Saint John’s Calls New Associate Pastor & Latiné Mission Developer

Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Summit, NJ has called The Rev. Haydée Colón Hernández as their new Associate Pastor and Mission Developer for Camino de Vida Latiné Outreach Ministry.

Pastor Haydée began her ministry at Saint John’s Lutheran Church in January 2025. She believes that this call shows the sincere commitment of Saint John’s and the NJ Synod to serve the people in the margins. Pastor Haydée will be installed on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Saint John’s Lutheran Church, 587 Springfield Avenue, Summit. Bishop Tracie Bartholomew will be in attendance at the service with a festive reception to follow. The whole community is invited to attend.

A native of Puerto Rico, Pastor Haydée received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. In 2000 she received her master’s degree in psychiatric rehabilitation counseling from the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, NJ. In 2021 she received her Master of Divinity from the United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.

Her career in mental health began in 1996. She continues to serve people who struggle with mental illness and behavioral health problems as a bilingual psychotherapist at Comprehensive Behavioral Health Care.

Her pastoral ministry began at St. John Lutheran Church in Passaic, NJ where she was ordained in 2021. She has worked as a mission developer with the NJ Synod and the Latiné community.

Reflecting on this new ministry, Pastor Haydée remarked, “I’m excited about this call as an Associate Pastor and Mission Developer. I will be working in developing a relationship with the community of Summit, learning of the needs of the Latiné community, and exploring ways of accompanying them. Camino de Vida responds to the discernment process of a congregation that felt called to walk with the Latiné community. As a Latina, I know that today more than ever people need to hear and feel the good news of God.”

“Estoy emocionada sobre este llamado como Pastora Asociada y Desarrolladora de Misión. Estaré trabajando en desarrollar una relación con la comunidad de Summit, aprendiendo de las necesidades de la comunidad Latiné y explorando maneras de acompañarle. La misión Camino de Vida responde al proceso de discernimiento de una congregación que se sintió llamada a caminar con la comunidad Latine. Como Latina se que hoy más que nunca la gente necesita escuchar y sentir las buenas nuevas de Dios.”

Saint John’s Lutheran Church is a welcoming congregation that has made a public declaration of our inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people and our commitment to becoming an antiracist church. For more information, visit stjohnssummit.org or call 908.273.3846. To watch livestream services, visit Saint John’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/StJohnsSummitN...