The Reverend Pamela Rivera was born in Austin, Texas on May 17. She received her early education in the Austin Independent School District. Reverend Rivera earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement from the Austin Community College in 2003, graduated from Concordia University at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Business in May 2006, and is currently enrolled in Truett Theological Seminary pursuing a Master's of Divinity.
Reverend Rivera was ordained an Itinerated Elder in October 1995. She began her pastoral journey in November 1998 with her first pastoral appointment to St. Mathews African Methodist Episcopal Church, Burnet, TX. In December 2000, Reverend Rivera was appointed the Pastor of Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rockdale, TX.
Reverend Rivera was the first female to Pastor Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church. Under her administration the membership grew and participated in various community events. In October 2002, Allen was the first church within the City to be chosen as the Yard of the Month. In December 2002, Allen was awarded first place in the church category for the Christmas season. Under Reverend Rivera’s guidance various ministries were birth and renewed: dance ministries (Allen Anointed Angles [AAA] and the Refined Women of Allen), men and women’s ministry, media ministry, greeters’ ministry and several others. In March 2005, Reverend Rivera began a project to liquidate the church mortgage, that project ended prematurely with the appointment to a new assignment. In June 2005, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram appointed Reverend Pamela Rivera the Pastor of Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church, Waco, TX. Reverend Rivera was the first female to Pastor Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Reverend Rivera serves as the President of the Tenth Episcopal District, Women In Ministry and she was nominated as the Chaplin to the General Board of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 2005 Bishop's Council and General Board Meeting. Reverend Rivera is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and she is also the manager of the recording gospel singing group, "Spirit, Truth & Praise (STP)," Reverend Rivera has served as the Vice-President of the Austin Chapter Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), and a graduate of the American Public Transportation Association,s Leadership APTA Program, Class of 2005 (this national program only allows 25 public transportation professionals to participate annually). Reverend Rivera currently serves on the Board of Directors of Meals On Wheels, and she is on the Executive Committee of City of Waco's Food Planning Task Force. Reverend Rivera serves as Field Supervisor for the Baylor Religion Department, and In October 2009, she was nominated by some of your professors at Truett Theological Seminary to participate in "Learning Pastoral Imagination Project" which is a five (5) year study of how ministers learn.
Reverend Rivera began her career in public transportation in April 1986 as a bus operator. After 6 years of driving the streets of Austin, TX, Reverend Rivera was promoted to a radio dispatcher and station dispatcher. After 2 1/2 years of dispatching the Lord opened a door into management as the Security Coordinator in 1994. Reverend Rivera's title was up-graded to Manager of Security and Administrative Services in 1995. Administrative Services was deleted from her title in 2002. Reverend Rivera is the birthing parent of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority's security department. By the end of her service career with Capital Metro, she managed a staff of four administration personal, seventy-five Austin Police Department peace officers, and a private security guard contract. Reverend Rivera was also responsible for managing an annual budget of about one million dollars (operating & capital). Her creative mind made Capital Metro's security department a pioneer for several programs recognized by the public transportation industry (i.e. the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), etc.). Some of the programs implemented under Reverend Rivera's leadership are: cameras on buses, training peace officers to drive buses, and Transit Watch; and also created the document that helped to influence language in the Patriot Act pertaining to the protection of public transportation employees (bus operations).
Reverend Rivera was an employee of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority for 19 years and retired December 2, 2005 to enter into full-time ministry.
In November 2009, Reverend Rivera was honored by one of her professors from Truett Theological Seminary, Dr. Joel Gregory to participate as a contributor in a book entitled, "What We Love About The Black Church: Can We Get A Witness?." The book was released in May 2010.
Reverend Rivera is the mother of three wonderful children Natasha, Vondell, and Markia. She is also the grandmother of 6 beautiful granddaughters and 2 handsome grandsons and 1 very special great-grandson.
To God be the Glory!
