The Pastors - Beloved Community Church

[rev_slider_vc alias=”meet-the-pastors”]

Rev. Samoris Hall (CMS Ret)
Rev. Samoris Hall is a native Washingtonian. He is the son of the late Deacon Talmadge Hall and Deaconess Lucille C. Hall and had one sister, Marian J. Ballard. Samoris accepted Christ into his life at the tender age of 8 at Jordan Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland where he served as a Jr. Deacon under Pastor William J. Smith.Samoris attended both Washington, DC and Maryland public schools, graduating from Suitland High School. He also graduated from the Community College of the Air Force with his Associates Degree in Personnel Management and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland University College. Most recently, Samoris is a proud Alum of Howard University School of Divinity where he served as class president and graduated in 2018 with his Master of Divinity degree.

Chief Master Sergeant Samoris Hall is a veteran of the United States Air Force, virtually covering the globe with assignments in Africa, Asia, Europe and the entire Continental United States. When he was promoted to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant he served as the Chief of the 201 st Mission Support Squadron, Chief of Protocol for the Commander of the Air National Guard and finally, the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Air National Guard Chaplain. On 1 July 2005, Samoris retired after serving 28 years on active duty. He returned to work in 2009 as the Administrative Officer to the Chief Defense Counsel for Military Commissions. Samoris officially retired from the US Federal Service with 14 years of service in 2021.

Rev. Hall accepted the call to ministry in 2005, licensed in 2009 and ordained in 2011. He is one of the founding members of Beloved Community Church UCC under Pastors Guy and Sherry Molock. Samoris is the Assistant Pastor of Church Administration, serves as Worship Leader with his wife Paula, a member of the Beloved Praise team, responsible for the Facilities Ministry, a member of the BCC Leadership team, teaches Sunday School and a host of additional duties. As of November 2022, Rev. Hall was elected as the Co-Equal-Pastor of Beloved Community Church UCC. Rev. Hall is married to Rev. Dr. Paula E. Hall. The Halls have been married for 35 years and have three children; Areyal L. Hall, Samoris Hall Jr. and Aaron M.Hall.

Samoris is a member of a few social organizations that are very important in his life. He is a member of Prince Hall Affiliated Masonic Organizations including Beacon Light Lodge #50 where he was head of the organizational leadership and is currently a Past Master of that lodge. Samoris is also a member of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and is currently a member of Moussa Temple #106 in San Antonio, Texas.

Rev. Paula E. Hall, D.Min., MDiv., MBA
Rev. Dr. Paula Elaine Hall, daughter of Napoleon and Esther P. Jones, is a native Washingtonian, educated in the Washington, DC Public Schools. She earned degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (BA), University of Incarnate Word (MBA) and Howard University School of Divinity (HUSD) with both Master of Divinity (MDiv.) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degrees. Paula received a commission as a United States Air Force Officer and served as a Communications Operations Officer for 10 years. She received an honorable discharge at the rank of Captain.

After leaving the military, Paula began her career in commercial telecommunications. Currently she is retired from Howard University School of Divinity after managing HUSD’s media and technology for 14 years. Paula met her beloved husband, Rev. Samoris Hall, at Shaw AFB in Sumter, South Carolina. They have been married 36 years. They have three adult children: Samoris Jr., Aaron and Areyal. Paula and Samoris entered ministry in 2005 as a ministry team, licensed in 2009 and ordained under DCBC in 2011. As of June 1, 2023, Samoris and Paula are the Co-Pastors of Beloved Community Church UCC. Using her research focus on Black Church Sexuality, Paula co-authored a curriculum for African American United Church of Christ congregations to use in their efforts to transition to radically inclusive ministries that welcome LGBTQ+ persons into full church membership.

In 2021 the program was presented live to Black UCC ministers and added to the UCC national training platform. As a result, Paula, Rev. Dr. Sherry Molock and Rev. Dr. Ronald Hopson were awarded the UCC Ministry for Racial, Social and Economic Justice (MRS EJ) Social Justice Ministry of the Year award by Rev. Ruth Harvey. Paula is also a member of the Board of Directors for the UCC Central Atlantic Conference and active in the UCC Potomac Association. Paula is a 33 year member of the Washington DC Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also a Daughter in Mecca Court #2. Paula is a passionate proponent of Social Justice, a devoted scholar of the Biblical Text as well as a lifelong learner. All of her favorite scriptures involve transforming from an old self centered mindset to one of enlightenment and responsible engagement like Romans 12:1 that reads…Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.