Rev. Dr. Lori E. Hatch-Rivera

Rev. Dr. Lori E. Hatch-Rivera was ordained August 29, 2004. She received her Masters of Divinity on June 6, 2004 from Florida Center for Theological Studies in Miami, Florida. Rev. Lori was on staff as the Associate Pastor of Church Management (church administrator) at SunCoast Cathedral MCC from August 2004 until February 2011. She became the Senior Pastor of MCC of the Spirit in February of 2011. She graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, PA in May of 2018 with her Doctor of Ministry. Her project was on Pastoral Care for the LGBTQA community.

 

Rev. Lori was born in New York, the second of four children (all brothers). Rev. Lori, her parents, and her two younger brothers moved to Florida in 1973. She became involved in the local Southern Baptist church and felt the call to ministry in her early twenties. Dealing with many issues in her life, she fought against answering God’s call until her early forties. Prior to entering the ministry, Rev. Lori worked as a middle school science teacher and department chair for 14 years in Palm Beach County, Florida. Rev. Lori and her wife, Darlene, live in Harrisburg.

 

Rev. Lori is involved in the Harrisburg Downtown Clergy ecumenical association and the InterReligious Forum of Greater Harrisburg interfaith association. She is involved in planning the annual Commonwealth Interfaith Service: Prayers for Justice and Peace, the annual Thanksgiving Eve Interfaith Service, and other community events. Rev. Lori believes as written in James and Micah: true religion is helping the poor, the oppressed, being engaged in acts of social justice and kindness, and walking humbly with God.