WORK AND PRAY FOR JUSTICE & EQUITY
Combining social and racial justice advocacy and awareness-raising with resource provision to empower under-resourced communities is our urgent priority.
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey is establishing Episcopal Community Services of New Jersey (ECS-NJ) at this extraordinary time in our nation’s history to expand our capacity to meet critical human needs in the cities, towns, and villages our 140 congregations serve, while advocating for meaningful systemic change. ECS-NJ is committed to working to achieve a more just and equitable world.
The impacts of the pandemic have been widespread, but are particularly prevalent among Black, Latino, and immigrant households. These disproportionate impacts reflect harsh, longstanding inequities —often stemming from structural racism —in education, employment, housing, and health care that the current crisis is exacerbating.
COVID-19 has created mass unemployment in New Jersey and around the country; people are out of work and struggling to afford adequate food and pay the rent.
We have identified hunger and homelessness as our immediate priority.
Learn More and Get Involved
Download our ECS Briefing Presentation
SUPPORT THE MISSION OF EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES
Your gift of any size can help us reach our startup goal. Your support will help Episcopal Community Services feed people at 32 Jubilee Centers across the state, promote social and racial justice, and raise up the homeless.Â
VISIT OUR ONLINE DONATIONS PAGE
OUR VISION: WORK & PRAY FOR JUSTICE & EQUITY
Spiritual Practice and Social Justice
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey is establishing Episcopal Community Services of New Jersey (ECS-NJ) at this extraordinary time in our nation’s history to expand our capacity to meet critical human needs in the cities, towns, and villages our 140 congregations serve, while advocating for meaningful systemic change. ECS-NJ is committed to working to achieve a more just and equitable world. Combining social and racial justice advocacy and awareness-raising with resource provision to empower under-resourced communities is our urgent priority.
WHY ECS-NJ? WHY NOW?
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we share God’s mission of reconciliation, compelling us to change whatever causes the oppression.
The COVID-19 crisis has put into stark relief the significant challenges and inequities that exist across our Diocese, in communities large and small:
- 300,000+ possible evictions and a potential homelessness crisis are forecast for New Jersey residents once the eviction moratorium is
- 2+ million people are food insecure in New Jersey and nearly 400,000 of them are children.
Now is the time to expand, strengthen and connect our social justice ministries throughout New Jersey by forming Episcopal Community Services for our diocese.
PRIORITIES
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey plans to establish ECS-NJ over the next 12-18 months, placing emphasis on:
- Involving key community leaders early on to identify urgent funding priorities and determine how donor funds can be most effectively
- Moving quickly to raise awareness and inspire people to network for justice, address important social and racial justice issues, and give help and hope to those who live on the margins as we are called to do by virtue of our Baptismal Covenant and as Christians.
- Creating three bodies to guide and lead this initiative: the Board of Directors; a Grant Making Advisory Group; and a Social Justice/Advocacy Committee
