After becoming a Christian in Marine Corps boot camp at 18 years old, I felt the call to pastoral ministry just one year after my conversion. I committed to the ministry of my Assemblies of God congregation and pursued lay ministry there until I returned to college and graduated from Eureka College with a Theological Studies degree in 2005. I learned to love theology and so continued to pursue an education in theology, earning a Master of Theological Studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary (2007) and a Ph.D. in Theology and Ethics at Garrett (2014).
After graduating from a Disciples of Christ college and a United Methodist Seminary, I was originally ordained in the Assemblies of God. In 2016, I left the Assemblies of God to become an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. This ecumenical background has opened many doors as I speak across a number of Christian traditions. While in seminary, I served in Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and Worship Ministry in congregations in Wisconsin and Illinois.
I have written on Pentecostalism, liturgy, prayer, and apologetics in academic and professional journals. I recently published my first book on the implications of postliberal theological method for the discipline of apologetics (Apologetics after Lindbeck). But I have been leading retreats for high school and college students for several years on vocational discernment and the theology of calling. I plan to write my next book on this topic.
For 14 year I served as University Chaplain at the University of Indianapolis. Besides leading campus ministry programming and providing pastoral care at UIndy, I was the Director of the Lantz Center for Christian Vocation and Spiritual Formation. In that role I taught courses in spiritual formation, youth ministry, and theology.
I am now the pastor of a United Methodist Church in Westfield, Indiana, Christ United Methodist. Christ United Methodist is a church that is commited to the people of Westfield and focuses on the inclusion of persons with disability and the leadership of young people.
Since 2014, I have been leading spiritual pilgrimage groups on Camino de Santiago. I welcome the opportunity to have you join me on a pilgrimage if you want to walk the Way.
Jeremiah Gibbs is one of my favorite commentators on the intersections of Christian faith, culture and justice in the 21st century. Ordained in the charismatic Assemblies of God tradition and working as a chaplain at a United Methodist college, Jeremiah’s work speaks poignantly to a broad swath of American Christianity.– C. Christopher Smith, co-author, Slow Church: Cultivating Community in the Patient Way of Jesus and Senior Editor of The Englewood Review of Books
Dr. Jeremiah Gibbs 
Good news, thanks! Have you read Equally Yoked by Rick McKinnes? This book makes the case for women in leadership. Right now we are rowing with one oar.
I just completed reading “The Day That I Started To Understand Racism” from my FB News Feed in which I searched your site. Rev. Gibbs, as a black male, I am a huge advocate against racism, and your writing brought tears to my eyes. Currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate focusing on “The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Effective Leadership.” According to your writing, you stated, “I think that I can also straightforwardly say that African-Americans treat me differently when they see me with my son. I don’t know how to explain the boundary that exists between many (BUT NOT ALL) black and white persons. But somehow seeing me with my son helps me get past that boundary many times.” When African-Americans see you with your son, one of the reasons they may treat you differently because of belief, which is one of the components of EI according to Goleman (1998). When people have the same beliefs, those beliefs help pass the boundaries due to a common denominator. This relationship is also factual between leaders and employees when accomplishing challenging tasks. The employees must have the same beliefs as the leader in order to accomplish the organization’s perplexing tasks. However, when there is not a common denominator, people (leaders and employees) will most likely go in opposite directions. In other words, African-Americans may treat you differently because they believe that you understand racism or their journey due to your African-American son. Thanks for sharing “The Day That I Started To Understand Racism”. Again, I really enjoyed your writing and please have an awesome day, Rev. Gibbs.
Goleman, D. (1998). What Makes a Leader? Harvard Business Review, 1-10.
Jay, thank you so much for your response, and Jeremiah for speaking about that difficult-to-describe boundary. I have a biological bi-racial son, and I’ve experienced that boundary myself. It feels so odd to me to experience both sides of it – both being accepted (because of that shared belief you describe, Jay) and being not accepted because I show up somewhere without my son. Sometimes I feel as though I need to bring him with me so that I can prove the validity of my opinions or experiences, as though I’m having to say, “Look! Really! I DO understand!” And it makes me sad and a bit discouraged to realize that my white privilege puts me in a position to address my white peers from my experience, and to be an ally for Blacks, but excludes me from having a mutual denominator with my Black brethren and sistren.
