commonwealthbaptistchurch.org » leaders

Stephen Price (Interim Pastor)

Omari — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:29:28 +0000

Rev. Stephen Price, our Interim Pastor is a Bi-vocational minister whose other vocation is as a pastoral psychotherapist. His work involves the treatment of trauma victims and sexually addicted persons as well as sexual offenders.

Stephen’s Bachelors degree is from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and he has an M.A. in Sociology/Criminology from UMass, Boston and an M.S. in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in Maryland. His most recent pastoral position prior to coming to Commonwealth was a three year Interim at Broadneck Baptist inAnnapolis, MD. He has published in the field of pastoral care and counseling.

Stephen and his wife, Carole, live in Annapolis. They love to kayak and are avid football fans. Between them they have five children and three grandchildren.

Rev. Ben Boswell-With Thanks

ben — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:48:19 +0000

Ben was Commonwealth’s Senior Pastor from 2008-2011. Before being installed as the head Pastor in September of 2008, Ben was the Associate Pastor working primarily with youth and children. Ben has a Bachelors in religion and philosophy from Campbell University, a Masters of Divinity from Duke University, and is currently in the final phases of a Doctorate in Ethics from the Catholic University of America. In addition to his role as pastor Ben is also an adjunct professor of Christian Ethics and Political Theology at John Leland Seminary in Falls Church, VA, and a board member of the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry.

Ben and his wife Toni live in the Lynnhaven area of Alexandria with Toni’s 13 year old sister Katelyn, their two Daschunds, and their brand new adopted baby girl Lucy Joy. For recreation Ben enjoys basketball, surfing, and indie rock music. In August, Ben assumed his new role as Senior Pastor of Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in North Carolina. We will miss him greatly and wish him and his family all the best.

Beth Trent – Church Administrator

ben — Sun, 02 May 2010 19:31:38 +0000

Beth recently graduated with a Bachelor of Accounting degree from the University of Maryland University College. During her job search, a friend told Beth, “You will know when the right job opportunity comes up.” A few months later, the position of administrator opened up at CBC. It turns out her friend was right! Beth is excited to be in a position that perfectly matches her education and skill set! Beth has two children, Jaimie and Aren, and lives in Springfield with her partner, Dawn.

Beth can be reached at 703.548.8000 or beth@commonwealthbaptistchurch.org

Chang Shen – Director of Music

ben — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:17:19 +0000

Chang holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, where he majored in bassoon performance and minored in piano performance. He has also studied at the Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. He has served as church accompanist for the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, the Estonian Lutheran Congregation of Northern California, Sei Ko Kai Christ (Episcopal) Church, and is the son of a Southern Baptist minister. Chang currently lives in Baltimore where he is continuing his musical studies, offers private piano lessons, and teaches piano in Worthington Elementary School’s after-school program. In addition to his other talents, Chang brings an affable personality and a wonderfully ecumenical (and eclectic) spirit to our church. He is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese and is teaching himself to play the Theremin, an early electronic instrument first developed in 1919 that is designed to be played without being touched.