Meet Our Pastors

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Described as powerful, anointed, and radical, Pastor Lesley E. Jones is a visionary leader who "keeps it real." As the founder and senior pastor, she is both an animated preacher and a profound teacher. Her congregation often says, "Pastor can break it down and make it plain."

In 2003, armed with a vision and equipped for the mission, she founded Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries Fellowship United Church of Christ to be a place of hope, healing, and love for all people to journey on their spiritual path without criticism, ostracism, or manipulation.

Born in New Bern, North Carolina, to teenage parents, she was raised by her grandparents, who taught her early about unconditional love and uncompromising faith, encouraging her to love God, help others, and believe in the impossible.

Pastor Lesley is a friend to and advocate for many in the social justice and human relations communities. She is a strong supporter of human rights, fairness, and equality for all people. She has served as the Executive Director for Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and as a board member of Citizens for Civic Renewal and Churches Active in Northside (CAIN), as well as Board Member and Executive Director of Equality Cincinnati.

Confident in her calling and equipped to do ministry, she lives her mission daily: "to help others identify their God-given talents, gifts, and abilities so they may become their best selves and live out life more abundantly

 A native San Franciscan and third-generation preacher with roots in the Church of God in Christ, Pastor Noni Gordon-Jones has served with the City of Refuge, United Church of Christ, in many capacities under Bishop Yvette Flunder, the Founder and Senior Pastor of COR.

She broadened her ministerial experience by relocating to Cincinnati, OH, in 2010 and began serving as the Associate Pastor at Truth & Destiny Fellowship, United Church of Christ. In 2013, she began teaching a series on Spiritual Awareness, creating a safe place to edify, empower, and encourage individuals with prophetic and spiritual gifts.

Pastor Noni received her License to Minister in 1992 at City of Refuge, UCC, a Certificate of Ministry Studies from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, in May 1997, and was consecrated as Minister of Youth and Young Adults for the Fellowship in June 2006. She also received her Master of Divinity Degree at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, in May 2010.

Pastor Noni has served as past Interim Director of Youth and Young Adults Ministries for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, as a Board Member of the Ark of Refuge, Inc., in San Francisco, CA, Project Manager for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Cluster 2 Youth Advisor for the Southern Ohio Northern Kentucky Association (SONKA).

Together, Pastors Lesley and Noni lead Truth & Destiny Covenant Ministries with a commitment to inclusivity, social justice, and spiritual growth, guiding our congregation to live out our faith boldly and authentically.