Tara Beth Leach (born 1982) is an American evangelical pastor and author.

Education

Leach was born in 1982.[1] She has said she first felt called to ministry while in high school but was told she couldn't be a pastor as a woman.[2] She has a BA in youth ministry from Olivet Nazarene University and an MDiv from Northern Seminary,[3][4] where she also worked as a teaching assistant for Scot McKnight.[5]

Career

Leach was appointed Senior Pastor at First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena ("PazNaz") in 2016,[3][6] the first woman in the role.[7][8] In 2017, she was the youngest female megachurch pastor in the United States.[1] Since 2023, Tara Beth has served as the Senior Pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Naperville, Illinois.[9][10]

Leach's first book, Emboldened, released in 2017, seeks to encourage women into Christian ministry.[11] Her 2021 book Radiant suggests church leaders need to look at themselves rather than culture to explain the trend away from church attendance.[12]

Personal life

Leach married in 2006 and has two sons.[3]

Publications

  • Leach, Tara Beth (2016). "A Symphonic Melody:Wesleyan-Holiness Theology Meets New-Perspective Paul". In Scot McKnight; Joseph B. Modica (eds.). The Apostle Paul and the Christian Life: Ethical and Missional Implications of the New Perspective. Baker Academic. pp. 153–178. ISBN 9781493403516.
  • Leach, Tara Beth (2017). Emboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 9780830887583.
  • Leach, Tara Beth (2017). Kingdom Culture: The Sermon on the Mount: Workbook. Foundry Publishing. ISBN 9780834136168.
  • Boone, Dan; Chambo, Samantha; Leach, Tara Beth; Rowell, Jeren (2018). For God So Loved: A Lenten Devotional. Foundry Publishing. ISBN 9780834137073.
  • Leach, Tara Beth (2021). Forty Days on Being a Six. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 9780830847525.
  • Leach, Tara Beth (2021). Radiant Church: Restoring the Credibility of Our Witness. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 9780830847631.

References

  1. 1 2 Bird, Warren (October 9, 2017). "Youngest Megachurch Pastor? 20 To Watch". Leadership Network. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ Markus Watson (March 18, 2019). "Episode 28: Empowering Women in Ministry, with Tara Beth Leach, author of Emboldened". Spiritual Life and Leadership (Podcast). Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Tara Beth Leach". IVPress.
  4. ↑ "Tara Beth Leach". Missio Alliance.
  5. ↑ Steve Carter (August 18, 2020). "When the Pastoral and Prophetic Intersect:Interview with Tara Beth Leach". Craft and Character (Podcast). CDF Capital. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Pasadena Religious Services Sunday". Pasadena Now. October 15, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  7. ↑ Shellnutt, Kate (August 3, 2017). "The Pay Gap Is Worse for Pastor-Moms". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ Leach, Tara Beth (September 12, 2016). "I Don't Fit the Senior Pastor Mold". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Pastor Tara Beth Leach". Good Shepherd Church - Naperville. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Staff Archive". Good Shepherd Church - Naperville. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  11. ↑ Ieron, Julie-Allyson (April 12, 2018). "Tara Beth Leach:A Pastor in Love with the Church". Northern Seminary.
  12. ↑ Grossman, Cathy Lynn (March 19, 2021). "Bringing the 'Nones' Home". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
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