Bishop Beckwith

The Diocese of Newark highlighted its new mission statement and related initiatives and ministries on Jan. 29-30 at its 136^th Annual Convention, meeting in its see city for the first time in more than two decades.

Go deeper, Jesus tells Peter in 5th chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Peter doesn’t want to go deeper. He thought he had already gone deep enough the previous night on the water and hadn’t brought back a thing. Not a minnow, not a mussel -- nothing. He figured he would hear some razzing from his colleagues and some complaining from his wife – but from Jesus? He is a carpenter now moonlighting as a rabbi; who may understand life, hope and freedom in a new and inspiring way – but doesn’t know squat about fish.

From the pulpits and through public statements, religious leaders have been weighing in on various elements of what they say is a crucial moral issue. Catholic bishops in New Jersey, in letters to the state's members of Congress, have lobbied against possible inclusion of abortion coverage in any federal health care plan, a possibility Obama dismissed in his prime-time speech Wednesday. The Episcopal Church USA passed a resolution favoring a single-payer system, while some Catholic bishops in the Midwest have publicly opposed any massive government effort.

As of the end of June, I will have visited each of our 110 congregations. It has been an extraordinary honor to be invited in to lead worship and a forum, talk to children and meet with the Vestry. I am eager to do run this cycle again, and I will, beginning in September.

Dear people of the Diocese of Newark,

I want to report on two recent developments in our life together that will no doubt have an impact on how we live out our commitment to be the people of God in this place and at this time.