Leonard I. Sweet is an author, preacher, speaker, scholar, and ordained United Methodist clergyperson. He was born in 1947 and is married. He is currently serving as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey. He is also a visiting distinguished professor at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon and has authored multiple books and articles. In 2006 and 2007, he was voted one of the 50 most influential Christian leaders in America. He is also the Founder and President of Spirit Venture Ministries (SVM) and he launched Sweet's SoulCafe, a spirituality newsletter for postmoderns that was purchased by Broadman&Holman Publishing. He is connected with the Emerging Church Movement and emerging leaders, such as Brian McLaren and Erwin McManus.