Wesleyan Impact Partners Announces Rev. Alicia Forde as Director of Formation

AUSTIN, Texas: Wesleyan Impact Partners announces the addition of Rev. Alicia Forde, a nationally recognized church leader who will inspire clergy and laity across the Wesleyan ecosystem.

Rev. Forde will serve as the director of formation at Wesleyan Impact Partners and the Texas Methodist Foundation. She will build on the success and expand the impact of the Courageous Congregations Collaborative (C3), an opportunity that empowers congregational leaders and pastors through a journey of discernment and strengthening, leading to greater clarity and capacity to take the next faithful steps God is calling them to take.

“Our communities, and the world around us, are hungry for deep relationship anchored spiritual accompaniment. I’m grateful to be part of a team and organization leading us through discerning our faithful response to the question ‘what is the difference God is calling us to make now?’” said Rev. Alicia Forde. “My work in the Learning & Innovation team is centered around congregational thriving, and now, more than ever, we need the stance of conversation, discernment, purpose and clarity upon which we can cultivate strong relationship bonds and agile communities ready to shape—and meet—the emerging future.”

Rev. Forde spent 16 years in denominational leadership in the Unitarian Universalist Association, serving as the program coordinator for multicultural congregations, professional development director, and the Global Connections and Emerging Communities director. She is a passionate and skilled facilitator with a particular interest in designing cohorts of spiritual care.

“Rev. Alicia Forde’s experience in leadership, growth, and commitment to a deep Spiritual practice is a gift to our Learning and Innovation Team," said Rev. Lisa Greenwood, president and chief executive officer. “With her dedication to building strong, dynamic relationships and bringing communities together, we’re confident that we can make the difference God is calling us to make now and beyond for future generations to come.”

Prior to her ministry, Rev. Alicia Forde dedicated a decade to the United States Air Force, where she developed an appreciation for accompaniment, transformative growth, and bridging differences through the spiritual practice of curiosity.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Rev. Forde is proud of her bicultural upbringing, which has given her a broad, global perspective that influences her ministry.

About Wesleyan Impact Partners

Wesleyan Impact Partners is a national nonprofit and ministry partner to the church and its leaders, offering investment opportunities, loans, endowment and gift planning, leadership cohorts, and learning and innovation. We strengthen the church’s mission toward building a world of grace, love, and belonging. Throughout its 55-plus-year history, Wesleyan Impact Partners has made thousands of loans, empowering churches and nonprofits across the United States to pursue their God-sized dreams. Wesleyan Impact Partners lifts up the work of courageous spiritual entrepreneurs across the Wesleyan Ecosystem through its nationally recognized Locke Innovative Leader Award and its thought-provoking podcast, Igniting Imagination. This work is made possible through ministry partnerships nationwide with impact-focused investors, borrowers, donors, and foundations. Based in Austin, Texas, the organization is led by Rev. Lisa Greenwood, president and chief executive officer, who is also the president and chief executive officer of the Texas Methodist Foundation. To learn more, visit wesleyanimpactpartners.org.

Contact
Janet M. Mitchell
Chief Marketing Officer
Wesleyan Impact Partners
jmitchell@wesleyanimpactpartners.org
512-583-1942