The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey » Re-Opening Task Forces

Bishop Stokes has called two Task Forces to advise the Diocese as we move to the next stage of the COVID-19 crisis.

The COVID-19 Learnings and Breakthroughs (L&B) Task Force is looking at “lessons learned” during the crisis, ways of connecting with our congregations and communicating more effectively. The Task Force will develop recommendations and guidance to help us retain all the good things we’ve learned during this period. Contact the Learnings and Breakthroughs Task Force.

The COVID-19 Reentering, Reopening, Reimagining (RRR) Task Force is developing guidelines and advice as our church buildings move through the phases of re-opening. Their initial report is due June 5.

RRR Task Force Members

This team is committed to providing preliminary guidance by June 5th so that parishes may begin the planning process. Each parish will create its own plan and submit it for review to the Task Force. We anticipate that the time it takes each parish to create and implement their plan will vary greatly. While some parishes may be able to resume limited use of their buildings shortly after the release of the guidelines, others may plan to open months later based upon the unique needs, composition, staffing and location of each parish. –The RRR Task Force

Title	First Name	Last Name	Church	Position
The Rev. Canon	Valerie	Balling	St. Peter’s, Medford	Committee Chair; Rector; Chair – Commission on Liturgy
Ms.	Annette	Buchanan	St. Augustine’s, Asbury Park	Vestry Member; Chair – Commission on Black Ministries
Captain	Louis	Cavaliere	Grace, Merchantville	Treas.; Asst. Diocesan Disaster Recovery Coord.; US Navy (Ret.)
Mr.	Anthony	Conrad	Christ Church, South Amboy	Sr. Warden
The Rev.	Paul	Jeanes	Trinity, Princeton	Rector
The Very Rev.	Rene	John	Trinity Cathedral, Trenton	Cathedral Dean; Diocesan Council; Black Clergy Caucus
Dr.	Philip	Lewis, MD, MPH	Trinity Cathedral, Trenton	Congregational Dev. Comm.; Epidemiologist – Bishop’s Advisor
Mr.	Tom	MacArthur	St. Peter’s, Barnegat Light	Sr. Warden
The Rev.	Jorge	Martinez, Dcn.	St. John’s, Elizabeth	Priest-in-Charge (PIC); Hispanic Commission
The Rev.	Emily	Mellott	Trinity, Moorestown	Rector; Chair – Discerning Our Common Call Committee
Ms.	Carolann	Nicholas	St. Augustine’s, Asbury Park	Senior Warden
Mr.	Michael	Redpath	St. John’s, Little Silver	Transitions Consultant; Cong. Dev. Comm.
The Rev.	Maria	Sanzo	St. Raphael’s, Brick	Vicar; Public Health Nurse
Ms.	Michelle	Scarpulla	St. Peter’s, Medford	Sr. Warden; Public Health Educator
The Rev. Canon Dr.	Kara	Slade	Trinity, Princeton	Associate Priest; College Chaplain; Diocesan Canon Theologian
The Rev.	Megan	Thomas	St. Luke’s, Ewing	Priest-in-Charge; Lawyer
The Very Rev.	Matt	Tucker	Christ Church, Bordentown	Rector; Convoc. Dean; Standing Comm. VP; Cong. Dev. Comm.
Mrs.	Sandy	Van Sant	St. Thomas’, Red Bank	Public Health Nurse
The Rev.	Angelo	Wildgoose	St. Mark’s, Plainfield	Rector; Convoc. Dean; Diocesan Council; Black Clergy Caucus
The Rev.	Gregory	Wilson	Trinity, Swedesboro	PIC; Lic. Clinical Social Worker; Chair – Mental Health TF

L&B Task Force Members

Bishop Stokes has called the COVID-19 Learnings and Breakthroughs Task Force with the following mandate:

1. To research, explore, catalog, curate, and reflect upon the variety of adaptive and creative ways in which the Church and the Diocese of New Jersey and its people have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in the areas of worship, study, social justice and service and fellowship. Reflect upon the theological/ecclesiological implications of this experience in order to discern how the Holy Spirit appears to have moved the church through this crisis in ways that have served Christ’s mission and ministry.

2. To reflect upon the fears, grief and losses experienced by the people of God in this crisis and to ask about the impact of these upon the church and our common life.

3. To reflect upon the injustices experienced by the people of our nation and communities in this crisis and to ask about our role in this and what we can do to address these.

4. To determine from the above what practices and learnings the church needs to celebrate, continue and build upon as it lives out Christ’s mission and ministry moving forward.

5. To consider how the church could be better prepared and equipped should the COVID-19 crisis continue or another pandemic impact us.

6. To prepare a report (s) summarizing its learnings and guidance.

Members

Title	First Name	Last Name	Church	Position
The Very Rev.	Gregory	Bezilla	Holy Trinity, South River	Rector; Convocation Dean
The Rev.	Genevieve	Bishop	St. Mary’s, Haddon Heights	Priest-in-Charge (PIC); Director – Diocesan School for Ministry
Ms.	Bonnie	Bivins	Trinity, Princeton	Chair – Committee on Lifelong Christian Formation
The Rev.	Rose Marie	Broderick, Dcn.	St. Mark’s, Keansburg	Deacon Administrator; Director – Center for Community Renewal
The Rev.	Amy	Cornell	Grace-St. Paul’s, Mercerville	Rector; Coaching Network Coord.; Disc. our Common Call Comm.
Ms.	Anne	Delgado	St. Peter’s, Freehold	Sunday School Director; Comm. on Lifelong Christian Formation
The Rev.	Justin	Falciani	Christ Church, Somers Point	Rector; Board of Consultation
The Rev.	Robert	Fitzpatrick	Grace, Merchantville	Rector; Chair – Project Resource
Mr.	Jonathan	Gloster	Christ Church, New Brunswick	Vestry Member
The Rev.	Juan	Monge-Santiago	All Saints’, Lakewood	PIC; Hispanic Commission; Discerning our Common Call Comm.
The Rev.	Andy	Moore	St. Elizabeth’s, Elizabeth	Rector; Black Clergy Caucus
The Rev. Canon	Jayne	Oasin	St. Mary’s, Clementon	Supply Priest; Clergy Cont. Ed./Form. Comm.; Black Clergy Caucus
The Rev.	Jennifer	Ovenstone Smith	Grace, Haddonfield	Committee Co-Chair; Rector
The Rev.	Dirk	Reinken	St. Peter’s, Freehold	Committee Co-Chair; Rector; Anti-Racism Commission
The Rev. Canon Dr.	Kara	Slade	Trinity, Princeton	Associate Priest; College Chaplain; Diocesan Canon Theologian
Ms.	Mary	Testori	St. James’, Edison	Senior Warden
Mr.	Sebastian	Vazquez	San Andres, Camden	Hispanic Commission; Anti-Racism Commission