Our Leadership Team

Get to know our Ministry Table

Dale Suggs

Founding Pastor

Dale is a graduate of Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School, being ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1987. The core values that shape Dale’s life and ministry are grace, inclusion, and compassion. These values fuel Dale’s passion for creating compassionate space for individuals and families struggling with mental health, for the LGBTQIA+ community, and for those excluded or injured by church. Dale is committed to putting the compassion of Jesus into action and teaching others how to do the same.

Professionally, Dale has served 30 years as a congregational pastor, 15 years as a Certified Spiritual Director, and four years as a Hospice Chaplain.

In 2016, Dale and his wife, Shelly, began informally gathering with people they knew had left the church in pain and suffering. In 2018, Dale and Shelly co-founded a congregation from this community now known as “BELOVED Way.”

In 2021, Dale and Shelly co-founded a nonprofit called, “BELOVED Compassion Network” or BCN. BCN is committed to teaching meditative practices and practical strategies for “Cultivating Compassion” for self and others.

Dale is known for his preaching, retreat facilitating, and keynoting on the subjects of mental health in the church, spiritual deepening for overactive congregations, and making compassion a way of life. Dale spends much of his time developing and teaching workshops, seminars, and retreats on topics including cultivating compassion, forgiving, being shaped by the stories we tell, narrative Bible study, tending spiritual roots, developing resilience, and releasing the flow of blessings.

Dale has been married to Shelly Jones Suggs for 39 years. They have four adult daughters and three beautiful girls who call Dale “Granddad!”

Shelly Suggs

Minister of Spiritual Growth & Well-Being

Shelly has always had a passion for accompanying and guiding others along their own spiritual journey. She has served as an elder, teacher, and curriculum writer over many years in several congregations on the Christian Church (DoC). A certified spiritual director, Shelly enjoys working with children, youth, and adults. A graduate of Texas Christian University, Shelly completed a Master of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Spiritual Formation at Claremont School of Theology in May, 2017. 

VeAnn Clark

Interim Associate Minister

VeAnn is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and holds a Masters of Divinity in Interfaith Chaplaincy from Claremont School of Theology. VeAnn has over 20 years experience working with youth, young adults, and families, launching after-school programs and directing camps and retreats, and she is a certified sexuality educator through Our Whole Lives, a comprehensive sexuality education program. VeAnn has journeyed with people through many life stages including birth, aging, illnesses, and death. Her compassion and ability to be present with individuals and families in a variety of situations is a personal strength. She is thrilled to serve BELOVED while she also completes her clinical hours for ACPE board certification as a chaplain. 

Alisa Mittelstaedt

Technology & Communications

Cassandra Cyphers

Social Media & Communications​

​Phil Fowler

Financial Secretary

L-R: Alleen Christian (Facilitator), Dale Suggs, Jeanette Christian (Facilitator), Shelly Suggs, and Gail Whetstine