In the early days of Sojourners (long before that name was adopted) members and friends took turns providing the music, scripture readings, prayers and activities for the children. This precedent lead to an ongoing tradition of active participation on the part of the congregation in the development and leadership of our common worship life. Leadership comes from all levels of the Sojourners community. But here are the more-or-less official ones:
CO-MODERATORS
Co-Moderators are the Lay Leaders of our congregation. They preside at all congregational meetings, lead our Church Council meetings, and provide other leadership to our church community. You can reach either Co-Moderator by emailing: comoderators@sojourners-ucc.org
Tina Griffin, Co-moderator
Rorie Hutter, Co-moderator
Paul Mack, Co-moderator
PASTOR
Rev. Karen Mann has been a member of the Sojourners community since 2014 before being called as our pastor in 2022. Karen is a bi-vocational pastor and dedicates her other time to caring for a small farm in Fluvanna with her partner Bones and their two kids. Pastoring and farming are fruitful vocational companions, and Karen loves sharing stories and insights from the farm with the congregation. Before moving to Virginia, she worked in a variety of settings in Atlanta, including church music ministry, hospital chaplaincy, adoption counseling, and refugee services.
Bethany Cok, Pastor
Bethany began working at Sojourners after moving to Charlottesville in the summer of 2023. She’s lived a lot of places (from Michigan to Guatemala) and worn a lot of hats (from nannying to communications and development work). Most recently, she completed her MDiv at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. Bethany enjoys hiking, playing violin, and road trips, and is excited to serve in a small and vibrant church community.
J. Saunders, Church Administrator
J. is the newest staff member at Sojourners, as of May 2025. She brings over a decade of administrative experience. She has a strong background in the arts and education, and a heart for service and worship. J. holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. She also works part-time as a remote Operations Analyst for a cybersecurity firm, where she supports strategic planning and operational efficiency.