Bishop's Weekly Message
Nov. 23—Thanksgiving Blessings
Almighty and gracious God, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray,
Prior to becoming the Bishop of New Jersey in 2013, Bishop Stokes served as the Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, Florida, Associate for Christian Education at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, and School Chaplain and Curate to Grace Episcopal Church and Day School in Massapequa, Long Island. He is a recognized preacher and Christian educator. He has been active in the area of anti-racism, is a certified trainer in multi-culturalism and anti-racism and was a member of the Committee on Anti-Racism for the Episcopal Church. He has served at many levels of governance in the Episcopal Church. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of General Theological Seminary. He and his wife Susan live in Trenton. They have four grown children, and several grandchildren.
Bishop Stokes will retire in June 2023. He and Susan plan to live in St. Augustine, Florida.
Latest Messages from Bishop Stokes
Oct. 18—Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
The news this past week from Israel and Gaza has been devastating. The war between Israel and Hamas has killed thousands and displaced almost half a million people. It is a humanitarian disaster and there is untold suffering and need in Gaza and in Israel. Yesterday, at least 400 lives were lost in a missile strike at the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, including children, refugees, and medical personnel.
Bishop's Weekly Message
Sept. 22—Fall Transitions & Fiscal Concerns
As we have congregations and ministries to celebrate, we also have some challenges. As a diocese, we’re spending a lot more than we should. This year, our draw from our endowments, reserve funds, and trust accounts is more than $1,300,000. Last year, it was more than $900,000. This is not sustainable. While we are still discerning together some of the details about where God is calling us to focus, it is clear that part of our common call in the near future is toward fiscal stability.
As we work toward the Special Budget Convention on December 9, 2023, the diocesan Finance and Budget Committee is preparing the 2024 budget. While there is still much to be done, it is my hope that we will be able to take some substantial steps toward closing the gap between our income and our expenses. We are already taking steps to decrease expenditures in some key areas.
