Dr. Joseph S. Parks, Sr.
Called as Senior Pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.
After the retirement of longtime, highly influential pastor the Rev. John Wesley Brewster, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church has entered a new chapter of leadership with the selection of Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Parks, Sr. as its new Senior Pastor.
Following a six-month period of prayer, discernment, and congregational review, the church voted unanimously in February to extend the call to Dr. Parks. His appointment marks a significant transition for the congregation as it seeks continued spiritual growth, stability, and renewed ministry engagement in the Asheville community.
An alumnus of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology and a graduate of Virginia Union University, Dr. Parks brings more than 45 years of pastoral and ministerial experience to Asheville. A native of Winston-Salem, NC, he has built a distinguished career as a pastor, counselor, motivational speaker, and certified church consultant.
He currently serves as President of the National Employment Counseling Association (NECA), an affiliate of the American Counseling Association. His extensive background in counseling, strategic leadership, and conflict resolution has made him a trusted advisor for congregations navigating transition and organizational change.
His leadership extends well beyond the pulpit. Dr. Parks serves as Vice-Moderator of the Spartanburg County Baptist Association, a founding leader of the Spartanburg Clergy Initiative, Director of the National Clergy Initiative, and Executive Director of the Dothan Leadership and Training Institute. In these roles, he is widely recognized as a workshop specialist in evangelism, ministry development, and social justice.
His teachings on church arbitration, Christian education, and the future of Black men in America have been presented across the region. He is also frequently invited by seminaries and Bible colleges to assist in developing strategic plans for congregational renewal and generational engagement.
In addition to pastoral leadership, Dr. Parks has served as a consultant and spiritual overseer to congregations across North and South Carolina and Maryland. He has assisted churches through pastoral transitions, leadership restructuring, and ministry development, including Reeder Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte, Elm Grove in Reidsville (NC), Connexion Point Church in Baltimore, and Emmanuel Baptist in Thomasville, NC.
In each setting, he has been recognized for strengthening organizational structure and helping congregations reposition for future ministry.
Dr. Parks’s influence also extends across denominational and international lines. He has held leadership roles within the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Baptist Congress, and the National Baptist Convention, while remaining active in civic and interfaith initiatives.
The Spartanburg and National Clergy Initiative, which he directs, is an ecumenical consortium representing more than 90 faith institutions across multiple denominations. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Global Missions, an ecumenical organization supporting hospitals and schools abroad.
His ministry footprint spans the United States and several countries, including El Salvador, South Korea, Grenada, Germany, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Israel. He has also preached at international gatherings such as the Religious and Government Forum sponsored by the United Nations Faith Institute.
Despite his extensive résumé, Dr. Parks consistently describes himself as a servant leader. Known for his compassion and pastoral sensitivity, he often states his desire to be remembered as “a friend of God and a messenger for Christ.”
He and his wife, Evelyn, have been married for 34 years and share a deep commitment to faith, family, and community. A proud father and grandfather, Dr. Parks frequently describes his family as one of his greatest blessings.
As he begins his tenure at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Parks brings a message centered on hope, unity, and spiritual renewal. The congregation looks forward to a new season of growth, stability, and continued service to the Asheville community.
His official installation will be celebrated during an Investiture Service at 4 p.m. on August 2, 2026, at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, located at 56 Walton Street in Asheville. Worship services are held each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. The church office can be reached at (828) 255-0054.
