Photo Credit: Richard Allred
About
My name is Sarah Bentley Allred. I am a preacher’s kid from a small parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Growing up I participated in everything church from the Christmas pageant to the children’s choir. As a youth, I served on the leadership team for youth ministries in my diocese. During college, I began my formal ministry with young people as a counselor and then chaplain at Camp Kanuga.
After college, I served at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in High Point, North Carolina where I was introduced to Godly Play, a Montessori-based Christian formation curriculum. Godly Play inspired me to learn more about children’s spirituality, so in the fall of 2016, I began a three-year Master of Divinity program at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS).
At VTS, I explored a wide range of Christian formation topics from adult education to curriculum critique, leading retreats, youth ministry, and spiritual direction. I became particularly passionate about children’s spirituality, small church ministry, and intergenerational worship.
After graduating in May 2019, I served as the part-time Director of Children and Family Ministries at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Wake Forest, NC for eighteen months. In addition, I began serving part-time as the Associate for Christian Formation and Discipleship with the Department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. I have continued my work with Lifelong Learning where I have served as Lead Editor for the website Building Faith, Coordinator of Evangelism for Forma, the Network for Christian Formation for the Episcopal Church and beyond, and now the Project Director for a grant - Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative.
In the fall of 2021, I completed my training to become a licensed Godly Play trainer. On Sunday mornings you can usually find me at The Episcopal Church of The Advocate in Chapel Hill, NC, telling Godly Play stories and worshiping with my husband, Richard, and our daughter, Eleanor.
Outside of my ministry involvement, I love local coffee shops, board games, long naps, the beach, walking in the woods, and writing.
Experience
Photo Credit: Jen Yuson
Project Director, Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative, Department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary
Senior Formation Associate & Coordinator of Forma Evangelism, Department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary
Lead Editor for Building Faith, Department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary
Director of Children & Family Ministries, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Wake Forest, NC
Student Associate, Department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary
Interim Director of Children & Family Ministries, The Falls Church Episcopal, Falls Church, Virginia
Food Backpack Coordinator for High Point, BackPack Beginnings, Greensboro, North Carolina
Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, High Point, North Carolina
Youth Ministry and Program Assistant, Christ Episcopal Church, Roanoke, Virginia
Camp Counselor and Chaplain, Camp Kanuga, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Education & Training
Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary (May 2019)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Guilford College (May 2012)
Training
Godly Play Training of Trainers (October 2021)
Godly Play Advanced Training (October 2018)
Godly Play Core Training (July 2012)
Publications
Experiments with Intergenerational Worship at Virginia Theological Seminary: A Case Study, chapter in All Ages Becoming: Intergenerational Practice in the Formation of God's People
Creator of Practical Tools for Raising Faithful Kids in collaboration with Vibrant Faith.
Intergenerational Worship: The Sacrament of Radical Belonging as the Body of Christ, chapter in Mysterion Seeking Understanding
Contributing author for Journey to Adulthood, Church Publishing
Over two dozen articles for Building Faith
Contributing author for Shine! Living as children of God in a Restless World: An Intergenerational Retreat Resource for PCCCA Centers
Contributing author for Planning for Rites and Rituals: A Resource for Episcopal Worship, Church Publishing
Contributing author for 2018 Lenten Meditations, Episcopal Relief and Development
Workshops & Presentation
Calling Parishioners to Service in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry, Asynchronous Course for Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary, August 2024
Kanuga Christian Formation Conference, “Recruiting, Training, & Supporting Volunteer Christian Formation Leaders,” June 2022
Forma Conference Workshop, “Soulful Approaches to Planning,” January 2022
Intergenerational Worship MasterClass for Vibrant Faith, “Intergenerational Worship: Preparing for Worship that Actively Engages and Equally Values All Ages,” January 2021 & July 2021
Intergenerate Conference presentation, “Introduction to Intergenerational Worship,” May 2021
Guest Lecturer, “Spirituality of Children,” Virginia Theological Seminary, March 2021
Guest Lecturer, “Evangelism: Theology and Practice,” Virginia Theological Seminary, March 2021
Rooted in Jesus Conference, Forma Workshop, “Learning from Soft Space Gone Wrong: Shifting from Many Ages in Worship to Worship for All Ages,” January 2020