Beloved Community Church’s new pastor: Gospel is for all

Beloved Community Church in Avondale, a socially active congregation founded in 1998, “has always stood for the inclusion of all people in the message of the Gospel,” said the Rev. Jennifer Sanders, the church’s recently elected pastor.

Sanders, 47, who became pastor in October, is pleased to help continue what she calls Beloved’s “commitment to the love of God for people across all genders, economic status, sexual orientations or ability status.”

“It’s a joy to step into this role,” she said.

In fact, Sanders’ election as pastor reflects a deep commitment to diversity by Beloved and the United Church of Christ denomination. She’s openly lesbian, which attracted some local media attention after her election. But while Sanders certainly believes gay rights are important, and the Bible has been misinterpreted to condemn homosexuals, LGBTQ issues are not her only focus.

“We as the church affirm the value of human life for LGBTQ people, but also for black and brown people, poor people, the disabled, immigrants and refugees — and for non-Christians, including Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and atheists,” Sanders said. “Gay rights is part of the whole.”

“We believe that God’s love is for all people and God’s justice is for all people,” she said, citing Beloved’s work for racial, economic and environmental justice.

“God calls us to speak truth to power,” she said. “That’s what Jesus did.”