Rev. Lauren Cogswell Ramseur

Norfolk, VA

Lauren is a 1996 graduate of James Madison University with a BA in Interdisciplinary Social Science and a 2000 graduate of Candler School of Theiology of Emory University with a Masters of Divinity.  She was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in November of 2000.

She became deeply involved in the anti-death penalty movement while serving as a pastor at the Open Door Community in Atlanta, GA where she organized to end the death penalty and led the vigils at the state capital when executions were scheduled.  She provided pastoral care for five years for men on death row, including accompanying Jack Alderman and Curtis Osborne through their death watch and exeution.  She also served on the board of directors for New Hope House, a ministry to people on Georgia’s death row and their familis.  Following that work, she became engaged in the field of restorative justice, and became a victim outreach specialist, working with family members of victims in death penalty cases.  She served as the Project Coordinator for the Council for Restorative Justice and assisted in the training of defense attorneys and victim outreach specialists in the work of Defense Initiated Victim Outreach (DIVO).  She has served a s a victim outreach specialist on death penalty cases in Georgia, Florida and Virginia.

Lauren is currently serving as the Interim Pastor at Lynn haven Colony Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Virginia Beach.  She also serves on the leadership team for Virginia Organizing, South Hampton Roads Chapter.  She is married to Doug Ramseur, the Capital Defender for Southeastern Virginia.  They live in Norfolk, VA and have one child.