The Rev. Dr. Lesley Francisco McClendon, senior pastor of C3 Hampton (Virginia) and adjunct instructor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, will deliver the keynote address at Eastern Mennonite University’s Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 1 p.m. on the Campus Front Lawn.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Lesley Francisco McClendon will speak to the class of 2025. She is a refreshing voice for young people who may question the relevance of Jesus’ teachings for our times,” said President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to address a community that values faith, service and community as much as I do,” said Dr. Lesley, who also serves as a member of the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board and instructor at Duke Divinity School. “I look forward to sharing in the joy and anticipation of EMU’s group of exceptional students ready to make a meaningful impact in the world.”
At Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Dr. Lesley serves as an adjunct instructor in preaching. Students in her Foundations for Christian Preaching course said her teaching made them think “on a deeper level.” “EMU graduates will be inspired by the dynamic commencement message she brings on this 500th anniversary year of the Anabaptist movement,” said the Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, associate dean of the seminary. “Dr. Lesley is a leading female Anabaptist voice in Mennonite Church USA and widely recognized in the broader community and church circles as an impactful and empowering leader. Her passion to equip young people as faith-inspired change agents continues to drive her ministry as lead pastor of C3.”
Since 2020, Dr. Lesley has been teaching with vigor and passion, delivering life-altering messages with a simple yet profound approach at C3 Hampton. Described as “witty, spontaneous, comedic and ever-evolving,” she has a heart for bridging generational gaps and speaking to a wide range of audiences, ensuring faith remains both rooted and relevant.
In 2022, Dr. Lesley founded Herstoric, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to empowering leaders of all backgrounds to discover their voice, lead with confidence, and leave a lasting impact. Dr. Lesley holds a doctor of ministry from Duke University, a master of divinity from Regent University, and a bachelor of arts from Oral Roberts University. She and her husband, Pastor Caleb McClendon, own McClendon Media Group and live in Chesapeake, Virginia, with their two children, Jackson and Skylar.
Rooted in the values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and an active faith shaped by Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs and practices, Eastern Mennonite University offers undergraduate, graduate and seminary degrees that prepare students to serve and lead in a global context. A leader among faith-based universities, EMU was founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has a site in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; students can study in person or online.
To livestream Dr. Lesley’s Commencement address, visit EMU’s Facebook page.
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