John E HiemstraJohn Elmer Hiemstra is a native of Oskaloosa, Iowa. He received his bachelor's degree from Central College, the Masters of Divinity from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Education from Rutgers University. He was ordained as a inster of the Word and Sacrament by the Reformed Church in America in 1955 and has served as a minister until 2015. He is married to Norma Franklin, RN, also from Oskaloosa, Iowa. They have four daughters, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. They live in West Nyack, NY. John became an Executive Minister for the Reformed Church's Stewardship Council in 1964, the Executive for North American Mission in 1968, the National Director for United Ministries in 1972 and the Executive Minister of the Synod of New York, Reformed Church in America in 1979. From 1994 until 2008 he was the Executive Director of the Council of Churches of the City of New York. He was the Director of the Council's Caregiver Project formed after the 9/11 attack.. While serving in pastorates, he has served as a chaplain in several hospitals and nursing homes. He is a certified chaplain with certification in Clinical Pastoral Education, (CPE). He served as the Council's Chaplain Certification Officer for several years. His hobbies include flying, photography and traveling. Among his specialties are church relations with churches in Russia, Korea, the Middle East and China where he has visited on several occasions, often leading a group of church leaders. John has also received the Man of the Year Award from the Junior Chamber of Commerce, served as President of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, as President of the New York State Council of Churches and as President of the Classis of the Greater Palisades of the Reformed Church. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Central College in Pella, Iowa. He is listed in Who's Who In America 2007 edition. September, 2016 Read More Read Less