By Lauren Lamb
In June 2024, Cooperative Baptists voted to elect Tanya Parks to serve as Moderator-Elect for CBF in 2024-2025. Parks is a former Slovakia-based field personnel and currently serves as the co-pastor of University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On Thursday, Parks will assume the role of CBF Moderator, the Fellowship’s highest-ranking officer, succeeding Juan García, pastor of the Hispanic Congregation (Primera Iglesia Bautista de Newport News) of First Baptist Church, Newport News Va.
Check out our Q&A with Tanya to learn more about her below.
Tell me a little about your childhood. Where did you grow up and where did you attend school?
I grew up mostly in Kentucky, in a suburb outside of Louisville. When the church doors were open, I was there. I loved being at church and found my home there both being served and serving. I was taught at a young age that God called all people—not just ministers—to serve. My parents and mentors also instilled in me the belief that God calls and empowers all types of people, no matter their gender. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Church Music with a Vocal Performance concentration from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Later, I received a Master of Divinity from Baptist Seminary at Richmond in Virginia. Both of those degrees were foundational in my understanding of God, the Bible, myself and of my calling to ministry.
How did you become connected with CBF?
Our family has been connected with CBF from the very beginning. My father, John Lepper, was the first Executive Coordinator of CBF of Kentucky. Coming to General Assembly really is like a big family reunion to me! CBF was a home for my family of origin and continued to be a home for my husband, Jon Parks, and I as we began our family and ministries.
You have served as a pastor and also as CBF field personnel in Slovakia. When did you feel called to ministry?
I can’t remember a time that I didn’t want to serve God and others. From participating in children’s and youth activities, to helping start a church plant as a high schooler, to mission trips as a youth and college student, to church music endeavors as a college and post-graduate student, I have always loved being a part of the work that God is doing in the world and helping others connect their gifts to that work as well.
During my college years, I knew that I wanted to do some kind of work in the church (thus the Church Music degree). That extended to a call to missions toward the end of my college years (thus a year abroad after graduation). When Jon and I got married, we knew that God had called us individually and together to serve overseas at some point in our lives (thus nine years in Slovakia). My calling to pastor University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge is a part of the ongoing story that is my calling. There are new adventures every day!
What did you learn from your time as a field personnel?
I think the biggest thing I learned while serving in Slovakia is that God is so much bigger than we as Baptist Americans can comprehend. Our expression of faith and of serving God is only one small part of the work that God is doing all around the world. My Roma brothers and sisters taught me so much about prayer and spirituality and the Slovak believers taught me about devotion to God and the Church. Everyone has a place at God’s table, and we are so much richer with everyone’s experiences!
I also learned what it felt like to live in a country that wasn’t my birth country. There is a certain humility that comes with not speaking the dominant language in a place. I understand some of the challenges our immigrant brothers and sisters face, but often with far less resources than our family had to survive.
What led you to pursue ministry further?
Serving God through missions and now the church is who I am. I can’t really imagine doing anything else. There have been countless people along the way that have spoken truth into my life that has led me to the next step and then the next step in my journey. When I was approached about being the moderator, it seemed like a natural part of my journey to serve others and help continue the work of the church and the good work of CBF.
Who has influenced your work?
My parents, my sister and my husband have been my absolute biggest influences – and my biggest cheerleaders. They believe I can do anything, and some days I actually believe that as well! My dad has taught me about honesty and integrity in ministry, and about really listening to people’s stories. My mom has taught me how to love those I serve deeply. My sister has walked a similar road to my own and she challenges me with her connection to God’s spirit. My husband and I make the greatest team. Where I am weak, he is strong, and vis versa. He has taught me to step back from a situation and view it from the eyes of those around me, to take a breath before I respond. I’m still working on that one!
Folks like Rachel Held Evans, Kate Bowler and Nadia Bolz-Weber have challenged me to be myself and not be afraid to ask questions. Their influence on me and so many others has been vital to the Church.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in ministry?
Find those who champion you. Find mentors and others who continue to speak truth, love and encouragement into the work that you do. Gather people around you that uplift you. Find other women who are doing similar work and lean on each other.
Don’t be afraid to do the things God is calling you. Everyone, male and female, has things to learn and ways to grow. If God is calling you to do something, get out there and do it! Start small and keep taking steps of faith. Don’t be afraid to try something that doesn’t work. Failure is all part of the life of learning.
How can we pray for you in this role?
Pray that I will lead with excellence, with a heart of love and understanding. Pray that I can lead with courage and boldness, helping CBF continue to be a beacon of love and hope in our world today. Pray that I might balance the various demands on my time and energy – church, family, marriage and moderator.
What are your hopes for this year’s General Assembly?
I pray that we can live into the idea of belonging. I hope that as we fellowship and see old friends, that we might also make a few new friends and bring people into the Beloved Community that we have here at CBF. I hope that we can be challenged to be even more bold and that this might be a springboard to an expanding network of people to love.
I hope to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones this week!
What brings you joy?
Connection and community bring me joy. I love being with people – young and not-so-young. I love to connect with people and find out what makes them special. I love to sit with others and share stories. Being with my family and watching my kids grow into adults is bringing me a lot of joy these days.
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