links

Documents

About Bishop Stokes

011

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

Bishop's Weekly Message
Steve Welch

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.

Read More »
Bishop's Weekly Message
Steve Welch

Aug. 27—Don’t Worry

As we prepare for our next Diocesan Convention, we have some financial challenges to address. Our congregations and our diocese have limited resources and there are many needs in our churches and communities. I do not yet know what the budget will look like, but I am committed to good stewardship of our resources, our people, and our communities. More information will be available soon, and I look forward to what will be, and to what, by the grace of God, we are becoming. Things take the time they take, and we are on God’s journey, together.

Read More »
Bishop's Weekly Message
Steve Welch

Aug. 11—Communications in the Diocese

The Diocese of New Jersey has sometimes struggled with communications. I recognize this, and I also recognize that the work of diocesan communications is challenging. There are many demands and many opportunities. We have limited resources, of people, skills, and funds. We want to do God’s work, to know our stories and share them boldly, to proclaim the Good News and make disciples. We also want clear and accessible platforms, technology, and graphics, together with timely and appealing updates, in formats everyone can understand. We have not used the available resources to their fullest potential, and our communications practices and strategy have at times fallen short.

Read More »