Dr. Penny Ross-Corona

Coming to Missouri has felt like coming back home for the Rev. Dr. Penny Ross-Corona, who was born in Jefferson City and raised in the First Christian Church there. At age 12, Penny moved with her family to Memphis, Tennessee, where they became active members of Lindenwood Christian Church. Upon graduation from high school, Penny enrolled in Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma, earning a B.S. in Christian Education. Next, she received an M.A. in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma at Norman. In 1984, she was awarded the M.Div. from Phillips Graduate Seminary and was ordained by the Tennessee Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on March 10, 1985. Later in 2000, she received the D. Min. from Perkins Seminary of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Her doctoral project developed a study course, which approached the generations of Jacob’s family (in Genesis) and family systems theory, in order to teach conflict management skills to congregational leaders.

Prior to coming to St. Louis, Dr. Ross-Corona served as Associate Area Minister for the North Texas Area of the Christian Church in the Southwest Region. Before moving into Area Ministry, she served as the pastor of First Christian Church in DeSoto, Texas for seven years. In addition, she served as Intentional Transitional Minister for four Disciples congregations in greater Dallas. As a pastor, Dr. Ross Corona was active in all aspects of Area and Regional Church life: she has chaired the Southwest Regional Committee on the Ministry, co-led seven Regional Clergy Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training seminars, and chaired the North Texas Area Long Range Planning Taskforce. In addition, she has extensive experience as a church camp counselor and director.

Penny’s references describe her as a very good administrator, an excellent steward of the Church’s resources, a compassionate pastor, a good listener, and a biblically based healing presence in conflict situations. Penny describes her passions as congregational revitalization, new church development and leader development. Penny and her husband, Joe Corona, have been married for 22 years. They have an 10-year-old daughter, Casi, and live in Wildwood.