Our Staff

Sarah has been privileged to serve at New York Avenue since November of 2021. As Senior Pastor and Head of Staff, Sarah leads the staff and works with the church Session to guide the congregation. Her ministry is focused on vision, institutional development, teaching, preaching, administration, and helping people to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

A North Carolina native, Sarah came to New York Avenue Presbyterian Church from Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, where she served as an Associate Pastor and Senior Associate Pastor from 2013 to 2021. Before Preston Hollow, Sarah served as an Associate Pastor at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, and as a Lilly Pastoral Resident and Minister for Congregational Care at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. 

Sarah received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in religion from Furman University, and her Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She was awarded Princeton’s John T. Galloway Award in Expository Preaching. In 2019, she completed her Doctor of Ministry Degree from Duke Divinity School.

Reflecting on her call to ministry, Sarah writes, “I know that life is a gift, that relationships are exceedingly important, and that all people are created in the image of God. I believe that the church is called to the long, hard work of justice as a part of God’s reconciling activity, to be a blessing to the neighborhood and city where it resides, and to cherish at its heart the marginalized with whom Jesus spent most of his time. I believe that life is stronger than death, that love rights a multitude of wrongs, and that grace wins in the end.” 

In her free time, Sarah enjoys exploring all that life in the DMV has to offer, including sports, fitness, and the outdoors. Sarah lives in the District with her yellow lab, Lilly.