Diocesan Resolution 2012-02: Focusing on the Needs of Children

RESOLVED, That this 138^th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark invite congregations to include children and their needs as a focus of their mission; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That congregations are encouraged to report their findings and mission initiatives to the Justice Board by April 30, 2012; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Justice Board shall compile all information received and disseminate the information to the Diocese by May 30, 2012.

Submitted by the Justice Board: Ms. Caroline Christie, Ms. Marge Christie, The Rev. Karen Eberhardt, Ms. Martha Gardner, The Rev. Canon Greg Jacobs, Mr. Gibson Oakley, The Rev. Diane Riley, Ms. Laura Russell, The Rev. Erik Soldwedel, and The Rev. Canon Sandye Wilson.

Supporting Information

The Bishop, in consultation with the Justice Board, has identified the support and protection of children as the primary focus for justice work in the Diocese of Newark. Regardless of the diversity of our Diocese, children still have basic needs – for healthy, nutritious food, shelter, quality education and the ability to live safely and securely. The 137^th Convention passed a Resolution urging all congregations to discern the justice needs of children in their community by the 138^th Convention. As part of our common mission to engage the world, the Justice Board invites all congregations to continue this discernment by including children and their needs as a focus of their congregational mission.

Many congregations are already engaging in a wide variety of ministries for children. Examples of these include, but are not limited to: Christ Church in Budd Lake, St Andrew’s Church in Harrington Park and The Church of the Atonement in Fair Lawn who are working with the All God’s Children program, a program for children affected with autism; All Saints’ Church in Glen Rock, the Jubilee Center, a ministry of All Saints’ Church in Hoboken, and Holy Communion Church in Norwood, who have active pre-school, primary school, and after school centers; St. James’, Hackettstown’s program of weekly deliveries of supplemental food to elementary school children; and Care on the Corner, a ministry of St John the Divine Church in Hasbrouck Heights which has an after school and community education center.