Who we are:
Sanctuary is a Community of Christ-based church. We are located in Portsmouth, Ohio. Our goal is to change the narrative. Often times people characterize church as a place where only perfect people go, we believe the opposite. We radically affirm and welcome all individuals- regardless of their sexuality, gender, race, etc. Join us in fostering a safe, loving, welcoming community.
Outreach is our mission. Community is our heart.
Meet the Team
Sanctuary Community of Christ is strengthened by the people who serve within it. Get to know the individuals who lead, support, and care for our congregation—each committed to living out Christ’s love in meaningful and inclusive ways.
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Connie Altman
PASTOR
Connie provides spiritual and administrative leadership and overall ministry direction for the congregation. She plans and programs Sunday services, coordinates weekly details to ensure smooth operations, and communicates regularly with World Church leaders.
Connie holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Graceland University Seminary.
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Landen Puckett
MEDIA, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Landen oversees the church’s branding, messaging, and overall communications strategy. This role leads digital media, marketing initiatives, public relations, and content development to ensure clear, consistent, and impactful communication that advances the church’s mission and community outreach efforts. Landen also serves in other fields such as Informational Technologies and leads the Marketing Department on a day-to-day basis.
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Jayme Blevins
INCLUSION AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION MINISTER
Jayme leads spiritual practices, prays with individuals and groups, and nurtures the congregation’s spiritual growth. This role also guides and coordinates the work of the Congregational Outreach Committee, fostering deeper connection, care, and engagement within the congregational community.
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Lorry Swain
COFFEE & CONVERSATION PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Lorry leads the planning and facilitation of welcoming, community-centered gatherings designed to foster meaningful dialogue and connection. This role coordinates volunteers, develops discussion themes, and ensures each event creates a safe, engaging environment for participants from diverse backgrounds.
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Evan Sutton
ASSISTANT MEDIA & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Evan supports the congregation’s communication and outreach efforts by helping create and manage digital content, social media, and promotional material. This role works closely with the Media & Marketing Director to ensure consistent branding and on-time marketing.
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Donna Dietrich
DIRECTOR OF VISUAL MEDIA
Donna is responsible for preparing and managing worship presentation slides. This role also updates designated sections of the church website, manages and organizes information submitted through online forms such as the prayer & snack forms, and provides additional media and support as needed to assist the broader marketing team.
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Joseph Sigmon
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
The Digital Engagement Specialist shares the church’s social media content to relevant public groups to expand reach and visibility. This role also formats posts into story-ready content for platforms like Facebook and Instagram, helping ensure consistent, engaging, and timely digital outreach.
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Angela Harris
RECORDER | SECRETARY
The Recorder is responsible for accurately documenting official meetings, maintaining church records, and preserving important organizational documents. This role ensures timely preparation of minutes, proper recordkeeping, and organized access to information.
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Matthew Baker
CONGREGATION FINANCIAL OFFICER
Matthew oversees the congregation’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, and tithing. This role ensures responsible management of funds, compliance with world-church policies, and transparent financial practices that support the church’s mission and long-term sustainability.
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Sharon Allen
Fundraising Manager
The Fundraising Manager oversees the planning and execution of the congregation’s fundraising initiatives to support programs, ministries, and community outreach. This role develops donor relationships, coordinates campaigns and events.
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Emma Brown
Children’s Program Leader
The Children’s Program Leader supports the spiritual formation of children in alignment with the mission and values of Community of Christ. This role facilitates age-appropriate lessons, activities, and worship experiences that nurture discipleship, promote Christ-centered community, and encourage children to grow in faith, peace, and justice within a safe and welcoming environment.
Committees
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Our financial auditing committee reviews our congregations finances to ensure funds are accurate, properly handled, and transparent.
On this committee:
Matthew Baker (CFO)
mbaker@scofchrist.org
Jayme Blevins
jblevins@scofchrist.org
Emma Brown
ebrown@scofchrist.org
This committee meets via Microsoft Teams on: Twice a year —June 2026 & December 2026.
Recent News From This Committee
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Our outreach committee organizes and supports community service efforts (such as feeding the unhoused) to meet needs and serve others beyond the congregation.
On this committee:
Sara Tomko (Chair)
stomko@scofchrist.org
Donna Dietrich (Vice-Chair)
ddietrich@scofchrist.org
Melanie Blume
Christopher Cooley
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Our Church Outreach Committee organizes support services, community events, and fellowship activities—such as service groups and fun nights—to connect people and strengthen the church’s outreach.
