Rev. Erin Rishon Kinahan (she/her) will be appointed as the permanent pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church. St. John’s is a 151-year-old congregation in Jersey City. Kinahan is currently the only transgender woman ordained in the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America.
Presiding at the groundbreaking event will be the Rev. Maristela Frieburg, assistant to the bishop of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The service will take place on Nov. 16, 2025, at 3 pm.
Kinahan recently celebrated 24 years as an ordained Lutheran Minister. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies/history from Thomas Edison University in Trenton, and a master’s degree in divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.
“I am very passionate about creating inclusive communities of faith that center on personal engagement and learning as central to spiritual development” said Kinahan. “At St. John’s we use our gifts to lovingly enrich our community, unabashedly advocating for LGBTQ+ people in our society.”
The Church community at St. John’s invites all who believe in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and love to attend the historic occasion. St. John’s Lutheran Church is located at 155 North St., in Jersey City.   Â
stjohnsjerseycity.net/Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
