutz has experience as an associate pastor, solo pastor, and lead pastor. Within the NYAC, she has led urban and suburban congregations:
 

• 43:19 (2017-2022)
• Trinity United Methodist Parish (2019-2022)
• Gardnertown United Methodist Church (2018-2022)
• Cold Spring United Methodist Church (2014-2019)
• South Highland United Methodist Church (2014-2019)
• Grace United Methodist Church in Putnam Valley, New York (2014-2018)
• Van Cortlandtville Community Church (2014-2018)
• New York Annual Conference Office of Connectional Ministries Projects Manager (2018)
• Park Avenue United Methodist Church (2007-2011)
• Central Valley United Methodist Church (2011–2014)

 
Additionally, Rev. Dr. Anschutz has served at Ozark Mission Project in Arkansas; Red Bird in Kentucky; participated in disaster relief in Louisiana and worked as as a Volunteer in Mission in Chile, Ecuador and Mexico. She is also a recipient of the Yale Alumni Fund Chairman’s Award Winner and a published author, whose faith-based wrirings include:
 

• Letter Posted on the Sea of Faith” in Reflections, Seeking the Light: A New Generation (Spring 2014)
• “Travelers’ Christmas Eve Service” in Leading Ideas (October 27, 2010)
• Old Forms are Passing Away”: YDS Graduates Ponder the Future of Congregational Life” in Reflections, How Firm a Foundation? Churches Face the Future (2009)

 
In her spare time, Rev. Dr. Anschutz enjoys traveling to visit family and friends and seeing new places. She’s also an active theater goer—from Broadway to community theater—and speaks some Spanish. Her Boston terriers, Roxy and Rosie, actively support her ministry.

Exec. Dir., Lewis Center for Church Leadership, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC