
About
Staff
Pastors

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
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
Soprano I
BM in Voice, University of Houston
Assistant Choir Director, North Shore High School; Soprano, Houston Chamber Choir

Shannon O'Hara
Alto I
BM in Voice, University of Houston
Church Administrator, Heights Church

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
Tenor I
BM in Music Education, University of Houston
Music Teacher, Cunningham Elementary (HISD)

Allen Silagen
Tenor II
BM in Music Education, Mississippi State University
Choir Director, George Bush High School (FBISD)

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