Leslie first became truly engaged in youth ministry while attending Auburn University studying Sociology. She worked as Youth Minister at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Auburn) for four years. Prior to her experience at Holy Trinity, Leslie had been a camp counselor at Camp Beckwith (Fairhope, AL) and a volunteer for Young Life. After leaving Holy Trinity, Leslie followed a call to Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville where she served as the Youth Ministry Coordinator. Leslie was first introduced to Ministry Architects while serving at the Cathedral.
After serving at the Cathedral, Leslie served on the diocesan youth ministry staff for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. In that role, she coordinated youth events, supported full-time and volunteer youth ministers in and around the Diocese, and coordinated the Episcopal non-profit, Sawyerville Day Camp, a free summer program that is staffed by high school and college age volunteers and offered for free in one of the most impoverished counties in Alabama. Under her leadership, the camp tripled in size—both in attendance and volunteer numbers but also in regards to the budget. Leslie spent a lot of her time not only coordinating and overseeing this free summer program but also fundraising and garnering awareness and support. Recently the camp expanded and added a free academic program, an incredibly successful summer learning program that is already gaining recognition all over the Southeast because of its deep impact and quick results.
She is currently a lead consultant for Ministry Architects.
Additionally, she can be found supporting non-profits outside of the church by helping them develop their strategic plans through Bridgers Advising Co. Leslie is married to the Rev. Bentley Manning, an Episcopal priest, and together they have two daughters, Mary Bentley and Alice, and two dogs named like humans, Henry and Kate.
One of the questions that I am frequently asked by ministry friends is: can Ministry Architects help a church with their strategic plan? And usually a follow-up question, how do we start?? We can and we do! Let us help you get started. Here’s why. One of the things I love most about Ministry Architects…
