Rev. Sarah Reed Jay came to Community as our Senior Pastor in May of 2023. 

Pastor Sarah is a Florida native and attended Stetson University, receiving a dual bachelor’s degree in English and Religious Studies in 2000.  She completed her Master of Divinity at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, in 2003, where her thesis explored the local church response to the epidemic of gun violence.

She has served in various ministerial contexts, including as pastor at several churches in Illinois and Ohio, as a hospital chaplain, and as an Associate Regional Minister and Acting Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago.  She has worked additionally in the field of child advocacy through the Guardian ad Litem Program, which advocates for children and youth in foster care.

Pastor Sarah is a mother of four sons (ages 25, 5, and 2 year-old twins).  Her partner of 21 years (and in all things) is Jeff.  She enjoys spending time with her children, being outdoors as much as possible, especially in the sunshine, loves the ocean and the sand, exploring culture through city-walking, music, theater, museums, travel, and reading books, especially poetry and literature.  Her favorite indulgences are Diet Coke and chocolate.