Structure, committees, staff

Diocesan Convention

Diocesan calendar

Documents, resources, forms NEW

226th Convention of the Diocese

The 226th Convention will be held on 5 and 6 March 2010 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The Convention will include an address by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend Dr Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Registration online is now available, along with online registration for exhibitors. And you'll find a host of materials on this website, from a tentative schedule to hotel information.

And you're invited to add your name and greetings to the convention booklet on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of New Jersey. Details here.

Click here for the 2010 Diocesan Convention section.

11 November 2009

Dear Friends in Christ,

I love our Lord and I love our Church and I'm crazy about the Diocese of New Jersey — our Diocese.

Our Diocese is one family of diverse and unique congregations, belonging to Jesus Christ and belonging to one another, for Jesus' sake. Together, we are a missionary community, celebrating the abundant life of Christ and sharing that life with the world that God so loves. (From the Vision of the Diocese of New Jersey.)

I don't just believe in that Vision, I've seen it! At Convocation meetings this fall we have taken time . . . Read the rest of the bishop's letter here.

Find the Diocesan Council statement on stewardship here.

In the wake of the financial crisis, the Bishop and Diocesan Council recommended a budget to the 2009 Diocesan Convention that drew on $400,000 of diocesan cash surpluses and up to $122,000 from the principal of the Harriet Procter Matthews Fund to balance the budget.

Recognizing that this was not a viable long term strategy, Bishop Councell appointed the Task Force on Restructure in Spring 2008 and charged them to explore these questions:

• How to fund the Mission of the Diocese in hard times

• To tie funding to the core commitments of the Mission of the Diocese and the Diocesan Vision

• To offer options / make recommendations to Diocesan Council and the Finance & Budget Committee for their use in preparing the 2010 budget for the Diocese

The report was presented to Diocesan Council on 17 November. It's now made available as a PDF to everyone in the diocese who is interested.

Click here to download the PDF.

Darfur in the Sudan has faced decades of graphic violence over land and grazing rights between nomadic Arabs and native Darfuri farmers.

The conflict resurged in 2003 when rebel groups, angered by the Sudanese government, attacked government targets. A brutal pattern of violence, repression, and gross abuses by the Sudanese government and allied militia has been inflicted on the people of Darfur.

IMPACT • 300,000 dead • 2.6 million displaced • An unknown number of women and girls abducted, raped, abused • A generation has reached school-age with no home or education • A growing number of child-soldiers participate in the abuse

Download a brochure prepared by the diocesan committee on Darfur to help inform your church about what you can do to help this tragic situation.

Or check the Darfur blog the committee has created.

'For I am sure' . . . Ocean Grove on Sunday, 8 November

More than 400 people from across the diocese made their way to Ocean Grove for a grace filled, energy sparking service of Evening Prayer, called 'Jazz Vespers'.

From preludes by the Crosswinds Jazz Trio to rousing hymns (Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah — with trumpet!), from heartfelt anthems to a rendition of Psalm 121 from Leonard Bernstein's Mass (sung by the Revd Jack Zamboni), we worshipped our hearts out. Here's the service leaflet, with music, so you can see just what we said, sang, and prayed.

The Revd Dr Frank Wade stepped it up a notch with a brilliant sermon — Being Faithful in Trouble. It you missed it then, don't miss it now!

Bishop Councell commented during the announcements, 'I have only four words to say: "Next time, next door"' — referring to the 5000-capaciity Great Auditorium. The capacity crowd burst into applause.

Next time, next door! We'll see you there.

A video by Bishop Councell

'I invite all Clergy and Vestries of the Diocese to view this short video at their next meeting. All members of the Diocese are encouraged to view it, as well'.

'You may view it here on the website or download it to a laptop for your convenience'. 

'Additional materials are linked that may be informative in conjunction with the video and the discussion that follows its viewing'.

Click here for more.