I’m curious about why you are “a huge advocate against racism” “as a black male”. If by ‘racism’ you refer to hatred and violence by members of one race against another, then I too, am strongly opposed to racism. I can tell you that I’m a white male, but that has absolutely nothing to do with my opposition to racial hatred and violence. On a spiritual level, I believe that you and I and all other people who are on this earth, who have been on this earth, and will ever be on this earth are part of a single whole. One poet expressed part of it in these terms, “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.” Would you find it odd if I tell you that, though I’m against racial hatred, I consider myself to be one of the most racist people I’ve ever known? Here’s why. Every person on earth, regardless of race, national origin, colour, or any other division is unique and has a unique heritage of which they should be proud. My family is of entirely Socts-Irish descent, and I’m proud of that. You have your own heritage which has helped to make you uniquely you. Yours is a heritage with as much pride as mine. I consider myself to be a racist for the exact opposite reason that most people are racists. I love people. I also love diversity. How boring this world would be, if we WERE all exactly alike! The varying experiences of various groups of people gives us the diversity I enjoy. I love Scottish foods, Chinese foods, Italian foods. I’ve recently developed a taste for Mediterranean food (falafel), and an interest in African foods. I like all sorts of art forms from every group of people on earth. When I claim to be a racist, I’m saying that I see the beautiful differences between us all. I’d be stupid indeed, to hate the various groups who give me this wonderful variety! I attend festivals which remember my Scots-Irish ancestry, but I see the honour of other people’s ancestry. I am opposed to racial hatred, but I’m opposed as a human being; not as a ‘white man’ or a ‘Scotsman’ or an ‘Irishman’. I’m opposed because you and I are part of a single group much larger than ‘black’ or ‘white’ or any other comparatively superficial differences. We are part of the HUMAN race. In fact, I cannot be opposed to racial hatred ‘as a white man’, because by designating myself as acting in such a manner, I make myself part of the problem. These are my humble opinions.
I appreciate your thoughts on race. It was really touching. I am a black man who has worked in many settings, even Assemblies of God before. I appreciate what you do for the kingdom of God, and for society. May others learn from your experiences.
BTW…I’m here from a post on my facebook news feed by Michael Baisden.
Thank you for your kind words AND letting me know why the traffic increased on this so much. 🙂
I was just introduced to your blog. Good work
Just stumbled on your blog and love it! It seems both of us have similar interests and topics we write.
I agree with other commenters. Such a great post.
I have been watching your videos in preparation for what (God willing) will be my own Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. I noticed that you had organized and led other pilgrims before so am inquiring if you have any such group pilgrimages on your calendar as i would be interested in joining.
Shalom,
Marcus
Thanks for your interest Marcus. Most of my groups are trips that I lead for my university students. Should my university decide not to allow student trips this year I have an open group in May. Probably either from Astorga or Leon to SdC.
Thanks for watching the videos! I hope they have been helpful for you!
Sir, I respectfully believe your views on women in ministry are completely wrong and heretical. And the church you are a part of, the United Methodist Church, is a heretical church with heretical teaching. Please repent! You are taking away from God’s Word. Basically saying that the text isn’t saying what it IS saying. Allowing women to have spiritual authority to men and make it a “justice issue” is bowing the knee to the demonic LGBT agenda and turning away from God. It’s cowardly, ungodly, and effeminate. Men of God must STAND on the truth of His Word, but you have sought to undermine the very Word of God. Jeremiah, you must repent, and trust in Christ’s forgiveness for your sins on the cross. The only way to be saved is through Jesus Christ. Your spiritual “fruit” that has been shown in your story as well as some of your blog posts is not good fruit. Please, examine yourself as Paul says, and make sure you really are saved. I don’t know you, but I love your soul. Please repent, and trust in Jesus.
Hi Ethan, Respectfully, Dr Gibbs gives his credentials to show that he is educated in d enough to make the statements that he does. Will you please provide yours so I can determine whose statements to believe? Respectfully, thank you, Lilla Marie, LMHC
Dr. Gibbs, email me please. Isaac Martinez Isaac@martinezconnect.com