Jeff Fisher

Bio: The Rt. Rev. Jeff W. Fisher serves as the regional bishop for the East Region of the Diocese. He was elected bishop suffragan and consecrated in 2012. In addition to his visitations to parishes and missions, Bishop Fisher serves as executive for pastoral ministries, including care for active and retired clergy and their families. He serves on numerous boards and institutions, including the diocesan Liturgical Commission, the Episcopal Seniors Foundation, Global Partners in Mission, the Small Church Network, Vera Gang Scott Scholarship Committee, All Saints’ Episcopal School in Tyler, Daughters of the King, and Altar Guild.

Bishop Fisher is known for his compelling preaching, his focus on evangelism and his encouragement of the laity. He teaches homiletics at the Iona School for Ministry. A graduate of The University of Texas, Austin, Bishop Fisher was previously CFO for Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc., Houston.

He received a Master in Divinity in 2004 and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity in 2013, both from Virginia Theological Seminary. Ordained in 2004, Bishop Fisher served as curate at St. Mary’s, Cypress, before being called as rector at St. Alban’s, Waco, where he ushered in a time of unprecedented growth.

Bishop Fisher and his wife Susan have two adult sons, Scott and John.

Taylor Devine

Workshop: Discipleship and Families

"The Lord is my shepherd: Discipleship for parents": What does discipleship look like in the midst of bottles, diapers, backpacks, and sports equipment? Taylor Devine will offer a workshop on discipleship for parents and caregivers, designed to support church leaders in their work with families and parents in their own life stage and setting. Drawing on her work with hundreds of families and years of research and prayerful conversation, she will share wise practices for churches and communities of any size.

Bio: Taylor Devine is Church Relations Coordinator for the Center for Discipleship and Renewal at Forward Movement.

Miguel Escobar

Workshop: Discipleship and Baptism

Jesus-focused Discipleship. Jesus is the most interesting thing about the church. Oftentimes, the church thinks it is really interesting and makes formation about the church itself, when really the church is at its best when it serves to point to Jesus, his person and his message. In this workshop, we’ll wrestle with how one's community, preaching, and teaching can best reflect some of the main messages that Jesus has about wealth and poverty in the Gospels.

Bio: The Rev. Miguel Escobar is a recently ordained priest who is currently serving a two-year curacy at San Andrés Episcopal Church in Sunset Park Brooklyn.

Previously, he served as director of Anglican Studies at Episcopal Divinity School at Union (2017-2023), and was managing program director for leadership, communications and external affairs at the Episcopal Church Foundation (2010-2017). The Rev. Escobar earned a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 2007 and served as the communications assistant to then-Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori from 2007 to 2010. He is a past chair of the board of directors of Forward Movement and now serves as co-chair of the Friends of Forward Movement board.

The Rev. Escobar grew up in the Texas hill country and attended Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, where he studied the Roman Catholic social justice tradition, Latin American liberation theologies, and minored in Spanish. He joined the Episcopal Church through St. Mary’s, West Harlem, drawn by the congregation’s diversity and commitment to social justice.

Ryan Hawthorne