Advent 2023

Reverend Tara S. Gibbs is the Associate Minister of Spiritual Growth at Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC and a Christian Education Consultant at Thinking Faith Consultants. Originally from New Bern, NC, she holds an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and graduate degrees from Shaw University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Currently, Rev. Tara is enrolled in the Doctorate of Educational Ministry Degree Program at Columbia Theological Seminary.  Since her initial licensure and Baptist ordination, she has preached and taught for the General Baptist State Convention, The American Baptist Women, the United Missionary Baptist Association; and has crafted curriculum for Lott Carey’s Jamaica VBS, and devotionals for multiple churches. Rev. Tara also makes guest appearances on Christian radio shows and podcasts discussing the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Clergy Women in the Black Church, sexuality & gender identity, reproductive justice, and other topics. 

Outside of her professional studies, Rev. Tara enjoys working within the community including volunteering with non-profits such as the YMCA, CMS schools, and Charlotte for Choice, a reproductive justice non-profit.  Rev. Tara also spent time serving as senior pastor for two churches in central New Jersey, and studying abroad in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Mexico. She has contributed writings to in the #BlackMillennialWomanism Project, the American Academy of Religion Conferences, and the American Baptist Women In Ministry Blog. In her free time, you can catch Rev. Tara fishing, cooking, playing video games, and spending time with loved ones. You can read more on her website www.revtaragibbs.com and follow @PreachNGeek on most social media platforms.