Justice Board

In 2013 it was called a “simple but compelling demonstration of the scope of the carnage wrought by gun violence.” At sites throughout Philadelphia, a total of 288 T-shirts were put on public display as a powerful reminder – each one representing a life lost to gun violence that year. On Sunday December 13 at 3 PM, Memorials to the Lost will again be enacted at Newark’s Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral as T-shirts gathered from throughout the diocese are displayed on the Cathedral fence. A service of readings, prayers, and sacred music will also be part of the commemoration, planned to coincide with the national Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend.

This piece was published as a guest opinion in the Times of Trenton on June 28, 2015.

Our faith traditions teach: You will be blessed in order to be a Blessing.

New Jersey has certainly been blessed. We live in a state that has some of the highest income and some of the best schools in the nation, as well as some of the best medical facilities in the world. With these Blessings comes a call by God to share our blessings with all the residents of New Jersey, especially those who don't have access to these many riches. This sharing happens through public and private spending. Today, we write to raise concern related to public funding.

Based on the shared values and faith principles of two Protestant denominations, the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey and the Episcopal Diocese of Newark – which together capture all of the Lutheran and Episcopal parishes in the State – today announce the launch of a new advocacy body, the Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey (LEAMNJ) with the Reverend Sara Lilja, an ordained Lutheran pastor, to serve as the group’s director.

Diocesan Chancellor Diane Sammons, Esq. gave this sermon at her home parish, St. George's in Maplewood, on March 22, 2015.

Good Morning. It is a privilege and an honor to be invited by the Absalom Jones Committee for Black History and Culture to speak to you today and offer some thoughts about the Voting Rights Act.

In adopting the 2015 Budget, Convention deputies approved funding for a portion of the costs for a social justice advocate, the Rev. Sara Lilja. Lilja (pronounced "LIL-ya") has been serving as the Director of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries for the New Jersey Synod, and will now begin representing our diocese and the Diocese of New Jersey as well, acting as a faith-based advocate in Trenton for social justice issues shared by New Jersey Episcopalians and Lutherans.

The Venerable Peter Jackson, Archdeacon, is quoted in this article.

[The Record] A reality show star joined other anti-hunger activists at the State House and urged New Jersey lawmakers to increase funding for food programs and to approve bills in votes Monday that would ease restrictions and get benefits to people faster.