ABCNJ is pleased to announce Rev. Eric Hoheisel has been called to join our Regional Ministry Team as an Associate Regional Pastor and will begin his service July 1, 2017. Eric's call was confirmed by the personnel committee and was unanimously accepted by the ABCNJ Regional Council at its February 4, 2017 meeting.

Eric was born and raised in Ohio and grew up in a devout and loving Catholic family. Even at a young age he felt he might be called to ministry. That tug continued as he attended a Lutheran College and became involved in a non-denominational campus ministry. After college he moved to Washington DC and worked in urban ministry from 1987-1990 with Youth With a Mission – feeding the homeless and coordinating a Congressional Staff Fellowship. In the early 1990’s he served as Executive Director of Love and Action, a ministry to men, women, and children with HIV/AIDS. While in Seminary at Eastern Baptist (Palmer) Seminary he served two congregations, Washington Community Fellowship (Mennonite) and Shiloh Baptist Church (ABC), eventually finding his home in the American Baptist Family.

After graduation he served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jamestown for two years, after which he received a call to pastor the Oaklyn Baptist Church in 1997.  His pastorate in Oaklyn has lasted for nearly 20 years, and he has been active in ABCNJ life during that time. He has served as both Moderator and Secretary of The Greater Delaware Valley Association. He helped organize the S.M.A.S.H Youth Ministry and worked on the merger of two Associations in 2002. He has served on the Board of the Options Pregnancy Care Center in Cherry Hill, and he and his wife are active in the local chapter of the Autism Society of America. His wife, Jennifer, is a Professor of Philosophy at Camden County College and specializes in Biomedical Ethics. They have two adult sons. 

Rev. Hoheisel has a keen interest in prayer as a spiritual discipline and a passion for leading retreats and spiritual formation for others who also desire to grow in this essential practice. He is currently completing an 18 month study in contemplative prayer through the Shalem Institute. As an artist he finds great joy in establishing connections between spirituality and the fine arts.  He is excited to begin this new journey with ABCNJ,  “I look forward to serving all the churches in our region as they seek to go deeper with God and live as generous witnesses to Christ in our world.”