Carol serves as the Senior Pastor here at First Baptist. Her love for people, passion for preaching, commitment to inclusion, care for the oppressed, and dedication to a life patterned after Jesus can be seen in all she does at First Baptist.
Carol joined First Baptist as pastor in 2012. Both Carol and her husband Michael grew up in TN. They met in college at Carson Newman and feel lucky to be partners in life and ministry. They have two young children, Nate and Marin.
Carol was ordained by Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco TX. She served as the Community Minister at First Baptist Knoxville before coming to First Baptist. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Human Services from Carson Newman College and is also a graduate of George W Truett Theological Seminary and the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University, where she earned her Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work. She also has a Doctor of Ministry in Worship, Preaching, and Spirituality from Drew University in New Jersey.
Carol is actively engaged in Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) and served as the Moderator from 2019-2020 and led the Fellowship through an unprecedented time of ministering during a global pandemic. Carol has served on the Leadership Team for Baptist Women in Ministry (2015-2018) and served as a mentor for new ministers through the Baptist Women in Ministry mentoring program. Carol is also involved in our community and currently serves on the Opportunity Center Campus steering committee, which is working to create a permanent winter shelter in Columbia.
Carol enjoys the great outdoors and can often be found walking the trails in Columbia or camping with her family. Carol is an avid reader and appreciates a good novel and books about theology and church. Some of her favorite authors as of late are Brian McLaren, Kate Bowler, Rachel Held Evans, Jemar Tisby, and N.T. Wright.
Carol loves sharing her life with the beloved community at First Baptist.
Check out Pastor Carol's Blog
