McDonald returns to his alma mater after serving as a Pastor in Minnesota since 2021

BETHLEHEM, PA – May 13, 2025– Today, Moravian University announced the appointment of Charlie McDonald as its new University Chaplain, bringing with him a wealth of experience in ministry, spiritual care, and student engagement.

McDonald is a two-time graduate of Moravian University and Moravian Theological Seminary, earning his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics in 2017 and his Master of Divinity in 2021. His academic and spiritual journey is closely tied to the Moravian community, and his appointment marks a meaningful return to the campus he has long called home.

“Charlie’s connection to Moravian’s mission, his dedication to service, and his ability to meet people where they are spiritually make him the ideal person to serve as Chaplain,” said Bryon Grigsby, president of Moravian University. “He embodies the values we hold dear—compassion, inclusion, and service—and we are thrilled to welcome him back in this leadership role.”

McDonald’s professional ministry experience spans hospital chaplaincy, congregational leadership, and youth spiritual formation. Most recently, he served as Pastor at Chaska Moravian Church in Chaska, MN. While an Associate Chaplain at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem he provided overnight pastoral care, trauma support, and spiritual guidance to patients, families, and hospital staff. He also served as Student Pastor at Emmaus Moravian Church, leading worship, preaching, and overseeing youth and adult ministries, while continuing his theological studies.

During his time at Moravian Theological Seminary, McDonald served as President of the Student Elders Council, representing the student body on key university committees, including the Seminary Dean Search Committee and the University Board of Trustees. He has also held youth ministry roles at Central Moravian Church and leadership positions at Hope Conference and Renewal Center in New Jersey.

McDonald currently engages in ministry outreach as a Volunteer Police Chaplain with the Chaska Police Department and serves as a Pastoral Advisor to the Western District Regional Youth Council. His approach to chaplaincy centers on compassion, presence, and service across diverse communities and spiritual traditions.

“It is an honor and a privilege to return to Moravian University as Chaplain,” said McDonald. “My education and experience of community at this university helped me become who I am today, and I look forward to journeying with students, faculty, and staff through all that life has to offer. It is humbling to have an opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much.”

McDonald will begin his role at Moravian University in Summer 2025.

Media contact:

Moravian University
Michael Corr
Email: corrm@moravian.edu
Ph: 610.861.1365

About Moravian University
Moravian University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is the nation’s sixth-oldest university and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. For more than 280 years, the university has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. Moravian University is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NACU), a national consortium of private comprehensive colleges and universities working together to graduate extraordinary professionals for a global workforce and society.

In 2024, Moravian University became part of a World Heritage designation when Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem, Gracehill (Northern Ireland, UK), and Herrnhut (Saxony, Germany) joined Christiansfeld (Denmark) as a single World Heritage Site—Moravian Church Settlements. Moravian is just the second university in the United States to be part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation and only the eighth university in the world to have this recognition.

Visit moravian.edu to learn more about how Moravian University prepares its students for lifelong success.

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