Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison

Senior Pastor | Preaching, ordering the life of the church, and setting the vision for our community as she fulfills her role as an elder in the United Methodist Church through Word and Sacrament

Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison has dedicated 28 years to full-time ministry in the United Methodist Church and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Oak Lawn UMC in Dallas, TX. A passionate disciple-maker and advocate for social justice, she extends radical hospitality to all who feel marginalized.

In 2024, she was honored as Peacemaker of the Year by the Dallas Peace and Justice Center. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Reconciling Ministries Network, where she co-convenes the national Reconciling Clergy Cohort and helped lead the effort to remove harmful language from the UMC Book of Discipline—enabling openly gay and married clergy to serve in ministry.

As the Director of Congregational Engagement for the Horizon Texas Care and Healing Commission, Rachel works to equip and nurture congregations across the new Texas Horizon Conference. She holds degrees from Texas Wesleyan University, Drew Theological Seminary, and Perkins School of Theology, and has contributed to numerous educational resources, including serving as editor of the CEB Women’s Study Bible. She co-founded Safe Spaces Lebanon to support Syrian refugee children and remains actively involved in multiple nonprofit and faith-based leadership organizations.

A devoted mother of five and wife to Cheryl Griffin-Allison, Rachel and Cheryl live in Dallas with their dog, Penelope Lane.

Pastor Isabel Marquez-E

Associate Pastor & Dallas Responds Leader | Church Planter

Pastor Isabel Marquez-E, originally from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, serves as Associate Pastor at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church and Church Planter of the Gracia Viva Spanish-speaking congregation. As the leader of Dallas Responds’ refugee, asylum, and immigration programs, she advocates and administers help for refugees in the changing political landscape and has campaigned for years to ensure the safety and humane treatment of immigrants from around the world.

Deeply committed to social justice, Pastor Isabel serves on the board of Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) and brings together interfaith communities to advocate for refugee and immigration policy reform and the protection of human rights. She holds a degree from the University of North Texas and is currently attending Iliff School of Theology. She is also part of the Core Team for the Thriving in Ministry program, supporting Latinx leaders across the United States.

Pastor Isabel and her wife, Vicky, have been married for more than 20 years. They live in Dallas with their three children and the loves of their lives: Coco the chihuahua and Milly the chi-weenie.

Rev. Ryan Wager

Associate Pastor | Operations Leader

With over 25 years of leadership in the private sector and public service, Rev. Ryan blends business acumen and pastoral care to advance OLUMC’s mission. Since 2019, he has spearheaded transformative community programs—including inclement‑weather shelters, meal ministries, clothing closets, and the Dallas Responds initiative for unsheltered neighbors—demonstrating his deep commitment to radical hospitality.

As a bi-vocational minister, Rev. Wager brings nearly 25 years of experience at AT&T to support the church’s growth and strategic initiatives. A passionate advocate for justice and inclusion—shaped by his study of queer and liberation theology—he serves on the boards of the Reconciling Ministries Network and the Dallas Peace and Justice Center. Ryan also represents OLUMC with Housing Forward, advocating for unhoused neighbors across Dallas and Collin counties, and sits on the board of Safe Spaces Lebanon.

Originally from New York and a North Texas resident for over a decade, Rev. Wager is currently enrolled in the Course of Study at St. Paul’s School of Theology, continuously enriching his pastoral and theological formation.