Robert Gomez

After I graduated from McAllen High School in 1965, I earned my BA from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, in 1969.  I answered the call to the ordained ministry, went to the seminary at SMU and studied there from 1969 through December 1971.  I spent the Spring of 1972 at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City improving my Spanish language skills.  I earned my Master of Theology degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in 1972.  I did graduate work at the Institute of Religion in Houston, Texas and at the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health in San Antonio, Texas.   In 1989 I earned my Doctor of Ministry degree from Perkins School of Theology, concentrating on pastoral care and spiritual formation.   In 1996 I was a Bridwell Library Fellow  at Southern Methodist University and in 2001 a Visiting Pastor Fellow at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.

I was ordained a Deacon in June of 1971 in Corpus Christi, Texas.   In June of 1972 I was ordained an Elder in San Antonio, Texas.  During my ministry I served as pastor of local churches for 29 years and as supervisor of churches for 7 years.  I was pastor of churches in Texas (Sherman, Harlingen, San Antonio, Dallas, and Mission) and New Mexico (Albuquerque).  My longest pastorate was in Mission, Texas where I served for 12 years.  I was nominated twice for the office of bishop in the United Methodist Church.  I retired on June 30, 2013 from the active ministry in the United Methodist Church.

At the national level I served the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Publishing House for 17 years, the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Reporter, the National Committee on Hispanic Ministries and its Executive Committee, and the Board of Trustees of Southwestern University (a national liberal arts college) where I still serve on the Academic Affairs Committee.  In 1991, as a member of the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Publishing House I got financial support for the development of a new Spanish hymnal published in 1996.

Beginning in 1975 I taught for many years in the Spanish language school for new clergy at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.  I also served on the board of directors for the Methodist Mission Home (Providence Place) in San Antonio, the Methodist Children's Home in Waco, Texas, the Texas Methodist Foundation, and the United Methodist Reporter.   Some of my sermons were published for five years as were some of my devotional meditations for three years.   I edited a Spanish church newspaper for five years. I also published religious articles in the Hispanic/Latino theological journal Apuntes and other church publications. Since 2001 I have served as the chair of the editorial board of Apuntes, a Hispanic/Latino theological journal.  Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors of the Texas Diaper Bank of San Antonio, Texas.

A few highlights of my life:  I married Juanita M. Campos from La Feria, Texas in 1974 and we have two daughters. At Southwestern University I was elected to the Student Senate and had my 5 minutes of fame when I modeled (coat, shirt, slacks, and tie) during a fashion show.  As a seminarian, two friends and I founded a student organization, Los Seminaristas, for Hispanic / Latino ministry.  For my 34^th birthday I flew in a soaring plane.  The director for my doctoral program, Dr. Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse, was Sylvia Plath's psychiatrist.  My family and I went to Spain for Christmas 1992.  I preached the sermon at the memorial service in Mission, Texas, for coach of the Dallas Cowboys Tom Landry, a native of Mission. 

My prayer “Familias en Crisis” was published in the United Methodist Spanish hymnbook.  The book, The Modern Theologians: an introduction to Christian Theology in the Twentieth Century, Second Edition, recognized me as a Protestant pastoral theologian.  In May of 2000 several friends and I had a private lunch with the Archbishop of Canterbury during his visit to the USA.  My wife and I have visited Puerto Rico, Israel, Spain, Honduras, the Yucatan, France, England, Alaska, Canada, and Italy. 

Best of all, I have a wonderful, loving wife, two caring daughters, and great supportive friends.