BCOC | Staff

ERICA COOPER

Pastor

Erica Cooper was called to serve as the Sixth Pastor of BCOC in October 2020. Her first Sunday as Pastor was Sunday, December 6, 2020. Before accepting the call at BCOC, Erica was Assistant Minister of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. She received a Masters of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta where she won the John R. Claypool Preaching Award in 2009. She was ordained by Druid Hills Baptist Church Baptist Church in Atlanta. She is married to Chris Cooper, a native of Nashville. They have one child, Rosi.

DANIEL (DAN) LAWHON

Organist - Choirmaster

Daniel (Dan) Edward Lawhon was called to be the Organist-Choirmaster in 2008. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Belmont University in Nashville, TN and a Master of Church Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the School of Church Music at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

ERIC CLARK

Minister of Community Engagement

Eric Clark was called as BCOC’s Minister of Community Engagement in 2022. Eric received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Georgia State University and his Master of Divinity from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Along the way, he spent two years studying philosophy and theology in Germany, the first year at the University of Tübingen, the second at the University of Munich. Eric began attending BCOC in 2017 after he moved to Birmingham to be closer to his future wife, Lyndsay, and to undertake a yearlong clinical pastoral residency at UAB Hospital. Lyndsay and Eric were married by BCOC pastor emerita Sarah Shelton in 2018. They have two children, Miriam and Amos.

SARAH SHELTON

Pastor Emeritus

Sarah Jackson Shelton served as pastor of Baptist Church of the Covenant from 2002, when she was called, to 2019, when she retired. She is a graduate of The University of Alabama and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Lloyd, have two children, David and Dan.

SHERRI SWICKARD

Financial Administrator

Sherri Swickard became BCOC's financial administrator in 2017. Sherri previously worked for the Accounting and Mortgage Loan Department of Protective Life for 32 years. Sherri and her husband Kerry live in Clay, Alabama.

JOSEY WINDHAM

Office Administrator

Josey Windham became the Office Administrator at Covenant in 2017. Josey graduated in 2012 from American University in Washington, DC. She lived and worked for a non-profit in Washington until she moved back to her home town of Birmingham.

JIMMY HAWLEY

Facilities Manager

Jimmy Hawley has served as the Facilities Manager since 2004. Jimmy is a life long member of Baptist Church of the Covenant. He and his wife Allison have two sons and live in Vestavia Hills.

LINDSEY BLOODWORTH

Interim Youth Formation Director

In May 2024, Lindsey agreed to step in to provide leadership in some key areas during the interim period before a new minister of Christian Formation is called. Lindsey is married to Christopher Bloodworth, and they have two fun kids: Oliver (4) and Benjamin (1). They have been attending BCOC since 2021 and officially became members in 2022. Lindsey has taught English at Ramsay High School and has served as the Admissions Coordinator for Samford’s Honors program, the University Fellows. She is currently part of the team that teaches Youth Sunday school and is excited to go to Passport Camp with the youth for the first time this summer!

CINDY PONDER

Interim Children and Adult Formation Director

In May 2024, Cindy agreed to step in to provide leadership in some key areas during the interim period before a new minister of Christian Formation is called. Cindy has been a member of BCOC since 1983. She has taught children’s SS, led children’s choir, sang in the adult choir, and played handbells. She has served as chair for Deacons, Council on Mission, and the Education Committee. She has served on the Ministry Committee and currently teaches an adult SS class. Cindy has raised both biological and foster children in the church. She is married to Jill Holley. She has worked professionally as an ESL teacher, an LPC for Gateway foster care program, and a kindergarten teacher. Cindy is looking forward to visiting SS classes, supporting teachers, and listening to ways the education program can support adults and children in their spiritual journey.