Leadership
Dorothy loves Jesus and His Church and loves serving as pastor of Sojourners Church. Her husband, Brandon, and their three children, Caroline, Keith, and Sarah Beth, each played an important role in launching Sojourners. The Hoods moved to Chesapeake in 2020 for Brandon’s career as a Navy chaplain and are blessed to put down roots as they approach his military retirement.
Dorothy has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from King University in TN (2004) and a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in MA (2007). She has served churches in Argentina, MA, NC, and VA, and is thankful to call Chesapeake home.
Pastor
Dorothy Hood
Lauren Rish
Lauren, originally from Oahu, Hawaii, started attending Sojourners Church in early 2026 after moving to the area for her husband’s Navy career. Lauren is a licensed teacher with a B.Ed. in Elementary Education (2017) and M.S.Ed in Reading and Literacy Instruction (2025). During the school year, she works as a substitute in local public schools. At her previous ECO Presbyterian church, Lauren served as a deacon and later an elder from 2017-2022. She currently sits on the board of directors for Hawaiian Islands Ministries, a Christian non-profit in Hawaii.
Church Administrator
Church Plant Oversight Team
We are thankful for our Oversight Team who give of their time to serve as our church grows.
Jim Wesson, Elder, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Gloucester, VA
Jessica Long, Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Harrisonburg, VA
Hank Kuhlman, Elder, Community West Church, Henrico, VA