For over 100 years, Holy Trinity Church in West Orange has lived into the call of serving their community. This strong tradition is manifested today in ministries that tend to those less fortunate in and around West Orange. Holy Trinity runs both a food pantry and a thrift shop to help their neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. Christine's Kitchen provides free hot lunches each week for 75 -100 guests. Holy Trinity coordinates these efforts and welcomes the assistance of a diverse group of faith communities from the surrounding area.
While visiting with Holy Trinity leadership last year, Bishop Beckwith learned that the church rectory wasn’t livable. Two very old bathrooms required renovation work totaling $14,000, more than Holy Trinity could generate on their own. This posed a considerable problem as Holy Trinity was in the midst of a clergy transition and hoped to attract new clergy leadership. So last October, the Bishop issued a Bishop's Church Emergency Fund (BCEF) call on behalf of this vibrant, community-focused congregation.
The generosity of the BCEF membership enabled Holy Trinity to complete the repairs. The congregation now has new clergy leadership, the Rev. Miguel A. Hernandez, who plans to live in the rectory part-time. The rectory’s strategic location, with easy access to Newark, Paterson, and other areas in the diocese helps Hernandez juggle his ministry at Holy Trinity, as well as his responsibilities with The Newark School of Theology and the diocesan Hispanic/Latino ministry.
Hernandez thanks the donors for their contributions, saying “the money has been well spent since the rectory use will allow for the Clergy in Charge at Holy Trinity to carry the Mission of the Diocese.”
How does the Bishop’s Church Emergency Fund (BCEF) work?
The BCEF provides financial support for church buildings in the diocese in need of emergency repairs. A series of up to five calls per year go to members of the BCEF who have pledged in advance to support work the bishop deems important. The first 2014 call will be issued shortly.
To become a Bishop’s Church Emergency Fund Member, submit the subscription form. You will be placed on the BCEF email list and receive up to five calls per year. Your response to the call can be paid online or by check, and the amount is at your discretion.
