Invite Leah Thomas

Leah ThomasLeah R. Thomas, PhD, is the Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Contextual Education at AMBS.

Featured speaker and consultant

Leah brings professional experience in hospital chaplaincy, pastoring and nonprofit management into dialogue with her academic work in pastoral care. She seeks to advance the mission of the Spirit in the world through a focus on the voices often excluded by the dominant culture, asking how these voices inform and shift caregiving. For example, in her book, Just Care: Ethical Anti-Racist Pastoral Care with Women with Mental Illness, she inquires how a systemic, anti-racist approach impacts care with women in an inpatient psychiatric facility.

Leah was a Visiting Professor of Pastoral Theology at Lancaster Theological seminary before joining AMBS, and has also taught at Drew Theological Seminary. Her current research interests include anti-racist and intercultural pastoral care, trauma and trauma-informed caregiving, and reclaiming the role of embodiment in Christian spiritual practices and pastoral care.

Possible topics:

  • Pastoral Care
  • Anti-racist and intercultural pastoral care
  • Trauma and trauma-informed caregiving
  • Somatic practices for addressing trauma
  • Embodiment in Christian spiritual practices and pastoral care