Dr. Jay Harvey is the founding pastor of City On A Hill. Jay moved with Melody and their four children to Manhattan in the summer of 2018 to lead Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in New York City. He served with RTS New York City for six years. As a professor of Pastoral Theology, he taught courses in Preaching, Sanctification, Leadership, and the Image of God in Ministry. He was also the founding director of the Center for the Bible in NYC.

In 2019, Jay joined the staff of Exilic Church as Scholar in Residence. At Exilic, his primary role focused on leadership training and Exilic’s Curious forums—special events for skeptics and others with questions about Christianity’s relationship to history, science, and culture. In October 2024, Exilic sent out Dr. Harvey to pastor the church’s first church plant.

Dr. Harvey is a graduate of Princeton University (A.B. 1995), Reformed Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Erskine Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He has done doctoral coursework in Philosophy at the Graduate Center in Manhattan and is a Ph.D. candidate in Systematic Theology at Aberdeen University, where his focus is on the Book of Revelation’s portrayal of a suffering church as a resource for our own cultural moment.

Jay and Melody love living in Midtown. They have a high school senior and a college sophomore still living with them, as well as a Havanese named Leo. They love the diversity of the City and the opportunities it provides for growth and connection across all spectrums of life.

Explore the Difference Jesus Makes

We invite you to explore the difference that Jesus makes—in our personal lives, our relationships, our work lives, and our world. Whether you're firm in your faith, seeking, or skeptical, we provide a space where you can explore your beliefs, ask questions, and grow.

In the ancient world, cities were places of refuge, rest, formation, and productivity, The name of our church, and everything we do, comes from the conviction that the good news of Jesus Christ brings healing, rest, renewal, and productivity to our lives and our community.

God’s intention is for us to express a unified love for Him and for our neighbors within our community. Our church culture is about being for one another, for our shared institutions, and for the world. We aim to be a city within New York City—a place for life, healing, and growth.