On this committee:
Jayme Blevins (Chair)
jblevins@scofchrist.org
Evan Sutton (Vice-Chair)
esutton@scofchrist.org
Melanie Blume
Jonathan Winters
OUR BELIEFS ARE DRIVEN BY BIBLICAL VALUE & CHRIST-LIKE LOVE!
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We believe in one living God who meets us in the testimony of Israel, is revealed in Jesus Christ, and moves through all creation as the Holy Spirit. We affirm the Trinity—God who is a community of three persons. All things that exist owe their being to God: mystery beyond understanding and love beyond imagination. This God alone is worthy of our worship.
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We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, the Word made flesh, the Savior of the world, fully human and fully divine. Through Jesus’ life and ministry, death and resurrection, God reconciles the world and breaks down the walls that divide. Christ is our peace.
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We believe in the Holy Spirit, Giver of Life, holy Wisdom, true God. The Spirit moves through and sustains creation; endows the church for mission; frees the world from sin, injustice, and death; and transforms disciples. Wherever we find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control, there the Holy Spirit is working.
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As an expression of divine love, God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, and called them "good." Everything belongs to God and should be cherished and used justly according to divine purposes. God sees creation as a whole without separation of spirit and element. God calls people of every generation to join with God as stewards in the loving care of creation.
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Every human being is created in the image of God. In Jesus Christ, God took on the limits of human flesh and culture, and is known through them. We therefore affirm without exception the worth of every human being. We also affirm that God has blessed humankind with the gift of agency: the ability to choose whom or what we will serve within the circumstances of our lives.
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God created us to be agents of love and goodness. Yet we misuse our agency individually and collectively. We take the gifts of creation and of self and turn them against God’s purposes with tragic results. Sin is the universal condition of separation and alienation from God and one another. We are in need of divine grace that alone reconciles us with God and one another.
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The gospel is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ: forgiveness of sin, and healing from separation, brokenness, and the power of violence and death. This healing is for individuals, human societies, and all of creation. This new life is the loving gift of God’s grace that becomes ours through faith and repentance. Baptism is how we initially express our commitment to lifelong discipleship. As we yield our lives to Christ in baptism we enter Christian community (the body of Christ) and have the promise of salvation. We experience salvation through Jesus Christ, but affirm that God’s grace has no bounds, and God’s love is greater than we can know.
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God intends Christian faith to be lived in companionship with Jesus Christ and with other disciples in service to the world. The church of Jesus Christ is made of all those who respond to Jesus’ call. Community of Christ is part of the whole body of Christ. We are called to be a prophetic people, proclaiming the peace of Jesus Christ and creating communities where all will be welcomed and brought into renewed relationship with God, and where there will be no poor.
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We affirm the Living God is ever self-revealing. God is revealed to the world in the testimony of Israel, and above all in Jesus Christ. By the Holy Spirit we continue to hear God speaking today. The church is called to listen together for what the Spirit is saying and then faithfully respond.
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Scripture is writing inspired by God’s Spirit and accepted by the church as the normative expression of its identity, message, and mission. We affirm the Bible as the foundational scripture for the church. In addition, Community of Christ uses the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants—not to replace the witness of the Bible or improve on it, but because they confirm its message that Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God. When responsibly interpreted and faithfully applied, scripture provides divine guidance and inspired insight for our discipleship.
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Community of Christ affirms that women are called by God to serve in all offices of the priesthood. Since 1984, the church has recognized and ordained women, believing that God’s call is not limited by gender. This belief is rooted in the church’s understanding of continuing revelation, the worth of all persons, and the gifts of the Spirit being given to all who are called. Women serve at every level of leadership in the Community of Christ, including congregational, national, and international roles, as an expression of the church’s commitment to equality, inclusivity, and faithful discipleship.
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Community of Christ affirms the sacred worth of all people, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQIA+). The church teaches that God’s love is unconditional and that every person is created in the image of God. Guided by continuing revelation and faithful discernment, the Community of Christ welcomes LGBTQIA+ individuals into the full life of the church. In many nations where it is legal, this includes marriage, leadership, and priesthood, while also honoring the principle of faithful disagreement within the global church. Sanctuary is a fully affirming congregation.