Rev. Lee Gray

Lee is a native Charlottean and grew up in Providence Baptist Church. In 1993, he received his BA in Religion & Philosophy at Campbell University. In 1998, he received his Master of Divinity from the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. During seminary, Lee served as a summer intern at both Providence Baptist and Shamrock Drive Baptist churches in Charlotte. Lee began serving at St. John’s in 1997. His first year was as an internship where he served as the interim to work with Youth and Young Adults. In 1998, he was hired as the Minister for Youth and Young Adults.

Lee served as the Minister for Youth and Young Adults at St. John’s for 23 years. During this time he came to know people of all ages in the life of St. John’s. In July of 2020, he transitioned to the role of Minister for Congregational Care. All ministers at St. John’s engage in pastoral care, both for their areas and for the entire congregation. In this role of Minister for Congregational Care Lee has a larger role in broad-based pastoral care for the entire congregation. He also seeks work alongside church leaders to help deepen and broaden relationships within and between the various sub-groups in the life of the church.  In his role, Lee serves as the staff liaison to the pastoral deacons. Other ministry roles include the coordination of children and youth basketball programs as well as the men’s softball and basketball teams. Lee is also currently serving as the Moderator of the United Baptist Association which supports the ministry to the homeless at Hope Chapel.

On a personal note, Lee is the father of two mostly grown sons, Wilson and Warren Gray. They enjoy traveling to places near and far together

Lee is an avid reader with both broad and spiritual interests. His favorite books include Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything, and The Meaning of Jesus by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright. Due to his father having season tickets to N.C. State football games for 55 years, Lee is an avid Wolfpack fan. His other interests include hiking in the mountains, trail-running, Orange Theory fitness, and enjoying ethnic foods of all types.