The Directory is arranged alphabetically by county. It is alphabetical within the county by the town or city in which the house of worship is located. The web edition is indexed 3 ways: by county, by religion, and by zip code.
Please turn to the back for our list of advertisers and for a listing of web sites for various denominations.
While working on this project I was heartened by the honest struggle by people of good will that is taking place in several denominations. The fear some pastors are experiencing was painful to experience. I learned a good deal about different religious expression and that has enriched me.
Thanks first to the committee who generated the lists, made the follow-up phone calls, did the mailings and were cheerful after long drives. Committee: Evelyn Apgar, Alice Batcher Howard, Lois Hart, Judy Bennett, Michael Baldwin, Larry Kraft, Jeff Willard, Rabbi Shana Margolin, Mary Vercande, Greg Moore, Lisa von Pier, Rev. Eric Elley, Lisa Blake, David Rogoff, Nancy Stanley, and Mike Demarsico.
Deep thanks goes to my vice-chair, Rev. Connie Bonner, who held my hand and offered sane thoughts when I was drowning in details and hyper responsibility. Whenever something extra was needed, Connie was willing. In addition, thanks to Jennifer Kaplan for beginning the project and inspiring us, and the helpers and allies who composed and edited the summary statements: Patricia Malin, Sr. Lee Ann, Sr. Lisa, A Friend, and Barbara Gross. Stu Malin was my computer guru in times of frustration. Bless him. Phil McGee, my friend and our printer, walked me through this, my first printing project. The churches that hosted meetings, Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Brunswick and the Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church in North Plainfield deserve our gratitude.
Our greatest debt goes to the churches, synagogues, meetings, and religious gatherings listed below. They are the reason for this directory. God's blessing on each of them.
Sarellen Hogan
Chair of the Religious Directory Project 12/01
Notes from the Vice-chair
I was excited and pleased when Jennifer Kaplan, then President of the
New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition/Personal Liberty Fund
(NJLGC/PLF), invited me to
serve as one of the clergy on a committee to develop a directory of
welcoming faith communities in New Jersey. She was committed to finding
a way to build a bridge between those of the GLBT community seeking a
place to worship and belong and those faith communities that are
welcoming. Folks in search of such faith communities had been calling
her office; she had had few contacts to share with them.
Each of us on the committee served as a liaison to worshiping communities in our faith tradition. We assembled a mailing list and sent out over 1500 surveys. Once the surveys were returned, the self-descriptions were summarized, compiled, and listed by county. Each faith community that is listed was given the opportunity to also purchase advertising space. This list is a beginning. It is longer than we had anticipated and shorter than we hoped. It offers hope and fosters solidarity. As these faith communities step forward, others will. Some faith communities responded to our request saying that while they are welcoming, they are not ready to be listed. Some replied that they are presently undergoing a process that is leading to understanding and welcome and envision a future listing. At a future time as these communities desire to be listed as welcoming, they can submit their information for posting on the website at www.njlgc.org (click on Religious Directory Project) where the most current list will be available.
I have been privileged to work with Sarellen Hogan who agreed to chair this project when Jennifer left NJLGC/PLF. She has been a strong and steady force, persevering toward our goal. Thank you Sarellen for all your hard work! Thank you too to all the committee members and associates who contributed time and energy to this project. It was a group effort!
For you who are searching, Blessings on your journey! For those faith communities listed here, Blessings as you continue to embody the welcome of the Holy!
Peace,
Pastor Connie Bonner, ELCA
Vice-chair, The Religious Directory Project
Chair, The Garden State Chapter, Lutherans Concerned/North America