Pastor Joanne Van Sant serves Friends to Friends Community Church, a Reformed Church of America congregation in Ridgewood, New Jersey, that is made up primarily of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
She served as Chaplain, for the Eastern Christian Children’s Retreat, a human services agency providing support services to people who are also uniquely gifted living in both group homes as well as in residence at the main Wyckoff, N.J. campus.
Pastor, Rev Dr Van Sant was ordained as PCUSA Minister of the Word and Sacrament in 2012 and served the Faith Reformed Church in Monmouth County for 2 years. 2015 she answered the call and relocated from the Jersey Shore, to be installed as the Pastor Friends to Friends Community Church Rev Dr Van Sant completed her Doctorate of Ministry in the discipline of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Her work, A Place at the Table, provided a perspective of the church and the inclusive discipleship of people with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities. She continues her work in spiritual development, faith practice, worship and advocacy for people living on the entire spectrum of physical, intellectual, developmental, neurodiversity and even the undiagnosed becoming full and included members of the church.
New Jersey Council of Churches 