Meet Rev. René Perez

Pastor René Perez has been serving as a United Methodist pastor since 1993. He has served in Philadelphia, PA, Valley Forge, PA, and Lancaster, PA before coming to New England. He currently lives in Holden, Massachusetts, where he has been serving since 2011 as the District Superintendent of the Central Massachusetts District of the New England Annual Conference, and, for the last three years, as Dean of the New England Cabinet. Pastor René is a native of El Salvador and came with his parents to Long Island, NY when he was 15 years old, fleeing the bloody civil war in that country.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and his master’s in divinity degree from Drew Theological School in Madison, NJ. Since 2016 Pastor René has enjoyed serving as Board Member/Director of the General Board of Global Ministries, where he participates in the executive committee, the personnel committee, the UM Development fund, and the Community Developers’ Program.

He is happily married to the Rev. Wanda Santos-Perez, pastor of the Charlton City United Methodist Church. They have three adult children, Kayla, Isaias and Ezekiel, and a small, but fierce, dog named Jasper.

Pastor Renéloves hiking but loves Jesus Christ much more, and has great hopes for the Church, praying that one day we will all live into a new day of radical love, hospitality, and Christian witness, reigniting our passion for God, caring for all of God’s children, and inviting others into an transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.  

“I am looking forward to becoming the pastor of such a great a congregation. I cannot wait to meet you all.”

Pastor René