Rev. Dr. Samuel Cruz, Senior Pastor

Pastor Sam is a native from Brooklyn and considers New York City his home. Although he lives in New Jersey, Dr. Cruz teaches in New York City where he does ministry and develops his academic responsibilities. He was ordained in 1994 and has served churches in the New York metropolitan area. Pastor Cruz expresses and lives out a gospel that addresses real social issues and engages racial, gender, sexual and class oppressions. This kind of ministry is based upon the life and ministry of Jesus that proclaimed good news to the poor and liberation to the oppressed.

 

Dr. Cruz is married to Tania Stanchich, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and life partner. Together they have three daughters – Amber, Jovana and Naome.

 

Rev. Cruz has an earned B.A. from the College of New Rochelle (NY), a M.A. (magna cum laude) from New Brunswick Theological Seminary (N.J.), a M. Phil., and a Ph.D. from Drew University (Madison, N.J.,2002). Dr. Cruz’s publications include a book, Masked Africanisms: Puerto Rican Pentecostalism (Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2005) and a number of book chapters and professional journal articles on Latina/o and global Pentecostalism and on the sociology of religion – two principal areas of his research and teaching. Dr. Cruz is Assistant Professor of Church & Society at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

 

 

El Pastor Sam es nativo de Brooklyn y considera a Nueva York como su hogar. Aunque vive en New Jersey, el Dr. Cruz es profesor en Nueva York donde ejerce su ministerio y su vocación académica. Fue’ ordenado al pleno ministerio en 1994 y ha servido en varias parroquias en la zona metropolitana. El Pastor Cruz expresa y vive un evangelio que enfrenta realidades sociales y que denuncia la opresión racial, étnica, sexual o de clase. Este tipo de ministerio y evangelio de base en la misma vida y ministerio de Jesus el Cristo que proclamo’ buenas nuevas al pobre y liberación al oprimido.

 

El Dr. Cruz es casado a Tania Stanchich, una trabajadora clínica licenciada y su ayuda idónea. Juntos tienen tres hijas—Amber, Jovana y Naome.

 

El rev. Cruz recibió’ su B.A. del colegio de New Rochelle (NY), su M.A. (magna cum laude) del Seminario Teológico de New Brunswick (NJ), su M. Phil. y su Ph.D. de la Universidad de Drew (Madison, NJ: 2002). Las publicaciones profesionales del Dr. Cruz incluyen un libro: Masked Africanisms: Puerto Rican Pentecostalism (Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2005) y un numero de capítulos de libros y artículos en revistas profesionales académicas. Su especialidad incluye el pentecostalismo Latino y global, además de la sociología de la religión (dos áreas de su interés de investigación y de enseñanza). Es profesor de Iglesia y Sociedad en el seminario teológico de Union (NY).

Rev. Vanessa Cardinale, Assistant Pastor

Vanessa is originally from outside New Haven Connecticut. She moved to Philadelphia, PA to attend college at St. Joseph’s University, where she majored in History and Latin American Studies. After graduation, Vanessa moved to El Salvador to live in Philadelphia’s sister community Las Anonas de Santa Cruz and volunteered for two years with U.S.- El Salvador Sister Cities, providing organizing support and accompaniment to rural communities. Vanessa then returned to Philadelphia and spent the next years working as an organizer throughout South Jersey and Chester County, PA with CATA - The Farmworker Support Committee (El Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas), a member led organization of immigrant farmworkers. The whole of her experiences working for justice in El Salvador and South Jersey helped Vanessa articulate her call to ministry and in 2007 she began her Masters of Divinity studies at Union Theological Seminary. Vanessa graduated this past May with a focus in Immigration and Theology and is very excited to be joining the Trinity Lutheran community in what promises to be an exciting year! Please pray for her and the work she’s going to start here with us.

Mark Thaddeus Williams, Director of Music Mark Thaddeus is named for both an evangelist and an apostle – his mother thought the extra protection couldn't hurt. A decade ago he came to Trinity ready only to play out the ten weeks of the prior organist's contract and instead he has never left. Mark started on piano around the age of six and picked the organ up along the way. He holds a bachelor's degree in music from Colgate University and and an MPhil in musicology from Yale University. He believes that in music we touch the Divine and is ever thankful that the Concordia Choir really does go there.

Mildred Corona, Administrative Assistant

Mildred Corona has been the Administrative Assistant of the church since 2006. She worked for Arthur Andersen Consulting and the United Nations in Venezuela, where she was born, and received  her B.A. in Modern Languages. She’s married to Silvestre Padrón and is the proud mother of Eric. She is currently studying Speech and Language Pathology in Brooklyn College and is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society. 

Mercedes Orozco, Administrative Assistant

We are glad to announce that Mercedes Orozco started in January 2012 as our Administrative Assistant. She is an experienced bilingual administrative assistant who has worked for engineering and computer companies. She also has a degree in Bilingual Education from La Guardia Community College and is proficient in Microsoft and Auto CAD programs. She is fluent in English and Spanish and has experience in document translation. Please welcome her and pray for her new endeavor in our Church.

Mildred will be working with her at the church office until the end of this month (January 2012)