Our Pastor
Rev. Dr. Yvonne Wallace Penn
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Rev. Dr. Yvonne Wallace Penn, is a native of Philadelphia, PA. She received a BA degree from Virginia Union University (VUU) in Richmond, VA., MDiv from Howard University School of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in 2014.
In 1997, she was ordained an Elder in the Peninsula Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church. She was appointed to Coleman Memorial U.M.C. in Wilmington, DE as the Senior Pastor. Throughout her formative years, Yvonne was actively involved at Mt. Zion United Methodist church in Philadelphia, PA. She served as Senior Pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Cambridge Maryland on the Eastern District of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference for 13 years before her appointment as Senior Pastor of First Church United Methodist Church of Hyattsville. Her activism has been the catalyst for various volunteer service projects and certifications. As an Elder she has served the Peninsula-Delaware Conference for over 20 years.
In 2009, her Charge was granted the distinct honor of being chosen as one of twenty two Congregational Resource Centers (Teaching Centers) within the United Methodist Church for strengthening the Black Church.
She was an Assistant Director for a comprehensive counseling hotline and Outreach Center and worked for the State of Maryland as Economic Development Director for the Eastern Shore for 5 years.
Before entering the Ordained Ministry, Rev. Penn took her spiritually-motivated pursuits to Wesley Temple United Methodist Church in Salisbury, MD where she chaired the Religion and Race Committee. Under her leadership, several ethnically diverse churches came together. As a result of this endeavor, she was awarded the prestigious “Denman Award of Evangelism.”
Dr. Penn was Co-Chairperson for the Christian Service Team, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, (GCSRW) and Black United Methodist Preacher (BUMP).
One of her favorite scriptures is Isaiah 43: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you are in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end, because I am God, your personal God. The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you. That’s how much you meant to me! That’s how much I love you!” Rev. Penn believes that this captures her understanding and belief in God’s desire to be in relationship with His people, which includes His protection and comfort during difficult and stressful moments, which life can often bring.
Dr. Penn received a Coaching ICF Certification in 2015. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and is active with the Cambridge Alumnae Chapter.
She considers her role as mother to one daughter and son-in-law and grandmother to four grandsons her highest honor.
In 1997, she was ordained an Elder in the Peninsula Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church. She was appointed to Coleman Memorial U.M.C. in Wilmington, DE as the Senior Pastor. Throughout her formative years, Yvonne was actively involved at Mt. Zion United Methodist church in Philadelphia, PA. She served as Senior Pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Cambridge Maryland on the Eastern District of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference for 13 years before her appointment as Senior Pastor of First Church United Methodist Church of Hyattsville. Her activism has been the catalyst for various volunteer service projects and certifications. As an Elder she has served the Peninsula-Delaware Conference for over 20 years.
In 2009, her Charge was granted the distinct honor of being chosen as one of twenty two Congregational Resource Centers (Teaching Centers) within the United Methodist Church for strengthening the Black Church.
She was an Assistant Director for a comprehensive counseling hotline and Outreach Center and worked for the State of Maryland as Economic Development Director for the Eastern Shore for 5 years.
Before entering the Ordained Ministry, Rev. Penn took her spiritually-motivated pursuits to Wesley Temple United Methodist Church in Salisbury, MD where she chaired the Religion and Race Committee. Under her leadership, several ethnically diverse churches came together. As a result of this endeavor, she was awarded the prestigious “Denman Award of Evangelism.”
Dr. Penn was Co-Chairperson for the Christian Service Team, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, (GCSRW) and Black United Methodist Preacher (BUMP).
One of her favorite scriptures is Isaiah 43: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you are in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end, because I am God, your personal God. The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you. That’s how much you meant to me! That’s how much I love you!” Rev. Penn believes that this captures her understanding and belief in God’s desire to be in relationship with His people, which includes His protection and comfort during difficult and stressful moments, which life can often bring.
Dr. Penn received a Coaching ICF Certification in 2015. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and is active with the Cambridge Alumnae Chapter.
She considers her role as mother to one daughter and son-in-law and grandmother to four grandsons her highest honor.