VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/8/12)—The American Baptist Churches of the Central Pacific Coast (formerly ABC of Oregon), at their Annual Gathering in Alameda, California in late October, announced the appointment of Rev. Miriam Méndez to the position of Associate Executive Minister. Rev. Méndez assumed her new role on November 1.
In speaking of her appointment, Executive Minister Steve Bils remarked, “Rev. Méndez brings both a wealth of experience and a passionate heart to her work in the areas of church planting, congregational vitality, and clergy well-being. She has done an excellent job in her work as regional church planting coordinator, and I look forward to working with her in her new role.”
A native New Yorker and Puerto Rican, Rev. Méndez is a leader, preacher, teacher, administrator, church planter and an advocate for justice. She has served in pastoral ministry for over fifteen years in both English- and Spanish-speaking congregations. She has planted two churches; a multi-denominational church plant in southwest Portland, Oregon, and more recently, Esperanza Church in southeast Portland. For thirteen years she has served as adjunct faculty at George Fox Evangelical Seminary, teaching in the areas of spiritual leadership, reconciliation, prayer and coaching. She is a certified Spiritual Director and a certified MBTI trainer.
Her passion and work for justice, discipleship, mission, and the health and spiritual wholeness of churches and leaders has led her to currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Latino Action Agenda, and as a member of the ABCUSA Personal And Spiritual Wholeness Team. Méndez also serves on the region’s Pastoral Services committee and represents the ABCCPC Ministers Council in the national Ministers Council Senate.
Her educational background includes a BA in Business Administration from National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, and an MDiv and Certificates of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship and Spiritual Direction from George Fox Seminary in Portland. Her postgraduate studies include a one-year residency in Clinical Pastoral Education from Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center, a Level-One Trauma Center in Portland. She currently serves on the Pastoral Care and Consultation Committee of Emanuel Hospital.
Yet, what most thrills Miriam’s heart is, “being the mother of two beautiful and courageous young adults, the daughter of compassionate and unshakable parents, and the sister of two wonderful and steadfast sisters!”
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.