Pastor Karen Gibson grew up on a dairy farm in Denmark, South Carolina, graduated from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, and  the University of South Carolina.  She received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in 1980. Following graduation from USC, she began work in the computer software industry, and retired from Computer Science Corporation as a project manager.  She entered Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary after more than 19 years in the private sector. Pastor Karen graduated from LTSS in 2005 with a Masters of Divinity degree.

Pastor Karen married Sandy Gibson in 1980. Sandy retired from the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services in 2004 with 25 years of service. After retiring from the state, he accepted a full-time appointment with the South Carolina National Guard as  Director for Strategic Development. Sandy is a Lieutenant Colonel with 32 years of service and is assigned to the Office of the Adjutant General.

Pastor Karen and Sandy have two adult children - Seth and Victoria. Seth is a student at LTSS in the Master of Divinity Program. In June 2008, he married Jessica Miles, a licensed social worker and  also a student at LTSS in the Masters of Arts Program for Diaconal Ministries. At present, Seth and Jessica are on internship in Mississippi.  Victoria is a 2007 graduate of Lexington High School and the Lexington Technology Center. She is a licensed cosmetologist, living and working in South Carolina.