About Liz

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Rios is a compelling multi-hyphenate creative whose work beautifully weaves together various strands of justice, mujerista and barrio theology, and more. Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, she is an intersectional thinker and practitioner who merges academic rigor with lived experience, placing her at the forefront of transformative justice work. As an Afro-Boricua, her approach is characterized by a deep commitment to social justice, elevating the voices of women, and community empowerment. By integrating mujerista theology—focused on the experiences and perspectives of Latina women (but not just for them)—and barrio theology, which draws from the lived realities of marginalized communities, she offers a nuanced and grounded perspective on spirituality and justice.

In addition to these theological frameworks, Rios's work often intersects with advocacy for racial and economic justice, gender equality, and community resilience. Her multi-hyphenate identity also encompasses roles such as educator, activist, and spiritual leader, each contributing to a rich tapestry of creative and transformative work to foster equity and healing in diverse contexts.

Dr. Liz founded Passion2Plant, one of the few known national church planting networks founded and led by a woman, to teach global majority planters to start holistic, justice-focused churches, and The Passion Center, a missional online faith community and training center. She is the spiritual daughter of both the Primitive Christian Church (PCC), and the Latino Pastoral Action Center (LPAC). PCC which Rev. Marc Rivera pastors, was where she first discerned a call to leadership at the age of 11 and where she was given amazing ministerial opportunities that led to credentialing by the Assemblies of God. LPAC further developed her gifts and call and developed her into a city-wide respected leader under the tutelage of Bishop Raymond Rivera. Dr. Rios is now an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister. As a co-vocational leader, she also works with Urban Strategies (a virtual company since its inception 20+ years ago) and leads the Púlpito Fellows, a three year, cohort-based Lilly Endowment funded preaching program that seeks to take Latina/o pastors and faith leaders with little to no use of social media to leveraging technology to encourage people in digital spaces to move toward personal or social transformation, with a focus on biblical justice.

Dr. Rios has served as a nonprofit executive, higher education administrator, and pastor. As an Assistant Professor of Christian Education and Executive Director of Advancement at Nyack College, Dr. Rios started the Urban Ministry Conferences in New York City that drew hundreds of people to learn more about being effective urban missiologists, practitioners and pastors. She has been in ministry for over 34 years and has served on several national boards, most recently joining Sojourners, an ecumenical Christian media and advocacy organization that works toward social and racial justice. She also serves as Adjunct Faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Liz has been mentoring emerging women leaders and ministers since founding the Center for Emerging Female Leadership in NYC (1996-2001) and for four years served as a Senior Mentor in the R.E.A.L. Black Women in Ministry THRIVE initiative invited by former Ambassador of Religious Freedom, Rev. Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook. She is an executive team member of the Latino Leadership Circle. Dr. Rios has also been an entrepreneur and has consulted schools, faith-based organizations, small businesses, and non-profits since 1996. Her articles written with Latino small businesses in mind can be found at the Latin Business Today site. She also makes time to serve her denomination as a member of the Commission on Ministry and serves as the Florida Superintendent of the Council of Holistic Christian Churches and Ministries.

She teaches, preaches, and writes about women in ministry, leadership, organizational culture, civic engagement, and church planting. She has written for or has been quoted in many national magazines, including Sojourners, Influence, Called, Christianity Today, Pentecostals and Charismatics for Peace and Justice, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Religion News Service, and Outreach Magazine. She is the author of Don't Buy The Lie: Eradicating False Belief Systems That Keep You From Your Destiny (Ghetto Rose Publications, 2012).  She contributed to various books, including Our Daily Bread Publishing's Rhythms of Rest: 40 Devotions for Women on the Move.  To add to Latine Pentecostal history, she contributed a chapter for Latino Religions and Civic Activism published by Oxford University Press called "The Women are Warriors" highlighting the many achievements of Latina Pentecostal women in the NYC social activist world. The chapter was reprinted in Azusa Street and Beyond 100 Years of Commentary on the Global/Pentecostal Charismatic Movement which was highlighted at the Azusa Street Centennial. 

Dr. Rios is mentioned in the Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America, Volume 1 (2006) and in Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia (2006).  She has received a number of recognitions, including being featured on the cover of the Nov/Dec 2007 issue of Outreach Magazine as a leading Hispanic in America for her faith-based work, being named one of twelve Hispanic Women of Distinction for her South Florida work (2014) by Latina Style Magazine and Bank of America, receiving a Multi-cultural Excellence Award from City to City Miami (2022), inducted into the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. College of Ministers and Laity Board of Preachers (2023), receiving a Trailblazer award from Influential Global Ministries/Sacramento Midtown Church (2023), the Unsung Sheroe Award by former Ambassador of Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook (2023) and the Latina in Ministry Award from the Latino Pastoral Action Center (2024).  She has also been a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. member for 38 years.

Dr. Rios has a BA in Liberal Arts, an MA in Management, an EdD in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and a DMin from Southeastern University. In May 2025, she will graduate with an MA in Social Justice from Union Theological Seminary.

The joy of her life has always been her family, Samuel (27) and Daniel, her special needs angel, who transitioned to glory on his 23rd birthday, 9/22/22. She has been married to Rev. Hiram Rios for 34 years, and Miramar, FL is their home. Overall, Dr. Liz is considered a pastor to pastors and planters, an advocate and encourager of women in ministry, and a friend to all rule-breakers, wanderers, and questioners seeking alternative, transformative ways to be Jesus’ followers in a divided world.