Tara was born and raised in Wilmington, NC. She graduated from Hoggard High School, Peace College, and received her B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill. She completed her MDiv at Duke Divinity School.
She served most recently as the pastor of Trinity UMC in Wilmington. Over the years, she served in youth and children’s ministry, program ministry, as minister of visitation, and as the Volunteer Ministries Coordinator at the Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC.
Tara is married to Rev. Doug Lain, who serves in the NCCUMC. They have three children: Olivia, Emily, and Everett.