Rev. Dr. MJ Romano is the Head Pastor at the First Church of La Junta in southeastern Colorado. Previously, she served in the St. Louis area in Youth & Young Adult Ministries. MJ received her DMin from McCormick Theological Seminary, with a special emphasis in preaching and church discipline. When ECO organized in 2012, she served as the first Moderator of the Presbytery of the West and has since worked in various roles in the presbytery and synod. She teaches Philosophy and Ethics at Otero College and does freelance writing for several online and print publications. She now serves as Director of Student Services in addition to her teaching duties.

MJ is married to Chris Ludwig, who teaches high school science and engineering. They have two adult children, Eleanor and Karl.