ABOUT DR. MADELENE F. BEARD

The Reverend Dr. Madelene F. Beard has been the pastor of Galatians United Church of Christ (UCC), 2320 Manning Road, Suffolk, Virginia, for 36 years. She loves her congregation and is very dedicated to them.

During Beard’s early teens, she attended Mineral Spring Baptist Church, Suffolk, where she was later baptized and joined the membership. She served faithfully in several ministries of the church. Dr. Beard acknowledged the call to the ministry and preached her initial sermon in 1984. One year later she was ordained by the late Pastor George A. Speight, Sr., and the officers and members of Mineral Spring Baptist Church.

After Dr. Beard graduated from seminary in 2003, the Eastern Virginia Association of the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ ordained her to authorized ministry in conjunction with the Church and Ministry Commission.

Dr. Beard attended Paul D. Camp Community College, Franklin, Virginia, where she received a Certificate in Steno-Clerical Arts. Then, she transferred to Norfolk State University, where she earned a B.S. degree in Administrative Systems. A couple of years later, Dr. Beard earned an M.Ed. from Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia. In preparation for professional ministry, Beard entered Virginia Union University-The Samuel DeWitt School of Theology, Richmond, Virginia, and later earned a Master of Divinity Degree. The Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL) awarded Pastor Beard an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree for outstanding pastoral accomplishments and service to the community. God answered Beard’s prayer by allowing her to be accepted into the doctoral program at Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL), Lynchburg, Virginia. As a result, Pastor Beard earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree in 2010. Her doctoral work

concluded with a dissertation on “How to Encourage Members of a Congregation to Tithe According to Biblical Principles.”

Dr. Beard graduated from the School of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she provided pastoral care as an Associate Chaplain for several years. Also, Beard has served in the business arena; administration, general banking, savings, and mortgage lending. She has taught in the public schools and Paul D. Camp Community College. She also taught courses in Biblical Studies at VUL-Suffolk Site. Beard uses her academic accomplishments to teach and promote kingdom-building. Dr. Beard has presented at workshops and preached at revivals and other special events. Her main focal points in ministry are church growth and spiritual development. She has a heartfelt interest in support of women in ministry.

Dr. Beard is the President and CEO of Deborah’s Women in Ministry of Greater Hampton Roads, Incorporated. She and her organization were awarded the “I Have a Dream Award” during the 2019 MLK Day Celebration. Dr. Beard has served in several Southern Conference and Eastern Virginia Association (EVA) positions of the United Church of Christ. She teaches “Boundary Training” and facilitates workshops upon request. Beard is a former President of the EVA Clergy and the Association.

She is an active member of The Suffolk Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (SIMA) and the Suffolk Clergy United Association. Additionally, Dr. Beard is a member of Epsilon Theta Zeta Chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, where she serves as the chaplain. She also received the 2020 Zeta of the Year Award.

Dr. Beard is married to her high school sweetheart, Mr. Arnold H. Beard, Sr. They are the proud parents of Savarna B. Nelson (George) and Arnold Jr (Cheryl). The Beards have two lovely granddaughters-- Chanta’ Lassiter (Leighton) and Arielle Nelson, and three great-Granddaughters, Madison, Saffron, and Lily.

The Word of God directs Pastor Beard in all aspects of life. She has a heart for love, hospitality, and compassion and is zealous about kingdom-building.