Rev. Yinessa Romero

Associate Pastor of Next Steps

About Rev. Yinessa Romero

Rev. Yinessa, native from the Dominican Republic is a compassionated and caring bilingual faith leader with pastoral, hospice chaplaincy, congregational and business management experience.

Rev. Yinessa worked in Telecommunications and in the Oil and Gas industry where she developed strong analytical, planning, and project management skills. Since she joined Cathedral of Hope in 2010, Rev. Yinessa had embraced her call to ministry serving where it was needed. She became a lay minister, served on the Board of Stewards, lead membership classes, served in the media, prison and membership ministries, provided congregational care to the Spanish-speaking congregants, served with the outreach programs, and other activities. 

In addition to be a leader in the local church, Rev. Yinessa has deep connection to the wider United Church of Christ, serving a Vice Moderator of the  Colectivo de UCC of Latinx Ministries, member of the team who is reviewing the Manual on Church, and a member of the advisory team of Encuentros Latinx of the UCC. Rev. Yinessa participate in several initiatives to advance programs that promote social justice and empower LGBTQIA+ people to embrace progressive and inclusive Christianity.  

Rev. Yinessa has a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) and an MBA from University Pontificia Madre & Maestra in the Dominican Republic. She has a Certificate on Theological Education for Leadership, Pacific School of Religion and a Bachelor in Economics from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC).

Rev. Yinessa is a 2017, 2018 and 2019 The Reverend Dr. Héctor E. López Scholar; a 2018 The Adrienne M. and Charles Shelby Rooks scholar, and a 2019 The William R. Johnson Scholar and 2019 Gilberto Castaneda Scholar. 

Rev. Yinessa commitment to promote Christianity in the Public Square was demonstrating by offering the Spanish invocation for the Texas Democratic Convection in July 2022.

Rev. Yinessa lives in Dallas with her partner Nora. They have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, outdoors, and good movies.

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