Rev. Dr. Patricia Allen serves as lead pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Kensington, MD. A second career pastor, Rev. Allen is serving in  her fifteenth year of pastoral ministry with a passion for building beloved communities in the areas she serves and creating spaces for God’s beloved to be welcomed and to thrive. Rev. Allen received her Master of Divinity from Howard University and her Doctorate of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary. She gleans great joy from reading, writing, baking and sharing time with her husband, children and grandchildren.