Rev. Meagan Matthews was born and raised in Raleigh, where her faith community shaped her earliest commitments to ministry. She was baptized at Benson Memorial United Methodist Church and later confirmed at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, foundations that nurtured a lifelong passion for Scripture and the church.

Rev. Meagan graduated from North Carolina State University as a valedictorian with a major in Communication, concentrating both in Disorders (pre–speech therapy) and Interpersonal Communication. During her undergraduate years she discovered the joy of rigorous Biblical study, experiencing for the first time the freedom to ask deep questions about faith and Scripture—questions she had once been discouraged from exploring in high school. This academic engagement with the Bible continued to grow and ultimately led her to Duke Divinity School, where she earned her Master of Divinity. Her coursework focused heavily on pastoral care, Old Testament studies, and the life-giving power of Scripture as a dynamic expression of God’s revelation. Rev. Meagan was ordained in 2004.

Across her ministry, Rev. Meagan has served in a range of settings. While in college, she worked for two to three years as a youth intern at her home church. During seminary, she served as a chaplain intern at Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community in Raleigh, and after graduation she held pastoral roles at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Bahama and Grace Community Church in Raleigh. She joined the Centenary staff in October 2004.

Rev. Meagan has a particular passion for teaching Bible studies and working with senior adults. She strives to create spaces where people feel comfortable asking meaningful, complex questions about their faith, and she finds deep fulfillment in helping individuals gain a richer understanding of Scripture. For her, ministry is both challenging and profoundly rewarding, offering continual opportunities to ease burdens, extend compassion, and represent Christ in the world.

Rev. Meagan lives in Clayton with her husband, their three sons, and two dogs. Besides spending time with her family, she loves reading fantasy and science fiction and watching The Great British Bake Off. She loves traveling to the Outer Banks and is an enthusiastic fan of Broadway musicals—especially Les Misérables and Hadestown.