Congratulations to Estela Lopez on her new role as Formation Coordinator with the Office of Formation and Houston Area Missioner with the Office of Congregational Mission Vitality
Estela Lopez has been called to a dual role as Formation Coordinator with the Office of Formation and Houston Area Missioner with the Office of Congregational Mission Vitality.
- Support, coordinate, and promote all Formation initiatives and events in the diocese focused on discipleship and leadership development
- Assist in training and mentoring formation leaders around the diocese
- Coordinate and implement Formation efforts around discipleship and discernment within the diocese
“Estela’s dual role expresses an essential connection between formation and mission. Through two distinct sets of work, Estela’s engagement with the churches and people of the Diocese will deepen the staff’s support of mission and discipleship. I am excited to see the fruits of her new work,” says the Rt. Rev. Kai Ryan, Bishop Suffragan in EDOT.
“I am thrilled for Estela’s presence in this new role. Her service to the diocese over the years has been invaluable, and I am excited for all of the gifts, talents, and skills she brings into the area of Formation,” says Canon Dr. Josh Ritter, Canon for Formation in EDOT.
As an Area Missioner, Estela will do three things with each Mission Congregation in the Houston Area, especially in our Spanish-speaking churches and ministries:
- Build relationships through consistent presence over a long period of time by worshipping together, sharing meals and meeting one-on-one with leaders.
- Guide in discernment that draws on their gifts and historic strengths to plan how to build relationships and partnerships in their local community.
- Accompany them as they engage their local community in new ways and discover gaps in the social fabric of their local community they might fill.
“We are so grateful to have Estela on our Team of Area Missioners. Her experience and insight in lay leadership development and her work with the formation office are great gifts to our shared work across the Diocese,” says the Rev. Andrew Terry who serves as Missioner for Small Congregations and supports the Area Mission initiative in EDOT.
