The Rev. Dr. Heather Hunnicutt comes to the Pocono Plateau by way of Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived for two decades. She was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, where she participated in marching and concert band (clarinet and bassoon), winter guard (flag, rifle, and sabre), and played four years of varsity softball (first base). Before pursuing her current vocations, she worked as a retail manager, makeup artist, and professional editor. Heather holds a BS in psychology, an MA in Professional Counseling, an MTS in Theological Studies, and a ThD in Theology. Her doctoral dissertation is entitled, “The Aporias of Healing: A Theology of Post-Traumatic Spirituality,” focusing on what it means to be fully alive after having experienced trauma.

     Rev. Hunnicutt did not plan to pastor as a primary vocation. In fact, she enrolled in seminary better to understand theology so as to work with counseling clients who had experienced cultic abuse. As the saying goes, “People plan, and God laughs.” On the heels of a major life change, Heather began seriously to consider pastoral ministry and has found a home at Salem. After nearly two years serving this community, she is confident in saying the members of Salem are genuinely caring, and the church’s atmosphere is akin to that of a family. She also loves the historic nature of the church—there’s something special about worshipping in a building that has held many generations of seekers and believers!

     Rev. Hunnicutt was ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2018. She served as associate pastor at First Christian Church of Marietta, Georgia. She became an authorized minister in the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ in 2019.  Heather is also a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth and works primarily with adolescents and adults who have survived trauma, religious and spiritual abuse, and those who are intellectually gifted. In addition to pastoring the church and maintaining her private practice, Heather also serves on the Top of the Mountain Ecumenical Council, Penn Northeast’s Mental Health Ministry Team, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)’s Mental Health Equity Cohort.
    Heather aspires to practice more yoga, read more novels, and watch more Cincinnati Reds baseball… but she has five children at home. Even so, she is grateful for a life full of people and things she loves, including snuggling with the family cat, Nora; taking family walks; and reading to her kiddos each evening.