Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem announced recently that Becky Lepore has accepted the call to serve as Pastor of Congregational Life.

She will serve in partnership with Senior Pastor Janel Rice.

Lepore, a Bethlehem resident who has served as the church’s Minister of Music and Organist since 2002, steps into her new pastoral role effective July 1.

The news was shared with the Central Church congregation during the Sunday morning service May 31.

“Becky brings gifts of loving compassion, a thoughtful passion for justice, and energy for bringing together both our congregation and guests in community,” Rice said.

Lepore’s life and faith have always been deeply interwoven with the Moravian community. She grew up in Moravian Church parsonages in Staten Island, N.Y.; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Ohio; and Bethlehem.

While a child in the parsonage of College Hill Moravian Church on Laurel Street in Bethlehem, she roller-skated past the seminary buildings where she would later study.

An accomplished musician, Lepore earned her artist diploma in organ performance from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 1998. She also graduated magna cum laude from Moravian College (now Moravian University) in 1995 with a bachelor of music degree.

She later spent 13 years sharing her talents as the director of the Moravian Theological Seminary Choir and served as an adjunct faculty member in the university’s music department.

“Although I always loved music, the music itself was never the end goal,” Lepore said. “Instead, music was an expression of my faith and love for God and a meaningful way to help people realize their own unique gifts and strengths.”

After many years of service as minister of music at Central Moravian Church, Lepore began to experience what she describes as a “restlessness of the soul.” This spiritual pull culminated at the 2023 Synod, where a powerful experience during Holy Communion clarified her true calling to ordained ministry.

To follow this path, Lepore returned to her roots, entering the master of divinity program at the Moravian University School of Theology.

She graduated with her M.Div. in May 2026, setting her on the path toward ordination in the Moravian Church, set for Sunday, June 14, and installation on Sunday, July 5.

Lepore shares that her ultimate goal is to “give people Jesus,” providing dedicated spiritual companionship and support to her congregation through both life’s joyful and difficult moments.

“It has been apparent over the course of her seminary career that Becky has responded to God’s call to ordained ministry. She brings strong scholarship and leadership gifts, a deep faith rooted in grace, and a passion for caring for people wherever they may be in their faith journey,” said the Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller, Moravian Church Ecumenical Officer and Chair of the board of trustees of the School of Theology at Moravian University.

Lepore said she is grateful for the tremendous encouragement she received from her family as she pursued her calling to ordained ministry, including support from her father, the Rt. Rev. Douglas H. Kleintop, a bishop of the Moravian Church Unity.

Bishop Kleintop is also a double alumnus of the Bethlehem institutions, having graduated from Moravian College in 1971 and earning his master of divinity from the seminary in 1975.

Lepore bridges her deep historical ties to Bethlehem with a renewed passion for congregational care, justice work, and faith formation at Central Moravian Church.

Lepore will be ordained at Central Moravian Church Sunday, June 14, at 2 p.m., with a light reception to follow. She will conclude her responsibilities as Minister of Music June 30 and officially begin her new pastoral role July 1.

Lepore will be installed as Pastor of Congregational Life during worship at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 5.