Heights Church

About

Staff

Pastors

Paul T. Sloan, PhD

Paul T. Sloan, PhD

Pastor and Director of Theology

Dr. Paul T. Sloan serves as Pastor and Director of Theology. Dr. Sloan effectively employs his rich academic knowledge and understanding of the scripture to teach and preach most Sunday mornings at Heights Church. Paul is married to Meg and they have two young children with whom they live in Houston’s historic Garden Oaks neighborhood.

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Robert B. Sloan, ThD

Robert B. Sloan, ThD

PASTOR AND SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE

Dr. Robert B. Sloan is Pastor and Scholar in Residence at Heights Church. He previously served this church as Interim Pastor 2021-22.

Dr. Robert B. Sloan is the president of Houston Christian University and has served in this capacity since September 1, 2006.

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Executive Staff

Edward Crowell

Executive Director

Edward has served Heights Church as Executive Director since January 2022 and as Director of Music since 2016.  Previously he served this church as Associate Pastor for Music and Worship from 2005-2008.  In the interim period he was Founder and Executive Director of Imperial Arts, a professional fine arts organization in Fort Bend County.  Prior to serving Baptist Temple, he served in similar capacities at Trinity Baptist Church of Katy and First Baptist Church of Conroe.

In his current roles, Edward oversees every aspect of the church’s life, including programming, public relations, fundraising, member care, and all music and worship activities.  He both coordinates and supports the church staff in their specific areas of ministry, and provides counsel to the church’s lay leadership.

Edward studied Voice, Music Theory and Composition, and Opera as an undergraduate and graduate student at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene.  While in Abilene he served as Assistant to the Director of the Abilene Collegiate Opera, and in various capacities for the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, the Historic Paramount Theatre, and several churches in Abilene and the surrounding area including the historic First Baptist Church of Abilene where he was Director of College Music.  He also completed advanced study in opera at Whitman College in Washington State, and nonprofit leadership at the George Foundation in Fort Bend County.

Edward was raised at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston where his tutelage in church music and administration began.  He was licensed to ministry in 2004, and was ordained as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2013 by the St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church of Houston.

A sixth-generation native Houstonian, Edward is married to Robyn, a professional artist, published illustrator, and gallery director, and they live in Richmond, Texas.  They have two grown daughters.

Shannon O’Hara

Church Administrator

Shannon has served as Church Administrator since February 2021.  She was the first hire of the staff restructuring component as result of the self study.  Shannon continues to serve as a Choral Scholar as she has since 2018.

Shannon is originally from Los Angeles, and came to Houston to study voice and opera at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston.  There she earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Voice Performance.  She made frequent appearances on the Moores Opera Houston stage both in staged productions and choral concerts, and she appeared with the University’s choirs on international tours and competitions.  Shannon has also taught voice to private students.

In her role as Church Administrator, Shannon manages the day to day operations of the church including facilities, finances, and the church’s relationships with Trinity Classical School and other organizations.

Shannon’s partner is Javier, and they have a young daughter, and make their home in Richmond, Texas. 

Ministry Staff

Walter LaForge

Organist

BM in Music Education, Lamar University; MM in Music Education, McNeese State University; Advanced Study in Organ and Church Music, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Retired Music Educator and Regional Coordinator, Houston Independent School District; Former Director of Music, Calder Baptist Church, Beaumont, and Pines Presbyterian Church, Houston 

Eileen S. Crowell

Pianist

BS in Psychology, University of Houston; MS in Human Resource Management, Houston Baptist University; Advanced Study in Piano, Sam Houston State University

Executive Vice President, Churchworx

Former Executive Vice President, Houston Baptist University; former Music Associate and Pianist, Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston

Andy Helms

Technical Director

AA in English, Blinn College; BS in Computer Graphic Design, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; MBA, Houston Baptist University

Independent graphic and web designer, audio-visual technician

Former Technical Director, Right Path Real Estate; former Technical Director, Morris Cultural Arts Center at Houston Baptist University; former Digital Media Producer, The Church At Crossgate Center; former Audio Visual Technician, Glorieta Conference Center

Jane Ramirez

Coordinator of Preschoolers

Aurora Ramirez

Coordinator of Older Children

Sarah Neal

Artist in Residence

Philip Cartwright

Facility Manager

Choral Scholars

Jade Panares

Jade Panares

Soprano I

BM in Voice, University of Houston 

Assistant Choir Director, North Shore High School; Soprano, Houston Chamber Choir

Shannon O'Hara

Shannon O'Hara

Alto I

BM in Voice, University of Houston

Church Administrator, Heights Church

Sarah Neal

Sarah Neal

Alto II

BA in Literature and French, Loyola University; MM in Voice, University of Houston

Artist in Residence, Heights Church; Apprentice Artist, Central City Opera

Daniel Schaffer

Daniel Schaffer

Tenor I

BM in Music Education, University of Houston

Music Teacher, Cunningham Elementary (HISD)

Allen Silagen

Allen Silagen

Tenor II

BM in Music Education, Mississippi State University

Choir Director, George Bush High School (FBISD)

Christian Brooks

Christian Brooks

Bass I

Pursuing BM in Nonprofit Leadership, University of Houston

Outreach and Community Partnerships Director, Social Justice Learning Institute; Marketing Intern, McGovern College of Arts at University of Houston

Ministry Leaders

Diane Pittman

Meditation and Wellness

Robyn Crowell

Artifex (Visual Arts)

Church Council

Steve Pittman

Chairperson

Dana Bellow

Vice-Chairperson

Sara Elliott

Raymond Morgan

Edward Crowell

Ex-Officio

Ray Elliott

Ex-Officio

Michael Maddux

Ex-Officio

Trustees

Ray Elliott

2022

Michael Maddux

2023

Darline Jones

2024

Raymond Morgan

2025

Patricia Maddux

2026

Deacons

Ray Elliott

Chairperson

Steve Pittman

Vice-Chairperson

Michael Maddux

Raymond Morgan

Hal Naumann

Glen Diehl

Emeritus

Officers

Ray Morgan

Church Parliamentarian

Patsy Jones

Assistant Church Parliamentarian

Steve Pittman

Church Clerk

Yolanda Montgomery

Assistant Church Clerk

Michael Maddux

Church Treasurer

Annabelle Bellow

Assistant Church Treasurer

Debbie Elliott

Teller

Patsy Jones

Teller

Patricia Maddux

Teller

Steve Pittman

Teller