Roger Haenke is a San Diego pastor who allegedly messaged underage boys on the dating app Grindr, find out more about him and the allegations below
Following the allegations, a disturbing video has surfaced online showing a vigilante group confronting Reverend Roger Haenke for inappropriate behavior.
Who is Reverend Roger Haenke, Rector of St John’s Episcopal Church as pastor is caught messaging underage minor boys on Grindr
🚨 SICKENING: San Diego “pastor” Roger Haenke (@StJohnsECSD) was caught by @peoplevpreds after allegedly trying to meet up with who he thought were 14- and 15-year-old boys on Grindr🧑⚖️📱
This is not a “man of God” and was caught red-handed—then this FG slapped at the camera and… pic.twitter.com/FcmnEtbLwq
— Rafael Santiago (@RaphySantiag) August 4, 2025
NEW: San Diego pastor busted by @peoplevpreds for allegedly messaging who he thought were 14 and 15-year-old boys on Grindr.
Reverend Roger Haenke, with St. John's Episcopal Church, was seen emerging from his home with his husband after being confronted.
The San Diego pastor… pic.twitter.com/LZou0KZsP2
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 3, 2025
The viral footage shows Haenke exiting his home with his husband and reacting aggressively when the group pressed him about the chats.
Roger Haenke Arrested for allegedly messaging underage boys
Members of an anti-predator group called People v. Preds recently confronted Reverend Roger Haenke outside his San Diego residence. The group stated that they were on a mission to expose adults who targeted minors online. They claimed that Haenke initiated conversations with people who he believed were underage boys on the dating app Grindr. However, in reality, the supposed teenagers were decoys that the group set up. Haenke reportedly admitted on camera to using Grindr but became physically defensive when the group asked him about the number of minors he had spoken to. He struck the camera before eventually retreating into his house.
The San Diego pastor was exposed for allegedly messaging individuals he believed to be 14 and 15-year-old boys on Grindr, a gay dating app.
Reverend Roger Haenke, affiliated with St. John’s Episcopal Church, was seen leaving his home with his “husband” after being confronted about the allegations and Haenke, who is also a professor, admitted to using the dating app before attempting to swat away a camera recording the incident.
Charges and Allegations
As of now, Haenke has not been formally charged by law enforcement. However, the People v. Preds group has promised to share the conversations with church authorities, which could spark questions about potential disciplinary or legal consequences.
Roger Haenke biography and age
People v. Preds CATCH 538
ROGER ALAN HAENKE
SAN DIEGO, CA
PASTOR….PROFESSOR….REGISTERED NURSE
HE WAS TALKING TO WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A 14YO BOY AND 15YO BOY FOR ADULT PURPOSES… pic.twitter.com/JXBFh3khOE
— People v. Preds (@peoplevpreds) August 1, 2025
Roger Haenke is a pastor who was born in Hastings, Minnesota, and raised in Rugby, North Dakota. He is likely in his mid-to-late 50s and initially pursued a religious path within the Roman Catholic Church. He was eventually ordained as a priest in 1991, and after serving for several years in Catholic ministry, he transitioned to the Episcopal Church. He has since become a prominent figure in the Diocese of San Diego.
Education
Roger Haenke earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a focus on Health Care. Following which, he later studied at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He later completed a B.S. in Nursing at the University of Minnesota.
Career
Roger Haenke started out his career as a Roman Catholic priest in various North Dakota communities, following which he shifted to healthcare and nursing leadership. He worked at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital before eventually moving back to San Diego back in 2008.
During his time there, Roger held various director-level roles at several healthcare institutions and even began teaching nursing at San Diego State University. Later in 2017, Haenke was officially received as an Episcopal priest after several years of preparation and ministry within the Episcopal Church. He has since served at multiple churches, including Holy Cross in Carlsbad, where he was named as the Interim Vicar in 2019, and he was even elected to the diocesan Executive Council.
Roger Haenke currently serves as the Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chula Vista and prior to this, he served as Curate and Interim Vicar of Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Carlsbad.
He has a second vocation as a Registered Nurse and as part of his bi-vocational ministry, his is teaching Nursing at San Diego State University.
His diocesan leadership experience includes serving as member of Executive Council including being a member of the Area One Evangelization and Discipleship Committee and has served on the bishop’s Public Health Taskforce advisory committee.