Clergy

Rev. Donna E. Allen, PhD
Senior Pastor

allen150Rev. Donna E. Allen, PhD was as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) for fifteen years serving as a pastor in churches in Tennessee, Missouri and California. Throughout her tenure in the AMEC she was an instructor on the Board of Examiners helping candidates for ministry discern their call and equip themselves for ministry. In 2004 she Founded New Revelation Community Church a non-denomination church based in Oakland, California where she currently serves as the Senior Pastor.

Dr. Allen has taught in a number of graduate schools preparing persons for ministry. She was an Instructor of Preaching and Worship at Saint Paul School of Theology a United Methodist Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, an Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Lancaster Theological Seminary of the United Church of Christ in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Currently she serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Preaching at Lancaster Theological Seminary and an adjunct instructor at Pacific School of Religion and American Baptist Seminary of The West both located in Berkeley, California.

Dr. Allen is a gifted preacher and teacher committed to a ministry of radical inclusion, empowerment through education and liberation. She is a preacher’s preacher and a student’s teacher.

Rev. Denise Boyd
Pastor of Administration

BoydMinistry Focus: Worship and Administration Rev. Boyd is passionate about how the work of the church is part of our worship—work that is connective and live giving.

A graduate of the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, Rev. Boyd received her Master of Theological Studies degree in 2008 and is now preparing for ordination. She is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and employed as a Human Resources leader at UC Berkeley. She is focused on creating work environments that engage individuals to be their authentic selves.

Licentiate Johnson
Recycling Ministry

johnsonMinistry Focus: Recycle and reuse program as a learning opportunity for youth. “I believe they learn that the resources taken from the earth can be reused, not just consumed”.

Licentiate Johnson is a native of Oakland, CA, and is committed to strengthening communities through ministry.

 

Rev. Va’ Nechia M. Rayford

Ministry Focus: RayfordPastoral Care and Counseling.  Rev. Rayford’s passion in ministry is to provide spiritual guidance and supportive resources to those moving through the process of healing and greater wholeness after experiences of grief and bereavement, support lay leadership as they provide care and support to those they have been appointed to serve; and empower those who are in the process of vocational discernment through attentive listening, compassionate presence, and theological reflection.

Rev. Va’ Nechia M. Rayford received the Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in May 2006 and has been a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association for Professional Chaplains since November 2008.  Rev. Rayford currently serves as the Spiritual Care Coordinator and Chaplain at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, CA where she provides spiritual and emotional care and support to patients, their families, and the clinical staff.  Rev. Rayford also served as a Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisory Candidate for several years, equipping religious leaders from diverse faith traditions to develop their skill set as pastoral care givers, engage in vocational discernment, and deepen their level of self-awareness to enhance their ability to provide compassionate and attentive ministry with intention and integrity.

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