Clergy & Interns
Services at The Beloved Community at the Trees are led by Rev. Phillip Bass and Rev. Deacon Dan Laird. Phillip formerly served as the Associate Rector of The Church of the Nativity in Raleigh, NC. In addition to his pastoral role, he is also a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and has a private practice in Chapel Hill, NC. In his clinical work, Phillip often addresses religious trauma, deconstruction, and questions of faith, especially among the LGBTQIA+ community. He brings this experience to his work with The Beloved Community. Outside of this, Phillip enjoys spending time with his husband and son.
Dan is a married, semi-retired baby-boomer. Part of what gets Dan up in the morning is his passion for sharing the riches and diversity of the Episcopal Church with others. He graduated from Penn State University as an agronomist in plant genetics with another degree in computer science, with certification in cyber security. Dan also volunteers and assists individuals with developmental disabilities. When not involved in ministry, he may be found with my plants or in the garden tending to and propagating plants.
Libby Carroll is a graduate of Baylor University, where she studied religion, philosophy, and writing. In June of 2024, she married Evan Rivera, a church musician and her high school sweetheart, on a beach in Puerto Rico surrounded by family and friends. They relocated to the Triangle from Texas later that summer so that Libby could pursue her Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School, where she is beginning her final year of studies. In her free time, Libby enjoys reading theology, creating and studying art, exploring Hillsborough with Evan, and frolicking outdoors with her dog, Oakley. She is passionate about living and learning alongside people traditionally marginalized by institutions and grateful for the ways these relationships enrich her perception of God’s presence in the world.
