Rev. Jessica Wright 

Rev_Wright - Grace UMC

Before becoming pastor at Grace in July 2023, Rev. Jessica Wright served as Associate Director for the Center for Missional Outreach (CMO) for the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. During her time with the CMO, Jessica was able to advocate for and resource churches in many areas of social justice, while also building ecumenical and interfaith relationships.

 Jessica became a Christian through a hamburger (and an amazing community) at the Wesley Foundation campus ministry at the University of Central Arkansas. She believes sharing food and our stories can help all of us become rooted in the greatest story of all – God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ. In ministry, this conviction has become a passion for relationship-building in the church, local community, and beyond.

Jessica earned a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at SMU and became an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 2009. Jessica has served in a variety of local churches in North Texas (First Denton, Krum, Preston Hollow, First Allen) as well as the Denton Wesley Foundation campus ministry at the University of North Texas and as a reserve chaplain with the US Air Force. 

Jessica is also the North Texas facilitator for the Neighboring Movement, empowering individuals and faith communities to live into our calling to love God and love neighbor through simple, practical steps.

Jessica is a supporter of asset-based community development, rooted in the conviction that all persons are gifted. Based on this framework, Jessica’s leadership style is democratic and transformational. Grounded in the history of a place and the people so that we can celebrate what has brought us this far, Jessica leads churches and groups to discern together what God is calling us to next.

Jessica is married to Andy Wright, a saxophonist who leads the music program at Grayson College. Andy enjoys cycling, coffee, and all sports where things go fast. Together they have two boys at home – James (12) and Ethan (8) – as well as a rambunctious lab puppy, Roxie.