Ileana Rosario
Pastor, Social Media Manager, and Public Speaker in VA
I was born in Puerto Rico where I was an active member of the United Methodist Church since my childhood. There I received a B.A. in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and worked as an assistant to the President of the Senate writing his speeches and press releases.
In 1991, I relocated to Virginia with my family and obtained a Master in Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1999. I became the first Latino clergywomen to be licensed as Local Pastor and founded GRACE Ministries a community outreach program who is now serving 1,500 people a month in Northern Virginia.
Soon after that, I became Chair of the Hispanic Task Force at the Virginia Conference and later was elected member to the Common Table. My work with the immigrant population was recognized by President George Bush who invited me to a Christmas reception at the White House as part of the faith based initiative.
As a church planter,I started a new Latino church in the Arlington District and was ordained Elder in 2004 where I was guest preacher at the Annual Conference.
I became the first Latino to be elected as delegate to General Conference and actually represent Virginia as member of the Commission for General Conference. There I bring my expertise in cultures as we make important decisions about translation, interpretation and hospitality to the hundreds of delegates from other continents,
In 2008 I was appointed as the Director of Latino Ministries where guided churches in the development of new Latino congregations. I also created the first School of Laity in Spanish teaching with passion the United Methodist doctrine among the Latino congregations.
In July 2009, I was relocated to Chuckatuck where I started a new life as pastor of Wesley Chapel UMC. As the first Latino clergywoman to pastor an Anglo church in Virginia, I was warmly welcomed and fully embraced by this vibrant and faithful congregation.
Right now I serve as a member of the Virginia Conference Board of Ordination and also as the Tidewater facilitator of the Resource Team for the Cross Cultural/Cross racial appointments in Virginia.
From July 2015, my ministry continues, serving Lower UMC in Hartfield, VA.