Rev. Sara Anne Berger Joins Thriving Congregations Program

The Rev. Sara Anne Berger has joined University of the Ozarks as the assistant director of the Thriving Congregations Program. Her first day at Ozarks was April 23.

Berger will work with director Rev. Phillip Blackburn to assist the University in directing the Lilly Foundation's recent $1 million Thriving in Ministry grant to support congregations within the Presbytery of Arkansas. The primary aim of the initiative is to help congregations thrive in their communities by rediscovering their core theological identity.

"I am excited to join the great work already being done by University of the Ozarks and Thriving in Ministry program, and looking forward to connecting with congregations all over the Arkansas Presbytery and learning more about the needs, assets and wonderful gifts of rural congregations and communities," Berger said. "I'm looking forward to connecting with them myself, and helping to facilitate connections between the University, the students and rural congregations and communities. I have felt so welcomed by the administration, staff, and students here at the University and look forward to getting to know the folks who learn and work here."

Berger most recently served as minister of word and sacrament at Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Ark., from 2020 to 2024. Before that she served as minister of word and sacrament at First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches, La. (2016-2020) and at Whitmire Presbyterian Church in Whitmire, S.C. (2011-2016). She was ordained by the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee in September of 2011.

A native of Franklin, Tenn., she earned an undergraduate degree in history from Presbyterian College in South Carolina and earned a master of divinity and master of Christian education from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va.

Outside of work, Berger enjoys reading. "I usually have a few books I'm working on at once-typically a lot of high fantasy and history. Since I am commuting to the University from Little Rock, and will be traveling around Arkansas to be in rural communities, I am open to any audio book recommendations for the drives." She has also taken three semesters of American Sign Language and enjoys getting to practice signing with anybody who is willing to practice with her.

Topics: Presbyterian, Religion