A pioneering mujerista voice.
ABOUT
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth 'Liz' Ríos — an educator, ecclesial strategist, and advocate for women in leadership from Manhattan's Lower East Side whose work is deeply informed by womanist thought. She has devoted her life to helping people become better humans, developing bolder leaders, and cultivating braver churches.
A Little About Me
I’m Rev. Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Ríos, an Afro-Boricua Nuyorican shaped by the Lower East Side, Pentecostal faith, motherhood, ministry, and a belief that following Jesus must include pursuing justice. Essentially, I am a Liberative Pentecostal in a mainline tradition.
I am a wife of 37 years to an amazingly supportive man, Rev. Hiram Ríos, mother, of two boys (Sam and DJ), who loves honest conversations over cafecíto, bold women, courageous leaders, and churches willing to ask hard questions.
My son, Daniel Jeremiah “DJ” Ríos, profoundly shaped my understanding of God, dignity, disability, and belonging and his life continues to influence my theology and my commitment to building churches where everyone belongs.
I founded Passion2Plant to equip emerging and established leaders, especially those from communities too often overlooked, to build healthy, justice-oriented ministries. I also lead The Passion Center, an online faith community committed to following Jesus, loving people, and pursuing justice.
An ordained Disciples of Christ minister, educator, writer, and member of the Sojourners Board of Directors, my work centers on three commitments: Better Humans. Bolder Leaders. Braver Churches. I am also a proud 40-year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and a charter member of its South Broward Alumnae and Puerto Rico Alumnae Chapters.
Titles and credentials tell part of my story, but they are not the whole story. At heart, I am still a girl from the Lower East Side who believes the Church can be better, people can become freer, and faith should make a real difference in how we love our neighbors and confront injustice.
SCHOLARSHIP
Her chapter "The Women Are Warriors," examining the civic activism of Latina Pentecostal women in New York City, was published in Latino Religions and Civic Activism by Oxford University Press and later reprinted in Azusa Street and Beyond.
Her life and accomplishments are recognized in The Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America and Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia. Her current research focuses on disability, the politics of prayer, and belonging within the Latino Pentecostal church, a personal project she has undertaken in honor of her younger son, Daniel Jeremiah, who passed away on his birthday at 22 on September 22, 2022.
Latiné Pentecostalism & beyond
EDUCATION
Dr. Ríos holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, a Master of Arts in Management, a Master of Arts in Social Justice from Union Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Adult Education from Nova Southeastern University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern University. Dr. Ríos and her husband of 37 years, Rev. Hiram Ríos, share their lives with their oldest son, Samuel, and their fur baby, Milo. They divide their time between Central Florida and Santurce, Puerto Rico.
Voices from the field
Pastors, scholars, and movement leaders on working alongside Dr. Ríos.