Coordinating Pastor: Rev. Jennifer Sanders
Rev. Jennifer Sanders is the Coordinating Pastor of Beloved Community Church. She has a heart for people and for the Gospel and brings a liberation theology framework to ministry at Beloved.
Committed to justice for all people and for the planet, she is glad to be claimed as pastor not only by her congregation, but by a range of other activists, artists, atheists, and rabble rousers. Pre-COVID, you would often find her drinking coffee and engaged in deep conversation with people of all ages – and she is looking forward to the day when it is safe to resume!
Before entering the ministry, Rev. Jennifer worked in refugee resettlement, Medicaid outreach, botanical education, and occupational therapy for people with disabilities and acute illnesses. She has a B.A. in History and Political Science from Rice University, a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, graduate certificates in Food Security Studies and International Food Governance from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Prior to becoming the pastor of Beloved in 2016, Jennifer developed an innovative approach to community ministry called What the Heart Holds: A Ministry of Manifest Concern for All Creation. Some of her writing can be found at its website.
Jennifer lives with her partner, teenage daughter, a passel of dogs, 2 guinea pigs, and a frog in Birmingham. She has camped her way around much of the United States, slept on luggage racks on trains in India, and failed miserably at cross country ski backpacking in the Pacific Northwest. In her free time these days, she enjoys road trips, kayaking, and reading.
Theomusicologist in Residence: Rev. Dollie Howell Pankey
Rev. Dollie Howell Pankey is a multi-talented pastoral musician who has made numerous creative contributions across 45 years of music performance and leadership. She has also served as a pastor, chaplain, and teacher for more than thirty years.
Rev. Dollie is becoming known as singer-songwriter D’ Marie in Birmingham and beyond as a song stylist in soul, pop, roots music, gospel, and jazz. D’ Marie creates memorable moments through presence, word, and song—giving voice to the voiceless, bringing healing, motivating worship, and drawing people towards the loving presence of God.
Rev. Dollie is the Creative Arts Ministry Consultant for the 5th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
She is a Doctor of Pastoral Music student at Perkins School of Theology and continues her work as a conference musician, community activist, educator, writer, workshop facilitator, and theomusicologist for the Alabama Poor People’s Campaign, lifting the movement through music.
Minister of Music: Vincent Perry 
The Evening Worship service uses the African American Heritage Hymnal for our weekly singing.
Our Musical Life
Music is a vital part of life and worship at Beloved.
We have been blessed in musical leadership from the founding days of the Beloved Community Orchestra, featuring LeNard Brown and David Camon,
Through song, we praise God, express our joy, and open our hearts. Our weekly congregational singing and anthems reflect our diversity of presence and theology.
We also regularly feature a range of wonderful Birmingham musicians in our regular worship services and for special events.
