Meet our Pastor
A dreamer
Sarah is a visionary leader who believes the church belongs in the places where people are asking hard questions. She dreams of a faith that is curious, courageous, and healing, especially for those who’ve been harmed by religion in the past. Under her leadership, Jacksonville Campus Ministry has grown into a creative, affirming community that prioritizes justice, joy, and radical welcome. Sarah is always imagining what’s next: new partnerships, new spaces, and new ways to embody the Gospel on campus and beyond.
A shepherd
More than anything, Sarah is a pastor at heart. She walks with students through the highest highs and lowest lows—offering presence, prayer, and the reminder that they are not alone. Her ministry is marked by deep listening, faithful accompaniment, and a commitment to helping young adults discern their callings in the world. She believes pastoral care is sacred work, and she approaches it with warmth, humility, and a fierce love for God’s people.
A preacher
Sarah has served as a campus pastor since 2018, proclaiming the Gospel with conviction, clarity, and compassion. Rooted in the Lutheran tradition and shaped by ecumenical partnerships, her preaching blends biblical depth with social relevance, always seeking to connect scripture to the lives of students navigating a complex world. Whether in a 400-year-old chapel, on a college green, or around a dinner table, Sarah brings the good news to life through storytelling, vulnerability, and a persistent hope in God’s liberating love.
A rebel
Sarah is not afraid to challenge the status quo—especially when it stands in the way of justice, compassion, or the full inclusion of God’s people. As a queer pastor in the South, she names hard truths, disrupts harmful theology, and refuses to settle for a faith that excludes. Her ministry speaks directly to those disillusioned by the church, offering a fierce and faithful alternative: one rooted in liberation, grace, and the radical teachings of Jesus. Sarah believes that holy disruption is often the first step toward resurrection.
A builder
Sarah builds things that matter—from digital platforms to real-life places of refuge. She designs websites that tell stories with clarity and heart, and she literally builds affordable housing for students in need, creating safe and supportive homes where young adults can thrive. Her work is grounded in the belief that faith should be tangible, liberating, and life-giving. Whether she’s cultivating a garden, renovating a student residence, or constructing systems for long-term ministry, Sarah builds with purpose: to serve, to empower, and to make space for God’s love to take root.
A learner
Bachelor of Arts in American Political Science from The Ohio State University
Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary at Lenoir-Rhyne University
Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Florida
The Rainbow Awards 2021 Best LGBTQ Clergy Award Winner
The Philip N. Knutson Award for Creativity or Risk-Taking 2023
The James R. Carr Distinguished Service Award 2025