About Us

Pastor: Rev. Annie Allen, MPA, M.Div

Annie serves as Interim Pastor of the Rutherford Congregational Church UCC, she is Adjunct Faculty at Memphis Theological Seminary, Austin Theological Seminary, Visiting Faculty at Northwind Institute/Seminary and member of the Network for Social Transformation.

Her work and ministry include community development initiatives, teaching, training, group facilitation and retreats. Annie writes and performs liturgical ceremonies for each stage in the human journey. 

Rev. Allen has previously served as Pastor of Brook Presbyterian Church in NY, Turning Point UMC in NJ, Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, NJ, and served on the Vestry of Redeemer Episcopal Church, NJ.

As an expert in Faith Based Community Engagement, she has recently consulted with the Rio Grand Conference UMC, TX, Residence in Ministry Program, UMC, Western TN, Agape Child & Family Service, Right Relationship Centers Movement, TN, Seashore District UMC, MS, Department of Public Safety, City of Aiken, SC, Greenville Police Department, Greenville, SC, Bethlehem Palestine Coalition and World Hope Corps, Uganda.

Rev. Allen worked at Drew Theological Seminary, where she served as Director of the National Shalom Resource Center. Communities of Shalom is an international faith-based community development ministry, providing training in underserved communities. Sites include East L.A., Rosebud Reservation North Dakota, Macon, GA, Jackson Mississippi, Columbia SC, Richmond, VA, Newark, NJ, Nashville TN, Phar TX, Haiti, Malawi and Uganda. 

She served on the Council of Higher Education of Newark (CHEN) and helped re-develop the neighborhood known as University Heights. Prior to entering ministry in 2006, She had a twenty-five-year career in Higher Education as a Senior Administrator, program Director and Instructor. Her areas of expertise focus on Multicultural and International Education at Cornell University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, University of Vermont, Essex County College and Drew University.

She has served as the NJ State Chairperson for the Commission on Racial and Religious Violence.  She Chaired the Bergen County Rainbow Coalition, worked with the National Council of Christians and Jews, the U.S. Justice Department, served as Director of Human Services for Bergen County, NJ and has worked for two state Senators, helping to write some of NJ’s Bias Crime and Education Laws.