Emily C Heath

The youngest child of a career government officer, Heath was born in Virginia and primarily grew up there and in Winter Park, Florida. After growing up in a "spiritual but not religious" family, Heath was baptized as the age of 17.

In college at Emory University, Heath majored in religion and English in addition to serving as the first openly LGBTQ member of student government, and as the head of the schools LGBTQ student alliance.

After college Heath attended Columbia Theological Seminary, earning both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology (in Reformed Theology). Heath was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and initially served as a chaplain specializing in trauma.

It was only after several years as a PhD student that Heath realized that they were running away from God's call was to the parish. Leaving the Presbyterian Church over issues of LGBTQ inclusion, Heath's ordination was transferred to the United Church of Christ.

Following an initial pastorate in Vermont, Heath is now the senior pastor of the Congregational Church in Exeter, NH, as well as an active writer whose work has been featured in the Christian Century, the Still Speaking Daily Devotionals, Day 1, and more. Heath lives in Exeter with their wife, the Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath.