Our Regional Church is pleased to announce that Rev. Patricia “Cisa” Payuyo has been appointed as Associate Regional Minister for Clergy Care, effective Monday, January 22, 2024. A member of All Peoples Christian Church, Los Angeles, CA. Rev. Cisa has deep roots and leadership experiences within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Pacific Southwest region. She previously served as Associate Director of Church Relations at Chapman University, Orange, CA for twenty years, and helped to oversee the Disciples on Campus program, the only Progressive Christian Group on the Campus. During that time, Rev. Cisa also served as a Campus Chaplain and an Advisor to the Student Interfaith Council. Rev. Cisa has been helping to Co-Chair our region’s Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Committee, which coordinates Anti-Racism education for our clergy and congregations.
Rev. Richie Sanchez, Regional Minister shared, “Rev. Cisa and I had been praying about this role for months, now is the time! Last year, our Clergy Summit had a great attendance and response. We heard and listened to new needs. I am grateful for the many gifts Rev. Cisa has brought to the life of our region and look forward to working with her, bringing about a continuing focused effort to serve our clergy with care, not only responsively, but more proactively and intentionally. We are experiencing unimaginable changes in the church, and this will be one more way to help bring attention and increased care for our Clergy, those active, and retired. Let us pray for abundant and bountiful blessings in this newest chapter of ministry for Rev. Cisa and our region.” Please join us in celebrating Rev. Cisa’s appointment to this new position.
Bio for Cisa Payuyo
Rev. Patricia “Cisa” Payuyo (she/her pronouns) is a retired active ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She has served the Disciples denomination in several capacities: Pacific Southwest Regional Moderator from 1999 – 2001, First Vice Moderator to the 2003 Regional Assembly, North American Pacific Asian Disciples (NAPAD) board member from 2014-2016, and NAPAD Young Adults Minister. Cisa served as Associate Director of Church Relations at Chapman University in Orange, California for twenty years, and helped to oversee the Disciples on Campus program, the only Progressive Christian group on the campus. During that time, Cisa also served as a campus chaplain and an advisor to the student Interfaith Council. Cisa is currently co-chair of the PSWR Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation committee and the coordinator of Anti-Racism education for clergy and congregations in the region.
In 2003, Cisa was part of the first cohort of the Certificate of Ministry Studies program, a collaborative venture between the of Pacific School of Religion and Disciples Seminary Foundation. She attended the second campus of the San Francisco Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and later transferred to Claremont School of Theology. She was ordained in 2019.
This year, Cisa joined the Board of Directors of Disciples Home Missions, the PSWR Committee on Ministry, and became Moderator at her home church, All Peoples Christian Church.
Before working at Chapman University, Cisa was a case manager at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), an urban non-profit center where she gave guidance to underserved middle school students and their parents.
Cisa and her family are inhabitants near the Yaanga Village of the Kizh/Tongva Territory (City of Los Angeles, California, near Historic Filipinotown). She is married to Ed Ramolete, who is also an Anti-Racism educator. Their three adult children, Donovan, Nikolas, and Nina, son-in-law Chris, grandson Kennedy, along with their dog Moe help keep their lives grounded and full of joy.