Rev. Dr. Owen Ross lives in Irving, Texas. Ross has been the Director for the Center of Church Development for the North Texas Conference UMC, since July 1, 2017. In this role, Ross leads the vitalization and church planting strategies for the United Methodist Church in North Texas and serves on the Bishop’s cabinet. Prior to this work, Ross served as the founding pastor of La Fundición de Cristo/Christ’s Foundry United Methodist Mission for fifteen years. A native of the rural East Texas town of Henderson, he holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in International Studies and Political Science from Texas A&M University, a Master of Divinity from Southern Methodist University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary. He has also done coursework at La Universidad de las Americas - Puebla, Mexico, and at Africa University - Zimbabwe. Ross’s term of office as an elected director of The Fund will expire in 2023.